A World of Change
by JM Dragon
© JM Dragon 2009
Part 1
This story features presumed consensual sexual relationships between adult women. If this bothers you, is illegal in the State, Province or Country you live or if you are the under age of 18, find something else to read. There are loads of general stories out there.
Language: There is some occasional strong language.
Hurt/Comfort: There is definitely some hurt/emotional discomfort in this one, and some brief scenes of trauma to be dealt with by the characters.
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A World of Change, the seventh story in the Define Destiny arc, revives Catherine, Jace and all the characters that intertwine in their lives. It is not necessary to read the previous story to read A World of Change.
Fifteen years later the two women are still together raising their five children while trying to juggle the demands of their busy lives. Situations occur that test their love and the bond between them. Will Jace and Catherine's love be enough to survive what lies before them?
If you enjoy this outstanding story please let Julie know and maybe she will write another sequel.
Chapter 1
A trace of mist covered the pasture, rolling over the greenery like a gigantic spider's web. From atop the hillock, a peaceful almost surreal feeling filled the woman as ice blue eyes gazed at the early morning reception of a new day. A faint smile tugged at the thin lips of the horse rider. As the rider's gaze extended, her vision, though impaired, made out miniature structures over the flat landscape. They finally rested on one particular myriad of buildings that brought an all out smile to her face.
With a leather gloved hand, the rider reached down to stroke the neck of the horse and whispered, "I guess that's our peace and quiet for today Tralargon. It's time for me to go home to the noisy family and you to the comfort of your stables. I almost envy you Tralargon...but only almost." She chuckled as she drew her gaze back to the marvellous scenic view before her.
The horse whinnied softly and the warm air from its nose floated around them.
Catherine Warriorson felt the tension of the previous week's away reach inside her gut. Thankfully, she was alone and could frown at the instinct, without someone, asking what the matter was-Jace in particular. At times, she treated her like a child, particularly when she was sick. It wasn't that the ministrations were ever unwelcome but she felt like she was under a microscope. "You know she's never forgotten that bout of pneumonia I had last year. Anyone would think she was going to lose me. Yeah like I'd let that happen."
Her eyes flew upwards as she realised she was talking to herself again. She wasn't technically and Tralargon was better than a close friend-she listened without judging. She'd been home from her US trip only a day and still hadn't found the time to talk to Jace about the future. It was going to be hard, but it would work out just like it always did...Jace made sure of that. "Ok girl let's go home."
Moments later, they were cantering toward the homestead and her date with a woman she would love until the end of time.
+ + +
Chapter 2
As Catherine removed Tralargon's bridle and saddle, she ran the previous weeks through her head like a movie. The last meeting she had would shape her life along with that of Jace and the children in the near future.
+
Catherine alternately glanced at the two dark suited men and the three senior executives at the New York offices of Xianthos. Her expression was devoid of emotion while her lips were a thin yet determined frontier for any attack. Her ice blue eyes seemed to glint as the weak afternoon sun occasionally caught them. A shift in the demeanour of one of the men seated to her left had her hair flicking her shoulders as she turned her head to concentrate on them.
"If I ignore what you're saying to me as overly cautious then what do you think will happen?"
The man who had moved in his chair rubbed the darkening stubble on his chin and frowned. His watery brown gaze wavered under the tightening grip of the blue eyes. Then he cleared his throat and replied, "The IRS is sure to prosecute and I'm not sure you'll escape a jail term."
A gasp from the others in the room had Catherine's expressionless face turning toward them. It was painful to see the bland expressions and very little sympathy-it wouldn't have been like that a few years earlier. The faces she saw before her were strangers. Up until recently, they were merely names on reports and the odd face to face confrontation by video link. Things had changed over the years. She might technically still handle the helm of the corporation, but it was crystal clear that she'd spent too many years allowing her company to drift instead of listening to the subtle rumblings that forewarned of danger in the business. In much the same even tone she asked, "Is that all?"
Puzzled glances shot her way and her adrenalin rushed-something she'd forgotten. In the past when she'd cut, thrust and in some cases murdered the corporate foe, the feeling was the same.
"Not exactly...unless you can come up with solid proof that someone has been sabotaging your returns over the past three years and systematically siphoning off millions, to god knows where, you could lose the assets as well. I doubt you have a personal fortune to pay the back taxes and the costs attributed to the defence in the court case...particularly if you lose. I take it you will defend the accusation?"
Catherine glowered as she curled her lip in scorn. "Most might have considered I'm out to pasture now with my farming interests at home. However, trust me; I will defend what's mine on any battle ground. There's no question that I will take this ridiculous situation to the bitter end and win." The words held the strength and arrogance of the old corporate Catherine."I want you to arrange a meeting with the IRS. It's in both our best interest to resolve this amicably."
The other dark suited man who hadn't spoken said, "Once you arrange this meeting they'll probably want you to remain in the country until the issues are cleared up. That won't be a short visit it might take months...even years."
"You're my attorneys, make it happen and I'll be here for however long it takes."
"We'll talk again when the meeting is arranged. Good afternoon Mrs. Warriorson." The men left the room with the only acknowledgement from the woman, a slight nod and raised eyebrow.
That left the three other executives and Catherine walked over to the conference table were they sat. Like a giant prowling cat, she leaned over and placed her palms flat on the polished table and stared at the two men and one woman. Fear and nervousness oozed from them and Catherine saw trepidation on their faces.
"I was given the impression that you three were the best in the city. How is it that I'm now in this position? Unless of course, one of you or, perhaps are all in cahoots," Catherine said with barely discernable anger.
No one spoke.
"What's this? Am I paying top dollar for silence?" Her eyes went from man to woman to man as she waited for an answer-she received none. "Right now the three of you are as responsible for the theft and fraud in this company as the felon perpetrating this fiasco. From today on I expect each of you to work twenty-four seven sorting through every invoice, tax return and any other financial slips of paper that has ever gone through this corporation in the last five years."
"That's ridiculous it might take years!" John Carson exclaimed as his black moustache twitched on his upper lip.
Catherine let out a cynical laugh. "You'd better get on with it then. Do you two have anything to say?"
Shaun Roberts, merely shaking his head, gazed at her in disbelief and said nothing.
The willowy woman blinked rapidly in an almost hypnotic effect, through the thick lenses of her unfashionable spectacles. In a quiet, studious voice she said, "Why five years? It should be three...isn't that when things went wrong?"
Catherine gazed at the woman. She'd read her personnel file and it was glowing. She was young and amazingly enough head of accounting for mergers and acquisitions. "At last," Catherine said, "someone with a reasonable question. Well Ms. Franks, it's like this...Five years ago we were ok, now we aren't. If you familiarize yourself with what was above board then you might filter out the moment everything went wrong and track the culprit."
"That makes sense," Gwen Franks acknowledged. "I guess we'd better get to work then."
"Finally, something I do understand. Get out of here and don't let a word of this get out. If it does, I know where it came from," Catherine said as she moved away from the conference table to her desk.
Within seconds, the room was empty and her office was silent once again. Walking over to the window, she glanced down at the tiny beings coming and going about her business. It finally sunk in to her consciousness that for the foreseeable future this was going to be home. "Crap how am I going to tell Jace...not to mention the kids."
