DRAGONJULS Storybook
Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: See Part One
Part 5
Chapter Thirteen
Catherine was weary after her dinner with her five VP's, although the meeting earlier with Paul had been enlightening. For once, she had taken the opportunity to find out some personal details about her senior executives, which had totally floored them, well all except Paul of course.
Who noticed that his normally stoic boss was actually taking the time out to make small talk? This was really turning into an interesting meeting.
Gareth Cuthbert her European VP, had been married to Victoria for ten years and had the usual two point four children, oh well that's how Catherine viewed it at any rate. He was quite happy to push them into a boarding school as soon as possible, so that he didn't have to worry about his image. Now where had she come across that before? This more than anything else made her dislike of the man credible in her eyes! He was a pompous arrogant English middle class bore, wanting to elevate himself to the next rank. ‘What the hell, he could be a pompous arrogant upper class bore, for all I care, just so long as he does the job and does it well!’
Eduardo Forencio was her South American VP. He was swarthy, good looking and single, loved to flirt with the ladies, but always managed to keep out of the final reaches of any one of them. He managed to stop himself from making a fool of himself, by coming onto her as she asked him about his personal life. In Catherine’s eyes it was amusing and she enjoyed a little flirting, well she had years before at any rate. Come to that, in the old days she would have done more than flirt herself, he would have been a prime candidate for her bed! Funny how things change, now she found it laughable.
Tito Yashimo her Asian VP, a small compact Japanese, always listening but rarely was given to any mad spurts of creativity. He had a wife and son and appeared happy with his lot in life. She’d always had difficulty making small talk at the best of times and with the Japanese she found it impossible. It was a straightforward list of facts. Oh well, better than getting your ear bent.
Constance Waverly she was the African VP, African descent with a touch of European blood in her heritage. She was a small bubbly woman, who was happy to be single, although she was somewhat cagey about whom she dated. Catherine hadn't wanted to pry, but she was interested in the VP possibly because she was the only other woman at the table. She knew that to have advanced this far in the organisation meant that a private life for a woman was virtually impossible. Although, why she should think like that when she had the power to do something about it was a matter of indoctrination, she thought, weird.
Paul Strong was by his own admission happy in a gay relationship that had lasted about eight years to date. He got looks from all around the table when he mentioned James and was being scrutinised by Constance at regular intervals.
All in all, it was a very regular crowd, nothing to write home about, as they would say.
Now she was glad she had a few hours without the constant boardroom niggles. That was one part of not going to a regular office that she hadn't missed, the ‘in fighting’.
Letting herself into the suite she glanced around the room and noted it's elegance and style, but something was missing. Something that she hadn't realised she needed until yesterday and that something was companionship. Sitting down on one of the sofas she tugged her shoes off and wondered if Jace was awake? It was after all only ten in the evening at home, probably the good doctor was still around as well! Maybe that would cause too many questions. When had that ever mattered to her! Yet, she didn't want to make Jace feel uncomfortable in the house, no far from it!
'Guess I'll leave it until I get back then,' she mused and then suddenly grinned as she recalled the earlier conversation with Grace.
**********
Jace couldn't believe it!
Here she was recovering from a virus in the home of the reclusive C X Warriorson and being waited on by her staff. Not only that, but around late afternoon, Grace had arrived with a parcel and a relatively large one too!
"What's this Grace?" Jace asked as the woman put the parcel on the bed.
"Well, you better tell me, because it's just arrived and it's addressed to you personally and by direct messenger as well."
"But who, other than Peter and the crew, knows I'm here?"
"I don't know would Peter have sent you a get well present?"
"Does he even know I'm ill Grace, I've not told him?"
"Yeah, Catherine sent a message to him at the hotel. She told him to cancel your room for the rest of the week. So yeah, he certainly knows." Grace remembered the phone call she overheard last evening, between the Director and her employer and it hadn't been cordial. To her ears it sounded very hostile. Anyone would think they had purposely got Jace ill, or did he think they were kidnapping her or something.
