Chapter Nine:
Devin handed Simon his key to Cathy's apartment; Robbie asked, "Now you're sure you'll be ok?" The cabby was loading his things into the trunk. The Wells had their own cab, as did the Hancocks and Sam, who were on their way to a hotel.
"I'm sure. Thanks again."
"Ok – well see you soon," Devin shook the boy's hand. He was a little old – but then, Caroline was old for her years. And the boy seemed slightly young for his – Robbie would say that that was the case with all men. "So?" he asked her, as they settled into the back of their cab.
"I like him. His family is a little – strange."
Devin laughed, "And you think that poor kid has any idea what he's getting himself into with us?"
"I know I sure didn't. Think he'll be able to handle it?"
"Time'll tell."
"Caroline?"
She smiled; she'd been waiting for him in the lobby of the apartment building. "Welcome back."
"You are more beautiful than I remember," Simon held her close for a long, wonderful moment. "I wasn't expecting to see you." He kissed the top of her head.
"Mother asked me to come by and make sure you got in ok – she sent over a fruit basket and some other odds and ends," tucking her arm into his, Caroline walked him to the elevator. "How was the flight?"
"Long – but I had good company."
"Not too overwhelming?"
"Try living with my family some time."
Her laughter filled the air…
"I wish you never had to leave," Simon whispered, holding her to him. Time had flown by and the hour was late – he knew she needed to go. But he could sit up talking with her all night long. Just being in the same room made him happy – it was like the rest of the world faded away – nothing else really mattered. Cecilia had been the love of his life – he'd been so sure for so long that they'd grow up and get married – and maybe he'd been the one to screw that up – and maybe he just hadn't known what love really was. Until he met Caroline.
"I wish I could stay, too – but I'll see you tomorrow. We'll meet you at the café around nine."
"You sure you're ok to get home?"
"I'll be fine," she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Now get some sleep – and don't forget to give your parents a call."
"I already talked to them once – I called from the cab to let them know I was fine."
"And you probably only talked for three minutes. Use the phone here – my mother said to tell you that," she added. "She said you should call and actually talk to your parents, not just check in."
Simon kissed the top of her head, "All right – be safe, ok?"
"I'll be fine." Caroline turned towards the elevator – she turned and waved one last time, as the door slid shut – and hit the button for the basement. It wasn't a long walk to the park entrance – but it was a cold walk. Taking the basement would add some time to her walk home – but it would be out of the wind.
She wasn't the least bit surprised to find her father waiting for her. "How long have you been waiting here?"
"Not long. I knew you would be late."
"Have I told you how much I love you, Father?"
Vincent smiled, "Yes – but I still love to hear the words."
Caroline wrapped her arms around him. "I love you, Father."
He chuckled softly, "Come – your mother is waiting up for us."
"Simon? Is everything all right?"
"Everything's fine, Mom – I just wanted to call and say good night before I went to bed."
"Is – Caroline there?" She asked, carefully.
He laughed, "She just left to go home."
"Have you called your brother?"
"I left a message on his machine right after I called you earlier – he's going to meet us for breakfast tomorrow."
"Simon – you know I love you, don't you?"
"I love you too, Mom."
"Well?" Eric asked his wife when she hung up the phone.
"He's fine. He sounds happy. I'm worried."
"I'm sure everything will be fine."
"You keep saying that – and I keep getting this nagging feeling that everything is not going to be at all fine."
Unable to sleep, Simon bundled himself and went outside – the winter wind was bitter cold – it seemed colder in New York than in California, even northern California. Without any real plan, he put one foot in front of the other and began to walk, uncertain as to why. He knew he was giddy – he stopped before a jewelry store window and couldn't help but notice the diamond rings – even though it was silly to think about things like that.
"Awful cold night."
Simon jumped – then he recognized Kate, Jake's friend from the goth club. She was wearing a leather jacket, black jeans and boots – she wasn't shivering. "Yeah – it is. Can I buy you a cup of coffee or something?"
"How about we just walk."
"Ah – sure." Simon realized that she was already taking the lead. "So – you've known Caroline a long time?"
"Her whole life."
"Do you have family – ?" the ice of her glare stopped him.
"My brother was killed by the same guy who almost killed Catherine," She said after a long, dark moment.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not."
"You're not sorry your brother was murdered?"
"You don't know the story, Simon. No, I'm not sorry he's dead – although I used to be. I wished I'd killed him myself."
"He hurt you," Simon ventured.
"You could say that. He was supposed to be there – supposed to protect me. Instead, he ran away. He left me to die."
