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Authors: Ana Corman

A Celtic Knot (13 page)

BOOK: A Celtic Knot
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Echo headed for the door. “I’ll go get it.”

Catherine looked at everyone standing by the Jacuzzi tub. “That way we can hopefully grab them as they run out and put them in a safe place.”

Echo returned with the pet carrier, closing the door firmly behind her. “Got it.”

“Good. Place it over by the tub, Echo. Brady and Austin, is there something we can put under the vanity to block that opening so they can’t get back under?”

Austin found a long piece of wood by the shower stall. “This is the trim they plan on installing tomorrow. Brady and I’ll wedge it in front once those two find their way to freedom.”

“Sounds like a plan. Okay, if everyone’s ready this might be a good time for a quick prayer.”

Olivia scratched her head. “Wait, this plan makes me nervous. What if something happens to any of the animals?”

Echo leaned back against the vanity. “Do you have a better idea?”

Olivia frowned. “No.”

“Have faith,” Catherine said.

Olivia sighed. “If this plan works, I swear I’ll donate enough money to St. Joseph’s Church for Father O’Brien to buy a hundred candles.”

Everyone looked at Olivia in bewilderment as Catherine laughed. “You’re on, Dr. Carrington.”

“Okay, Echo. Lights, action, camera.”

Echo shone the light beneath the cabinet. Catherine lowered Maya down beside her. The well-orchestrated plan then took on a life of its own. The screech that came from Abbott and Costello was enough to wake the dead. Maya flattened her body as much as she could and tried valiantly to wedge herself under the cabinet. Catherine grabbed her, pulled her back, and barely managed to place the writhing cat in the empty frame for the sink. Maya took off through the opening and into one of the cabinets, scratching like a creature hellbent on digging to China to get to those ferrets through the thin paneling of wood.

Echo was once again flashing the light when both Abbott and Costello tore out from under the vanity and ran right across her head. Echo screamed as the slinky moving fur balls headed for the exit. They couldn’t stop fast enough and slid head first into the closed door, then rolled across the bathroom floor like a pair of furry barrels before scrambling onto their feet. Echo screamed, “Grab them!”

Maya poked her head out through the opening and dove off the vanity in hot pursuit. Catherine tried to grab her and just missed.

Abbott dove behind the toilet bowl. Olivia dropped to her knees, reached around, and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. She tried pulling him out and banged her head against the toilet bowl just as Maya lurched off the toilet seat, bounced off Olivia’s back, and darted for Abbott. Olivia fell backward, hit her head against the wall, and tucked Abbott under her arm to protect him from Maya. Catherine grabbed Maya, hauled her away from Abbott, and shoved her into her pet carrier.

Squeals and laughter erupted from the other side of the room. Catherine spun to see Costello slinking at warp speed around the edge of the Jacuzzi. Echo jumped in after him, sliding around as she tried to corner the elusive ferret. She lunged for him. He leapfrogged off the tub, dove onto the vanity, and attempted to escape back into the opening just as Brady nabbed him by the scruff of his neck. Brady carried him to the ferret’s pet carrier and shoved him inside.

Austin grabbed Abbott from Olivia and tossed him in with his accomplice. They secured the door. Applause and laughter vibrated off the ceramic tile walls.

Olivia was holding her head in her hands. Catherine knelt before her. “Are you okay, Olivia?”

“Just ducky, thank you for asking. Welcome to my life and my family.”

Catherine laughed and helped Olivia to her feet, realizing that she did feel welcome to this family.

Olivia brushed off her pants. “I swear to God, if anyone tells Ruth what happened in here tonight, I’ll kill you.”

Echo picked up the ferrets’ pet carrier. “There wouldn’t be anything left of us if we did tell Ruth. Come on, everyone, let’s get out of this construction zone.”

She and Zoë and the dads filed out the door. Olivia brushed a smudge of dirt from Catherine’s cheek. “Let’s go into my bathroom and clean up. We’re both covered in plaster dust.”

Catherine swallowed and nodded.

