The early evening was drawing in, darkening the skies as winter approached. Daylight savings had made the mornings much brighter, for a short time anyway, but the evenings now quickly brought the veil of dark nights like a thief catching you out unexpectedly. From her position on the decking, Jace gazed off towards the horizon north of the property. As dusk merged into evening, the faint scent of winter grew stronger, and the stars that speckled the night skies held that magical appeal that only came with this time of the year. Now all she needed was a special person to share the wonderful ambiance, and as usual, her special person was involved elsewhere.

Placing a tender hand to her swelling belly she smiled gently. Twins…what a surprise for them both, though she couldn’t think of anything more wonderful than to give birth to two lives at the same time. Wondering what thoughts went through the minds of those that had carried and given birth to multiple births before. Maybe she should find out if bringing up twins would be considerably different to one child. Elena had been a handful in some ways, but she put that down to inexperience and…well…the other traumas that had followed them around for a couple of years. Now, there was a quiet confidence around the home and the people who shared it, things could be different, and different they would be. If she didn’t make it happen, Catherine certainly would.

Her thoughts drifted to the one person, on the planet, that could make black appear white to her, which was no exaggeration, not if anyone knew how strongly she felt about her partner.  The very thought made her chuckle. Gee, if anyone heard her they would think she was going mad, similar to talking to oneself. A wide grin refused to budge as she continued to stare out onto the ever-darkening skies.

Somehow they had managed to survive misunderstandings, irrational hatred, old and new foes, kidnappings…hers and worse - Lisa’s. Murder, intrigue, distress, jealousy and prejudice filled their lives. All this over a period of five years had been tempered with happiness, understanding, compassion and the most wonderful of all, lashings of love that held the ever-increasing family together. Through it all she and Catherine had almost died, cried, smiled and generally did everything and anything possible to remain together because they had the one ingredient no one could diminish, they loved! A precious gift that had its own particular method of payment and these day’s, with the ‘demise’ of their most ferocious enemy Clarissa Hudson, who hadn’t been heard from or seen since the events in Greece, life was meeting out a marvelous dollop of good fortune their ways. Each day reverently accepted, knowing that with the turn of a page like a biography, or sand that trickled through old father time’s hand, it could change without notice and the joy of sunshine in their lives could change to dramatic dark scenery bringing trouble with a capital T. Though what else could possibly befall them, she really didn’t know. Ordinary everyday problems would be bliss in comparison to what they had been through in the past and that’s all she could hope for, for the future, that any trouble would be domestic like most everyone else in the world.

“Jace, would you like any tea, dear?” Faith asked as she popped her greying head out of the door to check on the young woman who had left the kitchen and the children, at dinner to take some much needed air.

Turing at the considerate question, Jace smiled at the woman. Faith was part of the family in a very big way now, not that anyone dare say that, but Grace’s mother was everyone’s idea of the eternal grandmother and all the children at Destiny loved her, not to mention most of the adults too. “I’ll wait a while longer thanks.”

“As you wish, dear, want me to bathe Elena?”

Grinning at the request, Faith took every opportunity to take over in that department, well, any department that she could, really. Grace didn’t know what she was missing not having her mother stay with them. “Sure, I’ll be along soon to read her a story and say goodnight.”

“Jake needs help with his math; though he’ll not tell you and Lisa…”

Quirking an eyebrow in puzzlement at the vague mention of her eldest daughter, who always managed to end up the center of attention without really trying, “is there a problem with Lisa?”

“Boy trouble I think.” Faith answered as she closed the door and retreated back into the house.

“Boy trouble, she’s only twelve!” Jace’s face was a picture as she considered that option. No, it couldn’t be! As her mind grappled with the possibility, she failed to notice a rider cross the sight of the horizon and canter down to the stable area.

Jace felt a hundred as her mind considered all kinds of possibilities with Lisa, not that it was a problem, and it wasn’t. After all she was only twelve and what did kids know at that age. Precisely, what did they know…everything probably! Was this the time for the talk about the birds and bees, or was it less subtle these days with procreation as the term? Whatever, it didn’t matter…she’d have to speak with Catherine and together they would solve the problem. As her mind wandered, it literally overstepped lines as she wondered about Jake. Who was going to tell him about the facts of life? Somehow, no matter how strong-minded Catherine was, she didn’t see her doing that. Her lover was a real softy when it came to the crunch, at least with her and the children. Jake, yes Jake…now maybe she should talk with her dad and see what he had to say, good call!

“Hey there, am I late?”

The wonderful resonance of the voice she loved throbbed through her as she closed her eyes relishing the emotions and …just being here.

Catherine Warriorson smiled indulgently removing her gloves and stepped up on the decking walking towards her love. As she did so, she took in the wonderful glow of a woman seven months pregnant, and this time, she could see it with her own eyes, well one anyway. With Elena it had been a heightening of other senses, but this time around she was going to be around to see the birth come hell or high water! Maybe water wasn’t such a good term, especially with Jace. Her smile grew wider as she looked at her lover; she was…great. It was a stupid kind of word under the circumstances; it didn’t cover half of what she felt, but what did you say when all the words you needed had already been said. All that mattered was that you could hold the person you loved close every night and say I love you. Simple, sure, but so very right, who could ask for more and she certainly didn’t.

“So am I late for something, you look anxious?” Kneeling at the smaller woman’s feet, she was rewarded with a wonderful smile that lit every electrical circuit in her body. Even more so when lips captured hers and she was allowed to indulge in the most basic, but fantastic expression of human desire, passion and love, with a simple kiss.

“No, never late, not you, Catherine. Heck, you wouldn’t allow it, would you?”

Grinning widely, Catherine pulled at her chin and winked, “Not if it had anything to do with you.”

“Flatterer.”

“Of course, would you expect anything else?” Tracing a gently finger over Jace’s lips waiting for her reply.

“No, not from you. Anyway, how was the ride?”

“Good, but I need to remember that the nights are drawing in, it’s almost black for me at this time of night.”

“What do you mean?” She asked, concerned that the blindness that still afflicted one eye, might be coming back in the other.

Holding her hand up beseechingly, Catherine laughed, “Don’t worry, it’s just darker out than I thought. I’ll take Tralargon out earlier in the future, or better yet, I’ll have a chaperone.”

“Chaperone, yeah right!”

“Now what do you mean by that, Jace, I wonder?”

“You hate riding with anyone else. It’s a chore when you go with the kids.”

“Says who?”

“Says your expression,” Jace grinned at her. She didn’t want to upset her partner, but it was true.

Giving her a strained look, Catherine considered the comment, “Maybe you’re right, perhaps you’re not...I could change.”

“In everyone’s dreams, you love to ride alone.”

“I’d give it up for one thing.”

Laughing at the comical expression on Catherine’s face, Jace knew she was being teased, “What would that be?”

“You.”

“Me? What do you mean?”

“When you finally ride with me, it will be like the fairy stories. The curse of riding alone will be removed and I’ll be happy to ride with anyone evermore.”

Giggling at the description, she gazed lovingly into the blue eyes she loved, “One day perhaps. Not yet.” Her eyes straying to her bulging belly indicating her incapacity, at least she chose to conveniently think so. Riding wasn’t on the top of her list of activities, ever!

Placing a gentle hand on the wonderful bulge, Catherine smiled tenderly, “One day it will be then, for now, how about dinner?”

“Okay, but we need to help the kids with homework first at least…”

“At least?”

“Which one do you want to help, Jake with math, or Lisa with…social studies?”

Placing her arm around her lover’s swelling body, Catherine considered the choices, “you choose, I’m easy.”

Glancing up at the strong chin and the innocent remark, Catherine didn’t know the full facts. Dare she play it to her advantage? Yeah, pregnancy gave you certain strategic advantages. “You take Lisa and in an hour we’ll have dinner while the kids watch TV before bed.”

“Right there with you, babe,” dropping down to snatch a quick kiss as they entered the house.

~ ~ ~

Jason Bardley wasn’t sure how to tell his wife, never mind his eldest daughter and her partner about another dilemma that had occurred as his eyes looked out onto the teaming mass of scurrying figures travelling speedily to their next destination. He was so caught up in his own thoughts he failed to hear the rap-tap at his office door or it opening at the lack of invitation.

Clearing her voice a fraction higher than normal to drag the chairman’s attention to her presence, Constance Waverley stood patiently waiting for the man to turn, “Are you okay, Jason?”

Spinning on his heels, the older man gave her a surprised but warm glance and stroked his chin seriously for a moment before answering. “I’m okay, not so sure about others though.” He pointed to the leather sofa in his office and motioned for her to sit down as he crossed the room and sat down opposite her.

“Can I help?”

The company was doing pretty good she knew that, and to the best of her knowledge, there wasn’t anything untoward happening in the industry and she should know, being the President of the corporation.

“I wish you could but it’s a family matter, not sure anyone can help at the moment.” The man softly remarked as he hung his head a fraction, so not like him. He was a wonderful figurehead and always full of beans. Catherine had been very astute to have him take on such an ambassadorial role on behalf of the company. She knew she was grateful for his support as he did all the backslapping she hated.  To her, it was the perfect collaboration and one that was reaping immense benefits. These days they had actually diversified out into the record business and that had been Jason’s call and a very lucrative one at that.

“I’m a good listener, if that will help?” Constance smiled warmly at the man. He did look down in the dumps. Normally, he was a very placid kind of guy but if something disrupted his family in any way, he was apt to worry like any loving head of the family unit.

“Let me think on it, did you need me for anything?” turning his attention to why the president was in his office unexpectedly.

“Sure, anytime.  I wanted to be the one to tell you this, Jason, rather than it coming from inter-office gossip.” Looking down at her hands clasped tightly together on her lap she sighed.

Eyebrows rose at the term ‘gossip’. It couldn’t be anything to do with the fact that the woman opposite with him lived with her PA, which had been a seven-day wonder at the time over ages ago. “Go ahead, you have me intrigued, want a coffee?” about to stand and ask his secretary to do the honors.

“No! No thanks, Jason, I’ll give you the low down and get out of your hair. I’m sure we both have better things to do than commit valuable time to office rumors.”

“Then by all means tell me and we’ll do just that.” His grey eyes grew serious as he waited for her to begin.

“It’s about Lucy.” She looked up. The man gave her a startled look but motioned for her to carry on.

“She hasn’t been at work for over a week. Her superiors thought she was sick but there hasn’t been any communication and there’s some unrest that since she’s your daughter, she can do as she pleases.” Constance shook her head at the comment. You had to nip this kind of rumor in the bud before it flowered into a dangerously weed choking sensible thought.

“A week you say, I didn’t appreciate that. I thought she’d only been gone a day.”  At his absently spoken words, Constance wondered if this was the family problem, it seemed likely.

“I see, you have word from her?”

Standing up, his manner wooden, he walked slowly over to the desk, “I guess, in light of what you are saying, I need to talk with you. I received this letter in my mail this morning.” He opened his drawer and took out a small envelope and slowly returned to the woman, in the office with him, and held it out for her.

Constance gave him a sympathetic stare, “If you’d rather I didn’t read it, that’s fine with me…”

“Please, Constance, I’d welcome your input. I’m wondering how to break this to my family.” The man allowed the envelope to be taken from his listless hand and he sat heavily back down on the sofa.

Opening the envelope and taking out the single piece of paper, she scanned the content of the simple letter quickly and then turned compassionate eyes on the man.

“What do you make if it?”

Staring at the contents again before committing herself, she then placed it back in its envelope and dropped it on the table between them.

“Do you think it’s true?”

Pushing his hand through his thinning head of grey hair, the man gave her a close look and finally nodded his head. “I thought she’d settled down and was ready to go back to college, how wrong I was. I couldn’t have imagined her doing this, it’s so out of character. She’s the sensible one, now, if it were Jace…” He trailed off as they considered the ramifications the mention of his eldest daughter brought with them, or more to the point, her partner… Catherine Devonshire Warriorson.

“Jace wouldn’t have considered this kind of action, she seems so sensible.” Jason mused that for a moment before he replied.

“Don’t be taken in by my eldest child’s innocent face, she could have taken this action. In fact, she has done worse in her time.” He wasn’t being reproachful merely pointing out a salient fact about his daughter.

“I guess she’s changed since she met Catherine, I haven’t seen that streak.”

“Don’t bet your last dollar on that. My little girl has deep waters running, Constance, fortunately for her, they are for the good of other’s usually. Catherine and she make a fine pairing, believe me.”

Constance smiled as she considered that, and it was probably true, the two women they knew had very deep waters. This wasn’t the issue here though, they had another daughter who had gone and done her own thing. “What are you going to do?”

Sighing heavily Jason stood up again. To keep moving meant he had something else to take up a little of the stress sitting around created in him. “I have to tell her mother and then there’s a matter of Jace. I don’t want to upset her at the moment, it’s only a couple of months before the twins are due and Catherine said she was suffering from high blood pressure, which she was being particularly belligerent about.” He smiled as she recalled that conversation. Catherine had been pulling her hair out because Jace was being awkward, so like the women in his family.

“You don’t say. Have you thought about getting in touch with someone who can help in this kind of thing?” Constance knew just the person and she owed Catherine a favor, what better way to pay up.

“Not tell my family you mean and try to sort it out without them knowing?” Jason hadn’t considered that but now that Constance mentioned it, it was a good idea.

“Sure, why worry them. Initially it could all be one of those spare of the moment things and she changes her mind.” Constance stood up ready to do whatever he wanted.

“You have someone in mind…who can be discreet, mind you.”

“Discreet is her middle name, and anyway, you know her.”

“I do?”

“Absolutely, Serena Dusterly!” Constance grinned as she saw the recognition dawn in his eyes.

“Will she take this on though, it isn’t exactly her kind of thing anymore?” He remembered the private detective. She was the one who helped when Lisa had been kidnapped, though from what he recalled, these days she was a busy and selective detective.

Giving Jason a warm smile as she opened the door to leave his office, “She’ll be only to happy to help, trust me.”

Nodding his head wearily, he watched her exit his personal space. He then turned back to the outlook below him, his mind churning over not only the contents of the letter but the fact that his youngest child hadn’t been at work for a week and he hadn’t known. Alison was going to kill him for that; he knew it! He couldn’t help himself, however, as he muttered to the turmoil of human energy below him.

“For god’s sake, why, Lucy, why, why! Why did you need to take off and elope, and with him of all people?”

~ ~ ~

Faith Thornton watched the animated features of Lisa explaining her current predicament to her adopted mother, who had the most endearing quizzical expression she had ever seen on anyone, especially someone like Catherine who appeared to be in total control most of the time. Jace had taken the easy option, it looked like, and she suspected that the other half of the Warriorson partnership hadn’t enlightened her partner to the subject matter. Should be an interesting showdown when Catherine finally found out that Jace had duped her into this one. As she turned away she smiled, shaking her head, as Jace waddled towards her, it had been a constant source of amusement with the rest of the family that the blonde had put on excessive pounds over and above what her obstetrician recommended. Not that anyone would dare say that to Jace, she had the hormonal instincts of a bull after the matador waving a red flag if anyone dare touch on the subject. No one dared!

“Hi, Jace, have you solved Jake’s mathematical problems?” Walking towards the smaller woman who was heading for the kitchen in search, she had no doubt, for a snack and dinner was ready too!

Jace grinned giving a thumb’s up sign, “Piece of cake, he knew it already, but I had to convince him of the fact. Catherine finished with Lisa yet? I’m starving.”

Faith pursed her lips at the question and shot her a knowing wry glance. “You didn’t tell her what the subject matter was, did you?”

Grinning Jace winked, “She volunteered, the subject was irrelevant…at least, why is she struggling?”

Opening the door to the kitchen Faith laughed softly, “Yes, she is, and my dear, you might have to pick up the pieces later and those pieces, I might add, will not be from Lisa.”

Rolling her eyes at the thought, but chuckling since she could picture the consternation on her partner’s face, they entered the kitchen and Jace’s stomach growled incessantly at the delicious aroma’s that attacked her senses. “I’ll save her from Lisa’s clutches in a few minutes, heck, she has Elena and the twins to consider. We can call this…a trial for the future.”

~ ~ ~

Why was she such a pushover when it came to Jace and the kids…oh yeah, she loved them! Could she take a rain check on that at the moment, pondering Lisa’s new problem.  Her question, what was making love!

“Catherine, you haven’t answered me yet, I’ve been waiting patiently, like you said.” The red-haired child stood next to the chair Catherine was thankfully sitting in, her arms now obstinately crossed over her chest.

Closing her eyes for a fraction of a second wondering how to answer her eldest daughter, didn’t they do this kind of thing in schools nowadays? “Well, it’s like this, Lisa, you fall in love, your hormones kick in and…then you get married. There, how is that?”

Lisa scrunched up her face at the reply, her eyes giving her Mother a strange stare and opened her mouth to ask another question, “That’s not what Tommy Cambridge at school said! I’m gonna tell him he’s wrong and that you are right because you’re older and know these things.”

Catherine gave the redhead a cagey glance, “What did Tommy say…exactly.”

“Oh, you don’t want to know that Catherine, he was being naughty.” Lisa looked longingly towards the TV, her program was on soon and she was now bored with this.

“Princess, I do, please tell me.”

“Ok, he said that people who liked each other had sex and they had babies. I don’t know what sex is though, Catherine, but I understand what love is, I like your answer better.” The girl replied, her innocent appreciation of the explanation made Catherine gulp back a chortle of laughter.

“Thank you, Lisa,” closing her eyes as she realized she’d been let off the hook - though she’d find out what this kid, Tommy, was doing spreading stuff like that to little girls.

“Are you tired, Catherine?” Lisa leaned into the chair and stroked the bang that had fallen over her Mother’s eyes and smiled gently at the older woman. You had to take care of her tall Mom because she couldn’t look after herself sometimes. That’s what she’d decided because her Mom got into lots of trouble, even more than she did!

Opening her piecing blue eyes, they softened to a warm loving gaze as she winked at her little princess, “Hungry, princess, why don’t you watch your TV program and I’ll read you a story when you go to bed, what do you say?”

The delight that crossed the child’s face made Catherine glow inside, the simplest of actions you did for this child had the most amazing effect, she was always so grateful and loving, yeah loving was the word. “Cool, you go now it’s nearly time.” Tugging at the woman who obligingly stood up and smiling kissed her head and made for the door.

“Catherine?”

Turning back reluctantly, hoping she didn’t have to answer another sensitive question, “Yeah?”

“I love you, Catherine, that’s why I know you are right.” Lisa grinned and switched the TV on, her attention now on the flickering images on the screen.

Chuckling softly Catherine left the room and entered the kitchen area, her face still wreathed in the tender smile she had upon leaving the child.

Jace and Faith watched the tall woman enter and both women were amazed at the expression on her face, Faith in particular who had seen her struggling earlier.

“Hi, love, how was the social studies lesson?” Jace asked, tongue in cheek, trying desperately to stop the grin that threatened to burst out on her lips.

Hearing the mirth in the tone, she looked at her partner suspiciously, “You knew!”

“Me? I knew what,” Feigning ignorance, however unable to stop the wicked teasing gleam entering her eyes.

“Forget it, I’ll explain later.” Catherine knew that would irritate both women in the room, since she saw them giving each other secret glances and wry smiles. That’ll teach you both!

“Oh, come on, Catherine, please, that’s unfair.” Jace pleaded and knew she had given herself away as her partner gave her a long interested stare.

“I told her that your hormones kicked in, always a problem when you’re growing up and that they work themselves out when you’re fifty…if you’re lucky!” the nonchalant way she spoke had the other two women in the room shaking their heads.

“Catherine! What did she ask you?” Jace waddled around the table to stand as close as possible to the woman who she was sure was teasing them...then again…this was Catherine and serious was her middle name.

Tapping the end of her own nose gently, Catherine gave her a serious expression, “Now that’s between me and my daughter, if you wanted to know you should have been there. Faith, something smells wonderful and I’m starving.”

A low groan emanated from Jace as she glared at the woman sitting patiently at the table, her head turned away. She was unable to see the teasing smile on Catherine’s lips while she winked at Faith, who shook her head and opened the oven door with a smile. “A casserole, beef in Guinness, one of your favorites.”

“Marvelous! Jace, are you going to sit down and join me?” Catherine switched her profile to look directly into the green eyes of the woman she loved. Grinning at her slowly, she reached out to tenderly touch the swelling belly next to her, “the twins will be hungry.”

Grinding her teeth as she sat opposite her lover, her mind now trying to work out if Catherine really had explained to a twelve year old that hormones were the answer to the birds and the bees…on reflection, maybe they were. As the food was placed before them, Faith joining them to enjoy the meal too, Jace looked up and felt her own hormones take a sudden trip on a merry go round as the all-seeing blue eyes of her mate gave her a sensual appraisal that had everything else disappearing rapidly into the background.

Oh, what it was to be in love and be loved, absolutely awesome! Bring on the birds and bees anytime.

~ ~ ~

Constance waited patiently for her call to be transferred to Serena Dusterly. The person who had answered the call had tried to have her call back or leave a message, which she wasn’t prepared to do. Her schedule today was hectic and the chances of her being free when Dusterly returned her call was a long shot. Clare would see to it that the call was diverted to her but three of her meetings today needed her total attention, her mind elsewhere with the Bardley domestic problem wouldn’t go down well at all.

As she waited, her fingers flicked through the personnel file of Lucy Bardley, she was wayward in many respects this new stunt showed that clearly. However, she did have a natural business acumen that her line manager commented several times on in her monthly progress reports. There was even mention of a particular innovation she’d brought to the department that had saved the company money, not a vast amount but a savings nonetheless. Probably why no one wanted to rock the boat at first, especially since she had the family contacts. Even if they would have proved useless, Jason was on the same wavelength as his daughter-in-law…no preferential treatment for family. You gained recognition by your own endeavors not because you were related to the owner of the company. Though it could be said that Catherine hadn’t followed that route; she had been left the Xianthos Empire in her father’s will.

