DRAGONJULS' Storybook
~ Two Steps Forward One Back ~
J M Dragon
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© by JM Dragon September2001
e-mail: jmdragon@jmdragon.net
Disclaimer and Acknowledgments This is an adult story that primarily features stories involving women. If it is illegal in the state, province, or country in which you live; or if you are under the age of 18, please leave the site and find something else to read.
There are implied consensual sexual relations between adult women. There are elements of strong language, violence, physical and/or mental, as well as some emotional hurt and discomfort in the story.
The events portrayed in this story are fictional and any resemblance to actual events and/or people is purely coincidental.
This is the sixth part of the Define Destiny series. Although reading Define Destiny, Haunting Shadows, In Pursuit of Dreams, Actions and Consequences, and All Our Tomorrows, is not absolutely necessary, it would assist in understanding the circumstances surrounding this story.Dedication: ~ To all readers who will be continuing the journey with Catherine, Jace and their extended family and friends. I found the journey to revive these characters like welcoming old friends home. Thank you to everyone, who did take the time to e-mail me, especially those requesting more. I was and will be always very grateful. This story is for you!Acknowledgement: ~ Thanks to Alice and Packer, I appreciate the generosity of their time in beta reading for me.
Author's Notes: ~ I have touched on some sensitive subjects for some people, nothing particularly in-depth, and the links detailed relate to website about the different subject matter, which if anyone is interested in understanding more about the subject matter please check out, or other similar sites.
All my stories are FICTION, and although I have tried to be reasonably accurate in the information, it is only intended to be used in the context of the fictitious world the characters inhabit.
Post natal depression - http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/info/help/pndep/
High blood pressure - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/hbp_preg.htm
Bullying - http://www.bullying.co.uk/
Chapter Three “Are you sure you want to get involved, Catherine? I know you said you would but…” her lips were captured from saying any more, as they experienced the delicate texture and nectar of her partner’s, silencing her in a most delicious way.
Catherine pulled Jace close as they sat in the sitting room having had a quiet lunch together. Faith, Judy and the children hadn’t yet arrived back from their supposedly window shopping. She’d bet her next investor cheque on one of them buying something, those two simply couldn’t resist a bargain or so they said, it was in their blood, true shop-a-holics if ever she’d met any. “I’ll find out what’s bugging our friend, it’s time someone did, and Colin isn’t likely to antagonize her any more than he does already, I suspect.”
“How do you know that?” Jace asked as she peered up into her lover’s face, everything about Catherine made her tingle. Her lover was perfection, if you could ever say that about someone.
Catherine grinned and winked at her love, “Easy, I know what he feels like. Jace, you are not the most amiable person to have around when you have had hardly any sleep, and are bone weary to boot, with Elena wanting more attention, and you thinking that only you can give it.”
Moving out of the tender embrace Jace glared at the raven-haired woman, “I do not! When? You tell me when I’ve ever not accepted help?”
“Touchy subject told you so.” Laughing at the affronted expression on her lover’s face, she was so easy to wind up and lovely too.
Glaring angrily, she looked deep into the ice blue pools and saw laughter shimmering there. “You are wicked, Catherine!”
“I know, but you still love me, right?”
“Love you? Sure I do, besides, who else would put up with you, huh?” Jace snuggled back down into the warm safety of her partner’s arms, drinking in the ease in which they now teased each other. Accepting it as part of their normal interaction, no more intolerable situations of thinking that they still had something to prove.
“Well…” laughing at the expression she was given. “Quite right, my love, who else,” kissing the top of the blonde head.
“I need to go into town tomorrow, want to come with me?”
“Could it wait until the day after? I have a report to finish, I won’t get the final details until the morning, and the report is late already.” Catherine bit down on her lip in consternation. She hated Jace going into town on her own, it was the protective mothering part of her, especially now that the babies were due in a little over eight weeks.
“Sorry, love, but it’s all arranged…a meeting with the new Vicar. First week and all that, and since I’m a member of the committee, it was the best day for everyone. It isn’t until the afternoon though, we could always meet up later and you can take me to dinner in town for a change.” Jace smiled, waiting for the response, feeling the tension in her partner’s body. It was always the same when Catherine wasn’t able to attend an appointment she arranged. Anyway, a little space wouldn’t be a bad thing, they were literally in each other’s lives 24/7, and it would only be for a few hours.