She strode back to her desk, sat down in the leather chair, and contemplated what was happening with her company. Her eyes flicked to the report that she was given in a briefing less than forty-eight hours earlier-it didn't paint a pretty picture. According to the IRS her corporation owed millions in defaulted taxes and there was even an unqualified investigation on mergers and acquisitions that had been completed in the last three years. If they were all faulty then she could say goodbye to a healthy retirement. She'd lose most of her personal assets, including Destiny, and do a stretch in prison.
The one thing that kept repeating in her mind was when exactly had it all gone pear shaped? The easy answer was to blame others. Constance Waverley, her president, had left the company around that time. Clare, Constance's partner and her private assistant at the company, gave the woman an ultimatum. Her inability to have children had placed the onus firmly in her court and it was either her career or a baby. Baby and family life had won over being a corporate giant.
They didn't need the money, their personal salaries and bonuses in the previous years would have kept most couples and small families in a comfortable position for many years. Then there were the shares they had in Xianthos. In essence on a comfortable budget they didn't need to work and that's exactly what happened. They'd bought a place in the France and were bringing up their two year old son happily there-who could blame them. In reality, she'd done pretty much that herself in the last decade.
Jason Bardley, Jace's father had taken the helm until his heart attack three years earlier. For several months, he was incapacitated. After that, he only came in the office for major board meetings. Jason had allowed things to lapse in certain areas. He'd asked for her help with the workload and she'd ignored him. Her assumption was it would get it better-it didn't. Jace had hauled her over the coals for placing so much work on a man who should be retiring not heading a major corporation.
"Ah yes, Jace, I really don't know how I'm going to tell you that we have to leave Destiny...or that it might be permanent."
The phone rang and her secretary, Cynthia Reynolds, another new face on the block, dragged her from thoughts of home. "Yes?"
"Ms. Bardley asked if you were free to see her," Cynthia said in an efficient somewhat nasally tone.
"Send her in." Catherine as she contemplated the arrival of her sister-in-law.
Seconds later, the door to her office opened and Lucy Bardley walked inside. As she moved further into the room, Catherine watched the woman and marvelled how the green-kid from ten years ago had turned out to be a poised and able businesswoman. "Good to see you Lucy. Did you get the information I wanted?"
Lucy gave the older woman a long cool glance. Her jaw tightened slightly before she said, "Yes." Opening her purse, she pulled out a pen drive and slid it across the desk.
Catherine glanced at the small device and wondered if her sister-in-law had come up with the goods, "Is it what I asked for?" Her tapering fingers picked it up and idly twirled it in her hand.
"The information you wanted...yes?" Lucy informed her.
"Sit Lucy...I don't bite," Catherine said annoyed with Lucy's belligerent stance.
Lucy snorted and sat in the seat on the right side of the desk. "It's all there."
"I don't doubt it." She twisted the small device in her fingers again and then placed it on the desk before giving her full-attention to the younger woman. Then with a heavy sigh she said, "I know you and I haven't always seen eye to eye. In fact, I think in other circumstances we'd be darn right vitriolic with each other. However, for the sake of the family ties we've set aside our differences and agreed to at least be polite. This can't have been easy I want to thank you..."
Lucy put her hand in the air. "Don't say it. If you do, I might have to reciprocate one day. Until the day I die I'll hate you Catherine and we both know why."
"Look, your sister can make her own decisions and she did when she came to live with me. I'm damned if I'll allow your petty misconceptions to haunt me. We've been together a long time now. Can you see her running back to the bosom of her family because I'm cruel to her or the children? Can you?" Catherine said savagely.
"Jace made her bed and I understand that. But my hatred of you isn't about Jace and you know it," Lucy said in a deathly quiet voice.
Catherine dragged a hand through her hair.. "For an intelligent woman, and we both know you are, you never did understand that situation. Get over it Lucy, he was scum and you're well rid of him. I only did what anyone would do for family."
"You're not my family! You're so damned selfish that if the world around you was collapsing you'd save yourself and leave everyone including your precious Jace and children to fend for themselves." Lucy stood up and her pent up anger manifested itself in the movement of her body.
Catherine stood up too. Lucy had always managed to get under her skin. She gritted her teeth and said, "You don't know anything about me if that's the opinion you have. Are you travelling back with me for Jace's party?"
"I'd sooner swim! Look you know where to find me if you want more information. Next time it will cost you more than a favour to my dad who intervened on your behalf. I'd like to say it was great to see you but I'd prefer to keep it as we do with thousands of miles as a barrier between us," Lucy retorted with a sneer before she left the room.
Catherine stood where Lucy left her seething. Her mind meticulously going over ways of making Lucy pay in the most gruesome manner. Then she looked down at the object in her hand and called her secretary.
The woman entered her office she was barely five feet tall but had an administration head on her shoulders that made her giant in the office. "Yes Mrs. Warriorson how can I help?"
Catherine held up the device. "There's some sensitive information on this drive and I want to ensure that only you and I have access to it. Will you secure the files for our eyes only?"
For the first time since they'd met three weeks earlier, Cynthia Reynolds glowed at finally getting something responsible to do. "Why of course. Is there a particular password you'd prefer?"
"No, in the first instance you decide. When you've transferred the data, we'll discuss it and I'll choose my own password. Thanks." Catherine nodded to the woman who left for her office.
A few minutes later, the pen-drive had deposited the information on to her laptop.
Cynthia Roberts returned and asked, "Do you need the data again Mrs. Warriorson? We can delete it now if you want?"
"Deletion is good. Thanks Cynthia. Will you get my tea please...and make it strong I need it." Catherine gave a small smile then focused on the computer file in front of her. "Oh and bring a drink for yourself we need to discuss this information now." When the woman had left, she opened the file and began to read the contents. What she found there had her hanging her head in shame that she'd neglected her responsibilities for so long.
Lifting her head, she glanced over to the wall that held the portrait of her father. "I guess my back is against the wall again Dad. I wonder what you would do...fight or give it all away." Then she turned her attention to the information Lucy had supplied and made a decision. "I'm going to fight. That's the only thing I know how to do."
She continued to read the report Lucy had compiled waiting for her private assistant to return.
+ + +
Chapter 3
"Nathan, leave Mrs. Snow be. She can't make every meal one of your favourite dishes," Jace remarked as she swiftly turned to her youngest daughter. "Allison what have I told you about not washing your hands after touching the dog. If mamma catches you...well," Jace said admonishing the twins. Then seeing their crestfallen faces she gave them a wink. "Both of you go wash up. Mamma promised to be home before five and Allison, remind Elena it's almost time for dinner.
There was a chorus of oks as the twins left the kitchen area and the noise level diminished. The only sound was the indulgent chuckle from the middle-aged housekeeper.
"Oh the wee ones what would we do without them," Mrs. Snow said in a softly spoken voice. She smiled then returned her attention to her cooking.
Jace shook her head as she walked to the kitchen window-no sign of Catherine. Frowning she sat down at the large kitchen table and said, "Do you need a hand Mrs. Snow?"
The woman grinned with pleasure. "No dear I have everything under control. I'm making Steak and kidney pudding one of Catherine's favourites. I hope she's not late."
Jace smiled. "She was only gone a month but it seemed like a year. We have to provide the little things she loves or one day she might decide not to come home." It was an absent remark and the housekeeper clucked reprovingly under her breath. "I was only joking. Catherine and Destiny can never be separated. I swear she loves this place more than she does me." Although the older woman laughed and nodded, Jace wasn't so sure that her statement was out of the question.