Staring at the personal details of Lucy’s file, the woman was over twenty-one and hadn’t finished college. Though sometimes that happened it didn’t always mean you could get on in life but did throw a spanner in the works for certain professions. Strangely enough, according to this information, she had been studying physiology and physics, a far cry from what she was doing at Xianthos.

“Ms. Waverley?” the voice at the end of the phone pulled her attention back to her call.

“Yes, Ms. Dusterly?”

“Yes, what can I do for you, it’s been a while since we last spoke?” The calm but interested voice asked straight to the point.

“Yes it has, I wasn’t sure you would remember me.”

“How could I forget you? Or, at least, the situation we were all in; it changed my life as you know.” Serene Dusterly glanced around her office space. It was comfortable and friendly, allowing people to relax when they entered and not feel intimidated, as she knew many did who sought out a private detective. The last two years had allowed her to help people she never thought she could and have a very prosperous business. Her reputation for solving cases the authorities had long since given up on had grown enormously, largely because she was backed by a wonderful monetary legacy, for people who couldn’t afford to hire someone under normal circumstances, from this woman’s boss.

“Yeah I guess, I have a problem…at least someone I know does, we need your help.” Constance didn’t want to beat about the bush either. This woman had proved she could be relied on to do a good job in extremely difficult circumstances, albeit this wasn’t a kidnapping but it did affect the family in other ways equally as important.

“Do you want to arrange a meeting or…”

“My life at the moment is one long meeting unfortunately. How about I courier you some details and you make the call to set up a meeting when you’ve read the file?” Carefully slipping all she had on Lucy Bardley into a special envelope ready for a messenger along with a note detailing the problem and with her and Jason’s personal numbers enclosed.

“That’s perfectly okay with me, send it over and I’ll make sure I get to it today.” Dusterly didn’t consider the problem critical, as the woman seemed more interested in her business meetings. It was probably a fact-finding mission for an important deal or something like that.

Constance realized she wasn’t giving the matter her best and shook her head at the phone cradled in to her cheek. “Sorry I’m a little vague. Would you look it over immediately when you receive the information, you’ll understand when you do and why I’m not happy about talking over the phone.”

Hearing the urgency creep into the voice at the other end of the line, Serene changed her tack; “Sure, I’ll do it immediately.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that and so will others, the file will be there within the hour. I will speak with you soon and thanks again.” Constance heard the reply as she replaced the receiver.

Sighing heavily she pressed her internal intercom.

“Yes, Constance?”

“Clare, I have an envelope on my desk to go by special courier, I need it at the destination within the hour. Are they here for the first meeting in my conference room yet?”

Claire heard the importance laced in the tone noting down the request, she would find out later what the problem was, “Yes, all in there. Do you want me to arrange for a break in an hour?”

“No, I have to close this deal quickly, I have another meeting across town in two hours. Make sure the envelope gets there, it’s vitally important.”

“Sure, right away.” Claire replied as the intercom was shut off abruptly. When she was less than polite, or abrupt would be a better term, meant that Constance had a lot running through her mind and some of it hard to handle. Calling the courier service and arranging the collection, Claire went inside her boss’ now empty office, picked up the A4 manila envelope and walked back to her office. Pulling out the log sheet, she filled it in for the transaction, as she did so, she read with astonishment, the recipient:

Ms. S Dusterly, SD Investigations

Her mind began to race…Oh no, not more trouble!

~ ~ ~

Luke Cruisal looked over his shoulder to the young woman in the jeep in the garage forecourt. As he did so, the woman looked up and caught his gaze; a wicked glint appeared in her eyes as she winked provocatively at him. He knew he attracted women, lots of them, and in America he found it quite the feast of glorious luscious females to entice him, he’d not been without female company since he arrived a month ago. Having arrived in L.A. from Auckland, his first port-of-call had been the hotel bar and within an hour was the proud possessor of three phone numbers and the chance for a quick one with the waitress in his room when her shift ended, which he’d taken up with pleasure. His days of being a lowly sheep hand at the beck and call of everyone on the farm were a thing of the past if he could get his plan to work and so far it was working out perfectly. Besides, who was to know about his indiscretions, no one knew him in this town and who the hell would care…this was the hive of anything goes, wasn’t it?

He watched as the woman, a leggy blonde stepped out of her vehicle and slowly make her way over to the payphone, which was no more than three yards from where his vehicle was parked. As he watched her he was sure she exaggerated the wiggle of her walk just for him and if she walked like that all the time, she should have a ‘danger’ sign placed on her for all red-bloodied males. This was one gorgeous chick and he wouldn’t mind a piece of her action, dare he take the chance of striking up a conversation with her as she stopped beside his door and adjusted the strap on her sandals. Her rear attribute, now positioned for his appreciation, was a come on if ever he saw one. Glancing towards the restroom he smiled noticing the coast was clear and wound down the window of the car grinning at her.

“Having a good day?” His accent drew the young woman’s attention immediately. She appraised his blonde good looks and the natural looking tan making him look even more handsome than his facial features already were, someone had been good to him in the good looks department.

“Yeah, and you?” Her voice nasal and at odds with the rest of her, but that was a mere detail and ignored in the situation. He wasn’t out to have conversation with her his thoughts definitely only of a carnal nature.

“I am now, nice…vehicle you have there, is it new?” He smiled at her although his words belied the smoldering expression in his topaz eyes.

A tinkle of laughter was his answer as she smiled wickedly back at him, “yeah, my daddy is generous.”

Raising his eyebrows a fraction he wondered if this was a chance at an heiress.

“Nice Daddy. You live around here or passing through?” His eyes never leaving her face as she delicately licked her lips obviously knowing the effect this would have on him.

“I’m a typical L.A. brat. What about you?” Her eyes flicked over his broad muscular shoulders thinly veiled in a T-shirt accentuating his physique.

“Arrived here last week, on my way to see a friend,” he replied amiably, which was true he was going to see a friend, not that they knew it yet.

“I see.” Stepping away from the car the woman looked towards her jeep and gave a slight frown.

“Want to have a drink sometime?” Luke had learnt that allowing chances to slip through your fingers wasn’t in his remit. Worse case scenario was you got rejected but the compensations were usually better odds.

The woman laughed at the invitation, “I thought you were going to see a friend?”

“It can wait. What do you say?” He was given a once over then he saw the frown again on her face as her eyes strayed towards her jeep. Luke smiled slowly as he turned and gave the restroom area a quick glance; yep her companion was back.

“Another time maybe,” she turned to walk away then quickly fished in her pocket throwing him a small gold lettered business card.

Luke picked up the card that landed on his lap, the woman quickly moving back to her own vehicle and before he could comprehend what to do next the vehicle sped out of the forecourt.

As he glanced down at the gold lettering it made him laugh, taking chances could be worth it on occasion.  His eyes once more took in the details of the card before tossing it into the glove compartment. Reversing out of the parking area, he decided to delay his trip to see a ‘friend’ who was more like a meal ticket. If he played his cards right, and he would since he was certain she was smitten and easily manipulated, it was going to be like leading a lamb to the slaughter.

~ ~ ~

“Babe, do you mind if I go to bed, I’m bushed, I can hardly keep my eyes open.” Jace smiled weakly at Catherine who was holding her gently on the sofa as they watched a murder mystery together. It was only eight thirty but her energy levels were at their lowest ebb and she really couldn’t do much more than have a quick shower and drop into bed. As much as she adored the woman who held her tenderly, the bed was definitely more comfortable.

Glancing down at the small blonde held snuggly in her arms, Catherine pouted for a few moments and then winked, “Want me to come too?”

“Don’t be silly, love, I know you won’t sleep, thank you though.” Jace reached up and kissed her lover gently. Her support and devotion had been second to none and nothing was too much for Catherine if Jace asked her for something or to do anything.

“Are you sure?” Her eyes straying for a second to the program they had begun watching half an hour earlier.

Jace smiled slowly, “I want to know who did it, you watch the program and you can tell me tomorrow, okay?” Levering herself up awkwardly then chuckling delightedly as she was virtually picked up out of the sofa and placed lightly on the floor as she was surrounded by the long arms of her lover.

“Got that, lover, want me to tuck you in?” Catherine placed a delicate kiss on Jace’s lips and the pressure changed within seconds to a deep passionate encounter that had both women breathing heavily.

Placing a hand to move the bangs out of Catherine’s eye Jace grinned at her, “Hold that thought, my love, which knows, I might surprise you and be awake when you come to bed.”

Both women knew that wasn’t going to happen but the image it created was a wonderful scene. “Okay, I’ll tuck you in later after your shower.” Bending her head she snatched a quick kiss and turned Jace towards the door. They both knew the leave taking could and had, in the past, taken longer than any program they’d watched.

“Goodnight, love, don’t forget the alarm when you come to bed.” Jace blew her a kiss as she waddled out of the room.

Smiling at the remark, yeah when had she ever forgotten the alarm? Sinking back down into the sofa, Catherine felt bereft without Jace in her arms; it really wasn’t the same without her here, no matter how interested she was in the program. Her eye strayed back to the screen quickly becoming engrossed in the mystery again as another murder was committed.

Fifteen minutes later, at the interval, Catherine silently opened the door to their bedroom and smiled tenderly when she heard the slow breathing pattern of Jace who was fast asleep. Padding over to the bed she pulled the duvet closer to her love and stared down at her glorying in the wonder of having this special woman in her life, in all their lives. Bending down she kissed Jace’s forehead and turned back to the hall softly closing the door behind her then quickly checked in on the children. Needless to say Jake was prostrate on the bed with most of the bedding on the floor, which was his habit. The kid was always warm and they’d had to ask him to wear shorts to bed on the odd chance that one of the girls might turn up unexpectedly at his door. He hadn’t liked the suggestion, but had complied eventually, especially when Lisa had flown into his bedroom one night scared of a lightening storm. No one was sure who was more embarrassed, Jake or the two of them, when Jace had to explain to an inquisitive Lisa that boys were slightly different body wise. Closing the door she walked past it to Lisa’s. Their princess was tucked up tight holding onto her old and tattered rag doll, which was about the only thing left of the personal possessions from her biological mother. What a tragedy that the child’s mother wasn’t able to experience this wonderful kid growing up, troublesome yeah, but the benefits they gained from her in their life far out weighed that a thousand fold or so she thought anyway. Closing that door she made her way to Elena’s room and peered inside. Their youngest was a light sleeper, which was why she had the room farthest from the others, it made sense as they were growing up and went to bed later. Disturbing the child when she’d gone to sleep was a fate far worse than death and even Faith agreed, which was something since Elena was, although she wouldn’t admit it openly, her favorite because she would be the most irritable kid on the block for hours afterwards. Now looking at her peacefully asleep she looked like a picture of serenity, until tomorrow when her boundless energy made them all look like the most unfit family on the planet.

Making her way towards the stairs where she saw Rio waiting patiently. He was Lisa’s constant companion when she wasn’t at school and even slept at the foot of her bed, but after a certain time the dog changed allegiances for a few hours and came to sit with her until she took him out for a short walk before bed and he would then quickly and remarkably silently leave her for Lisa’s room.

“Come on, Rio, let’s see whodunit.” She tweaked the dog’s ears gently as they both disappeared down the stairs to the comfort and peace of the sitting room. Life was remarkably domestic bliss and long may that last.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Two

“Don’t be ridiculous, Grace! She’s only a baby, she doesn’t understand, give her to me!” Colin held out his hands to the screaming Georgina who at six months old was hardly likely to understand his wife’s words, tone perhaps, but not the harsh mutterings.

Passing the distressed baby over to her husband, Grace looked at him sullenly. Her eyes widening in disbelief and utter wretchedness as a few moments later, with soft crooning, Colin Montgomery had the apple of his eye blinking back tears from her ridiculously long dark eyelashes. “I don’t believe this!” Grace remarked desperately.

Who said motherhood was easy, she certainly wasn’t finding it so, since the first week her baby had been awkward. She was told by the midwife that babies could be upset coming into the world, however they soon settled down, and would respond to the love that most doting parents lavished on their first born.

After the first few days she thought it was going to be a breeze. Georgina had slept well, taken to the feeding without too much trouble and had pretty much been a great baby. Then it all went wrong. She would wake up at all manner of times, getting up three to four times a night, sometimes she wanted food, other times she just wanted attention. That was ok…at first…she gathered that it was quite normal, but now, six months down the road, her daughter was surely the sibling to rival Damon. Who knew where all those tears were coming from; she certainly didn’t because it didn’t reflect in the diapers, which were always wet or worse. God she hated being a mother, and tonight it was just the last straw! She’d had non stop crying or moaning from her child since lunchtime and no amount of soothing had helped the matter. Typical, Colin had been late. He’d been held up in town on business and rolled in at eight-o-clock expecting his supper and to relax to read his paper. Some hope of that!

“Grace, you’re speaking to her like she’s a monster, you need a break.” Colin loved his wife and knew that things hadn’t been easy, but she was her own worst enemy by refusing help from others. Damn independent streak was going to be the death of her and he could see that coming if she didn’t do something drastic to change the situation. Her eyes were sunken in from her lack of sleep and he could see her anger and irritation with the baby, and him too, deteriorating fast.

“A break, that’s rich coming from you! Are you going to take her all day for me to have a break?” The scathing words were uncalled for, although he’d expected a vitriolic response. He’d been attacked verbally pretty much every time he walked in the door for the last three months.

“If that’s what it takes, yes I’ll take her. In fact, I’ll do better than that. Tonight you go have a nice bath and relax, I’ll cook something up, bathe Georgina and put her to bed. I’ll even do the night watch if you try to relax a little, love.” His eyes filled with concern. He hadn’t had much experience with babies either, actually none at all, but he knew the danger signs well when a mother was about to abandon her baby, sheep did that all the time. Ok, this was slightly different and he was certain Grace wouldn’t do that however…

Grace felt the lump forming in her throat as she heard his tender offer of help. What a wife and worse… what a mother she was turning out to be, if she couldn’t handle even the simplest of things, and here he was coming in after a long day and willing to take over everything. “I can’t let you do that, Colin, it isn’t fair.”

Tears trickled down his wife’s cheeks as he smiled gently at her, “Sure you can, love.” He moved closer to her, tucking the baby closer to his chest, as he laid a protective and loving arm around the shaking shoulders of his wife who was now openly crying.

Whispering into her untidy hair he kissed the top of her crown, “You go take that bath and when you’re done, I’ll have dinner almost ready. Go on now, scoot off.”

“I love you, Colin.” Grace mumbled as she left the two of them with a wry backward glance at her daughter who was gurgling happily in the large protective arms of her father. Yeah, at least her child had realized that early in life.

As Grace left the room Colin gazed down at the small bundle of life in his arms, she was growing and was becoming more and more beautiful each day. “Hey, little one, I’m going to bathe you and have you all fresh and clean and you are going to sleep for daddy while mommy has a rest, do you think you can do that?” He crooned softly to the child who giggled at him and kicked her small feet into his chest.

An hour later, fries and fish heating up in the oven, he looked around the place. The laundry was spilling out of the basket, bottles still requiring sterilization on the side, not to mention the playpen sitting in the middle of the sitting room. All in all, a total reverse of how the place had looked a scant few months ago before the baby was born. Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day and bringing up a baby wasn’t something that was taught overnight either, they would persevere. It was bound to get easier, it had to. Or he suspected that Grace would up and leave if the pressure finally got too much for her.

As he considered that his thoughts drifted to a person, not too far away, who could help… if only it wasn’t for such a stubborn woman in the house, namely Grace. She was her own worst enemy, but starting tomorrow, that was all going to change, oh yeah it was, even if it was only one day of the week.

Picking up the strewn about items and placing the bottles in the sterilizing machine, he tidied up the sitting room making it more habitable as he went over to the crib in the corner of the room. Their daughter was falling asleep, her eyelids dropped every few seconds, and if he was lucky, he might get her into bed before she finally drifted off and maybe they might get a few hours before she woke up again. Gently removing her from the small crib he carried her, softly crooning to her, to the bedroom and slowly placed her into the soft bedding and watched, wondering if he or Grace were ever this much trouble as babies, as she scrunched up her face to cry again. “Georgina, if you go to sleep now and you’re a good girl, Daddy will take you to see some of the horses tomorrow. You’ll love the horses, I promise.” Five minutes later he shut the door on the baby and went back to the kitchen, turning on the baby monitor to listen for any disturbances in the room.

Grace had been in the bath for a while and dinner was ready, he’d better go wake her because he suspected that she was asleep in the bathtub turning into a prune. Smiling at the thought he shook his head at the way of life and its upheavals. Even if you had kind of planned on them, some took more getting used to than others.

~ ~ ~

Serena Dusterly’s attention was drawn to the light tap on her door, and with a less than attentive reaction, asked whoever was at the door to come inside. Glancing up distracted from the case file she was looking over, another missing person one the authorities had given up on, or at least couldn’t supply the manpower to continue an intensive investigation. Her desk was piling high with such cases and she had to concede that maybe in the near future, the very near future, she needed an assistant while groaning at the sight of the over flowing ‘in’ tray, not to mention the pending ones. She smiled at the woman who walked inside with an apologetic look on her face. Jenny Clayton was not the most confident of assistants but what she lacked in that department she more than made up for in her efficiency on the paperwork and her attention to detail, which was critical in her work. The woman had been working as clerical support in the justice department when her marriage went sour and had resigned her position after her ex became a bully. He was, after all, her senior supervisor. Serena had offered to help her get her position back when she’d applied for the post here. The detective having thought the situation intolerable, her ex should have been dumped out of his job for malicious practices veiled in his position as head of the team, not this woman. The bonus when she’d refused was that she had ended up with a great assistant; all she needed now was a little more confidence.

“Ah, is that the courier package from Xianthos?”

“Yes, the guy needs your signature. He wouldn’t accept mine though I said you were working on a project and couldn’t be disturbed. I’m sorry.” The woman’s brown hair swung across her face hiding her distress at having to disturb her boss who was always busy.

Serena smiled slowly and shook her head; most assistants after being with their boss for six months would have gotten over the initial shyness of a new job, not this woman. Maybe there was more to the ex-husband’s nastiness than she’d been told, another problem to ponder some other time. Sure she was busy but a courier arriving was, even for her, unusual. “Don’t be sorry, Jenny, I was expecting the package, and it’s my fault, I should have told you. I got pre-occupied, you know me.”

Jenny Clayton glanced up and felt better as she warmed to the detective’s smile; she was a great boss and had such a generous nature. She had wondered, since working with her, why Serena spent all her time tracking down missing people that the authorities no longer had time for and apparently having no life outside her work. “Will you please sign here?” Passing over the clipboard that had a slip acknowledging her receipt of the package, which was a large brown business envelope and appeared to be very innocuous to most, but it could have a bombshell inside and coming from that company very likely.

Signing the slip she handed back the clipboard and turned the envelope over in her hands a few times before carefully ripping it open as the door closed behind her assistant.

A personnel file and a sheet of paper written in longhand, a sure sign this wasn’t for consumption by just anyone, who wrote pen to paper these days unless you had to. Scanning the letter she quickly digested the contents and then opened the personnel file on Lucy Bardley. Now that’s a name she was never likely to forget in a lifetime, not to mention another one equally as powerful.  The kidnapping of a child was always traumatic but the circumstances behind that particular kidnapping had achieved far more than anyone had expected when they not only found Lisa Simeon but also captured a woman who sold children into the slave market and had done so for years. Her own personal accomplishment had far outshone anything she had previously done when she was a bona-fide FBI agent. Though she had been asked back to her old role, which she refused, her life was now committed to helping people who had been left with little or no hope, and if she could at least try, that’s what she dedicated her life to now.

She looked over the track record of the young woman who had eloped, not a crime these days as far as she knew unless it was under duress, and there had been no evidence of that. Where was the letter? Opening up the envelope again she looked inside but nothing else was there. Shaking her head she reached for the phone and punched in Constance Waverley’s number and when she reached only a voice mail, she looked at the other number…of course, Jason Bardley, He was a sweet man and had helped her by listening when she had been about to throw the towel in at one stage in the previous investigation. Canceling her first call she dialed the other number and waited for a few moments then a deep baritone answered.

“Jason Bardley.”

“Hello, Mr. Bardley, this is Serena Dusterly, I’m not sure if you rememb…”

“Why, Ms. Dusterly, of course I remember you, how could I forget? You are always in our thoughts for bringing back Lisa to us safe and sound.” Jason smiled warmly at the phone cradled in his hand. He knew for sure that Jace and his wife both always mentioned Serena in their prayers.

“Thank you, I wanted to ask you about something personal.”

Sighing heavily he knew it…that evil woman who had hurt Lisa was up to no good tactics in her plan to get a lighter sentence. “Is it about Rosnova?”

Clapping a hand to her forehead, of course he would think that, the trial of the woman hadn’t taken place yet since each attempt had some discrepancy that allowed a mistrial.  “No! Sorry, as far as I’m aware the trial set up for August is still valid, unless she pulls another stunt.”

“Then, my dear, what can I do for you?”

“You have a personal problem, I believe, with your younger daughter. Ms. Waverley thought I could help.”

Blinking at the words, he’d not talked to Constance but two hours ago and already she’d arranged a private detective. Was this what he wanted? Having had time to think about it, Lucy was an adult, immature he felt, but she could make her own decisions since she was now twenty-one. Did he actually believe that…no. “What exactly did Constance say, Ms. Dusterly?”

“Please, Mr. Bardley, call me Serena, formality was never my strong point.”

“Serena it shall be, and Jason, please.”

“Jason it is. Constance wondered if I could help trace your daughter, if that’s what you want?” She had heard the hesitation in his voice with the tentative reply.

Clearing his voice, he looked at the letter that had crashed his world and would distress his wife immensely not to mention the rest of the family. “I’m not sure if that’s what I should do. She’s an adult and I should stop being the protective father and let her make her own choices.”

Serena heard the absent comment, was he trying to convince her or himself? “You have a letter…would you mind if I saw it? Often a letter’s content is a good gauge as to how that person came to their decision, or in this case, action. If I think it’s reasonable, we can leave it at that and I’m sure she will come back into the fold.”