Anyway Catherine had finally agreed that Peter could visit tomorrow and she guessed he would certainly do that, pity Catherine will still be away.
"Maybe it's from him." Jace answered her own question absently. For some strange reason she felt lonely. Without the presence of Catherine Warriorson the place just wasn't home! 'Oh no, did I say 'home' what on earth is happening to me? If she finds out she's going to run me off the place, being ill won’t stop that.'
"How about you open it and see? Do you want me to leave?"
"That's okay, Grace please stay. You never know, it could be alive in here." Jace smiled at the friendly woman, who sat gently on the bed and helped with the unpacking.
Jace reached inside the box and her hand touched something, very soft and wonderful to the touch, grasping further inside she pulled at the object and out tumbled the largest Tasmanian Devil she had ever seen.
It had a wonderful mischievous grin on its face and held in one of its paws a screwdriver and the other a hammer. It had covering its body a light blue shirt and black trousers, with a red and grey tie hanging loosely round its neck. A caption on the shirt said ‘I can fix anything!’ Nothing on the toy was made of anything other than soft materials. It was the most huggable toy she could have ever wished to own. Her tears ran unashamedly down her cheeks and Grace had to laugh at the sight of her small guest, being almost enveloped by this huge toy that portrayed one of the most devious characters in the ‘Looney Tunes’ camp.
"How about I get you some tea Jace, while you rummage in the box for a card or something."
She left the happy, but obviously emotional woman to look for more clues to the identity of the sender. However, Grace had a really good idea who it could be, and it had nothing to do with a film crew!
Jace couldn't believe it, she was overwhelmed and in her heart she knew the identity of the sender. "Catherine I'm betting on you. I hope I'm right," she whispered into the ear of the giant Taz.
Finding what appeared to be a card towards the bottom of the box, she extricated it and hardly dared look.
Made out in a strong bold script, it read:
The tears that she had shed previously came again in a flood and it wasn't until Grace
came back with the tea that she tried to stop them.
Grace had seen many tears in her lifetime and she knew that these were the products of someone who was happy.
"So, you found out our mystery toy sender?"
Jace looked up and choked back another sob; it really was too much this crying for no reason business.
"Yes."
"Well, you going to keep me in suspense?"
"Catherine sent him to keep me company during the night." Jace answered, not wanting to look up and see the hurt, which the words could possibly inflict on the other woman.
Grace started to laugh heartily. Jace looked up astonished.
"So the old recluse does have a heart after all." Grace merrily said. “Strange choice in a night time companion though, don’t you think?” Chuckling at the sight of Jace giving the giant Taz a sympathetic hug.
"It doesn't bother you, that she's sent me a present?"
"Why should it? Hell Jace, I love the woman as a friend! If you have finally got through were so many of us have tried and failed; then the best of luck to you." Grace watched the emotions pass over Jace's face and she smiled.
"I want to be her friend! I need to be her friend! Something inside me can't seem to stop thinking about her! Does that make any sense to you, because it sure doesn't to me? It confuses me the emotions she brings out in me Grace. I'm just hoping I don't do anything stupid. At times all I want to do is hold her hand and just be there!"
Grace pulled the woman into her arms for a short hug.
"Hey Jace, watching you with Catherine is a gift, one that I hope she doesn't decide to be stupid about. There is nothing in your feelings for Catherine that can be anything but honest, and from the heart. Just give her some time to reconcile herself to having you around. But don't push her to hard Jace. Something this fragile could break so easily and there would be no coming back for a second chance with her. There again, she sure isn't the same lady who woke up at the start of this week, that's for sure. Looking at that present though, maybe she still is our Catherine under there. It sure wouldn’t have been my first choice, more a Pooh bear."
Jace hugged Grace harder and sniffled into her shoulder.
"She helped me sleep last night, when the fever got too bad and I was dreaming." It was an explanation of sorts.
"Yeah, I know. You look pretty cute together too!" Grace couldn't stop the smirk from appearing on her face.
"How...I mean when...does she know you know?" Jace stuttered through the sentence.
