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/
Jake sank down next to his best friend Ian, thirstily drinking from his juice. The soccer practice had been hard today; Coach Raymond hadn't given them a chance to catch their breaths after each circuit exercise.
Breathing heavily he wiped the sweat from his brow and watched some of the others practice in silence. Ian was feeling much the same, exhausted, after the session. As he concentrated on the game on the pitch, he felt a nudge in his ribs and turned to his friend in question.
"What's the problem?" He didn't need an answer. His eyes followed his friend's to the group of girls, apparently watching the game on the pitch, standing near the far side touchline.
"She's here again!" Ian whispered, his eyes never leaving the group.
"Yeah," Jake breathed out, knowing whom Ian was talking about it. Every boy in their form was drooling over Maya Corlette, the most beautiful girl they'd ever seen, who was in their year.
"Heard that she was following Arnett about, he gets all the girls." Ian voiced despondently.
"You know why that is, he's a bully, no one dare take him on." Jake replied abstracted. What did it matter if she did like Simon Arnett, it wasn't as if they were interested in her...yeah right!
"Can't understand why coach wants him on the team, he isn't a team player, look at what he did to Johnnie last game." Ian moved his stare from the pretty girl to the boy on the pitch that created more problems than he should be allowed to. It wasn't fair, why didn't the teachers see him for what he was...a big bully!
Jake pondered that as he too glanced at the boy in question on the field, he was a good player but way too aggressive. Johnnie was out of the team because Coach had thought he'd started the fight with Arnett. One day someone was going to put him in his place, question was who and when.
"Guess we'd better go wait for my dad to pick us up, he told me not to be late tonight. He and Mom are going out to dinner tonight. You know I don't know what gets into my dad."
"What do you mean?" Puzzled at the remark, Ian's dad was a great guy, he thought so anyway.
"If my mom wants something, he does it. Makes you wonder what happens when you get older, must get hit on the head by something." Jake laughed at his friend's observation, a rolling pin probably. They stood up and made their way back to the locker room unaware that the group of girls watched them leave the field.
"Know what you mean, you should see what happens in our house. I think they can keep girls away from me until I'm...oh, ancient."
"Yeah I agree, at least until we're twenty-one, right?"
"Sounds like a deal to me. Can you imagine having to live with Lisa for the rest of your life? Yuck!"
The boys laughed at the mention of Jake's sister. She was one handful, and she was only twelve, made you wonder what she would be like at twenty!
~ ~ ~
Jason stared at the ceiling of the apartment he called
home these days. Catherine had generously given him custody of the luxurious
place after the kidnapping of Lisa. Her words were: she couldn't abide
the thought of living there anymore, it was too dangerous. Yet a part of
her refused to sell the penthouse because, he'd decided, it was a tentative
link to her father, not that she admitted that. He recalled the discussion
they'd had back then.
"I can't take it, Catherine,
this is ludicrous! If you no longer want it as one of your homes then sell
it, the place is worth a fortune."
Ice blue eyes scanned her father-in-law, her expression un-readable. If he had a word for it he'd call it inscrutable, which it probably was. Waiting for her to respond he couldn't help but wonder how many others had trembled inside at that particular stare.
"Are you refusing my offer?" The words said accompanied by another unreadable expression crossing her features. Was he ever glad he didn't live with her if this was how she looked at people she professed to care for.
"Refusing it...I guess. Sell it, Catherine, and buy someplace that you feel more comfortable in, and safer too." Jason replied diplomatically, he would have relished living in the penthouse. It had everything he had ever wanted in a place called home, except his family, and he could soon remedy that.
Raising her left eyebrow at the remark she sighed heavily and walked over to the large window that overlooked the park below, with its large pond and current residents. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and she could see kids playing below. Throwing seed and bread to the numerous ducks that patrolled the areas in a look out for the next easy meal, usually, except in extreme weather conditions, they had their fair share of willing participants. In truth she'd done it herself on more occasions than she'd care to admit to anyone. Although Susan, her old housekeeper, knew and did little more than smile handing over the package of stale bread, which remarkably she always had available, probably fed them herself, not that they ever discussed the aspect, it was a personal thing after all.
"Jason, I heard reluctance in your voice. If you are half as enthralled by the library here that enchanted Jace, there is no way you aren't tempted to take up my offer." Swinging back to face the man who sat quietly in the leather armchair musing over her stance and the words she spoke.
Giving her a rueful glance, "Can't keep anything from you, can we? We Bardley's are obviously an open book to you, Catherine, and yes your library is magnificent, but it can be equally in other surroundings."