There was a strained atmosphere when Catherine had returned home. Initially she'd put it down to jetlag but when Catherine had shown her in a very physical way that she'd missed her she knew that wasn't the case. She could tell there was something that Catherine was holding back. Until it came out into the open misunderstandings usually occurred. Unfortunately, that happened more often than she wanted to admit these days. She wondered if it was her fault since her mood swings had been volatile in the past few months. There was something she desperately wanted to talk to Catherine about but when she thought the time was right it never was. How could the time ever be right for what she had to tell her wife? "God life can be such a mess!"
The sound of a horse cantering into the cobbled area of the stable yard was like a magical tune to her ears. "I think she must have heard me."
"Yes, I've noticed that about you both."
Jace frowned. "You have?"
The woman didn't turn to look at Jace as she carried on with her cooking. "Why yes. If either of you talk about the other who isn't there...well, it's almost like telepathy. Either you turn up or she does. I've always found that quiet endearing."
Jace was speechless as she pondered that little gem. Do we really do that? After about fifteen minutes, Catherine opened the outer door to the laundry and Jace stood up and walked toward the inner door of the laundry area to meet her wife. As she did, she saw Catherine struggling to remove a heavy sweater, which was half way over her head.
With a smile, Jace silently walked to Catherine and placed her hands around the woman's midriff. "Need any help?" her fingers began to trace the underside of the breasts that pulsed against Catherine's shirt.
"Oh now if I thought being blindfolded would entice this reaction from you I'd do it more often." She felt the buttons of her shirt open and warm flesh touch her bra moving to the nipples that had grown when Jace touched her.
Jace grinned as she dealt with the only barrier to her touching what was hers. "I love you," she said in a thin thread of a whisper before she placed her lips against the thin fabric.
Catherine groaned at the sensual touch and closed her eyes as she reached up and threw off her sweater. She fastened her gaze on the blonde head that nestled into her chest. "I suppose it's too much to hope that can we delay dinner?"
There was a muffled exclamation as Jace trailed her tongue over the nipple showing through the bra.
"Hmm, I thought so...how about an early night instead." Catherine began to play her own pattern with her fingers on Jace's rear as she pulled the smaller body closer to hers.
Then just as they began a closer inspection of each other, they heard shrill voices. "Later," Jace huskily said before she kissed Catherine long and hard.
"Most definitely later." Catherine held Jace away from her and gazed at the woman who'd entered her life fourteen years earlier. There were lines at the corner of her eyes-laugh lines, which were endearing. In fact, her lady was ageing nicely including the few extra pounds she carried that added to the appeal.
Jace reluctantly withdrew. "I'll see you in the mad house in a few minutes."
Catherine shook her head and chuckled as Jace left with the blowing of a kiss. "God I love that woman." Catherine felt her spirits soar as she buttoned her shirt before she washed up and then entered the fray that was their normal family dinner time.
+ + +
Chapter 4
The bedroom had that smell about it-sensually erotic.
Catherine lay with Jace pillowed on her chest as a happy murmur emanated from the smaller body. They were both satisfied.
Unexpectedly, Jace moved to peer into Catherine's sated features. With a penetrating gaze she asked, "Now are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"
Taken aback by the question, Catherine remained silent as insistent fingers traced patterns on her collar bone-why spoil the moment. "Absolutely nothing could be wrong with me after the hour we've just spent. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, that little thing called intuition where you're concerned." She stretched her naked body until her fingers could touch the blank features of her lover. "It's the tiny frown that appears when you think I'm not looking and the way you look off into the distance that tells me that you need to be anywhere other than where you are."
Unconsciously, Catherine drew her left eyebrow to her forehead to meet the lines that had formed there. "I think you're seeing things Jace."
"Nope! I'm Catherine Warriorson's number one fan and I know when something's up. We both know once you tell me the worry will disappear like magic...right." Jace's face slightly serious, wishing she could take her own advice and tell Catherine what was worrying her. She placed a delicate kiss on the lips that had pursed at her words.
"It can wait until tomorrow Jace...right now I have more interesting tasks for those luscious lips of yours." Catherine bent her head and sucked the willing lips into her mouth quickly replaced by a tangle of tongues.
When the passionate kiss ended, Catherine's hands began to wander rather deliciously over Jace's breast she sighed in both pleasure and frustration. "I have a better idea. You tell me what I want to know and I'll make it worth your while." Her hand moved to the pulsing mound of her lover-two could play the same game.
Catherine's resolve not to have the conversation was gradually slipping from her grasp. In many people's minds, Jace might seem as though she submitted to the subservient role in their relationship, but in reality, Jace held the aces-all of them. "Ok, you wanted to know. Don't blame me if it places a wet rag over your ardour."
Jace chuckled as she kissed the collarbone next to her lips. It tasted of salt and the musky smell that was Catherine. "Nothing could do that love."
The confidence of the response had Catherine silently shaking her head before she drew in a deep breath and began. "Xianthos is having some financial troubles," Jace's sudden jerk of her head to catch Catherine's eyes. "Don't worry, everything will be ok. I just need to spend some time there sorting it out."
Jace rolled her eyes. "Oh is that all. Why didn't you just tell me?" she said as her lips attached like a limpet to Catherine's throat.
Groaning at the exquisite agony of the touch, Catherine hoarsely said, "Because it will mean I have to leave Destiny for some time, in fact we all will." There it was out in the open and Jace would understand just as she always did.
The lips slowed and then stopped their demanding ravages of Catherine's throat, as the words slipped through Jace's subconscious into reality. She lifted her head and gazed perplexingly into the blue eyes. "What do you mean some time and we all will?"
Clearing her throat with eyes that never wavered, Catherine said, "The work will probably take me away for a year maybe more. As a family we've always discussed that a short time away is acceptable but if it was a longer time we would go together."
Jace moved away from the warm inviting body and lay like a statue next to Catherine. Leave Destiny...that's ridiculous. "A year or more? You want me to take the children from the only home they know and go half way round the world for a year or more?"
Catherine felt the atmosphere of indulgent sex move to one of mild anger and disbelief. "I take it the proposal isn't to your liking. I thought you would be pleased. It will give you more time with your family. The kids will love it...it will be a new adventure."
Jace felt her irrational annoyance with Catherine start to mount. It had been something that had been developing for several months and she knew why but was too much of a coward to tell the woman who lay quietly next to her. One bombshell for another maybe this was the perfect timing.
Instead, she sighed heavily and retorted, "I'm sorry Catherine, but the children are at a critical stage in their education. Elena is just coming to terms with her high school and the twins are in their final years of their primary. You've always said that business would never interfere with our family life. Why has that changed all of a sudden?"
Catherine bit her bottom lip. "Things change...we do...and the world does. What I thought a few years ago just doesn't apply. We adapt or ..."
Jace moved like lightening to lean over Catherine, her gaze piercing the blue orbs. It was very clear sex had nothing to do with her intentions. "Or what?"
"Look, Jace, let's talk about this tomorrow. In the light of the day, everything will be ok. Trust me."
"Trust you? When do you care what others think? If I categorically said that I wouldn't go and the kids will stay here what will you do then?"
A hurt expression flickered for a few moments across Catherine's face. "I care. What makes you think I don't?"