Jason closed his eyes, the detective was correct, of course, he should leave it well alone but it was worth her looking over the note. “I’ll bring it over to you; I could do with the break.”

“Thank you, anytime that’s good for you, I’ll be here.” Serena tugged at the cord of the phone she held wondering if there was a curse on this family; they had way too many tough breaks.

“I’ll be along in the next hour; I could do with some fresh air.” Jason flipped over his diary, he wasn’t due at a meeting until lunch and he’d easily make that.

Grinning at the remark Serena pondered it, fresh air in New York…yeah right. “I’ll talk with you soon, Jason, bye for now.”

As she completed the call she looked at the picture of the young woman, she was pretty although not beautiful, had intelligent eyes and obviously, by the remarks in the file, was very independent. Willful and obstinate would be a good bet. Serena closed the file and looked at the other mountain waiting for her to tackle. Dare she waste time on someone who was obviously rebelling instead of those that actually needed her help desperately? She’d find that out when she saw the letter. Oh well, no rest for the wicked they say.

~ ~ ~

Jace walked ungainly down the stairs yawning as she did so. Once again she’d slept in far beyond what she normally did, and as usual, Catherine hadn’t disturbed her. Not even the lukewarm tea she’d come to enjoy, now that she was pregnant, had woken her with its delicious aroma. As she rounded the corner of the stairwell she heard laughter coming from the kitchen and wondered what all the merriment was about, here she was missing out again. She placed a hand on her swelling belly…these twins had a lot to answer for if she was missing out on the fun.

Opening the door of the kitchen as silently as possible to see what was going on, she grinned at the sight.

“Not my fault.” Lisa quickly responded as she backed away from her brother.

“It was too, you unfastened the straps to her diaper and now look, she’s wet all over me and I’ll be late for the bus!” Jake shouted at his sister as he gave her a scowl and headed for the door. As he did so he saw Jace watching the scene in fascination and gave her mumbled morning as he stepped past her and ran down the hall and up the stairs.

“My, this looks like fun this morning.” Jace softly spoke as all eyes focused on her immediately.

“Mommy,” Shrieked a delighted Elena at the sight of her mother as she scrambled from the chair she was sitting in and rushed across to hug her Mommy.

The one distressing thing about having a ridiculously large belly was that she was unable to pick up her daughter and had to concede at bending awkwardly to kiss the child’s dark head as she hugged her legs fiercely. “Morning, sweetie, have you been good for Mamma?”

“Yep, good for mamma always good,” the innocent green eyes looked up at her and she wondered if that was true. Elena was good on occasion but she had a wild streak that could play merry hell if she felt so inclined.

“I’ve been good too, Mom, well kinda…”

Staring at Lisa and the child’s concentration on her breakfast bowl, which was now empty of cereal. “Really, dare I ask what kinda means?”

“I wouldn’t if I were you, Jace.” Faith Thornton was administering to her granddaughter and placing a fresh diaper on her.

Enough said, Jace felt, as she saw Judy Schmidt wink at her and turn to prepare something for the pregnant woman. Her usual breakfast wasn’t appropriate anymore and she enjoyed a hearty meal even if she had only just woken up, probably why she was looking like the side of a house, not that you dare say that to her, oh no. Anyway, she looked wonderful and that was all that mattered.

“Do I have to worry?” Jace walked over, with Elena hanging onto her hand, towards the redheaded girl and smiled down at her.

“No worries, Mom, everything is cool. School bus time now, I’ll see you later, love you bye.” She quickly stepped up on her tiptoes, kissed Jace, Faith, and grinned at Judy as she retrieved her lunchbox from the housekeeper.

“Me, me!” Elena shouted, aggrieved that her sister hadn’t kissed her goodbye. Woe betide anyone who did that, especially Jake.

Giggling, Lisa kissed her little sister on the cheek and rushed out of the room by the side entrance.

“What about Jake and why is Georgina here, not that I mind it’s wonderful to see her, where’s Grace?” They didn’t see Georgina as often as you would expect, especially since her maternal grandmother lived in the house. Grace had been …it was hard to say.

“I’ll take that one at a time…Jake was entertaining Elena and helping her with breakfast and I made that fatal error of asking Lisa to hold Georgina when I went to find a fresh diaper, she thought she was helping by releasing the straps. Jake was teasing her and Lisa got in a huff and handed the baby to him, I’m sure I don’t need to point out what happened next, the diaper fell off and Georgina christened Jake’s shirt. Lisa thought it a big joke to see his face it was comical. With Lisa laughing, Elena followed and before you knew it we all were except Jake.”

The door to the kitchen flung wide open and the very person came marching through the door, “If I smell of pee all day at school Lisa is going to pay, that’s a promise.” The teenager muttered dangerously as he collected his lunchbox with another barely distinguishable comment.

Turning to Jace and Faith with a serious look he bent towards Elena kissing the top of her head, “See you later, squirt, and behave.” He shot out of the door to race up the drive.

“Hmm, that was interesting,” Jace watched the boy run down the drive, easily catching up and passing the slowly meandering Lisa, who shouted something at him and began running after him.

Within moments the three adult women were laughing, watched by interested green eyes from her small table and chair situated in a safe haven next to the main one. Her chubby fingers picking up a piece of cold limp toast, sucking on it with gusto and then began to play with her teddy bear.

Sitting down at the table and being presented with a wonderful hot cup of Chinese tea as Faith sat opposite her with Georgina on her lap, “He’ll be fine later. He doesn’t hold a grudge that one, thankfully.”

“That’s true, wow isn’t she growing. Pity Grace keeps her all to herself most of the time. Why have we the pleasure of little Georgina’s company? Grace isn’t sick, is she?”

Faith shook her head and looked down at her only blood grandchild who was gurgling happily on her knee, a comforter in her mouth. “Colin said Grace needed a break and he volunteered for the day. He was looking all in by the time I saw him at seven thirty and I persuaded him that we could take care of her for him.  Anyway, what was he going to do with her, take her out in the fields with him? She’ll freeze to death, it’s cold out there, the Southerly’s are doing their best today.”

Jace mulled over the reply for a few moments and then said softly, “Do you think she’s okay, Faith? She tries so hard to do everything, but she needs to let someone else lend a hand. Looking after kids can be stressful, and look at me, I have all this help and they still cause me to pull at my hair from time to time. What must it be like to do it alone?”

“She’s not alone, she has Colin…mind you he’s always busy on ranch matters. It’s not like I haven’t offered, but she’s stubborn as you know.” Faith had offered and been turned down time and time again. Grace wanted to do it alone saying she could cope, however…could she?

“Oh I know, maybe if we get….”

“No! Please don’t say it, Jace, I will not have Catherine getting involved, it isn’t her problem.”

“What’s not my problem?” The dulcet tones of the woman she loved splashed over Jace like a warm tropical gentle sea wave, all her nerves were at attention now.

“Hi, darling, how’s business today?” Catherine chose a time slot of between seven a.m. and midday for her numerous business dealings. Normally she didn’t surface until she’d completed everything she could leaving the rest of the day for family and any ranch matter Colin needed help with, which was far and few between, thankfully.

Smiling loving at Jace, Catherine walked towards her and kissed her lips briefly, “Morning, love, how are you,” placing a tender hand on the belly before moving to Elena who was staring at her wide eyed, waiting to see if she would be remembered.

“Got a kiss for mamma, Elena?” Grinning as she picked up the toddler and tickled her un-mercilessly until the child was a fit of giggles unable to catch her breath for a few moments. Then she was kissed several times and had to stop the grimace as sticky buttery fingers smeared over her face.

“I’m great, starving though.”

“It’s coming, its coming, Jace, have patience.” Judy chuckled as she quickly turned over more bacon, which was cooking nicely on the stove. “Would you care for breakfast, Catherine?”

Smiling as she sat down next to Jace, Catherine shook her head; “Nope, another pot of tea to take to the study will be grand though, I have a conference call in fifteen minutes.”

“With Dad?” Jace asked interested, she might pop in and have a chat with her father if he was online.

“Sorry, love, Constance and a few of the other senior exec’s. Jason is due later...I’ll call you. You are welcome to join in if you want.” Catherine knew she wouldn’t. Jace wasn’t interested in the business, never had been, and she suspected her partner would like to see an end to that part of her life but it wasn’t to be, they had three children to think of and two more on the way. Their future had to be secured just as her father had done so for her. At least she didn’t travel much these days, not without Jace anyway and that was a bonus.

“Ah, I see we have the young Ms. Montgomery in our midst, who stole her from Grace?” Flicking a wicked glance at Faith, who gave her an indulgent smile and motioned for her to take the baby if she wished.

“Later, Faith, if she’s staying that is?”

“Yes she is, and I’ll hold you to that. We all know Georgina has mighty lungs on her if she gets upset, like someone else we know.” All the women laughed and turned to look at the innocent child happily playing with her teddy on the floor.

“Where’s Grace?” Catherine asked quietly. She was worried about her friend but hadn’t wanted to interfere. Now if she were asked to, she would take that as legitimate reason to do so happily.

“Colin explained she needed a break. If you ask me, they both need a break.”

Jace looked at Catherine with a concerned gaze, Faith had sounded so despondent. Piercing ice blue eyes captured hers and the gentleness of understanding she saw beneath the depths had her commenting before she could think about it. “Will you go talk with her, love, she listens to you.”

There was a silence for a few seconds and then unexpectedly a cheerful, “Yes I will, after lunch.”

“You will? Just like that? You usually don’t want to get involved in the domestic situations outside the family.”

Grinning at the remark, “Yes and your point would be?”

What she’d said suddenly dawned on her as she smote her head gently, “Of course, Grace is family. You were waiting to be asked, weren’t you?”

Winking at her lover Catherine stood up as she was handed the pot of tea, “Got it in one, love. I always knew I was living with a clever woman and beautiful too.” She bent to kiss the blonde head and left the room humming happily.

“Just like that she said yes! Can you believe it?” Jace exclaimed then was duly silenced as a hearty breakfast was put in front of her and she tucked into the deliciously fattening food, which she knew she shouldn’t, but the doctor would never find out would he.

Judy and Faith both smiled indulgently, you never knew what to expect with this household. Confirming they would take Elena and Georgina out for the morning into town shopping, leaving Jace to have a leisurely shower and a nap before Catherine was free and they spent time together as a family.

~ ~ ~

Laura Victor watched her two children slowly make their way down the drive after school. As usual, Stephen was playing ball annoying his younger sister, Anne, by circling around her. Smiling at the antics, she turned away to extract the first batch of cookies out of the oven. Having given up working when Stephen was born she enjoyed the rigors of homemaking, and fortunately, had no intention of going back into the workforce anytime soon, never if she had her way.  Providence had smiled on them in many ways with Kevin gaining that all-important senior partnership in his law firm two years ago.

Now they were finally going to purchase a larger property! The three bedroom suburban house wasn’t large enough for them now, and though they loved the neighborhood, it was time to move on. They’d discussed it last evening after the kids had gone to bed.

~ ~ ~

Catherine laughed at the comical expression on Lee Weston’s face as he was ribbed good-naturedly about mixing business with pleasure. “Lee, remember one thing, there are always other fish in the sea, take it from an expert who found the right…fish…for her.” Smirking at her comment, this was obviously lost on him and a few of the others. Not so with Constance whom she was sure must have a will of iron to stop from laughing at the men around the table. Video conference links could be quite entertaining at times, not that she would ever admit that to anyone, not even Jace, because she suspected her partner would then want to join in and nothing would get done business wise.

“Constance, where’s Jason? I thought he was going to join us for the final session,” her brisk tone dismissing all thought by anyone else to continue with the bantering of the beleaguered executive.

“Something came up, he sends his apologies. Want me to have him call you later?”

Considering the question she pulled at her bottom lip, “Nope, I was only going to have Jace come in and chat with him anyway, it wasn’t business related. I’ll catch up with him later, anything else I should know about before we close this session?”

The negative response from all the participants had the conference terminated shortly afterwards except for Constance who was asked to remain online.

“Do you have something you wish me to do for you, Catherine?” Constance tried to hold in check her nervous response and it was surely that. Her boss was blind in one eye not two and she felt sure Catherine had second sight when there was trouble brewing.

Standing up and easing the tension out of her shoulder muscles Catherine pondered for a moment, the silence deepening between them. “I need a favor actually.”

Blinking back her surprise at the statement, she quickly gushed back anything, thankful it wasn’t a direct question on what Jason was doing, and she didn’t want to lie to her boss in any way.

“Be careful, Constance, you never know what my ‘anything’ could be. You of all people know that sometimes my requests end up being dangerous.” Chuckling as she spoke. It was true, her family did have a knack of getting into deep hot water through no fault of their own, at least most of them anyway.

“Dangerous perhaps, I’d prefer to call them a challenge.”

Laughing, Catherine tipped her head to the woman. Good answer, beauty and brains not to mention a massive dollop of common sense. “Lisa and I go to therapy together, as you know.”

“Yeah I know, don’t Jace and your boy go as well?”

“Hell no, Jace said she has her faith in God and prayer. Jake won’t take the time out from his football sessions, he said he lost enough time when they broke his leg the last time, he’d cope and both of them are, admirably I might add.”

“Which, of course, leaves you and Lisa, how is she progressing?” Constance didn’t dare say it couldn’t be much fun for her boss, but then again, what did she know. Maybe it was helping with her own issues and she was bound to have them with all the trouble that dogged her footsteps. She had Clare as her therapy, strange how we all have our own ways of dealing with trauma.

“Now that’s the key thing. Our shrink said she doesn’t need any more regular sessions and this week will be the final one, unless she suffers any serious trauma in the future or the nightmares come back. I’m putting my money on our little princess being a very brave girl and getting on with her life. That and she was getting bored with the sessions, and wants to play with her friends now.” Both women laughed. That was probably true; kids did have that inbuilt resilience and limited attention span to something new if it didn’t involve their friends.

“How can I help?”

“Glad you asked, I need you to buy something for me. Yes, I know before you ask, why not ask Jason? If I do he’ll pay for it, and it won’t be MY special gift to my daughter.” Jason would do the grandparent thing and not allow her to pay for what she requested; she learnt that the hard way last Christmas.

“Can’t you buy it there? Not that I don’t want to do this for you but…”

Laughing, “Actually yes, I could in a way, but the customizing I want done is by a guy I know and he’s in New York. Seems pointless to ship the object over and then back again.”

“Hardly practical I agree, what exactly do you want me to do?”

“I’ll send you an email with the details and when you ask Shaker to do the customizing, tell him it’s for me.”

Frowning at the name of the person she had to contact, “Dare I ask…Shaker?”

Chuckling at the other woman’s perplexed expression, “We go back a long way and its better you don’t know the details. Needless to say we are both reformed characters now. Anyway, he owes me a favor and I know he’s the man for the job.”

“Okay, send me the details and I’ll get onto it immediately, is it okay if Clare gets involved?”

“Wouldn’t want to deny her the pleasure of meeting Shaker, go together, he’ll make you welcome. We’ll talk soon, bye for now, Constance, and…thanks.”

Constance looked at the blank screen, as the connection ended, smiling wryly, “No problem, I think.”

~ ~ ~

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, Alison 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.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Four

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.

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.”

“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 Alison, 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.

~ ~ ~

Alison 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.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Five

Waking to find that only she had slept in the bed, Jace frowned. Catherine hated to sleep without her, as her smile grew wider with the memories; a warm glow covered her whenever her partner admitted that particular need.  Why hadn’t her lover slept in their bed last night? The morning’s weak sunlight drifted in through the flimsy curtains, which would be replaced by more substantial drapes as winter took hold. Glancing at the clock, she pulled on a heavy robe to ward off the initial early chill in the house before it warmed up. It was only six am and the rest of the household would be sleeping, although Judy would stir in another half an hour to start the morning breakfast routine. Surely Catherine hadn’t gone riding so soon? Then it dawned on her as she sleepily dragged a hand through her untidy morning hairstyle, or should she say haystack, with so many wisps sticking out at all angles…Georgina!

Muttering under her breath she silently waddled across to Elena’s room and sneaked a look inside. Her daughter was fast asleep thankfully, but the crib was empty. Shaking her head she had to concede that Catherine had taken her at her word and ensured the baby hadn’t disturbed the rest of the household. As her mind cleared she recalled that her love had intended to have an early night, obviously the baby had put a stop to that and she hadn’t even realized…having children had rather disappointing drawbacks. Fortunately there were more positives than negatives, or the human race would be extinct by now. Closing the door as quietly as possible, she headed downstairs and peeked a look inside the lounge…not there.

The kitchen was empty also, but warming up nicely as the heating system had kicked in and the under floor heating worked its magic as her toes naturally curled like a cat in pleasure to the warmth.

Where could she be? No way would she take Georgina out at this time in a morning, and to back up that fact Rio padded down the stairs and looked at her expectantly. Opening the door to let the dog out for his bathroom break, Catherine would have done that if she’d been up and around, the dog knew when anyone moved around downstairs.

The study, of course!

As she walked down the corridor her eyes settled on the untidy shoes next to the coat rack…hmm that was a sure sign that Catherine had been otherwise occupied because she ensured that the shoes were in regimental order whenever she closed up the house. It was one of her pet peeves. The rest of them, particularly her, had the habit of kicking off the shoes and leaving them where they landed in the hall. No matter how many times Catherine told them about it the message obviously didn’t register, although she thought her partner quite enjoyed the ritual, even if she muttered as she went about the task.

Turning to the part of the house that held the study that had been added in their recent building changes, the silence puzzled her. Though she knew that being so far from the main rooms of the house gave the study and the conservatory a privacy of their own, she expected to hear something.

Turning the handle of the wooden door she peered inside, hearing the gurgling of the baby, but since it was dark, had to squint to see where Catherine was in the room. As her eyes became accustomed to the half-light, she heard rather than saw her love. The even breathing of her sleeping was something Jace could recognize immediately. A tender smile crossed her features as she silently closed in on her fast asleep on the sofa bed, her lover with Georgina cradled in the crook of her arm. When she woke the chances were she’d have a stiff arm for her efforts.  The baby appeared to be happy for the moment though probably hungry and wet…and the chances were her partner wouldn’t get off without a wet patch on her shirt. Her look, when she realized that, would be priceless. All in all Georgina’s presence had been different in a big way a taster no doubt to what the near future held as she touched swelling in front of her!

Staring down at Catherine, Jace’s thoughts turned to the first time she’d ever met this woman. Who would have thought that four years later the austere woman of yesterday would be so gentle and understanding, giving herself up for such an uncomfortable night for the sake of a friend.

Georgina let out a wail of discomfort. Jace quickly bent down to retrieve the wriggling child, who had startled not only her out of her musings but also Catherine out of her peaceful slumber.

“I’ve got her, Catherine.” Jace spoke softly as she picked up the baby who appeared to be appeased at the action. Smiling as she was given a disorientated stare, and yep there it was just like Elena, a grumble for being woken up so disjointedly.

“Thanks,” heaving up quickly, and wishing she hadn’t as a spasm of pain shot down her left side where the baby had slept the night. Her eyes watered at the sudden protest from her muscles, damn, she was going to be paying all day for that stupid action.

“I’ll take her to be changed and give her a bottle, love. Why don’t you go back to bed, and I mean our bed, for an hour.” Jace gave her a sympathetic look having seen the spasm of pain cross her lover’s features.

“Ugh, not sure about going back to bed…what time is it, please,” flexing her stiff muscles she turned on the lamp next to the sofa, flooding the area with muted light.

“A little after six, you look like you need sleep, Catherine.”

Staring at the apologetic expression on Jace’s face she grimaced at the remark. What did that mean? Was she all hollowed eyed and looked like a dog?

“I’m not going to ask what you mean by that remark,” Catherine answered, her tone disgruntled, with Jace battling to stifle a chuckle. Yep, this was going to be one of those days when both Catherine and Elena were going to be like a bear with a sore head.

“Good, because I’m not going to elaborate, if you won’t take my advice may I suggest a shower, it will revive you and…”

Scrunching up her blue eyes at the incomplete sentence, “And?”

“You need a change of clothes, Georgina has christened you.” Jace couldn’t help but laugh this time around as she saw the outrage on her lover’s face, just as she thought…priceless!

“God I don’t believe it! What’s with those nappies that say they last all night long! The company is in breach of…” plucking at the wet part of her shirt in disgust.

“Yes, dear, I know what you mean, how about you go have a lovely shower and a change of clothes. I’ll have tea waiting for you when you come back, what do you say?” Eyeing her lover suspiciously Catherine stood up unsteadily and stretched once more.

As Catherine grumbling walked towards the door, Jace smiled indulgently…she’d forgotten something. “Have you forgotten something, Catherine?”

Perplexed at the question, Catherine spun around to face her lover shaking her head. “No, no I don’t think so. You’re not going to ask me to take Georgina in the shower with me too, are you?”

Laughing at the idea, “Oh no, not that. I’ll deal with Ms. Montgomery’s personal hygiene this morning…there is something else you can do for me though.”

Muttering under her breath, Catherine was less than happy with her lot as she stared at Jace unable to comprehend the message she was being given from those expressive green eyes.  “Can’t think at the moment, Jace, I’ll take the shower and recall what I’ve apparently forgotten there. Oh, and if Judy isn’t up when I get back…I’ll make the tea.”

Disappointed, but trying desperately not to show it, Jace nodded her head as Catherine left her alone in the study. Glancing down at the baby in her arms she gave her a wry smile, “That’s the first time she’s ever not greeted me good morning with a kiss when we wake up, Georgina. Guess you really have upset the apple cart, haven’t you? Well, come on, lets get you changed and fed, maybe grandma is up and around to help.”

Jace wandered back towards the kitchen smarting not only from Catherine’s lack of good morning, but also the quip about her tea making skills. Maybe Catherine hadn’t changed all that much after all and still occasionally dived into the odd shell or two!

