Epilogue
The cab pulled up in front of a neat, two story pale blue house set back from road behind a freshly painted white picket fence. Late summer flowers rioted all over the front garden, overflowing the deep beds and almost smothering the small apron of grass. A path led from the driveway around to the front door, also edged in brightly colour pansies and flox. An ornate white letterbox adorned with the legend "Zalanski" painted on the side fought for space with a climbing rose.
The occupants of the car got out, the neatly dressed woman staring around at the neighbourhood while the young man paid the cabbie and lifted out a colourfully wrapped present with a huge bow. The tiny woman walked up the drive and by-passed the front path, heading down the side of the house towards the double garage and the back gate where the sound of voices and music filled the air. Balloons and streamers hung from the fence posts and gate which the woman pushed open, moving into the back yard.
"Marita!" Catherine's clear voice cut across the music, her trim figure wending through the crowd to welcome the newcomer with a warm hug and smile.
"Catherina, you are looking radiant." Marita beamed, planting a kiss on each cheek and patting her face. "Now where is my beautiful Bella."
"Over with my father...my stepfather." Catherine pointed him out, Bella sitting in his lap, the baby munching contentedly on teething rusk.
"You must introduce me, but do not worry, I won't give away any of your secrets, Mrs. Zalanski." Marita gave Catherine an exagerated wink then turned to introduce the young man still carrying the gaily wrapped birthday present. "Oh, I almost forgot, this is my grandson, Valentin." Marita waved the young man towards a table groaning under its load of unopened presents. "Go leave that over there, then your work is done." The young man smiled, well used to his grandmother's managing ways and taking no offense at her ordering him about. They continued on their way to where Thomas Chandler sat with Bella, his wife Brooke at his side.
"Dad...this is Marita, a friend I made earlier this year. She looked after Bella for me."
"Hello Marita, thank you for helping my daughter. I'll be interested to hear how you met, Catherine has been remarkably reticent about her time away."
Catherine protested. "You know why that was, Dad. I'll just get you a chair, Marita."
With her friend settled with her stepfather and his wife, Catherine headed over towards the barbeque, the small group of neighbours and friends gathered around the impressive looking equipment, the smell of cooked steak filling the air. Vincent saw her coming and peeled away from the group of to meet her.
"I saw Marita arrive, how is she?" Vincent asked, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
"The same as ever. I left her with Dad."
"Was that wise?" Vincent asked, shooting a glance over to the small group beside the table.
"As if I had a choice," Catherine retorted with a laugh.
"And how is our birthday girl taking to her Grandfather and step-Grandmother?"
Catherine shushed him. "Don't let Brooke hear you call her that, for heaven's sake."
"Well I'll admit she's the best looking step-grandmother I've ever seen," Vincent teased, Catherine giving him one of her wide eyed stares in an attempt to shut him up.
"Is Heather coming?" he asked. Catherine nodded.
"She'll be late, as always, but I don't think she wanted to miss her neice's party."
"By the way, what do you think of Tess's new boyfriend?" He asked, gesturing to the couple sitting at a table together, deeply engrossed in their conversation.
"I think they make a cute couple."
"What happened to Joe?" Vincent asked, careful to keep his voice down.
"He couldn't seem to decide if or when he was going to leave his wife and Tess gave up waiting." Catherine frowned. "She really loved Joe. I never thought she's be strong enough to give him up."
"People are a constant surprise." said Vincent, kissing her again. Catherine looked over at another couple making their way over to the barbeque.
"J.T looks very cosy with Sarah. I'm glad they decided to have another go at their relationship."
"Me too. It would seem that love is truly in the air." said Vincent
.
"Vincent!" They both turned to greet the woman walking over to them.
"Karen, we are so pleased you could make Bella's first birthday party." said Catherine, Vincent adding. "We owe you so much."
Karen made a dismissive noise and waved her hand. "You don't owe me anything. I've been dying to come and see New York and I haven't had so much fun in years. It certainly keeps you on your toes. You both look as if life is treating you well."
"Life is delightfully normal now, you might say." Catherine looked up at Vincent, the couple sharing a look before returning their attention back to their guest.
Another guest wandered over and slipped her arm cheekily about Vincent's waist. "I like what you've done with the place, Vincent. Becoming quite the handyman." Janet pointed and they all looked over towards the end of the garden and the child sized wooden play house sitting in the shade of a weeping cherry.