"I –"
She smiled then, "That's ancient history."
"But you still hurt."
"I'll always carry his betrayal around inside of me."
"Look – maybe it's time to let it go. That kind of pain will only tear you up inside."
"Believe me, you're not telling me something I don't know."
"Did Caroline tell you about the kid I killed."
"Yeah. She didn't really have to though – I have a talent for see other people's pain. I don't always know the cause – but I can always see it – feel it – almost as if it was my own. You don't have so much pain, tonight, Simon."
"It's hard to remember what it feels like to hurt, when I know she's close by."
Kate smiled, a sad, secret smile – love. The one emotion denied to her. She felt loyalty – the warmth of friendship and the joy of trust – but she would never have the kind of love Vincent and Catherine shared – or the kind of love she could see in Simon Camden right now. But it was still good to be reminded that it existed. "I'm glad I ran into you tonight."
"Me too – where were you headed, anyway?"
"No where – Dante's is closed for the holiday – boss actually has a family and decided to spend some time with them. Just don't tell anyone – he has to maintain the façade."
Simon laughed, "So this Dante is just a regular guy?"
"As regular as you are."
"What about you?"
"I'm anything but regular." They'd arrived back at Catherine's apartment building. "This, I believe is your stop."
"Do you want to come up – it really is awfully cold."
"Nah - you have a good heart Simon – I have places to go and more friends than I ever dreamed it was possible for me to have." She reached up and cupped his face in her hand.
Her fingers were so cold, their touch almost burned his skin – Simon felt something – a tingling – a lightening. He looked into the depths of her dark eyes – it was like looking into an abyss – the depth of her pain – and her fury – consumed him for a moment. And then she was gone. Simone wondered how long he'd been standing there, dazed.
From the shadows,Kate watched him; she had only touched his pain, though she'd intended to take some of it. But, she realized, his pain was a part of who he was – and there was so very much more love and hope than pain. Kate smiled, slipping off into the night.
Chapter Ten:
"It's a shame your wife couldn't join us, Matt," Catherine smiled easily when Simon's brother joined them.
"We're working opposite shifts right now – I got off an our ago and she went in just as I was leaving."
"That must make things difficult."
"Believe me, it makes them easier. Our rotations change so often that it won't last for more than a couple of weeks." He'd never met any of Caroline's siblings – at least he assumed that the four other children sitting with them were also Catherine Chandler-Wells' children. The girl had the same facial structure as Caroline, but had straight, shoulder length honey coloured hair. She was decidedly less well developed than Caroline. Her simple pink blouse and jeans (which only amplified her lithe figure) were a stark contrast to Caroline's well-filled Gibson-girl blouse and full skirt.
Although the sisters were night and day, the two boys seemed to have been carved from the same piece of stone; the elder (Matt already knew of Jake) had dark hair and bright blue eyes. The younger had honey coloured hair – and those same blue eyes. They all shared the same high cheekbones and fine sculpting in the face – the two boys wore dark turtleneck sweaters, black jeans and nearly identical leather jackets. They were of the same football player/wrestler build – and neither looked especially happy to be out and about. "I thought there were two more hiding somewhere," Matt asked with a smile. The blond immediately soured.
"William wasn't feeling well," Catherine lied easily, "And Jayne is still recovering from the same bug. Their father agreed to stay home with them.
"I hope it's nothing serious," Matt said.
"Nothing a little chicken soup and some rest won't cure, I don't think," Catherine continued to smile.
Simon watched – he'd asked the same question, when he arrived a few minutes ago – and gotten the same answer – and the same reaction from Charles.
Catherine went on to make the introductions – Jacob and Charles – who preferred, they pointed out, to be called Jake and Charlie – and Claudia.
"We don't meet many people with families as big as ours," the younger girl said. The waitress returned with their teas and coffees – Claudia and Caroline were drinking tea, the rest were having coffee.
Matt asked for a cup of coffee also, when the waitress inquired. Then he turned back to Claudia, "Yeah – I know what you mean. So – you guys have a good Christmas?" he asked, searching for some topic of small talk.
Claudia smiled and nodded – Caroline thanked him for asking – Jake and Charlie seemed determined to remain broody.
"And Simon tells us that you converted to Judaism when you married," Catherine gave her boys a brief – and very motherly – dour glare.
"We were going to try to get home to visit our parents for the holidays – they both live in Glen Oak – but it didn't work out. Still, it was nice to spend Hanukkah together – the truth is that I'm still 'learning the ropes' about being Jewish."
"So why'd you convert?" Charlie queried.