Nineteen

C
ATHERINE AND OLIVIA PAUSED
at the top of the spiral staircase. Catherine rested her forearms on the glossy banister, looking down into the huge family room.

Olivia set down Maya’s pet carrier and stepped next to Catherine, resisting the urge to touch her. “I sense this may be one of those things that makes you uncomfortable, Catherine. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine living in a place this huge. But when I come home to this house, to Echo and Zoë, to the reflection of the love of my dads, all the stress of my day goes away. Can you understand that?”

Catherine nodded. “I think I’m beginning to.”

Olivia took Catherine’s hand. “Come on. I’ll show you my place. But please remember I didn’t expect to have a visitor.”

They toured the three spare bedrooms, kitchen, and sitting room before stepping into the master bedroom at the end of the hall.

Catherine felt both cautious and excited as she entered Olivia’s private world. Framed pictures decorated one wall—Olivia’s dads in tuxedos gazing at each other as if sharing a private moment; Zoë, Echo, and Olivia with arms entwined on a tropical beach; and a younger Olivia with possibly her grandmother sitting close together on an old porch swing.

Catherine ran her fingers along the footboard of Olivia’s king-size four-poster mahogany bed. On one half of the bed, the floral print duvet and sheets were in total disarray. A pink tank top and pink-and-white-striped boxers sat heaped near the pillow. A half-empty bottle of water sat on the bedside table and a pair of sheepskin slippers were piled on the floor. A huge print of a pathway weaving through a forest adorned the wall at the head of the bed.

She felt the nervous tension envelop her as she walked to the fireplace framed in white-and-black swirled marble. On either side of the fireplace, thin panes of glass showcased the lush back yard. She envisioned Olivia’s nights in this magnificent room and felt a heated excitement tingle her skin.

“Sorry about the mess,” Olivia said.

“Don’t apologize. Your room says so much about you.”

“What—that my life is in chaos?”

Catherine laughed. “No. That you lead a busy life.”

“You’re being kind.” Olivia gestured behind them. “The bathroom’s this way.”

Catherine followed Olivia into a spacious bathroom that mirrored the design of Zoe and Echo’s. She joined her at the double sinks at the long vanity of swirled cream marble. They washed their hands at the same time. Olivia grabbed two plush forest green hand towels and handed one to Catherine. “I’m going to slip out of this suit into something more comfortable. Sorry about the plaster dust on your beautiful dress.”

Catherine looked down. “Don’t worry, it’s washable.”

“I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home.”

Catherine placed her towel back on the rack beside Olivia’s. She touched the edge of a Post-it note stuck to the mirror and read.
“As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person.”
Paul Shane Spear. How fitting, she thought.

She walked to the edge of the huge Jacuzzi. A bottle of bubble bath and shower gel were on the rim of the tub bedside a bar of Dove soap. In a far corner sat several candles and an iPod perched in a speaker. She envisioned Olivia immersed in bubbles the day she’d called. She unscrewed the bottle of pearberry shower gel and inhaled. This was the pleasant scent she had smelled on Olivia before.

Adjacent to the Jacuzzi was an expansive glassed-in shower. On a shelf inside were bottles of shampoo, conditioner, face scrub, a razor, and a back brush.

Catherine ran her fingers along a white terrycloth robe hanging outside the shower. She turned and saw Olivia standing in the doorway, dressed in a pair of form-fitting Levi’s and black short-sleeved blouse.

Olivia smiled. “So now you’ve seen where I live. Except that I still have to show you around downstairs. You aren’t too overwhelmed, are you?”

Catherine wasn’t overwhelmed at all. She loved how full this house was of warmth and life. A true, loving family lived within its walls. “I expected to be, but I’m not. It’s a beautiful home.”

“I’m glad. I hadn’t planned to show you this house so soon, Catherine. And I never in a million years thought the first time you met my dads we’d all be sprawled on a bathroom floor chasing two damn ferrets. Not to mention bouncing my head off the toilet bowl and the wall.”

