The story of Catherine Lawrence is in 15 parts and I apologise for such a long story but it got out of hand. All 15 parts are completed and for those who like to print the story so you can read it in bed, I will have all 15 parts posted soon.
Carmenica

 

Catherine Lawrence

by Carmenica Diaz

Part 9

 

And then the hard work began, playing Simone six nights a week for six weeks. It was exhausting but we found ourselves getting into the routine and still did not lose the spark, the excitement.

The audiences flocked to see the play, the first four weeks, Henri enthusiastically told us, were sell outs and tickets were still being sought for the rest of the season. It was then that Henri began tentatively talking about a second season and began searching for an actor to play Simone.

Apparently, the last performance of this company was completely sold out.

Once a fortnight, I went to a salon to be pampered, a full facial, eye lashes and it was wonderful. Bel insisted on doing my hair but she also taught me many new ways of doing my hair and my make-up.

My breasts were becoming quite uncomfortable and Helen expressed surprise when she examined me. 'Your own breasts have grown dramatically,' she said and I stared down. 'A definite A cup,' she said with a grin. 'Are you still committed to this, Cate?'

'Yes, I really want to do this, Helen.'

'I'd better make an appointment for you to see Vincent Singh. I've already spoken to him.'

I looked away as I hesitantly asked, 'Does he know?'

Helen shook his head. 'As far as he's concerned, you're another woman who wishes to have her breast size enhanced. In this day and age, that's nothing strange. He's had many show business patients and understands the need to keep the operation completely confidential. He's very nice and always proud of his work.'

'What about when I'm under the anaesthetic?'

'The operation is relatively quick and the anaesthetic light so there is no need for a catheter. You'll have someone there?' I nodded. 'No problem then, just relax, Cate. Will I make the appointment for the initial examination?'

'Yes please, when?'

'I'll see if I can arrange it for Friday morning. I'm afraid you're going to have to return to the flexible breast forms, no more glue.'

Helen was right, Vincent Singh was very nice and he explained completely what he was going to do.'

'The scars will be under the breasts and they will not be visible after a time. You have decided on a D cup?'

I blushed and nodded. 'It's the size I've been, you know…'

'I perfectly understand and it suits you admirably. You will have someone who will stay with you? I insist on patients staying one night?'

'Yes, I do.'

 

I told Lucy I was worried at the cost and she smiled. 'I wouldn't worry, Cate.'

'Well, I do! It's a lot of money.'

'I know but I have received an offer from Sascha Cosmetics. I hear you know the Director of Marketing?' Lucy asked with a sly grin and I blushed.

'Yes, I do.'

'They are interested in using you to promote a range of lip-gloss and eye shadow. It would just be billboards and magazines advertisements initially but they're willing to pay fifty thousand to use one photograph in all media and a guarantee you won't promote another cosmetic line for two years. Interested?'

'Yes, it sounds great. When?'

'I've said not until after the first season and you've had a chance to relax. They'll do the shoot then and they've agreed. Will I say yes?'

'I could use the money, Lucy. Say yes, it makes me feel better about spending the money on the operation.'

I picked up my bag. 'Whom were you talking to at Sascha?' I asked idly but she wasn't fooled.

'A young man called Byron Goodward. Do you know him?' she asked innocently.

'No, I don't.'

'Apparently, the Director of Marketing, suggested he have a look at you.'

'I see,' I said, trying to be cool. 'I have to run, I'm late.'

'Ok, I'll tell you another time what Byron said his boss called you.'

She was grinning widely when I turned back. 'What?'

'Thinking man's crumpet.'

'Oh my,' I said, face burning.

 

Every one was looking forward to the mid-season break. It was the time to relax while the backstage crew did repairs and maintenance, props were refurbished and the actors time to regather.

It appeared we were all flying off in different directions. Wade was going to America to begin promoting his movie, Humpy to his country home and Richard was going fishing. When they asked me, I brushed it aside and said I may go walking in Scotland or something, I hadn't decided.

