The guests at the cocktail party failed to realize that time was passing. The Chef down by the tent had long since prepared a wide array of food and waited patiently for the hungry to descend. Apparently the revelry up at the house continued unabated. It was almost as noisy as a rowdy bachelor party. Marian unleashed and uncensored brought her California savvy to the New York elite. She held court with wit and charm. Sue, who had known her for years as an employer was shocked by this new version and couldn't wait to share the details with the bride-to-be some later time.
Marian could not, however, hold a candle to the real queen of the night. Catherine's appearance with Vincent shifted the energy to the door. Few had seen Vincent up close, had not even thought about who he was or how he would look. There was no doubt that his overall appearance was arresting, even stunning but hooked on his arm was a woman who looked like the cover of Vogue magazine. Who would argue that he didn't belong?
If the truth be known, Vincent had just about made up his mind to give the party and ceremony a wide berth. The trees, fields, and country animals held their own fascination. In addition, his condition, his fear of exposure and ridicule had weakened his resolve to be a suitable and faithful companion to his wife. He did not lack verbal skills. His education below in the tunnels was extensive, if limited to the arts, but he could hold a conversation with anyone. His height might be intimidating but next to several of the men, a few inches seemed like nothing. He already had a small clique of people who knew him but it was the delightful and elegant woman on his arm who carried the evening.
Catherine couldn't express what the moment meant to her. Time had been kind. Despite troubling set backs in her health, she weathered those storms. Regaining her strength had been a work in progress. Appearing with Vincent set the seal on what seemed to be a long recovery culminating in their own personal afternoon of renewal. This evening, coming out publically and openly with her husband, marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. She smiled widely, greeting her old friend Patrick, and thanking him for his support of Terry's nuptials.
'Catherine, I wondered if you felt well enough to join us. The wait was worth it.'
'Thank you my dear friend. I had been gathering strength for the hours ahead.' Her smile was guileless.
The governor was soon at her side. He had his own agenda and before long, her usual back up knight, Kurt, was also at her side. Vincent disengaged himself. He had no interest in the political machinery which was stamped on the faces of the men surrounding his wife. He smiled at her and went over to Jason for a bit of small talk. Interestingly, everyone made way for the governor, including Kurt, who left them alone to speak. Howie had something up his sleeve and wanted to engage his old friend.
'Catherine, you surprise me. You seemed very fragile at the Ball.'
'I was Governor but the effort to attend was well worth it.'
'I long to hear you call me Howie again.'
'Really?' Catherine smiled remembering the young man she had known. He seemed very vulnerable but his position was secure and he was a popular politician. The governor's wife had found a chair for her perpetually swollen and aching feet. She left her hubby to socialize. He had his own agenda for the evening. She knew he had a role for his childhood friend and thought he could press his advantage in the social setting.
'I was hoping you would phone me Catherine.'
'I felt too unstable to be of any help. Things are changing in my life now. I may consider contributing in some way but nothing too involved. I still have two small girls at home.'
'If I promise not to corral you today, would you phone my office next week if I give you a private number.'
'OK Howie. I promise to call.'
The concession helped to remove any reluctance to pursue the matter later. Howie wanted to monopolize her, but Catherine had other people to meet and greet. Kurt came by again, burned out by the fire that was Marian and hopeful of a few words from Catherine without her husband hovering. He had never seen her looking not only exquisitely beautiful but also sexy. He wished he could stay away from the mother of his young employee but he couldn't. Her energy drew him like a magnet. He was kind and circumspect, respectful to the Governor but he didn't hang around when it was clear that she wanted to move on to others. Kurt was one of the few who began to need food. Despite the fact that he would be sleeping up at the big house, the open food tent was the place to go. He slipped out the door along with a few others. The smell of meat roasting on the barbeque was wafting seductively towards the house.
Howie continued to follow Catherine, seeming to be lost without a woman at his side. Many of the other guests stayed away from them unless called. The prestige of the office was intimidating to most, but one man headed directly towards the unlikely couple.