Catherine tentatively touched Olivia’s temple. “Is your head okay?”

“It’s fine. But I felt like a pinball for a while there.”

Catherine couldn’t help but laugh. “We should have filmed that whole fiasco. We’ll be laughing about this for years.”

Olivia looked seriously into Catherine’s eyes. “I hope so.”

Catherine looked away, her heart beating hard.

“How would you like a cup of coffee or tea?” Olivia said lightly. “We both could probably use one after that fiasco.”

“I’d love a cup of tea.”

They descended the spiral staircase to the foyer, where Austin and Brady were getting ready to leave.

“We’ve had way too much fun tonight, girls,” Brady said. “We’re heading home.”

He took Catherine into his arms and hugged her close. “Good night, Catherine. It was such a pleasure meeting you. I’m thrilled your plan worked.”

“I am, too.” She turned to Austin. “Good night, Austin. I hope to see you both again soon. In fact, we’re having a big celebration on St. Patrick’s Day in the bookstore. It’s our tenth anniversary and I’d love for you both to share in the festivities with us.”

“Invitation accepted with pleasure,” Austin said.

They both waved as they headed out the door.

Echo poked her head around the corner. “Ladies, tea’s being served in the living room.”

The four of them settled into the semicircular camel couches, Catherine and Olivia across from Echo and Zoë.

Zoë poured them each a cup of tea, then raised her glass of milk. “To our successful rescue mission and to new friends.” They clinked cups and sipped to their success.

Catherine set her cup of tea down on the coffee table. “Have you ladies decided on a name for your daughter yet?”

Zoë beamed at Echo. “Yes, we have. We’re going to name her Chloe.”

“That’s such a beautiful name.”

Echo gathered Zoë in close. “We think so, too.”

“Please tell me if this question is too personal, but I’ve always dreamed of having my own children and I’m fascinated to know how lesbians decide where they’ll get the sperm.”

Echo leaned her head against Zoe’s. “It was a pretty simple decision for us. My chief of staff has always been my greatest mentor and someone Zoe and I consider a dear friend. He’s sixty and has been married to his high-school sweetheart for forty years. They have six children who are all grown and have their own families. When I first told him that Zoe and I were thinking about having children and were going to research sperm banks, he just thought that was absurd. He offered us his sperm and said he would be happy to sign over his parental rights to us. His wife totally supported that plan. So when Zoe and I were ready almost seven months ago, I handed him a pink baby shower gift bag with a specimen cup and the current issue of Playboy. I told him when he was up to it we would be forever grateful to him and his wife for the gift he was about to give us.”

Catherine laughed. “That’s an amazing story.”

Zoë sipped on her milk. “He’s an amazing man. He’s extremely intelligent and in excellent health so we knew he would be a great donor. His sperm are obviously just as spry, because I got pregnant the first try.”

Echo gave her a shocked look. “I believe I deserve some credit for the success of that union.”

Zoë leaned her head against Echo’s face. “You were amazingly skillful with that turkey baster.”

Echo beamed with pride. “Thank you very much.”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “That definitely falls into the too-much-information category”

Catherine turned to Olivia. “What about you, Olivia? Have you ever thought about having children?”

Olivia hesitated for a moment. “I haven’t. For whatever reason, it’s not something I’ve dreamed about. I love children, but I know myself, I know the challenges on my time. I think my role in life is to be an aunt.”

Catherine nodded, not sure what to say, not sure how she felt.

Zoë tried to cover her yawn. “Is it bedtime yet, baby?”

Echo kissed her forehead. “It sure is, sweetheart.” She rose to her feet and extended her hand to Zoë. “We’re going to say good night, ladies. It’s been a pleasure, but we’re beat.”

“We hope to see you soon, Catherine,” Zoë said.

“I’d like that very much.”

Zoë slipped her hand into Echo’s as they headed up the spiral staircase.

Twenty

“Y
OU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE FAMILY,
” Catherine said. “I happen to think so as well.”

BOOK: A Celtic Knot
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