A Celtic Knot (17 page)

Catherine pulled the letter out and frowned. “I can’t believe this. Olivia’s sending these packages Express. It’s a ridiculous waste of money.”

“Not if it makes her happy. Olivia has wealth from her family, darling, and she makes good money now. I think you need to accept that as part of who she is.”

“Easier said than done.” Catherine shook the package and heard the puzzle pieces rattling around. “This makes for a hundred and forty-four puzzle pieces total. Let’s go see if more of them will finally fit.”

“I’d love to. It’s pretty quiet right now.”

They retreated to Catherine’s office. Dana slipped into a chair and studied the puzzle pieces scattered across the old chest. “Look at this. You’ve made progress with the border.”

Catherine settled into a chair beside Dana and laid the envelope in her lap. “I’m not doing as well with the middle.”

Dana picked up a piece of greenery and snapped it together with another, then joined two pieces of drapery. “So open that envelope.”

Catherine laughed. “You’re more excited than I am about putting this thing together.”

“Yes, I am. And I’m going to have a few words with that Dr. Olivia Carrington for dragging it on like this.”

Catherine tore open the envelope and let the pieces scatter on the old chest. “I wish you would.”

They leaned in close together and sorted each piece face up. One of the pieces immediately caught Catherine’s eye. She picked it up, searching for another piece she’d noticed the day before. She joined the two. “Look at this. It’s a woman’s face.”

“Isn’t she beautiful!” Dana moved her matched pieces of drapery over beneath the face. “And this is probably her dress. Oh, and look darling, this isn’t a butterfly wing at all, it belongs to the woman. I think she’s a fairy.”

They worked silently trying to match colors and patterns. Catherine carefully analyzed a corner piece, then decided to place it at the bottom left. “Laura thinks I should lighten up my scrutiny of Olivia.”

“That’s a big leap of faith for Laura. What do you think?”

“I think my concerns are valid.”

“Then don’t lighten up. Do what you think is right. I believe you’ll make the right decision when you’re ready.”

“How patient do you think Olivia can be?”

“If you’re what she’s wants, she’ll wait till you’re ready. That’ll be one of the tests of your love. It’s always been important to you to test the people in your life and know that they’re worthy of your undying devotion.”

“You make me sound horrible.”

“Far from it, darling. It’s important to you to know that the people near and dear to you have substance. When that’s been proven to you, you give back one hundred and fifty percent.”

Catherine stared at the vibrant puzzle pieces, trying to will them into a form she could understand. Her mother seemed far more convinced than she was that she and Olivia would be together in the end. She snapped another piece into place. “It’s not that I doubt her substance, Mom. It’s just that I’m not sure we’re right for each other.”

“You’re cautious about everything in life, darling. Your relationships especially. There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re only protecting your heart.”

Twenty-Five

O
L
IVIA SLIPPED ON HER KNAPSACK
. “This is the beginning of the Guy Fleming trail. Are you ready?”

“Wait just a minute,” Catherine said, pointing to a warning about rattlesnakes posted on the message board at the trailhead. “I’m really not interested in seeing any reptiles on this hike.”

Olivia laughed. “You’re such a city girl. It’s not hot enough for the snakes to be out on the trail. Besides, they’re more afraid of you than you are of them. If we do see one, just stay back and give it ample room to slither away.”

Olivia had picked her up an hour before, outside the bookstore. It had been so easy, so natural. Catherine had expected her heart to jump, seeing Olivia for the first time in five days, but mostly she’d felt a pure sense of comfort and belonging, and they’d talked so easily on the drive up to the trailhead. Right now, however, she wished they’d decided on a shopping expedition, rather than a hike.

“That’s it, I’m leaving.” She turned to head back down the trail.

Olivia dashed after her and grabbed her arm. “I’m just teasing, Catherine. You won’t see any snakes. It’s too early in the morning. Stick with me and I’ll keep you safe. Besides, if by some small chance one nips at your toes through those girly-girl sandals, I know a toxicologist.”

“That’s comforting.”

Olivia took Catherine’s hand and started up the trail, feeling her own heart expand in this familiar place. Within minutes she felt Catherine’s grip relax as a gentle breeze cooled them from the ocean and the sound of the surf propelled them forward. The narrow, flat trail wound through a dense area of pines and opened out onto a carpet of purple and yellow wildflowers. The view never ceased to amaze Olivia, the explosion of vibrant color spilling down the cliffs.

“That’s truly beautiful,” Catherine said.

Olivia picked one of the bright orange California poppies and tucked it behind Catherine’s ear. “March is always the perfect time of year to see the wildflowers out here. We just need to go a little further down the trail and I can show you one of the famed Torrey pines growing out of the edge of the sandstone cliffs.”

The way the Torrey pines managed to anchor themselves in the craggy rocks and bend to the demands of the fierce coastal winds always moved Olivia. Every time she looked at them, she was inspired by their tenacity, ingenuity, and survival.

They continued on, to a view of the trees. “They’re so beautiful,” Catherine said. “How can they live so precariously?”

“I don’t know. But sometimes when I feel alone or overwhelmed I think of these pines out here in the elements, teetering on a rocky ledge, and I draw on their strength and endurance.” Catherine turned to her, her eyes full of compassion. “Come on, we’re almost at the North Overlook.”

They stepped onto the platform and looked down onto Torrey Pines State Beach. They could see people playing in the surf and walking along the sandy shores. A group of pelicans proudly stood guard on the craggy rocks, scouting their next meal. Olivia dug into her knapsack and handed Catherine a bottle of water. The look of astonishment on Catherine’s face gave Olivia deep pleasure.

“This is an incredible view,” Catherine said.

