DRAGONJULS' Storybook
~ All Our Tomorrows ~
J M Dragon
Part Twenty
© February 2001
e-mail: jmdragon1@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: See
Part One
Chapter Forty
“Jason you can’t open that! It might have private papers, surely you should let Catherine open it?” Alison spoke sharply to her husband. Before she’d had the time to tell him about Lucy he had told her about his day, which was quite normal for them, a ritual almost.
“Oh Alison you spoil sport!” Jason chuckled at his end of the line, his wife was right of course it should be given to Catherine for her to decide what to do with it. Pity though he would have loved to open that little piece of the puzzle.
Alison heard the laughter and smiled, she knew that he had already made that decision, but he involved her in such things, she had always been grateful for that. “Yes I know darling, you still love me don’t you?”
“No one else that’s for certain. How is our youngest?” He changed the subject to the most important one his youngest child.
“She wants to quit college.” Alison stated bluntly, no good beating about the bush on this issue.
“Why?” Jason asked astounded this was the first time that Lucy had said anything about college her grades had been steady, no apparent problem there. Perhaps Constance had been correct and it was a romantic issue.
“Not sure yet but I get the feeling she has the idea that things are changing far to quickly for her to cope with.” Alison said absently, pondering her child’s dilemma.
“What things exactly? Everything changes Ali that’s guaranteed in this life, especially as we get older. I would have thought Lucy would welcome the speed.” Jason was astonished at the comment; his youngest had always been the one that seemed to take life on big time never fearing the unknown that beckoned.
“I think it’s more that she feels we might be moving away from her. That she will no longer have that cushion to rely on if things get a little tough for her.” Alison tried to voice her own opinion without making it seem that she had made up her mind, although she still wasn’t a hundred percent sure.
“Oh, but Ali we will always be there for our children, surely she knows that. Hell look at the problems with Jace.” Jason replied adamantly.
“Exactly, look at the problems with Jace. Perhaps our little girl is feeling pushed out, let’s face it she and Catherine don’t get on very well. That means she doesn’t go to any of the family get togethers anymore.” Alison tried to tactfully point out. It had been Jason who had scolded his youngest daughter over her belligerent attitude to Jace’s partner.
“Whose fault is that!” Jason replied angry momentarily at the short sightedness of his daughter. Who had refused all the friendly overtures that Catherine had tried to offer since the wedding.
“I know there is a problem Jason, but that doesn’t help us in this situation, what do we do?” Alison asked quietly.
Jason calmed down quickly at the quietness from his wife, she was worried, and he knew that when she asked him to find a solution to a family problem.
“Want me to come home?”
Alison smiled into the receiver, Jason no matter what he was doing always put his family first. She was sure that was one of the reasons his business had never taken off big time, eventually leaving them at the mercy of the big corporations.
“No, that’s okay darling I’ll handle it. I might have to stay home for a while.”
“How long is a while?” Jason asked, he knew that she was right to stay with Lucy but he would sorely miss her company.
“I think it’s that euphemism ‘how long is a piece of string’ at the moment Jason.” Alison responded she would miss him dreadfully she always did when he wasn’t home.
“Maybe I should think about giving up this post and come home.” He replied tentatively.
“I think there would be several people devastated if you did, I think you would be one of them Jason.” Alison replied wryly as she recalled his eager anticipation of taking over the reins at Xianthos for good.
Jason chuckled, “yeah got me there Ali. As always you know me so well.”
“I’ve been married to you for thirty two years Jason, there is a small chance I know a thing or two about you.” Alison laughed softly.
“I will arrange to come home at the weekend, we’ll make it a long one, let’s see what we can do to help Lucy.”
Alison sighed slightly, it was just the idea she had floating in her mind. He knew her well also. “I think we would both like that Jason, now get yourself to bed it’s late, I’m sure you have things to do tomorrow.”
Jason chuckled, he felt like a schoolboy when she said that to him. “I need to speak to Jack, then I’ll go never fear darling.”
“Can’t it wait until the morning?” Alison asked intrigued that her husband would need to speak to his old friend at this late hour.
“I’ll explain when I get home Friday evening, want to get our youngster to meet me at the airport?” Jason said enigmatically.
“How about we both do we can go out to dinner.” Alison replied knowing that Jason would explain all when he arrived home.
“You have a date.” They said their good byes then cut the connection.
Jason looked at the handset; mused over calling his friend in the morning deciding there was no better time than right now. He dialled Jack’s number and waited for his friend to pick up.
* * * * * * * * * *
The family had returned to the villa as darkness fell, it was very clear that they were all tired after such a long day travelling but every one of them had enjoyed themselves.
