Fire - Betrayal (26 page)

They all worked diligently at the highly important task of installing the frames into the walls surrounding the portals on the inside of the tunnels.  They got the installation down to such a fine art, that they learnt how to camouflage the frame exceptionally well.

They worked well into the night, until all seven of the Terrean side frames were in position, then they would return the next day to start the unknown territory of installing the frames on the earth side of the portal.

This task was looked at with trepidation.  They didn’t know what to expect.  Beyond doubt, they would be entering a highly dangerous zone into the unknown.  They did not know where the portals led to.  What part of the earth they would be at, what type of terrain would be located around it, or whether it be in a populated area.  They had no ideas about what to expect.

Ben decided that they had all worked so hard that they deserved some rest and relaxation before they embarked on the next part of the journey.  He gave them two days off.   This would also help Ben to prepare for what he knew of the earth, so that he could help his companions, and protect them if need be.  This part of the operation would be delicately balanced.  He knew that no mistakes could be made whatsoever.

A Chance Meeting

The walls were a brilliant white
.  One window opened out showing the view of a pretty english garden.  The bed was uncomfortable, and the beeping of machines were intruding on my pleasant dreams.

I
opened my eyes.  Was I dead?  Was I alive? Was I dreaming?

I
was disorientated, but not alone.  My mother was there with me, smiling into my face.

“Welcome back
Cate, my sweet, sweet girl,” my mother said with tears streaming down her face.

“M
a? Where am I?” I asked.

“In the hospital.  Some hikers found you in an old ruined Farmhouse.  When they came across you, you were hardly alive, and the doctors here did not expect you to live.  But it’s a miracle
Cate.  You have been given back to us!  We were told that you had died in the house fire.  We had said our goodbyes to you to let you rest in peace.  We would never have dreamt in our wildest dreams that you had survived and would come back to us again.  It truly is a miracle!” my mother said, emotionally distraught.

I
realized that I had survived my farmhouse death wish. Then my heart ached as I remembered leaving Ben in Une Autre Terre, forever, never to see him again, my soul mate, the man of my dreams.

“I want to go home m
ama,” I cried.

“I’ll take you home my sweet, sweet girl!” promised
my mother.

***

I more frequently than not, lay on the sofa, with my head on my mother’s lap, enjoying the comforting stroking of my hair and forehead, staring at the nothingness.

“Why does it hurt so much Ma?”
I cried, “When will I stop missing him?  When will my heart stop aching for him?”

“All in good time dear
Cate.  Time heals all wounds.  You will never forget him, but it won’t hurt as much when you do think about him after a while.  Just be patient while your mind and heart grieves for him.  In the meantime, the best medicine is to get on with your own life. Get out into the real world.  Go back to work. Socialize with your friends again.  It will do you the world of good Cate.  I know that you can do it.  You are a strong woman.  You are a great person.  You have so much to give to others. Don’t waste your gifts and abilities.  You will find happiness again Cate,” she reassured.

The r
ain beat down on the window pane of my bedroom.  I watched as the rain drops became heavy and then went running down the glass as if in a race.

Then I
stretched and walked over to the window.  It was a miserable day if you liked sunshine, but an awesome day if you liked the rain, and I loved the rain.

Today was
my new beginning.  I planned to start moving forward with my life.  I knew that I could be strong.  Ben wouldn’t have wanted me to mope around for the rest of my life because of him.  He would’ve wanted me to live my life to the fullest.  And that is what I planned to do, slowly at first, until I had weaned myself from the chains that bound me to Ben.

As
I walked into the entrance of my Interior Decorating business, unannounced, my employees stopped and clapped, and some cried, acknowledging their respect for me, and welcoming me back from the dead!

I
was embarrassed at first, but then began to accept that they too had been through an ordeal.  They would have grieved for me when they heard of my death.  They would have gone to my funeral service, be it without a body there to bury.

I
thought about making a long speech of thanks, but decided against it, and hugged each of my employee’s warmly, and said a heart-felt thank-you to them.

Finally, it was good to be feeling alive.
I did not realize that my life did in fact mean a great deal to many people. I had been blinded by my love for Ben, and did not see those around me who depended on me in any degree.

Through new eyes,
I could now see the world in a different light.  My heart was starting to feel renewed. I felt my energy returning, and I began to smile again.

I
happily went to work each day. My interior decorating business kept my mind busy and challenged on its creative side.  I also put in a couple of hours each day of the week helping to serve the homeless people.  Making money did not make me happy, it was the service I gave to needy people that really rewarded me.

And further down the track, t
wo months later, I bravely made the decision to drive by and stop at the site of Grandy’s house - my house - that had been burnt to the ground.  All that remained of Grandy Katie’s house were the crumbled bricks and the fireplaces still standing tall.

I
opened “Katie’s Gate” and sat on the seat under its roof.  I sat alone contemplating all that had happened here.  I felt the sadness of the devastating destruction that had happened to my house, and my life.

But,
I had survived. For this I must be forever thankful.

Walking towards the ruins of the house,
I kicked a few piles of ashes.  I wondered whether anything had survived the intense heat of the fire.  After some time of foraging through the ashes, it was evident that nothing had survived, or if it had, looters had probably claimed it.