In fact, I was going to Doctor Singh's private rooms immediately for the operation. Finally, I would have real breasts.

 

I was quite sick when I woke but Belinda told me it was just the effects of the anaesthetic. Although I still felt nauseous after a while, it wasn't as bad and I didn't feel like vomiting again.

A strange nagging feeling shifted through my chest when I moved as well as a dull pain.

Belinda saw the grimace and smiled sympathetically. 'Everything went ok, Doctor Singh told me it was perfect.'

I resisted the urge to look inside the hospital gown but some bandages peeked through the neckline and I could see the large shapes of my new breasts. I felt strangely proud and I sighed as I leaned back, closing my eyes.

I must have dozed off and woke to find the nurse giving me an injection. 'For the pain,' she said with a smile and I nodded. Belinda gave me a drink of water, helped me to the small bathroom and back to bed where she sat by my side as I dozed again.

The next day, I felt so much better, no longer sick but the pain in my chest was larger and more persistent. Belinda walked in and smiled. 'Good morning, sleepy head, I'll get some breakfast.' Before I could protest, she had gone and soon returned with a tray. I managed to eat some and the nurse returned to help me wash in order for me to go home. The bandages, she told me, would come off the next day when I returned.

I was very careful for the rest of the day at the flat and Bel fussed over me all the time. The pain was uncomfortable but not unbearable. The next day, I stared at the bandages as I attempted to wash and wondered what my new breasts would look like.

That night, I was feeling much better and when Bel and I were watching television, I cheekily asked, 'And what's going on with you and Rodney?'

Bel went red. 'We're friends, that's all.'

'Friends like you and me?' I raised an eyebrow.

'Well, not actually, not like that at all.'

'Like you and Mark, then?

'No, it's different. We just talk about things.'

'I have noticed,' I grinned. 'You look good together.'

'You think so?' she asked anxiously. 'Cate, I really like him.'

'I know. He's cute.'

 

The next day, the nurse, who I now knew was Carol, began to remove the bandages. Bel was waiting outside and I suddenly felt a little afraid.

'Don't worry,' Carol said with a smile, as she began to remove the bandages. 'Doctor Singh is the best and he was extremely proud of his work for you.'

She did it swiftly and efficiently and didn't hurt me much at all and I was suddenly staring at my new large breasts. Although there was dark bruising, they looked wonderful and I was afraid I would cry. 'They are swollen,' Carol said gently, 'so they will appear bigger than you thought but the swelling will be gone by tomorrow night but the bruising will take longer. The tenderness and the bruising should all be gone by the end of next week. Now, this may hurt a little but I must examine the scars.'

The scars were under each breast and Carol gently lifted each breast smiled and then introduced me to the heavy surgical bra I had to wear for the next three days.

Doctor Singh breezed in, told me again how proud he was of the work and assured me of the confidentiality.

On the way home, Bel looked at me and asked, 'Happy?'

'Yes, very happy.'

The swelling vanished quickly and the bruising was also fading. I was uncomfortable sometimes on stage but managed to hide it. I grimaced once when I bumped against a chair the first day back. Richard had called a meeting to get us refocused after the break and everyone chatted about what they did. Humpy noticed my grimace and was concerned. 'Cate, everything ok?'

I thought quickly. 'I bruised myself when we went tramping in Scotland, that's all.'

He rolled his eyes at the thought of such barbaric exercise and the meeting resumed.

Bel and I had bought some more bras and I loved the way my breasts felt, so natural and part of me. The breasts forms had been so fake, I realised but I was the only person who could really tell the difference. I had complained to Helen that I had a small pain in my back and she laughed. 'I'm afraid you have a little more weight at the front now, you have to support them and improve your back muscles.'

After two weeks, Lucy brought flowers and a bottle of wine to celebrate. After a few glasses, Bel and Lucy stared at me with strange smiles.

'What?'

'Come on,' Lucy said, grinning.

'Come on, what?'

'Give us a peek.'

Bel nodded. 'Come on, we're been dying to see.'

