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 12

 

Sir Humphrey smiled broadly. 'Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Catherine Lawrence.' The other members of the cast applauded politely and some had a look I knew so well, that superior down-the-nose look. All because I was not a Shakespearean actor, I was one of those awful contemporary actors.

Humpy hugged me and held me back at arms length. 'Let me look at you, stunning as always.'

'Thanks, Humpy.' I nodded at the other actors who were out of earshot. 'They seem a little cool.'

'It's always the way at the beginning, either that or false friendliness and fake admiration. It's the way of the theatre, I'm afraid. Shall we begin?'

The rehearsals went well and by the end of the two weeks, some of the other members were actually warming to me and beginning to say complimentary things. I was always polite and friendly but not too friendly.

Humpy was directing the play for Henri's company and Henri was delighted to see me. 'We sold out the entire six days in one and a half hours,' he told me as soon as he saw me. 'It has a lot to do with you and Humpy together,' he said with a huge smile.

'Shush,' I said with a wink, 'don't say that too loud. The others may not like it.'

'Jealousy is always with the theatre, I'm afraid, Cate. Can you believe we sold out in that short time? I'm glad we were able to get a theatre.'

Humpy had decided to set the play in an indistinct time and place and all the actors were wearing military clothes instead of kilts and tartans. Apparently, the costumes came from a production of another play that had to be cancelled and Henri got them cheaply. There was a suggestion of fascist Italy in the Second World War, which meant my costumes were of the 1930s.

'I'll cut your hair slightly,' Bel told me, 'and style it ala Lauren Bacall.'

There was an air of excitement at opening night because Humpy had banned an open rehearsal so no one outside of the theatre had an inkling of what was to come.

I gave, I believe, a better performance than Silken Memories, mainly because it was a performance that could be measured against other actors. Humpy was superb, exploring the full range of Macbeths character and tormented soul and when the curtain fell, the audience was on it's feet, applauding madly.

I had a much larger dressing room this time, something that Bel noted with satisfaction. I had changed and was just brushing my hair out when there was a knock on the dressing room door and Rodney burst in, saying to Bel, 'You ready, darling?' He suddenly saw me and apologised. 'Sorry, I didn't know…'

'It's perfectly all right, Rodney,' I said and Bel moved to the door.

'I'll see you at the party,' and she slipped away before I could tease her.

The reviews were stupendous and the rest of the cast treated me with much more respect. One of them mentioned they had seen my picture at a Tube station and I guessed the Sascha posters were out and about.

I smiled my way through the night, mainly talking to Lucy who told me she had agreed to an interview with Michael Paterson at the conclusion of the short season.'

'Michael Paterson? He's famous, do I really have to go?'

'Yes, you do,' Lucy said firmly. 'I've been overwhelmed with requests so I chose the one with the most prestige. I don't want to flood the media with you; a little here and there will keep the interest up. Have you seen your billboard?' I shook my head; I hadn't even seen the posters. 'It's enormous and very good. Sascha are very pleased and the response.'

'Are they?' I asked with interest. 'Whom did you speak to?'

'Byron. They're considering asking you to do television commercials. I told him to send the proposal and we would consider it.'

'Oh,' I said, immediately losing interest.

I escaped finally from the party and took a taxi home. I felt lost and sad, wondering why Stephen had not come to the opening night and finally convincing myself that Stephen and I were just friends. What else could you be, I asked myself bitterly, what else?

The flat was in darkness and I made it to my bedroom before I dissolved into tears, crying at the utter hopelessness of my situation, crying for what might have been.

 

The season was a success and Humpy and Henri were delighted. The last night was huge, the audiences were enthusiastic and went wild when Humpy and I, hand in hand, accepted the standing ovation.

Again, I found myself looking around for Stephen but didn't see him. I was accepting congratulations from the guests at the party after a long conversation with Laura Wood who wanted to arrange an in-depth interview. Of course, I was petrified at the idea but managed to smile and suggest she talk to Lucy.