"Actually no, she doesn't. For now it's our little secret okay? I get the feeling Catherine wouldn't want the fact known that she's a big mushball under that entire stoic ambience she gives off to the world. What do you think?"
"Just what she said herself." Jace laughed and wiped her errant tears away.
"Great, so Andrew will be here in about an hour, think you can eat something for dinner?"
"Yeah, I'm starving, all this emotion is certainly giving me an appetite," Jace answered enthusiastically.
"Why is it, I think you might just have always had a large appetite?" She left the woman alone with that rejoinder.
"Wonder what she means by that Taz, I'll have to ask her when she comes back later." With that Jace settled back down into the covers and snuggled up to the soft toy, it wasn't Catherine but she had sent him, so it was better than having no one in the bed at all. In a strange way, he gave off a feeling of safety. ‘Now don’t go using that hammer on me at any time will you Taz, or you might just have to explain yourself to a certain tall, dark and beautiful woman and we know how you would react to that!’ She smiled and her eyes dropped in fatigue.
***********
Grace watched Andrew Simpson drive away from the property and waved as he passed by the ranch houses at the bottom of the drive. It had been a good evening all told.
Andrew was very entertaining and had enthused over her cooking abilities and organizational skills administrating the household. He'd pronounced that Jace was doing very well and his first assumption that it would be a week for a full recovery was now muted to another day in bed and she should be in a position to leave, if she wanted.
Jace had looked at Grace with an air of someone who had just been given a death sentence instead of being told they were actually fighting back an illness quicker than anticipated. "Don't worry Andrew, Jace has a date with my indomitable employer and woe betide her if she doesn't keep it! Right Jace?"
Andrew looked amused at the colour that seeped into Jace's cheeks at the comment. "Yeah, well I guess... It's not a date, but she said she would see me when she got back..."
"Okay, sounds good to me, has the good Reverend told you who you're getting in our little community programme yet?" Andrew changed the subject quickly noticing how uncomfortable the conversation was making Jace.
Grace laughed, and smiled at Jace. "No, but I figured he'd set someone up here if she's away. What better time. So, give Doctor Simpson or I might just have to do something drastic to make you talk." She teased him.
Jace watched the inter play and smiled. Grace really was a great person and if she wanted the doctor it looked like she just had to crook her little finger at him.
Andrew smirked. "Oh, now that sounds like a challenge, I might just take you up on my dear Miss Thornton." He looked at her as she patted him on the cheek.
"Maybe another time, so come on, who are we getting?"
Jace was puzzled what on earth were they talking about. "May I ask what you’re talking about?" Not sure if she would be let into the conversation, she was after all a guest, even if maybe a little unwelcome at first.
Grace and Andrew looked at each other and smiled. "Ah yes, I forgot it was the night you arrived, so you won't know what were talking about, sorry Jace." Grace looked apologetic.
"Ms Warriorson, has agreed to take part in a local community project," Andrew volunteered.
Jace still looked puzzled.
"Yeah, but the project is about kids who have had a bad time and people who have the means are taking them in and trying to offer them a new life. The reverend believes in friendship and love in a very positive giving way." Grace supplied the rest of the information.
"It doesn't sound like something Catherine would volunteer for, not that I know her that well. It just kind of wars with her reluctance to interact with other people." Jace spoke softly.
"No, it's definitely not Catherine. She unfortunately said the wrong thing at the right time or vice versa, which ever you want to call it. She has passed on this task entirely over to me. So, really it's my friendship and love the kid is going to get." Grace smiled sheepishly.
"But if she agreed to it, why shouldn't she get involved with it!" Andrew said in a mildly irritated tone.
Grace put her hand on his arm to settle the conversation. "She was pre-occupied at the time and the Reverend got lucky, I guess. So, Andrew who am I getting?"
He smiled at the woman who he imagined would always defend her boss, no matter how wrong she was. "You heard that the Patterson's got killed in a car crash three months ago?"
"Yeah tragic for the family, although hadn't they both been drinking at the time and someone else died also?"
