Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, and I don't know who does own them, although the movie was produced by Kaboom. I make no money from this work of fiction. I just love Robert and Catherine.

1. Saying goodbye

Robert and Catherine said goodbye to each other when she was dropped off at her house. They had bonded Thanksgiving night; their smiles and voices as they said goodbye were much different than when they met.

Little did they know; their lives would cross again, accidentally.

In the next few days, each experienced grief; fresh grief for Robert and unresolved grief for Catherine.

On Saturday Robert went to see Marybeth.

He found her awake, sitting in a chair. She didn't act shocked to see him. He sat on the sofa across from her. Marybeth he began:

I miss you sweetheart, so do the girls and Michael. I miss you sleeping beside me. I miss your smell. I thought it was your perfume, but I could never find a perfume bottle. Then I realized it was your shampoo.

Marybeth, we had many happy years together. I remember how we cried when the doctor told you about the Alzheimer's. Then you had your first heart attack. Everything is just working against you; your heart is so weak.

I remember you told me you didn't want me to be alone after you died.

He fought tears as he continued:

I met a lady doctor here at Shelby Manor; she lost her husband to cancer a year ago.

We talked; she helped me a lot. She was very nice; I hope I can see her again someday.

Marybeth got up, looking confused. Robert asked if she wanted to go to bed. She didn't say anything, just walked towards her bed.

Robert helped with the covers and took off her slippers.

He held her hand and she squeezed it.

Then she said, "Goodbye, Robert," as she fell off to sleep.

Robert left saying, "see you tomorrow Marybeth."

Robert smiled, walking down the stairs; those were the first words she had spoken directly to him in months.

On Sunday, Robert struggled; he wanted to meet Catherine for pancakes; just to talk to her. He needed to talk to someone and she had been so easy to talk with; she was a great listener.

Catherine also enjoyed her conversations with Robert. She had opened up to a complete stranger and felt nothing but care and concern from Robert.

Catherine entered the restaurant, hopeful.

Lori's phone call made Robert focus on Marybeth. Glancing at the door of the restaurant, he sped away to the hospital. Another heart attack; would she survive? Robert wondered. He was too late to say goodbye.

He cried with his girls.

The hospital called the Catholic Priest from the local Parrish; he knew the Woodward family well. He anointed Marybeth.

He spoke to the family:

Take comfort, her suffering is over and so is yours.

You've been a strong family. You stayed by her side even though it was very difficult.

As each day, each week, each month pass, the good memories will survive; allow yourselves to move on in life, you have already grieved enough.

Robert told him what Marybeth had said to him. "Father, could she have known the end was near."

"Yes, Robert, that is very possible. It may have been something you said that made her know that you were going to be alright."

After her funeral, Robert thought about the priest's words, "allow yourselves to move on in life."

Robert thought; maybe Catherine can help me move on; not really understanding what he was telling himself.

The events of that Sunday seemed to take away any hope of a future relationship between Robert and Catherine.

Robert went back to Shelby Manor to pick up Marybeth's things. He felt the urge to find the cabin again. There was smoke coming from the chimney. He stopped and went to the door. Learning that the cabin was for sale, he bought it. He needed a place where he could be alone; to think about a possible relationship with Catherine.

Catherine compartmentalized her thoughts; at the hospital she was happy, concentrating on her work, but at home she was miserable, thought a lot about Robert. In fact she had found his address in the phone book and walked to his house on her morning walk. Not really knowing why; in the end she crinkled the paper up and put it in her pocket. But that wasn't the last time she walked there; it was everyday.