Chapter 16

They grew together as a family during the following weeks. Having breakfast all together on a daily basis and cosy evenings in their living room became part of their routine now. After watching a Seahawks' game with Catherine, Francis, Claude and Charlie on TV, Henry decided to buy them tickets for the next game. It's been ages since they've last cheered for their team in a stadium.

Henry liked his newly acquired role as caring father and faithful husband. Even more he liked the forgiving, almost loving glances Catherine gave him from time to time. Glances that warmed his heart.

To his delight she warmed up towards him, he even thought she started trusting him again not only on a private level, but on a professional level as well. So he made sure to take an active part in the planning for their company's anniversary party. He even accompanied her to all possible locations that came into consideration.

Their newfound closeness even went so far, that they drove to the party together in his car as a couple. And unlike the many years before, Henry did not intend to waste this evening with getting drunk and fucking yet another bimbo.

He planned on staying sober except for a glass of wine or beer and most importantly we didn't plan on leaving his wife's side, not even for a second. He knew big crowds made her feel unconfortable.
As soon as Catherine expresses her wish to leave, he would grab her arm and escort her to his car in order to bring her home. If everything went well, he might even be able to steal a kiss or two.

When Catherine had come down the stairs earlier this evening in a gown made of red chiffon with an incredbly daring neckline, her sight had literally taken his breath away. The dress fitted her like a second skin, flattering all her curves in the most exciting way. Curves Henry would have loved to explore.

Between the sweet valley of her breasts he detected the silver necklace he had given her on their fifth anniversary. Henry hadn't seen her wearing this necklace for ages and it gave him a thrill knowing that she'd choosen this special piece of jewelry.
Catherine's honey coloured hair was skillfully pinned up tonight. Except for a few locks that gently framed her beautiful face.

The compliments he had stammered at her sight sounded anything but smooth, but they made her cheeks blush in the nicest way possible none the less.
Henry felt like the happiest man on earth, when he was standing in front of their employees - with Catherine by his side – thanking them for their loyality, their efforts and contribution.

"A glass of wine for you, my dear?" he asked after his speech and watched their employees slowly fan out into the ballroom.
"Yes, I'd love some wine." The smile on her face was so beautiful and genuine that Henry could do nothing but foolishly grin at her, before he looked around in search for a waiter.

Just when he discovered one of the waiters and was heading for the man, he saw Richard de la Croix purposefully approaching his wife from the corner of his eye. The other man's eyes wided in a telltale sign at Catherine's admittedly gorgeous sight.

"You're looking beautiful tonight." Henry drove around and appraised his old friend suspiciously. "Don't get me wrong, you're always beautiful. But tonight..."
At hearing these words, Henry couldn't suppress rolling his eyes in annoyance while a deep and unhappy gnarl escaped his throat. He impatiently placed his order and instructed the waiter to bring their drinks to where Catherine was standing. Then he made his way through the crowd back to his wife.

"Richard. I'm glad you made it." The male CEO patted his former best friend's shoulder harder than necessary, then he put his arm around his wife's waist in a rather possessive way. Catherine gave him an irritated look but didn't try to free herself.
"I wouldn't have missed it for a thousand dollars. I was just congratulating Catherine on this brilliant event. What a wonderfull location." The wide smile Richard casted in his wife's direction made Henry's blood boil.

"Oh yes, my wife is a genius. Ah, here comes our wine. There you go, darling." With a resolute expression on his face, Henry took the two glasses from the waiter and handed one of them to his wife. He didn't wait for Richard to order a trink for himself, but only proposed a toast to Catherine.

"I wasn't aware that Francis was going to invite Mary Scott," their personnel manager suddenly said after the waiter had brought him something to drink.
"Neither was I," Catherine replied and craned her neck in order to catch a glimpse at her son and his escort.
The pair was standing in a quiet corner and only had eyes for each other.

Skeptically Catherine watched her son and the young Scotswoman, who chose this moment to threw her hair back while starting to laugh heartily at something their son had said. Francis grinned all over his face, but when Mary clasped his hand, his openly displayed infatuation gave way to embarrassment. A reaction that amused Henry. Obviously Francis felt more insecure when confronted with the fairer sex than his old man ever had been.

"He actually asked me if it was okay to bring a girl," Henry admitted to his wife, whereupon Catherine turned around and looked at him in astonishment. "It's not okay?" he asked, because he was feeling more and more insecure under her critical gaze.

"Of course it is okay if Francis wants to bring someone. I just wasn't expecting this someone to be Mary Scott." Henry looked at his wife and could tell that she didn't like the thought that a potential business partner was attending their company's anniversary party.

"He is young and inexperienced," Henry defended his son. "And obviously our boy is in love."
"Mhm." Catherine's muttered reply didn't sound very enthusiastic and he wondered whether to put in a good word for Francis or rather to have a serious father-son talk with his boy.

Before they could carry on their discussion, Sebastian came over and joined them. His presence distracted them from Francis and his escort.

Throughout the whole evening, Henry was remarkably attentive to his wife and - for the first time since years – he felt like being part of a real couple. A heartwarming feeling, especially since Catherine seemed to enjoy his touches and the attention he was giving her.

To his displeasure, Richard had also decided to trail after his wife today, which annoyed Henry more than usual. He was well aware that they were friends, but until now he hadn't realized that his former best friend quite obviously had a weakness for Catherine. No wonder,for he had paid far too little attention to her the last few years. Henry wondered why he hadn't ever noticed that the looks his former best friend was giving his wife were more than just friendly.

So he shouldn't be surprised if other men had their eyes on her nowadays. But from now on he would no longer tolerate any rival.

After their dispute more than a decade ago, he had restricted his contact with Richard to a mere professional level. He knew that Catherine had cultivated their friendship over the years, after all he was Francis' godfather, but Henry had stopped caring.

Something he shouldn't have done if he interpreted Richard's reaction to the outfit Catherine was wearing this night correctly. Basically, it was no wonder that his childhood friend seemed to be smitten. Catherine was a beautiful and strong woman who had received far too little attention from her own husband.

"Henry, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I've been thinking about our new software rollout, do you have a minute?" Leith, a young and overambitious programmer who had only been with his team for a few months, had approached their corner and looked at Henry with so much optimistic hope in his eyes that he could not bring himself to downright reject his request. But before he could come up with a halfway diplomatic answer, his wife interfered.

"Henry, why don't you take up this issue with Leith and Richard and I will go looking for a table? Richard, would you be a dear and get us some of these delicious Horsd'oevres? I'm starving."
It was like his wife to take command and boss everyone around. But this determination was one of the qualities Henry had always admired in her and what had attracted him from the beginning.

Catherine was a woman that knew what she wanted. So he nodded in agreement, but didn't leave without giving her a short yet intense parting kiss to show Richard whose wife Catherine was.
"See you later, Kitten. Leave me some Horsd'oevres, would you?"

So here we go – another chapter. I'm sorry it took me so long. What do you think? Is Henry overreacting or is there a reason to be jealous?

Many thanks for your kind reviews. I know I sound like a broken record, but I really mean it. Thank you!