~ ~ ~

Constance had called the number that Catherine had emailed her for her present for Lisa. It had been interesting, to say the least, and tomorrow evening she and Clare would visit this person’s establishment and discuss the item in question, which was being delivered there later that day.

“Constance, are you happy with chili this evening?” Clare shouted to her from the threshold of the kitchen, her head half in, half out of the room.

“Great!” Smiling at her lover, fortunately Clare loved to cook, which was lucky for her because she never had the time. As soon as she came home there was always one more report to write or meeting to arrange. Thankfully for her, Clare shared her life both at home and in the office and understood her work commitments. They were also on the understanding that on the weekend when Constance wasn’t travelling, they spent it doing things together as a couple, work related situations taboo!

Fifteen minutes later Constance was being ushered into the kitchen and sat down in front of a steaming bowl of hot chili accompanied by wonderful crusty warm bread, along with a portion of rice, “Sorry, no taco’s.”

“This is wonderful, you know I love bread.” Constance winked at Clare and breathed in the marvelous odor emanating from the chili bowl in front of her as she picked up her fork and tucked in to the delicious food.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on now with Mr. Bardley?” Clare asked quietly as she forked rice into her chili bowl.

“What do you make of Lucy Bardley, Clare? I haven’t had much to do with her except to see her name on the odd report.” Clare didn’t immediately answer her lover’s question, but she would.

She considered the question carefully knowing Constance would have a good reason for asking her opinion regarding a member of the staff. Some would call it gossip, but she knew that this woman didn’t gossip. She, on the other hand, might indulge but not in a bitchy way, at least, she hoped not anyway.

“Lucy keeps herself to herself from what I gather. Although the grapevine has been active lately on why she takes so much time off, and no one seems to say anything.” Reluctantly, Clare advised, knowing Constance didn’t like that kind of rumor floating in the offices.

Breaking up her bread she dipped it in the delicious chili, “As usual wonderful chili, darling.”

“Thanks, one of my many skills.” She replied smiling at the compliment. It was so easy to take things for granted especially as she always cooked, but Constance amazed her time and again when she complimented on each of the meals she cooked.

Grinning at the quote, Constance flicked her a sensual look, “Yeah and I know some of your others…but that didn’t answer your question did it?”

“Nope, but it sounds a much better conversation than the one I originally started.” Her eyes filling with the love she felt for the dusky skinned woman opposite her.

Chuckling at her younger partner, yeah it certainly did to her too, “Lucy has apparently run off with someone she met on Destiny, some sheep hand or whatever they call them over there. Jason is worried and I’ve contacted Serena Dusterly on his behalf to check it out for him.”

Eyes widening in surprise Clare stared at Constance, “Wow, so that’s why she isn’t at work, obviously no one else knows about that. Why is Jason so worried, doesn’t he trust this guy…I take it was a guy?”

“Yes, someone called Cruisal. From all accounts, he’s had a run in with Catherine and Jason thinks something isn’t right about the whole situation. He’s one of those protective father’s by the sound of it.”

“Nothing wrong in that, except …”

“Except? Come on, Clare, what do you know? People still talk to you, they always have.” Constance chewed on the crusty bread; it was always nice to have a wedge of warm fresh bread. She could eat it forever given the opportunity.

“Jason is perhaps too protective; Lucy is old enough to make her own decisions. Maybe that’s what she wants to do and her father doesn’t like it. It’s not exactly uncommon, is it? I would be up in arms if my parents had sent a private detective if I’d decided to do something they didn’t approve of, can’t be much trust there.” Clare gave her lover a sheepish glance. She wasn’t sure how Constance would take it, knowing she had a great affection for Jason Bardley and a great deal of respect too for his views.

“Are you saying I should have ignored Jason’s request for help in this and let him go it alone.”

Clare heard the slightly unsure element in her tone, “No, not ignore him, but I think you should have let it go a day or so before setting on the hounds. After all, she might change her mind and come to her senses. Somehow knowing that her father doesn’t trust her judgement won’t enhance a good father/daughter relationship, will it?”

“Clare, if you had seen him…he was upset, I had to help.”

“What about Mrs. Bardley, what does she say?”

Glancing quickly to her depleted food Constance shook her head, “I don’t know, he hadn’t told her the last time we talked.”

“You’re joking? Constance how could you set up a detective without her having at least knowledge of the situation, how do you know that Lucy hadn’t talked with her first!” Clare didn’t understand her lover becoming so involved. This should have been a family affair between the Bardley’s nothing to do with her at all. “It’s one thing to do a little shopping for Catherine but to get involved in the family problems of the Chairman… Constance, I think you made a bad call here.”

She looked up; she trusted Clare’s opinion and now felt that she had gone too far. Why did she constantly think she had to help out whenever someone at Xianthos was in trouble? Clare was right; she shouldn’t have interfered at all. “What do I do now?”

Clearing the plates away Clare felt sorry for the woman who looked upset. She was so tender hearted under her practical business front most people saw. “Well, we could have a family discussion ourselves, turning the lights down low and intimate between just the two of us.”

Constance’s heart jumped and felt her blood rushing through her veins as she saw the wink that accompanied the comment, “Oh, I like the sound of intimate, how about we take it to the bedroom and make it nice and cozy as well.”

Clare’s grin beamed out as she walked up to her lover and stepped into her waiting arms. They indulged in a passionate kiss…a taster for their intimate evening, each knowing that the bedroom option was the only one acceptable.

~ ~ ~

Jason had called Alison several times, but to no avail, she wasn’t home. Finally he’d left a short clipped message and retired to the library to read…a passion that had been in its element since coming to live in the apartment. It was a wonderful way to relax from the strains of the day and never more so welcoming than at the moment, when his mind was full of possibilities about his youngest child.

He could have left the issue well alone he supposed but that wasn’t how he’d ever approached parenting. No, he expected more from his children than the selfish attitude Lucy had exhibited with this current stunt she was pulling.

Settling into the depths of a dark green leather armchair, he sank in its depths and wondered if, years before, Stewart Devonshire had pondered the problems in this very room and chair. He suspected so especially with a headstrong daughter like Catherine, not that he had involved himself in her jaunts, he’d obviously picked up the pieces after the event…maybe he should do the same. He picked up the leather-tooled volume he’d been reading the evening before and turned the pages. It was a remarkable account of one of Napoleon’s battles with the English written by a soldier who was one of his lower ranked officers at the time. He found the bookmark and proceeded to read the account, his thoughts shifting to the narrative within rather than his own disillusionment with Lucy.

~ ~ ~

Alison Bardley sank into the seating opposite the bar. She, Neil and two of the other participants in the exercise class had decided a cool drink after the workout was a great way to end the evening. Having given her drink order to the waitress who was busy scribbling down what the others wanted, her eyes traveled around the busy bar. Earlier it had been quiet but now people of all ages, sexes, sizes and denominations wandered around talking, drinking, eating and generally enjoying their evening. Although she did see the odd person on their own, a lonely expression on one of two, others she suspected were waiting for someone. Glancing in the direction of the exit she saw a man seated in the window chatting amiably with a willowy blonde, who was having difficulty keeping her hands off him, though he was returning the compliment.

Alison felt her cheeks growing warm at the embarrassment she felt at such a show of liberated affection in public. In her day, you waited for the dark interior of a picture house or car to express yourself so freely. She was attempting to remove her gaze because if they looked up she was certain they would think she was some voyeur, which in a way she was. However, as luck would have it and as if the man was reading her thoughts, he looked up at her and she was startled by the direct appraisal. He was a young man, she suspected, no older than Lucy, or maybe a little older, and had wonderful languid blue eyes. She wasn’t surprised that the woman he was with had the hots for him. If she were only…well that was another story. As she looked away knowing her cheeks were more brighter due to having been caught staring, she thought he looked familiar…

“Alison, you did great tonight, never thought you would keep up with us.” Sage Raleigh grinned at the older woman and raised her glass of wine in a toast.

Pulling her attention to the people she was with Alison smiled back and picked up her own soda and sipped the liquid, “Thank you, Sage, I did think that the last exercise was going to be the end of me. Neil, you’re a real demon.”

The man chuckled, “Demon? Sure tell that to my kids when they decide to do what they want and I ground them.” Although he was smiling Alison felt that there were undercurrents there that made her give the younger man a serious glance. Maybe things weren’t working out at home, he had a teenager and she knew they could be a handful, especially a young woman.

“I’ll tell them, Neil. If they don’t believe it bring them along…although on second thought.” Ria Salter laughed, she didn’t want any kids to see her sweat it out in a session and Neil Davis was a hard taskmaster. Cute too, pity he didn’t seem interested in anyone. He could probably do with a little romance in his life.

“Don’t worry it’s not going to happen, this is my time away from the kids. Anyone doing anything interesting this weekend?” changing the subject from his family life to a more diverse topic. He didn’t want to say anymore than he had.

“I was going to see Melissa Etheridge in concert, awesome singer.” Sage responded immediately her expression dreamy, bringing a smile to Alison’s face as she wondered just who was Mel…what Ridge singer?

“Sorry, I’ve never heard of her, is she new?” Alison reluctantly admitted and was given a sharp look from the younger women at the table.

“Alison, please, surely you’ve heard of her, she’s great. I’d give my eye teeth to be going too, but my finances won’t stretch, and I bet you couldn’t get a ticket anyway.” Ria smiled at Alison to take out any suggestion of a sting in her words.

“I would think my daughters would know of her, I’m more of an easy listening music fan myself.” Sheepishly looking up at them, she was given a sympathetic smile from Neil.

“She's a good singer, from the little I’ve heard of her. I’m with you, Alison, on the easy listening though, my concert tickets are usually for a classical performance. In fact, I have two tickets for a show from a local quartet this Saturday.”

Ria picked up on the two tickets and wondered if he was taking anyone. Maybe he should invite Alison, yeah that would be a great idea. She didn’t say much about her life other than her husband lived in New York. Usually she found that was a discreet way of saying the marriage was over and they were separated.  “Hey, Neil, have you got a date lined up?”

All eyes turned to the man and he coughed on the drink he’d taken a second earlier, “What a question. Who would to go with a guy like me?”

She turned towards Alison who was listening to the conversation though her mind was running over the younger man from earlier. She was now certain she’d seen him before but where and who was he? She had taken a discreet look back to his location in the room but he was no-where to be seen. Oh well, it would come to her. “I think you should ask Alison.”

Neil did choke on his drink this time around and gave the older woman an apologetic glance. What was Ria trying to do, she knew that Alison was married the woman had never hidden it.

“That’s ridiculous, sorry about this, Alison.”

Smiling at his acute embarrassment and the expectant looks she was receiving from the two younger women. “Not ridiculous, Neil. If you want the company I’d love to see the performance. I haven’t been to a live show for…too long.”

A look of shock, which quickly turned to surprise, greeted her answer and he grinned at her sending her heartbeat racing, reminding her of a time long ago when Jason did that with his boyish smile…Jason.

 “I’d be honored, Alison, shall I pick you up at six-thirty we could get a bite to eat before the performance?”

Jason wouldn’t mind, he never minded what she did especially these days. “Six-thirty it is, thank you.” Smiling shyly at him she didn’t see the conspiratorial winks the other women shared.

“Well now, we have that out of the way. Ria, I have a spare ticket, my friend who I was taking dumped me last weekend, want to come with me?” Sage asked Ria quietly, not that it mattered as her reply was a whoop of joy that the whole room heard. The enthusiastic hug made her giggle at the other woman’s delight at the prospect.

“I’ll stump up for supper afterwards, what a star you are, Sage. This is great, we all have a date for the weekend…at least… you know what I mean.” Ria was lost for words as she saw the speculative looks she received from the others.

“Yeah we do, well I have to go, see you girls next week and, Alison, see you Saturday.” Neil stood up and with the good-byes all said left the three women alone.

“Hey, Alison, look I’m sorry if you think I kind of dropped you into accepting going to a classical gig with Neil. I guess I shouldn’t have mentioned anything.”

Alison saw the sincerity in the woman’s eyes, it reminded her of Jace. More than likely this was something her eldest daughter would try to do...match make. “Don’t worry about it, Ria, it isn’t a date, merely an evening out sharing the same music appreciation. I’m sure Neil is just being kind taking me, now I need to go too. I’ll see you both next week…oh, enjoy the concert.”

The two younger women watched her go and turned to each other smiling. “I think he likes her and she’s not immune either. Did you see the way she looked at him when he asked her?”

Sage gave her friend a smile, “Hope we did the right thing though, she’s married, isn’t she? I wouldn’t like to see either of them get hurt.”

Pulling at her lip in thought, Ria eventually replied, “I think her marriage is over, but she doesn’t see it yet. How many people do you know have a healthy marriage with that much distance between them for long periods?”

“Some do, look at those in the Navy and stuff.”

“Yeah, and look at how many failed marriages there are in that particular quarter. Not that I wish it on her because she’s a lovely woman, reminds me of my mother, but I think the next step will be a divorce in her life.”

“I hope you’re wrong, Ria, splitting up with someone you love is a hard road to take, believe me.” Ria glanced at the woman who was now toying with her empty glass.

“Why don’t I treat us to another drink and you can cry on my shoulder if you like, I’m a good listener, what do you say?” Sage smiled slowly and nodded her head as they called the waitress over.

~ ~ ~

Judy was up and about when Jace entered the kitchen, fortunately for her, which meant that the tea Catherine loved first thing would be made properly, and not the weak concoction she always managed to serve her partner. Usually when Catherine made a quip about her attempts at making tea it was amusing but today she smarted from the jibe…that and the lack of an adequate good morning.

One of the wonderful things about her parents’ marriage was their affection to each other, especially first thing in a morning. Her dad was attentive and her mother glowed from the simple good morning greeting accompanied by a kiss. To her, it was the only way to start the day. Having seen what a difference it made in her family life, she wanted to ensure the love and security she always felt radiated from her parents was an integral part of how their family life was going to be. You never could say too often how much you loved a person or show them, no matter how long you were married. Complacency should never enter into the equation.

“I see the little terror is up early, Grace must be worn to a frazzle if she’s like this every night.” Judy remarked with a smile as she placed the readymade bottle in the microwave to warm up for the baby.

“Yep, I think so too. Although I suspect that Catherine regrets her offer to have Georgina over for the day, she didn’t get much sleep. Had to camp out in the study to stop the rest of the house from waking up.”

“Poor Catherine, has she gone back to bed to get some sleep?” Judy responded to the ping of the kitchen appliance indicating that the bottle was ready. “Want me to feed her?”

“Do you mind?” Jace asked. She really wanted to see Catherine and say a proper good morning. Her stomach was in knots and it had nothing to do with the twins today.

“No problem, Faith will be up soon and she can take over while I make breakfast. The kids will need a wake up call if you want to do that for me?” Judy reached for the baby who was at the moment very docile although it wouldn’t be much longer until she let out a wail to be fed.

“Thanks, Judy, I’ll wake up the kids and check to see if Catherine wants breakfast…me, I‘ll have the works.” She grinned at the ‘of course’ from the housekeeper as she left the room.

Slowly climbing the stairs to the first level she glanced at all the pictures that adorned the walls. Many of which were photo’s they’d had blown up from various places visited. Her particular favorite being a marvelous sunset full of vibrant colors, which she had taken on their honeymoon…was it over two years ago now, how time flies. Another she loved, because of its simplicity, was the section of rolling plains on the homestead. The lush green of the fields and the odd scattered sheep with the clear blue sky all around brought a chuckle as she recalled that particular scene and how she and Catherine had ended up deep in sheep manure. Fortunately, Jake hadn’t had a camera on hand for that particular event or they would be part of the growing mish-mash of photographic memories they were collecting between them.

At the top of the stairs was a large framed watercolor that Catherine had commissioned of the house itself because of the care that had been taken in refurbishing the property to its original standing. From what they knew, it was over a hundred and twenty years old. Catherine had smiled, indulgently winking wickedly at her when the local artist had enthused about living in such an old house. She’d had to stop herself from giggling as she thought about Catherine’s home in England not to mention a chateau in France, and though they hadn’t seen it yet, they’d recently purchased a derelict castle in Scotland. Catherine had fallen in love with the realtor’s brochure, and although she herself had balked at the obscene amount of money that would be needed to bring it back to its former glory, she’d agreed in principle to think about it. Before she knew it, the deed was placed in her hands and it was gift wrapped with a simple message that still brought tears to her eyes…

Five minutes later she’d woken Jake and Lisa, giving them a chance to wake up in their own way and have a shower so they could be down for breakfast in half an hour. Elena she’d debated over for a few seconds then decided that her youngest daughter could sleep in a little. It was going to be a trying day with both her and Catherine being grumpy from a disturbed night’s sleep and she’d try to take care of her love first.

Entering their bedroom she couldn’t hear the shower, which she’d half expected. There was a small corridor opening out onto a sitting room with her desk, small bookcase and a comfortable sofa under the bay window looking out over the well-manicured garden below. It was a place she spent a great deal of time when she wanted some private time, especially when Catherine was in the study, although Elena often napped here in the afternoon with her. In many senses this was her sanctuary, a place she could write her poetry, catch her journal up, and know that other than Catherine, no one else would disturb her unless it was an emergency. Today, however, she wanted to be disturbed very much by her lover as the silence continued. Surely she hadn’t sneaked out by the front door and gone for her morning ride!

Walking through the room she opened the door to the bedroom area and her hand went to her mouth to stifle the chuckle she desperately wanted to let go when she saw Catherine’s tall frame collapsed on the bed. Her gentle even breathing a sure sign that her love was fast asleep, and probably so exhausted a marching band wouldn’t wake her. Silently padding over to the bed she reached for the coverlet and wrapped it tenderly around the woman she loved. Jace gently sat at the edge of the bed and pushed away a bang of hair that had fallen over her closed eyelids. In repose, Catherine had the innocence of a child in sleep. She wasn’t sure how that happened, maybe the bone structure or something along those lines. No matter how it was fact, if you had to read a book by the sleeping cover version you would get the personality so, so wrong!

There was no evidence, now, of the terrible trauma she’d suffered in the fire four years before, unless you looked closely. The plastic surgeons had been very good at their art, and that, she felt, was to reconstruct people so that the disfigurement wasn’t a burden to them the rest of their lives. Of course having unlimited, virtually unlimited, funds to help the cause had been a bonus. Even so, the miracle of the surgeons’ work was evident. If it wasn’t for the spasms of pain she still had in her shoulder, which they’d now conceded would always be with her especially in winter, her body was almost back to normal, or certainly, as she remembered it the first time they’d ever made love. Her blindness in one eye was invariably disguised with sunglasses, or as she’d finally admitted, spectacles to correct the impaired vision in her left eye. Catherine going shorted sighted had been worse to take than the blindness Jace was sure.

Bending awkwardly she tenderly kissed her lover’s forehead and was unable to stop her hand from gently tracing the fine lines of both the ravages of age and the plastic reconstruction. “I love you, Catherine.” Her voiced breathed out in a whisper not wanting to disturb the peaceful slumber her partner was now enjoying. For Catherine to fall asleep at this time meant she must be tired, and no wonder. Children, as much as she loved them, especially babies, were good to have around and love them, but when it came to a certain time in the evening, they were expected to be in their bedrooms either asleep or heading that way. Jace had often wondered if that was how Catherine had been brought up but hadn’t as yet asked that question. She’d get around to it, probably when they were old and grey sitting on the porch when their kids had all left them. Her mind drifted along that path for a few moments, trying to picture what they would both be like in twenty plus years time when the children were moving on with their lives, even the as yet unborn twins. Her hand tenderly touched her belly as she felt movement. It seemed their children knew when she was thinking about them. Hopefully they didn’t decide playing soccer in her tummy was now a good time.

Standing up slowly she left the room, went to her desk, and sat down. Picking up her fountain pen and dragging a sheet of paper to her she started to scribble down where her thoughts were,

Chapter Six

Rapping for what felt like the hundredth time on Luke’s apartment door Lucy had to consider revising her plans! If he wasn’t home, and there was no telling when he would be, she had to think again about where to spend the night and return in the morning. Hindsight now said she should have called, but her romantic heart had thought otherwise, the element of surprise a wrong call today it would appear. Glancing around the deserted corridor of the block, she shivered inwardly at the unwelcoming atmosphere. Graffiti adorned the walls almost every available free space covered.

Normally she didn’t mind since some of it was quite artistic, this, however, wasn’t. It went from crude words and expressions to even cruder drawings, grimacing as she wondered if the people who had actually adorned the walls with the filth lived on this floor too! Picking up her holdall she walked quickly to the elevator and pressed the down button, waiting for the light to indicate it was on the way back up to this level.

The door opened eventually and she breathed a sigh of relief, as there was no one inside. It was now nine in the evening and although it was a beautiful, spring evening temperature wise, she’d learnt a long time ago to beware of being alone in a strange place in the night. Closing her eyes she wished herself for a moment back in her small but safe, or as safe as anyone can be in a big city, apartment in New York. Her Dad was going to be mad when they finally met up again. He would hate the fact that she’d eloped, more so the fact she’d informed him by a stilted letter. Her dad was a great guy, but he would have made her wait to marry Luke, even put him through the twenty questions routine, which had gone out with the ark. Anyway, she was twenty-two, not two; surely she had the right to choose whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life with! The thud of the elevator reaching the sidewalk level along with the sudden lurch as it came to stop, had her holding onto more than her luggage as she felt her stomach react unpleasantly to the movement.

As the doors slid open she glanced around. There wasn’t anyone in the small lobby exiting the building as fast as she could to find herself outside on the sidewalk, which wasn’t empty but at the same time the people looked less than desirable. However, she had been taught not to judge a book by its cover, mind she wasn’t her sister who didn’t seem to care if she brought home a destitute person or a prince, people she always stated were worth knowing no matter their walks of life. She pulled up the collar of her jacket to ward off the breeze that had suddenly arrived on the scene. There was only one thing for it…she’d go home. She still had a key and the chances were her mom would have traveled back to New York and it was, after all, her parents wedding anniversary this weekend and they always spent it together.

