The Same Last Name
A/N Last flashback chappie!
Chapter 4
Catherine had been shocked. Since that night, Vincent had practically avoided her, pulling in extra shifts at the hospital. He left before she got up and came home long after she was in bed. Catherine didn't understand what had happened. Why didn't he want to be around her anymore?
Catherine deliberately stayed up late that night, waiting for Vincent to get home. Finally, at about 1am, he crept in the door. He looked up and was startled to see Catherine sitting on the couch. He approached her silently, and sat beside her.
"Catherine, you should be sleeping. Why are you still awake?" he had asked her.
Silently , she held up the test. He took it and just stared at it. Finally, his head dropped and he looked at her with guilty eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked. Catherine nodded. "Shit!" he exclaimed softly.
Catherine stared at him, trying to understand his response. Wasn't he happy? Finally, she realized that he wasn't even sitting next to her anymore. She glanced up to see him pacing the room. He tugged at his hair, a tortured look on his face.
"Catherine, can we talk about this in the morning? I need to process this," he said. Silently, she nodded and walked back to her bedroom. She had no way of knowing the windfall that had just been started.
When Catherine woke up, she walked to the living room, expecting to see Vincent. Instead, the house was silent. She hung her head, and cried. What she didn't know was at that very moment, Vincent was sitting in his parents mansion, in a very heated argument with them.
Vincent came from a prominent and wealthy family. His father, Michael Keller had inherited the family business of diamonds from his father. He was rather irritated that none of his 3 sons was interested in following his footsteps. Vincent's 2 older brothers had become firefighters, losing their lives in the Towers during 9/11.
When Vincent told his parents about Catherine's pregnancy, they berated him and called him a jackass for not using protection. They refused to have their good name tarnished by Vincent's bastard child. He was given an ultimatum: marry Catherine or be disowned.
So, without quite realizing what was happening, Catherine found herself standing in front of a Justice of the Peace, watching as Vincent placed a wide gold band on her left hand. There were no witnesses to their union.
That night, Catherine moved her things into Vincent's bedroom. She stared at her hand, and wondered how everything had happened so fast.
In their bedroom that first night, Vincent reached for her, clearly happy at least then, for her company. He slowly taught her the pleasure of physical love, and Catherine was a willing participant. And so it continued every night.
Daytime, however, was a different story. Vincent was cool and distant, never angered by any mistakes she made. When morning sickness first began striking, he would hold her hair and give her water.
Catherine began feeling like she was living with 2 different people: the distant Vincent by day, and the sensual Vincent by night. Catherine hoped that once the baby came, they could bring out something together in Vincent. She wanted his love.
Catherine had quickly fallen in love with Vincent. She tried to bring him in to her pregnancy, asking him to come to appointments and ultrasounds. He always politely refused, saying he was needed at the hospital. Catherine didn't show it, but she felt like she was a burden to him, a burden that he never wanted.
Catherine was 7 months pregnant, and home alone when it happened. She hadn't been feeling well all day, and felt something wasn't right. As she stood up from a chair, she felt a warmth between her legs. Pulling down her pants, she touched her thigh. Bright red blood coated her fingers.
She tried calling Vincent, but his phone went to voicemail. Calling 911, she told them frantically, "My baby...I think I'm losing my baby."
They rushed her to New York General, whisking her immediately into the OR. A nurse tried to page Vincent several times, but he wasn't responding. By the time Vincent heard what had happened and came running, Catherine had delivered the baby by C-Section. Catherine had an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, and the baby was lying in an incubator, her chances grim.
Over the next week, Catherine lay in her hospital bed, overcome with the grief of losing her baby girl. Vincent came everyday, and Catherine thought he almost looked relieved at the loss.
Her in-laws also came to visit, bringing her gifts and bath products. What they felt, she couldn't tell. All she knew was that no one seemed to care that her precious baby was gone.
Catherine was dozing in her bed a couple days later, when she heard her father in law talking to one of his friends. She listened carefully, and felt chills creep up her spine.
"What about the girl?" the friend asked.
"Well, nothing of course, until she is well. But we are confident that a quick divorce can be procured. After all, they only married for the sake of the child. Why should Vincent be tied down for the rest of his life to a woman he doesn't even love?" was the cynical reply.
"Is that even possible?" the friend had replied.
"With enough money, anything is possible," came the confident response.
Catherine laid there and wept. He was right. They had married because of the baby. Now, there wasn't a baby. Why should she hold Vincent in a life he never wanted? She loved him enough that she knew she had to let him go.
She had planned to talk to Vincent about it, but could never find a good time. She finally decided that she would talk to him at home. However, her first night back, he told her, "You need rest. I'll sleep in the guest room." She knew then that she would never be able to talk to him.
Without his knowledge, she went to his father and told him she wanted a divorce. Michael Keller was surprised. The girl had more gumption than he realized. He was further surprised when she told him she wanted no money from them. The only thing she wanted was for Michael not to tell Vincent. Grudgingly, she had earned his respect.
The day the divorce papers came through, she signed them quickly and left his office, holding her head high and fighting tears. She had his assurance that Vincent would receive the papers that night. In her pocket was a bus ticket for Buffalo, New York. Packing quickly, she took off her wedding ring and placed it on the table. That alone would make Vincent realize their marriage was over.
She had first gotten a job waiting tables. Her carefree manner from school now brought in huge tips. Eventually she had left, and found her current job at Spatastic. She thought the past was finally behind her.
God had a terrible sense of humor...
Next chappie will pick back up in present time. Review!