"It just seemed to make more sense – this way later on we wouldn't have to worry or argue about how we were going to raise our children. Are we expecting others?" He asked, noting that there were still a goodly number of empty seats.
As if on cue, Devin, Robbie, Jonathon, Lyla, their girls, and Sam came in – followed shortly thereafter by Elliot, Amy and Loren.
"The extended family," Simon said to his brother – he introduced those he knew and let Caroline introduce Elliot, Amy and Loren.
Elliot Burch wasn't quite what Matt had expected – Sarah loved to read the gossip pages. There were always rumors flying around about him – and none of them good – and he was also at the top of the list of New York's most eligible bachelors. Seeing the way he held Amy's hand – the look on his face as he pulled out her chair and kissed the top of her head – he didn't look all that eligible to Matt.
"How was Tuscany?" Catherine directed her question to Elliot and Amy.
"Oh my god, Cathy, it was so beautiful – I hated to come back to all this!" Amy said – outside, the snow had begun to really come down hard. It was greyed and turned to slush almost the instant it hit the streets.
"Tell me about it," Devin followed her gaze. "We left San Francisco for this."
"Oh please – you're the man who climbed the Swiss Alps," Robbie hit his arm, playfully.
Catherine laughed, and said to Amy, "I knew you'd love it there."
"Thank you, again," Elliot leaned in and kissed Catherine's cheek.
"For what?" Catherine's grin was mischievous.
"For everything," Amy gave her a big hug.
"You climbed the Swiss Alps?" Sam inquired of Devin.
"In my misspent youth," he grinned back. He looked over to Simon and Matt, "I spent the better part of my youth looking for adventure – only to realize that what I really wanted was home – the love of a family," he took his wife's hand, and gazed fondly at Jonathon and his family, "And good friends."
"It is ironic," Jonathon said, "We spent our entire lives hoping for just what you were searching for – it is good to have found it together."
"And that means you too," Lyla added, in Sam's direction.
"It is – nothing."
"Sam is the binaum for all of our children," she explained to Matt. "And despite what our culture has taught us, that makes bin very much a part of our family."
"We're just starting to cover some of that – I'm a med student," Matt said.
"So Simon has told us," said Jonathon. "You cover Tenctonese medicine?"
"It's mostly elective study – except for future gynecologists," Matt told him.
Fin and Diana arrived.
"Sorry we're late," Diana pulled off her hat to reveal her mop of orange curls. "Traffic was jammed from here to Timbuck Two – and someone had to drive instead of taking the train." She glared at the tall, dark someone standing right behind her – her grin however, did a great deal to cushion the tone of her voice. "I'm Diana Bennett," she said to Matt.
"Nice to meet you."
"Odafin Tutuola – I see your wife sometimes, when I pick the Squirt up." Fin extended his hand to Matt.
Caroline turned bright red, much to Fin's amusement. He turned to Simon, "You treatin' her right?" his voice was gruff – but his grin was clearly friendly.
"Doing my best. How've you been?"
"Can't complain – even if I did, it wouldn't do no good." He turned towards Catherine and kissed her cheek, then turned to Devin and company, particularly Jonathon, "You look like you're gonna pop any minute – sure you should be traveling?"
"Which is exactly what I keep telling him," Lyla smiled.
"The pod and I are both fine," Jonathon assured them both.
(The children seemed mostly bored with the adult conversation and had engaged in banter of their own – it seemed to Matt that everyone knew one another pretty well. Simon was right to call this group an extended family.)
A family came in – Dad had on a police uniform – Mom (a pretty woman in her mid thirties, with long nut-brown hair worn in a pair of pigtails – very hippy'esque) was carrying a baby carrier – a twelve year old girl with long curly blond hair walked between them. A fourteen year old, dark haired, boy in a leather jacket brought up the rear. He was greeted by Jake with a high-five and a hug – slightly odd behavior, Simon thought. Claudia introduced Simon to the girl, Piper, as her very best friend. As she made the introductions, she signed as well as spoke. Simon signed :Hello, pleased to meet you.:
Caroline smiled, "I hadn't know youcould sign."
"Only a little."
Catherine stood up, signing as she spoke, "Laura – Jerry – glad you could make it. You remember Jonathon, Lyla, Sam and their children?"
Laura nodded – Jonathon (who was in full 'nesting instinct' swing) took the baby from her and began cooing at it, much to his wife's amusement.
Fin stood also, "Officer," he said to Jerry.
(For half a second Matt expected some sort of altercation – Fin, the alleged body guard, had a rough demeanor. It was hard to tell exactly what he was thinking at any given moment.)
