Chapter 19

Catherine wasn't able to fall asleep that night since the eventful occurrences of the day still haunted her. She had tried to, once she had arrived at home, right after driving Richard first to a nearby hospital for a check-up and afterwards home to his flat. Luckily Henry hadn't caused any permanent damage and Richard had been released after his wound had been treated properly.

At home she had restlessly rolled from one side of her bed to the other, unable to stop the thoughts that were running round in circles through her head. Eventually she had given up.

Now she was sitting on one of the kitchen chairs, wearing her warmest terryrobe with her legs pulled up, a cup of tea in her hands that had gotten cold in the meantime and stared out into the darkness. Completely lost in thought.

It was way past midnight and Henry wasn't home yet. She wasn't really surprised, not after the scene he had caused. But still, his altered behavior during the past weeks had excite a small glimpse of hope and against her better judgment she had permitted the delusion that her husband was really serious this time to take shape in her head. Her own stupid fault, for sure.

Because now she was convinced that this year would be nothing short of a repetition of all previous office parties. He was most likely already in bed with one of these shameless and tarty girls, fucking out her brain and heaven knew what else.
How the hell could she have assumed that Henry's behavior would change merely for her sake?

But why had he punched Richard at all? And with such ferocity and such a hateful expression in his eyes that had frightened her.

It was no secret that the two men's friendship was similarly shattered as her marriage. As far as she could remember, the first tensions between the former friends had arisen at a time where Henry had started pursuing extramarital liaisons.

Had Henry's infidelity possibly been the main reason for their discord? After what has happened today it was quite conceivable that Richard had taken her side in this matter even back then. He might as well have confronted his best friend on her behalf.
Richard hadn't known that it was her who had given Henry a carte blanche.
Moreover, she had never told Richard about the rape and the torments she had to endure ever since.

Of course, he couldn't help but notice the changes in her behavior. For example that she was stricken by naked fear as soon as she had to enter a parking garage and that she felt uncomfortable in larger crowds, but he had never asked for an explanation. And she had never entrusted him with her secret out of a misplaced sense of shame.
Though he only got a glimpse of the darkness deep within her soul, Richard had always been a reliable friend to her. He also did an excellent job as their personnel manager and he was like an uncle for her children.
But he had never been able or willing to fix the rift between him and her husband.

And after Henry's violent attack she doubted that the former best friends would ever amicably reconcile with each other. Henry was actually lucky that Richard wasn't going to press charges against him.

When the front door opened all of a sudden, Catherine flinched in alarm and nearly dropped her cup of tea.
"Come on," Bash's voice could be heard from the hallway, followed by a rumbling noise and some cursing. Then the ceiling light in the hall came on, which illuminated the kitchen with it's streak of pale light.
"Dad, get a hold of yourself! Otherwise you're going to wake up Catherine and the kids."

With a bad feeling about things to come, Catherine put down her teacup and she quietly moved on tiptoe towards the hallway.
"That's rather unlikely," Henry slurred with an unsteady voice while she took a stand in the doorway between kitchen and hall.
"For sure she'sss ... she is with ... with Richard. And doing god ... god knows what as we speak." The alcohol had already reached Henry's speech centre and his eyes looked glassy and bloodshot. On wobbly legs he bent down to take his shoes off, but he was swaying rather heavy that Sebastian had to intervene to prevent him from falling.

"Please, not again! And even if she does... you know, those who live in the glass house should not throw stones." Henry's eldest son lectured him with an annoyed expression on his face.
"If I were you, I'd rather wish she weren't here. Because she'll certainly kick your ass for what you did tonight."

"That sounds very tempting," Catherine remarked dryly and revealed her presence to the two men in her hall.
"Catherine," Henry, who was busy with his second shoe, looked up in surprise and awkwardly drove around. This sudden movement, combined with his excessive drinking, caused him to loose his balance. Once again Bash prevented a fall. When he had stabilized Henry, he scrutinized Catherine with a critical look.

"I can't blame you," her husbands eldest muttered.
After a short moment of hesitation Sebastian apparently came to the conclusion that her mood was still murderous. So he drove his fingers through his dark hair and with a short nod he pointed in Henry's direction.
"Will he survive the night if I leave him here with you?"
"If you bring him upstairs and see to it that he stays out of my face for the time being, then maybe," she replied offhandedly. A slight shiver ran down her spine and prompted Catherine to tighten the belt of her dressing gown.

Henry, who was still staring at her as if she had grown a second head, took an uncertain step in her direction.
"Kitten... I don't know ... I … I thought you were with Richard. You must believe me, I um..." Henry broke off and stared down at her in confusion.
"What?" she asked angrily, completely throwing him off with her question.
"Huh, what?" Henry echoed lamely.

Deep down Catherine knew that it was pointless to argue with a drunken man, especially when said drunken man was none other than her husband. Nevertheless, she was eager to know why Henry got carried away and punched his former friend and - against her better judgement - she gave in to her curiosity.

"What am I supposed to believe? That you have lost your mind? How could you beat Richard? What was this all about?" The questions that were nagging her literally gushed out of her mouth.
"Maybe you should ask Richard. And while you're at it, you can... you can ask him how long he's been in love with you!" The sheer portentousness of his words made her gasp in indignation.
Sebastian, who had just silently watched their heated exchange, chose this moment to reach for Henry's arm.
"Dad," he admonishingly raised his voice, but Henry just snorted disapprovingly and tried to eluded his son. With unsteady legs he weaved towards his wife.

With a halting gesture, Catherine raised her hand in order to stop him.
"That's enough, Henry." Upon hearing that, her husband winced violently, as if her words had physically harmed him. She couldn't blame him, even she was frightened by the frostiness in her voice.

"Come on, Dad. Let's call it a night. I'm taking you upstairs." Sebastian pushed himself between the couple and lay Henry's arm over his shoulder.

"But I'm having a conversation with my wife," Henry resisted defiantly and tried to free himself from his son's grip in vain.

"But Catherine doesn't want to talk to you right now." With a resolute expression on his face, the younger man pushed Henry towards the stairs, not giving in to his fathers whining.

Whereupon Catherine remained in the hallway completely motionless, she just stared at the two men until they had disappeared from her field of vision.

The terrible feeling of disconcertment was slowly spreading through her body, leaving her in a upset mood. Moreover, the feeling of relief given to the fact that he had come home contrary to her expectations did not quite fit the anger that raged deep inside her very being.

And why the hell did Henry think that Richard was in love with her?

Utterly confused, Catherine returned to the kitchen and her cold tea. She decided to give the men some time before she retired as well as she didn't want to risk running into Henry once again.
Only the Lord alone knew what she was capable of doing in her current state.

So "Walking on broken glass" is the story you want me to update next. And your wish is my command. ;o)
Happy Easter!

And of course – many thanks for your reviews.