I was looking around, wondering if I could make an exit when I found myself face to face with a smiling Mrs Edwardes.

'Congratulations, Cate. You were superb.'

'Thank you Mary,' I said evenly, looking around for a sign of Stephen.

She saw me and laughed. 'I'm unaccompanied tonight, Stephen was called away to America to head office, something big is going on apparently.'

'He's all right, isn't he?' I asked anxiously.

'Perfectly,' she smiled, taking slipping her arm through mine and leading me to a quite corner. 'He's quite taken with you, my dear but, unfortunately, Stephen is very shy and very slow to act.'

'He's very sweet,' I murmured and then blushed. 'I mean…'

Mary laughed. 'I understand but I may have to push things along a little. Would you mind if I do?'

'What do you mean?'

'I may invite you to my country home for a weekend. There will be other guests and,' she said with a twinkle in her eyes, 'of course, Stephen.'

'That sounds lovely,' I said softly.'

The next day, the play was filmed for television, which was a great learning curve for me. Obviously, I knew the difference between playing in a theatre and being understated on film but the adrenalin was pumping and I was quite looking forward to it. It was a long process and I learnt so much but I did become tired of waiting and redoing scenes.

 

Bel, Lucy and I were seated at Lucy's Chelsea town house, relaxing when Bel suddenly announced, 'Rodney and I are getting engaged.'

We leapt on her, hugging and kissing, shouting congratulations and I could tell Bel was as pleased as anything. 'You two are so good together,' I said after the excitement had died down.

'When are you getting married?' Lucy asked and Bel shrugged.

'Not sure, not for a while yet, I have to get the business going well first.'

'Are you moving in with Rodney or is he moving in with you?' I asked

Bel looked away. 'We thought he would move in with us.'

'That's fantastic,' I said brightly.

'It won't make any difference for you, Cate. You still have your room.'

'I know,' I smiled, 'but you two lovebirds need space. Time I looked around anyway.'

'You can bunk here if you like,' Lucy offered. 'I've a spare bedroom with it's own bathroom and it's yours until you find something.'

'Thanks Lucy, I just might take you up on that.'

And I did. Bel was teary when she hugged me goodbye. 'I'm going to miss you around the place.'

I was teary myself. 'I'm going to miss you but we'll see each other all the time.'

'Yes,' she said, trying to smile as she wiped her eyes.

'Bel,' I said slowly, 'does Rodney know…about me?'

'Of course not, I would never tell, Cate, you know that.'

I waved goodbye from the taxi and moved into Lucy's. I was also seeing the two doctors that Helen had recommended on a regular basis and each session was gruelling but rewarding. A lot of my life was now coming to make sense.

'Don't forget you're on the Michael Paterson show tomorrow night,' Lucy reminded me again.

'How could I forget? You remind me every half hour.'

Lucy ignored me and slipped a disc into the TV. 'He interviewed Sir Humphrey just before the play opened. You should see it so you know what was said.'

I settled back on the sofa and watched.

Michael Paterson was a man who had been on television forever with his insightful and charming interviewing style. I didn't tell Lucy but I was petrified about meeting him, sure that he would see through me immediately.

'My next guest is, perhaps, the greatest living Shakespearean actor of our time and is directing and staring in Macbeth. Please welcome, Sir Humphrey Barton.'

They chatted about the past and then Michael praised Humpy's performance in Silken Memories.

'I must say, Sir Humphrey, your performance in Silken Memories was your finest in contemporary theatre. Would you agree?'

'I'm very proud of it, it was an exhilarating experience as I found new depth to the performance by working with the astounding Catherine Lawrence.'

'I have to agree, she was amazing and you've cast her as Lady Macbeth?'

'Of course, she is extraordinary and I have no doubt her performance will be excellent.'

'Is the age difference an issue in these roles, Sir Humphrey?'

'No, I think it adds a piquancy to the production. Many an older man is beguiled and persuaded by a younger woman.' He winked at the camera and the studio audience laughed.

 

'Humpy is very good,' I said to Lucy. 'I don't know if I can be as smooth.'