'I don't…'

'Come on, it's only us girls.'

Sighing, I pulled my top off over my head. I was wearing a blue lace under wire bra and both girls stared.

'Wow,' Belinda said. 'Now that's cleavage.'

'There,' I said.

'Is that all we get to see?'

'Yes.'

'Oh, come on,' they wheedled and I sighed, unsnapped my bra. 'Wow,' Lucy said.

'They're perfect,' Bel said in a low voice. 'There's no scars.' I put my bra and top back on. 'Are you still happy?' Bel gently asked me.

'More than anything.'

I wore a low cut black top with string straps with jeans, boots and my favourite leather jacket to a cast meeting. I was embarrassed to be borrowing Bel's jacket all the time so I finally purchased mine. It was soft black leather imported from Italy and I loved it.

I sat down on an empty chair next to Humpy, took my notebook out when I was suddenly aware the conversation had stopped. I looked up and around the group, puzzled. 'What?' I asked and the men suddenly appeared very busy with their notebooks and clipboards.

'Nothing,' Richard said.

'No, nothing,' Wade said but his eyes flickered back to my breasts and I smiled, bending over my notebook, pretending not to notice.

Monica came up to me after the meeting. 'So,' she said with a sly smile, 'about time you stopped covering up your assets.' She winked and moved over to talk to Henri.

Only three weeks to go and the season was over. It had become a grind and, although I would miss working with everyone, I really need a break and time to make some decisions.

Lucy called me one morning. 'Guess what?' She was giggling.

'I'm too tired to guess anything.'

'Someone rang me today and wanted to know if I could give him your telephone number.'

'Who?'

'Stephen Edwardes.'

I gulped. 'Oh. Did you give it to him?'

'Of course not,' she said indignantly, 'I don't give out my clients private numbers.'

'Oh,' I said and I was strangely disappointed.

'I did tell him I would call you and ask if you wanted him to have the number.'

'Oh,' I said again and this time my heart was pounding.

'Do you want me to give him your number?' Lucy asked gently.

'I don't know, Lucy,' I wailed.

'You like him don't you?'

"Yes,' I admitted.

'So?'

I took a deep breath. 'Give him the number.'

 

We were shopping for the dresses for the end of season party when Bel casually announced that she was now officially dating Rodney. Lucy and I hugged and congratulated her.

We were in a coffee shop, taking a break when Lucy casually asked, 'What's he like in bed?'

Shocked but also intrigued, I covered my mouth with my fingers as I waited for the answer. Poor Bel, she was a little flushed but also grinning. 'Not bad,' she said with a wink and we laughed madly.

We had Bel and Lucy's dress and we were walking past a window when I saw it. It was red, off the shoulder and low cut but form fitting. Bel and Lucy laughed when they saw the expression on my face. 'I think we just found Cate's dress,' Lucy said to Bel.

It fitted so well and I posed in it for my friends. 'Well, that's good,' Bel said calmly, 'I won't have to do your face for the party.'

I screwed my face and pouted. 'Why not?'

'Because no man will be looking at your face all night,' Bel said in a matter of fact tone. Lucy shrieked and both of them fell about laughing while I pretended to sulk.

'Did you see the reaction when she wore that black top?' Bel giggled.

'No,' Lucy said, 'I wasn't there, tell me.' I knew Bel had already told her and they had teased me about it for days.

'Don't, I said. 'Should I get this dress?'

'Truly,' Lucy said, 'it's perfect, you look fantastic in it so buy it.'

As I was paying for the dress, the woman behind the counter kept looking at me. 'Excuse me, Miss Lawrence,' she said looking at my credit card for my name, 'but I've seen your photograph in the newspapers, haven't I?'

'You may have,' I said cautiously.

She nodded. 'I knew you were a model or something.'

 

We were having lunch when my mobile phone rang. Quickly, I pulled it from my bag and tried not to look embarrassed as some of the other diners scowled.

'Hello?'

