Life was good. That was the conclusion Vincent came to as he
stretched out on his bed. Catherine was safely at work Above, their children were down for their naps and his afternoon reading
class was over. He had some time to kill before beginning the escalation of some newly discovered chambers. He closed his eyes
to savor this precious calm.
Within moments, images began to play across his mind and he
allowed himself to view them with satisfaction. Even though
the memories of his surgery and later injury were painful, Catherine's patience and understanding had been his source of
solace. That was three months ago. A smile teased the corners
of his mouth as one particular image began to replay itself.
He and Catherine had managed to get away for a whole day. It
was his first excursion since his injury and he desperately needed to get away from all those concerned eyes. His recovery had been long and difficult enough, but with everyone looking at him, in that way, it had turned into the most embarrassing episode of his life. Those awful hours of lying in bed packed in ice with only a sheet covering him, the horrible swelling and bruising and the look of guilt on Jacob's round face would never be forgotten.
He had looked forward to that afternoon with Catherine with
both joy and trepidation. As the healing process neared completion, his long restrained desires fast became an almost uncontrollable force. Catherine need only to walk into the room and his senses were overwhelmed by her scent, by the sight of her very feminine body or by a sigh or look. The mere touch of her hand set his skin afire. To sleep near her was impossible. At times he wanted to damn it all and seek the release only she could give him. But the fear of that initial excruciating pain would fill him and he'd retreat into himself to battle the longing.
This particular Saturday would be the test. Father had
pronounced him healed but no matter how hard Catherine tried
to seduce him, he backed away in fear. Finally, Father suggested
that his fear of pain and the feeling everyone was watching were causing this temporary bout of impotence. Catherine suggested the trip to allow them privacy and offer him some relief from the pressure.
All during their day together, she never pressured him in the
least. They laughed, relaxed, and simply enjoyed each other. It wasn't until later in the day as he lay on his stomach listening to the cascading falls that her most unusual seduction began.
Gently, her hands began rubbing his shoulders. Slowly, but
firmly, they moved lower to soothe his tense lower back. As that familiar throbbing started, so did the terror. "Catherine."
"It's all right, Vincent. It's just a massage. Relax and enjoy it. I won't do anything you don't want me to."
He thought about it for a few seconds then tried to accept her
assurances by letting his mind drift. Somewhere, at the edge of
reality and dreams, he became unaware of her hands. It wasn't until she began kneading his buttocks and thighs did his thoughts make an abrupt U-turn. Quickly, he rolled over and away from her touch.
"Vincent, did I hurt you?"
Her concerned green eyes were intently fixed upon him. After
managing to regain some control, he answered. "No. It's just that...you surprised me."
She looked at him as if considering her next move. "You know,
Vincent, if you'd just let me touch you, I think you'd realize how unfounded your fears are."
"Catherine, please."
"That's what I want to do if you'll let me."
He curled up into a ball and lowered his head. "I want to, but I'm afraid."
She moved over and began to stroke his hair. "I know and I want to help you through it. Trust me We can stop any time you
feel any discomfort. Hey, I have an idea."
He looked up and saw the bright light of hope shining in her
eyes. "What?"
"I think the thought of intercourse is what's really scaring
you, that fear of completely losing yourself and not being able
to stop. It doesn't have to be that way."
"I'm sorry. I don't understand."
"Let me show you. Vincent, just let me touch you. I'll take
it slow and you can stop me whenever you want."
"I don't know..."
"We've got to try. I don't think either of us can stand this
much longer. If your...condition was permanent with no hope of recovery, I could live with that. But your fear is what's crippling you. I won't let us go back to hiding behind it."
"You're right. I'm sorry."
She stroked his head again to comfort him and he accepted her
touch. As soon as his fear subsided, her hand slipped down to caress his knees then inner thighs. He remembered sighing and leaning backward as her hands continued their soothing stroking. As they moved upward, he tensed.
"Ssh, it's all right. Do you want me to continue?"
He concentrated for a few seconds then nodded. Slowly he felt
her hands move up his thigh and rest gently on the bulge in front of his corduroys. His sharp intake of air was involuntary.
"Try to relax, honey. Are you in pain?"
Breathing was difficult. "No," he answered, surprised. "No pain."
"Good." She smiled. "Shall I go on?"
"Slowly, please."
Her answer was a slight pressure where her hands rested.