'Of course you will, it's acting, isn't it?'

'I suppose so,' I said worriedly but I decided to telephone Humpy the next day for advice.

 

'Hello Humpy, it's Cate.'

'Cate darling,' he boomed down the phone. 'How the hell are you?'

We spoke for half an hour and basically; he gave me the same advice as Lucy. 'It's another performance, Cate. Just remember you are performing for the audience you can't see, not Michael.'

'Thanks Humpy, you're a doll and I'm just an old worry wart.'

'I'm sorry, Cate, I just cannot imagine you with a wart.'

I laughed and hung up.

 

Bel and I chose a simple black dress, simple necklace, earrings and bracelets with heels and black hose. The dress was long sleeved but had a scalloped neckline so I displayed some cleavage. 'You think this is too much?' I asked, tugging at the dress.

'No,' Bel said gently. 'You look fantastic. Let me do your hair.'

There was a knock on the door and Michael Paterson was in the room. He appeared stunned for a moment but quickly gathered himself. 'Miss Lawrence, Michael Paterson; I thought I would take a moment to introduce myself.'

I extended my hand. 'It's a pleasure to meet you.'

He smiled as he took my hand. 'You're a difficult person to get on this show and I have to tell you, Lucy Richards is quite formidable.'

'Yes,' I smiled, 'she is.'

'Right, then. You're first guest and you'll stay for the second guest so you'll be on the show for the entire time, ok?' I nodded. 'See you soon.'

 

I stood nervously on the set; ready to walk down the stairs the moment Michael introduced me. 'You'll be fine,' Lucy whispered and darted away to watch from the booth. The studio audience was large and bristling with anticipation as the theme music was played and I heard Michael being counted in.

'Good evening and welcome; tonight we will be looking at two aspects of entertainment. My second guest is the acclaimed French film director Luc Benoit who will discuss his new film Lost River.

However, my first guest is a new star in the world of British theatre. She won acclaim by critics and audiences alike in her role as Simone in Silken Memories and then astounded everyone again by excelling as Lady Macbeth in Sir Humphrey Barton's recent production. She is renowned for her beauty as well as her talent and I'm sure you have seen the posters and the billboard. I saw her in both theatre productions and was taken by her beauty but, ladies and gentlemen, when I popped backstage to introduce myself, I'm afraid her beauty is even more stunning when one is close. Please welcome, Miss Catherine Lawrence.'

Here you go, I said to myself, smile and don't bloody fall down the stairs!

The applause was large, I smiled as I greeted Michael and he stood politely as I sat, arranging my dress under me.

'Welcome Catherine,' he said as he sat, clipboard on his knee.

'Thank you Michael,' I smiled and then turned to the camera, winked and said in my Liverpool accent, 'He's even more dishy up close.' The audience laughed and I suspected Michael blushed under his make up.

'I suspect,' he said with that familiar wry grin, 'that I earned that. You come from Liverpool?'

'I was born in Dublin and we moved to Liverpool when I was five.'

'Why the theatre?'

'Why not? I live for it, I love it.'

'And you're extraordinarily good, I must say. Was it different to move on to Shakespeare?'

'Oh yes, completely. I was extremely nervous and worried all the time.'

 

And so it went on. It ended up being a good interview. Michael showed some scenes from the television production of Macbeth and even included showed stills of the Sascha advertisements.

'Those posters and that huge billboard have brightened up London. Why did you agree to do them?'

'I needed the money,' I said honestly, 'and it was a product I use so I thought why not? Being an actor means you don't know when your next job is coming from.'

'I'm sure you'll have plenty of offers.'

 

Luc Benoit kissed my hand when he emerged, much to the delight of the audience and I sat there quietly as he discussed his film with Michael. At one point he appeared to be searching for an English word and I asked him in French what he was trying to convey and then suggested the English word. Luc and Michael looked at me strangely and I smiled. 'I have an ear for languages.'