'Hello, Cate,' the deep voice reverberated in my head, 'this is Stephen. I hope it's not inconvenient to call?'

'No,' I croaked, held the phone away, cleared my throat and said, 'No, of course not.'

'Lucy Richards gave me your number so…'

'It's perfectly all right, Stephen,' I said and both Lucy and Belinda raised their eyebrows.

'Cate, I was hopeful,' he stumbled and, as he sounded very nervous, I suddenly knew he was about to ask me on a date! 'I mean, if you were willing and I was acceptable company, in your eyes of course, if you would consider a supper after your performance. With me, of course,' he added and I felt my heart pound. What was I to do? My friends were waiting, faces serious.

I made up my mind. What harm could come from a supper? 'I would love that, Stephen. When were you thinking?'

I could hear the relief in his voice. 'Any night, tonight, perhaps?'

'Tonight?' Bel and Lucy frantically shook their heads. 'I'm sorry, Stephen, I can't tonight, tomorrow night perhaps.'

'That will be wonderful. I'm frightfully new to the theatre,' he said. And I'm frightfully new to being a woman, I thought. 'Do I come backstage, Cate?'

'Yes, I'll tell Rodney you'll be coming.'

I hung up and both girls were grinning. 'Why not tonight?' I asked.

Bel rolled her eyes. 'You just have to get a new dress.'

'And it's good to let him wait.' Lucy smiled and called the waiter over for the bill. 'We have to find your outfit.'

'I could wear my new dress.'

'On a first date?' Bel laughed. 'There is a real tart hiding under that angelic exterior, Lucy.'

I blushed and Lucy rolled her eyes. 'Hardly angelic, Bel.'

 

We decided on a simple soft dress in a delightful dark blue. When the shop assistant was wrapping it, I suddenly felt nervous and strange. I guess it suddenly hit me then, the realisation of what I had agreed to do.

'What's his number, Lucy?' I said in a panic after I took the bag and walked outside. 'I have to call him, tell him something's come up and I can't meet him! No!' I said, seized with a new idea. 'Lucy, you ring him! Tell him I'm ill or tired or…'

'Cate,' Lucy said gently, 'calm down.'

'Ring him!'

'All right,' Lucy said with a glance at Bel, 'I will but later. Shall we take a taxi to the theatre?'

I sat silently in the taxi and the girls didn't say anything either until we were seated in the dressing room.

Finally, in a low voice, I said, 'don't call him, Lucy. I can't do that, can I?'

Bel and Lucy shook their heads. 'No,' Bel said quietly.

'I'm sorry, Lucy, for yelling at you,' I murmured, eyes filling. 'I panicked.'

'I know, it's understandable.'

Bel sat down. 'There's nothing to panic about, Cate. You've stood up and performed your heart out in front of thousands of people, bared your bloody soul for god sakes!'

I flinched, taken aback by her ferocity. 'But…'

'It's just a supper, Cate, that's all! Don't make it more than that, ok? Please don't,' she said in a gentler tone. 'Do you understand what I'm trying to say?'

'I think so. Thanks, you two. I'm a goose.'

'It's natural,' Bel said, hugging me.

'Natural?' I said a little bitterly.

'Yes,' Lucy said seriously, 'I was petrified on my first date. What about you, Bel?'

'I was physically sick three times before he picked me up.'

'Really?' I asked in delight.

'Oh yes. I have a few horror stories,' Bel said with a wink.

'I'm still having them,' Lucy said sadly and I hugged her.

'I'm really sorry, Lucy. I was a bitch!'

'Miss Hoity Toity…'

'Please,' I laughed, 'don't start!'

 

'You'll be fine,' Bel said again as I checked myself in the mirror.

I was trembling and my heart was racing. I had seen Stephen waiting patiently in the corridor as I came off the stage. Bel had rushed me past him and said, 'Give her time to change?'

'Of course,' he said with a smile and I had smiled nervously.

'You can't keep him waiting forever, Cate,' Bel said gently.

'I know. Bel,' I said turning to her and taking her hand, 'am I doing the right thing?'