She picked up the pace of her steps to eat up the distance between this small street and the main street, which was filled with more people and no chance of a taxicab.

~ ~ ~

Faith sat quietly as she watched her daughter fuss over her baby. Whatever else was going on with Grace and Georgina, the bond they shared was as strong as any mother and child’s was. She’d arrived with the child shortly after nine allowing her daughter a little more free time before the demanding baby, and Georgina had proved she was certainly that, would take over her life again. There was no doubt that Grace loved her daughter, but it was also clear that she needed some help with her. Some babies were more troublesome in the early stages than others and she suspected this was a case in point here.

“I was wondering, Grace, if I could perhaps take Georgina out and about a couple of times a week, give you a break…I know that you didn’t…”

Grace turned to her mother holding up her hand preventing her mother from continuing. Her eyes held warmth and an element of sadness instead of the usual coldness the offer usually afforded.

“Mom, it’s okay. I’d love for you take Georgina…I realize that I was being, well, you know...” Unable to complete what she wanted to say…’stupid’ had come to mind.

“Darling, I understand, I really do. I remember when you were born your father said I wouldn’t let you out of my sight for a moment. His mother was quite distressed at the time, if I recall.” Her slow smile made Grace feel better. Maybe everything was going to be okay after all, perhaps all that was needed was to talk about it and she’d certainly done that this past twenty-four hours.

“Did she behave?” She asked tracing a gentle finger down her child’s face. Georgina squirmed in her hold and gazed up at her sleepily.

Faith turned towards the window unsure if admitting that Catherine had born the brunt of Georgina’s activities during the evening and night would be of any benefit, but then turned back to the silently waiting woman.  “Well she didn’t sleep at first; however, I put that down to being in a strange place and without her parents for the first time.”

Staring at her mother Grace heaved a sigh, “Whom did she keep up all night?”

“Why do you say that, Grace, everyone in the household slept,” omitting the fact that some had more than others.

“Mother! Please, I know what Georgina’s like at night, she keeps Colin and me up every night. Last night was the first time since she’s been born that we had a decent night’s sleep.”

A wry expression came over Faith has she picked up her tea cup, “Catherine…Jace felt it would do her good.”

“Do her good, Catherine will want to string me up? She hates the children being up late after a certain time, you know how regimented she is. God she’s going to kill me, what did she say this morning?” Maybe her friend wouldn’t go with her to see the doctor now; it had been a crazy idea to let Georgina stay the night at main house.

“I don’t know, dear, she’s still in bed. Don’t get so worked up, Grace, Jace’s idea was sound. They are due twins, remember.”

Grace placed a sleeping Georgina in her crib. It was typical her baby decided to sleep during the day rather than at night. “I’ll go over there later and see if she’s still talking to me.”

“Sit down, Grace, and relax, Catherine’s your friend she understands.” Pulling out the kitchen chair she sat down heavily upon it and contemplated her own tea. Yeah, she might be lucky!

~ ~ ~

Rio prowled the upstairs landing waiting for his tall mistress who always took him for a long walk at this time, where was she? Jace smiled at the dog. She could imagine what was going through his head, why hadn’t he been taken out it was a routine rarely disturbed these days. Stroking the dog’s ears, much as Catherine did to show him that he was still important in the family, she whispered that they’d be going soon. Judy was taking Elena into town to the toddler group she attended two mornings a week. At first, neither she nor Catherine had wanted to let her go. But, because she was becoming such an active child, Judy, who having previously been a schoolteacher, thought it was a good idea for her to meet other children of her age and interact with them, persuaded them.

Now, six months later, the suggestion by the housekeeper was considered an excellent call. Elena had settled down to a degree and it gave Jace some free time of her own to do what she wanted while Catherine worked in the study. At the moment she made sure she took advantage of every second. Once the twins were born it would be sometime before she expected to have the same degree of personal space. Not that she regretted a second of it, she didn’t, she was one of those people who loved being pregnant and the marvelous feeling of creating life inside her brought her a sense of achievement nothing else in this world would. At times she had doubts that Catherine felt the same. There was a look from time to time and sadness inside the depths of her eyes that, although fleeting appeared and had done so many times but more so yesterday. Did Catherine have regrets about having more children? It was true that in their life together children had been a demand on their relationship but she fervently hoped not a burden.

Silently opening the door to their room, she snuck inside and made for the bedroom allowing the door to open a fraction to check that Catherine was still sleeping, it certainly sounded like it. Closing the door unable to go inside properly because she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist if she did. Climbing into the bed alongside her partner was a foregone conclusion.  Rio, as good a dog as he was, would send up the odd whimper and wake her lover up. Who knew…maybe when she got back Catherine would still be snuggled up in bed and she would join her? With a delicious grin of anticipation on her face she quickly left their room and called softly to Rio, a brisk walk would suffice this morning.

~ ~ ~

Luke Cruisal whistled a popular tune as he left his current conquest’s apartment. Candy Jones had been a sweet intermission in his life, and she wanted no more out of the relationship than he did…to have someone good looking on their arm for the evening and uninhibited sex as the dessert. Both of them had plans that didn’t include the other long term, and their liaisons were fun, exciting and throwaway. It was funny how a chance meeting at a gas station could open up all kinds of possibilities. He’d say one thing for America it certainly was the land of opportunity, as long as you knew which ones to take.

Climbing into his old truck, whose upholstery was worn and in need of attention, the springs protested as he dropped behind the wheel. Switching on the engine he reversed out of the discreet parking place he’d chosen behind the apartment building, discretion paramount according to Candy. Her current lover wasn’t one you wanted on your case; he had powerful friends. Negotiating the tight curve into the main street, he licked his lips as he thought of the woman he’d left behind languid in bed, her lithe body spent with their activities. Although, he suspected, if she hadn’t needed him to leave she would be ready to indulge in playful satisfying activities once more. Stopping at the light he looked about him and saw a stray blonde hair on his jacket, as he picked it off his shoulder he placed it to his nose. Though he couldn’t quite smell her perfume on the stray hair, he envisaged he could; her scent covered him and he was loath to wash her presence away. Thankfully he wasn’t married yet or he would have had some explaining to do.

A wicked thought came to him as he now considered the next few months, maybe even when he married Lucy, Candy might be his sugar on the side, he’d certainly give it a try. A challenge was always worth the effort, you never knew what you might gain from it. Hadn’t he done that very thing with Lucy Bardley? She was okay, but not really his type, too studious for that, even with that rebellious streak. She wasn’t a patch on her sister for looks either; kind of plain and he suspected she’d end up like her mother, dumpy and homely, definitely not his cup of tea. However, she was loaded, at least the family was, and he was going to get some of that action. If marrying someone he merely tolerated would ensure him a reasonable return, well, he’d call that effort worthwhile. He was sure after the honeymoon was over that a nice pay off to get rid of him would ease the family embarrassment, especially once he made a fool of his future wife. No one tolerated that, especially one branch of the family and he was going to love her being involved, cool! Catherine Warriorson might have treated him as no more than a speck on the landscape, but soon, very soon now, he was going to be that irritating tick in the eye that you’d do anything to get rid of. Wonder what she’d say if she knew what he was planning now…

~ ~ ~

Serena Dusterly sat in front of the TV with her tray table and the unappetizing microwave meal, only half finished, as she fished around to find the file on Lucy Bardley in her briefcase at the side of her chair. After Jason’s visit she had been in two minds on accepting the case, if that’s what you could call it. There wasn’t any threat here, merely a daughter’s rebellion, nothing new in that. It happened in thousands of households across America, strike that, the world.  It’s what kids do, rebel against the perceived authority that annoys them the most. In the case of the masses, it’s usually the parents and everyone gets over it eventually. Others take it to the extreme and involve the authorities as in demonstrations, or worse case scenario, crime related. She’d seen it all with the cases she dealt with and this, to her, was a domestic issue, nothing more. Okay, the guy might be a sleaze ball after her money but there was no proof of that. He could be genuinely in love with her too and what a waste that would be on inter-relationships in the future; she’d seen families break apart for less. Of course there could be the hidden agenda though she hadn’t seen anything to convince her of such at the moment. Because she owed this family in a big way she was prepared to do a little checking and she’d ensure it was so discreet, only her assistant Jenny would be privy to her dealings on the case here and in LA only people she trusted implicitly with her own life. The best thing would be to keep the family out of the equation…the thing was how to explain that to a distraught father. She’d find a way...she always found a way. In-built character trait she had that had held her in good stead for a long time, even when things had been tough.

Placing the folder on the coffee table it spilled open to reveal a picture of the parties involved in this event while picking up her fork to eat a little more of the now barely warm congealing food in the plastic container. The woman was of average appearance her dark hair looked about her best feature as it shone from the reflection of the sunlight when the picture had been taken. No one could say that about the young man though. He was the chocolate box handsome male that you fantasized about in your dreams, probably would have made a good male model for one of those rugged adventure advertising campaigns.  Love moved in mysterious ways. Who knew, they might have been made for each other…then again. Tomorrow she’d fly to LA, she had found out one thing in the hours since she’d talked with Jason, Cruisal had arrived in LA a month ago, there had to be a trace of him, and she was the one to find out where.

~ ~ ~

Alison drove up the narrow drive and smiled, this was home!

Although it was now dark the porch light glowed a welcome she always appreciated especially after living in New York. She’d been born less than three miles away from the suburb the family home was now situated in. Santa Barbara held a magic all of its own and she hated to be away. A home bird some would call her having spent the best part of her life, except when she was away in Uni, here in this town. It was hardly surprising that it was difficult, no…impossible…for her to up-root and live permanently with Jason in New York, it wasn’t her scene and never would be. At fifty-three the old routines of friends and places were etched so deep within her not even her love for Jason could persuade her otherwise.

Activating the automatic door of the garage she slowly placed the car inside and stepped out of the vehicle locking the doors and switching on the interior lights of the building before she closed up the outer door. It was strange, really, how things had changed in such a short space of time. Admittedly time did fly by these days, must be that element of getting older. She and Jason had always talked about traveling around the world when he retired and had a plan to save a nest egg for that very trip after they’d covered Lucy’s college fees. Now he did that with the current work he was doing and she’d noticed the tendency for him to want to read a good book and stay home these days, even at weekends.  That had been one of the easy things about leaving him alone in the city. She hadn’t felt that he was interested and had hoped their separation would highlight that something wasn’t right with their relationship. He had always been an astute man, especially with her and she had rarely, if ever, had to point out when a problem was looming in their marriage, not so now. Sometimes she felt like an old worn out comfortable pair of shoes that you wanted to keep around for the sake of it even though they no longer served the original purpose. Shaking her head she walked listlessly into the kitchen and activated the jug kettle, a nice mug of chocolate before she retired would help her relax, especially with so many melancholy thoughts drifting in her head.

Removing her sneakers and replacing them with her indoor shoes, opening the freezer as she contemplated what to have for dinner tomorrow. Cooking for one wasn’t how she envisioned this stage in her life, but it was a fact at the moment. What she wouldn’t give for Jason or one of the girls to call her and say they were coming home, some hope of that! Jace was too far into the pregnancy to travel the distance, they weren’t taking any chances and she didn’t blame them at all. The prospect of twins was a daunting prospect for them, she suspected, but one they were delighted to share. Her thoughts recalled the time she was pregnant with Jace, Jason had been so protective she felt like he was treating her with more care than he would a rare first edition. When their eldest daughter had been placed in his arms she thought he would burst with pride, he was delighted at the miracle that had been handed to him; for once he was lost for words. Lucy’s pregnancy had been much the same though she had been allowed a little less cosseting, when she was born there’d been a complication in her breathing and he’d stayed by her incubator for the five days she was there. Fortunately for them, her sister had taken Jace in until the family came home from the hospital. From then on it had been one long series of good and bad times as in most families.

Instead of taking her chocolate to the sitting room, she went inside the small study and rummaged in the large cupboard where they stored photos and other family memorabilia and grinned in satisfaction as she dragged out a large green photo album. Taking it to the desk she sat down in the chair and flicked over the pages, yep as she thought this was the one.

Her smile brightening as she saw the pictures of the early ages of her daughters lives, from the first day they came home to this house to some of the events that had taken place over the last couple of years. At first, when Jace was born, they hadn’t had much money and therefore the snaps were few and far between. But later, when Lucy was born, Jason had gone out specially to replace the camera and buy something to capture memories, he’d said, for when the children had flown the nest. She’d always imagined that she would share this particular task with him…

Her fingers traced the laughing face of a blonde, toothy, grinning happily seven-year-old Jace that was apparently racing around her father who held Lucy who must have been eighteen months old, or something like that, squirming around…they were all laughing. The next one was of her straightening Jace’s hat, with Lucy tugging at her hand. She remembered that one, they had been going to her sister’s wedding and Jace, as usual, hated the fuss of dressing up. Her eldest had never been the tidy one in the household. Lucy, on the other hand, was the exact opposite, a little like her…probably a lot like her. Where Jace had confided in her father, Lucy had always talked with her about her problems entrusting her with some of her secrets too, especially boyfriends. How different her two children had been back then even as teenagers…one outgoing, trusting and determined, the other studious, opinionated, and of her two children, Lucy was the one she felt might have her heart broken when she did finally fall in love if she chose the wrong one. She chuckled at the silly thoughts. They’d been very fortunate both of the girls were level headed, and she now doubted that Lucy would fall prey to that. She had taken her time but now she felt that her youngest had grown up enough to hopefully not get hurt that way. And if she did, well, she was here for her…here for them all.

As she closed the album, she contemplated looking at another when she heard a car stop suddenly outside the house. Who could that be at this time of night? She wondered.

Glancing out of the side curtain she couldn’t make out anything other than it was a taxicab, maybe next door had a visitor. Turning back to the room she decided tomorrow she’d look over the other photos. It was good to remind herself of what she was missing it somehow made her feel closer to her family.

Leaving the study she was shocked to hear the scraping of a key in the lock and the door opening slowly, oh no not a burglar please!

Then relief flooded her face as she saw the dark head of hair and a bag being thrown into the hall.

“Lucy!” Alison screamed in delight as she rushed forward to enclose her youngest child in a warm loving hug.

“Hey, Mom, thought you might like a bit of company.” Lucy hadn’t expected her mother to be here, she really had thought that her parents’ anniversary would have pre-occupied her. Oh well, now she’d find out if her dad had read her note, he was sure to have called and informed her.

“Company, darling, I love it, I was thinking about you only seconds ago, did you read my mind? How long are you staying? Are you on vacation? Is your dad coming home?”

“Mom, mom, please one at a time, any chance of a snack I’m starving?” Lucy smiled at the rush of words. Apparently her dad hadn’t called; maybe he hadn’t had time to read her letter, as he was always pre-occupied with business these days.  She didn’t wonder her Mom had decided to spend so much time back here. Things couldn’t be any fun for her living in a penthouse with just a housekeeper for company most of the time. Her Mom was one of those old fashioned mothering types and the sophistication of being in the richer business circles wouldn’t appeal, pity her dad didn’t see that. Probably why she hadn’t bothered to tell her dad face to face about her plans with Luke, he really wasn’t that interested in them as a family anymore!

“Lucy, this is wonderful, of course, dear, of course. I have just the thing.” Alison couldn’t help the beaming smile that plastered her face. It was so good to have someone here. If she couldn’t have Jason, Lucy was certainly the very best thing. However, both of them would be the icing on the cake. Jace she’d long given up of having home again, but Lucy was a lot like her in some ways…a home bird, it would seem, was one of them.

“I’ll go wash up and put my things in my room, be with you in a few minutes,” making for the stairs she stopped and turned back to her mother, walking over and giving her a hug. “I’ve missed you, Mom, it’s good to be home.”

Tears welled up in Alison’s eyes as she looked down at the head of her baby, kissing the dark hair. “Go wash up, I have your favorite in the refrigerator.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Lucy sped up the stairs as Alison watched her speculative look on her face. There was something different about her Mom, what it was she couldn’t figure out for the life of her but she would.

~ ~ ~

Jace had moderately exercised Rio and he, like the wonderful dog he was, didn’t appear to mind that the usual long walk had been stunted to a mere fraction of his normal, though she suspected he would get plenty of exercise when Catherine finally surfaced. Chuckling when she pictured the expressions on her lover’s face she inwardly chastised herself for this lapse in her daily protocol. Judy was shopping in town so she wouldn’t be back for at least another hour, maybe two, and Faith would be back early only if Grace gave her a hard time. Well, she would find something to do if she decided to sneak back and keep Catherine company.

“Hey, boy, I’ll see you soon, look after the house for me, okay?” Jace whispered to the dog as she stroked his ears then waddled off towards the stairs and the object of her devoted affection…a wonderful, sexy, tall woman asleep in their bed just waiting for her to join her.

Again, making as little noise as possible, she opened the door to their room and heard nothing…a good sign. Her fingers worked fast on the buttons of her shirt as she entered the inner room where, thankfully, Catherine still slept, she’d know that even breathing anywhere. Removing her shoes and kicking them aside, her nimble fingers unzipped her skirt then stepped out of the garment much more fluidly than she expected. Looking down at herself and the protruding stomach, not to mention the large filled out breasts, she had to admit it was a comical sight as her eyes strayed to the mirror on the dresser. She wondered what exactly Catherine thought when her body looked like this, frowning as she placed a hand on her tummy her underwear of jumbo proportions.

“I love you in anyway, any shape always…if you wondering.” Catherine’s voice invaded her senses like a drug, a marvelous love potion that only she had the power to administer.

“God, Catherine, you made me jump, I thought you were asleep.” Jace spun around and wished she hadn’t when, for a few seconds, she became disorientated and held out a hand to stop herself from falling.

“Hey, Jace, are you okay?” Catherine flew off the bed and was beside her love in a moment, placing her arms around the smaller woman, or as far around as she could reach these days.

“Fine, fine, darling, I shouldn’t have been so eager to be in bed with you, just made me dizzy, that’s all.” Jace felt okay now, even better because she was held in the naked embrace of the woman she loved. Her scent, heady in the air, was intoxicating, and if anything, made her dizzy this would.

Bending to kiss the tempting lips below her, Catherine relished the task with both passion and gentleness. As much as she wanted to make love to Jace, she also knew that it had to be on Jace’s terms, the hormonal balance of Jace’s pregnancy didn’t always play ball. “How about you rest up, I’ll take a shower.”

Jace pouted at the comment, “I thought maybe you and I might share a few quiet moments together.” She might have said that but her body was raging at the moment and ‘quiet’ wasn’t what she had had in mind.

Flicking her eyebrow at the sultry tone, oh she’d heard that before and quiet wasn’t usually on the menu, oh no. “Quiet moments, huh? I think I can accommodate that, I’m at your service, Ma’am.” A slow sexy smile held Jace hypnotically as she was gently led to the bed and placed on its softness. Carefully sliding in beside her, Catherine moved to hold her lover as close as possible.

“You are my life, Catherine, I love you so very much.” Jace whispered as she turned in the embrace and watched the flickering emotions on her love’s face. Catherine was getting really good at opening up to her but on occasion she was certain some endearments left her speechless, much as she appeared now.

There were times when Catherine thought she couldn’t love this woman any more than she already did. But right now, at this moment, holding her, Jace was to her and always would be incredibly sexy, pregnant or not, lovely as a perfect rose about to be picked for that very special occasion, always loving, tender and gentle. There was an inner sparkle about her that left everyone else in shadows and all she could do was be in awe. What words could ever do justice to how she felt about her; none at all except the tried and tested… “I love you, Jace, life has no meaning without you.”

“I knew you could say it, love,” as lips meshed with hers in a passion that Catherine knew could only be assuaged in one way…or maybe two or three…as they lost themselves in the wonderful throws of lovemaking.

~ ~ ~

Lisa stood in the playground next to the climbing frame, it was quite a cold chilly day as the breeze began to change direction and a southerly forecast earlier in the day emerged. Her eyes darted to and from the groups of friend’s who congregated at break time. Each break time was the hardest part of being at school; she had no close friends and envied those that had. For some reason each time she’d tried to make friends it hadn’t worked out and she didn’t know why, except they usually teased her about her family and the fact that she was given time off for no reason. Her mom had said not to worry, they didn’t understand and it would work out, but she hadn’t told her mom the full story of how they joked about her and Catherine and called her names because she’d had to leave school early to see the doctors. What was so wrong with her family that others didn’t want to be friends? Scuffing her toes on the concrete area she was standing at, she wished she didn’t have to go to school. Why couldn’t she stay home like Elena? Judy could teach her, she was a teacher once, and grown ups never forget things.  If Elena were at school it wouldn’t be so bad but her sister would be in this school when she was going to Jake’s.

“Lisa, why aren’t you playing with the others?” One of the part-time supervisors asked feeling sorry for the lonely child who was always alone.

“No reason.” Lisa evaded the question, it wasn’t anything to do with her anyway she was being nosey.

The homely woman smiled at the child, “want to help me?” She said, holding out her hand to the child.

Lisa wondered what she meant then surveyed the area and saw a few of the others watching her talking with one of the adults. This was all she needed, for them to say she was not only a teacher’s pet but also the break supervisor’s as well. “No thank you I’m okay, I’m going to climb the frame now.”

The supervisor nodded her head and was drawn away from saying more since she was now needed elsewhere having heard shouts and a child crying. Lisa watched her go and looked up at the metal frame that she actually hated, heights were a pet hate of hers. As she moved away she was taunted by one of the boys in her main class.

“Scaredy cat, Lisa, teacher’s pet daren’t climb the frame.” Bobby Jenkins, his tow hair spiked up, shouted as loud as he could while a few of his buddies surrounded them, their jeering getting louder and louder.

“I am not scared of anything, so there!” Lisa stood her ground with her hands on hips staring directly at the hateful boy.

“You are too! If you aren’t, go ahead and climb to the top, see if you dare.” The boy glared at her, taunting her even more.

“Yeah, go on, Lisa, we don’t believe you.” A few of the others around entered into the foray.

“I can too but why should I! If Bobby’s so clever he can climb it first.” Lisa switched her stance from the first bully to a couple of his friends. This wasn’t fair, what had she done now to have these boys make fun of her.