Lucy was over the moon with the interview and insisted we go out for a late supper. Faces at every table turned to look as we walked in and I guessed that a lot of people had seen the Michael Paterson show that night.

The waiter was effusive and I found myself wishing we were somewhere else. It then occurred to me that I didn't even have a home, someplace that was mine, my own retreat.

'Penny for your thoughts,' Lucy said gently.

'Sorry.'

'Let's have it, what's wrong.'

I looked around the restaurant, saw people looking at me as they talked and I plastered a bright smile on my face. 'I can't talk here, sorry.'

Lucy signalled the waiter. 'Right, let's go.'

'Lucy,' I protested, 'you wanted supper…'

Lucy leaned across the table and spoke in fiercely in a low voice. 'Listen, you are my friend, my best friend if you must know and I care about you. You should be ecstatic about tonight but you just don't care. I'm worried and I want to talk. Ok?'

I nodded and we quickly left the restaurant.

 

'Why so sad?' Lucy said, offering me a sherry. We had both cleaned our faces and changed into pyjamas.

I tried to smile. 'It's nothing probably, I just feel like it's…oh, I don't know!'

'Feels like what?'

The dam broke inside me. 'Oh Lucy, I'm lying to so many people! People I've grown to love and admire.'

'I see, who?'

'Humpy, Wade, Henri, Sarah…the list is so long!' The tears were streaming down my face. 'I've lied to them!'

'And Stephen?' Lucy gently prodded and I collapsed on the sofa, head on my arms as I sobbed. Lucy's hands stroked my back as I cried, murmuring to me, soothing me.

Finally, I stopped and looked up at Lucy, trying to smile. 'My eyes are all puffy now, I bet,' I said, trying to make a joke, 'lucky no interviews tomorrow.'

Lucy ignored that and, instead, smiled softly, and said, 'Cate, I don't think you're lying to anyone.' I started to say something but she held up her hand to signal me to be quiet. 'Cate, you're a woman; I doubt you could be anything else. I don't understand the technical or scientific explanation but you are obviously a woman. You think like one, you act like one and you react like one. Not for one moment have Bel or I thought of you in any other way and we know! I know things have happened in a rush and I tend to forget how new this is to you because you seem so poised, so much a woman.'

I smiled. 'Thanks Lucy, you're a great friend.'

'I should try harder, I think.'

'Lucy, what about Stephen?'

'Do you love him?'

I flushed. 'I don't know,' I said in a small voice. 'I just miss him.'

'Give it all time, Cate. Don't try to rush things. Take it all one day at a time. Do you wish to give up acting? If you do, I'll handle it all for you.'

'You would?'

'Of course, you're more important to me than that.'

'What about Bel?'

'Her company is going to go great. She has Wade contracted and I'll find others for her. Bel would be devastated to think you stayed doing something you hate for her.'

I sat up. 'I don't hate it, Lucy, I love it, it's just…I don't have a home…nothing seems permanent.'

'Then let's work at getting you your own place. Where would you like to live?'

'What do you mean?'

'London or Paris, perhaps New York?'

'Are you crazy?'

'No, Cate, anything is possible.'

I hugged her and she held me tight, stroking my hair. 'Thanks Lucy,' I murmured.

 

I took it easy for the next few days until Lucy said we had to have a meeting. The meeting took place in the dining room of the townhouse, as I didn't feel like going out. Mrs Edwardes hadn't contacted me and I wondered if the invitation for the weekend had vanished? Perhaps Stephen vetoed the idea when he heard about it from Mary. Perhaps he never wanted to see me again? Or, perhaps he was still in America. My head swam with all the possibilities and I felt quite ill.

'You can't hide in here forever you know,' Lucy said as she opened her briefcase. 'People are going to recognise you, it's the price of fame but it will also help you buy that villa you want in Italy.'

'That's a dream, Lucy.'

'Dreams come true. Now,' she said in that businesslike tone of hers as she slapped a bulging folder and some scripts on the table, 'we've been flooded with offers.'

'Offers?'