Catherine's injured look permeated Jace's irrational attitude but it made no difference. "Look at your hairstyle for one. I loved your hair longer for it was who you were and the woman I loved."
"You don't love me because of a change in my hairstyle? Wow, who have I been kidding all these years?" Catherine bit out in frustrated anger.
"That wasn't what I meant or said. I was merely pointing out that you don't always think about others. That's all. You're right...we'll talk about this tomorrow." Jace flopped back on the bed with her mind in a whirl.
"Yeah I just bet we will. Well tomorrow, I'm going to announce it to the kids. I'm sure they will react with a little more excitement than you have." Catherine closed her eyes and hoped that Jace would nestle back into her body-she didn't. The smaller woman rolled on her side away from Catherine in aggrieved silence.
+ + +
Chapter 5
Catherine sank down on her knees next to the well-manicured graveside of her husband and first born son. The gravity of her situation had her, instead of discussing the situation with Jace, as she knew she should, talking as she always did in times of extreme emotional crisis with the dead. Her left hand dragged itself through her short hair that she'd sported on her return home. Jace had taken one look and hated it. Of course, her wife hadn't verbally stated as much until a day later and she'd seen what a mistake she'd made at the aggrieved bewilderment in Jace's expression. The kids had liked it when they finally noticed.
However, the change in hairstyle had been the tip of the iceberg in the changes that were to present itself to the family. The question was how to go about such a traumatic event without suffering backlash. That question already had an answer-impossible.
Since Jace had insisted on knowing, she had been icy cold for days. The kids didn't speak to her unless spoken to and she had a feeling that her horses knew she was abandoning them too. I'm not! Why don't they understand my point of view? The one person in the world who should have given her the opportunity to explain properly was Jace. But, all she received was the look that told her nothing she could say would change anything. It was going to happen, one way or another, with or without her family's support.
They were bold words and ones she had voiced at the top of her voice angrily only half an hour earlier. That set in motion her need to have her opinion and thoughts voiced if only to the macabre silence around her.
"I can understand the kids in part not wanting to leave here and move to a strange country but Jace. She's American for god sake! She should welcome the chance to go home. Her parents are there. Her sister would only be a car ride across town and she could do anything she wanted. Look up old friends, show the kids around her country and....dammit, the list is endless. But oh no, Jace doesn't want to go back and certainly she doesn't want the kids to leave their environment here. I wonder if there's something she's not telling me...no she can't keep a secret to save her life." Blowing out a hot breath of air that the cooling wind tossed back to her like a returned tennis ball, she stared at the headstone of her son.
Something caught her attention and her gaze swung to the darkening skies. When she'd left, it had been vaguely cloudy and she recalled hearing there was a threat of rain. Now, the panorama overhead was like her thoughts, grey and black overshadowing any blue that had previously been there. She had to get home. If she waited any longer, she wouldn't be able to negotiate several of the tricky dirt tracks that lead from the grave site to the safety of the lower pastures. She chose the horse she was riding at random and she realized that the newer gelding would not be able to negotiate the unfamiliar territory without her guidance.
A spot of rain landed on her duster hat and within seconds, the spot became a deluge. "Can anything else go wrong? No matter what they all think I have to do this. If I don't, we might lose it all and I'm not going to allow my kids and Jace to spend the rest of their lives without the things they've become to accept as normal. It isn't going to happen...not on my watch." She stood up and gave the gravestones one last look. Sighing heavily, she said, "It's going to be a while before I'm back but I'll never forget you."
Catherine untethered the reigns and carefully mounted the horse. The rain was a veritable storm as she steered the skittish horse toward the dirt track leading down to the valley.
+ + +
Chapter 6
Jace had spent, a lifetime it seemed, adapting to Catherine and her mood swings. For the first five years, much of the changes involved the arrival of children. The upheaval that caused was understandable and they would have to make sacrifices. Although, having a nanny when the twins came along and a housekeeper had been a luxury that most folks never had.
Catherine's attitude in the week since she'd arrived back from her sudden and obviously unsuccessful trip to America and the Xianthos Corporation was the worst. There were times when not all the love in the world would plaster over the cracks that needed renovation or eradication. When Catherine told her the news, she'd almost had a heart attack. Along with her wife's new hairstyle, it had all been too much to take. Her mind drifted to the image of Catherine's hair threading through her fingers when they cuddle together on the sofa or made passionate love. It had always been an added turn on for her. It was obvious that Catherine hadn't even considered her in the decision process.
She knew that the cracks had begun to show in their relationship months before. It had been her fault and she accepted that but was it too late to make it right. However, admitting it publicly was another thing altogether. The hours they usually spent together had dwindled into snatched conversations and meal times with the rest of the family. Somewhere over the months, probably in minute ways over the years, they'd forgotten to spend quality time alone. They had both spent more time with other people than each other. Catherine with Colin on their trips to other properties and she...shaking her head she closed her eyes and pondered where it all went wrong as she considered a particular episode that happened six months earlier.
+
"Hey Jace did you find that book Henry was looking for?"
Jace chuckled, as her voice, muffled from inside the large cupboard in the Vicar's home. "Nope it isn't in here." Then spied the book and excitedly shouted to the vicar, "I've got it."
The Reverend Gillian Jacobs walked over the monster piece of furniture. "You're a wonder Jace."
Jace shook her head, moved upwards suddenly, and hit her head against the door. She cried out as the wood hit her just above the eyebrow. "Darn that hurt."
Gillian took hold of Jace's hand and half dragged her over to the light of the window to check the injury. "Superficial. I'm afraid that means you still have to come to church Sunday." The woman smiled and gently touched around the skin.
"Yeah, I'm only good for the odd bruise or two. I'm never sick," Jace cheerfully replied. She suddenly had an odd feeling as the vicar's fingers gently massaged the area.
"I'd call that lucky. How about tea it's good for a shock. Take a seat and I'll make us a cuppa." Gillian left her at the window and gingerly Jace traced her finger over the area and shook her head at her previously odd feeling. It must be that Catherine's away again I'm missing her.
Fifteen minutes later with the tea drunk, Jace stood up from her seated position and looked at the clock. "I need to go, I've promised the twins a visit to the cinema tonight, and with Catherine away it's one of their many treats until she gets back."
Gillian nodded. "When will that be?"
Jace barely heard the softly spoken words. "Who knows? Probably end of next week," was her pragmatic reply.
"She's away a lot these days I noticed."
"Oh is she? I never thought about it really. We both have interests that keep us busy. Take me for instance. I'm around your place more than I am mine when we're working on the orphan projects and the kids are in school." Jace smiled as she collected her purse fishing inside for her car keys.
Gillian sighed and nodded, "I know. It gets kind of lonely when you go home."
Jace heard the melancholy in the vicar's voice. We've known each other for almost eight years...surely Gillian isn't interested in me...that's ridiculous! "Yeah I have that feeling too when Catherine's away. Well I have to go Gill, see you Sunday."
"I'll look forward to it," Gillian remarked quietly.
Jace ran to her car. "Do I dare jokingly tell Catherine that the vicar might be interested in me? Not a good move. Oh well, it was probably my imagination anyway.