'Madame,' he began acknowledging Catherine before turning to the man at her side. 'Governor, you may not remember me but my name is Philippe Jardinière.'
There was a pause, followed by a deep look. 'From Belgium?'
'72-73?'
'Yes...yes of course. My God, Philippe. It's been years. Are you a friend of the bride or groom?'
'The groom is the son of my partner.' The eyebrows went up. Howie reluctantly drew his eyes away from Philippe to introduce Catherine.
'I have also been longing to meet you all day Madame. It has been worth the wait.'
Catherine was charmed by his manners. She had heard a lot about him from Terry. There was an awkward moment. These two men obviously had a long standing relationship. They wanted to talk.
'There's some people I need to get to. I see that you both need to catch up. Howie, we'll talk next week and Philippe I'll look forward to chatting with you soon.'
Catherine moved on. 'What an interesting connection' she thought.
Philippe and Howie smiled and engaged in a bit of reminiscing. It had been years since they were in graduate school together. The two men had been struggling with the end of relationships when they first met. They didn't have much else in common but their friendship remained steadfast throughout the three years they shared a room as students. Howard Smirconish was already a lawyer and wanted a degree in business. Philippe had majored in music but needed to add business practice to his resume. Both worked hard to overcome the sresses of dealing with their respective broken hearts. Howie's nerdiness, and Philippe's homosexuality were never an issue between the two men. They kept their focus on school work. To the onlooker, the tall aesthetic looking man and the short, portly balding VIP were as different as night and day. Mutual friends thought the same at the time. None the less, both men graduated with honours in the MBA program.
'I can see what you have been up to Howard. You've done very well.'
'I have,' he said without false modesty. 'Some luck, some hard work. How about you?'
'I'm still in the music business. My relationship mended itself when I went back to California. It took awhile but Vlad and I have been together almost 30 years.'
'I'm happy for you. Lauren never came back but I have been happy enough with Rose.' He gave an absentminded smile in her direction before returning to Philippe. 'That band you used to play with, what happened to it?'
'Vlad and I still play with Jason and a couple of his musical buddies. We have fun now but the other guys our age dropped out and one died.'
'You had quite a little following.'
'We did. That's all past now. I'm an old man looking to retire.'
Howard Malcolm Smirconish laughed uneasily. On the issue of age, he and Philippe differed. He still felt young and hoped to run again as Governor. None of his ambition went beyond his current position but he wanted to leave a mark at the end of his term. Catherine was just the person to help him, if he could convince her.
'Catherine?' The tall women holding onto the guest's arm, smiled, waiting for the obvious response before speaking. 'I'm Sandy, Jason's mother.'
There was no mistaking the family resemblance. Jason was the image of his mother. His long lithe frame and essentially Celtic features were a replica of her own. Catherine smiled. She had no urge to avoid this meeting. Sandy was talkative, clearly proud of her son and anxious to make a good impression on the woman who was such a strong influence on Terry. The conversation was openly friendly but Catherine detected an undertone which was troubling. Her antenna, long since laid to rest, returned full force with a change in tone and volume as the woman continued to speak.
'It's been nice having Vladimir close to me. Of course with Vlad living in LA, he gets to see him more often.'
'It is hard I suppose when you live apart from your children.'
'It wasn't my choice. Hugh, my husband, wanted to be on the driest most solid land after he was discharged from the Navy.'
Catherine laughed lightly. She had no idea how to respond.
'I have offered to take the baby for awhile. Terry is so busy and she won't stop feeding him. If she did it would make him more accessible, although I support her decision.'
'No you don't.' thought Catherine. 'You hate that you can't control her or your son.' Catherine tried to keep a bland face. How a little sex could wake up a sleeping persona almost made her smile. She placed a hand on the arm to stop anymore subversive pleading.
'I think it's wonderful that she is able to do something which was denied to me. I so admire her independent spirit.'
Catherine wasn't sure where she wanted to be. Her smile felt forced but she moved on with a polite excuse me. Other than Patrick and a surprising show from Howie, there wasn't anyone else who interested her. She looked up to find her husband's beautiful blue eyes centered on her. She smiled at him above the crowd and lowered her eyes. Vincent was immediately at her side.