'Plays, commercials, movies even musicals.'

'Oh.'

'I don't think you should go back on the stage so quickly, you need to do something different.'

'Yes, I think you're right.'

'I've looked at the scripts you've been sent.'

'And?'

'Most of the movies scripts are terrible for various reasons but there is one.' She pushed a script across the table. 'It was sent by Luc Benoit.'

I looked up. 'Really?'

'He called me and said he had been looking for a woman to play the pivotal role in his new film, then he met you on the Paterson show. I've read it and it's good. It will be in French and, apparently you speak French fluently?' Lucy raised an eyebrow.

'At least one benefit of a lost education as well as an ear for languages and accents, I suppose. What's it about?'

'A young man sees a beautiful woman and falls in love with her. She is oblivious to it and he chases her, almost stalks her as she goes about her life. They finally meet and he discovers she is in love with someone else. It's bitter sweet, terribly French, but,' Lucy said with a smile, 'no nude scenes and no kissing.'

I read the script and agreed so Lucy made the arrangements. Luc needed me for only two weeks of shooting in Paris and I was excited about spending time in Paris where no one knew me.

Bel and Lucy came with me and the filming was fun. Luc was a sensitive director and coaxed me into a performance that I don't think I would have been able to produce with out him. It was a romantic comedy, called in English, The English Woman and I thoroughly enjoyed making the movie and I enjoyed Paris.

In fact, I fell in love with Paris. 'I want to live here,' I said to Lucy one night after we had finished shooting.

'Why not?' Lucy said with a shrug and I smiled. Lucy had become almost French over the last two weeks and I had noticed she was spending a lot of time with Luc. 'It's a great city.'

'Are you sure?' Bel asked.

'It's not far from England, Bel and no one knows me here.'

'The money you'll get for this film will be enough for a deposit on a good apartment. Want me to look around for you?'

'You? How well do you know Paris?'

Lucy flushed. 'Not that well but Luc knows it very well.'

I laughed. 'Oh I see. Are you getting serious about Luc?'

Lucy shrugged. 'I don't know but he's unlike any man I've ever met.'

I kissed her cheek. 'I hope everything works out.'

 

I travelled back to London with Bel and let myself into Lucy's townhouse. Bel went on to see Rodney and I envied her. Lucy had decided to stay another week to look for an apartment and to tie up some business deals, or so she said. I had an idea what deals she would be tying up and really hoped Lucy and Luc worked out. They were well suited, alike in so many ways but also vastly different in other ways. It was, I thought, a good match.

The next day, I wandered around the townhouse and thought of calling Bel but decided against it. She had been away from Rodney for two weeks and I guessed they were still 'catching up'.

The phone rang and I snatched it up, hoping it was Stephen but it was Mark. 'Hello darling, got time for me in your busy schedule?'

'Of course,' I smiled.

'Then let's have lunch and fun.'

Mark was waiting in the restaurant and he stood when I approached the table. Eyes were on me all around the restaurant but I decided to ignore them. 'Wow,' Mark said after openly examining me. 'You look great.'

'Thanks,' I murmured.

He was like a real tonic and I was soon laughing madly as he told me of his exploits in Europe. 'Don't look now,' he whispered, 'but we have paparazzi in the vicinity.'

I smiled, reached over and took his hand. 'Let's give them something to shoot.' He grinned and put his other hand on mine and we giggled.

Outside the restaurant, I held his hands as I kissed his cheek and he grinned. 'Another for the tabloids, eh?' He left with a cheerful wave and I wandered through the shops and was quite relaxed once I made my mind up that I didn't care if people stared at me. A young man asked me for my autograph and I was surprised. 'Me? I'm not anyone…'

'I've seen you in your plays, I saw Silken Memories three times,' he said, 'and I just adored your Lady Macbeth. Please, Miss Lawrence.'

I shrugged and after asking his name, wrote a small message and signed it.

The next day I saw photographs of Mark and myself in a gossip magazine. 'Cate's Secret Rendezvous' the headline ran with grainy pictures of us holding hands and kissing his cheek.

