A/N: This is a different version of the chapter I published, so I replaced it.

The kiss

At first it was through multiple daily phone calls that they shared their lives; occasionally falling asleep while still on the phone. It was now a few days since the funeral, it was no longer enough to talk on the phone; they wanted to meet again at the cabin.

"Catherine, do you understand my directions? You told me you got lost trying to find it."

"Yes, Robert, I know now I didn't make the second right hand turn, I'll be there right on time. You'll see."

"I'll be waiting." Robert had a surprise for her tonight.

He had arrived first; the cabin was now well stocked with food; Robert had filled it with all the foods Catherine had told him she enjoyed in addition to her peanut butter and jam. Dinner was in the oven; he watched for her. She surprised him; she was there right on-time.

Robert met her outside and to her squealing objections, once again he picked her up and carried her to the door; hearing much the same words from her. "Robert put me down. You're going to hurt yourself."

"Catherine, stop wiggling and open the door." Slipping through the door so as not to bump her on the door frame, he carefully lowered her to her feet; but he didn't let go of her. With their noses inches apart; "I believe this was about our position last time." Their noses soon touched and then slid off to one side that their lips experienced that exotic feeling that only the lips can give to another.

A simple romantic kiss that lengthened; their breath was gone but neither released the other very far. Their arms encased themselves in a full and loving embrace. "Robert, this feels so right."

"I couldn't agree more."

Over dinner they talked about their childhoods; their parents and their spouses. It was important to both of them to know that they could freely talk about their past loves; each had been deeply in love. Their affection that night was romantically loving; sitting close; holding hands and sharing a few lingering kisses.

"Catherine, I'll go first, you follow me. It's a somewhat harder at night to find the main road."

Robert parked in her driveway; she drove around him and went in through the garage; only to come out the front door to say goodnight. They refrained from going inside, they simply kissed goodbye.

For the next week they met at the cabin every night. Tonight Robert had brought dinner from his favorite Italian Restaurant. Italian food had never been one of Catherine's favorite but this lasagna was excellent; she surprised herself at how much she ate. They sat there talking and finishing their bottle of wine.

"Catherine, I think it's time for you to meet my daughters."

"Are they ready to meet me?"

"I haven't approached them yet, but I did overhear a conversation that ended

with, 'I wonder when Dad will bring her to the house?'"

"Are you ready?"

"Anytime Robert."

"Tomorrow?"

"Sure, why not."

Saturday was always the day Robert cooked up a big brunch. They were lingering over coffee. Michael and Jaclyn had gone to the TV room to watch cartoons.

"You have something to tell me Dad?"

"I invited Catherine to come for dinner tonight."

"Doesn't leave me much time to bake or get ready."

"I have it all under control, Lori. Filet mignon, baked potatoes and a large salad; maybe Jaclyn and Michael could bake some cookies or brownies together. You need to get off your feet more. You seem very uncomfortable. Are you?"

"Yes, more than with Michael. What time should we expect her?"

"Six."

Catherine had insisted on driving over herself. Robert needed to get used to her independence. She didn't own any fancy clothes; so selecting a skirt and a sweater was easy. It's wasn't snowing so boots were not necessary.

Michael was watching for her. "Grandpa, your friend is here."

"Thank you Michael."

Then he heard Jaclyn giggle. "Be nice Jaclyn."

"I will Dad. I think it's nice seeing you so excited over your companion."

Robert walked away shaking his head. He opened the door before Catherine rang the bell. "What so funny Robert?"

"Jaclyn is."

"Everything alright?"

"Yes, Catherine, everything is fine."

"Grandpa, is this your friend?"

"Yes Michael."

"Is your name really Dr. Cat?"

"Yes Michael that's what all the boys and girls call me when they come to see me to fix their hearts." He looked to Robert for approval.

"Glass of wine, Catherine?"

"Yes, Robert."

"And you Jaclyn?"

"Yes Dad."

"Michael and Lori, you get sparkling grape juice."

They gathered in the kitchen and began to talk. "Catherine, I want to thank you for the lovely card; what you wrote told us a lot about you."

"I meant every word; the loss of a spouse and for you two a mother is devastating and can be a lingering experience. I know that now, I let my grief go on way to long. Believe it or not we are both helping each other live life again."

Tears formed in everyone's eyes but then the solemnity of the room was broke. "Mommy, I'm hungry. Can we eat soon?" Robert took that as a signal to direct everyone to the dining table. They lingered over coffee and brownies.

Catherine told them about their dad's first words to her…."kina impractical, don't you think?

"Dad, you didn't really scold her about the Jaguar."

"He most certainly did and then he had the nerve to dislike my music."

"He told you all about Sarah Vaughn."

"Yes, how did you know?"

"We know our Dad."

"Okay, girls that's enough of my secrets."

"What did you find to eat?"

"Your dad tried to cook up some Mac and Cheese. Only he didn't cook the noodles long enough, they were rather crunchy."

"So Catherine fed me peanut butter and jam on a spoon." By now everyone was laughing so hard, Lori in particular had to excuse herself; quickly disappearing into the bathroom. It was now Michael's bedtime and Catherine thought it was time for her to leave.

After a lovely evening, it seemed that Lori and Jaclyn had both accepted the inevitable, their dad was in love; there was no way he could hide it.

As Catherine was leaving Jaclyn spoke up. "I hope you will join us for our Christmas celebrations."

"Thank you Jaclyn, I'm on call Christmas Eve but it is usually very quiet."

Robert walked out with her. "I'll let you know our plans. Walk around to the other side of your car."

"Why Robert?"

"I want to kiss you and I don't want to be seen by the peaking toms."

"Are they really watching us?"

They lingered out in the cold sharing more than one kiss. "I better go, my feet are freezing?"

"I suppose that's a good reason to say goodbye. I'll call you later."

Dinner at the cabin tomorrow?"

"I was hoping for that."

"Pick you up at four."

"I'll be ready and waiting."

Robert did call her and they both fell asleep while still on the phone.