'I'm hungry.'
'I was just thinking the same thing myself.'
With a smile and wave at Patrick, they left.
The excitement and fun at the food tent increased as more and more of the cocktail party guests moved down to the field in search of food. The younger people ran down the lane, carefree and happy while the older folk took advantage of the golf carts to traverse the uneven torch lit lane.
Music continued to blare out from the speakers. Very little alcohol was served at the tent. None was needed to capture and hold the happy mood engineered by the event. There was some desultory dancing. Jason was absent from this event. It gave Terry the opportunity to come out and spend a little time with her friends. She seemed relaxed and happy. Some had wondered if she was going to be able to manage the excitement the following day. She had seemed to falter earlier in the evening but looking at her moving from table to table and greeting people, she seemed the essence of a perfect hostess.
Patrick had come down to talk with her family. They had been reluctant to join the early evening cocktail party, mostly due to language difficulties. The host understood, but came down himself to ensure that everyone was well fed and happy. His ability to speak and understand Brazilian Portuguese was enough to help negotiate some Spanish words. Most of the family was minimally English speaking. Eventually he gravitated towards Alejandro. The elder Mexican gentleman was graciousness personified. He cleared away a small table and invited Patrick to join him in a glass of wine.
'Senor Patrick, my thanks to you for this delightful party in honour of my daughter. She is my treasure. I am blessed by her...felicidad. Calienta mi Corazon,' he said emotionally, touching his hand to his chest.
'Alejandro, my thanks to your daughter for enabling my freedom and safety through the return of my dear friend Catherine. This kind of gift is distinctive, incomparable. A unique set of circumstances returned my friend from near death so that her son could save me from a certain death. What I am doing is little thanks. As I looked at my friend Catherine tonight and see her, nearly the same as she was twenty years ago, I fully realize the real miracle.'
The two men nodded sagely and went on to discuss the plans for the following day. Both were pleased that the weather held for the occasion. A few people passed by and shared a few words with them but they were able to enjoy each other's company virtually undisturbed. Patrick who had been an only child did not feel that he had missed anything other than his father's genuine love, for most of his life. The offer to host the wedding had been spontaneous, mostly as a way of showing thanks. Sitting here with a man, a virtual stranger, and a family previously unknown to him with members from around the world, he was drawn into a vision of what real family life could be. In Brazil, in similar circumstances he always felt like a stranger, not due to language or even culture, but for reasons he couldn't explain. Perhaps the land there was not his own and the relationship with his father in law was strained because of the secrets he held about Gabriella. Patrick only knew a profound sense of relief and peace for the first time since his wife died.
There were no furtive or clandestine issues in this event to mar the celebration. Two people in love were making a commitment to each other. How he wished there could have been more of that in his life.
Marian stopped at the table to ask if Alejandro had everything he needed. She spoke to him in Spanish. It was clear she had tremendous respect for him. She was on her way to bed and leaned over to kiss the elder gentleman on his cheek.
'Don't get up Alejandro. I just want to say goodnight.' She had toned down considerably. A waft of her unique brand of perfume drifted up between the men. She turned and smiled at Patrick, wishing him a pleasant goodnight. They both observed her retreating back with different thoughts. Marian's movements, as she stepped up into the motor home she shared with three other women, were graceful and unconsciously inviting. Both men sighed, wondering if the provocative gesture was for either of them. Alejandro, who knew her well, doubted it.
Cathy and Jacob returned from their own tryst in the field. A long walk, lingering beneath the clearest late summer moon, enjoying the sounds of nature all combined to make them sleepy. They did little more than grab a light meal, say goodnight to those still hanging around and fall into bed. The day ahead promised to be full. No one wanted to be less than well rested.
Whispered conversations were taking place behind the walls of several trailers despite lights out. Catherine and Vincent did not, it seemed, understand that they needed to rest. The laughter and fun rang out against the walls as they continued their exploration of the budding energy which overflowed from their love.
