A Celtic Knot (14 page)

Catherine swallowed hard. “You must be tired, Olivia. I should probably get going before it gets much later.”

“I’m never tired when I’m with you. Stay with me a little longer.”

They settled back onto the couch. Catherine tucked her legs under her and wrapped her hands around her warm cup of tea.

“I told you about Jessica,” Olivia said. “What about you? When was your last relationship?”

Catherine hesitated a moment, thinking back to that difficult time. “It started eight years ago, and ended two years ago. When my father was in his final stages of cancer, we wanted to get him home to be with us. The nurses arranged for us to meet with a social worker to make those plans.”

Catherine was surprised at how important it felt to share her story with Olivia. She needed her to understand why she was so cautious with relationships. “Her name was Alexis. She was incredible. She helped us get my dad home in a matter of days. Shortly after he died she called to check up on us. We met for dinner. Then we started spending a lot of time together.

“Alexis has a daughter named Kayla. She’ll be ten this year. I adored them both. A year after we met we moved into a rental house together and started our life as a family.

“We’d been together for two years when my mother was diagnosed. In the beginning Alexis was really supportive. Then she started resenting all the time I spent away from her and Kayla. I thought she understood that my mom needed me. Apparently I was wrong.”

Olivia was listening quietly and attentively, which gave Catherine the courage to continue. “Even after Dana finished her treatments and was doing better, Alexis was still distant. My relationship with Kayla grew stronger and Alexis and I grew further apart. I figured it would just take time and we would eventually get back what we lost. I don’t think she understood how scared I still was, how much I needed her support. She never talked to me about any of it. Communication is so important between women, and Alexis and I had a major meltdown in that area.”

Catherine took a breath. Now that she’d started her story, she needed to tell Olivia the whole thing. “One morning Alexis forgot her cell phone at home. I was driving it over to her office for her when it rang. The name on the display was Barbara. I answered the call, which obviously shocked Barbara, who gave me the lame excuse of a wrong number. I scrolled through the call log and it became quite apparent that Barbara had called Alexis many times. The nature of their relationship was clear through the few text messages I read. When I handed Alexis her phone I told her she should probably call Barbara back, that by now she might even be over her shock at me answering. That night, Alexis admitted that she’d been having an affair with Barbara while I’d been busy with my mom.

“I was a wreck. I felt so betrayed. One week later I moved out, and I understand that Barbara moved in.”

Olivia shook her head, her expression both fierce and compassionate. “I can only begin to imagine how difficult that was for you.”

“I thought I was going to lose my mind. But I quickly saw the people in my life who truly cared about me. My mom was my greatest source of strength. Laura and everyone at the store were wonderful. I wouldn’t have made it through without their love and kindness.”

“I hope that Alexis knows what she’s lost.”

Catherine shrugged. “I haven’t talked to her since. But I do miss Kayla. The hardest part of that breakup was saying goodbye to her and not being able to explain why her mother was doing this to us. I fear she feels I abandoned her. That’s the part that tears my heart out.”

“I’m so sorry, Catherine.”

“Me too. The only good thing that came out of that mess was that it motivated me to buy my own house. It was a financial stretch, but I knew I needed to take the plunge. I’d talked to Alexis about us buying a home together and she kept putting me off. Then my mom got diagnosed and everything got put on hold. It’s a modest little house just a few blocks from my mom’s, but it’s home. It was a place of healing for me and now it’s my haven from this crazy world.”

“I look forward to seeing it.”

“I look forward to showing it to you.”

Catherine touched the gold links on Olivia’s watch. “What’s the most important thing you learned from your relationship with Jessica?”

Olivia thought for a moment. “I learned to make sure the next woman I share my life with is a better fit. Which doesn’t mean I think we should have identical passions and lifestyles. Partners need to complement, not always compromise like Jessica and I did. I need peace in my next relationship, not constant conflict. It completely drained me. I want to pour my energy and love into a relationship, not drain it with resentment and regrets.”