Vincent spread his hands. "It was a kitset, anyone could put it together."
"Don't let his modesty fool you, this boy is handy with all sorts of tools. Suppose it keeps you out of mischief, and if I know anything, little Bella won't be an only child for long." Janet smiled smugly at Catherine and Vincent.
Catherine instinctively placed a hand over her abdomen. "How could you know, I haven't even told..." She looked up at Vincent who had a slightly stunned expression on his face.
Janet tugged on Karen's arm and the two women moved away to give them some privacy.
Vincent shook his head and met Catherine's worried gaze. He placed his hand over hers and closed his eyes for a second then they popped open and he grinned. "You are."
Catherine blushed and buried her face against his chest. "I wanted to tell you later. I wasn't sure until this morning."
"Just as well we picked a house with a few extra rooms," he teased. "Maybe we should look at getting a dog soon. We have the picket fence, and a dog would sort of round out the picture."
Catherine looked up into his face. "I thought you didn't like dogs."
"Big dogs, I don't like big dogs. But there's plenty of little dogs, or medium sized dogs..." He kissed her nose, then her cheek. "We could have a pack of dogs."
"And you would be their leader?" Catherine asked, laughing.
"Of course. We'd go up in the hills and howl together." Vincent joked. "Do we tell everybody the good news?"
"About the dogs?" Catherine asked in mock seriousness.
"About the baby."
"Bella? I think they know about her already. It is her birthday party."
Vincent growled and swept her off her feet, Catherine squeeling and kicking her feet, begging him to put her down. He did, and she quickly checked and tidied her disordered hair and dress
"I think it's time we cut that cake, don't you Mrs. Zalanski?"
"I'll get the cake, you go get Bella, Mr. Zalanski."
Vincent watched Catherine walk away, hips swinging. He could watch that sight forever. Snapping out of his daydream he went to fetch his daughter, swinging Bella around until she laughed, her little legs kicking in delight. As Vincent waited for the cake to arrive he looked around at the people scattered around the back yard. This was their normal, the same as any other family enjoying the late summer day, the smell of barbeque in the air, the babble of happy voices, the background beat of music, the feel of his daughter in his arms and the sight of his beautiful wife completing the fantasy that was now a reality.
In the fork of a tree overlooking the back garden a black, nearly invisible camera peered down at the family group celebrating a special occasion. Each of the faces had already been photographed, recognised, cataloged and named. The operator, far away in another part of the continent, adjusted a toggle to zoom the focus, the camera making a faint whirring noise as it extended its lens for a close up picture. The object of its scrutiny held a child in his arms. With uncanny ability the man turned and looked right at the camera, his eyes glowing a bright gold for a long moment before he deliberately turned his back to the watcher, a message to those behind the lens that he knew they were there and chose to deliberately ignore them.
Director Reynolds sat back in the operators chair and watched the silent pictures and marveled anew at Vincent's enhancements. He was glad they'd decided to use the money wisely, the house a good investment in a nice area, not that far, but far enough from the city so they could breath and raise their child in the manner they wanted. His grandchild certainly appeared to be thriving, starting to take her first tentative steps to the applause and adulation of her immediate and extended family.
Leaning forward he toggled a switch and the image disappeared. It would continue to record the garden party, but he'd watch it later. For now he suddenly felt his age and wanted a quiet place to take in what he'd seen.
Maybe he wasn't as indifferent as he thought he was.
Back at the birthday party Vincent helped his daughter take her first steps, holding on to her hands to keep her upright while she carefully lifted each tiny foot and stomped it on the ground, her face alight with success. Everyone was watching, Catherine crouched down on one knee to encourage her child with each step. Bella clutched her fathers fingers until her mother swung her up in her arms and carried her to the table to stare at the pretty cake with it's pattern of lit candles spelling out her age. As her family gathered around, Bella, with some help from her parents, blew out the candles and clapped her hands, along with everyone else. As the excitement got to her, the faintest hint of a spark of gold illuminated her large hazel eyes for a second, then faded, her head of dark curls sandwiched between her parents as camera's flashed to capture the moment.
The End of The Distance.
Author's note.
Thank you to everyone who has enjoyed reading this story, has commented and left reviews and helped with encouragement and suggestions. You all know who you are, and I treasure every one of you. Thank you, and goodnight.