+
Jace drew her thoughts from that episode to the beauty of the scenery from the special porch Catherine had added especially for her, which called to her heart. Here she was home. The area had been a place to have some quiet time away from the rest of the family if she needed it although everyone was welcome there. She knew that they'd go away calmer than when they entered. It was because of the magic of the surroundings she thought. The mountains stood majestically ageless and tolerant of all that moved below. They seemed to curve around her special area protectively with the tops of the highest covered in a sprinkling of snow that added a sense of well being.
As she continued to gaze heavenward, Jace noticed the cooling temperature and the darkening clouds-rain. She shivered as the temperature change sent a finger of ice down her back. Standing, Jace headed for the warmth of the main house and encountered a tall child with dark curly hair at the door.
Jace sighed inwardly as she saw Elena's furrowed brow and the consternation on her pretty features. If a stranger came to the door and she asked them to name the child's mother they would say Catherine. Other than green eyes, her daughter looked like the spitting image of her adopted mother did as a child.
Catherine's aunt Constantia had provided that link with Catherine's past. The passing of the woman five years earlier had been heart wrenching for them all. Had it not been for the twins, Jace suspected Catherine might never have gotten over losing the last of her blood relatives.
Her attention turned to her daughter as she heard an accusing voice. "Mom, if you hadn't been so...so angry, Mamma wouldn't be out there in that." She pointed to the steadily increasing rain fall.
"Oh, so it's my fault now. This morning you hardly had a nice word to say about Mamma. Why the sudden change?" Jace passed her daughter who moved slightly to allow her to enter.
Elena scowled. "You know she's not good out there in the dark. Her eyesight is crap."
Jace's expression changed to annoyance. "You will not speak like that young lady. Her eyesight is only impaired in one eye...she can see well enough. Besides the horse will bring her home, they all know the way."
Muttering something under her breath Elena belligerently said, "Well she didn't take one of her usual horses she took one of the new geldings. They haven't a clue."
Jace growled and shook her head. There were times when Catherine didn't use the intelligence she was born with and this was one of those times. Then she returned her attention to her thirteen year old daughter. "I'll call the foreman at the stables to send someone out to check."
"I'll go," Elena said. "By the time you do that and they find someone to go it will be dark. You know Mom...if you'd learned to ride like Mamma always wanted, you could go and sort this all out." With a surly expression, the teenager curled her lip.
Constantia told her about Catherine's temper tantrums growing up and Elena was following a parallel line. "I'll deal with this! Go back to doing whatever you were doing before and thanks."
"Like you care," Elena said with snort of anger before hastily exiting the room.
Closing her eyes, Jace felt a headache developing as she slowly shook her head. Is this what we have in store for the next few years? No wonder Catherine, wants a change of scenery. Then her mind travelled to the memory of a kiss and the real reason she was angry all the time.
+
"I see Catherine is conspicuous by her absence," Reverend Gillian Jacobs remarked quietly as she and Jace finalised the orphanage plans for next year.
Jace nodded, "Yep, a problem with one of the smallholders down south. I don't envy her and Colin. At this time of year it's freezing there."
Gillian and Jace walked to the door of the church hall and opened the door. As Jace was about to leave through the swinging door, the reverend's hand snaked out and caught her arm-the door swung shut.
"Yes Gill?" Jace's face scrunched in question. "Do you need me for anything else?"
The innocent remark held a whole new meaning for Jace as the reverend placed her arms around her in a gentle yet firm hold. Then she kissed Jace deeply.
It wasn't that she reacted to the kiss...or did she. On one level, she supposed she did, but as soon as her mind registered that the woman wasn't Catherine, Jace forced her body away from Gillian and ended the kiss.
"What, what are you doing Gill?" Jace's face mirrored shock and surprise in almost the same instant as her voice.
Gillian stared at Jace almost accusingly as she breathlessly replied, "I love you Jace and I want to spend my life with you."
Jace astonished and bewildered by the turn of events said, "Gill you can't be serious. You know I love Catherine. She's my partner in everything. I don't think of you in that way. How could you think I would?"
Swallowing hard, Gillian shook her head."She's never around and you're always here...what else am I to think."
Jace burst out, "But...but you're my friend. We've known each other for years. We have similar interests but I don't love you Gill...not like that!"
"I could make you love me like that Jace. Why should we both be lonely? Catherine doesn't know what she's missing leaving you for so long. She's damned selfish."
Jace drew in a deep breath and moved closer to the woman who had before her eyes, literally changed her spots. Her anger at being in this position fuelled the fire that burned at Gillian's accusation. "You will never ever speak of Catherine that way again Gillian. She's the most giving person I know. She loves the children and me so much that she would sacrifice her life for us. I will not have anyone disrespect her that way. Now, if we're done here Reverend I have a family to go back too."
The words echoed off the thin walls. Gillian moved backwards as if Jace had struck her as a look of shame filled her face.
Jace shook her head. "I'll see you in church Sunday Reverend. Good afternoon." With her head held high, Jace left the building. Once she was inside her car, she felt the tears of mortification of what had happened overtake her. "God, how am I going to tell Catherine? She'll kill Gill!"
+
She never did and it now was eating her alive and with it, the bond she had with Catherine.
+ + +
Chapter 7
Entering the main hallway of the house, Jace noted that except for the noise of the rain on the metal roof, it was remarkably quiet. The twins were in town with friends. The two week school holiday meant that since they lived so far away, they didn't see their friends often. She'd taken them to visit friends for the day that morning so they could take part in a planned sleepover. Walking over to the hall phone, she connected to the manager of the property and told him of Catherine's possible predicament. She asked him to send someone to check on her discreetly.
Having made the call, she speculated on the events of the next day. Tomorrow would be special and even Catherine might manage a smile. Jake and Lisa were coming home. The thought of her eldest children brought a tender smile to her lips that eased the tension of her encounter with Elena.
Entering the kitchen, she allowed her smile to linger as she saw Faith Thornton standing at the stove and stirring one of her delicious dishes. Grace's mother had been worth her weight in gold since she officially moved into the home ten years earlier.
The older woman looked up and smiled when she saw Jace. "I thought tonight we'd have one of my specialties. A lovely beef stew before I leave to see Grace and the family."
"Thanks Faith, we'll appreciate you cooking for us while Mrs. Snow is off for her evening of bingo."
"I love it and you know that. There's nothing much else you need me for around here, except the odd weeding session." Faith smiled as she continued to check on her dish.
"You're family Faith. Catherine wouldn't have it any other way." The thought of Catherine wrenched at her gut. She desperately needed to tell her about the kiss. Then she dragged her mind to what Faith had said moments earlier. "I can't wait to see Grace and the family again. I wish they hadn't moved from Destiny. I suppose we all have to move on eventually."
"Oh, I just saw Elena riding like a bat out of hell toward the valley...is there a problem?" Faith asked with a frown. "The weather has changed so suddenly...do you think it is wise for her to go out riding?
Jace closed her eyes at what could happen next. She rushed to the phone and called the manager back. "John, Elena is out too."
After John told her they saw her go out, she finished the call and shook her head. "I don't know what to do about that child. Sometimes she's so wayward. Did we have all this trouble with Jake and Lisa? God I hope they're both ok. Do you think we should go and search for them in the car?"
"Don't worry Jace, they'll be fine. Elena takes after Catherine. She's a superb horsewoman. I'm sure the men will bring them home safely and if we haven't heard in half an hour we'll go out and look for ourselves." Faith tried to ease the worry on Jace's face. "Let me get you a cup of some coffee," Faith said as she patted Jace's shoulder. They've been out in worse conditions with no trouble."