"I'm not selling the apartment, Jason. It will be used for business purposes if you don't take it over. Senior people who need to be in New York or for associates we invite to the city. In essence, it will become a part of the business and not part of the family holdings."
"What about the library?" He was sure his mouth gaped at her suggestion that this magnificent place would become no more than a business bolt hold and not be cherished as it had been in the past by both father and daughter. Even if Catherine wasn't prepared to admit she had a soft spot for the place, he knew otherwise. You could see it in her demeanor as she stared out of the window, or as she fingered the treasures that adorned the rooms. He was sure some of the paintings, though nothing by any of the really famous artists, were worth a fortune. However, a collection of works by slightly lesser known, but highly collectable and over time, ironically on the artist's death, would be worth their own fortune.
Shrugging her shoulders she walked back to stand at the fireplace, "I'll leave it intact."
"No way in hell, girl! You are not going to leave all these heirlooms to numerous strangers who wouldn't give a toss if they broke something, or worse, inadvertently took home one of those marvelous first editions and forget to return them. I call that st... and if that's what's going to happen, I'll take it on!" Stopping just in time before he called the woman opposite him stupid. He could think of other words, but that was as descriptive as he'd get for the moment.
Flashing blue eyes snared his, and he knew that he was done for when he saw the sparkle of fire in hers. "You said that on purpose, didn't you?"
Chuckling at the man who heaved a heavy sigh of his own at being taunted, "Hmm, I think, on reflection, you might be persuaded to take...shall we say...custody...of the apartment while you are working for Xianthos. Call it...keeping it in the family until one of the kids decides they want to live here. Does that appeal to your sensibilities, or do you want me to ask Jace to intervene?"
"You know how to work the buttons, Catherine, I'll give you that. Is that how you appeal to Jace's reluctance to do something you want?" Not sure if she took the question quite how he wanted her to, he meant it well, but it actually came out with a double meaning.
Smiling wickedly at him she winked, "Jace and I have other ways of understanding what each of us wants, and believe me, Jason, your daughter is far more adept in the art of cohesion than I am. As her father, I would have thought you would be used to that by now."
Considering the idea that his eldest child successfully made this woman do something she didn't want was arguably laughable. However, he knew Jace better than most and it was true...his little girl could twist you around her little finger and you never knew it until it was too late. "Yeah, you're right, she does have that talent, and believe me, I'd prefer your ‘subtlety' over hers, and she can be pretty dramatic."
Chuckling at the picture of her Jace wallowing in the dramatics, "Got that right, Dad, I have always called her my secret weapon whenever I get into any business trouble, works like a charm."
He was brought out of his memories by a quiet
voice asking him if he wanted dinner to be delayed.
"Sorry, Sally, I was miles away. Is it ready now?"
Sally Railston smiled at her boss. He was a gentleman in every way and had made her first three months easy and enjoyable. Not that the work was hard, but it did have to be meticulous, especially with the amount of antiques in the building. His wife was a wonderful lady too, but she had the impression that New York wasn't her favorite place, and often left her husband here alone, going back to California where they originally came from. If Jason Bardley were a free agent, she'd certainly make a play for him. Yeah, whom was she kidding, she wasn't in his league. The rich rarely went out of their way to involve themselves with the lowly help. Still, she was entitled to her dreams and they were harmless enough.
"It will be in about ten minutes, but it can wait if you need more time, it's only a casserole."
Thinking about the offer, Jason pulled at his tie dragging it down his shirt. He could do with a shower and a little more time before he called Allison, having dinner was a good idea then he'd call his wife and tell her the bad news. "Give me twenty minutes, Sally, and I'll be with you, I'm going to shower first." Walking towards the door leading to the hall he turned back to the housekeeper. She was a rare find in this day and age, and he was glad they'd found her, by chance, when a business associate had remarked that his resident housekeeper needed a new position because he was going to live abroad and she didn't want to travel with the family. "Have you had a good day?"
She smiled at the question. She knew he had something on his mind because he looked pre-occupied, yet even so, he always made her feel part of the family, often asking her about her day. "Yes, young Candy on the second floor invited me for coffee. She's finding it hard to cope with two teenagers on her own. I think she needed the company."
A look of, she was sure understanding and something else...pain, no surely not, crossed his face as he nodded his head and muttered he'd be back shortly.
~ ~ ~
Watching the mountains in the backdrop of the decking Catherine grimaced when she heard Georgina wailing for the umpteenth time. Now she realized just what Grace meant by her daughter being a monster. God she was worse than Elena had been and that was saying something. Peace and tranquillity - that's all she'd ever asked for and what was happening now - it was being invaded with...people! Namely kids who had the propensity to fight, argue, cry, and play cruel jokes on each other and on the adults in the household.