Jerry grinned, "Detective." The clasped hands.
"When you gonna take the test and get a gold shield of your own?"
"Never." Laura spoke – anyone listening would realize that she was deaf. "Hours are long enough as it is. Don't know how you do it, Diana."
She laughed, "I'm home less than he is. Ok, my turn – hand over that baby," she said to Jonathon.
"This is Laura and Jerry," Catherine introduced them to Matt and Simon, "And Shannon." She added, of the child.
"Our surprise child," Laura spoke.
"Nice to meet you," Matt signed as well as spoke.
:You know sign?: Laura asked him.
He nodded, :Not very well.:
Catherine smiled, :You do quite well:
"Next we'll teach you Tenctonese," Jonathon teased him. "Then you really will be all set to be a part of this family."
Matt gave his brother a look; Simon shrugged. Caroline blushed.
AfterShannon was securely in her lap, Diana looked at Elliot and Amy, "So – how was the honeymoon?"
"Wonderful," Elliot smiled.
"You guys just got married?" Matt asked – hoping it was polite.
"Shh, it's still a secret," Elliot smiled merrily, taking the young man's hand.
"It was more about escaping my family than the hordes of disappointed women in New York City," Amy added.
"Hope you guys don't mind me playing hookie and joining you," Joe Maxwell strolled into the restaurant – he pulled a chair up from an empty table after exchanging a warm greeting with Catherine – and everyone else. "Hey you two – when'd you get back?"
"Late last night," Elliot leaned in gave Joe a welcoming hug.
"Well, looks like the gang's all here," their waitress returned. "Coffee – tea - ?" she looked a little confused at the Tenctonese family – there still weren't many New Comers so far East.
"Tea would be wonderful," Lyla smiled easily at the woman.
Matt leaned over to his brother, "This is some group."
"Tell me about it."
"They make our clan look almost – boring."
Simon laughed.
After breakfast, Caroline, Charlie, Jake, Simon, Loren, Tessa, and Audrey went to a movie; Matt, having nothing else to do and wanting to satisfy more of his curiosity, asked if he could tag along. The others were happy to have him.
After the movie, they all went ice-skating in the park.
"I've never done this," Simon cautioned.
Jake grinned at him, "The only thing you can really hurt is your pride."
"Thanks." Simon watched the younger man skate away with grace and poise – it seemed that Caroline's siblings were all naturals on skates. So was Loren, who mentioned something about having played ice hockey. (Simon saw Matt – not on skates – laughing at him and gave him a look – which only made Matt laugh harder.) At least the Hancock clan was a little wobbly, which helped Simon not to feel so much like a day old calf.
Caroline guided him out onto the ice. "It's not that hard," she said gently.
"Maybe for you."
She laughed – it was a kind laugh, filled with love and mirth. "Come on – I won't let you fall."
"I don't think you could hold me up if I did."
"I could."
From the sidelines, Matt had to admit that there did seem to be a chemistry between them – and despite Caroline's brother's sour faces earlier, they were genuinely helping the younger children with them.
"Doing the big brother thing?" Loren skated up to where Matt was standing.
"Is it that obvious?"
She laughed, "You have the same look on your face my Uncle Peter did, when Mom brought Elliot home for the first time."
"Your Uncle Peter is older than your mother?"
She nodded. "Her younger brother wasn't much better. I think I was the only one who liked him. Most of her other boyfriends were real dorks."
Matt laughed.
"I had a truly amazing day," Simon told Caroline – she had walked him to the apartment building. After skating, the two of them had slipped off for a quiet lunch at a little bistro – then they went window shopping for absolutely nothing at all, for the rest of the afternoon.
"Me too. I'm so glad you could be here."
Simon smiled down at her – there was a part of him that wanted more than anything to kiss her – yet there was another part which savoured the innocence of the relationship. He didn't want to change that – so he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.
After showering and changing cloths, Simon navigated the subway system to Matt'splace for dinner.
"I have to admit," Matt said – Sarah wasn't home yet, so he was cooking. "I had some reservations at first – but she seems like a nice girl."
"She's – everything."
"Everything?"
"I don't know how else to describe how I feel. When I'm with her, I'm happy – I'm filled with peace – I know I loved Cecilia – I had feelings for Georgia that were really strong – but with Caroline there's something more. Something – quieter."
"Sorry I'm late," Sarah came in the door, covered in snow. "It just won't stop coming down out there!"
Matt helped her with her coat, "Hey Simon, I think I know exactly how you feel," he kissed his wife's cheek.
"I take it you two had a good date."