Patiently she gauged his response then continued by lightly tracing the shape beneath the material.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes," he answered then opened his eyes to see what her hands were doing. To encourage her, he placed his hand over hers and guided her in a more strenuous motion.
Several minutes passed as he tested his tolerance to touch. The memory of those horrible hours of agony seemed to vanish as he became even more. He remembered moving her hand and the look of concern it caused. "I'm all right. I just need more room." Shyly, he leaned back, lowered his zipper, and was rewarded by Catherine's smile. "I think I'm ready for more."
Catherine looked at him with hungry eyes. She helped lower his pants to allow him complete freedom.
"We'll start with something simple. Let me know if you feel
any pain."
He nodded and closed his eyes again as Catherine's hands began
to work their magic. There no sense of urgency, just experimental and soothing flesh on flesh contact. Her fingers lightly touched areas that had been so swollen and bruised.
Where once there would have been pure agony from her touch,
there was now only pleasure.
"Are you all right, Vincent?"
He couldn't answer. He could only nod affirmatively. With great care, she wrapped her hand around his flesh and watched as he became firmly erect. "Vincent?"
His breathing was harsh.
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No, please. I have to know. I have to try."
At his plea, she began stroking him gently in a slow rhythm. She let him set the pace and watched carefully for any sign of pain.
Her hand was so warm, her touch gentle. With no more
thought of pain, his body began to move with her, establishing a
satisfying sensation. 'How could he have ever feared her touch?'
Her hands, eyes and welcoming body were the confirmation of his humanity. She helped him reach that feared peak and held him lovingly until he returned to reality.
"Vincent?"
He couldn't answer. Words just wouldn't come.
"Vincent? How do you feel? Are you alright?"
All right. That was such an inappropriate description. The
thrill of conquering his fear was intoxicating but knowing Catherine had been the cause, filled him with love and gratitude. As always, her love had destroyed his fear. "Catherine, it's all right. I'm all right!"
"You're more than all right! I think you're wonderful!" She
laughed.
They lay side by side, cuddled close for some time before
the fine web of Catherine's desires filtered through their bond. "I've been very selfish lately, haven't I?" he asked.
"You've been in a lot of pain. You're allowed."
He rolled over and let his hands follow the swell of her breast. "I think it's time we satisfied your needs."
"I don't think you're ready for intercourse yet."
"Maybe not, but I can do for you what you did for me." Her expression of surprise and delight would be forever burned into his memory. "I love you, Catherine," he whispered before kissing her deeply.
He wanted her to enjoy this long awaited release so he took
a great deal of time and care in loosening her clothes and caressing her body. Eventually he was rewarded with her shuddering orgasm.
"I think we both needed this," she commented breathlessly as
he held her tenderly in his arms.
Remembering that afternoon, the warmth and love they shared,
brought to life the longing to finally make love to her in the traditional sense. Their intimacies since that time had been brief and did not involve intercourse. It wasn't until recently
he felt confident enough to try. Hopefully, tonight would be the night.
"Hi, Cathy." That masculine voice was familiar.
Catherine nearly jumped out of her chair, looking up into a
face from her past. "Tom? Tom Gunther?"
"Ah, you do remember me," he said in a mocking tone.
"How could I forget you. How have you been?"
A look of sadness momentarily betrayed his feelings. "I've been better. I've heard great things about you though. I understand you have two kids now?"
"Yes!" She smiled broadly, picking up the framed pictures
on her desk and proudly handing them to him.
Tom smiled warmly at the two bright, happy faces smiling back
at him. The little girl, he noticed, looked exactly like her mother. The little boy, while having some of Cathy's facial features, looked very different. He guessed he must resemble his
father, whoever that was. "They're beautiful, Cathy. What are
their names?"
"My son's name is Jacob, Jake to me. My little girl's name is
Mary Catherine. We call her Katie." As Tom handed the pictures back, his look of sadness concerned her.
"What about their father? I never see you with anyone."
"Their father is a very private man and can't get out much."
Tom studied her defensive look. He'd seen it before. "Are you happy, Cathy? Really happy?"
She returned his gaze with her most reassuring smile. "I've
never been happier in my life."
"I believe it. There's a look in your eyes that I never saw
when we were together."
That comment, combined with the pain she saw in his eyes, saddened her. "Tom, I was a different person then. I didn't know what love really meant. I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"No, Cathy, I'm the one who's sorry. About that...and a lot
of things."