“Ok, I can work with that, I’ll have someone drive you into town and I’ll call at the church meeting house to pick you up, how does that sound?”
“Absolutely wonderful, my what a wonderfully amiable team we make, lover.”
Chuckling, Catherine felt her senses changing gear as she relished the simple term ‘lover’. Jace had the key to all her buttons, and seemingly worked them over unconsciously. What a pushover she was…then again, she didn’t care. She loved this woman who made her happy and that to her was simply priceless.
“Any chance of me allowing the lover part to take over, we have the house to ourselves?”
Giggling like a schoolgirl Jace stared at Catherine, her breathing shallow, her senses heightened, “I thought you’d never catch on.”
Easily picking up the much smaller woman, even if she was heavier these days, she kissed her neck gently tugging at the lobe of her ear in the process, “Might be a slow burner, my love, but you know me, when the fire is lit watch out.”
Reveling in her lover’s touch and kisses, they moved out of the sitting room to the stairs on their way to their bedroom. All Jace could think of, as her senses took over and words became irrelevant, was that here she had one fabulously dangerous firework, and it was all hers and only hers.
~ ~ ~
The man in front of her hadn’t changed a bit, a little greyer at the temples maybe. His face was still as friendly and welcoming as she remembered when she’d first met him. Now, the lines of strain on his features reminded her of the last time they’d met, when his granddaughter had been kidnapped. She supposed in some ways this could have the same meaning; he’d always come across as very much a family man who put family first.
“This Luke Cruisal, do you know him or is he …”
“I know him.” Jason replied flatly.
Putting her head to one side she looked at the man opposite her, that wasn’t a friendly tone. “I take it you don’t like him, is there a reason for that, besides this new development?”
“I don’t know him really, therefore it’s hard to dislike him or not, I’ve met him a couple of times. He works on the ranch owned by my elder daughter’s partner, you, of course, know her, Catherine Warriorson.”
“Oh yes, I know Catherine, how are they by the way, Lisa in particular?” Steering the conversation away from the subject at hand for a moment while gathering her thoughts on the matter after reading the letter he’d been sent.
“All well at the moment, waiting for the birth of twins. It will be one busy household more so than it is already.” Jason smiled, wondering how they would manage with five children, knowing at the same time that with all the love that was in that particular household, it really wouldn’t be a problem.
“Sounds good and Lisa?”
“Precocious as always, her therapy sessions are coming to an end according to Catherine. We’re crossing our collective fingers that there’s no lasting damage.” This was ridiculous, why was he worried about his youngest child? Lucy was, after all, a grown woman, old enough to make her own mind up. They lived in a free country didn’t they, was he infringing on that?
“Glad to hear it. This Cruisal character, do you know anything about him?” Serena had seen the play of emotions on the man’s face, he was struggling with an inner dilemma, and it didn’t take Einstein to work out what that was. Hard to let kids leave the nest and not be worried, she’d seen that often enough, especially with parents who had been claustrophobic with their off spring.
“He worked for Catherine on the ranch, that’s about it. He and Lucy struck up a friendship a year last Christmas, didn’t think it was anything more, she was going through the rebellious stage.”
“Ah, did you nip it in the bud by any chance?”
“No, I had the impression that Lucy was trying to prove a point to someone, and it wasn’t me or her mother.”
“Her sister perhaps?”
Wiping a hand across his face Jason grimaced, “Catherine…she’d frowned on the relationship. Lucy was being her true pedantic self, similar character traits rubbing each other the wrong way. It was all taken care of at the time, and we thought that once she’d gone back to the States it was all over, appeared that way until now, that is.”
Serena looked over the file again and considered her words carefully. “Maybe Mr. Cruisal found out that he was only being used as a pawn in a game between Lucy and Catherine and decided to make bigger waves. How did he get on with his employer?”
“You’d have to ask Catherine. However, I’d rather she didn’t know about this yet anyway, she’d probably send out the dogs for him.”
Smiling at the remark, “Isn’t that what you are going to do if I take this case?”
Ruefully looking at the detective he gave her a sheepish nod, “I guess. Maybe this is a bad idea, I should just let things take their course.”