Everyone around them laughed as the boy in question gave Lisa a push away from the frame and started his assent. Within minutes he was at the top waving at her, chanting that it was her turn now.

Lisa gave the boy then the monster metal frame a long look, Catherine had told her never to do anything she wasn’t happy about and she was definitely not happy about this. What else could she do though? If she didn’t, they would pick on her even more and her life would be worse than it was now because of the bullies in the school. Placing her hands on her face she took in a deep breath and climbed onto the lower rung as kids chanted ‘scaredy cat, Lisa, scaredy cat, Lisa’, which wasn’t helping her concentration.

Closing her eyes as she pulled herself to the second rung of the frame, she heaved a sigh of relief as the bell for the end of the break brought a stop to the situation. What she hadn’t bargained for was Bobby Jenkins and a couple of others closing in on her as she tried to move towards her classroom.

“When we finish tonight, you’re gonna climb up there, like you promised, before you go home.” Lisa turned a wide-eyed expression to his wicked one.

“You can’t make me, I have to catch a bus.” Lisa blustered knowing that they might make her and the bus was usually around ten minutes longer waiting for the stragglers.

“Want to bet.” The boy muscled in on her and she had to bite her lip to prevent the sob she knew wasn’t far away, no way did she want these boys to see her cry. Pushing them aside, she ran towards her classroom with the boys laughing at her as she sped away.

What was she going to do now, if only Jake were here he’d know?

~ ~ ~

“Exactly what time was it when you came in earlier, Jace?” Catherine felt wonderful. A little tender loving care never hurt anyone and she had been very well cared for in the last hour. For which she was eternally grateful for reciprocating in full or as far as they dare take the love making process at this late stage in the pregnancy.

Jace mumbled into the warm naked shoulder she rested her head upon. This was taking the height of erotic sensual pleasure to its limits, together in bed at a decadent hour of the day, what more could anyone want? Except maybe stay in bed together all day…not a chance of that. Catherine was already itching to get up and start her day, albeit a very late start.

“Say again, love, you were muffled and I think my shoulder was turning a deaf ear.” Smiling as she kissed the top of the blonde head, they should do this more often.

Lifting her head to stare innocently up at the questioning blue eyes filled with languid warmth, hmmm Catherine enjoyed this perhaps she might consider making it a routine rather than her stuffy business dealings, she’d make it worthwhile.

“What are you smiling at? I’ve seen that wicked look in your beautiful green eyes before.” Catherine stated with a teasing expression reflecting back.

“Now that would be telling and I might need it for leverage later.” Jace grinned as she moved to position herself by the side of her lover, her belly preventing her from comfortably lying on top of Catherine. Knowing their twins, they would start another soccer practice and the sensation was getting more and more ferocious. Probably starting early to get into the International squad…now that would be interesting, which country would they play for if that happened?

“You’re wrinkling your nose, Jace, that can mean only one thing…you haven’t an answer for something you’re thinking about. May I help in the process?” She asked while tracing a gentle finger down the side of her face, to balance with a teasing touch on her delicious nose as she bent to replace the finger with a kiss.

“How do you do that?”

With her eyebrow raised, Catherine feigned understanding, “What exactly would that be?”

She giggled at the expression knowing she was being ragged. At times like these she couldn’t believe how wonderful life had been to her, “You know what I’m thinking.”

Winking as she traced a finger down Jace’s collarbone…sexy…her lover was one sexy woman. “I was wondering…” she felt such a fool. The twins weren’t even born yet and she was already mapping their lives or a possible life.

“Go for it, babe, wondering what?”

“How someone as attractive and sensual like you could want a pregnant moody person like me.”

Catherine’s face held shock. She was dumbstruck, where had that come from? Then she stared at her love as she saw the huge grin plastered on her face and heard the chuckles, “Only kidding, darling. I was actually thinking that if the twins decided to play soccer outside the womb and went international, which country would they play for.”

Stunned by the original comment, Catherine had to shake away the insidious doubt that always overcame her when she was brought squarely in front of a would be emotional war that Jace’s words evoked from time to time. She knew that her partner’s current hormonal state had a lot to do with the off comments she was occasionally subjected to, but did they have a deep down meaning…it was hard to call.

“What do you think or was it a stupid question?” Jace waited silently. She knew that her lapse of judgment with that earlier comment had put her lover off balance and she regretted every syllable, but it was said now and there was no going back, she really had only been joking.

She smiled as she slowly and thoroughly kissed Jace. There had to be no doubt in her mind that the love she felt for her was as strong today as it was the day they professed their love for each other. In fact it was stronger, so much so it stole her breath away. “Why England, of course.”

“England? Why England, what about America or New Zealand or even Greece come to that matter?” Jace gave Catherine a mock look of disgust at her immediate assumption it would be England.

“Now come on, Jace, everyone knows that out of those countries England is the only one you’d choose. Look at Jake; all he dreams about is playing for Manchester United. If he could play for England he would, you ask him when he gets home.” Catherine replied in a bantering tone, her other insecurities no longer important. Why everyone knew that England was far superior in soccer to the other countries, anyone would tell you that.

“You make me smile, Catherine, did you know that?” Jace was smiling. The happiness she felt at this moment reminded her of their honeymoon. They were lying as close as possible together, talking about trivial, yet important to them, things.

“Glad to hear that, you make me smile too, Jace.” She placed a tender hand on her partner’s bulging stomach as her eyes captured Jace’s in a look that only prospective parents shared - a silent moment of awe at the magic of bringing a life, and in their case, two lives into the world. It wouldn’t matter whom they played for really, as long as they were healthy and happy it’s the only thing that really mattered.

“Did your experience with Georgina last night put you off in anyway, you know, having to go through the sleepless nights again?” Jace asked softly though she knew the answer. She’d experienced deep within the core of her being their own miracle between them as they stared at each other.

Catherine considered the question seriously. Sure she’d thought some uncharitable thoughts at the time and wondered if they had been right in their minds to consider adding another baby in the fold. Now all she could think of was the woman who was carrying her children and the amazing creation of life they had allowed into their lives once more. Who in their right mind would regret that! Not her that was certain, life was all about challenges and everything she’d experienced in life led her to this opportunity to do right by all the errors she’d made and bring a new life into the world. She would call that a marvelous exchange. And no matter how many lost hours of sleep she experienced, it wouldn’t be a problem, not in the long run. “She’s a handful and I won’t lie to you and say I didn’t think, ‘oh no we have to go through that in double mode’. At the same time, when I’m here with you I appreciate exactly what it means to have this chance to be all the things I never was the first time around, how could I ever not want our children to be born.”

Jace’s breath caught when she heard the sincere words. Catherine had more than shown her metal as a parent, and a good one at that, with their current children. Sometimes she wondered if she’d pushed Catherine into this pregnancy but the look of wonder, awe, and yes, unwavering certainty in her eyes at this moment shredded forever any doubt she had or might have had.

“I love you, Catherine, and whoever they decide to play for, it will be okay with me and you.” Lips captured hers as they shared the moment of complete understanding in a wonderful tender passion, which colored their relationship to such a degree they both felt it was the backbone that kept them focused on exactly how marvelous falling in love with each other had been.

A slow sensuous smile caressed Jace as Catherine whispered, “Exactly what time was it when you came to bed?”

Jace laughed at the question, they were back at the beginning, “Around nine thirty, Rio’s been out.”

Catherine spluttered over her next words as she shot out of bed and made for the shower, “Jace, it must be eleven by now! I was due at a conference call at ten-thirty with Australian bankers to service some of my business debts!”

Unable to do more than grin wickedly, she replied in a low sexy voice that she knew would drive Catherine mad, “Shame you missed it. Although I’m sure you can say, sorry, you had a prior appointment being serviced on a personal level, which over ran.”

The look she received as Catherine darted in the shower was priceless, not to mentioned the muttered oath. “Bloody hell, Jace, I daren’t say that!”

Jace settled back in the bed with a wide grin on her face…wasn’t love marvelous!

~ ~ ~

Chapter Seven

Lisa twiddled with the pencil as she half listened to her history teacher; today’s subject was about Captain Cook and his first steps on New Zealand soil. Normally she was an avid participant in the class, especially about her homeland, not today however, today her mind was pre-occupied with trying to find a way to get out of class slightly early and make for the bus before bully boy Jenkins caught up with her. It wasn’t that she was scared…perhaps a little…it was the thought of actually climbing the tall object. She hated heights, anything but heights. The thought of the daunting task set her stomach fluttering with pent-up nerves and she felt sick. What option did she have at this stage?

Yes, she could tell her form teacher that the boy was picking on her, but then she would not only be a brunt for the bullies’ taunts but everyone else, no one spragged to teachers about a pupil even if they were bullies.

She could run like the devil was after her to the school bus and make it before Jenkins got out of class. Some hope of that with his friend whom she already knew was always first out of school when the bell went, and the chances were he’d be waiting for her to leave and force her to the playground area and the monster frame challenge.

Maybe Jake wouldn’t have a sport practice tonight and he’d be on the bus watching out for her. He’d make sure the bullies didn’t hurt his little sister. Not likely, her brother always had practice. If it wasn’t soccer it was rugby or cricket depending on the season, Jake was the all rounder everyone said so. Anyway, if he was on the bus he tolerated her company if he really had to but little sisters were not welcome into his friends’ inner circle. It was a guy thing he’d told her once when she’d been hissed to go away one day when she tried to sit next to him on the bus home one evening.

As she considered all her options, there seemed no way out of her predicament. She was going to have to climb the frame and she didn’t want to she really didn’t, why did she have to go to school it wasn’t fair!

A single tear drove itself down her cheek, and she wiped it away as Susie Anderton, who sat next to her in this class, gave her a strange glance. It was all over the form that she was going to climb the frame, how could she possible get out of it without looking even worse in her classmates eyes than she already was.

“Lisa Simeon, are you paying attention?” the sharp frosty voice of Mrs. Clampet drew her attention out of sorrowful musings.

“Yes, Mrs. Clampet, yes I was…” her yes like a frightened deer stared at the teacher, who gave her a long glance and scrunched up her eyes in consideration of the reply.

“Well, in that case you will be able to tell the rest of the class which year Captain Cook landed here.” The teacher was surprised at the child’s lack of attention she was invariably the best pupil in the class. She’d taught the child before a year or so ago; Lisa was the brightest fun loving happy child in the school. Now she appeared to be withdrawn and solitary, although she was a very good student. Maybe it was time to talk to the parents again. Her previous trauma, when she was kidnapped, must still be a governing factor in her personality change, yes, it was time to call the parents for an informal discussion. She would talk to the principal at the end of school.

“I…I…Eighteen hundred and…” her voice trailed off miserably, she couldn’t remember and she hadn’t been paying attention.

A mass of giggling children made her feel even more wretched than she had been as they laughed at her inability to answer the question.

“I thought as much, Lisa, I’m surprised at you!”

As Lisa hung her head, Susie Anderton whispered to her when the teacher returned her attention back to others in the class who decided now was a good time to poke others in the back with their pencils. “Bobby says you’re scared of the climbing frame and you won’t climb it. Are you?”

What a day she was having, could it get any worse? If she said she was, the whole school would know. That was one guarantee when you told anything to the girl next to her; it was around the school like wild fire. Everyone said she was just like her mother…a compulsive gossip.

Squaring her shoulders and taking in a deep breath, “I’m cool; you see if I’m not!” Lisa announced bravely though feeling the tremor of her hands and hid them under the desk.

Flicking back her brown curls, Susie gave her a smile indicating she didn’t believe a word of it and would say so. “Ok, we’ll see later, won’t we?”

Trying desperately to stop the churning of her stomach, now she had no choice in the matter it was the climbing frame or spending the rest of the time here in this school being branded a coward and she certainly wasn’t a coward, no way!  Or was she? Maybe she was like her Mom and Dad. Maybe they had been cowards, she didn’t know because she didn’t really know her parents, and how could she find out? As her heart sank even further into the abyss of despair, for the first time in a long time she would dearly love to have her real Mom to go home too, life sucked!

~ ~ ~

Lounging in the easy chairs in the living area, Lucy grinned at her mother over her mug of hot chocolate. If there was one thing she could always rely on, it was this easy camaraderie with her Mom. When she’d been in college that year, lots of other students had an adversarial approach to their parents and many simply wanted out of the family home as fast as they could and this was as good a place as any to keep the parents off their backs. She had never felt that pressure, she loved her parents and her big sister, and they’d had cool times as a family. Even when things hadn’t been working out, for one reason or another, the ties they had together strengthened to solve whatever that problem had been however trivial. They were lucky really. When divorce was an easy way out, her parents had stuck together through thick and thin and solved any issues showing them what love between committed couples could be like.

As she contemplated her drink she wondered now why she was being so secretive about her association with Luke. She loved him and if Jace could have all those problems with her choice of lover and still be supported no matter what, then her relationship surely must be a piece of cake in comparison. But Luke had said they had to keep things under wraps until they were married - he didn’t want Catherine to interfere as she had done when they met up on Destiny. At the mention of her sister’s lover the old distrust of the woman had been dredged up from the depths and she’d readily agreed. Especially now that her dad was fronting Catherine’s pride and joy Company, there was no way he wouldn’t spill the beans and if not directly to her, to Jace anyway and the rest would be history.

What she hated the most was not telling her mom it made her feel guilty, but Luke had been adamant on the subject and she didn’t want to start off their relationship by going behind his back and doing something he’d specifically asked her not to do, she had to trust him and she would, she loved him.

“You look pensive, darling; do you want to talk about anything?” Alison had been curious, as any mother would be at her daughter’s sudden arrival. If it had been Jace she’d have worried immediately, but with Lucy, she knew her child was a little headstrong at times however eminently sensible about most situations.

“No, no not really,” smiling at her Mom to hide away the tell tale signs she must obviously be giving off.

“Ok, may I ask why you arrived out of the blue…not that I’m not happy to see you, darling, because I am, it’s a marvelous surprise.” Alison asked quietly. Something wasn’t right here but her children had never lied to her, particularly Lucy and she didn’t expect them to start now.

“I needed a break, wanted to come home that was all.” Unable to meet her mother’s eyes she looked into the depths of her mug.

“Now that I understand,” Alison was unable to stop the heavy sigh that accompanied her reply.

Lucy quickly forgot her own thoughts and caught on to the tone of her mother’s. “I thought you’d have plans to be with dad this weekend?”

“Yes well, as you know your father’s busy at the moment and we had nothing concrete planned. I decided to stay home instead, your father understands.” There she’d finally said it, but would her youngest understand.

“It’s your anniversary; Mom, you and Dad have always celebrated together. You always said…”

Holding up her hand, Alison prevented her daughter from saying more. “I’m aware of what I said but things change.”

Shuffling in her chair, Lucy didn’t know what to make of the comment. This wasn’t what she had expected to hear, ever! Was there a problem in her parent’s marriage? Had all she and Jace thought about their parents having the prefect marriage been a figment of their imagination…no way, that would be too weird.

“It’s that position in Xianthos, isn’t it, Mom? Dad’s so taken up with the new business life he’s forgotten what’s important.” Lucy vehemently spoke out. Although Alison wanted to disabuse her child of such a thought, wasn’t it what she was actually thinking herself?

“Your father is a busy man. We both knew that would happen when he accepted Catherine’s offer of the position. It’s what he’s always wanted, Lucy, you know that. Now he’s living his dream, there’s nothing wrong with that. We all need our dreams and if we are lucky they get answered, your father’s has.”

Standing up Lucy crossed the room, “Mom, what about your dreams too?”

Alison heard the hurt she knew her child was feeling on her behalf and that had to stop. Lucy was incredibly impulsive in her own way, much like Jace but where her eldest child went for the down and out cases, her youngest felt family ties deeper and didn’t like change. In many ways she was definitely her mother’s daughter, that was the reason she was here, she didn’t like change and she didn’t know what else to do. She walked across to her ramrod straight child who was looking out onto the enclosed yard with the numerous flower patches and the small well tended vegetable garden at the end of the lawn.

“I’m fortunate, darling, I live my dreams everyday. I have such a rich life because you and Jace are in it, and watching you grow, develop, have families and interests of your own, they become part of me too. Your father and I will work something out please don’t worry about it. Now I know you must be tired, how about we have an early night and tomorrow morning I’ll make you your favorite feast for breakfast, what do you say?”

Lucy turned and hugged her mother in a gentle loving hold, “I love you, Mom, and always remember that.”

A tear threatened to fall as Alison heard the sincerity of her daughter’s admission, “I know you do, darling, I know you do. Have we got a deal?”

“Mom, of course, how can I resist your blueberry filled pancakes with syrup? I can feel my mouth watering at the thought already, roll on breakfast,” grinning as they exchanged another warm hug.

Everything was going to be okay…her mom had said so!

~ ~ ~

She was smirking at the petite blonde as she ungainly climbed into the front seat of the jeep. Soon, Catherine surmised, her love wouldn’t be able to get behind the wheel no matter how much she adjusted the steering. Oh well, she looked wonderful and there was no mistaking the glow that surrounded Jace at this moment. It would be hard to say it was being caused from their lovemaking a couple of hours ago or the pregnancy…she’d go for both being winners today.

“What are you smirking at?” Jace turned to her partner having seen the curl of her lips. She’d experienced the expression on numerous occasions, and in many ways, it proved to her more than anything of Catherine’s relaxed state of mind. Far too often she was uptight about something, especially after a business session in the morning, not today, oh no! Sex was always a wonderful way of chilling out her partner…anyone for that matter; she certainly felt that extra buoyant spring in her step this morning.

“Me? Jace, how can you say that, I never smirk, I’m shocked!” Catherine replied with a serious tone but the sparkling in her eyes gave the game away.

“Yeah, yeah you. And shocked is hardly a term I’d say never set foot on your territory. Have you ever been truly shocked in your life, Catherine?” Jace sprang the vehicle into life and set them off on the journey to town. She was going to her meeting at the church while Catherine had decided to use the time to talk with her lawyer in town and the local veterinarian about a new system she and Colin had been discussing.

Grinning at her love Catherine considered the question; sure she had too many times in fact. When you go through certain experiences as a child you try to draw from it and develop a hard skin, she suspected that was what had happened to her.  “My mother dying was a shock at least…no, I was expecting that.”

Jace gave her lover a quick glance of sympathy and wondered if she’d opened up another can of worms with her love. There were way too many depths to her intense woman that sometimes she wondered how many dimensions Catherine had still hidden away. Oh well, they had a lifetime and the rest to explore them all; it was simply meant to be.

“Look, love, if it’s too difficult a question how about we talk…”

“No, Jace, I’m good with this. You can ask me anything, anything at all and I promised you, remember, I’d confess all!” Winking at the woman as she saw, from the side profile, that wonderful smile that lit up Jace’s face, she could spend forever sitting watching the sunshine flood through her partner, some people were meant to smile all the time and she knew Jace was one of them.

“Actually, it’s an interesting question, don’t you think?” Catherine mused over it some more as the long road to town stretched out before them. It would take the best part of thirty minutes to get to the outskirts and what better way of passing the time. Because of all the family commitments their time discussing deep personal stuff was limited, even more so now that Jace tired easily with the twins pregnancy.

“I guess, I was thinking about the question too, and you know, I can remember only one true time I felt shock.” Her words barely audible though Catherine’s sensitive hearing picked it up easily. Jace’s tone held a sorrow and she had a good idea what had shocked her, she knew it had to do with her. How strange life was that one person can create so much havoc in another’s and not even know it at the time.

“My father leaving us with aunt Constantia was the first shock I ever had, never got over it really. I guess that’s how I ended up being such a rebel as a teenager. If my parents were still alive, they’d be in shock because I turned out that way, I was such…a good girl back then.” Jace caught Catherine’s half smile as she gave her lover another short glance; maybe this wasn’t a good time for this conversation she really needed to see Catherine’s features to gauge her mood.

“Darling, believe me I know you’re a good girl even now.” Jace allowed her own smirk as she inflected the words with a teasing tone.

A burst of laughter was her reply. She felt rather than actually saw properly Catherine throw back her head, giving a shriek of delight as her knee was squeezed gently in response to the teasing.

“I’m not going there…not now anyway.” Smiling broadly as she replied, knowing exactly what gutter her lover’s mind was in at the moment and she was glad, really pleased that a serious conversation could end this way, instead of in tears of recriminations.

“Oh pity.” Jace turned once more and winked at Catherine whose smile was now a permanent feature.

“Okay, Ms. Perfect, what shocked you?” Catherine knew this admission might hurt her more than anything she had actually experienced in her younger life.

A flush appeared on Jace’s face as a memory, and an embarrassing one it would seem, flashed in her mind.  “Would you believe I’m embarrassed to tell you?”

“Really, I’d never have guessed,” Catherine grinned at her lover. This was turning out to be a lovely day, and in her mind, it could only get better. They were going to have dinner out this evening…just the two of them.

“I walked in on my Mom and Dad in a rather, shall we say, intimate moment when I was ten. My dad said he would dearly have loved to have had a camera about to capture the look on my face.”

Another peal of laughter erupted from Catherine. Oh yes, that would do it without a doubt. “I take it you went a gorgeous pink at the time, I would have paid to see that, Jace.”

A smaller hand left the steering wheel as she delicately punched at the leather trouser clad legs of her partner. “The really odd thing is I kind of knew it happened between parents, but to actually walk in and see it with your own eyes…gross!”

“You are such a naïve baby, my love, what did you say to your parents?”

“I was lost for words at the time!” Jace giggled as she recalled the episode, she had too. The impression of that day stayed with her for a long time, no matter how many times her parents tried to talk to her about it. Eventually one day she’d replied that she hoped she wasn’t going to have another sister or brother in the near future. Lucy was bad enough and had walked out, her head held high and muttering at the time ‘adults, who could understand them cause she certainly didn’t and no way was she going to be like that when she was in a relationship, with her parents’ laughter following her. Her eyes strayed to her partner who was shaking her head in disbelief, but smiling happily. I guess it just requires the right relationship to make you change your mind.