Olivia took a sip of water. “We’re two hundred and fifty feet above sea level.” She pointed to the north. “That’s the Pehasquitos Lagoon and Del Mar. We’ll walk to the South Overlook next, where on a clear day like today you can see La Jolla, San Clemente, and Catalina Islands. I’ve seen dolphins from that spot. I love going there in the winter to see the gray whales during their migration. It’s truly amazing.”

“I can imagine. How often do you come up here?”

“I make an effort to do these trails once a month. I wish it could be more often.”

“It’s easy to see why you would enjoy this. The view is stunning in it’s raw beauty and power. It feels very spiritual up here.”

“Yeah, it’s about as close to God as I can get.”

“Even though you joke about it, this place is obviously very special to you and must give you some sense of a higher power.”

“Maybe not a higher power, but certainly a sense of peace. This spot right here is my place of worship. When I come here, I can just be. I don’t have to give, just take. I come here to recharge my solar panels and rejoice in something that’s much bigger than me and all my worries. I find I can bare my soul and shed my tears and find strength in all this beauty. I always leave here with a better perspective on what’s really important in life.”

“Which is?”

“Family, love, a home, and a job that I love.”

Catherine brushed her fingertips across Olivia’s cheek. “You have a much stronger faith than even you know.”

Twenty-Six

O
N
MONDAY AFTERNOON
, Catherine glanced across the crowded coffee shop just as her mother guided a young woman to the only empty table, then headed to the coffee-shop counter. The woman sat very stiffly on the edge of her seat and took a deep breath as if to force herself to relax. Catherine watched her mother head back to the table with a hot cup of coffee. Catherine stepped down from the customer-service desk and headed for their table.

“Just the girl I was hoping to see,” Dana said. “Natalie, this is my daughter, Catherine. Catherine, I’d like you to meet Natalie.”

Natalie took Catherine’s hand. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you. Your mother’s been a real source of comfort to me this week.”

“She has that amazing gift.”

Dana smiled sweetly. “Can you join us, dear?”

Catherine hesitated a moment then took a seat.

“Natalie’s mother is one of Olivia’s patients. She had a mastectomy ten days ago for grade-three breast cancer. I’ve met a few times with Natalie to offer her some motherly support.”

Catherine realized this must be the young woman Olivia had told her about, the night they argued on the phone. She remembered that Natalie’s mother was only forty-eight. She could only imagine what the two of them were going through. “I’m really sorry to hear about your mom.”

Tears filled Natalie’s eyes, and Dana handed her a tissue from the pocket of her slacks. “She finally got out of the ICU a few days ago, and is doing much better today, so I thought I’d steal Natalie away and treat her to a coffee.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. Just sitting in that hospital is enough to depress anyone.”

Natalie blew her nose. “It is. Dana told me about her surgery and how you were there with her every day. It’s just been really hard. I think I’m doing better, and then I fall apart. It’s not just the breast cancer. Mom got pneumonia because she wasn’t breathing right, plus she’s diabetic and we’ve had problems with her blood sugar. Now that it’s under control, I’m back to facing her breast cancer.”

Catherine noticed several customers standing at the customer-service desk, and was surprised at how reluctant she felt to leave Natalie. She truly understood what this young woman was going through. She didn’t have the strength to visit cancer patients in the hospital the way her mother did, but maybe she could help another daughter.

She looked at her mother. “Mom, one of us should take care of those customers. Do you mind?”

Dana smiled. “That would be my pleasure.”

Catherine turned back to Natalie. “My mother was never in the ICU, but I certainly can understand how awful this must be for you. I was terrified the whole time she was in the hospital and just wanted to get her out of there and take her home. That way at least there was a semblance of normal life.”

“Exactly. I’m so afraid of what this all means. My mother lives alone and I don’t know if I should be making arrangements for her to come live with me. I don’t know if I should be taking time off work to be with her once she leaves the hospital and starts chemotherapy. It may sound selfish, but I need to know how this is going to affect my life as well.”

“I understand. Your world has been flipped upside down.”

Natalie gripped the coffee in both hands. “Yes, it has. My mom and I have always been close. Since her diagnosis I don’t know how to act, what to do, what to say or how to help. I have so many questions, but I’m terrified of the answers.”

“I know how you feel. But I found my fear of the unknown was so much worse than the reality of the situation. Mom and I wrote down all our questions for Dr. Ratcliff, because at the time neither one of us could think straight. That really helped.”

“Dr. Carrington has been great with my mother, but I’m having a real hard time talking to her and absorbing everything she tells me. I know it’s my fear talking, but I just shut down.”

“Believe me, I know how easy it is to see doctors as the enemy, but I think right now Dr. Carrington may be your biggest ally. I know when my mother and I had our questions answered, we both began to feel stronger and more in control. It made an amazing difference in our attitudes and determination to be survivors.” Catherine could see the spark of hope in the young woman’s eyes.

“I want to beat this. I’m not ready to lose my mother. I don’t want to be wasting my time wallowing in my fears. I want to know what to do and how to do it.”

Catherine smiled. “Why don’t we begin by writing down all your questions for Dr. Carrington? I might be able to add some from what I’ve learned from my mother’s experience. How does that sound?”

Natalie pushed her coffee aside. “That sounds wonderful.”

Twenty-Seven

C
A
THERINE SET THE DISHWASHER TO RUN
and wiped down the kitchen counters for a second time. She couldn’t think of any thing else she could do to keep her mind occupied. The laundry was done, the trash was out for the next morning, and she still felt too antsy to sit and enjoy a cup of tea.

Olivia had been true to her word about allowing Catherine to initiate any contact, allowing her the time she needed to figure out her feelings. Catherine adored her for her patience. Then why did she feel so restless when they hadn’t talked in a day? She was becoming frustrated by her own rules and boundaries.