"Tom, what is it? What's wrong? Why are you here?"
"Is there somewhere less visible where we can talk?" he asked looking out uncomfortably into the busy office area.
Catherine was confused and a little frightened by his behavior. "We could use one of the interrogation rooms." She moved toward the door. "This way."
After peeking into one of the small rooms, Catherine motioned
for him to follow her in. She walked over to the end of the table and leaned against it.
He closed the door and looked nervously around. "Cathy, this
is probably...hell, it's the HARDEST thing I've ever had to do."
"Tom, whatever it is, just say it."
"It isn't that simple, Cathy. God, I wish it were."
Catherine could feel his anger. "Tom?"
"I hate this! I hate doing this to you!"
"Damn it, Tom, what is it?" Catherine asked fearfully.
He took a deep breath. "Recently, I had some minor surgery.
During the course of the lab work, they found..." he paused. The words were hard to find.
"Found what?" she prompted.
"Cathy, the tests showed I'm HIV positive."
Suddenly the room became incredibly small and confining. Her
mind sought desperately to make some sense of his words. "AIDS?"
"No. Not yet. I have the virus."'
What do you say to someone facing almost certain death?
"Tom...I'm sorry."
"So am I."
"Can I do anything for you?" she asked with concern.
Tom looked at her with determination. "You don't understand,
do you? Cathy, a person can have the virus for years without
knowing it. There's no way to pinpoint just when I got it. It could have been before our involvement. Cathy...I may have exposed you to it!"
Reality hit her like a two by four between the eyes. She
couldn't breathe, her heart refused to beat, and the room began
to spin. Awkwardly, she stumbled backward into a chair and
collapsed. Scattered, disconnected thoughts raced wildly through
her mind.
Below, Vincent suddenly sat upright, his hand clutching his chest. "Catherine?" he murmured then gasped as her fear exploded in her heart.
"Cathy, are you all right?" Tom asked as he knelt close to her.
She couldn't answer. Her lips could not form words. She could not piece together the thoughts and feelings bombarding her mind.
Tom's voice was pleading for her forgiveness. "I'm sorry...so sorry."
Suddenly clarity of thought returned to Catherine. "Vincent!
The children!"
Tom put his hand on her arm to offer comfort. She jerked it
away. "You bastard!" she exclaimed angrily, pushing Tom away.
He braced himself for the attack that always followed these
disclosures. Disbelief, anger, and fear were the pattern. He could see all of those emotions in Catherine's eyes. He could say nothing.
"How dare you? After all I've been though to find happiness,
you walk in here and just blow it all away. Damn you!" she screamed.
Tom gritted his teeth. She was right, it wasn't fair. Not
only was HIS life destroyed, but those he loved would have to pay the price as well. And the innocent! Those two bright smiling faces haunted him.
Catherine started shaking uncontrollably. The fear of this
horrible disease destroying the happiness that she and Vincent
had suffered so to achieve, shattered her heart.
"Cathy, you have to get tested as soon as possible. The virus can remain undetected for years."
She turned to him, anger and hatred burning her eyes. Her
voice was filled with venom. "Get out!"
Tom rocked back on his heels, his heart breaking. "Cathy, I'm
sorry. I thought you should know."
Her cold stare was unwavering.
Slowly, he rose to his feet and walked to the door. Placing
his hand on the doorknob, he turned to her once more. "I pray
you'll be alright and all this will be for nothing. I couldn't
live with..." He leaned his forehead against the door frame. "God...I'm so sorry, Cathy."
Her expression didn't change and the silence was deafening. He opened the door and walked out.
It took Catherine several seconds to refocus. Her breath came in gasps as her heart pounded furiously. Then without thought to
where she was, she lowered her head to the table and began to sob in anguish.
In the quiet of their chamber, Vincent felt her anguish as it
ripped through her heart. He couldn't understand it. She was in no physical danger. There was no physical pain. He wanted to run to her, comfort her, but she was Above in her office and he could not go to her. He could only share her pain.
Regaining some hold on her emotions, Catherine managed a call to Peter. She told him about Tom's visit and he insisted that she come to his office immediately.
As he turned the corner at the main section of pipe, he saw
her at the other end. He stopped in his tracks as he saw the pain in her eyes and her stained face. "Catherine?"