"Mmmm, so you do keep up on the local news?" He was surprised.
"Hey, just because Catherine wants her privacy, doesn't mean the rest of us live the same lifestyle. Don't judge others by one experience, that would be very dangerous, especially around here!" Grace flashed him an angry look.
Andrew saw the look and almost thought he'd blown it with this wonderful woman, who he'd lost his heart too, she was just so easy to love. "I'm sorry Grace, I didn't mean it the way it sounded." He looked shamefaced at her.
Never one to let things fester, she smiled. "Carry on, the suspense is killing me."
"Anyway, yes Joan Simoen died too. She was a wonderful woman.” He sighed at the thought; she had worked in the town as the seamstress for over six years, after her husband had been killed in a freak accident at work on this very ranch. “The Patterson’s had a son Jacob, he's ten years old and very wild. No relatives to speak of, and even those that are related don't want him, too much trouble they say."
"Okay so we are getting wild Jacob Patterson, great! Catherine is going to love the local people that much more out of this little episode. Not!" Grace pulled a face. "So, when do I have the pleasure of meeting young Mr Patterson?"
Andrew smiled. "Actually that's not the only thing.” He noticed both women look at him, one in interest the other with, was it evil intent? “Because you have the resources you get two of them?"
"What? Two of what?" Grace almost shouted at him.
"Kids."
"Come on tell me, it can't get any worse now can it!"
Andrew sort of edged for the door. "Lisa Simeon, she's seven and definitely has no family." He held the doorknob in his hand ready to move quickly if he could.
Both women looked at him in astonishment. Maybe it just did get worse!
"That sounds like a bit of very insensitive planning to me Doctor," Jace said in a very small voice.
"Yeah, I know, but the Reverend insisted, said it was the best for both kids and Ms Warriorson too."
Jace looked at him. "Do you believe that?" She asked gently.
He shook his head and looked anywhere in the room except at the two women.
Grace let out a breath that she hadn't known she held. 'Jesus, Catherine was going to go ape when she found out, and who could blame her. I somehow don't want to be the person that tells her, but guess it's going to have to be me.'
Jace looked at the drawn face of Grace, who had visibly sagged at the information. "Tell you what Grace, how about I tell Catherine? I'm not going to be here much longer, and well, if she gets mad, she gets mad at me."
Grace glanced at the younger woman, knowing that Jace didn't want Catherine to have any thoughts other than good ones about her. The offer was tempting. Oh, so tempting. "That's okay Jace, thanks for the offer, but I think I'd better do it. Although, I might need the support."
"Anytime." She glanced at Andrew who had lightened up a little at their conversation.
"Go and sit on the porch or something you two, I want to read some more of this book." She smiled at them as she settled down, with the book and Taz snuggled next to her.
"Good idea." The two left her to it.
After that they had discussed just about everything under the sun except the new visitors. Now here she was at midnight, contemplating Catherine's reaction to the new additions to the 'family', it wasn't a pleasant thought. Her eye's strayed towards the foreman's house and she noticed a dark figure outlined against the white decking of the veranda. She looked away and considered her options. Tomorrow was another day and today had been exciting enough as it turned out. She wasn't prepared for any more problems. Problems?
**********
Chapter Fourteen:
Catherine was winding up the two-day session with her VP’s; the business was doing very well; her influence hardly needed these days. Her reputation just worked for her that was all.
It was time to consider some changes though and her assessment of her executives although veiled had been very thorough.
"Well, another session has come to a close. I'm very pleased with the way things are developing around the world. In two months time I'm going to want some changes in my VP's, can't let you all get to complacent in your roles, now can I?"
All faces turned to her in shock, they hadn't expected it and to at least two of them it wasn't something they wanted to do.
"I'm going to change all of you around, so if you’re not happy with that, I suggest you start getting your résumés out in the market place, because it's going to happen! Is anyone around the table against the idea?"
Paul Strong had been as surprised as anyone at this change in events, but he could see the logic. Now who was going to be the fall guy between Gareth and Tito?