'Going for supper? You have to eat, Cate, why not with a somebody you like?'

'I know, I know but am I deceiving him…'

'Cate,' Bel said seriously, 'in my mind and in everyone's mind, you are a woman. You think like one, you are one and I know you're not acting, it's who you are, right?'

'Yes,' I said in a small voice.

'Then you're not deceiving him unless,' she added with a cheeky smile, 'you're thinking of marriage?'

'Bel!'

'Well, get a move on, the poor dear has been waiting for thirty minutes.'

I took a deep breath, stood up and kissed Bel's cheek. 'Thanks, Bel, you're a real friend.'

 

Stephen was leaning against the wall when I opened the door and he rapidly straightened up to greet me.

'I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Stephen.'

'It was worth the wait,' he said with an appreciative grin and offered me his arm. 'Shall we?'

Shyly, I slipped my arm through his and as we walked to the backstage exit, a few of the crew winked at me as I passed.

The restaurant was small but very up market and close to the theatre. We were led to a table towards the front and near the window so we could watch the passers by on the busy London pavement. A light rain had begun to fall and a few spots appeared on the glass.

The waiter appeared at the table with menus and bowed slightly. 'Good evening, Mr Edwardes,' he said with a slight accent. 'I am Bruno, your waiter for the evening.' He then went through the house specialities and left us to make our decision.

'You must come here often,' I smiled.

Stephen shrugged. 'Sometimes for business lunches, I haven't been here at night before, especially not for supper. Do you feel hungry?'

I smiled. 'Just a little, I'm not that hungry after a performance.'

'Can I suggest a mixed platter, it's really very good and we can just nibble and pick at it?'

I sighed. 'That sounds perfect. I'm afraid I couldn't give a meal the attention it deserves.'

I looked around the restaurant and noticed that a few of the diners were looking in our direction. 'Do they know you?' I asked casually and Stephen blinked, surprised and then laughed.

'Cate, you're wonderful. Everyone in the restaurant has been looking at you since you walked in. Just like I did when I first saw you,' he added seriously. 'Do you remember?'

'Yes, I remember, I remember it very well.'

The waiter returned and Stephen ordered the platter and a bottle of white wine. My tolerance for alcohol had never been high so I reminded myself to only drink a glass.

'Tell me about Cate Lawrence,' Stephen asked with a smile, 'I want to know everything.'

No, you don't, I thought, smiled and recited a brief version of the history Lucy had concocted.

'So your date for that party was a school friend? But why would any man on a date with you, casually ask another man to take champagne to you? Sheer madness, if you ask me.'

I laughed. 'Mark is gay, I'm sure he was very interested in the young man he was talking to.'

The waiter showed the bottle of wine to Stephen and in a few moments, our glasses were filled. I sipped the wine and said, 'Very nice, very nice indeed. Now,' I smiled, 'tell me everything about Stephen Edwardes.'

He talked of his childhood in what I discovered was a warm and small family as he was an only child. His father was dead and his mother had not remarried or been involved with anyone since her husbands' death three years prior.

'She must have loved him very much,' I said softly, looking out the window at a young woman and her man who were kissing goodbye.

Stephen followed my eyes. 'Yes, indeed she did. She is a formidable woman but very caring.'

'I liked her immediately,' I said.

Stephen smiled. 'She said the same about you and she harassed me to call you.'

'You called me because your mother forced you too?' I pouted and he grinned.

'I must admit I was terrified to call you, I'm not very good in these circumstances, I'm afraid. I become a frightful bore and terribly formal. I, of course, completely blame Oxford University.' I laughed at that and he smiled sheepishly. 'Mother called me every day and told me to be a man and call you. She told me not to let you escape. I knew, of course, that you would have every eligible and probably not eligible male in inner London calling you constantly and that she was being foolish.'

I smiled. 'And?'

'Well, she, of course, told me I was the foolish one, that I would regret not calling you for the rest of my life. Of course, she was correct.'

'Your mother is very astute.'