Changing the subject Catherine turned her mind to the afternoon ahead, “What time do you think you will finish at the church?”

“Hmm around three thirty, others have to pick up their kids from school. What about you?”

“Right, it’s almost one now. I’ll make sure I’m done by three, arrive at the church, and wait for you. We can decide where we want to go for dinner from there; does that sound good with you?”

“Sure, anything which means spending one on one time with you, my love, is okay by me. Judy and Faith were happy to take care of Elena until we get back. Jake isn’t home until around six and Lisa will be home on the bus at the usual time and as long as she can play instead of do homework, she’ll be as right as rain.”

As Jace steered the car towards the outskirts of town she felt happy inside. For once the twins were asleep, or at least biding their time until they decided to give mommy another lesson in acrobatics in the womb. Catherine saw the dreamy expression on her love’s face and felt a warm glow inside…wasn’t love absolutely marvelous.

~ ~ ~

Laura Victor woke up in a cold sweat and carefully extricated herself from her husband’s arms that were wrapped around her tightly but gently. Fortunately once asleep, he slept soundly it would take a nuke to wake him. Pushing back her hair she walked into the bathroom and swilled cold water over her pale face, she didn’t even need to look in the mirror to know that. Although she hadn’t had a nightmare like the one she’d just had, it reminded her of years before when she had nothing else, and fortunately Neil had calmed all her jangled nerves when they decided to stay together.

Walking over to the outer door, which led to the hall she silently, left the confines of the bedroom and sneaked a look in on the children. Anne was sound asleep, just like her daddy, a teddy bear clutched tightly to her chest, she looked so peaceful as if there wasn’t a care in the world…and there wasn’t, not in hers. One of the many promises she and Neil had made to themselves, that no matter what, their children, and that meant both of them, would never be tarnished by any of the mess that potentially threatened them. How they would go about that if circumstances presented themselves in the negative they hadn’t quite worked out but they would, she knew it.

Opening the door to Stephen’s room she marveled at how handsome he was even now at eleven, blonde, tall and much older in outlook than he should be. At times she wondered about his biological father. He must have been a very handsome man because although his biological mother was attractive, she had a cold edge to her personality, which made you reconsider. Some people were like that, superficially beautiful but underneath as ugly as sin when it came to the rest of their genetic makeup. Thankfully Stephen didn’t appear to have those traits…at least they hadn’t manifested yet. Her heart prayed that he never would and she felt certain that, with the way he was being brought up, they might have a great chance of instilling values and morality his own mother hardly had a passing understanding of.

They’d had made the right decision about leaving the house, and if they were lucky, their own particular sinister shadow behind as well. It was strange though that she hadn’t been around, no matter what they thought of the woman a part of her loved Stephen, even going against her own selfish whims.

A doubt remained though that she would turn up, and if she felt so inclined, she might take Stephen away from them. How could they stop her, the so called adoption had hardly been legal and there was no way she or Neil dare make their case, it would cost him his job and he would be barred from practicing law forever! God, why had she been such a fool to agree to the debacle?

Why? Why was the easy part, really, one session with Stephen when he’d been born had been enough to convince her as nothing else could? He had become hers the first moment he opened those unseeing newborn eyes of his appearing to look in her direction. A bond instantly forged between them and the rest, as they say, had been a foregone conclusion…she was hooked for good. He was her son from that day forward, and no matter what, he always would be. One day they would explain and he’d understand he just had to!

Carefully closing the door to HER son’s bedroom, she slowly went back to her own and the comfort of her husband in bed.

~ ~ ~

Remarkably for Catherine her business in town had gone very well and speedily. It was only two-thirty and she was at a loose end, Jace had promised to call if the meeting ended quickly, but she hadn’t so far and probably wouldn’t. It was amazing how much the town do-gooders had to say when they got together. Her smile doused any possibility that her thoughts were malicious, she often commented to Jace she thought the meetings were only a way for them to get together to gossip. A suitable retort in the negative was usually the response. Jace’s flirtation, as she had once called her partner’s involvement in the local community, wasn’t that at all she knew that now. From day one her lover had used her compassion and deep religious faith to help others and although many of the church congregation didn’t exactly agree with her choices on how she lived her private life, they did applaud her commitment to the community. Her lover practiced what she preached and Catherine had teasingly suggested that maybe she’d been a nun in another life. For which she was given a wicked wink of the eye and had made both of them burst out laughing at the thought, thankful she wasn’t in this lifetime.

She walked towards a café on the main street thinking she might as well have a coffee while she waited. As she closed in on one of the tables outside the building she saw the travel agents office and looked in the window. There was an interesting brochure out on family adventure holidays on the island, maybe when the twins were born they could do that together. Taking the time out to step inside and selecting the brochure, she’d check it over as she drank her coffee.

Ten minutes later she grimaced when she took the first mouthful of her cappuccino, no one made a decent cappuccino like Grace!  She wondered if her friend had made the call to the doctor’s. She’d give her a call to check later when they arrived home. The sooner the better in her mind, nothing worse than being out of control of your life, and children certainly did that in a big way.

Her eyes traveled to the brochure before her and she flicked through the pages. Canoeing, water rafting, jet boating, gold panning, and…bungee jumping, no way in hell! All had their particular pages and she shook her head amazed that people actually went up on a high structure and threw themselves off. To bounce on a flimsy rubber band and hoped to God it didn’t break plummeting you to the ground, or breaking your neck, at the force of drop through the air and the sudden tightening of the equipment to stop the descent. Definitely not her cup of tea! She wasn’t that keen on heights at all, nothing to get unduly worried about but she preferred her feet to be firmly on the ground where possible. Her only concession being horseback riding, and it had taken a few weeks when she was a teenager to get over that fear. She had been such a coward back then. To her constant embarrassment, at the time, she had even sobbed saying she never wanted to set foot near a horse again when her Aunt had called to collect her after one such disastrous session.

She sighed at the recollection. Although she considered, or had, that her time with her aunt had been the worse in her young life, Constantia had cajoled and been instrumental in her love of horse riding. Something she had never thanked the older woman for…she would when she phoned her at the weekend.

Scanning the various adventure possibilities, she knew that all the children would love any of them and suspected that Lisa’s love of danger would make her an ideal candidate for the bungee jumping session, not that she would allow that of course. Because if she did Jake would probably want to do something equally as unappealing to her on the danger front, maybe water rafting might be more suitable, she had to admit, that appealed to her. She’d never done it before but…who said you were never too old to try something new. Jace might be dubious but Elena, even at three, would love it! Their youngest had a wild side to her that was endearing although scary at times. Lisa would be game she loved the water…yeah… perhaps she could persuade Jace that a nice long weekend, when the babies were born, would be a great break. The twins would have to stay behind, of course, but knowing the women in the household they would be glad to get their hands on the newborns without the parents in tow.

Yes, she would do that later…broach the subject with Jace over dinner. And if Jace wasn’t sure, a good pout always had the desired effect and she could pout with the best of them, Jace always succumbed.

Smiling inwardly she paid for her beverage and set off towards the church humming a current chart tune. Domestic bliss was something she readily took to heart, especially if it made you feel this good about the world.

~ ~ ~

“How did it go with Grace, Faith?” Judy asked with a compassionate expression on her face. Her friend had been upset for months now, with her eldest child being particularly selfish about this lovely woman’s only biological grandchild. The weird thing was Grace had never appeared to be like that in all the dealings she had with her since arriving at the homestead. People changed she knew that better than many having been through hell with someone who she had thought was kind and gentle but instead turned out to be manipulative and abusive mentally and physically.

Faith glanced at her friend after having ensured Elena was safely in her chair and happily eating her early dinner. Kissing the dark head she walked over to the kitchen bench where Judy was preparing the evening dinner for the children and themselves.

“She told me to take Georgina anytime, said she was sorry to have been so stupid about me having any time with her.”

“That’s good, right?” Judy replied puzzled at the hesitation in her friend’s tone, this was all Faith had wanted from the day her grandchild was born.

“Yes, yes it’s good. Can’t think of anything better but…” Faith trailed of her mind pre-occupied and unable to put into words exactly what she really thought.

“But, Faith, don’t you want to have special times with Georgina?”

“Of course I do, Judy, she’s my own flesh and blood and she’s a beautiful child.”

“Why do you sound so pensive about the situation?”

“Because I’m worried, that’s why. Something is wrong over there and I don’t know what it is. Grace and I have never been close, although I thought we had been getting on better in recent times. But this, this birth has changed her, Judy, changed her so much. I want to help her, but I don’t think she will let me in to do that. How can a mother and daughter become so far apart that it’s impossible to offer help in fear that the offer will be construed negatively?”

Judy wondered too. She had found Faith to be a wonderful listener, compassionate to any and all problems she’d had and they had developed a marvelous bond regardless of the age difference between them. She didn’t know how Faith felt but she considered her to be the best friend any woman could have and was immensely grateful for knowing her. Grace was a chip of the old block, no matter what she thought. Perhaps that was the problem, both women were so good at solving and being there for other’s that they forgot how to be there for each other. “Jace told me that Catherine talked with her yesterday, did you know that?”

“Yes, she mentioned it briefly this morning.” Staring at her friend sharply she spoke again, “Do you think that’s significant in some way?”

“Perhaps. Jace, I know, was getting worried about your daughter and she bullied Catherine to go over there, not that it took much bullying I imagine.”

“No, I guess not. Catherine does have deep warmth for my daughter, Colin as well.” Faith wondered what had happened in that tête-à-tête, maybe if she asked Catherine…

“Granny? Granny more.” Elena spoke up making Faith jump as she turned to the child, her smile replacing the consternation that had been there previously.

“Of course you can, Elena, but haven’t you forgotten something?” She walked over to the child, who had an innocent expression appear on her chubby face, waiting for her to answer.

“That’s being mean, Faith, she’s only three.” Judy grinned as she opened up another sausage roll for the child then waiting for Faith to pass it over.

“It’s never too early to teach children manners and Catherine would never forgive me if I lapsed as she does from time to time, she relies on me for that strictness.” Faith smiled at the woman who was a very dear friend. In some ways she treated Judy like a daughter, in others she was an excellent confidant and a very good friend.

“Yes, you wouldn’t think those green eyes could make the mighty Catherine relinquish control but they do every time they flutter in her direction. I need to collect the laundry from the line; her sausage roll is on the counter top when you need it.”

“Granny, roll, I want.” Elena’s green eyes captured hers. Faith loved this child, in fact all of the children of Destiny, as she would have her own, something she doubted she would have agreed with several years ago.

“Elena, you know what Mamma says when you want more.” Staring directly at the child, it was a tactic she found usually worked.

“Mamma I want Mamma!” The petulant reply rang in Faith’s ears. Yeah sure she did, Mamma would give in. Crocodile tears wouldn’t be far behind, another ploy Catherine had yet to figure out. Jace had a much firmer hold on their youngest child than her partner. Still it was to be expected, suspecting the owner of the homestead felt she had to spoil rather than chastise the child. She was, after all, Jace’s daughter and perhaps subconsciously she saw her partner every time she was caught in the child’s stare.

“Mamma isn’t here, Elena, now we know the word, don’t we, please.” Bright as a shiny new button eyes caught hers as she heard the offending word and the innocent smile beamed as she was given a reply.

“Please, granny, please.” Faith laughed. What a handful she was going to be in years to come if her intelligence level continued to progress at the speed it was doing now.

“Good girl, Elena, here you go.” She said, placing the roll in the dish on the small table beside the child. “For that I’ll make you your favorite milk shake.”

“Elena love granny.” The child was unaware of the tears that pricked Faith’s eyes at the simple declaration as she watched the youngster tuck into her favorite food. Hopefully she was going to grow out of that fad, or she was going to be one fat child, the calories in one of those were obscene.

“I love Elena too, now let me get that milkshake for you.” Smiling warmly at the child as she selected the preferred flavor…lime. The child didn’t have a sweet tooth in her body, strange that as Jace loved anything with sugar.

~ ~ ~

Arriving at the church Catherine was surprised to see Jace standing outside talking to a strange woman and this stranger was pretty damn close to her partner, too close in her mind. Walking quickly towards the open doorway of the church she saw Jace turn in her direction and give a warm smile.

Catherine approached them but the two women didn’t at first stop talking and she waited until she was introduced which was less than a minute but to Catherine it felt like hours.

“Hi, Catherine, how was your afternoon?” Jace now gave her lover her full attention.

With a bland expression on her face Catherine swung her dark tresses around her shoulder nodding her head, the cascade making Jace suck in her breath, how gorgeous this woman was and she was all hers. “Good and yours?” Ice blue eyes settled on the woman sizing her up. She was about as tall as she was with twinkling grey eyes and ash blonde hair cut very short, shorter than normal in her personal opinion anyway.

“Great! Catherine, I’d like you to meet the new Reverend, Reverend Amanda Spencer. Reverend, this is my partner Catherine Warriorson.” Jace grinned but wasn’t diverted from Catherine’s previously edgy entrance, although her ‘pleased to meet you’ was genuine enough it was a little stilted. That was her love, jealous of any stranger, man or woman. One day she might lose that particular insecurity. And if she didn’t, it really wouldn’t matter, there was never a chance of any person ever meaning anything like the emotion she had for Catherine… they were soul mates as simple as that.

“I’ve been hearing a lot about you, Catherine.” The gentle response had Catherine’s eyes scrunching up suspiciously, what had Jace been saying about her.

“I’m sure Jace is bias on my behalf.” She smiled at her love, and then quickly shot a sharp glance back with the next words the reverend spoke.

“No, actually it came from others in the community.”

“I see.” The minimal words had Catherine on her metal; she knew there were varying opinions of her, depending on whom you talked to and in what connection.

“Do you, good, it means I don’t have to explain. Well, Jace, now that your…partner…has arrived, I’ll get back inside. I’ll see you Sunday at church and we can talk again about the new project. Catherine pleased to meet you.”

“Yes, same here.” Knowing it wasn’t, Catherine didn’t like this woman and she didn’t know why exactly. She was a woman of the cloth, that should have been enough, shouldn’t it.

“Great, Amanda, talk to you Sunday.” Jace placed her arm in Catherine’s as they headed for the jeep in the car space at the front of the church.

The silence between them had Jace smirking and Catherine seething inside as they climbed inside the vehicle to head for an early dinner. “You had a successful meeting I take it?”

Before they set off, Jace turned to her lover, “Oh yes, it went really well. Clarence, as you know, will give his last sermon on Sunday and introduce Amanda officially as his replacement. I think he was glad to finally give over all the parish work to her today, although I know he’s sad about relinquishing the reins.”

“He’s not leaving the area, is he?”

Laughing at the question, “Catherine, I swear sometimes you don’t listen to me. Clarence is going to live on the North Island where his wife’s family is from; they leave in a couple of weeks. I told you months ago, Grace even suggested that he might still stay on as trustee of Lukas’s charity fund and work from there. Save a lot of the travelling for her and the new Reverend.”

“What do you mean the new reverend, what’s she got to do with it?” Catherine glared at Jace; she hadn’t approved of the new Reverend to do any such thing.

“She has everything to do with it, darling, she’s taking over all of Clarence’s roles even the trusteeship. You agreed to let Grace and I handle it and we have, at least I have. Grace said she’d respect my judgement.”

“And your judgement is a big tick, even though you’ve only just met her today…assuming it is only today you met her, she seemed friendly to me, too friendly.”

Smarting at the comment Jace frowned at Catherine, “Hey, lover, be careful what you imply, it could come back to bite you.”

“What do you mean by that exactly?” Catherine retaliated immediately; suddenly her glorious day was disintegrating before her eyes.

“Green-eyed jealousy gets you in trouble, darling.”

Scoffing at the remark Catherine dismissed it out of hand, “Jealousy? Me? What gave you that idea? I’m not anyway, so there.” Sitting, face to the windscreen, ramrod straight unable to meet Jace’s eyes wanting an end to the subject now; it was going no place.

“Okay, have it your way, but we both know what it can do, don’t let it happen here, love.”

“Is that a threat?” Catherine muttered under her breath.

“Only if you want it to be,” Jace turned the ignition on. She was tired not just of this pointless conversation but the day in general. The twins had been kicking for a while now and she’d felt lightheaded at times during the meeting. As much as she wanted to spend dinner alone with Catherine today, she felt like bed was the most beneficial option but how did she break that to her lover without her taking the huff especially after their last conversation.

“Maybe we should go home, you look tired.” Catherine replied in a strained voice, annoyed for getting all stupid over nothing as usual. Not only that, Jace had looked pale and instead of checking on that immediately she’d preferred to spar with her instead, what kind of lover was she?

“Catherine, there are times when you read my mind, I’m shattered if you must know. Can we have a rain check, please?” Jace turned to the woman at her side with a tender expression on her face. Catherine was smarting she knew it but that was okay, they would work it out they always did now.

Spinning around Catherine saw the heavy eyes of her lover looking at her with such devoted love. She hated herself even more than she had before for spoiling the day. She reached across to gently touch Jace’s pale cheeks, a slow smile warming up her previously sour expression.

“Do you want me to call Colin and have someone come over to collect us, driving will exhaust you more?”

The look of pained devotion on Catherine’s features always amazed her that she could invoke such emotions in someone else, especially this woman. “No, I’m fine, really. Why don’t we go collect Lisa from school? We can always go to the takeaway now and take something home, my treat?”

More than a hand reached over this time as Catherine sealed the deal with a tender kiss, which quickly turned into something more intense then finally coming up for air, the only practical reason for the kiss to stop?

“Let’s go find that food, shall we, you do know Lisa will want to share, don’t you?” Catherine said as she smiled. Her world was upright again and the sun had come out just for them.

“Love you, Catherine.” Jace softly whispered as she set the car in motion.

“Right back at you, Jace,” Catherine settled in her seat, her smile as wide as a bus as they set off to find a Chinese takeaway, her favorite fast food.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Eight

Jake balanced a ball on the tips of his booted foot and grinned at his own expertise he loved playing soccer it was his favorite sport though rugby came a close second, even if they were quite at odds with each other. Coach Raymond was heading in his direction, and he knew why though he still didn’t have the answer to his predicament. Which sport did he want to concentrate, soccer or rugby?  He had aspirations towards a professional career in one of the two disciplines.

“Jake, before we get started, have you thought over our conversation from last week?”

Shaking his head when the ball he’d been working with stopped spinning on his toe, he placed it under his booted foot and looked down at the object hoping it might have the answer for him.

“Jake, you’re very good at both sports, but if you want to go the whole way it’s about time to chose. I can help you in soccer as you know, however, I have a colleague, Phil Hodgson, who is itching to have you go play rugby for his team next season with a promise to build you up and get you to the right games to be noticed.” The older man waited. His face had become craggy and weather beaten after having taken up physical education training when his own career had been cut short after breaking his leg on the field during his first year as a professional soccer player for a second division team in England. He’d immigrated to New Zealand five years later when schools in England were down sizing the physical education program. Now having spent the best part of fifteen years travelling around various schools he felt that here, where he’d taught for three years, was his final settling place. He had a good rapport with the kids and had made some good friends in the welcoming township. One thing he’d found when he came to live here was that the people were as friendly as you wanted them to be and before long you felt that this was home, no matter which nationality you came from.

“Coach, is it possible to play both?” His bright eyes looked at the man hopefully, he respected the Coach’s judgement, except maybe with having Simon Arnett on the soccer team but that was a minor problem.

The older man pulled at the neat goatee beard he wore. Jake felt that on some it would look stupid, but on Coach it looked cool, even if he was ancient. “Jake, you need different skills to make it in the professional side of the sports. Have you discussed this at home? Surely your parents can help you with the choice; after all, they will have to help financially to get you on the right programs.”

The teacher smiled slowly when he surmised by the sheepish expression on the boy’s face that it wasn’t likely he’d discussed anything at all on the home front. Was he having difficulties? He knew that Jake’s circumstances were somewhat unique to others in the school. Though he wasn’t apprised of every facet of the situation, maybe he should speak with Principal Atkins.

“I take it by the expression that you haven’t. Will it cause a problem at home? If it’s the money, I’m sure that with your record we can find support through other means…”

“No! No, coach, it isn’t money, we have plenty of money! At least Catherine does and she’s my Mom now so…”

“So?” Frowning at the comment, plenty of money? Who had plenty of commodities? He wished he did.

“I haven’t found the right time. Tonight, I promise I’ll talk with my Mom’s and let you know.” The boy heard his name shouted as Ian his best friend ran towards him, stopping suddenly as he saw whom his friend was talking to.

“Okay, let me know, whatever you decide is okay with me, Jake, no pressure, unless of course we have a championship match,” smiling at the boy. He slapped his back in a friendly reassuring way before he ran towards a group who was arguing over a ball in the middle of the field.

Ian approached his friend cautiously, “You’re not in trouble are you, Jake?”

“No! What made you think that?” Jake asked as he picked up the soccer ball and tossed it over to his friend and laughing when Ian misjudged the catch and it dropped to his feet bouncing away.

Shrugging his shoulders his friend didn’t reply at first, “No reason. Are you captaining the next match?”

Smiling widely Jake gave Ian a push self-consciously, “Might be, might not, you know Coach doesn’t announce it until the morning of the game.

“Yeah but it’s a piece of cake, right. When hasn’t he chosen you, you are the best we have.” Ian grinned as they were called over to join the practice session.

Jake wasn’t allowed to answer as they ran towards the rest on the field for the practice session. Although he knew that he probably was the best in school at the moment, he wasn’t bigheaded enough to think there wasn’t someone better than him. It was just a matter of time before that happened.  He just hoped it wasn’t until he’d been playing professionally for years and he was ready for retirement.