Gareth moved around in his chair and looked a little pale around the gills. Tito looked upset. Constance smiled, and Eduardo just took it all in his stride.
Tito got up from his chair and addressed the chairwoman of the company. "You just said we had done wonderful things with our different market places, why?"
Catherine looked at the little man and knew he was nervous. She smiled, but the smile never went to her eyes. "Don't you think it's a good idea, wouldn't a VP posting to New York for instance, be a good move for you Tito?"
"I...I think it would be, yes it would, but my family?" He stuttered and ended on a weak note.
"Guess your looking to quit the company then? Oh well, you win some you lose some." She starred at the other people round the table. "Does anyone else have something to say?" Silence.
"Well, that's wonderful. I wish you all a pleasant journey back to your own parts of the world, and I'll be in touch personally." She got up to leave, then turned around.
"Paul, before you go, I need to speak to you. Say in ten minutes?" She left the room without an answer to her question.
Paul looked around the room and realised they thought he knew something. "Hey guys, I don't know what's going on, maybe I'm going to be the first transfer, who knows." He shrugged his shoulders.
"I think she's right, we are becoming complacent in our own backyards. What we need is change, she's giving us the opportunity before she has to replace us." Constance spoke decisively.
"Oh, it's okay for you! Your piece of the world is shit, if we didn't bail you out every few months, you would be on your arse out of here," Gareth said with venom.
"Well, if you think like that Gareth, guess Paul might just mention it to Ms Devonshire that you could do better in my role! I wouldn't mind a piece of Europe for a change of scenery." Constance had never let the European VP score points off her. He was always ready to stick the knife in someone's back and it was not going to be hers. She hated his existence. One day his time would come! He was a pompous ass, who still thought there was a bloody British Empire, arrogant bastard!
"Wonder where she will send me!" Eduardo chipped in, not really that interested, anyway it would give him new opportunities with the women.
"My family will not move Paul. So, I guess I'd better consider tendering my resignation," Tito said sadly.
Paul knew what it meant to Tito, 'Hell he was going to have to talk fast with James on this one, maybe he would need to find another position also!'
“I have a meeting people, I hope everyone has a safe journey home.” He left the room and heard the squabbles from the hall.
Arriving at the suite, he noticed the door was ajar, so he tentatively walked in.
"Oh! Paul, great, my bags have just gone down. They are getting me a taxi to the airport, so I'd better make this quick."
"Fine, no problem." Paul was surprised at her swift exit from the hotel. She usually spent a couple of hours winding down, by walking along the quay.
"I want you to consider taking over as World President, it's a new role, more money, and you will be in charge of the rest of the VP's. I don't need the answer now, but by this time next week, okay! Then you get to sort out the other VP's I hope, if not I will! You get to choose your base of operations also! If you have any questions just e-mail me, or call me in a couple of days. I have to go Paul, safe journey." She walked by him and smiled. "See you soon."
He watched the retreating back of his employer and wondered what had hit him. He sat down heavily on one of the sofas.
"I think she just asked me to take over the empire!"
**********
Grace watched as the hired car arrived up the drive and a very nervous Peter Adamson got out of the car.
"You must be Mr Adamson, Jace's friend, welcome to 'Destiny'" Grace held out a hand and smiled.
Peter didn't expect this cordiality, especially after his altercation with Catherine Warriorson, what next! "Thanks, yeah, I'm here to see Jace, how is she?" He deposited the luggage that Jace had left at the hotel on the porch steps.
"She's doing really well actually. She got out of bed specially for your visit, so please come this way." Grace eyed the luggage in some amusement.
He followed her into the house, which was in a traditional style, but with all the conveniences that modern technology could offer. They walked to the study, where she opened the door. Jace was seated in one of the large armchairs.
"Hey, Jace how you doing?" He smiled, happy to see her basically in one piece, although she did look pale.
"Peter I'm fine, thanks for coming to visit, how's everyone?"