Lukas had been a good guide, his knowledge of the island an excellent indication that he loved the place and the people who lived there. They had the children on donkey rides, even managed to find a small park so that Lisa and Elena could amuse themselves. Jake had volunteered to be Elena’s swing minder, so the adults could indulge in a coffee and toasted sandwich, still maintaining a close eye over them all.
They had found a small beach area, which allowed them to sunbathe for an hour. Leading to a leisurely lunch at a small tavern, in a small remote village a little further up the mountain pass. Lukas knew the owners, so were treated like VIP’s, which the children thought wonderful. Having a wonderful Greek lunch that the local owners had insisted they choose. It had been superb as they all enjoyed the food, particularly Jake who loved the seafood dishes that came in abundance.
From there, they visited one or two other mountain villages, before heading for a small fishing village on a beautifully enclosed bay. It was so picturesque that Jace insisted that they stop to take photos, which she had at almost every venue they arrived at.
“Jace you don’t need the photo’s we can come back anytime.” Catherine had laughingly pointed out to her.
Jace had turned affronted eyes to her partner, stood straight as a ramrod with hands on hips and glared at her. “Catherine you have no romance in you! Why these are memories darling, the family together. Some situations never happen again, therefore you have to capture them while you can.”
Catherine had stroked her chin then felt the tug on her hand as Lisa looked up at her and winked an eye. “You can always use them as blackmail when me, Jake and Elena are like you.”
Both parents laughed at their eldest child; Catherine swiftly bent down to pick up her daughter and hugged her. “Absolutely right on that one Princess.”
So, they had taken picture after picture but it didn’t matter fortunately Lukas didn’t seem to mind in the slightest, he looked indulgently on at the family he was escorting.
A particular place interested Jace quite close to home. They decided to explore it the following day, as it was getting dark.
Now back at the villa, Constantia had been pleased to see them, she had arranged an informal meal, which would be taken in the family salon, a room that she had never used herself for obvious reasons.
Sarah had been allowed to have a couple of hours with them in the salon until she felt that she was tired. It was clear, two hours later the woman was in her element with her stories about Constantia, who had to look away in embarrassment as her earlier life was revealed to all.
Catherine watched the scene with amusement; thank god someone else was having the show and tell experience, although she had to admit that her Aunt did react very much as she herself did. Walking over to her Aunt she placed a gentle hand on the frail shoulder, a memory struck her of a vital woman she recalled this woman being when she was a child.
Constantia looked up into ice blue eyes that mirrored her own exactly. “It’s okay Aunt, think yourself lucky it’s only people who love you that are giving your secrets away.”
She considered the remark, then smiled up into eyes that travelled over everyone in the room with such warmth. This was the child who had held so much promise, Elena her sister had been so sure that tragedy would be the making of her. Wasn’t that exactly so! Here a family who loved her surrounded her; she had found a partner in this life who matched her soul. Now she was filtering that love she received back to others, for the proof was the scene they witnessed together now. ‘Oh Elena you were right, how I wish Catherine hadn’t needed to have suffered so, but the fates allowed so little deviation from the path you described.’
“Yes, love is a very wonderful and in this case embarrassing feeling.”
Catherine smiled at that as her eyes travelled over the face of Grace who was sitting with Jake playing some kind of computer game on his hand held console. Her friend was going home in the morning and although they hadn't had much time together to talk, they would before the return journey. Grace was an integral part of her life; she would always be so, a best friend that would listen to her and hear the sob stories or the laughter, and be there through the heartache. As she herself would for Grace, in many respects it was their destinies to be linking as such, she was grateful for the woman’s presence in her life.
Faith held Elena, who was trying to keep awake by making a nuisance of herself, it appeared her grandmother didn’t seem to mind. No, Faith had been a wonderful addition to the family unit, although she knew deep down that the older woman didn’t really understand her and Jace’s relationship. She had adapted, coming around to the different lifestyle approach and choices that people made without rancour.
Sarah looked in her element trading stories with Jace and Lisa. The child was sitting between the two adults they were all smiles, Lisa giggled from time to time, which brought even broader grins on the faces of the two adults.
Lukas had invited Althea to go to dinner with him so they were missing, the man had the look of someone suffering from unrequited love. As to the object of that love it was hard to say, they hadn’t seen much of Althea Spiros.
“Yes, without a doubt love is wonderful.”
Both Xianthos women looked around the room with a sense of rightness; home was most definitely where the heart was.
* * * * * * * * * *
“She’s no longer on the island. We have combed every inch of it now, there is no sign.” Captain Artillius said confidently to the detective from the mainland.
“Then do so again you could have made a mistake!” Detective Secaris said arrogantly.