Jace nodded slightly. She was appeased but only slightly as she felt the knot in her belly tighten. "Ok, but once I've drank it we're going to find them."
A few minutes later, she looked at the steaming cup of coffee placed in front of her. "Thanks Faith. What would we do without you?"
"You'll do just fine in America and you know it. The children will too. It's just a question of getting them used to the idea," Faith said as she sat opposite Jace.
Green eyes darted around the kitchen as she took in all the familiar lines and items in the heart of their home. "I want to believe that Faith, but why now? The children are happy in school. Catherine can do most of her work from home just as she's always has since the children came along. It's beautiful here. We have everything we want. I just don't understand why suddenly we have to give up all of this. It doesn't make sense to me."
Faith sighed. She hadn't been around for seventy years not to know when things were bad in a relationship. If the two women who she knew loved each other a great deal didn't talk, what they had could be broken beyond repair. "Perhaps if you and Catherine went out together alone, dinner maybe and discussed things. You know she doesn't usually do anything without a good reason, especially when it involves her family." That was true-normally, but even she had doubts since Catherine hadn't been very open on her arrival back from her last business trip.
"That's what worries me Faith. This time around, she isn't even considering that any of us have a view point. It's her way or the highway. The choices of mine or the children aren't important."
"You could always ask Grace to speak with Catherine. I know she'll be upset if anything spoils the celebrations. It's not every day you turn forty." Faith sighed knowing that there was nothing more to say on the subject. It was up to Jace and Catherine to figure out.
Jace shook her head and smiled. "I feel more like eighty. Yeah, maybe we can have a dinner out." She sipped more coffee and glanced at the clock. Catherine had been gone over an hour and she missed her. Ten more minutes and she was going to find them herself.
Then she heard the clatter of hooves on the gravel. She got up and disappeared into the darkening evening to find her wife and child.
+ + +
Chapter 8
Catherine felt the horse tugging her away from the path that she was certain took them toward the valley and home. The gelding wasn't used to the area or being out on a rocky outcrop in rainy conditions. She listened intently and thought she heard the faint sounds of another rider. Pulling her horse to a standstill, she waited. Then a faint smile creased her lips as she heard the distinctive voice of Elena shouting her name. She shouted back and waited for her daughter to appear.
Elena and her mount Diamond appeared in the ever decreasing light. "There you are. I thought you might need help."
Catherine bristled at the censure in the young voice and felt the anger of the week mounting but she held her tongue. "What makes you think that?" Catherine retorted in an icy voice.
The girl laughed. "Because if you'd let that horse lead you any further to your right you'd have gone over the edge of the embankment. You can't see a damned thing out here can you Mamma. I told mom so."
"Less of the clever talk young lady, I see well enough. What did your mom say?" Catherine felt her heart race as she realised how close she'd come to losing her mount and perhaps more.
"I said I'd come out for you. She wanted to send one of the guys from the stables. You could have been in trouble by the time they found you," Elena said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Catherine knew she was right but at the same time to disobey Jace was wrong and she couldn't let it go unpunished. At least Elena cares. Why, didn't Jace bring the Landrover and come looking for me? "She is the cat's mother Elena. Don't be so disrespectful. Right, you lead I'll follow."
Half way home, they met the other riders. Catherine acknowledged the men before they all headed back.
As they entered the Destiny courtyard, the stable hands volunteered to take care of all the mounts. Elena said she'd prefer to take care of Diamond herself and rode her mount toward the stable. Catherine relinquished her mount to one of her employees with a brief thanks and headed to the house. Who knew what kind of reception she was going to receive. With a quick glance at the sky that was heavy with rain, she wondered if it would be a less icy reception outside than in.
+ + +
The smell of cooking and the warmth of the outer-room leading to the kitchen made Catherine feel better as she shrugged out of her light jacket and kicked of the boots. She fingered her blouse. It was soaked and her jeans were clinging to her like a second skin. Cursing the clothes, she shook out her hair and was pleased with herself as she easily towelled dry the short hair. The long hair was a major disadvantage in this type of weather.
Padding toward the door leading into the main kitchen, she sucked in a deep breath and opened the door. She wiped her hand across her face trying to stop the moisture still in her hair from dripped down her face.
"Where's Elena?"
Oh great! No how are you dear, just where's the child. "She's taking care of Diamond. What did you think...that I'd left her out there," Catherine gruffly said.
Jace heard the anger in the Catherine's voice. There was never any mistaking when her wife was upset. "It wouldn't be the first time you've done that if I recall. Look, I didn't mean it that way and you know it. I was worried about you both."
"Do I? Really? Well you could have fooled me. I'm not your adversary Jace but if you want another fight go ahead." Catherine answered wanting to leave the room and take a shower and change her clothes.
Faith didn't wait to hear more and left the room with a few softly spoken words that the other two women didn't hear.
"I'm not your adversary either Catherine. I just want to know why?"
Catherine sighed. "Isn't that obvious? You and I don't fight fair Jace we never have. I needed the air."
Jace shook her head. "I didn't mean you going out for a ride...I meant leaving here." Jace walked over to within inches of the woman she loved. She could smell the faint perfume that permeated Catherine's skin any time of the day. It had the ability to increase her heart rate dramatically.
There was a poignant silence between them. Catherine leaned forward slightly and tipped Jace's face upward. She noted the subdued and uncertain expression. A nerve flickered in her jaw as she felt the magnetic pull of the smaller body next to hers. "Won't you just for now, not ask that question? When I can tell you the full story, I will. You need to trust me Jace...can you do that?"
Jace felt her legs weaken and she drew in a deep breath to steady herself. "We don't want to go Catherine."
Catherine pulled Jace close to her wet body and kissed the top of her head. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she said, "I know and I promise you that as soon as we can come home we will. I ...I don't want to go alone Jace...it would tear me apart to leave you and the children behind. We once said we'd do this together, is that still true?"
Jace turned in Catherine's embrace and caught the troubled look on her partner's face. She only had one word. "Yes...yes it's still true. Look, let's talk about this later and we'll work something out."
Catherine felt her world that had been hanging on by a thread suddenly repair itself. Bending her head, she kissed the trembling lips of her wife. The kiss moved from thanks to passion as tongues intertwined and breathing became laboured.
When they broke apart, Jace rested her head against Catherine's chest and felt the wet fabric for the first time. "You need to get out of those clothes before you catch a chill."
Catherine chuckled and then caught Jace's concerned green eyes with her sultry blue ones. "Want to help?"
The low sexy question had moisture developing in all the right places. "Sure we can't be too careful now can we?"
They headed out of the kitchen with their arms around each other as they rapidly mounted the stairs to their bedroom.
+ + +
Chapter 9
Jacob Patterson drummed his fingers impatiently on the café table, where he waited for the rest of his party. One, the love of his young life, was paying a visit to the bathroom. The other, he'd definitely call a pain and she was late. The café bar on the strip in the centre of Christchurch had been a good idea he originally thought but now he wasn't so sure. Why is it taking so long? He glanced idly at the ducks sailing by on the river barely a hundred yards from his position. Several people-he speculated they were tourists waiting in line for a trip on the punt that had just pulled up.