“Anyone else I could talk to discreetly? Afterwards, if I feel that your daughter is in danger, other than from her own choices, which I’m afraid we all make good or bad^ no matter how well intentioned, I’ll take the matter further. What do you think?”
Jason pondered the situation; at the end of the day he was annoyed that Lucy hadn’t been honest with them. It wasn’t as if they had ever denied her anything, certainly hadn’t been overly protective, too lenient more likely. Damn, Allison was going to be upset. He’d call her this evening, she was in LA visiting friends, he really should have consulted with her first before saying anything to anyone but it was too late now.
“Colin Montgomery, I’ll email you his number when I get back to the office. I’ll call my wife this evening, she’ll probably tell me I’m being too protective and to leave Lucy to make her own life. One way or another, we will speak again tomorrow, Serena.” He stood up and shook her hand before he left the room to her quiet goodbye.
Closing the file she placed it in her bulging pending tray, “Some kids don’t know how lucky they are to have parents who actually care, so many don’t give a shit these days.”
Pressing the intercom to the outer office, “Jenny, want to take a break and fetch lunch?”
“Surely, your usual?”
“Sure…no wait, Jenny, why not surprise me.” Ending the conversation, a twinkle in her eyes, knowing that would throw her assistant. Oh well, living dangerously, even if it was just a change at lunch, would do them both good. It had all been a morass of paper recently; perhaps there was a change of wind in the air.
~ ~ ~
Lucy Bardley glanced at her watch as the plane took off from New York. In a little over eight hours she would be with Luke and that was all that mattered. He’d called her out of the blue a month ago, asking if she wanted to meet him in LA when he came for a vacation in three months time. They’d had fun in New Zealand even if at first it had been to prove a point to her sister’s girlfriend. She actually had enjoyed his company, not to mention he was one handsome guy who had her stomach doing flips whenever she saw him. When she’d agreed to the rendezvous, in a few months time they’d remained in contact by email and the odd phone call, somehow everything had developed from there and he’d proposed a week ago.
The sensible part of her psyche told her to hold off and wait until they met up again, but the emotional part of her told her to give in to her feelings, and she’d said yes. Things had gone from a fast pace to hectic, especially when he admitted that he’d been in LA for a month and hadn’t wanted to influence her decision in seeing him. She’d been surprised, shocked and annoyed for a few moments, but immediately forgave him, realizing that he was only giving her some space instead of arriving on her doorstep out of the blue. They’d talked about her leaving New York to be with him in LA, however she’d agreed to stay behind until he found a job and an apartment, that way her family wouldn’t think he was using her to stay in the States. That was okay for him but she desperately wanted to be with him and she knew in LA, having been brought up there, it would be easy to get another job and she had contacts and friends there to help him too.
He’d persuaded her to keep their relationship a secret from her family until he was in a position to take care of her, but the days had dragged and with it her secret became harder and harder to keep, especially from her best friend. So much so she’d decided to surprise him with her presence and here she was on her way. He wouldn’t mind, she was impulsive, that was what he loved about her, and therefore arriving unexpectedly should make him love her more.
Settling back in her seat she smiled, this was a wonderful feeling being in love, and the excitement of a secret love gave it such a remarkable adrenaline boost. Anyway, it was only a secret until they got married, then they’d see her parents and everything would be okay. Her family wasn’t rigid especially if she loved him, and she did, she really did.
~ ~ ~
Grace Montgomery wandered around the house aimlessly. It was one thing to want her life back the way she had it before Georgina was born, quite another to actually have the free time after months of having every single second of her day, and most of her night, at the beck and call of a temperamental child. How on earth did people cope with more than one child? God help Jace when the twins were born. Her heart went out to her husband, who had been as good as his word, literally taking over when he arrived home last night, solving the problem of her wanting to strangle their daughter as he walked through the door. He’d made dinner, bathed Georgina, and even managed to get her to sleep, allowing Grace to indulge herself in a much-needed relaxing spa bath, and the wonderful sense of being her own person again, instead of the baby’s mother. Because that’s how she had been feeling. Was she demented to think that her child wasn’t a gift anymore, rather a torment?
She fingered the crib that was empty, the linen clean and fresh awaiting her daughter’s return. Colin hadn’t said anything when he left, other than she would be fine, but the weather was less than amicable to have an eight-month old baby out in the fields. Surely he wouldn’t do that…would he?