Artillius had taken quite as much as he was going to from this arrogant bitch; it was time he asserted himself.
“That’s enough detective! My men have been out checking everywhere possible. The foreigner is no longer on the Island. Take that from someone who knows.” He stated harshly.
Secaris looked at him sharply. “Are you disobeying me?”
The man turned to his desk, regarding the mountain of papers that he was now required to fill in because of the additional problems. “Put it that way, Yes!”
Secaris glared at him, these inept police on the islands had no idea what real crime was!
“I disagree, and will advise the mainland accordingly that you Captain have been uncooperative.”
“Do that then, in fact tell me your commanding officer and I’ll do it for you!” Artillius stated politely.
Arianna Secaris looked at him in surprise. “My superior is called Inspector Dementari, he will be interested in your report I’m sure.”
Artillius smiled inwardly, Jorge Dementari was a friend from the old days, and they had even studied together. A good officer too, he had always gone towards the investigation side rather than the day-to-day routine.
“Secaris go ahead and call him, in fact do it now!”
Secaris was annoyed at his attitude quickly retrieving the phone to make the call to superior in Piraeus. No hick island officer was going to undermine her.
Several minutes later she handed the phone to Artillius.
“He wants to speak to you.” She said sullenly.
Artillius smiled at the woman as he retrieved the instrument from her. Several minutes later he passed it back to Secaris.
When Secaris replaced the receiver in the cradle she looked up with a disgusted expression. “He’s taken your advice.” staccato words as she picked up her briefcase and left the room her posture angry.
“Thought he might.” He then went over to attempt the mountain of paper work. Maybe a holiday to LA wasn’t so far away, that thought alone made the task in front of him that much easier.
* * * * * * * * * *
Constantia had persuaded Sarah after an initial hard time to go back to bed, and they would share their evening beverage together. Sarah had acquiescented easily as the two older women left the family alone saying their goodnights as they did so.
Jake had asked to chat with Ian his friend; Catherine had moved the computer to his room so that he could do that. Faith had taken Elena to bed half an hour earlier; she had said she wanted to get a decent night’s sleep as they were travelling tomorrow at lunchtime.
That left just the four of them in the room. All of them were tired; Jace said that Lisa could spend the night with them as they left for bed shortly after Constantia and Sarah.
Catherine looked at Grace and smiled, sitting opposite her friend.
“You up to the journey?” Catherine asked with concern.
Grace chuckled as she saw the concern mirrored in the ice blue eyes. “Yes. I’m fine the baby is fine. Hell Catherine my mother is coming along to make sure we get back home in one piece.”
“Yeah, you and Faith together all those hours now that will be a first!” Catherine laughed softly as she saw the chagrined expression on her friend’s face.
“Don’t be so facetious Catherine it might bite you back.” Grace replied as she sank back into the cotton-backed sofa.
“Oh, okay I won’t. Colin will be ecstatic to see you, you might want to run to your Mother then.” Catherine replied jokingly.
“Yes well, Colin can be as ecstatic as he wants. Trust me Catherine that man is never ever going to be without me again, I’m going to stick like glue.” Grace said quietly.
“Missed him that much, huh?”
“I miss him with every fibre of my being Catherine. I just never knew how much until it was nearly too late. I want to see our children grow up, as I want to grow old with him at my side; he means everything to me. I guess sometimes you need certain events in your life to make you realise how important people are. Especially when I thought I might never see him again. Do you know something Catherine?”
“What?” Catherine asked gently.
“Sometimes you don’t understand what people offer you in this world, you think everyone has an ulterior motive. But there are those that don’t! They just want to make others happy regardless of the cost to themselves. Colin is one of those people, he let me go my own way but will still be there for me, no matter how much it hurt him to see me leave.” Grace said seriously, her eyes clouded for the moment.
“I know exactly what you mean.” Catherine answered equally seriously.
“I guess you do, Jace?”
“Yes, Jace. She has stood by me through the good and bad times; unfortunately there have been more bad than good so far. Yet, Grace she’s still there and intends to be forever! I believe her too! I never thought I would, although I love her. She is the only one who can replace the dark with light; the only one I want to see every minute of the day. The only one who can make me smile when I cry, conversely the only one who can make me cry when I smile. Love is a very powerful thing my friend.” Catherine spoke quietly but with warmth and conviction.
“How is Lisa?” Grace asked solemnly.
“I don’t know for sure. I thought she was looking good. She appeared to be, even on the flight here. Last night she was frightened and came to us terrified of monsters. That’s my fault I think.”
“What do you mean your fault, no way does Lisa view you as a monster Catherine.” Grace was shocked at the words.