“We both learned some valuable lessons,” Catherine said.

The large oak ornate mantel clock chimed softly twelve times. “I should probably get going home. We both have to work in the morning.”

“What if I asked you to stay?”

Catherine felt a rush of desire for Olivia, but shook her head. “I’m not ready for that, Olivia. My heart isn’t ready. I don’t know that I’m ready to trust and commit again. I really care about you. Since we first met, I’ve wanted to run from you yet you kept drawing me in. Your warmth and kindness embrace me. Your personality and sense of humor charm me. But what I need now from you more than anything is your friendship. I want to spend time strengthening that with you.”

“And if I told you my heart is ready for more?”

“I’d feel overwhelmed. Please be patient and accept that I need to face my fears at my own pace.”

Olivia leaned forward and skimmed the soft pad of her thumb across Catherine’s chin. “I would love to take the time to explore our friendship. But let me tell you right now, I want you. I’m not a very patient person when I crave something, Ms O’Grady. Be forewarned. But I’ll try to respect your wish for time.”

“Thank you.”

Catherine eased herself off the couch and extended her hand to Olivia. They walked hand and hand to the front foyer. Olivia retrieved Catherine’s red cardigan and held it as she slipped into the sleeves.

Catherine straightened her cuffs and fidgeted with the buttons at her waist. She looked up at Olivia and was overcome by her need for this woman. She was never going to hold fast to her plea for time if she stood in this aura of yearning. She felt all logic slip from its tenuous hold. She inhaled deeply as she took a step back. “Good night, Olivia. Thank you for a wonderful evening, ferrets and all.”

Olivia tilted her head. “Good night, Catherine. I enjoyed you immensely this evening.”

Catherine quickly grabbed Maya’s carrier, headed for the door, and unlocked the bolt. She jerked the door open and stood with her back to Olivia. She wanted to run, but her body refused to cooperate. She sensed Olivia behind her even before she felt her press her body against her back, closing the door quietly with their motion, easing the carrier from her fingers and onto the floor.

Olivia put her hands on the door on either side of Catherine’s shoulders. She brushed her lips against her ear and then her neck. Catherine leaned back into her, a surge of searing heat dancing across her skin. Each touch of Olivia’s moist lips sent trembles through her body.

Olivia turned Catherine in her arms and pressed her back against the door. “Kiss me.”

Catherine was defenseless. She took Olivia’s face in her hands. She skimmed her thumbs beneath those torrid amber eyes, and along the outline of her jaw. She felt the heat of Olivia’s hands as they formed to her hips and glided across her lower back, pulling her away from the door. She leaned into Olivia’s embrace, unable to resist their shared desire.

Catherine touched her lips to Olivia’s and plunged into a kiss that rendered her mindless. The softness of Olivia’s lips, the gentleness of her touch, the unmitigated desire churned deep in Catherine’s soul.

They both struggled to catch their breath as Olivia pulled Catherine in tight and held her with her waning strength. She brushed her lips against Catherine’s temple. “That certainly did nothing to strengthen my patience.”

Catherine smiled. “It’s your fault. You started it.”

Olivia reached down for Maya’s pet carrier. “Let me walk you to your car before I don’t give you the opportunity to leave.”

Twenty-One

C
ATHERINE CAREFULLY PLACED THE TRAY
holding her cup of lemon herbal tea and bowl of homemade chicken soup on her desk. She settled into her chair and tucked herself into her father’s old mahogany desk. As a child she spent countless hours sitting in her father’s lap as he tried patiently to explain the infinite rows of numbers he processed for the clients of his accounting firm. She could still remember the scent of his cigars that always sat in the crystal ashtray on the edge of his desk. She swiveled in her chair and smiled at the screen-saver image of her favorite photo of her parents. They looked so blissfully happy. Neither knowing that would be the last carefree photo taken of them together. Her father was diagnosed and died that same year. It was so hard to believe that was eight years ago.

