That night there was a gathering of friends and family at Catherine's house. About twelve guests were there and it was lovely and genial. Most of the Iranians spoke English but two or three women only spoke Persian and Ruth was getting on with them wonderfully well as Jamie looked confused at the strange sounding words, as she cuddled him closely.
Harry sat next to Catherine outside on the patio, sharing a bottle of red wine as they both looked at Ruth and Jamie. "How are you really?" Catherine asked.
"Good," he said. "All things considered. I don't know how you feel about Ruth as your stepmother but she is wonderful, and I love her very much."
"You want to know how I honestly feel?" Catherine asked. Harry nodded, very wary about the answer. "I think she's too good for you."
Harry laughed. "I completely agree. She is far too good for me. But for some crazy reason which I still can't fathom after all this time she loves me."
Catherine smiled at him and took another sip from her glass. "Jamie is a complete darling, but I want to ask you something which isn't the kind of thing I can ask over the phone. I'm probably way out of line but I have to ask, did you cheat on her?"
"No," Harry replied firmly, at this moment in time not really caring that his daughter was asking such personal questions.
"Good because I like her," Catherine said sincerely. "Ruth's wonderful but where is Jamie's mother?"
"Dead," Harry said not wanting to get into the whole story. From the tone he used Catherine guessed that terrorist activity was inferred. She let it drop. "Ruth's adopted him."
"Yes, you told me that," Catherine said. She let out a deep heartfelt sigh. "I have something I have to tell you, and I don't want you to start shouting at me. I've given this a lot of thought, and everything you'll want to say to me I will have said to myself a hundred times."
"Now I'm worried," Harry said taking his eyes off Ruth and focusing on his daughter. "Are you pregnant?"
"No," she said with a smile. "Amir. He works for the Iranian secret service."
"Oh Catherine," Harry said appalled.
"Dad, don't," Catherine said, looking at her glass. "They know that his future wife is English and he isn't involved in anything against the UK."
"That's what he's telling you," Harry said in a low growl.
"Dad, please stop it," she said quietly. "I don't question how you've dealt with the many women in your life in past times, can you not question how I live my life?"
"All I want is for you to be happy," Harry said honestly.
"Amir makes me happy," she said with a smile. "I can honestly tell you that when he told me this I considered leaving him because I know how bad yours and mum's marriage got towards the end."
"That wasn't just the job," Harry admitted sadly.
"I know but it didn't help did it?" Catherine said. "Anyway, that isn't the point. The point is I wanted to tell you, and I would really like you to be okay with it. Or at least pretend you're okay, because I want you here for my wedding."
"So what does he do in the Iranian service?"
"He works mainly with American interests," Catherine said. "That and internal Iranian struggles." Harry nodded. Even if it wasn't true there was nothing he could do about it and kicking up a fuss wasn't going to do anyone any favours. "I love him dad," she said quietly. "What if Ruth worked for the American embassy. Would you leave her?"
"Maybe you have a point," Harry said cracking a reluctant smile. Catherine smiled too, feeling that the worst was over. "They will have looked into you, you know."
"I know," Catherine said.
"They'll know who I am," Harry said feeling an ice cold stab of worry.
"Calm down," Catherine said. "I know that for you coming to Iran isn't a small thing. I love that you came here for me. I told Amir that having my father at my wedding was important to me. Nothing will happen, I promise."
"You have extra security planned?"
"What do you take me for?" Catherine asked. "I'm your daughter after all." Harry smiled and kissed the top of his daughters head. "Its why mum isn't here. She thinks I'm insane and repeating her mistakes."
"That's no reason to miss her daughter's wedding," Harry said, disappointed in his ex wife. "Is that why you didn't tell me until I got out here?"
"Yes," Catherine said. "I wanted at least one of my parents here. Mum… She wanted me to change my mind. It wasn't happening and she couldn't accept that. Anyway, that's how we can afford this beautiful house and our large wedding."
"Thank you for telling me," Harry said sincerely. "I can't imagine that was easy."
"No," she said. Catherine didn't say anything else because Ruth came over to them at that moment, Jamie's head lolling on her shoulder.
"I'm going to put him to bed but then I'll be back down okay?" Ruth said.
"You've been looking after him all day, I'll do it," Harry said.
"You don't see your daughter often. I'll put him to bed." Ruth kissed his cheek and Harry kissed Jamie's head before they went into the house.
"I couldn't do what she's doing you know," Catherine said. "Treating him like he's her own child. And Jamie clearly loves her."
"He does. Ruth… it looks unlikely that she'll ever have children," Harry slowly admitted.
"Then that makes it even more incredible," Catherine said. "Look, if you ever do anything stupid enough to let her go, you're an even bigger fool than I ever imagined."
"Says the dutiful and loving daughter," Harry said with a smile.
"You are going to tell him that Ruth isn't his mother," Catherine said.
"Of course, when he's older," Harry said. "Ruth collected some photos of her and has kept them for him when he's older. She doesn't think I know that, but she wouldn't be her if she did anything else. How do you explain to a baby that the woman he looks after him everyday isn't his mum?"
"Point taken." Catherine topped up their glasses just as Ruth was coming back outside. She sat down next to Harry and looked at Catherine.
"You look remarkably calm considering you're getting married tomorrow," Ruth said.
"You were calm before our wedding," Harry pointed out.
"I might have looked it but I don't think I'd ever been so nervous in my life," Ruth said.
"I'm more excited at this point," Catherine said. "I love my dress, I had my final fitting yesterday."
"Ignore your fathers scowls and tell me what its like," Ruth said without looking at her husband, just squeezing his hand.
"A beautiful white and sparkly full length dress which is just perfect. It's silk and has loads of crystals on the skirt and I am boring dad silly."
"Mm?" he said being drawn out of his thoughts. Both women laughed. Ruth leaned against Harry's shoulder and smiled as Harry stroked her hair without thinking about it. Catherine felt happy that her father seemed so content, tinged with a little sadness that her parents never had this relationship. "Is Jamie asleep?" Harry asked his wife.
"Yes, drifted right off," she replied.
"He's very good considering he's in a strange country with people he doesn't know," Catherine said.
"He's a good boy," Ruth said, the clear love she felt shining through her voice. Catherine smiled at Ruth and wondered how it had taken is father so long to find the woman who was so clearly right for him.
I hope I've got the emotion between Catherine and Harry right here. What do you think?