Chapter 21

When Catherine got home with Claude, it was already late afternoon. She had taken her therapist's advice to heart and had actually granted herself some me-time. And time for her daughter.

Since Claude only had classes until noon that day, Catherine had taken this golden opportunity to take her girl to lunch. Afterwards they drove to a nearby mall and went shopping.
It's been ages since they had done anything as mother and daughter and both of them had enjoyed their time together. They've had great talks and laughed a lot. Claude had even persuaded Catherine to try on some lingerie they had admired at a Victoria's Secret store and in the end her daughter had forced her to buy some of the sets.

The nagging feeling of uneasiness about spending a lot of money on something as pointless as sexy underwear disappeared as soon as she recalled the conversation she'd had with her therapist Doris.
Taking care of herself wasn't reprehensible and if a wispof black and red lace could improve her out-of-control body image, then the lingerie was worth every single dollar.

After shopping, Claude had met up with some friends downtown. So Catherine had dropped her daughter off and drove on to her next appointment, also a private one. In a wellness and spa centre.

There she had had a nice full-body massage with warm ethereal oils. And because she had been carried away and told Charlotte to book a complete package with all possible treatments, she had also had her nails and feet done and a facial. All in all these were wonderfully relaxing procedures, except for the waxing, an experience she would like to do without in the future.

Before returning home she picked up Claude and they stopped by at Ha Long - their favourite Chinese restaurant - to order some takeout.
When Catherine steered her Porsche into their driveway, the first thing she noticed was Henry's car.
"I told you that Dad would be home. He has changed, Mum," Claude defended her farther while Catherine's car came to a halt right behind Henry's Mustang.
"Good thing we brought him his favorite as well." Her daughter jumped out of the car and ran to the trunk to take her purchases out. Catherine contented herself with the take-out boxes and her handbag. The rest of the bags would have to wait.

Before they have even reached the doorstep, the door was torn open by Catherine's youngest son.
"I hope you brought something to eat. I'm starving," Charlie greeted his sister. His face lit up as soon as he spotted his mother with the food boxes.
"Ha Long," he exclaim in delight and tore the bags out of Catherine's hands.
"Hello my boy. It's nice to see you, too," she sighed and followed Charles into the house.

In the hallway she bumped into Henry, who was slipping into his sneakers and blocking the hallway.
"Oh, you brought something for dinner? That's great. Charlie kept on whining and nagging me. I was about to go to Ha Long. Well, then I will just get something for myself." Hearing Henry say this stung Catherine in a rather unexpected and painful way. Did he really expect her to buy dinner for anyone but him as a revenge? After everything that had happened between them in the last few weeks? Obviously he did.

"Hold your horses, Henry. We brought you crispy duck in sweet-sour sauce," Catherine said and slipped out of her heels. When she looked up at him and her eyes met his, she caught him gazing at her with such a tender, grateful look that threatened to turn her legs into jelly.
"Kitten..." Henry whispered in awe as if she had saved his life and touched her cheek. Catherine just rolled her eyes and steeled herself against his charm offensive.
"You have to thank Claude. She insisted on bringing you something as well", she answered and walked past him into the kitchen. All the while Catherine was trying to hide how much his gratitude and closeness was unnerving her.

Henry followed her. Even if his wife played down her willingness to bring him some food, he knew that no matter how Claude might have tried to persuade her, Catherine still wouldn't do anything she absolutely didn't want to do. She had consciously chosen to do so and Henry interpreted that as a good sign.
He didn't want to read too much into this, but Henry was sure that this was a first sign that his wife was willing to forgive him. A very small yet first milestone on his way back to her good side.

He hurried to set the table and placed a plate, silverware and something to drink in front of each chair.
"I'll eat upstairs," Charles announced but Henry shook his head in denial.
"No, you're going to eat here. With us," he added and ignored his son's sulking. Upon hearing this, Catherine looked in his direction and questioningly raised an eyebrow. Henry just winked at her mischievously.

Their family dinner was very harmonious by their standards. Only when the kids disappeared in their rooms did Henry realized that he was now alone with his wife and an unfamiliar feeling of excitement struck him.
"Do you have plans for tonight?" he asked casually and was instantly annoyed with himself about how clumsy and uninspired his question sounded.
"I will have a look at the Scott contract Barry sent me earlier. Oh, and I should really get the rest of the bags from my car," his wife revealed willingly.
"Don't bother, I'll get them for you," Henry offered and signaled Catherine to stay seated.

With a smile on his lips, he reached for her keys and crossed the driveway in his socks. After opening the trunk, Henry inspected her purchases with curiosity. Especially one bag caught his attention.
"Look, what do we have here? Victoria's Secret," he muttered and after making sure that no one was watching him, Henry moved the pink paper aside to get a glimpse at the delicate contents of the bag.

"Holy shit," Henry muttered breathlessly while giving the underwear a closer examination. There was one set that stood out significantly. A potential wet dream made of black lace and completely see-through. Being worn, this lingerie would most likely reveal more than it would cover up.
A sinful breath of nothing.
And while he imagined his wife wearing this, a second later he wondered if there was a reason why Catherine had bought such sexy underwear.
For in his opinion, her wearing this lingerie for him was totally out of question. But for whom was she planning to wear it?

All of a sudden a picture of Richard and Catherine appeared in his mind's eye.
Catherine, who had worriedly leant over this asshole after Henry had punched him for having the audacity to admit that he loved another man's wife. His wife! This picture was followed by another notional image. One that showed him Catherine who was lying in Richard's arms, being kissed and loved by him.
An ice-cold shiver went down his spine and Henry dropped slip and bra as if they had burned his skin.

His wife was indeed having an affair. With his former best friend. At once he also remembered the moment with Aylee in Catherine's anteroom and her appointment in the beauty parlor. Including waxing.
His stomach turned at the thought that she might be doing this for Richard, that the other man had seen his wife naked and that this asshole was actually bedding her.

Henry was shellshocked and felt unable to face her now after what he'd just realized. He was too afraid to look into her eyes and see there that it was too late for him and for their marriage, that his efforts were in vain and that she loved another man.

So Henry just dropped her bags in the hallway and shouted towards the kitchen door:
"I'm off to bed, good night."
He didn't even wait for a reply, but fled upstairs. Away from Catherine, away from that damned lingerie. But what he couldn't escape from were his thoughts.

Once he'd reached his bedroom, Henry threw himself on his unmade bed and let out a primal scream, followed by some obscene curses.
Catherine was having an affair. With Richard of all people. For whom she was wearing sexy underwear and endured waxing!
When was the last time he, her husband, had seen her in lingerie or even naked? He couldn't remember. The few times they had jumped each others bones like animals, they hadn't even bothered to fully undress.

He knew that he was wronging Catherine. He himself had betrayed her countless times, albeit with her knowledge and consent.

And then there was her goddamn trauma.
Why was she able to sleep with Richard, allow him to touch her, but kept her own husband at arm's length? Did she associate the trauma she was still suffering from with him? Was that the reason why she could not bear his closeness and his touches? Did his mere existence remind her of the terror she'd had to endure?

If this was indeed the case, how could he even blame her when she was searching for love and safeness in another man's arms?
The more he pondered over it, the more confused his train of thoughts became. So confused that he pulled the blanket over his head and closed his eyes in denial as if to hide from this bitter reality.

He simply didn't know what to do.
Should he continue fighting for her? For their marriage?
Catherine was worth every effort - without question - but was there even a spark of hope left for them?

I hope you liked this new chapter. What will happen now? Will Henry resign or will he confront Catherine and/or Richard? Or... what do you think?

I'd like to thank you for your positive and kind reviews. You rock my world!