Simon laughed, "More like two dozen dates."
"It was like having breakfast with half of New York," Matt told her.
"Well I'm glad you only brought one of them home to dinner," she gave Simon a welcoming hug.
"Speaking of home," said Matt, "I was thinking that after the holidays, maybe we could try to get home to see our folks."
"I would love nothing better – I just don't think it's going to happen. And don't tell me you think you can get time off any more than I can right now."
"After Easter?" He asked.
"What's that?" Sarah grinned.
"Passover," He smiled back.
"Let me see what I can do on my end. I really would like to see my parents again – you Gentiles don't have anything on a Jewish mother for guilt trips! You're not even Catholic – now they can compete."
Matt and Simon both laughed.
"So tell me honestly," Matt said later – they'd gone out to shoot a little pool after dinner, not too far from Matt and Sarah's apartment. "How serious is this?"
"Honestly," Simon lined up his shot – and made it. "I don't know. I mean – I know how I feel about her – and I'm pretty sure she feels the same way."
"You haven't asked – or told her how you feel?"
Simon just shook his head – he lined up his next shot – and missed.
Matt powdered the end of his cue stick.
"She's a lot younger I am."
Matt missed his shot. "How much younger?"
"If I tell you, you'll feel like you have to tell Mom and Dad – and I don't want to put you in that position."
"Simon – how much younger is she?"
"She's old enough to go out on a date – and she knows how old I am."
"Do her parents know?"
"She hasn't told them – but I'm sure her mom must realize."
"Look – I won't tell Mom and Dad – but you have to."
"I want them to meet her first – I mean – come on, she's so together. She knows what she wants to do with her life – and what she needs to do to get there. She's got the grades – and the background – she has her pick of any Ivy League school. I'm in love with her – but I don't want to get in the way of her becoming a lawyer."
"If she loves you, she'll find a way to have you and her career."
"I know. And she's smart enough not to throw her future away over a guy – I just don't ever want her to feel like she has to choose."
"You're thinking about Lucy and Mary, aren't you?"
"I just don't get it – Lucy found a way to do it all – even if she's making us all crazy in the process. It just feels like Mary is – lost somehow."
"She'll find her way. So what about you – figured out what you're going to do when you grow up?"
"Very funny," he missed his shot.
Matt sunk the last ball into the hole and re-reacked the table. "I'm serous – I know you're back in school – and doing pretty good according to Mom – I wouldn't know, you never email me."
"I didn't think you had time."
"I have time to check email – once a week."
Simon grinned, "Ok, I'll drop you a line sometime. And honestly, I've been thinking about teaching."
"You? A teacher?"
"Why not?"
"I guess – I just never pictured it."
"I never pictured a lot of things that life has thrown at me," Simon told him, his tone becoming more solemn.
"No, I guess not."
"There's only other – thing. With Caroline."
"Oh?"
"Well – probably more than one, but there's one that I think is going to be a problem with Mom and Dad."
"Besides her obviously being a lot younger than she looks."
"Yeah, besides that." Simon watched Matt lining up his shot – he waited until his brother made it before speaking again. "She's not Christian. Or Jewish. Or – anything."
"She's an atheist?"
"No. I guess she's agnostic. She seems to believe in something, but doesn't want to give that something a name, like God – and she's never been to church. Any church."
"You're right, that's going to be a problem. You know Dad is going to try to 'bring her over' – especially if he finds out that she believes in something, but doesn't know how to identify with God."
"The scary part is that she makes sense – I'm not – I don't know, we both know I haven't exactly led the best example of a Christian life. And no, we are not having sex." Simon added. "We discussed it – briefly."
"What exactly did you discuss?"
"I told her about Georgia – and how stupid I was. She said she understood and wouldn't hold it against me."
"So she's never slept with anyone?"
"No."
"You're sure? I mean – she seems nice, and I think I like her, but sometimes girls lie about stuff like that."
"Believe me, I'm sure. She's honest and trustworthy – a virgin – she has all the Christian morals – she just isn't a Christian."
"Do you think she could be – given time?"
Simon shook his head, "Something about the way she talks about it – I just don't think so. And I don't think she should have to be."
"I'm not one to say much about that – but you remember what happened when Sarah and I got married."
"But it all worked out in the end."
"Yeah – but Dad can relate to Rabbi Glass – they're both men of God and their ideas of God are similar – they're similar. If Caroline's parents have a different take on things – it could get messy."
"Thanks – you're really helping."
Matt laughed, "Just being honest."
"I appreciate that – I just wish I didn't think you're right."