Her eyes scanned the mountains...their majestic stand against nature's ravages as each season brought a new perspective of each ridge and traverse available to the naked eye. Even if it wasn't there for the eye to see, the ambiance of each hour of the day had you imagining furrows, paths, streams, flora and fauna. At the moment, if she looked hard, she was sure there was the whisper of a small brook being fed by a tiny waterfall gently providing the running water that helped to develop the atmosphere around each level of the mountain. Rain had fallen earlier that afternoon. As she closed her eyes, she could see the small waterfall change to a more aggressive movement, as in the clash of cymbals in an orchestral maneuver, after the tinkling of the flute, making itself known to the unsuspecting flow below, disjointing for a time the steady movement. Soon, when the winter took its hold, a new vision could be seen as the mountain range changed again, and the vista proved once more how spectacular a place this was to live, and how grateful she was to be here...
"Catherine, are you out here?" Shooting up suddenly, hearing the tone in her partner's voice. Catherine felt guilty at having stormed out of the sitting room earlier after voicing her own remedy for making the baby stop crying, which hadn't gone down well with Faith or Jace.
"Yes, taking in some peace and fresh air," trying to make her tone as neutral as possible.
"Is that comment supposed to be facetious?" the low growl from her lover indicating all was not well inside the house, and quite clearly, here too. Oh well, nothing to worry about in a little difference of opinion now and then.
She moved cautiously over to the smaller woman whose face was in partial darkness, therefore she was unable to see exactly the expression on Jace's face clearly. "Not really, love. I thought too many hands and all that," Throwing up her hands and giving the woman a tentative smile.
"It's usually too many cooks and that doesn't apply here! Now, I'm all for helping a friend, Catherine, but this is ridiculous! Georgina obviously wants her parents, we should take her home."
"No!" her explosive reply had Jace jumping back a fraction.
Eyeing her lover suspiciously, "Come on, out with it, what haven't you told me?"
Now able to see the expression took a tentative step closer to Jace. If it had been raining at the moment, she was sure her partner would be in good company...her features held a thunderous look about them. "As if I'd keep things from you, Jace, we made a pact never to do that, right?"
"Well, I've never lied to you but that doesn't mean..." Jace trailed off as her belly was given a sharp kick on the left followed by one to the right. Damn, they were playing soccer again! She was going to make sure that when they were born, the newest additions to the family took their energy out on a ball and not her stomach.
Puzzled, and distressed, that Jace would think she was lying to her, Catherine remained silent dwelling on what to say next, and not cause an international incident. Even now, though it was becoming less and less, they still managed to annoy, upset and frustrate each other from time to time. The English language, bless it, had lots to answer for when it came to expression, by...well...anyone really. What - with her English sayings and understanding of what English was, Jace's American version, the kids and the rest of the household on Destiny with the New Zealand version - it all made for some interesting small talk, especially at meal times. Clearing her voice she was about to speak when a loud wailing penetrated the silence between them.
"If you think we are going to put up with that all night, you are very much mistaken. If we do, YOU get to volunteer to baby-sit! It was, after all, your wonderful idea." The strained words floated through the early evening breeze, and Catherine stood there unable to say anything. It had been her idea, Jace was right about that, but when she'd talked with her lover earlier, she had been agreeable and thought it a marvelous idea. Strange how things change when events start to go pear shaped.
"Jace, please, if we wait until Jake gets home, which should be soon now...okay, don't look at me like that, I forgot he was training after school this evening. When he gets home Georgina will be putty in his hands, remember how good he was with Elena and still is?"
Placating her lover was high on the agenda. The doctor had told them to keep her stress levels down, as Jace's blood pressure was high. If she wasn't careful, bed rest in the hospital might have to be the solution and no one wanted that, particularly her. She hated to be alone in bed. Just having Jace close was the best tonic she could think of for having a sound night's sleep.
"What if he's tired, which he more than likely will be? Do you think he will want to be handed a screaming baby as soon as he sets foot in the house? There are days, Catherine, when you make me speechless." Catherine wished that was so at the moment. However, speechless or not, Jace always found something to say.
"Why don't we ask him?" Both women turned to the sound of the car crunching gravel on the outer drive then slowing to a stop as Jake got out of the vehicle. Waving off his ride, who made the circular turn and left with a distracted acknowledgement from the driver to the women on the deck.
As the young man pounded up the steps to the decking, he shouted a brisk ‘hi' to his mothers and headed for the house.
"Hey, Jake, wait up a minute, I've something to ask you?" Catherine called out before he was inside the door of the house.