“No! Not me as a monster! I told her a story about a monster, I should have chosen a better subject I think.” Catherine said quietly.
“She loves you Catherine, there are going to be good and bad days for sometime to come. When you go home how about you have a child councillor over to help?” Grace answered gently, knowing Catherine’s aversion to outside help.
Catherine contemplated the proposal smiling wryly as she nodded her head. “I will miss you my friend.”
Grace smiled directly back at her. “Yeah, well I will miss you to. Please, just once keep out of trouble.”
“Got that Grace, I will even promise
you.” Catherine grinned as they talked about something less emotive.
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter Forty-one
“Okay doctor what’s the verdict?” The man asked in his native Slavic tongue.
The doctor looked from his enforced patient to the man who would kill him without hesitation should he feel the need.
“She is ill, very ill! I’m surprised she’s lasted this long. Her injuries are severe. It will be many months perhaps even a year before she will be partially fit again.” the doctor stated clinically.
“What do you mean partially fit?” The man asked brusquely.
“There can be no doubt that she will not have children, other complications may set in also that we are not aware of as yet! I cannot say at this time.”
“So, she will live.” The man said glancing at the unconscious figure in the bed.
“It looks that way at the moment but she is still in danger.”
“Well, tell us what to do to keep her alive and we will.” The dour man stated with finality.
“So be it, you will need these things to keep her alive over the next critical period….” The Doctor began his listing of the black-market drugs and items they would need.
* * * * * * * * * *
Catherine walked quietly into the room she shared with Jace and now Lisa. A tender smile crossed her face as she saw the red hair of the child resting on Jace’s shoulders contentedly. Her partner was telling her a fairy story; she didn’t immediately recognise or was it Lisa telling the story?
“Hey, how are we doing?” Catherine asked softly as she walked over to the bed.
Lisa looked up at her with eyes that sparkled with warmth. “I’m good Catherine.”
Jace smiled up at Catherine with a twinkle in her eyes. “Wonderful darling and you?” She knew that Catherine had wanted to talk to Grace, and the opportunity had presented itself this evening.
“Wonderful too.” Catherine’s eyes crinkled up at the corners in amusement.
“We were finishing off a story, want to join us?” Jace coaxed her partner to become involved.
“Sure, which story?” Catherine asked as she sank down on the bed pulling Jace towards her with Lisa in her arms.
“Lisa’s story.” Jace said simply knowing that would throw her partner.
Catherine swallowed hard as she heard the words. “Lisa’s story?”
Lisa answered the tentative question. “Yes, the one you told me on the plane coming here Catherine. I thought Mom would like it.”
Catherine barely croaked out. “Did Mom like it?”
Jace heard the struggle within Catherine, after all, the story itself wasn’t the type you would tell a child after a kidnapping or it would seem anyway. But in essence, it was a reminder that not all things bad end in disaster, that you had to believe in the greater good, yeah that was it the greater good.
“Mom liked it.” Jace answered as she snuggled down into the broad shoulder of her partner.
“I liked it too Catherine.” Lisa piped up.
“Well, I guess we can continue then. Where did we get up to?” Catherine smiled her heart lifting from the gloom that descended at the mention of the story.
* * * * * * * * * *
“You have a marvellous family Consty.” Sarah said as she leaned back on the fluffed up pillows.
Constantia smiled at her friend as she poured their late night beverages. “It is good to see family finally home here in the villa.”
Sarah smiled as her friend passed over the cup of steaming liquid. Reaching for it she closed over the frail fingers and they both looked at each other at the contact. “Yes, your family Consty.”
Constantia shoot her a surprised look smiling wryly. “Oh Sarah it isn’t just my family it is yours too! Don’t you know that?”
Sarah looked down at her fingers mangling the edge of the bedclothes as she heard the emotion in her friend’s tone. Glancing up shyly she smiled at her friend. “I’d like to think so.”
“It’s a fact Sarah, I think of you as my family and have for a very long time my friend. I guess I never actually told you how much I care about you have I?” Constantia gave her friend a keen glance out of her ice blue eyes, not cold as iced, as a warm blue stream.
Sarah this time was embarrassed at the remark as a faint red line covered each of her cheeks. “Well, I’m your housekeeper first and foremost Consty, but I understand that you care about me.”
Constantia gave her an exasperated look as she drew in a sharp breath. “No Sarah, I don’t just care about you I care for you! For a long time I refused to accept love in any form, not even when I was in love with a very wonderful young man. When the opportunity passed me by or I let it, if I’m brutally honest! I was happy to consider only myself, not what others wanted or needed from me. I think that was the mistake I made with Elena’s children, I didn’t understand that I needed to give them more than a home and education. I needed to show them love, the love I felt long ago for my sister and others.”