The sound of the doorbell drew her attention away from the impracticalities of their baby being out on the land with her daddy. Glancing out of the window to see who was at her door, she sighed heavily as she saw the familiar shape of her friend standing patiently on the deck, could she feign sleep and ignore her? Today was not a good day for entertaining Catherine, and entertaining might not always be the correct term for her friend’s infrequent visits. Usually she called if something was up and her friend needed to talk to someone other than Jace, because invariably it was something Jace did, or was about to do that prompted a tête-à-tête.
The bell rang again in the hall as she walked towards the door; obviously today Catherine wasn’t giving up. What the hell, she could always ignore her and look uninterested, that might work. Slowly opening the door she allowed an imitation of a smile to crease her lips as she greeted her visitor.
“Hi, Grace, thought I’d come over and catch up, it’s been a while.” Catherine saw the dark circles around her friend’s eyes and the haunted look she portrayed. Yep, just as she thought it had been time to come over here, a problem shared and all that.
“Catherine, it hasn’t been that long, I saw you three weeks ago. Is something up?” Grace stood her ground and didn’t initially invite her guest inside, but at the withering glance she received, opened the door wider allowing her friend inside.
“Up, not with me, although I was going to ask you the same thing?” Catherine walked towards the kitchen, a favorite spot for her when she talked with Grace. Guess it must have been all those years she’d been her housekeeper.
Grace shook her head as she watched her friend stride purposefully towards the kitchen. Damn, she’s here to talk no matter what I do.
“I’m okay, what makes you ask?”
“Sit and I’ll tell you before you ask, if you were going to that is. Faith has Georgina and she’s been angelic so far.” Grace glanced up sharply at the comment. She’d heard that tone before and it wasn’t always friendly.
“I’m glad, I was worried.” Grace sank into the seat opposite her friend dispensing with the customary offer of refreshment as she linked her hands together tightly on the tabletop.
“Yes, I imagine you were. I was a little surprised to see her this morning myself. You rarely let her out of your sight; Colin implied you needed a break.”
“Sounds like you don’t believe him. It’s true, I needed a few hours on my own, and having a baby can be a handful.” Grace said despairingly as she hung her head.
“Yes I know. Okay, spill it, what’s the problem?”
“There isn’t a problem! She’s just a demanding baby, that’s all.” Catherine gave her friend a sharp appraisal. Yeah demanding, weren’t they all.
“Have you thought that maybe you have been foolish not to let anyone help you, especially your own mother?” Grace could always rely on one thing with Catherine; she went straight to the point no punches pulled.
A tear pricked at her eyelids but she was resolved not to break down. Catherine was unpredictable when it came to tears, unless it was Jace who was providing the waterworks. Not that she was harsh or anything, she usually became all self-conscious and found the quickest reason she could find to leave. Emotional instability wasn’t high on Catherine’s favorite list.
“I was stupid I know, but I wanted to show I could do this on my own. Although we get on better these days, you know my mother she takes over! Before I know it, Georgina would be calling her mother not me.” Her tears fell unheeded as she tried to scrub them away, her voice clearly highlighting her fragile emotion state of mind.
Catherine watched the bowed head of the weeping woman. She had always thought Grace a strong person and she was, in most things. Then again, most things weren’t giving birth and trying to bring up a baby single-handed. Colin, she suspected, was busy on the ranch. It was that time of year, always that time of year really, and she doubted he was around much during the day and dog tired at night. That was the penalty of having a successful but large property anywhere in the world. “Faith has changed, Grace, she respects your point of view. All she wants is to be the indulgent Grandmother, not take over.”
“It’s easy for you to say, she’s not your mother! If she was, do you think she’d back off with your kids?” Grace spit out irrationally. Her mother had changed, she knew it herself, and it was only her own stupid pig-headedness that prevented her seeing through her own fabricated excuses.
Scraping back the chair, Catherine stood up standing close to her friend, “She loves you, Grace, and all she wants is to help. Don’t you know that she watches your pain and doesn’t know how to help because you won’t let anyone in?”