"Yeah?" Giving the two women a cursory glance as he held tightly to the door handle, he had stuff to do this evening and he was starving.
Breathing in deeply, Catherine wondered exactly how to say this. The truth might be best, "We've got Georgina staying this evening, want to take a hand in playing doting uncle?"
"Not tonight, can't. I have homework and I promised to chat to my friend before I go to bed. What's for dinner, I'm starved?" Jake didn't wait to hear the answer. He went inside leaving Catherine scratching her brow in consternation. Damn, what to do now.
Jace watched her lover and felt sorry for her, but only for a few seconds, before the baby bawled the house down again. This couldn't continue! Elena was due her bath and bed in an hour, and woes betide anyone who gets that schedule out of kilter.
"Guess it's up to you, Catherine, and now would be a good time, or Elena will be keeping you company too with your younger charge. And we all know how grumpy she can be if she doesn't go to bed on time. See you inside." Jace turned leaving Catherine opened mouthed on the deck unable to reply.
Closing her eyes briefly Catherine decided this was the last time she was going to do something nice for a friend...come to that, anyone! The Miss goody two shoes routine could stay with Jace, she was out of the Samaritan league as of now! She opened her eyes allowing them to stray once more to the peace of the mountain. What wouldn't she give to be up there right now! Taking a deep breath, she headed inside to the...noise.
~ ~ ~
Allison Bardley sat in the hotel bar waiting for her friend. Her brown gentle eyes taking in the cool pastel colors that gave the room a clean fresh feel, unusual in a bar area. In her time she had always associated them with dark shadows, and ashtrays filled with the remnants of several peoples obsession with the deadly weed called Tobacco. How things changed since she and Jason dated way back...it must be thirty –five years now. How time flies, and it had been too, life was passing by and she had lots of time to reflect on what was now, for her, a very lonely existence. She picked up her glass, taking a sip, of freshly squeezed orange juice, though you could hardly call it fresh as she grimaced at the taste. Yep nothing changed, you still got stung in bars for the none alcoholic beverage.
Contemplating her current lifestyle, she had to admit she had everything that money could buy...almost anything anyway, except the most important, people she loved around her and the feeling that she was doing something useful. Probably one of the reasons she came to LA so often and left Jason in New York. Here, at least, she knew people and had the opportunity of spending some of the day with others, as opposed to being stuck in that damn mausoleum. It might have every conceivable luxury and in a prime site, but to her, it wasn't home. Nope, not a chance of that. All those high rise buildings, blocks and blocks of concrete, it was a dark place, very dark, the sun never appeared to be allowed passage to the streets below, in her opinion anyway. Here in LA she enjoyed the brightness of the sun shining most days and the chance to watch the Ocean if she took a ride half an hour from their modest home. This was where she felt happy, pottering about in the yard, talking to neighbors she'd known for years, it was friendly, welcoming and her home. New York had only one reason for her to stay and that was Jason, but he wasn't around much except in the evening and all he wanted to do was read those damn first editions! What had happened to the man she loved? He was in there somewhere she knew but where, and was he prepared to think about coming home here rather than his new life of big business and the trappings of wealth it apparently gave him. What was wealth when people around him weren't happy, couldn't he see that. She wasn't, and he'd never asked her why she spent so much time away from him. They'd been married thirty-two years next week and he hadn't even asked if she was going to be with him to celebrate. The tears that she often shed, when she was alone at home at the change in her life, threatened now as she sucked in a deep breath to prevent them from falling. That would be too much...crying in public and over what? Yes, that was the question, what and she didn't have an answer.
"Alison, you're early, or am I late?" The low timbre of a man's voice broke into her contemplation of life and she brightened visibly at his bantering tone.
Spinning around she gave him a wide welcoming smile, "Neil, don't be silly I'm early. Look at me, I have nothing better to do with my time it's easy to be early. You, on the other hand, have lots of commitments. I'm surprised how well you keep any kind of timekeeping."
Winking at the woman who he'd met six months before, and remarkably, they had hit it off well. He was a forty-year-old single parent bringing up a rebellious teenage daughter, and six year old twin sons, his wife having died in childbirth leaving him to cope, which until Theresa's recent tantrums, had been working out well. A vet by profession, he'd bought a rambling house in a suburb and practiced from there. He'd been fortunate that his sister had lived close by and helped out when he was struggling, but otherwise he'd done a remarkably good job in many ways. At least everyone said he did and called him a saint. What did they know? He was no saint, but he learnt a long time ago that he was responsible for bringing his children into the world, and it was up to him to see that they had the best possible chance even if they didn't have a mother figure as such.
