The Same Last Name

A/N Wow! Seriously, all of you just rock! So, they finally saw each other again. Now comes the fun stuff...he he he...

OMG! Did anyone else totally freak out watching tonight's Epi? That fight scene and Vincent carrying Catherine to safety...SWOON!

Chapter 6

They walked silently, side by side. Catherine had forgotten how it felt to stand beside him. The top of her head just reached his shoulders. She was aware of his even breathing, the easy way he moved beside her. Catherine's heart picked up its beat a notch.

A sigh from him brought her head around. He had a blank face, and his eyes stared straight ahead. Wordlessly, he took her hand and guided her toward a bench that stood about 10 feet in front of them. Gently, he pushed her down on it, and sat beside her. They stared at each other. Finally, he spoke.

"My God, Catherine! This is a shock. I honestly never thought I would ever see you again. I keep thinking I'm losing my mind, that you aren't really here."

Catherine chuckled. "I'm really here. I was shocked when I found out you were here. I honestly didn't know how I would avoid running into you."

"Where did you go? When I got home that night, and all your stuff was gone, I have to admit, I freaked out a little. And then, my father's assistant showed up with the divorce papers. Why, Catherine? Why didn't you talk to me?" he implored.

Catherine swallowed hard. This was the part she had been dreading. Leave it to Vincent to cut right to the chase. "I bought a bus ticket to Buffalo. I was a waitress for a couple years, before I came here. I've been here for 3 years."

Vincent's mouth pressed together, his lips forming a white line. He nodded for her to continue.

"I honestly didn't know what to say to you. How could I honestly keep you in a marriage that you didn't want? You deserved to live your life, and I knew you couldn't do that married to me. So, I went to your father. He handled everything. I asked him not to tell you. That was my choice. He respected my wishes."

"Catherine, you should have talked to me. We could have figured things out. You didn't have to just disappear. God, I worried about you so much. I thought about hiring a PI, but I had no idea where to even have them start looking."

"I thought it was for the best, Vincent," she told him quietly. "After everything that happened, and the baby..."

Vincent opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off when Heather yelled, "Cat! We need you inside."

Catherine stood up, and looked at Vincent. "I have to go now. I'm sorry." Quickly, she headed back toward the front desk. Turning around at the door, she was surprised to see Vincent still sitting on the bench, a pensive look on his face.

Catherine kept busy the next couple days. She saw Tess and...what was her name? Alex, several times a day. They were definitely taking advantage of the spas luxuries. The men she saw rarely. She hadn't seen Vincent since she left him sitting on the bench. Was he avoiding her now?

As Catherine rounded a corner, she ran into a large, male body. Arms grabbed her to support her. Looking up, she saw it was Evan.

"Woah there, Cat! In a hurry to see someone?" he asked.

"No, I just wasn't paying attention. Lots going on, ya know."

"Seems to be going around,"he mumbled. Catherine threw him a questioning look. Evan sighed, and said, "Our friend, Mr Keller, seems to be suffering from the same affliction. He's either wound tighter than a kite, or it takes forever to get his attention."

"I'm sure I had nothing to do with that," Catherine said, trying to defend herself. Evan laughed.

"Right," was his only reply. He nodded at her, and made his way down the hall.

Catherine stood there, shocked. Was what he said the truth? Was Vincent... no! He was just still in shock. That was all.

A short time later, Catherine was watering some flowers along the nature trail, when she heard voices coming toward her. She was about to walk back up the trail, away from them, when she realized it was Vincent and Alex. Quickly, she ducked down behind the flowers.

Peeking through the leaves, she saw that they walked side by side, Alex's arm looped through his elbow. She was laughing and Vincent smiled at her. Funny, he didn't look "wound up tighter than a kite."

"So, that's the ex?" Alex said, surprising Catherine. Vincent shrugged. "She's very pretty." Catherine was shocked. Why was she complimenting her? What game was she playing?

"Yes, Catherine always was pretty," Vincent replied. Alex laughed.

"Oh, Vince, you seduced that poor girl, didn't you?"

"Not in so many words," Vincent replied, surprising Catherine. Alex stopped walking, and raised an eyebrow.

"She seduced you?"

"Catherine had just gone through a very traumatic experience. It was a mutual seduction."

Catherine was very surprised at the amount of information that Vincent was giving away. He was never like that before. Catherine now wondered just how close the two of them were.

"Of course she got pregnant," Alex stated.

Vincent didn't answer. Alex glanced at him and continued, "You didn't have to marry her, ya know. You could have just provided for the baby financially. Lots of people do it every day."

"Not me. I wouldn't do that to my child. After everything, both of them deserved better than that," Vincent said with conviction.

"So, why did you divorce her, then?" Alex asked, curiosity coloring her words.

"She divorced me, actually."

"How extraordinary! Why?"

"Pride, I suppose." Catherine was surprised he answered that question. "I came home and she was just...gone. I had no clue that she had been planning any of it. It was..." Vincent broke off.

"Well, she was virtually a child. One couldn't expect her to act maturely," Alex smirked.

Vincent just stared ahead. Alex tugged on his arm, and they continued their walk in silence.

Catherine sat there dumbly, as they moved farther away from her. She was shocked at what Vincent had revealed. Catherine suddenly wondered if she hadn't made a terrible mistake by running away...

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