Staring up into her friend’s face she gave her a crestfallen look. As always, Catherine was right, she had never given her mother a chance, not a real chance anyway. Was it too late? Would she think that just because now she couldn’t cope she was going to use her mother? She couldn’t do that...she couldn’t do that to anyone, especially her parent. “It isn’t easy.”
“Damn, I know that, Grace, who knows that better than anyone. I’m the one who has the worse track record for letting bygones be bygones when it comes to family. And we both don’t have that many to be fast and loose with, do we?” Catherine placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder, pressing it gently in understanding.
“If you want the truth, Catherine, I’m tired. I look like a mangy dog that hasn’t been to the parlour for years, but the worst of it is, I’m scared!” The words rang around the kitchen peeling in frustration, anger and fear.
“What are you scared of, Grace, Faith?” Catherine was puzzled. Sure she looked haggard and could do with some pampering, that was the easy part. Scared though, that was something totally unexpected, or was it?
“Oh God no, my mother is a pussycat.” Grace stared at her hands that were turning white under the pressure she was exerting on them.
Kneeling at her side Catherine placed a hand under Grace’s chin and raised it so that she could look directly into her friend’s eyes, she would know if Grace wasn’t telling her everything, “Who or should that be what?”
The urgent softly spoken words broke down Grace’s own barriers as she sobbed, “Georgina.”
For a moment or two, Catherine wasn’t able to take in the single word or its repercussions and swallowed with difficulty as she wondered first what to say. Just how was a baby able to make its own mother scared?
“Grace, are you worried about the baby? She’s ok, I promise. Don’t forget it’s a house full of women over there and we love to lavish attention on babies, it’s the maternal instinct.” Catherine rambled she knew it, but what did you say to such an admission. Maybe she hadn’t understood what Grace was trying to say.
“That’s it exactly, no one understands, not even you.”
“Hey, Grace, try me, if for nothing else but to get it off your chest, it might help.”
Gulping down a sob, Grace turned weary desolate eyes to her friend, “I wanted to strangle her yesterday, Catherine, and she was driving me mad. If Colin hadn’t come home I’m not sure that I wouldn’t have hurt her, it makes me a monster, doesn’t it! How can a mother admit that, how can she, Catherine, and still be allowed to bring up her baby!”
Blinking back her shock at the admission, this wasn’t Grace, no way! Her friend was the most loving and giving woman she had ever met, and this reaction was totally alien to her normal nature. “Hey, my friend, hold on here. No one is a monster, okay? These things happen, babies get on your nerves at times. Have you talked with Colin about this?”
“No! Please promise me, Catherine, you won’t mention it, please! He’ll be worried every time he leaves her with me, I couldn’t live with that guilt too. God knows I must try his patience, I’m surprised he still loves me.”
This was worse than anyone could have imagined. Grace needed help, and it might not just be Faith and theirs, but professional more likely. There was the possibility of postnatal depression. She suffered from it herself way back to a small degree, but did it catch up with you months afterwards? Her experience had been shortly after the birth of her son and lasted a couple of weeks; at least that was what she told herself.
“I’ll not talk with him…for the moment. However, we need to get you some help, Grace, and maybe it’s more than just your family. Have you thought of talking to your doctor?”
“What can they do?” Scoffing at the suggestion, she’d considered it, but hadn’t dared admit her problem totally. Now she wished she hadn’t said anything to Catherine, who was now sure to hound her until she had help of some description.
“I don’t know truthfully, maybe other mothers go through this and perhaps there’s a group that you could join? Want me to talk with Jace…”
“No! No, Catherine, please don’t tell Jace, or anyone! You’ve promised me, remember?” The desperation in Grace’s tone worried Catherine. Now was not the time to push, she wasn’t that insensitive to her friend’s fragile state.
“Okay, you have my promise. Tonight we’re keeping Georgina,” watching the distressed look in her friend’s face. “Grace, hold on, I know what you’re thinking and you’re wrong. You and Colin can have a peaceful night together, no baby waking you up at some ridiculous time in the morning. We’ll have her over, Lisa will be thrilled, mind I’m not sure my eldest daughter’s involvement will be quite what you want, but that’s the way of it I’m afraid.” Throwing her hands up in exaggeration of her remark, a small smile passing her lips as she gave Grace a teasing wink^ trying to alleviate the other woman’s fears of being without her daughter for the first time since she was born, it had to happen sometime.