"Call it a habit I've been forced into over the years. Are you ready for this tonight? You know you can chicken out, no one would blame you." He smiled warmly at her as he ordered a soda for himself, having accepted her grimace at her own drink as a no go on a refill.
"You have got to be kidding, and have those twenty something's laughing that I couldn't take it. No way, absolutely none! I'll have you know I've been working out."
Her cheeks flushed slightly as Neil's eyes appraised her body. It was true...she wasn't the dumpy grandmother type anymore. She was much more fit and certainly didn't have the excess weight she'd been carrying. Okay, she might never be as fit as the youngsters, but she was happier with her body these days. Her daughters, when they saw, her wouldn't believe it. "I like what I see, and the exercise class agrees with you, Alison. Are you going to sign up for the next session in the winter?"
Laughing self-consciously at the approval she nodded her head. "I can't let all your hard work go to waste, now can I?"
Tipping his soda in her direction he smiled warmly, "That you can't, Ma'am, that you can't. Well, shall we go or the others will definitely think I've forgotten class today."
"Right with you," picking up her gym bag and following the lean figure of the man out of the bar to the gym room they used once a week in the hotel in town. It had been another reason for her not wanting to go back to New York, with the new friends she'd made in this exercise class. The classes only had another two sessions before they broke up, she'd go see Jason then, and this time, she would make him listen to her. She had to or things could get out of hand and the situation between them became too late to salvage...if it wasn't too late already.
~ ~ ~
Sinking down into the sofa pulling Grace into his arms, Colin sighed happily. This was the life after a hard day at work. Coming home to dinner on the table and the vision of loveliness he'd married looking as pretty as a picture to greet him. Now a few moments of contentment together, talking or watching TV, just being together without any other distractions and he'd welcome that any day of the week.
"I love you, Grace," kissing the top of her head tenderly as he whispered the endearment.
Shifting in his hold Grace looked up at him and smiled. She looked better, that much had been proven when she caught the mirror on the way out of the bathroom. The hairdressers had been a godsend; the rigors of bringing up the baby apparently hit everyone according to the customers in the establishment that afternoon. They all agreed on one thing though, if they'd had their time again, kids wouldn't have been on the agenda. Was that how she felt? At the moment no but probably that would change rapidly if Georgina was screaming in the room with them. Looking at the clock on the fireplace, yep she'd be having one of her regular upsets about now, hope they could cope with that. All well and good to do the Good Samaritan bit but they'd not had the pleasure of a sleepless noisy night with her daughter.
"I love you too, Colin. I need to ask you something important, darling," staring at the wonderfully gentle eyes of her husband who smiled at her and nodded his head for her to continue.
"Anything, you know that. We don't have secrets, Grace," winking at her teasing the serious expression on her face. It was true he didn't have any from her but he suspected that his wife chose what she told him. It hurt a little that Grace didn't trust him with everything but he was prepared to work on it and over time crack her defenses. It was just a matter of patience and when it came to her, and now their child, he had as much as needed.
"Do you regret us having Georgina, Colin?" there she'd asked him. It had bugged her for a month or so now because, sure as hell, she did more times than she'd care to admit it to anyone, even herself.
This question, however, was from out of the outfield, even for her. Was this the reason she looked so sad these days - she regretted having Georgina? Couldn't be, Grace loved kids. She'd been wonderful with Jake, Lisa and when Elena was a baby. her too. Was this a trick question because they were alone? Okay, he'd answer and see where the conversation went.
"Nope, she's beautiful just like her mother, no regrets on my part, love, what about you?" his eyes glinted expecting her to immediately agree with him, twisting the words sure but with the same effect. What he saw in the depths of her expression wasn't that at all, pain, guilt and loathing vied for dominance, what was going on here?
"I...I..." breaking off as her emotional crisis bubbled up from the vaults she attempted to lock it into, now spilling over as tears, the force of which he'd never experienced before, quickly splattered down her cheeks.
Gulping at the sight of his wife breaking down, how did he handle this? Pulling her tenderly towards him he held her, soothing her distraught body with mumbled and hardly intelligibly soothing words but apparently easing her breakdown. "Darling, everything is going to be okay. Is it because she's not here and you're worried about her? I can understand that, shall I go over and bring her home?"
What he didn't expect was the explosive "NO!" So crushing in its adamant negative response he wasn't sure it was Grace inside the body he held closely to him. Swallowing hard he pulled away a little and peered down at her. The ravages of the tears bringing back into perspective how his wife looked each day he came home, what was he missing here?