"They’re good, and want to know when you will be back with us? You know you're the life and soul of the party Jace." He sat opposite her as Grace left them to their chat.
"She seems nice?" He indicated Grace's retreating back.
"Yes she is," Jace answered softly.
"They treating you okay Jace, if you want out of here, I will take you, no problem. That bitch Warriorson can't keep you if you want to go!" Peter blustered.
"NO! No it's not like that at all. They have been marvellous to me Peter. I couldn't have been in safer hands." Jace responded with gusto.
He looked at her and shook his head not understanding why she was so...protective. "Well, if you change your mind you know where we are staying and the number."
Jace smiled and they talked about the footage and what Hudson wanted, and briefly when she would be ready to leave. The filming group had planned to leave on a Sunday flight back to the States and had tentatively booked her a seat.
Jace looked down at her hands, which she clasped together tightly. "That's in four days time. I guess I will be taking the flight Peter."
He noticed her subdued reply. "You don't sound very sure about it. Have you got a reason to stay here?" Had she met someone in such a brief period of time?
"I'm sure," she replied.
"Oh, well that's good then; can't have my best girl stranded here in this out of the way country now can we?"
'If only he knew that this out of the way Country as he called it, would forever hold my heart.' Jace winced at the words that flowed in her head. It sounded so melodramatic, like a lovesick teenager.
They talked for a little over an hour. Then Grace noticed that Jace looked tired and scooted her back to bed. She ensured Peter that if he needed to come visit, to just let her know, as she couldn't see a problem with another visit after Jace had rested for a while.
"Thanks, I appreciate you looking after her."
"No problem, we all like Jace here."
"Even the recluse!" He couldn't help the sarcasm in his tone. Something about the woman just set him off.
Grace laughed "Yeah, even the recluse." And as he walked away she thought. 'If only you knew, the recluse might actually more than like her.' She walked back into the house and her schedule.
**********
Grace was pacing.
Definitely pacing.
Jace smiled wryly at the somewhat awkward pacing with Grace's limp. She had been up a couple of hours, chatted briefly with a very subdued Colin Montgomery. 'Now what was wrong with him? He had seemed so happy that first night she arrived; now, he looked like his best friend had died!'
Something was very wrong here, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, maybe Grace might open up a little. Then again, she had almost bitten her head off earlier, so perhaps not...!
Going over to the coffeepot, she noted the time at ten and knew that Catherine was due back around ten in the evening, twelve hours and she would be home! 'I just can't help that feeling of finding my home when she's around, could that be such a bad thing? What would Catherine say? There again she was never likely to find out. I'm going to be leaving the day after tomorrow. Maybe that's for the best, for both of us!' Her heart begged to differ.
"Grace do you want a cup?" Jace offered quietly.
The pacing woman looked up in surprise, she hadn't really noticed that Jace was in the room with her. "What? Sorry you asked me something?"
"Yes. Would you like a cup of this excellent coffee that a certain party I know makes really well?" Jace bantered back to try and alleviate the tension in the woman.
Grace smiled briefly, 'Jace was a really good woman. Pity she hadn't been here from the beginning, maybe things would have been different. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk.' "Thanks. Yeah, I would love a cup." She watched the younger woman silently make the beverage.
"You want to talk about why you're so up-tight?" Jace prodded her shamelessly.
Grace laughed outright at the attitude of this woman who she had met, what was it four days ago? "Yeah I think I do! Thanks."
"No problem. Is it Catherine?"
"Some of it yeah. But it's those kids we’re getting after lunch. I think it's immoral that they should be put together. Hell, his parents were responsible for her parent's death and they want them to live in harmony, and to cap it all off, under Catherine's roof. God knows she doesn't want anything to do with this herself; yet, I know she won't be happy about this situation."
"Why do you believe she won’t accept this responsibility?" Green eyes looked into brown in question.
Grace snorted. "Something in her past I guess. She was really mad when she found out about what she had let herself into. Can't blame her really, now that we have the facts. But I could do with her support and somehow I don't think that's going to happen!"