For the first time since she’d arrived Grace allowed a weak smile to pass her lips. “Yeah, Lisa isn’t what I call the most calming influence in life.”
“So true, but we have a special weapon as an antidote called…Jake. One evening in his company and it’s like magic.”
“Does Jake know that?” She said chuckling, for the first time in ages, at the thought of the serious young man who did have a remarkable natural gift with children. Though he might not want that particular label, especially within earshot of his school friends, it was true ^.
“No, but we do. Let me tell you, if it hadn’t been for him…well, Elena might have been given away to the gypsies a long, long time ago.”
Staring at her friend Grace opened her mouth to ask why, and received a serious exchange from ice blue eyes. “Yes, my friend, babies can be the very devil. How about we try and weed out the tiny devil in Georgina before she brings out the monster in her mother, what do you say?”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate that.”
“Done deal, my friend, a done deal, that’s what friends are for.” Straightening up from her crouched position wishing her bones didn’t creak so much these days. What was that, a sign of getting old? Smiling at the thought, oh well, kids made you young, didn’t they? Frowning slightly as she considered the appearance of her friend.
“Catherine, you’ll never know what it means to me…you coming over here to listen and help. I felt so…isolated.”
She’d felt isolated too, once a long time ago, and who had been there for her…yes, this woman who now looked at her with such naked appreciation. It brought a lump to her throat as she wondered how much of her own happiness she had to thank this woman for, too much, way too much. Her help here was barely touching the surface of what she would do for her if she needed it, and that meant being in her corner no matter what circumstances…even murder she suspected.
“You and I, Grace, are going to look back on some of our so called problems with our families and thank our lucky stars we have them in our lives. We just have to learn how to cope with the unexpected, that’s all, and we will, won’t we?” smiling gently at the woman who nodded her head in agreement.
“If I go see the doctor, Catherine, will you go with me, just for the first appointment?”
Catherine turned to look at her friend. Colin really should go, it was his place not hers, but the fragility of her friend’s state of mind at the moment was of paramount concern, and if that helped then so be it. She’d face the wrath of questions from both their partners when all was revealed. Maybe if they were lucky it never needed to be, this might all blow over. “Of course, let me know. I’d suggest the sooner the better and we can go out to lunch afterwards, your treat.”
“My treat,” Grace gaped at the woman; she was worth millions and couldn’t stump up a lunch. Not that she felt that way really, Catherine didn’t particularly flaunt her money. In fact, if it weren’t for the property you certainly wouldn’t know she had any more money than the next person in the street.
Winking at her friend, “Hey, if I ask for more than my allowance, a certain green eyed partner of mine would be asking impertinent questions, and we don’t want that, do we?” a genuine laugh from her friend brought an answer chuckle from her. This was her Grace, she was only lost there for a moment.
“Yeah I’m sure. Ok, I’ll let you know when, thanks again, Catherine.”
“Anytime, my friend, I’ll have Faith bring over Georgina in the morning. Maybe you and she can work out something to give you a break now and then.”
Following her friend down the hall she added as she opened the door to leave, “Don’t be a stranger, Grace, we love you and the kids adore you, not that you want more kids around but…”
“Yeah I know, thanks, I love you guys too,” hugging her friend as she released her to walk away down the steps towards the drive.
Closing the door the easing of the pressure her friend had brought about within her body had her feeling buoyant for the first time in ages. If she was lucky maybe she could get a hair appointment this afternoon, and make herself presentable for once when Colin came home. Yeah, she’d do that and make an appointment with the doctor too. She’d mentioned one incident to Catherine, but it hadn’t been the first time she’d felt anger towards her baby. At least now she accepted there was a problem and the best way was to face up to it, and she would. Her pride was useless if she lost everything else around her, and that had been eminently possible before her friend had talked to her. Now she felt like she had a chance.
Walking over to the table and picking up the phone book, she found the numbers she needed.
~ ~ ~
Colin Montgomery had gone to the Destiny homestead to see his daughter, but Jace had apologized advising him that Faith had gone shopping in town, and as it was lunchtime, the chances were she and Judy would have lunch in town. Removing his duster hat and re-positioning it back on his head, he looked down the end of the drive^ towards his own home sighing heavily.
