AN : Hii guys, here we go for another chapter :)
Disclaimer : I don't own these characters and do not make profit out of this.
Chapter 12
At the shop
Henry was currently paying for the new stroller he had chosen for their new born baby girl. He smiled at the thought of Margot, she was so very adorable and he was so lucky to have her. He was sure his wife would love the new stroller he had gotten, he hoped this would help appease the tensions between them… he was miles away from imagining what was currently happening home…
At their house
Catherine was still parked in their alley and trying to control herself. She took one last deep breath and convinced herself that she should leave now. She started the engine of her car, looked at her miraculously still sleeping baby and cast one last glance at her house. Then, she slowly drove away from home while still breathing deeply to stop the tears from blurring her vision. This was the good decision, she whispered… and hoped it indeed was.
Barely some minutes after her car had left their house, Henry came back home. He smiled slightly at the thought of seeing his whole family, well at least the members of his family that were home when he had left.
He got out of his car and took the black and white stroller out of the trunk. Then he made it roll inside the house "I'm back !" he said happily just after he had opened the door.
When he received no answer at least from his sons, he frowned, this was odd… usually Charles would have run to greet him. He removed his coat and shoes and left the stroller in the hall before he walked further into his house.
"Charles ? Francis ?" he smiled as he saw their back, they were both currently sitting on the couch.
"Dad…" Francis turned his head towards his father and saw his smile immediately disappear from his face.
"What is it ?" the general asked worriedly and walked to face them. He was even more shocked and worried when he saw his second son's face marred by tears. "Francis ?" he asked his first son for an explanation.
"It's mom…" he told him softly, he could barely imagine what would be his father's reaction.
"What's wrong with her ? She's in too much pain right ? I knew I shouldn't have left…" he scolded himself and walked quickly to the stairs to go see his wife.
"Dad." The tone of his eldest son stopped him dead in his tracks "You won't find her here."
He got down from the few steps he had already climbed and held the banister with his right hand while he frowned "What do you mean I won't find her here ?"
Charles started to cry again and Francis held him closer "She left while you were away…"
"What ?" his blood ran cold and his face became as pale as snow.
"She said it was best… that she needed it." Francis continued his explanation.
Henry was afraid that if he stayed standing for one more second, his knees would be unable to support his weight so he difficultly sat on the second step of the stairs before this would happen. "Where did she go ?"
"To Madeleine's house… with Margot."
The general nodded blankly… this was surrealistic. "For how long ?"
"She didn't say… but it seemed for a while from the size of her bag." The seventeen-year-old replied truthfully.
Henry closed his eyes in pain and shock for a few seconds. "She… she didn't even tell me." He barely whispered to himself. What had he done to deserve this kind of treatment ?
Francis knew what his father must have been thinking "She didn't know you were away when she left…" he tried to appease his seemingly distressed father. "So she didn't just wait for you to be away to leave behind your back".
Henry swallowed hard "Thank you" he understood his son was just trying to help him and he tried to remain strong.
"I'll take Charles with me to Thomas' house" Francis told his father gently.
Henry nodded, he understood that his youngest son couldn't stay in this house without his mom… he needed some distraction to forget what had happened and frankly, he too could use some time alone to process everything. "It would be a good idea yes…"
Francis nodded "Okay, you heard that Charlie ? Go get your things"
Charles nodded and ran to his room. Meanwhile, Francis walked to his father "I'm sorry…"
Henry looked up at his son since he was still sitting on the stairs "It's not your fault…" he smiled brokenly
"It's mine…" the thought ran into the general's mind.
"I don't know what to say…" Francis admitted sadly.
"It's alright… just make sure your brother is okay… I'll be fine."
Both men nodded and remained silent until Charles came back with his bag.
"Thank you Francis" He smiled sadly at his son while he watched them leaving.
"Of course…" he gave him back his smile and left with Charles. Thomas' house was not so far from here so they could walk to it easily.
The two sons left. The father was left alone.
/-/-/-/-/
In Catherine's car
She had finally managed to make it to Madeleine's house and parked in the street. She took Margot and the bag out of the car and walked the remaining meters until she was just before the house's wooden door. Catherine took a deep breath before she knocked on the door softly.
A few seconds later she heard the approaching steps of her husband's sister… and the door opened.
"Catherine ?" Madeleine was shocked to find her here. "What are you doing here ?" It was only now that she noticed the tiny baby in her arms. "Oh God… Catherine." She made her come inside and sat her on the couch.
"I'm sorry to just come here like that without warning you…" Catherine looked into her friend's eyes.
"You don't have to apologize… Tell me what's wrong Cath." Madeleine was so worried for her best friend.
"I… It's Henry… he… he came back."
"What's wrong with him ?" Now she was worried for her brother.
"Nothing… well, nothing more than usual." She smiled sadly, she was just about to cry.
"Oh Cath…" She took her in her arms.
Madeleine knew of the situation between her best friend and her brother. She was the only one Catherine had confided in, and knew all the details of their marriage throughout the years.
"I… I don't know what to do… he doesn't even know I've left." She cried softly.
"What ? You didn't tell him ?" she frowned, that didn't sound good "what did he do ?"
Catherine sighed "for once, he did nothing wrong…"
"Then why are you leaving without telling him then ?" Madeleine couldn't understand the situation very well.
"I… I don't know… we, we kind of reconciled…" Catherine tried to explain, but she didn't know where to start.
"What happened ?" Madeleine smiled encouragingly and took her hand.
"You know that woman… Diane… I found out she had invented this whole story about being Henry's mistress… he said he never cheated on me" She sighed and looked up into Madeleine's eyes.
"But ?" Her best friend knew there was something more.
"I… I don't know… he's trying… for real, I can see that… but…" she sighed loudly, she didn't even know what to say.
Madeleine nodded and told herself that it was best to avoid pushing Catherine further for an answer. "It's okay… you just probably need time." She smiled softly.
Catherine tried to give her back her smile and nodded.
"But in anyway, you should at least send him a text, so he won't worry too much…" Madeleine knew her brother had always been head over heels in love with his wife… and now that he had found out the fake reason why their ways had parted all those years ago, he must be completely disoriented by Catherine's actions.
Catherine nodded "But what should I tell him ? I don't even understand myself… how should I explain ?" she sighed, she was so exhausted.
Madeleine put her hand on her friend's arm "Just tell him the truth, tell him you're here and that you are safe."
Catherine gratefully smiled "Thank you… I wouldn't know what do to without you." The new mom took her phone and sent this exact text to her husband.
*I'm at Madeleine's house, I'm safe – Catherine*
/-/-/-/-/
During all this time, Henry hadn't left the stairs and was still sitting on the second step, trying to think about what was happening to him… to them… but he couldn't find an explanation. The only thing that made him return to reality was the ringing that his phone made when he received a text message.
AN : I hope you still enjoy this fanfic. I'm sorry I haven't been able to post a new chapter sooner, but my exams are coming soon ;) hihi