She held the cup of tea in both hands and breathed in the fruity aroma. She leaned her head back against the rich leather and looked into her father’s crystal blue eyes. “I wish you were here to meet Olivia, Dad. She’s so incredible. But you know me and all my insecurities. I question everything. I wish you could tell me what to do. I just need a sign.”

Catherine was jarred from her thoughts by a soft knock at her door. “Come in.”

She swiveled in her chair and saw Olivia standing in the doorway. She stood. “Olivia! What are you doing here?”

“I told Ruth I needed to escape for a bit at lunch. I wanted to see you.”

Olivia opened her arms and Catherine stepped into them, luxuriating in the intense heat of the embrace. She spread her hands wide, feeling the contours of Olivia’s back through the plush suede of her jacket as the light scent of her perfume filled her senses.

She brushed her cheek against Olivia’s before hesitantly stepping back and taking her hands. “Olivia, it’s so important to me that we’re open and honest with each other. I need to say this. I hate mind games and I would never do that to you. My body wanted what happened last night, intensely. I don’t regret that kiss at all, but I’m not sure my heart was ready for it.”

“I know that. And I respect your request for time. I’m not going to push you in any way, Catherine. I’ve made it perfectly clear that I want you. It’s now up to you to decide what you want from me. I feel blessed to have your friendship. If that’s all you give me I’ll learn to live with it. But I want you in my life in whatever capacity you’ll allow. No demands and no pressure. I came here this afternoon mainly to tell you that. Special Agent Laura even pointed me toward your office.”

Olivia trailed her hands down Catherine’s arms, squeezed her hands once, then let go. She looked with admiration around the spacious office, decorated beautifully in bright greens and gold. Catherine’s forest green leather executive chair and large antique mahogany desk were nestled by a small window. Four filing cabinets filled one wall and a shelf of pictures and plants filled the opposite wall. A gold suede love seat sat nestled among four antique chairs. In the center of the circle of chairs sat an old wooden chest as a coffee table.

Olivia walked to Catherine’s desk and picked up a small treasure chest sitting beside the computer. She balanced the treasure chest in the palm of her hand. “This must be the treasure chest you told me about, where you put all your dreams and wishes.”

Catherine stood before her. “It is. I love treasure chests. I love their mystery and intrigue. The coffee table is an old chest my father’s family has owned for six generations. The one you’re holding is very special. My parents bought it for me in Dublin when we went on our first family vacation there. I was five at the time. That’s where I put our fortunes from our fortune cookies.”

Olivia placed the chest gently back in its rightful place. “Have you been following your heart lately?”

“I’ve been trying.”

“Good girl.” Olivia reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out a small emerald-silk purse-string pouch. She held the bag before Catherine and dropped it into her outstretched palm.

Catherine opened the pouch. She peeked inside then shook several puzzle pieces into the palm of her hand. She looked up at Olivia with a questioning frown.

“Every day for the next two weeks I’m going to give you thirty-six pieces to this puzzle. The puzzle has a total of five hundred pieces. The completed puzzle has a message for you that I’d like to convey. Once you put the puzzle together, we’ll see if the message means the same to you as it does to me.”

Catherine looked both pleased and perplexed. “I was never very good at puzzles. I wouldn’t even know where to start, with so few pieces.”

“The beginning’s the hard part. But the pieces will keep coming. In the meantime, it’s up to you how much time you want to see me. You know the demands on my time. I just want what’s best for you.”

Catherine returned the puzzle pieces to the pouch. “Right now, I don’t want to let you go. But I convinced myself this morning that I need a few days without seeing you. That may be the only way I can put things in perspective. I think I need to honor that.”

“Then I will, too. I know this has been an intense time for you, Catherine. You’ll receive your puzzle pieces every day, but other than that you won’t hear a word from me.”