"Can I get you a refill?"
Jacob took his gaze from the laughing people trying to foolish climb into the punt without looking. His smile reflected his amusement as he turned his attention to the young woman who'd asked him a question. He suspected the fresh-faced woman was even younger than he was. He'd missed the vital and healthy outdoors complexion of people. Living in London for the past two years had made his skin pale in comparison. "Sure, I'll have a Speight's this time around."
A haughty English accented voice from behind the waitress said, "I'll have a pinot noir and this time make sure it's from a new bottle. The last one was vile!"
The waitress didn't flinch at the caustic words and managed, as far as Jacob could see, to allow the criticism to wash over her. With a swivel on her heels, she smiled at the woman who had come up behind her, "No worries," she said before leaving with a flip of her notepad against her hip toward the bar.
Jacob didn't say anything allowing the woman to retake her seat beside him. He gave her a measured look and shook his head. "Helen that wasn't necessary. I asked you earlier if the drink was ok and you didn't say one way or the other. You drank it."
Helen Banks tilted her doll like head to one side and pouted at the man at her side. Then in a little girl lost voice she said, "Oh Jacob she was only a waitress I'm sure I didn't hurt her feelings."
He was about to say more when he heard a voice that was as familiar to him as his own. His sister had finally arrived.
A young woman in a flowery print blouse and equally colourful pants, accompanied by a large Celtic buckle belt and a woollen multicoloured scarf around her neck approached the table. Her red hair moved wildly as she let a smile of genuine affection cross her face for the man seated at the table. "Jake! You're home at last. Our parents are really looking forward to your visit. I can't believe you've been gone for three years."
Jake stood up and grinned. Lisa was a pain in the ass sometimes but she was his and he loved her and the frustration element that always surrounded their relationship. He held out his arms and hugged the petite woman to his broad muscled chest. Then lifted her easily off the ground and kissed her cheek. "Hey Princess it's good to see you. You look...great."
Lisa grinned. Her warm welcoming smile seemed to make her eyes twinkle as she looked at her brother. "Yeah I finished the herbalist course at Uni last semester with honours. Mom agreed to stump up the deposit on the lease for the shop if I did that. You'll have to visit it before you go back. By the way, how long are you staying...we all wondered?" Lisa cast her gaze in the direction of the sullen featured woman at the table. There was no doubt that the woman was beautiful in the china doll fashion. It would be interesting to see how the rest of the family looked on this new liaison of Jake-he never mentioned he had a serious girlfriend.
Jake chuckled and it was so deep that the sound sent shivers down Lisa's back. Her brother had grown into a man, a very handsome one at that. "You never change Princess, you always did have twenty questions."
A less haughty voice interrupted the conversation. "Jacob, aren't you going to introduce me."
Jake nodded as he realized that for a few seconds he'd forgotten the woman he professed to love. He had so enjoyed the reunion with his sister who went down the same path he had at an earlier age. Neither one of them ever regretted taking that road for it was filled with so much opportunity and love. "Yes of course darling...sorry about that. Helen Banks, this is my sister Lisa Simeon."
Lisa felt a chilly blast as if it came from around the street corner. She smiled at the woman and held her hand out in welcome. "Hi Helen."
Helen gave the hand a cursory look and ignored it. "Pleased to meet you Lisa. I didn't know you were married?"
Puzzled Lisa asked, "I'm not...what gave you that idea?" She looked down at her hands there were three rings on her fingers but none on the wedding finger.
"Different surnames of course," Helen said in a condescending tone.
"Oh, well that's easy..."
Jake intervened. "Hey ladies sorry to spoil the chat but we need to order if we are eating here or do you want to stop on the way?"
Lisa gave her brother a concentrated gaze then shrugged. "I'm easy. The car is in the hotel parking lot. All you need to do is collect your stuff and we can leave now if you want."
Jake made a quick decision. "Be back in a second."
Lisa knew that Jake wanted to go so she didn't sit. It was interesting to her that Jake hadn't mentioned that strictly speaking they weren't blood kin. That idea of course begged the question of what else he hadn't told the woman about their family. She silently chuckled. Our parents are going to have a field day with this stuck up bitch...especially Catherine. All Jake told that was that he was bringing home a friend. There was no mention that it was a female friend, therefore everyone assumed it was a man. Turning her attention to the woman who was watching her with a less than friendly expression, she asked, "Is it your first trip to New Zealand Helen?"
The woman flicked back her shiny and beautifully cut blonde hair that was swinging around her head in perfect harmony with every movement she made. That movement was a twist of the head to one side so she could look closely at the woman who had asked her a question. "I was impressed with the shopping in Dubai. There isn't much here other than tourist junk is there?"
Lisa had to prevent herself from taking a swing at the woman. Christchurch was a beautiful city. It had charm, beauty and enough shops to cater to most needs. True, the centre was filled with tourist shops but wasn't that the case in every major city that was influenced by tourism these days. "You can't really compare here to Dubai, Helen. Do you enjoy nature at its best? If you do, you'll love the South Island?"
"I'm more of a city animal. I've lived in London all my life. It's the only place to be if you want twenty-four seven entertainment." Helen moved her gaze from Lisa down to her well manicured fingernails.
"I love it here and so does Jake...we all do. In fact, we wouldn't live anywhere else," Lisa said as she quickly realised she'd made a mistake in making the statement.
Helen gave her a cursory almost bored look. "I think Jacob sees things differently now."
The mention of the man's name coincided with his arrival back at the table. "Ok, we're good to go. The sooner we leave the sooner we get there." He smiled at the two women. It appeared to him that they were getting along fine.
"Darling, does that mean I'm not going to have that wine I ordered?"
Lisa rolled her eyes at the pout on the thin lips and under breath said , "God help us all...a whining Pom."
"What was that Lisa?" Jake asked.
Holding up her hands, Lisa gave him a smile. "Oh I was just saying it's going to be great to see the oldies."
Helen stood up from the table and Jake whispered something in her ear that made her smile. She attached herself like a leach to Jake's arm and with a backward glance in Lisa's direction, walked away with her possession.
Lisa stood there for a few seconds and realised that in a short space of time she'd actually come across someone she hated. Tucking her scarf around her neck securely, she followed them out and whispered to the trees on the bank of the Avon River, "Oh joy, this is going to be fun. I hope it's not going to be a car journey from hell." She trudged after them and caught them as they reached the Crown Plaza Hotel.
+ + +
Chapter 10
Nathan and Allison Warriorson-Bardley gave each other a conspiratorial glance then ran down the hall shouting at the top of their young voices. The sound echoed off the wood panelled walls and resonated loudly inside the house. Nathan almost reached the kitchen door when his twin grabbed him and pushed him to one side. He wasn't taking that lying down. He slipped out a foot and sent Allison flying into the door, which she hit with a thud.
Then all hell broke out as the girl began to wail which sounded worse than a cat on heat. Then she gave her brother an accusing look as she wiped at the crocodile tears. A faint smile curved her lips as they both heard a door slam until they realized that the door was their mamma's study door. Both of the children's eyes opened wide and they held their breath.
"What on earth was all that noise about and who is crying?" Catherine's face held a thunderous expression as she gave the twins a hard gaze and waited for the reply.
"Nothing Mamma...we were playing that's all," Nathan said as he pointed at his sister. "She slipped."