"Ok, darling, no worries. No doubt she's fast asleep now anyway and it would be wrong to disturb her. How about tomorrow I take a day's leave and I help you with Georgina, maybe we can go out for the day?"
Anguished eyes stared up into his like a zombie. Biting at her bottom lip, tears trailing less aggressively now down her face Grace sucked in a sorrow filled breath, " I don't think I can do this, Colin, I really don't! She hates me, I know it."
"Grace, that's rubbish, she's eight months old, hate doesn't come into it. What can't you do, darling, tell me I'll help, I'll do whatever I can, you know that. We're in this together, she's my daughter too and I'm equally responsible for bringing her into the world. Tell me, Gracie, what can I do?" Colin felt helpless. It reminded him of when he had to sanction a prize horse to be put down. He saw the trusting look in the creature's eyes expecting him to help and he couldn't do a thing, nothing at all expect watch it die as painlessly as possible. What was he seeing here? His wife slowly dying emotionally and he couldn't help her either. No way, not a chance in hell while he still had breath in his body!
"I'm sorry, Colin, it's nothing, silly hormones playing tricks again. Everything will be okay, I promise. I guess it's like you say, I miss her. It isn't quite the same, is it, without her." She couldn't tell him that she wanted to shake her child all the time when she wouldn't stop crying. What would he think of her? His tenderness and understanding would go out of the window, she was sure of that.
He knew he was being lied to, worse, he didn't know how to challenge it without causing more pain and anguish. Clearing his throat as he felt the scratchy feeling at the back of his throat when he was upset, one of them crying was quite enough and he didn't even know what he was going to cry about.
"Ok, Gracie, how about I open that bottle of wine we've been saving and we can sit here quietly. We'll talk or watch TV, whatever you want as long as you are happy. That's all I want, Gracie, for you to be happy, for us all to be happy." He finished quietly.
Grace gulped back the sob at his tender words. She really didn't deserve him but she was mighty glad she had him in her corner, at the moment anyway. If the doctor's appointment tomorrow went well, maybe this would all blow over as nothing more than a female irrational outburst and he'd seen a few of those since they'd been married. "Thanks. I'd like that. It's been...well, thanks, it will be good, Colin."
"Great, I'll be right back, keep my space warm for me." He winked at her as he left the room for the kitchen.
Closing her eyes she felt a final tear drip from her eyelids and splash on her cheek. Please god make everything right again, please, please, please.
Colin shut the kitchen door behind him and leaned against it exhausted, worried and upset at the outburst from his wife. Should he believe her that is was just a hormonal problem? Or was it the tip of the iceberg and she needed help? It wasn't as if he hadn't offered to engage a nanny, he had but Grace had declined. The last time he'd offered three months ago, she had been so angry at his repeated offer he'd not dare mention it again. Had a faint heart brought this along, had he been so weak to let his wife suffer when he should have seen the signs and probably had? However, Grace had for so long been the backbone, not only here but at Destiny too, had they forgotten that she had her occasional imbalance and now rushing off in a fast car wasn't an option for her to alleviate that stress. Why had she endured her pain alone and not felt confident in their marriage, and more importantly him, to tell him when she needed a break. Was it his fault? Dashing his hand over his eyes he removed the moisture that would give away his own upheaval. He needed to talk to someone about this but whom? He'd have to work that out and soon. Now, the most important thing was to make sure that this evening Grace felt like her own person and not just Georgina's mother. Who knew, it might be as simple as that, a remedy, he could hope anyway.
~ ~ ~
Pacing up and down the study with Georgina in her arms, Catherine looked over at the clock on her desk and muttered under breath, goddamn time! Flicking her eyes to the child who was quiet but still wide awake and any thought of putting her down in a crib had the small human being whining for a few moments before she put her lungs to good use.
They'd finally had a relatively quiet dinner as the baby had succumbed to her day out with her grandmother. The whole household had sent up a sigh of relief when she finally dropped off and they placed the angelic looking child in her crib in Elena's room. All was well in the world and the fraught tempers that had been showing through now settled down and peace reigned...yeah for all of two hours! They'd bathed and put Elena to bed and right on the dot, she'd fallen asleep before the story she was being read in a whisper was finished. Remarkably enough Georgina hadn't stirred and looked like she was down for the count for the rest of the night.
The whole episode had taken its toll on Jace, herself needing to relax, who had reluctantly retired for a long bath. Any argument she had with Catherine tended to leave her energy supply at dangerously low levels and though Catherine hadn't retaliated, she knew that some of her remarks had hurt her partner deeply. Tomorrow she'd make up for it but right now all she could do was try to keep awake. Thank goodness Georgina had finally fallen asleep. Even Faith had looked like her nerves were frazzled. Poor Grace and Colin if they had to put up with this each and every evening before she finally went to sleep for the evening.