Jace looked into the coffee cup she held and sighed. "Maybe she will come round to the idea, Hades she came around to me!"
"Oh, come on Jace, this is different."
"How? Tell me."
"You know her husband and son are buried on the property?" Grace looked directly back into the green eyes, which suddenly took on a shadowy effect at the mention Catherine's deceased family. ‘Of course she didn’t know you dummy! She didn’t even know Catherine had been married until I mentioned it.’
"No I didn't. Is it far away?" Jace asked in quiet interest.
"Actually it's Cutter's Ridge. She wanted to have them see the best of every dawn and sunset that was on the property for eternity. There is no better place than that particular spot."
Jace gasped at the sheer thoughtfulness of Catherine Warriorson. It was like something out of a gothic romantic novel; so you do believe in romance after all! "How do you know that?"
Grace sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. "She got drunk one night; I'd been here about a couple of weeks and she was way over the top, told me it would have been what Adam, her husband would have wanted."
"No wonder, she wasn't happy that we were filming there. But, I don't recall seeing any evidence of a burial place?" Jace was unhappy that there would be footage that ultimately might upset the woman she cared about.
"Oh, Catherine wouldn't have been happy about you filming any place on the property. Unless you know where to look, it's a hidden place. Only Catherine, Colin and myself know for sure; other than the local burial agency and the Reverend that attended the final placing of them to rest. The Reverend is now deceased and the others, well they don't divulge that sort of detail, bad for business," Grace spoke matter of factly.
"Does she go there often?"
"No, only on certain dates, which I surmise to be anniversaries of some kind. Catherine hasn't been that forthcoming and she kicked the alcohol binges over three years ago."
"Guess she wont be happy that I know about this then?" Jace was upset at the thought.
"Oh! Jace haven't you realised yet? That for the first time since I met her over five years ago, she has actually done something for someone and thought about that person beyond her own needs! Nothing, do you hear me, nothing you find out about her will harm her, you will see to that!"
Jace got up from her chair and went over to the other woman and simply hugged her. "Do you know what that means to me?" Jace asked tearfully.
"Oh, god Jace, your not going to cry on me again are you? Whatever would people think?" Grace said flippantly.
"Not much around here I guess." Wiping her eyes, she smiled at the other woman.
"Well you're not wrong there!"
Getting up from her chair, she hauled Jace along with her. "So any ideas, what do kids eat?"
Jace laughed loudly and punched Grace playfully on the arm. "Do you have any cookbooks, preferably with desserts in them?"
"Oh way to go Jace. If I didn't know better I would think you were a kid yourself." She joked back as she went to retrieve a cookbook.
**********
Catherine was waiting patiently for her personal flight from Christchurch to her local airport to be approved and she would be on her way. She was early! It was only three in the afternoon and usually she arrived way after midnight. That's exactly what Grace would expect. Although, at this rate, she might be home by dinner!
'Funny I've never really wanted to get home this fast. Wonder what has gotten into me this time?' A demon voice that she knew too well prodded her to answer her own question. 'Yeah, I know, I know, Jace!' She sighed in resignation.
'Although wouldn't she be going home soon and wasn't home to Jace, the most hated place that Catherine knew in the world. Hell, I've run from that place for years, and now it comes and pays me back a hundred times over. Guess you just can't tempt fate too much, huh?'
She hadn't contacted home since the first evening; so, she didn't know how Jace was doing or how she had received the gift she'd sent.
Catherine you're going soft! She smiled to herself at the thought.
'Hell she hadn't bought a soft toy since Lucas was a year old! Then she had been relatively happy in a complacent sort of way. Adam had given her the stable lifestyle she had wanted when her brother had died. He had also given her security in not only his love, but also his home and little did she know his business interest too! They had been happy those first two to three years, as happy as she had ever been, since her mother had passed away.
Then her father died!
That had been a shock; he can't have been more than fifty-eight if that! She then learned through the lawyers in New York that Stewart Devonshire had passed all his possessions over to his one surviving child, subject to a couple of minor details that she had to uphold.