She ran to him, threw herself into his arms, and cried uncontrollably. He held her tightly, stroking her long hair and whispering words of comfort and reassurance.
Vincent held her convulsing body until she could cry no more.
She clutched at him painfully as she sought his comfort. After
several minutes, she pushed back and wiped her eyes on his vest.
"Catherine, what is it? What is hurting you so?"
She looked up into his concerned eyes. "I love you so much.
It's not fair."
"What's not fair?"
She moved away from him and tried to find the words. "Why is
it that just when you finally find your place in life, when you've finally found what your heart has always longed for does fate try to snatch it all away?"
He made no answer. She didn't expect one.
"Do you remember Tom Gunther?"
"Yes, you were...involved with him when we met."
She almost smiled at his careful choice of words. "It was more than just an involvement, we were lovers."
He looked away so she couldn't see the jealousy rise within
him. "I assumed as much," he answered calmly.
"Lovers who never knew what love meant. He was in love with
his image. I was...just doing what I thought was expected of me. Why was I so stupid...so careless?"
"Catherine, what has happened?"
When Tom said telling her was the hardest thing he'd ever done, she felt no sympathy for him. Now, she faced the same situation and realized just how hard it was. "Tom came to see me today. Vincent...Tom just found out he's HIV positive."
Vincent's eyes expressed his shock. "He has AIDS?"
"Not yet. From what I understand, he has the virus but not
full blown AIDS."
"That must be horrible for him."
It was then Catherine felt truly guilty about her earlier
insensitivity to Tom's pain. "Yes," she answered thoughtfully.
"I can understand why you were so upset. He was very important to you once."
"That's part of it," she responded. Carefully she chose her
words. "Tom doesn't know WHEN he was infected. It could have
been before we were..."
The meaning of Catherine's words suddenly clarified in his mind. The agony shown on his face was heart wrenching to see. His long anguished "Nooooo"' sounded like the moan of a wounded animal. "Catherine...no," he pleaded as his eyes fill with tears.
She went to him and enfolded his trembling body in her arms.
"I had Peter take a blood sample this afternoon. He's going
to get it tested." Her own voice quivered.
Vincent pulled back and looked into her red swollen eyes. "How long will it take?"
"Peter said it usually takes about a week. He said he'd rush
it as best he could. With the backlog of tests, he said not to
expect much." She could feel him desperately grasping for a thread of hope to hang onto.
"The test will be fine, Catherine. You'll see. Everything is
going to be all right."
This was tearing her apart. The fear in his eyes destroyed what little strength she had left. Her bottom lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears. "What if I've infected you and the
kids. My God, Vincent, I couldn't bear that!"
He held her tightly. "It will not happen, Catherine. IT CANNOT HAPPEN TO US!"
They held onto each other for quite a while before Vincent guided her to their chamber. Their individual fears forced an
uncomfortable silence between them. He could feel her retreating
into her own misery and the images in his own mind were tying his stomach in knots.
Catherine stretched out on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Vincent walked over and sat beside her. Tentatively, he reached
out to her but she quickly rolled away from him. Painfully, he stared at her back a moment then gently stroked her shoulder
anyway. He could feel her shiver.
"I need to see Father for a little while." She made no answer. Instead, she curled her body into a tight fetal position.
"Catherine, we will endure this together. Whatever happens, good or bad, we will face together. I will not abandon you. I love you." He saw her body shudder at his words. Slowly he stood and walked out of the chamber. Once outside, he collapsed against the wall and slammed his open palm repeatedly into the cold hard rock.
Father had been reviewing Mouse's plans for an elaborate but
totally unworkable heating system when he heard his son enter the chamber. "Hello, Vincent. Aren't you suppose to be working on the new chambers?"
"What?" Vincent asked absentmindedly as he paced back and forth.
Father removed his reading glasses and studied Vincent. He'd
seen that distracted pacing before. It meant trouble. "What's
wrong? Are Catherine and the children all right?"
Vincent found a chair and sat down without answering. He folded his hands in his lap. "Oh yes, the children are with Rebecca and the others."
His son could be so damned frustrating at times. "Vincent..."
"Father," Vincent began, "what do you know about AIDS?"
"Um," Father sat down slowly. His son always had a reason for
his questions but he would only let you know that reason if and when he was ready. "I'm no expert by any means. I've read about it and discussed it with Peter."