"I never did, you pushed me. He did too Mamma and all because he wanted to beat me down the corridor." Allison realised what she said too late and waited for the wrath. Time and again, their mother told them not to play in the hall and running was definitely out of the question...especially if their Mamma was home.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Catherine gave each of them one of her stern looks then raised her left eyebrow. "Who won?"
The twins glanced at each other and they both gave her an identical, butter couldn't melt in their mouths, smile. "We both did."
"Ah, so it was a draw huh?"
"No Mamma it wasn't. We both won in our own way," Allison pointed out fluttering her dark eyelashes for effect.
Tapping her fingers on her forearm, Catherine nodded. "I see. Where is your Mom and Elena?"
Nathan held out his arms. "Don't know...haven't seen them since lunch."
"We were watching an Indiana Jones movie," Allison supplied.
Catherine considered the information. The twins loved watching TV, but it had to be in measured chunks or they'd sit in the lounge indefinitely. "Is it finished?"
"No were hungry. We thought Snowy might make us a bowl of popcorn." The twins replied in unison before they giggled.
"Mrs. Snow has better things to do than make popcorn. Besides, you've only just had lunch." Catherine silently felt her anger melt as she conversed with her youngest children. My god is it really ten years since they were born, it doesn't seem that long ago. Opening the door to the kitchen, she held it open and allowed the two pint sized humans inside. No one was there. Mrs. Snow had taken over the housekeeper duties from Judy Schmidt eight years earlier. Judy went back to her chosen profession of teaching. They did see her occasionally when she visited Faith but for the most part, she had her own life to live with her husband and daughter.
"Aw, Mrs. Snow isn't here...can you make us popcorn Mamma. We promise to be good." Allison flashed another saccharine filled smile.
Glancing at the clock, Catherine saw it was two o'clock. She listened to a brief phone message from Lisa saying they should arrive by five. Catherine decided that dinner would probably be delayed so what the hell. "Popcorn in ten minutes. Now go watch the movie."
Nathan rushed forward and wrapped his slender arms around her long legs. "You're the best Mamma." He grinned widely and shot out of the room while his twin, with a wave, followed closely behind.
"You're the best...yeah right, only because you're getting your own way, Catherine said as she pulled out a saucepan from the cupboard. She then checked the larder for the popcorn. A few minutes later, it was popping away and her eyes flashed in surprise as the delicacy began to overflow the pan. "Oh crap, I've done too much!" She watched in fascination as the popping corn left the pan to fly into the air landing all around like a sea of yellow white foam.
"Catherine!" Catherine swung around guiltily to stare into two pairs of green eyes. One was amused the other not.
Switching off the heat on the pan, Catherine scratched the side of her neck and gave what she hoped was one of her austere stares that brooked no questions-it didn't work.
Jace marched into the kitchen followed by Elena who was attempting to hide the smirk that pulled at her lips. "What on earth are you doing? We've only just had lunch. Why are you popping corn of all things...you hate it?" Jace pulled a face as she crunched on several kernels and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah Mamma, how are you going to explain this to Mrs. Snow ," Elena said only to be given a look of censure from Jace. Her scowl replaced the amusement as she sat down at the kitchen table muttering something the adults couldn't hear under her breath.
Catherine considered what to say next and then sighed. "Sometimes it's just good to do something out of character. I'm sure you've done that once or twice Jace. Anyway, this is my house and I can do what I want when I want or is that a criminal offence now? " It would have been so easy to explain the true reason but she was annoyed that she couldn't do something and not have to explain herself.
Jace heard the building frustration in Catherine's tone. She kept her temper relatively in check for years. However, in recent months, she had a short fuse and before long, they'd have another difference of opinion. Once again, her own frustration surfaced as Catherine's comment about doing something out of character hit a nerve. "I'm sure I have. Catherine, we need to clean this up before Mrs. Snow sees this and has a fit." Jace didn't want to argue in front of Elena for they'd done enough of that recently.
"I made the mess and I'll clean it up when I'm done." Catherine crossed her arms over her chest and crushed a few more kernels under her foot to emphasis her point.
Oh so that's how it's going to be. Jace moved forward slowly as she crushed more kernels to face off with Catherine. With her head tilting upwards in defiance, she said, "I guess you will...good luck." She stomped on several more to make a point as she left the room and went into the laundry area to collect the cleaning materials.
Catherine felt a tug in her belly at the despondent expression on her wife's face. Then she stared at the silent teenager still in the room. She took out a few pieces of popcorn from the now cooling pan and playfully threw them at Elena.
The corn hit the girl's head and she glared at Catherine. "That's not fair."
"Hey, who said life was fair...besides, you love popcorn." Catherine grinned as the child lightened up somewhat. She was way too serious these days.
With her face clearing of the scowl, Elena stood up and moved to within inches of her mother. "You made this for the twins didn't you?"
Catherine winked and turned around to place half of her golden treasures in a couple of small bowls to save arguments over who had the most out of the same bowl.
Elena picked up a few kernels from the floor and asked, "Why didn't you just tell her."
"I will...eventually." She felt several small pings against her hair and knew Elena was throwing popcorn at her. Placing the two smaller bowls on the bench top she turned and grabbed hold of her daughter and began to tickle her.
Elena giggled and tried to squirm out of the tight hold but couldn't. Then she began to scream, "No, Mamma no. Stop, stop." Their feet crunching even more kernels into the floor.
The door to the hall opened and two faces looked inside. In seconds, two squealing children joined in the fun and within seconds, it became an all out popcorn fight with Catherine as the main target.
Allowing the kids to get the better of her, she landed on the floor as a giggling teenager sat on her belly with the twins sitting on her legs. "Here you go Mamma...we kids win." Elena popped a piece of corn in Catherine's mouth.
With an exaggerated expression of distaste, Catherine rolled her eyes at them. "Ok I surrender...I surrender."
The children laughed and cheered in delight as they allowed their mother off the floor . Seconds later engulfed her in a family hug.
"We love you Mamma," they chorused.
Catherine grinned and nodded her head above the children as she hugged them gently to her. With an emotion filled voice, she said, "I love you too...never forget that. Now who's going to help me clean this place up? I don't want Mrs. Snow mad at me as well as your mom."
Jace having heard the commotion had watched from the laundry doorway unseen by the others. The happy, if messy, scenario went on without her. Her lips pulled into a sad smile as she felt left out and suddenly all alone. "I'm not mad at you Catherine. I love you. I just wish I knew how to tell you my problems and you not take a hammer to solve the issue," she whispered. Then with a deep breath, she breezed back into the kitchen mop and bucket in hand. She marched like a drill sergeant major over to Catherine.
"I think you said something about cleaning up?" She gave her best military style voice.
Catherine tilted her head slightly and a knowing smile creased her lips. "Yes ma'am I most certainly did. I'd best get the troops in order shall I ma'am?" Jace suppressed a giggle and handed over the mop to Catherine and the bucket to Elena, "I'll be back for inspection in ten minutes, and then we're going to the movies, your Mamma's treat." Jace winked at her wife who shook her head with a wry smile.
"Right troops let's get on with this or we'll be late for the first showing."
Delighted screams from the twins filled the room and once more, they gelled like a family does.
JM Dragon author of the newly released novel Echo's Crusade.
Published by Intaglio Publications
Available at SCP and Bella Books
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