The backyard was looking unusually green, considering it had not had any care for the last few months.
I looked over to where The Magnificent Tree had once been.  It was now a void in the garden, not a single particle of it remained. It was as if it never even existed.  It was probably good that all traces of it were gone.  I would be able to move on more easily without The Magnificent Tree as a constant reminder of Ben and Une Autre Terre.

The peacefulness of the plot of land rested gently on
my heart.

Grandy had left this house to
me.  It belonged to me. Even though the house was gone, the land still belonged to me.  I looked around viewing the plot of land from all angles.  I was starting to envisage a new house built here.  My senses tingled at the idea of designing, creating and decorating a new house – my house.

Tears
rolled down my face as I felt the sad emotions of the past occurrences leave my body.  I no longer had to feel their heavy burden.  I had been freed from the past.  I knelt on the ground and let out loud sobs, holding my chest.  It hurt to let Ben go, fully.  But I must do it. I owed it to Grandy, whom I loved so dearly.  I owed it to myself for being a survivor. I was so much stronger now that I was on the other side of the dark tunnel, where the light shone brightly.

Immediately,
I left my plot of land, my mind filled with ideas and concepts for the new house that I would build.  It certainly was a challenge, but one I welcomed with open arms.  I was alive again.

S
earching on the internet for house designs that met the vision I saw in my mind was certainly a challenge.  Eventually I gave up and drew the plans myself. It was a french style house.  I loved everything about french housing and decorating, so it was no wonder that I was drawn to that particular design. It was a majestic storybook castle with a very steep roof pitch.

It boasted a curved window library, generous dining room and a grand room that was two stories high.  The grand room shared a see through fireplace with the morning keeping room located next to the kitchen.
While on the other side was a generous media room. The master bedroom was located upstairs on the second floor, with two more well sized bedrooms.

The unique design of the house thrilled
me, and made my creative juices run overtime with planning interiors.  I wasted no time in contacting the architects to meet them on site.  I wanted to get moving with my new house, quickly.

Timothy
was the project manager that I met on site.  Being me, I was very specific about locations and fine details for the building of the house.  Timothy was impressed with my degree of knowledge of the house and building methods.

Over the next few months the house building progressed very quickly.  It was at lock up stage in no time. But
I realized, from experience with my own interior decorating clients, that the progress would dramatically slow down now, as the fine details were put into the interior of the house.

One beautiful clear blue day,
I was bombarded with visions of my new home.  They kept recurring over and over again.  I decided the only way to stop the incessant visions was to go to the house, and put my mind at rest.  It was a Saturday, so there would be no workmen there and I could pot around the yard, and look in the windows as often as I liked and day dream.

However, a
s I arrived at my destination, I was surprised to see that workmen were on site today.  Perhaps that is why the house kept calling me.

I
parked my car on the side of the road under a very shady mature tree, and walked across the road and entered Katie’s Gate.  I sat on the seat that was there, admiring how my house was coming along.

Timothy
enthusiastically bounced his way out of the house the moment he saw me.

“You’re in a jovial mood today
Tim!” I commented.

“I certainly am.  I’m off on holidays early next week.  I ordered the men to come and work on your house so that I can go on holidays knowing that all of the major structures and details have been finished, leaving small details such as painting, tiling, carpeting, floor sanding to be continued while I am away,” informed
Timothy.

“Wow! This is unexpected
Tim, thanks.  And aaah…would it be okay if I went inside to have a look at my beautiful house?” I asked, hoping for a positive answer.

“Since you are my favourite client, yes.  But let me get someone for you to take you around, okay?”

I could hardly contain myself. I felt my energy levels rising critically. This was unexpected, and very exhilarating.

In no time,
Timothy came out with Nic.  He had been chosen to show me around.

“
Cate, I’m Nic, and I’ll be your tour guide today!” he said jokingly, bowing.

I
giggled and curtsied.  Nic smiled at my playfulness.

“Come on Madame,” Nic said smiling, and leading the way through the double wooden carved front doors.

Nic led me into each room, and stood back as I inspected the workmanship in everything. I walked lightly and energetically around the house, admiring how the flowing design of the rooms interconnected the house to make it one.  It lifted my heart to unknown heights.

“And you are pleased with what you see Madame?” questioned Nic, continuing the façade that
we started outside.

“
En effet - indeed,” I replied, and curtsied again, smiling widely at him.

Nic’s cell
phone rang.  He excused himself from me for the moment while he answered it. I continued to look around the Grand Room while Nic talked on his phone.

“Hey Matt,” Nic called out,“ We’re a team member down for tonight!”

Suddenly Matt was standing next to Nic.

“What? That means that we will have to pull out of the competition.  We won’t be able to blitz the field again, and hold on to our reigning champion trophy.  Who can we ask to help?  Think Nic,” encouraged Matt.

Nic simply shrugged and shook his head. “Who would be crazy enough to join our team at the Hey Hey It’s Saturday Tournament?

Matt
gestured towards me, and raised his eyebrows at Nic, indicating to him to ask me.

Nic shook his head
slightly, furrowing his eyebrows.

“Hey
Cate,” Matt said, “We’ve got this really absurd tournament tonight, and we are a team member down.  I know we don’t know you and all, but you are about our age – I think! – and we can’t enter the competition without a full team.  Would you like to …..help us out, that is, if you are free tonight?  I promise it won’t be painful, unless you laugh too much, and ah, there’s food to eat too!”