"I've read a few things about it also," Vincent commented. "I've read of the fear and prejudice Above."
"Yes, it's all very sad really."
"Tell me about the disease."
Father wondered at the command. "It's real name is Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The virus, in effect, destroys the
body's immune system leaving it vulnerable to disease. Most
patients diagnosed as being HIV positive can go for years before
they develop any symptoms or they may never develop AIDS at all.
Death is usually caused by complications due to the AIDS virus.
Diseases such as a parasitic infection of the lungs and Kaposi's
sarcoma, a type of skin cancer, are the main ones..."
Vincent considered his words. "Who can get it and how?"
"It seems everyone is at risk now. Men, women, children can all be affected. Homosexual activity, intravenous drug use, tainted blood transfusions, and heterosexual sex with someone who's tested HIV positive is how."
"How can children get it?"
"It's believed they can develop it while either still in the
womb or while breast feeding from an infected mother. A lot of
hemophiliac children have been infected through tainted clotting
products. Vincent, why all the questions?"
There was a long moment of silence before he finally spoke. "Do remember that when I met Catherine, she was involved with a man named Tom Gunther?"
"I remember something, vaguely."
"Catherine has discovered that this man has recently tested HIV positive."
Fear crept into Father's heart. "Vincent, was Catherine EXPOSED to the virus?"
Vincent's eyes could not meet Father's but the anger and jealousy were apparent in his voice. "Yes, Father. They were lovers."
Father's heart was quickly gripped in fear. He found it hard
to breathe. "Vincent, she must be tested immediately." His hands started shaking.
Vincent stood up and began pacing again. "She had the test this afternoon but the results won't be known for several days."
"Vincent, if that test is positive, you and the children might
be infected as well."
"I realize that. I fear for Catherine and the children, not for myself. If I were to lose my family to this horror, my life would end as well."
"Vincent..."
"Father, if the worst happens, I will care for my family for as long as I am allowed then I will join them. I could not bear
to live without them. It would only be a living death."
Although Father knew the truth of his son's words, he still could not accept it. "Vincent, please..."
Vincent's head turned suddenly as if listening to something.
"I must got to Catherine. She needs me."
"How IS she handling this?"
"She is afraid, Father. As am I."
"As we ALL are," Father added.
What Father and Vincent were not aware of was a figure in the
shadows in the upper level of the chamber, listening intently. When the conversation ended with Vincent's departure, the figure discreetly and quickly disappeared as well.
On his way back to their chamber, Vincent felt drawn to find the children. Upon entering Rebecca's chamber, he found her frantically trying to calm a crying Katie. Young Jacob was no where to be found. "What's wrong? Where's Jacob?"
"He insisted his mother needed him then left for your chamber.
Katie's been crying for almost an hour. I don't know what's wrong with her."
"Let me take her," Vincent said as he reached out for his
daughter. She reached out anxiously to him. "I think I know what's troubling them."
"I'm sorry about Jake. I couldn't stop him."
"He is very strong-willed when it comes to his mother," Vincent commented as he remembered his son's insistence on being there at Katie's birth. "He knows his way there. He'll be fine. I sense no danger. Thank you, Rebecca."
Having grown up with Vincent, she knew something was wrong. "Is something wrong with Catherine?"
Vincent lowered his eyes to look into Katie's red puffy ones.
"She'll be fine. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Moving slowly through the entrance of their chamber, Vincent
saw Catherine still stretched out on the bed. She wasn't alone,
however. Young Jacob was curled up beside her with his head on
her breast and his arms protectively around her. As Vincent
suspected, he'd sensed his mother's distress and came to offer
his support.
He stood there for a moment, deeply moved by the display of love between mother and son. Then Katie began to squirm in his arms and call for her mother. Catherine looked up and extended her arms out for her baby. Vincent walked over and lowered the child into her arms. He then sat down on the bed and the family grouped together to draw strength from their common bond.
Catherine said very little that night as she went about the
bedtime routine with the children. They sensed something was wrong and were very subdued and loving toward her. After they
were asleep, their parents lie quietly not knowing what to say to offer comfort to each other.
"Catherine..." Vincent whispered as he reached over to her.
She pulled away. "No, Vincent. We can't."
"Catherine, please don't shut me out. I love you. I want to
hold you."
She was quiet for a moment, he could see her shoulders
trembling. This time, he pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried.