Well one of them had been easy. Adam, she then found out was a shareholder in the Xianthos Empire, a third shareholder no less! She wasn't to try and oust him in any way and she had to consider any of his suggestions, just has her father had done in the past. They had argued long into the night on many occasions once she had taken over the reins about that part of the will.
Then there had been his involvement with Union City Productions and the young and very shrewd Clarrisa Hudson. Oh, that was one fight she had run away from, not because she was scared, but more because her father had wanted it that way. Hudson had made no bones about the fact that she was willing to let Catherine into her life on much the same terms as her father. Only, she wasn't her father, and the thought of sharing anything, never mind her bed with someone as totally devoid of emotion as Hudson, was definitely not an option.
She had done to the letter what her father wanted and in many ways her frustration at that fiasco and any other that transpired was heavily aimed at Adam! He hadn't deserved it, hadn't understood her change in personality, but had it been a change? Wasn't it something she had always been, but he had tried to soothe the image and create a person he wanted rather than what she was! Then her son had become a pawn in the game, games she never lost! But she HAD!
One day she literally turned her back on her family and had done exactly what her father had done all those years before, what did they say ‘like father, like daughter! She had closed her heart to feeling and held everyone she loved at a distance.
Now she was considering, well she was certainly thinking about a certain Jace Bardley more than she should, that was for sure. What the hell, it was only a toy!”
She closed her eyes and blinked back the solitary tear that threatened to fall.
A movement to her left made her open her eyes and she noticed the pilot of her personal helicopter coming closer, he looked relaxed. 'Good, that means we are getting out of here.'
She cocked her head to one side as he spoke.
**********
Grace watched as the Reverend’s car drew up the long drive. She was standing next to Jace on the porch. Both women were a little nervous.
Jace for the life of her didn't know why? For the day after tomorrow everything would be all over, and she wouldn't see the ranch or its occupants again she assumed.
The Reverend got out of the vehicle and went around to the front passenger door and opened it. He spoke at length towards the occupant of the front, and then a young boy jumped out of the vehicle. He looked to the entire world as if he had been dealt a lot of difficulties in his young life.
Next the Reverend went to the passenger door in the back of the vehicle and was handed a doll! That made Jace smile. Next a small girl crawled out of the vehicle.
Grace watched in fascination. She was now the responsible adult for these two children and hell she didn't have a clue.
Jacob Pattison, was a gangly ten-year-old, obviously grew out of his clothes quick from the look of his worn and short attire. He had black hair and a sullen face, although his hazel eyes looked more mischievous than wicked.
Lisa Simeon on the other hand was the totally opposite. She had bright red hair and a smile that shone out of her pale blue eyes; in later years she would set many a hearts a flutter that was for sure. She looked delicate because of her size, but her stance gave the opposite view. She looked like an eight-year-old handful!
Jace looked at Grace and grinned. "Guess this is it, better go meet them Grace."
"Yeah, okay." She swallowed hard, and then moved off the porch towards the Reverend and his charges.
Within a couple of short hours, they had retrieved the personal possessions of the kids and shown them into their respective rooms. Neither child had much by way of personal items; it was plain to see that they had been brought up without the luxuries of life. One because his parents were irresponsible it would appear and the other because that had been all her lone parent could afford.
Both children looked a little scared and intimidated by the ranch and the women who they had been introduced.
Lisa had held onto her rag doll as if it was a lifeline.
Jacob had looked sullen the whole time and just scuffed his feet, which, hadn't gone down to well with Grace on her polished floors.
When the Reverend left, Jace went to make some drinks so that Grace could get better aquatinted.
Something inside of Jace wanted to welcome these children too! It was after all Catherine's home, but she was herself an interloper, what could she possibly achieve by confusing the kids even more. 'Oh Hi, I'm Jace but don't get too friendly because I'm going the day after tomorrow.' It would be like a slap in the face, not only for them but for her too!
She went towards the next room, peaking inside she saw the three figures, all with very tense body language, taking a deep breath she went inside.
Continued in Part 6
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