Lisa had been whispering to Catherine about something at school, which was a secret between her and her taller mother, much to Jace's amusement, and she had to admit, a twinge of jealousy. A part of her felt left out of the conversation when normally she would be part of the conspiracy and if those two got together, it was usually more trouble than not. Catherine would tell her eventually, she always did. One thing she could count on was her lover's naïve nature when it came to being questioned about the children and telling her everything.
Around eight, with Lisa now tucked in bed and reading her own version of a fairy story to Blacky and Rag doll before she fell asleep, a loud wail from Elena's room had Catherine rushing inside, was Elena having a nightmare?
No such luck, Georgina was crying like a banshee, and to make it worse, Elena was blinking tired eyes at the child. Closing her eyes briefly at the sight, wondering which child was going to be the most difficult, she headed for Georgina's crib and tried to sooth the baby with a few words and placed her comforter in her mouth. Which, remarkably, seemed to work then she headed for her daughter's bed and spoke softly to her about the baby having a bad dream and everything was going to be okay. Tired blinking green eyes gave her a long stare, and with her own comforter and the blanket she hugged wrapped tightly in her arms, Elena settled back down and within moments was fast asleep again.
Walking back over to the baby Catherine glanced down for a final check that she was okay and was given a wide-eyed look from brown eyes just like her mother's. Oh no, she's awake! Contemplating what to do next, she could leave her and hope she fell asleep without a murmur or she could take her downstairs with her, or better yet, she could take her home!
"What are you doing, Catherine?" A relaxed drowsy eyed Jace asked from her position at the slightly open doorway.
"Hey, love, nothing just checking on the kids. Did you have a nice bath?" Catherine whispered as she gave Georgina a second glance then moved towards the open door and closed it behind them quietly not wanting to disturb the child anymore than she was already.
"Did I hear one of them crying?" Reluctant to be drawn away from her original question. Catherine didn't normally go into Elena's room until she was going to bed and that wouldn't be for another three hours at least.
"Yes, the baby. She woke Elena up, but you know our daughter loves to sleep, she went right back down again." Catherine's eyes looked over the fluffy toweling nightgown that Jace wore. Her cleavage, now growing in leaps and bounds with the rest of her body, pushed out tantalizingly making Catherine's throat dry. Maybe if Jace wasn't too tired she'd come to bed early and they could snuggle.
"Is the baby asleep too?" Jace looked up and saw the smoldering expression in her partner's eyes and knew just where her mind was, firmly in the gutter, and with Catherine, that was quite a gutter. One she loved wallowing in with her any chance she could and tonight...
"Yeah of course, want to have an early night with me?" Catherine whispered seductively as she kissed Jace's lips tenderly and pulled her into her arms. The shiver she felt from her lover had an answering one in her own body as her love's smaller arms settled gently on her waist fingering the waistband of her trousers.
Chuckling at the question she gave Catherine her most seductive gaze and heard the heady intake of her breath, "With you, anytime, why don't you go shower and I'll get the bed warm."
"Hmm...now that's an offer that can't and won't be refused." Smiling as she kissed Jace again quickly and released her precious woman who winked at her and padded off to their bedroom. Catherine toyed for a few moments about checking on the baby again but she'd been quiet and maybe it was just being in a strange place. Walking to the other end of the corridor she tapped on Jake's bedroom door.
"Yeah?" The boy sounded distracted as she opened the door. His room was part of the new wing they'd added and he had space away from the female part of the household, mainly for his privacy in respect that he was the only man in the household. It had made him feel important, and had caused a stir with him and Lisa for a few weeks but that had all been worked out eventually.
"I'm shutting up the house early, do you want anything before I go to bed?" standing in the doorway watching him tap something furiously on his computer keyboard before he turned to her to answer.
"Nope, everything's cool, Catherine, it's still early though, isn't it? Doesn't mean I have to stop my chat, does it?" The boy asked with a pout. He looked cute when he did that but she wasn't going to tell him that.
"No, although not too late okay, it's school in the morning. Who are you talking to anyway?" Catherine asked quietly. She didn't want to pry but you had to be careful whom your kids spoke to these days, especially on the net.
"Just a chat room friend."
"Which chat room?" She wasn't dumb. She'd read all the stuff about chat rooms and kids being influenced in them by unsavory characters.
Jake looked at the woman who had a frown. Oh he knew what she was thinking but he wasn't that stupid. "Catherine, I'm talking with Ian and a few others, want to join in?"