Tonight he’d talk with Catherine and Jace, maybe even ask Colin over for moral support. He’d wanted to talk with Colin about his problems, but each time he saw the man he was pre-occupied and there never had been a good time, especially now that Colin had a family of his own. Funny how when parents have their own kids, the ones they thought of as their own get pushed into the background, or that’s how it appeared to him anyway. Why couldn’t things stay as they were? If Jace had never come back to Destiny, maybe it would have stayed just as it had been…him, Catherine and Colin. Lisa had even been happier then and Grace…why oh why did adults change things it wasn’t fair!

~ ~ ~

Lisa glanced around the classroom; it was about five minutes to the end of class with most of the rest of the class fidgeting to get out of school as they all did at this time of the day. Though she didn’t know if staying behind would be more beneficial in her circumstances today.

As the teacher droned on she was tempted to sneak out on the pretext of going to the bathroom, her fingers clasping around her school bag in readiness to make her escape. Gulping rapidly she didn’t hear the teacher call out her name.

“Ms. Simeon, have you paid any attention at all to my lesson today?”

Oh no, old frosty face Cameron was on her back now, that was all she needed. No chance of escape now as all eyes was staring in her direction.

“Yes, Ms. Cameron, I was, really I was.” She knew that her voice wasn’t confident and it as well might not be since she didn’t have a clue what was going on in class.

“Have you something you want to share with the rest of the class in that case?” The teacher folded her arms across her chest and waited patiently for the child to speak.

Lisa looked at Toni Pehukana who sat beside her this lesson, mainly because no one else would sit next to the Maori girl who was supposed to be a rebel and always in trouble. Lisa had arrived late for the class therefore she’d had no choice as there wasn’t another seat left, at least not where she was wanted or allowed to sit; one look was enough from some of the kids in the class.

Not expecting a helping hand from the girl, she was amazed when Toni pushed forward her notebook with the topic they were talking about.

Smiling gratefully at Toni she turned to the teacher, “My mom says sheep aren’t as dumb as we think.”

The teacher blinked her eyes several times at the odd comment, and had to force herself not to laugh as the other children were doing, “Quiet, class, quiet! Lisa has a valid point, although I’m sure she will expand on the subject matter for us.”

Lisa sighed heavily. She didn’t even know what had been said before only that the subject was ‘intelligent animals’. “Yeah, sure…” the sound of the bell ringing ending the session caused a bitter-sweet sensation in Lisa, contemplating which was a worse scenario: the bullies waiting for her or the heights of trying to make stuff up about sheep, oh what choices she had!

“Okay, class, we will pick this up next class. Go collect your things and be careful and safe on the way home.”

The next thing heard was the sound of chairs scrapping on the tiled floor, banging of desktops and the shuffling and noise as everyone chatted and scrambled to leave as quickly as possible.

Lisa turned a shy glance to the girl who had saved her from even more trouble today and she was grateful, very grateful. “Thanks, Toni.”

Toni gave the smaller girl a long stare, her brown eyes taking in the petite frame along with the strawberry blonde hair and the wide trusting blue eyes which were quite in contrast to her dark complexion, stout features and stocky build with ebony curly hair to crown it off, “no sweat. Don’t you have a date?”

At first Lisa gave her a puzzled frown and then it dawned on her what the other girl meant. “Not really but I don’t think I have choice. If you want the truth, I hate heights I’m scared to death.”

The girl picked up her well-worn school holdall and Lisa guiltily glanced down at her own. It had been new at the start of the school term crafted in wonderful tooled leather, which Jace had agreed to buy for her with the understanding she took great care of it. “Don’t do it if you’re scared.”

Oh if only it was as simple as that, if only… “They might beat me up and no one in school will talk to me if they think I’m a coward.” Lisa gave voice to her feelings on the subject, not really understanding why she was. If anyone could make a mockery of her this girl could and probably would, if her reputation was anything to go by.

As the stocky girl walked away from Lisa towards the door, “your call. Me, I’d tell them to think what they wanted. Anyway, look at it this way, who talks to you now?”

Lisa listened to the amazing intuitive advice. Toni was right, who did talk to her now, no one! What difference would it make to be thought a coward too! Picking up her own school bag she rushed out after the girl who was now half way down the corridor towards the exit.

“Hey, Toni?”

Spinning around the Maori girl glanced at her in question, “What?”

“Thanks for the advice, I owe you.”

“You owe me nothing and I didn’t give you any advice. Take it easy, red.” The girl left the building with Lisa gazing after her. This was like a miracle had happened, in the space of ten minutes she’d gone from being absolutely petrified of leaving school to holding up her head and saying no way to the bully boys. And all because a so-called rebel of the school had told her to stand up for herself! How cool was that! She didn’t even mind Toni calling her red, yeah that was cool too!

As she walked out of the building she was immediately surrounded by three of Bobby Jenkins’ friends who jeered at her, and refusing to be bullied walked towards the gate and the waiting bus, rather than the waiting circle of children around the climbing frame.

“Coward, coward! Lisa’s a coward!” the boys chanted in loud angry voices.

Spinning around, the tormented child’s anger getting the better of her, she rounded on the boys, “I am not, and you’re all bullies that’s all you are! Now get out of my way or else!”

The boys, taken aback for a split second, crowded around her preventing her from getting out of the gate, “Yeah, yeah, scaredy cat Lisa makes us frightened, what you going to do now? See, we are all scared!”

Pushing at the boy closest to her she was unable to get out of the closed in circle that had gone around her, what was she to do now?

As she contemplated that the circle opened a little and allowed Bobby Jenkins inside where he stood next to her with a sneer on his baby faced features. “You can’t escape, Lisa, no one makes a fool out of me without paying for it.”

A lone tear trickled down her cheek. She didn’t want to cry and let all these horrible people see she was frightened, but she couldn’t help it, she was scared and it was the right word for her.  A jeer went up when they saw her crying and Jenkins came closer only to punch her in the stomach, and as she crouched and held her stomach at the attack she dropped her bag to the floor. Then she felt several other blows as the boy hit her again in pain. Unable to decipher what was going on as her hair was pulled, she dropped even further and felt her knees scrape the ground, instinctively putting her hands over her head to ward off any more attacks.

Suddenly, after being repeatedly attacked by more than Bobby Jenkins, the blows stopped and all she heard was a scuffle and several screams then the claustrophobic feeling of being in a circle of people was gone and the air around her flowed freely. Did she dare lift her head? Maybe it was a ploy to hit her face. Moving slightly, she peeked through her fingers and saw what appeared to be a vicious brawl. Several boys were chanting for Jenkins and seconds later they all ran for cover when a shout from the far building came from one of the teachers asking what was going on.  Rapidly eating up the distance between them and the disturbance, the two brawlers separated and angrily shot out blistering crude words at each other then Jenkins running off. Lisa, kneeling on the pavement, was shocked to see Toni Pehukana wiping her hands with a satisfied smile at the retreating back of the bully, and then the girl turned to her.

“Go, before you get in trouble.” Toni whispered to her as she looked over her shoulder to the teacher heading in her direction.

“What about you? You saved me.” Lisa’s sense of the dramatics went into overdrive with the last words as her blue eyes tried to understand why this girl had come to her rescue.

“I’m okay I’m used to this, go now I’ll take care of the teacher!” Toni turned back to face the teacher who had an angry expression on her face.

“Thanks…Toni, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Lisa whispered back in awe then ran towards the gate and left the school playground just in time to see a familiar jeep pull up alongside her.

Oh no! Her moms were here and there was no way she didn’t look a mess. Not only that, she now realized that she had lost her bag and it was nowhere to be seen on the ground, Jace was going to be upset! At least there was one good thing out of today; maybe she had made a new friend.

“Hi, Mom, what are you doing here?” Lisa smiled at Catherine who had wound the window down to prevent Lisa from climbing aboard the bus.

Staring at Lisa, Catherine was lost for words. Her knees were bleeding and badly scrapped, her usually tidy hair was strewn all over the place and she was covered in marks and dirt, if she didn’t know better she’d say her daughter had been in a fight.

“Thought we’d give you a ride home since we were in town, looks like you’ve had…an interesting day.”

Now was not the time to have a twenty question session with Lisa, Jace was tired and looking paler by the minute, home would be a more fitting place. Her eyes looked over the playground area and saw a stocky child talking to an adult who, from this angle, looked as much of a mess as Lisa.

“I did actually, mom, is that Chinese I smell? Have you bought some for me?” Lisa had her appetite back with a vengeance, the adrenaline rush of what had happened to her now taking over.

“Yes, we have some for you; get in, Princess, your Mom’s tired we need to get home.”

A look of concern passed over Lisa as she scrambled into the back seat and glanced at Jace who gave her a big smile, “Don’t worry, Lisa, Catherine worries too much. Looks like you have a story to tell us when we get home. Are you okay darling?”

Lisa grinned, “Sure, I fell down that’s all, they call me klutzy now.” The explanation appeared to appease Jace, however Catherine gave her eldest daughter a sharp glance, her eyes challenging the statement, and they’d have words when they reached home.

The car set off in motion back to Destiny, and as they turned towards home Lisa glanced back towards the playground and saw Toni walking towards the building with the teacher. Her heart went out to the girl; she hoped she didn’t get into any trouble because of her…at least any more trouble than she had already taken on in her behalf.

Tomorrow she’d stick up for her new friend, even if it meant detention!

~ ~ ~

“Grace called, Catherine, asked if you would call her back when you arrived home.” Faith announced as they entered the house by the kitchen entrance. Now understanding why Catherine had called to say they were coming home early and not to bother with a meal for Lisa, as she looked from the three females that entered the house it was clear exactly why the day trip out had been shortened. Catherine placed the Chinese takeaway on the kitchen table with instructions to Lisa not to eat all the spring rolls before she came back, with a tender apologetic smile in Jace’s direction she headed for the study to make the call. Lisa looked like she’d been in a brawl, angry marks on her face testified to that, however, she wouldn’t inquire just yet. Jace had walked in behind the other two and her pale face and tired body language said it all.

“Jace, my dear, why don’t I fix you up a drink, you look tuckered out.” Her kind aged features gave the young woman a knowing look; pregnancy did have a way of catching up even on the fittest woman.

“Thanks, Faith, if you want the truth, all I need now is my bed. Can’t even summon up the energy to eat,” her wry smile acknowledging how strange a comment that was from her.

“I suggest you do just that, Jace, I’ll bring you a lovely cup of hot chocolate and you can rest up.” At the grateful though undecided glance she received, Faith knew the woman was toying with the idea but didn’t want to worry anyone, especially her partner. “I’ll cover for you, Jace, don’t worry. I’ll keep all your troublesome females in hand trust me. Elena’s watching TV with Judy for the moment, Lisa and…Catherine can eat dinner, it smells delicious.”

Jace looked over at Lisa who was opening all the packages, her expression one of desperation to eat up her meal. “Sure, it sounds like a good idea. I’ll be back down later, if you could explain to Catherine for me please,” Her tone now almost as weary as her body.

Lisa looked up at the older women with a sheepish delighted smile, “you got all my fav’s, Mom.”

“Yes we did, Princess, I’m going to take a short nap, okay. Don’t forget what Catherine said and when I come back we will have a talk about what you’ve been up to today.” Smiling at the child who went from joy to despondency at her remark, winking to take away any sting as she left the room not even checking on Elena because if her daughter saw her, that would be the end of her proposed nap time.

Faith watched the retreating back frowning slightly, Jace didn’t look well at all she was way too pale. When the children were settled she’d have a quiet word with Catherine, perhaps a check up at the doctor’s would be in order; it certainly wouldn’t harm anything.

Ten minutes later, with Lisa having been scolded for trying to eat all the spring rolls and now relishing her sweet and sour main dish, Catherine entered the room and quirked her eyebrow at the demolished plate. “I hope you left me something to eat, between the two of…where is Jace?” concerned blue eyes immediately scanned the room for any evidence of her lover.

“Mom was tired she needed a nap, said she wasn’t hungry.” Lisa announced as she filled her fork and placed the tasty morsels in her mouth.

“She wasn’t hungry, is she sick? I’d better go check on her…” Catherine turned alarmed eyes to Faith who smiled warmly at the tall woman, exactly what Jace predicted Catherine would be worried, waving her hand in the direction of the table.

“You will do no such thing, Catherine,” she saw the anger mount in the expressive eyes and shook her head. “Jace was tired and said she needed a nap but to make sure you had dinner. I’ve made her a lovely cup of hot chocolate, which I shall deliver while you and Lisa finish your meal.”

“I’ll take it, dinner can wait!” Catherine announced pedantically. Who did Faith think she was…her mother?

“Please let me, Catherine, Jace will only feel even worse than she does now if she thinks that you are worried about her, and it spoils your dinner she knows you love Chinese. If there’s a problem I promise to come back immediately and let you know, is that a deal?”

Catherine frowned at the older woman though she could understand her point of view, however, that didn’t detract from the fact that this was Jace they were talking about and she was worried! “You promise?”

“Guides honor, Catherine. Now please have something to eat before Lisa snaffles it all. Not to mention Elena who will have finished watching TV in the next few minutes and you know what she’s like, no spring rolls left for you if she sees them.”

She walked towards the kitchen table and seated herself opposite Lisa who grinned at her with sauce covered lips, making her smile which alleviated the tension that was building up. Faith was right, Jace was tired that was all and an early night would be good for her, as soon as she could she’d go sit with her love. Damn, it was so hard when you had kids to take care off, how did people cope without help she wondered. Her thoughts changed suddenly as she ran over the conversation with Grace who had arranged an appointment with her doctor for tomorrow morning, which she’d promised to go along as support. Her friend knew the meaning of trying to cope alone with a baby and it clearly hadn’t worked out.

“Tell her I’ll be along shortly and…and… well she knows.” Catherine trailed off embarrassed to ask the woman to convey her love to Jace. Instead, she selected a spring roll from the hot plate they were using to keep them warm along with the other dishes.

Smiling at the woman who had turned a cute pink, Faith knew exactly what she had wanted to convey but hadn’t been able to say it in words. “I’ll tell her, Catherine.” Just as she was walking out of the room to take the hot chocolate to Jace, Judy opened the door to the lounge walking out with a giggling Elena who was holding her hand and chattering in almost gibberish about the program she had watched.

“I’ll see you in a minute, okay.” Taking the stairs as Judy nodded her head and they headed for the kitchen.

Catherine bit into the crispy roll and relished the taste. If she was allowed that would be all she had, but Jace insisted that several rolls would not be a good choice and she’d acquiesced not wanting to upset her lover. Now, if it had been the boot on the other foot she was sure Jace wouldn’t have agreed so readily, but that was the subtle or not so subtle differences between them, rather wonderful differences she was quite happy to admit.

“Are you going to tell me what happened in school today?” Catherine spoke calmly as if it was an everyday occurrence that Lisa came home looking as she had today.

Lisa guiltily gazed up into the warm blue eyes that stared at her with interest. Catherine didn’t look upset at all, it seemed more as if she was passing the time of day with her, it wasn’t important. The kernel of hopelessness that she had felt earlier that day spurted up within her again as she wished her own Mom was here and not this woman. It wasn’t that she didn’t love Catherine, she did, but her real Mom would be better in the circumstances or Jace.  Jace was kind, gentle, understood her and didn’t make it hard for her to explain herself, even if she was in the wrong sometimes. Catherine, on the other hand, was totally different. She was harder to make understand and they usually ended up arguing though not in a bad way normally. But tonight…tonight she didn’t want to go through that as well as everything else she’d endured today. “Nothing happened, I fell over.”

“Really? When, where, who did you inform at school?” Selecting another of the tasty rolls and placing the tip in a wonderful sweet chili sauce she enjoyed.

Pulling a face Lisa wondered what to say next. She didn’t like to lie to Catherine, it always came back on her when she did, and Catherine had an uncanny way of knowing she wasn’t telling the truth. Though in this case she had fallen over, except, to get there, bullies had viciously pushed her. If she told Catherine that no one in school would ever speak to her again! That was telling tales and you never did that, ever!

“It was a silly accident, I fell over on an uneven piece of concrete on the playground.” A satisfied smirk crossed her face as she thought up the lie.

“Oh, and did you inform anyone about the concrete not being safe?” Catherine persisted as she wiped away a drop of sauce that trickled down her chin.

“Well, I was going to tell someone…but you came by.” Grinning broadly as the door to the kitchen opened and she was saved from further explanation as Elena burst into the room shouting at the top of her voice for them both.

Catherine was barreled over by a bustling toddler who wanted to have all her attention, not to mention some of her food.

“Guess you have to share, Catherine.” Judy grinned as she saw her employer place the child on her knee and cut up a portion of her roll to give to the child.

“Hmm now is there any surprise in that?” Smiling as the child placed the whole piece in her mouth reminding her of a guinea pig with its cheeks full of seed. “Elena, you’ll choke.”

Catherine immediately regretted her impulse to say anything. She should have learnt by now because, much to her horror, the child smiled at her with wide green eyes as bright as a button and proceeded to speak and she felt the pieces of food project from the child’s mouth to her face.

 “Oh God no, Elena,” picking up a napkin to wipe away the offending traces, she heard the laughter of Lisa and Judy followed by the giggles of Elena, whatever had she done to deserve this.

“Want me to take her, Catherine?” Judy asked stifling the giggles at the sight of the tall woman’s predicament. It was hard to believe unless you actually witnessed it yourself and she had big time. Funny how people had to adapt to various situations when children were around, even people like Catherine!

“No, I think she’s done all the damage she can for the moment thanks.” Mock glaring at the child who was smiling as she chewed on the food she still had in her mouth.

Next time she’d sit Elena with Rio, he wouldn’t mind the impromptu meal, kids!

~ ~ ~

Faith knocked softly on the door of the master bedroom wondering if she should disturb Jace. The way she’d looked earlier, it was clear sleep would welcome her in its waiting arms as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Opening the door and peering in through a thin aperture Faith saw the small woman sprawled on the bed, she hadn’t even taken off her clothes. Walking silently inside she placed the hot chocolate on the nightstand and opened the linen cupboard retrieving a blanket, which she draped as gently as possible over the soundly sleeping woman.

There was no evidence Jace would wake to see any more of today, probably as well under the circumstances. However, she could do with that check up, she would mention it to Catherine later, always better to be safe, and sure it wouldn’t harm anything at all.

Smiling at the young woman she tiptoed out of the room closing the door gently but firmly behind her.

As she headed for the stairs she heard a burst of laughter and it made her feel good inside. Being part of family, even if it wasn’t strictly a blood one, was a tremendous feeling and she was so glad to be here. More importantly, she marveled at the way things changed, as you got older. Things you thought of, as taboo and wrong. now had no meaning in the big picture. Life…and love in particular…were there to be shared and experienced to the fullest extent, and here in this home, it leaped around you taking no account of prejudice or blood ties. If you gave you received, it was as simple as that, or so she thought, and she doubted anyone who had received the love of anyone at Destiny would disagree with her, in any way at all.

“Hey sis, aunt said Dad agreed I could try for Oxford when I’m ready. What do you think of that?” Lukas Devonshire grinned at his sister who glowered good-naturedly at him then was immediately replaced by a smile that brightened her stoic features like a bolt of lightening to a night sky, dramatic and beautiful.

“Luk, why Oxford, because Dad went there?” Catherine shook her head at her younger brother. He looked like their father in many ways, but he certainly had a much gentler demeanor.

“Not because of Dad, silly, but because it’s one of the best and you know I want to be a doctor, Cate. I’ll have better prospects there that I never could have with a degree from anywhere else.” Lukas placed a brotherly arm around his taller sister’s shoulders. At seventeen she was two years older than he was and embarking on her own path to University soon.

“Why would a degree from Oxford be any better than say Durham?” Dismissing the subject, England was still a crock of shit when it came to these traditional institutions, why did people care so much.

“You have to be one of a few select people to get in Oxford, Catherine, look at you.” Her brother winked as she gave him a hard stare. She loved him he was her family now and after having been abandoned by their father several years before they were closer than ever before.

“What about me, I never wanted to go there it was taken out of my hands. Constantia made it her goal in life to see me in one of those mausoleums, that was all.”

Lukas grinned; “Aunt is only doing the right thing, Catherine, if only you didn’t protest so much you might see it for yourself. Anyway, I’m going to get in you see if I don’t!”

Giving her brother a gentle cuff under the chin she smiled, “I know you will, Lukas, after all, you’re cleverer than me and I got in.”

~ ~ ~

Chapter Ten

The ransom had been arranged and all was set but there was a no show and the million dollars had been neglected until the local dump truck arrived for its normal routine of clearance. All roads had been a dead end since and the chances of getting the young child back to his parents had flown out of the window for many on the team of investigators. Her old colleague thought differently and had asked her to look over the notes in a valiant hope that she could spot something they hadn’t. She’d read the case file over and over again and nothing had jumped out at her, though there was something that niggled in the back of her mind that was just out of reach! Glancing back to the apartment block, she hoped it wasn’t going to be one of those long fruitless stakeouts that never came to anything.

“Yes, maybe things will be different now that Grace accepts her mother can be of help. I hope you don’t mind me asking but is Jace okay?”

Catherine pursed her lips before she spoke  then touched the top of Elena’s head in an unconscious movement, “I’m going into town with Grace. Jace says she doesn’t need to see a doctor but I’m going to have him come over and check her over anyway. Peace of mind, especially as she has high blood pressure these days.”

“I heard it can be a problem in pregnant women, especially those expecting multiple births.” Judy remarked sympathetically. She had seen the decline in her other employer’s health of late and it certainly wasn’t like Jace to miss a meal. This would be two in a row, last night’s dinner and breakfast.

Having made a complete fool of herself, Grace had at first thought of driving off and getting as far away from the township as possible. She’d gotten as far as opening the car door and sliding inside, only to realize she would be abandoning Catherine in town and one foolish experience in a day was enough for most people.

“Do you think I’m mad, Catherine?”

“You don’t have to live with my kids, I do. Seriously, Grace, no, I don’t think you are mad and nor does the doctor. All he’s concerned about is your state of mind at the moment and the fact that, for whatever reason, you can’t cope at the moment.”

Turning to stare at her friend, a frown on her face, “Aren’t you just playing with words, Catherine, in my book that means the same thing or as close as.”