"How could I have been so careless?" she cried.
"What are you talking about?"
Her voice broke as she explained. "Back then, with Tom. I wasn't really in love with him. Dad approved of him so I just went along, I probably would have married him if I'd never met you."
Vincent just listened. It wasn't something he wanted to hear,
but she needed to talk.
"I was no expert, but I knew enough about sex to know I had to be careful. I took the pill and thought that was enough. I never
thought all those terrible things would happen to me. The men I slept with were intelligent and sophisticated. I never thought for a moment something like this could happen. How could I have been so naive!"
Vincent would have gritted his teeth if he could, "Catherine
you were a different person then!"
"Yes and I'm paying for it now. Just when I've discovered what real love is, my past comes back to destroy it."
"We don't know that yet. If the test does come back positive,
our lives will be changed but our love will not. That can only
happen if we let it. We will not. I will not let you push me away. You made me promise to share whatever happens, whatever
comes with you. Now I ask that of you."
"I cannot ask you to share death with me."
"We are joined in this world and whatever lies beyond. My
soul will forever be bound to yours. Wherever you go, you take me with you."
They shared a brief, mutual, silent moment of agreement
then Catherine expressed her most hideous fear. "The hardest
thing for me is knowing that I may have destroyed the lives of our children before they've really begun. They're the best of us, the only way you and I can truly be together in the world Above."
That thought brought a particularly sharp pain to his heart.
"Catherine, the test on you won't be back for a few more days. To worry yourself like this now is useless. What will be, will be. We cannot change that. The children feel our fear and it is frightening them. We must be strong for them."
She took a deep cleansing breath. "I know. You're right."
He placed a kiss in her hair and began to rub her back slowly
and sensuously. When Catherine felt the passion rising in him, she pulled away. "We can't risk making love, Vincent."
"Why?"
"I don't want to expose you any further."
He was astonished. "Catherine, you're my wife. We have two
children and a very healthy sex life. It's too late for that
concern."
She was adamant. "No! Not without a condom." After an awkward moment, she sighed. "If I'd said that years ago, we wouldn't be in this mess today."
Angrily Vincent tossed aside the covers and got out of bed. "If you'd just said no, we wouldn't even be having this discussion!" He regretted those words immediately. "I'm sorry." Her hurt look told him how deeply he'd wounded her. She turned her back to him and pulled the covers up. He got dressed and took a walk.
The next day, Catherine went Above to her apartment. She had to tell Joe something. She knew going back to the office with this on her mind would be a mistake.
As she rubbed her temples to ease her headache, she remembered Vincent's words. He was right, but how could she have known that a special love awaited her in the future? With Andrew, her first lover who she met in college; Steven, with whom she shared an apartment and plans to marry; and with Tom, she'd been in what she thought was love. How could it have been so wrong? She had not been promiscuous. Andrew, Steven, and Tom had been the only men she'd slept with until Vincent. For him, that choice had been simple. His situation had not allowed him any options. He had come to her a virgin. She painfully wished she could have done the same.
"Stop it!" she admonished herself. "What's done is done." As
much as she wished Vincent had been her first lover, that was not
the case. He may not have been her first, but he would be her last. She picked up the phone and dialed.
When the switchboard operator answered, Catherine asked for
Joe.
"Hello, Joe Maxwell," he answered.
"Hello, Joe, it's Cathy."
"Hey, Radcliffe, where are you?"
"I'm not coming in for a few days, Joe. It's a family emergency."
"Emergency? Is it the kids?" he asked anxiously.
"They're okay," she answered soothingly.
"What about Vincent?
"No, it's not him. It's just that...well, we're waiting for
some test results."
"Cathy, what is it? Are you okay?"' She could hear the anxiety in his voice.
"I don't know yet. Look, Joe, I really don't want to get into
this right now."
After a long pause, Joe finally responded. "Look, kiddo, if
there's anything I can do...anything you need, you call me. Do
you hear me?"
"Yes, sir," she almost laughed. "Time off is all I need right
now."
"Okay then, you got it. Just keep in touch, okay?"
"I will. Thanks, Joe."
She felt really sorry for keeping him in the dark, but she just couldn't explain it to him. There was so much in her life she could never explain to him. "I've got to go. Thanks again."
"Okay, Cath, take care of yourself."
"I will. Good-bye."
"Bye, Cath."
She hung up the phone and cried.
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