Pulling a face at his quip, he knew damn well she had a much more important rendezvous, "No thanks, maybe another time."
"Cool...thought you were going to bed early?" He smiled at her, his face innocent. She knew he'd be smirking when she left him alone, kids!
"Yes I am, good night, Jake, see you in the morning."
"Night..." the boy switched his attention immediately back to his computer screen as she closed the door.
A contented smile settled on her face as she closed up for the night, allowing Rio out for a few minutes. Faith and Judy had gone into town to one of their social gatherings and they'd let Rio out again later when they came back home. Now, now she had a lovely, sexy woman who was all hers to spend the night with, rather wonderful if she didn't say so herself. Taking the stairs two at a time, she hit the landing just as a loud howl came from Elena's room and her face dropped like a stone.
No please God not now!
Rushing as fast as she could to the bedroom door and opening it quickly, allowing as little light as possible to invade the darkness of the room, if she was lucky Elena was still asleep if not...hell might be a better option for the evening.
Staring at her with a wide eye expression, which unfortunately she'd seen before much too often in fact, Elena glared at her, scrunched up her face, and true to form, her youngest daughter started to cry softly at first then the tears rolled, and did they. "Hey, baby, Mamma's here, how about we go and have some hot milk, huh?" At the mention of having something normally not allowed, the tear filled face brightened for a moment until the original culprit who had woken up the child wailed loudly again. Catherine, with a heavy sigh, walked over to the baby who, as soon as she neared and gave her attention, quieted immediately. "If this is what you're like at home, Georgina, I'm not surprised your Mum's turning her hair out." Picking the baby up from the crib, knowing that all plans to have a wonderful relaxing evening in the arms of her wife was now a thing of the past, she walked over to Elena and held out her hand, and together they went downstairs.
Now here it was one am and finally Georgina was playing ball and her eyelids were drooping, an achievement of patience. This child was going home in the morning and never likely to be asked to stay over until she could prove she slept all evening without disturbing the household. When Faith and Judy had arrived home they had both volunteered to help her out, and within half an hour, Elena was fast asleep in bed and likely, if undisturbed, to stay that way until the morning. Though they all knew that she would be temperamental all day because of her broken sleep pattern. To give Georgina's grandparent her due, she had volunteered to have the baby in her room but Catherine declined when she saw the fatigue clearly etched in the older woman's face. The woman had spent much of the late afternoon, and early evening, trying to placate her only grandchild, without much success, until she had finally exhausted herself for what they had all hoped would be the rest of the night. However, things don't always go according to a plan and that one had been shot out of the water a couple of hours later.
"Will you take her for a little while, I want to speak with Jace for a few minutes if she's still awake." Catherine passed over the baby and left the room, secretly hoping that her lover was at least partially awake so she could say goodnight properly.
Once more fate had other ideas and Catherine smiled indulgently as she heard the tiny snoring sounds coming from the curled up woman in their large bed. As she looked down with a tender expression on her face, her thoughts drifted to the first time she'd ever watched Jace sleeping and the wonderful glow she'd experienced and then came back a thousand fold. It was strange how one person crossed your path in life and suddenly the answers to all your questions about your particular part of the universe became crystal clear. That had been the occurrence for her, mind shattering really and subsequently the most powerful happening in her life, and she'd had some humdingers in her time. Her heart swelled at being here in the same room with the woman who crashed landed in her world and set about creating a marvelous kaleidoscope of experiences filled with sumptuous events, it colored her world forever. Staring down at the petite stature of the woman she loved, it was amazing how such a small package of humanity had the ability to make such sweeping changes in someone else's life and they didn't mind one iota. Like a small stone being thrown into a stream creating a ripple, which in turn creates its own effect, and before you knew it, a tidal wave appeared. That was Jace to her, lovely, enchanting, intelligent, caring, thoughtful and loving in every way, who could want more.
Stooping towards the bed she re-arranged the covers and kissed the top of her lover's head tenderly. "I love you, Jace, sweet dreams, my love."
Silently leaving the room, and as she was about to close the door, she was certain she heard a mumbled reply, "Love you too," followed by a contented sigh. Smiling broadly, Catherine went back to the dubious task of getting a troublesome baby to sleep.
Carefully cradling the baby as close as possible, she was going to do something that Grace would probably kill her for later but it was the only way she could think of that would keep the child happy. Placing Georgina in the armchair she went over and pulled out the sofa bed she kept for extreme emergencies in the study. Minutes later, she picked up the baby and together they settled in the sofa bed. Within minutes the baby slept and she closed her eyes vowing not to sleep but as soon as she felt the even breathing of the baby it was like counting sheep and she fell asleep too.