“Want a coffee and maybe a sandwich?” Jace offered quickly. She had seen his eyes stray towards his own home, and Catherine had only been gone fifteen minutes, certainly not enough time to get anything concrete out of Grace.
“I should go home and check on Grace, she’ll be worried about the baby. Probably thinks I’ve had her out in the fields all morning, you know that mothering instinct.” The man whispered tautly.
To Jace it sounded as if a good excuse, handed to him on a plate, would be enough for him to stay and have coffee at least. “Catherine left about fifteen minutes to visit with Grace. She will have told her that Faith is taking good care of her, if that will persuade you to keep me company for a few minutes?”
Colin looked down at the small blonde. He liked her, always had, from the first day he had ever set eyes on her. He remembered it all too well. Her pluckiness when the weather had turned what was initially a glorious landscape^ into a harsh battle with Mother Nature. That was New Zealand for you, fours seasons in a day even the most experienced Kiwi occasionally got caught out in the changes.
“I guess if Catherine has just gone over there, it won’t harm Grace to let her have her own space for the day, will it?” He smiled at Jace who enthusiastically gripped his arm and dragged him gently over to the kitchen table.
“Great, now what can I get you, coffee or tea?”
“Tea if you don’t mind, although maybe I should make it?” the tall rangy rancher asked sheepishly. He’d heard stories from Grace about Jace’s tea making abilities and it wasn’t good.
Turning a mock affronted gaze on him, she placed her hands on the bulging sides of her waist, “I know, I know they say I can’t make tea but I’ve been practicing,” smiling warmly at the man whose grey eyes twinkled at her.
“How about I make the tea and you make a sandwich, you did offer right?”
“Yep, I sure did. What would you like, chicken, beef, potted paste the kids love that I’m not so sure myself…” Jace rambled on amiably as Colin put the kettle on and set up the mugs.
“What about yourself?”
“I’ll have a Chinese blend please, Colin, top right hand jar second shelve over there,” pointing in the direction of the container.
Five minutes later they sat in companionable silence as they drank their respective teas and Colin munched on a sandwich, Jace deciding to add a couple of biscuits to her plate… well she couldn’t have Colin eating alone, could she. Even if Catherine would give her a long suffering look if she saw her eating again so soon after they’d had a good lunch together. Mind you sex had that affect on you and her partner certainly knew how to appease one hunger in her only replacing it with another…food sustenance.
“You look happy.” Colin remarked as he saw the slow smile cross Jace’s lips as she sipped on her tea.
“Yeah, yeah couldn’t be better, except maybe when I have the twins and get rid of this over sized belly I’m carrying around.” Jace remarked easily, her eyes reflecting her joy of her condition.
“You look beautiful to me and I’m sure Catherine doesn’t mind what you look like. Jace, do you mind if I ask you a question, please?”
“Not at all, go ahead.” Jace said glowing inwardly at his comment. It was always nice to get a compliment, especially when you looked like the side of a house.
“Did you ever feel out of your depth when you had Elena?”
Jace heard the serious tone in his voice, her answer obviously important to him, and she guessed a flippant reply wouldn’t suffice.
“Sometimes, although I had help, a lot of help. Catherine, Grace, the kids and Faith, of course, who pretty much taught me how to handle the baby. Catherine wasn’t much help in that quarter, she seemed to have forgotten what it was like to give birth. Still, she had her blindness and other stuff to deal with. There were times, though, that I wondered if I was going out of my mind.”
There was a marked silence as the man digested her information, “Is that natural, do you think, to feel like your whole life is upside down?”
Chuckling at the description, “Colin, upside down is a lukewarm word for it, try life altering and then some. I don’t know which one of us wanted Elena to go back into the womb more, Catherine, or me…over time you get used to…the challenge, I guess. When it does settle down, well, you’d never ever want your child not to be in your life and you think of it as a piece of cake.” Hoping her white lie at the end wouldn’t be found out.
“Thanks, Jace, it has been different I must say.” Colin reluctantly admitted in his quiet way.
“If ever you need to talk about it, Colin, we are always here for you. You’re family, it goes without saying. Sometimes it’s just nice to talk with people who have been through the same ordeal too. Heck, look at me, I’m going to be grey by the time the twins are toddlers^ if they have even half as much lungpower as Elena had and still has. I think Catherine will divorce me and ask me to go live on an island and take the kids with me.” Laughing at the thought, Jace decided it would probably the other way around…Catherine would want the peace and tranquillity of an island, and give her the ranch.