Sarah gave her friend a pointed glance, it was most unusual for Consty to become this emotional and talk about her love of her family, also that she had been in love once a long time ago. “Consty you don’t have to tell me anything I understand.”
“I know you do Sarah that’s just the point, you have always understood, behind the scenes you have shown me love and companionship. I also think that it was you that Lucas went to when he wanted a shoulder to cry on, for the boy never came home to me.” Constantia shrugged her shoulders, she had been thinking seriously since Catherine’s last visit about her life with the children, however short that had been.
“But Consty you were there for them, Lucas loved you. He was very proud of you and wanted you to be proud of him too! He knew that you loved him Consty, he knew it.” Sarah pleaded for her friend to understand.
“What of Catherine Sarah, did she ever come to you for comfort all those years ago?” Constantia eyed her friend, willing her not to lie to save her feelings.
Sarah turned to her friend giving her a smile wryly. “No, no she didn’t Consty that child was way too highly strung to let just anyone near her. I suspect until Jace came into her life she wasn't a very happy or fulfilled woman.”
“Thank you for being honest Sarah, I always hoped that she loved Adam even if only a little he deserved no less.” She said her voice held a wistful note, that wasn’t lost on Sarah as she placed her hand over the frail one of her friend’s.
“He probably deserved your love, didn’t he Consty?” Sarah gently asked laughing softly as she saw the surprise mirror in her friend’s expression.
Constantia looked directly into her friend’s face as she replied. “How did you know?”
“When people are in love Consty they can’t help but show it in someway or another. Every time he visited you in London, you developed a glow that was difficult not to miss.” Sarah told her honestly, grinning as she saw the nod of her friend’s head acknowledging the fact.
“You don’t miss anything do you Sarah?” Constantia chuckled as she saw the pink appear on the other woman’s cheeks.
“Well, of course not Consty I was the housekeeper, that’s what good housekeepers do! Didn’t you know that?” Sarah laughed along with her friend.
“Thank you for being more than my housekeeper Sarah. I know my life would be very barren had you not entered it and given me a reason to want to get up every morning.” Constantia told her emotionally as she threaded her fingers in the stronger ones of her best friend.
Now acutely embarrassed Sarah shook her head. “Ah, it is really only my tea that you get up for in a morning or you would lounge all day in bed.”
Both women laughed at the attempt to ease the tension.
“Sarah what about you? Have you ever been in love?” Constantia poured them another cup of still hot chocolate as the woman in the bed sighed and contemplated the question seriously.
* * * * * * * * * *
Catherine stroked the blonde head that was lying on her shoulder; both Jace and Lisa were fast asleep. She was damn tired herself but in a relaxed way that was how she hoped to stay in the future.
No more of this need of adventure that seemed to course through her veins! Must be the genes she suspected, wondering about her ancestors who had lived for centuries on the island. She would ask her Aunt when the time was appropriate find out about her roots, it might prove to be a passive adventure for her, if they turned out to be colourful characters. Jace and the children would welcome that pastime rather than seeking the physical danger she so often brought on their heads.
Her thoughts once more drifted to Hudson, that woman had been a problem for so long now, it was clear that she would take every opportunity to attack the family in some way. The woman was a maniac that was the bottom line. How do you deal with a mentally unstable entity and one as cunning as Hudson appeared to be? A question she had posed on more than one occasion but still hadn’t found the answer.
‘What on earth had her father seen in the woman in the first place to bring her into their lives? Oh father, what a fool you were.’ Her thoughts although accusing, they were not as harsh as she usually felt with thoughts of him. Being a parent wasn’t that easy, she now knew that!
Her glance went tenderly to the small child nestled into Jace, a peaceful expression on the small angelic looking features, her red hair quite at odds with the facial details. Catherine knew that Grace was right they would need expert help to enable Lisa to get over the nightmare, she had been subjected too. Then it would be just a matter of time and love to help with the healing process. The family had that in abundance, their little Princess was going to be happy again without any darkness to follow her through the years, or she wasn’t Catherine Xianthos-Devonshire-Warriorson!
Kissing the blonde head of her partner as she tenderly placed an arm around Jace and then Lisa. Hugging them a little closer, smiling as they both seemed to purr like kittens at the contact.
“Yes, no darkness for any of you, that’s a promise I’ll keep forever.” Closing her eyes she drifted off and wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, as she thought she heard a whispered reply as sleep finally claimed her.
“As we will keep the darkness from you, that’s also a promise we’ll keep forever.”
Continued in Part 21
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