Disclaimers: Not mine

Spoilers: Inside The Box

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THE PERFECT FAMILY

(Chapter 15)

"So something happened, right? I can tell I'm right. You don't have to a say a word and I can just tell that somethng happened." Katie let out a loud laugh as Catherine rolled her eyes and answered with continued silence. "So?"

"So what?"

"Aren't you going to tell me?"

"I thought you already knew everything? You don't need me to talk."

"C'mon Cat!"

"What do you wanna know, Katie? I know that whatever I say, you won't believe me."

"Try me."

"Nothing happened."

"I don't believe you."

"See!"

"Ok, so nothing happened...but you did talk, right?"

"Yes, we did. And that was it. We talked."

"That's boring." Katie shrugged, "I just thought if anyone's going to get some in this house, it might as well be you."

"Do you always have to talk about sex?"

"I'm sorry! I haven't seen Paul in a week! I'm deprived."

Catherine shook her head. "You've been married for 10 years and you two still act like newlyweds."

"That's love. I'm sure when you and Gil get married, you'll be the same way."

"Katie, we've barely passed the friendship line."

"It's only a matter of time."

"What's only a matter of time?"

"Mom! What did I tell you? You shouldn't be walking so much on your own! Here, sit down!" Katie quickly sprinted over to their mother and helped her to a chair.

"Katie, I may be dying but I'm not dead yet."

Catherine couldn't help but smile at her mother's truthful humour.

"What are you smiling at?" Katie retorted.

"Mom's a grown woman, Katie. Give her a little freedom."

"And when did you jump sides?" Katie said with a serious voice but a big smile on her face. "I'm gonna go wake my baby up. You two don't cause too much trouble, ok?"

Catherine waited until her sister was out of the kitchen before turning back to her mother. "So...you uh...sleep well?"

"Very well. You?"

"Pretty well." Catherine nodded and searched her brain for something else to say, not wanting an awkward silence to arise.

"Catherine, I don't want you trying so hard to make conversation. We don't have to talk." Her mother seemed to be able to read her mind. Noting Catherine's caught-off-guard look, her mother smiled, "We may have not seen each other for years but I still am your mother."

"Right."

"So where's Gil?"

At her question, Catherine let out a small chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing..." Catherine shook her head, "It's just that at work, he's this closed-off kinda guy. He doesn't interact much with people unless necessary and here, he's on first-names basis with everybody. It's weird."

"Well maybe he wants to be open here."

"Maybe."

"Maybe he has a reason to be open here."

Catherine looked suspiciously at her mother then sighed, "You've talked to Katie, haven't you?"

"Katie didn't have to say a word. These old eyes can see love from a mile away."

"Mom, it's not like that."

"Don't be silly, Catherine. I see the way he looks at you. Don't you think it's time to move on? I know you deserve to be happy and I can tell you're happy with him."

"Mom..."

"I know. I know it's too soon for me to try to be a mother to you again. So why don't you treat these words as ones coming from a friend? If you love him, let him know. Because you if you wait, you may lose your chance forever."

Catherine considered her words then asked, "Is that what happened to you? With Sam?"

Her mother looked away and it was her turn to be silent.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

"No, you have every right to know." Her mother looked back at her. "Yes, I waited too long to let Sam know how I felt. I thought he knew but I guess he didn't. When I found out I was pregnant with you, I wanted nothing more than to have a family with him but I never told him my wishes. So he kept working and I kept getting more frustrated. Then finally I couldn't take it anymore but it was too late."

"He already met his wife?"

"Yes, she was a waitress at one of his hotels. When I told him I was pregnant, he told me he was in love...but not with me."

"I'm sorry." Catherine said genuinely. She had never known how painful this was for her mother.

"It's in the past."

"No, I mean I'm sorry for making such a big deal out of this. I never realized how hard this was for you. I never even considered the possibility that maybe you didn't tell me because it was just too painful."

"It's doesn't matter anymore. Katie's father was a noble man who agreed to marry me and take care of you. He was everything I wanted Sam to be."

"He loved you."

"He did. I just hope he knew I loved him just as much."

"I'm sure he did."

"I wish you could've known him better."

"I do too, Mom, I do too."

*To be continued*