“Maybe Grace will send me packing, too, with Georgina.” They both chuckled at the thought. Though Jace wondered how much the man felt that could be the truth.
“Guess that means no tinier Montgomery’s for a while, doesn’t it?”
Groaning at the thought, Colin gasped out, “Tie me to a fence post if I ever mention it, even as a joke.”
Winking at him Jace grinned. Things change and you forget the experience of being a parent for the first time, just like childbirth, at least some did. On reflection, it looked liked Catherine’s involvement was well timed; although she hoped her lover didn’t interfere too much! The next word that came to mind had her chuckling and Colin shot her a quizzical glance.
“Don’t mind me, Colin, a really silly expression came to mind when I was thinking of Catherine.” Jace’s smile broadened as she saw an answering smile cross the man’s face. He was such a sweetie Grace was very lucky to have him in her life.
“Ah, something you can share?”
“Sure but please, please, never mention that I said this or she might kill me.” Laughing as she drank more of her tea.
“Ok, what expression?” Colin waited patiently for the small woman to finish her tea. He really needed to get back to work if he was going to get back home for Georgina at a reasonable time.
“Meddler,” giggling as she saw his perplexed look. Oh well, he didn’t know what she did.
“I can see how that would be an unusual expression to use, doesn’t strike me that she’s the type of person. Well, Jace, thanks for the tea and sandwiches…oh and the chat, I appreciated that more than you will know.”
“Anytime, Colin, anytime at all, see you later when you collect Georgina.”
“Yep, later,” he pulled on his hat and left Jace in the kitchen. As she collected the plates she saw Catherine heading towards the homestead, stopping to pass the time of day with her director of operations on the ranch.
“Colin, glad I saw you. I’ve volunteered the household, and Jake in particular, to baby-sit Georgina tonight. Grace said it was okay, and it will give you two a little space, I think you could use it.” Her brisk tone irritated Colin^ and then, as the information sank in, he changed that to grateful, he and Grace certainly could do with some time alone together.
“Thanks, is she enjoying her day? I was going to have lunch with her but Jace said you and she was having a chat. Figured she could do with some girl talk instead of me and our daughter’s gurgles for a change.”
“Good thinking, Colin, and yes, I think she is.” Placing an understanding hand on his shoulder Catherine gave him a serious glance, her eyes filled with compassion. She knew all to well what he was probably going through. A part of her recalled a time, a long time ago, when she had been an obnoxious emotional wreck when Lucas had been born, and Adam had taken the wrap for weeks. In all probability, they never quite came back from that crisis; she hadn’t anyway. It had been the beginning of the end to their relationship. That wasn’t going to happen here if she had anything to do with it, and at least she had lots to work with. Colin and Grace loved each other deeply, something you didn’t give away lightly and she knew about that as well, didn’t she just, her eyes straying to the house and the person inside.
“I’ll collect Georgina in the morning. Knowing my daughter, you will be eternally grateful.” He smiled as he thought of the ever-increasing broken nights sleep he, and Grace in particular, endured.
“All arranged; Faith is taking her over. I think she and Grace need to work something out, it’s about time.” Catherine stated decisively.
Colin pondered what his boss said and the last conversation he’d had with Jace. Maybe he was going to change his mind, “Did anyone ever tell you…”
Staring at the man quizzically Catherine waited for him to complete the sentence. When he didn’t she asked, “Tell me what?”
Clearing his voice he remembered Jace’s plea that he never mention it, then again, that was in context to her not him, “Oh, that you are one of the most caring bosses around?” He grinned at her as he saw her surprise. He suspected she had been taken off balance by the comment.
“Hmmm, have you got work to attend to by any chance?”
“Yep, right onto it, see you later.” He grinned as the woman turned away with a wave and a mumbled goodbye heading back to the house.
Well, well, who would have thought it…Catherine Warriorson a meddler! He began whistling a tune as he headed in the direction of the large barn and the continuation of his working day. He actually felt like a load had been lifted from his shoulders and everything would work out. It might just take that extra effort but that wasn’t a hardship, not with the rewards being offered.