'She is and so I plucked up what small piece of courage I had and called Lucy. One of the fellows at work was negotiating with her…'

'That's right!' I waggled a finger at him and tried to look serious but it was difficult to do. 'Your fellow, Byron something or another…'

'Goodward, Byron Goodward.'

'Yes, whatever; he said you described me as the thinking man's crumpet!'

He looked aghast. 'Good Lord! Did he say that? Well, I'm appalled, totally appalled, that he would say something like…'

'You didn't say it?' I smiled sweetly and waited.

'Well, actually, I did, I have completely no defence. It was completely a spur of the moment description, one I regretted immediately.'

The waiter arrived with the platter, placed it on the centre of the white tablecloth and then departed. 'Well,' I laughed, 'I'm taking it as a compliment.'

'It was absolutely meant as a compliment. I am sorry, I am completely hopeless with women.' He offered the platter and I took some small pieces and placed them on my plate.

I looked around for the bathroom. 'Please excuse me for a moment.'

'Of course,' he said immediately standing. As I stood, he asked, 'You will be back? I mean, I haven't terribly offended you so much you're fleeing from me?'

I giggled. 'Of course I'll be back, I'm only going to the bathroom.'

I was applying lipstick at the mirror when a woman emerged from one of the stalls and washed her hands at the basin next to me. After a moment she said,' I'm sorry, but you are Catherine Lawrence, aren't you?'

Turning, I smiled at the older woman. 'Yes, I am I'm afraid.'

She laughed nervously at that. 'I know it must be a bore being accosted , especially in the bathroom but I just wanted to tell you that I saw you in Silken Memories and I thoroughly enjoyed it.'

'Thank you, you're very kind. What was your name?'

'Barbara Wilkins,' she said, surprised.

'It's nice to meet you, Barbara and thank you for the compliment.'

As I sat down, Stephen smiled. 'You did come back.'

'Did you doubt me?' I laughed and began to eat. After a moment, I felt Stephen' eyes on me and I looked him. 'You're not eating?'

Stephen seemed flustered. 'Well, of course, I'm sorry. I must apologise but you do have the most extraordinary eyes, they're rather fascinating, a mixture of blue and violet and green. Rather beautiful, actually.'

I smiled. 'Stephen Edwardes,' I chided softly, 'I thought you were terrible with women?'

The evening passed and very quickly it was time to leave. 'I can take a taxi home,' I said, 'there is no need to escort me…'

'My dear Miss Lawrence,' he said quickly, 'it would be unforgivable of me not to escort you.'

His leg was touching mine in the taxi and I felt his eyes on me, watching me. 'I had a wonderful time,' I said to fill the silence.

'I'm hopeful you're not just saying that because you have to but I had a magnificent evening except for my unforgivable remark. Again, I must apolo…'

'You don't think I'm crumpet?' I asked teasingly.

'Most definitely, incredibly so.'

The taxi pulled up and I wondered if he would send it on its way, assuming he was coming in. He didn't, asked the driver to wait and walked me to the door. 'Thank you for accompanying me,' he said and I smiled at his formal tones.

'Thank you for inviting me.'

He turned to go, stopped and, almost as if he made up his mind to do something, he turned back to me. 'Cate, I'd be extremely foolish not to ask but is there a possibility that we may meet again in a social sense? I understand you lead a very full life but I'm hopeful we could be friends.'

'Social sense?' I raised an eyebrow.

'God, I'm making a hash of this, aren't I?'

I placed my hand on his arm and looked up at him. 'Stephen, I would love to but not until after this season is over and I have more time, I would love to do something in the social sense and I'm happy to have you as a friend.'

For a moment I thought he was going to say something serious but, instead, smiled wryly. 'Of course, thank you, Cate.'

He turned and walked to the taxi and I wondered why he didn't want to kiss me. Would I have let him if he did? You're friends, I reminded myself, that's all and that's all it should be.

End of Catherine Lawrence Part 9 by Carmenica Diaz

  

  

  

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