The phone rang and I thought it was Mark ringing to have a laugh over the pictures when that deep voice echoed down the mobile telephone.

'Hello, Cate?'

'Stephen?' My heart was pounding.

'I haven't called at an inopportune time, have I?' he asked in that formal manner of his. He would play Darcy so well, I mused, he's a natural.

'No, not at all,' I answered coolly but wanted to scream Where have you been? More importantly, I asked myself for the millionth time, why did I care?

'I must apologise for not contacting you sooner but I've been in New York for an awfully long time and when I returned, I discovered you were in Paris.'

'It's perfectly all right,' I said in an even voice, 'I understand how busy life can be.'

'It has been rather busy, it seems I've been promoted and I'm now responsible for all of Europe. Goodness knows what made them select me.'

'That's wonderful news, Stephen,' I said.

'I suppose it is but it meant I missed your Lady Macbeth. I attempted to fly back to surprise you but the flight was cancelled at the last moment.'

'You did?' I asked, surprised and, strangely pleased.

'Unfortunately, the airline conspired against me but Mother said you were excellent. I also saw you on the Paterson show. I was quite jealous of him getting to sit that close to you while I was marooned in a hotel room in New York.'

'It's good to hear your voice,' I murmured.

'I was wondering, if it were possible…'

'Yes,' I said quickly

'I haven't asked yet,' he chuckled.

'I don't care, the answer is yes.'

'I was going to ask you to dinner but perhaps I should concoct another question?'

'Dinner would be lovely.'

'I understand you've probably busy tonight but…'

'Tonight would be wonderful.'

'Really?

'Yes.'

 

He was surprised when I gave him Lucy's address but he arrived on time, dressed in a dark suit, a white shirt with thin blue stripes and rather elegant cufflinks.

I wore a black dress, low neckline and his mouth fell open when he saw me. 'I will never get used to it,' he murmured.

'What?'

'How beautiful you are.'

I flushed and my heart grew so large, I thought it would burst. I smiled up at him as I adjusted his tie. 'You're rather dishy yourself.'

He had chosen an excellent restaurant and I held his hand as we followed the waiter to our table. People looked at us but I didn't care and smiled at Stephen as he held my chair while I sat. We spoke of many things, his promotion and Paris and I found I couldn't eat much at all.

'My mother told me that she had invited you for a weekend?' I nodded. 'I'm afraid I had to put my foot down and tell her she shouldn't have done that.'

'Oh?' He doesn't want me to come, my thoughts wildly raced, he's embarrassed by me. He knows, he knows somehow!

'I couldn't have my mother ask a woman for me. It's just not appropriate.'

'I see,' I said softly, looking down at my meal.

'I told her it's my role to invite you,' he said with a smile. 'I think I would be terribly honoured if you came down for a weekend. Would you be able to come down next weekend?'

'Oh yes,' I said gaily, 'I think I should.'

'It will, of course, be absolutely boring, you will count every minute until you can escape back to London but I would be terribly pleased to have you there.'

'I can't imagine it will be boring at all.' It occurred to me then to wonder where I would sleep but I immediately assumed that Stephen and his mother would be rather old fashioned. Oddly, I felt I trusted Stephen completely.

Stephen smiled, took a small package from his inner coat pocket and placed it on the crisp tablecloth. My heart pounded at the sight of the package. 'I feel I must apologise for not attending your Lady Macbeth. My plan to surprise you was a failure.'

'It was a sweet thought, Stephen and …'

'I had another surprise as well,' he said, taping the package with his large finger. 'Here,' he said with a smile, 'this is for you.'

My fingers trembled as I opened the package, carefully putting the ribbon on the tablecloth. It was a small delicate bracelet, just a gold band with intricate engravings on the outer surface. 'Stephen,' I breathed, 'it's beautiful but I can't accept...'

'It's to mark the occasion of your Shakespearean triumph and also to apologise for my incredibly rude and stupid remark regarding crumpet.' He grinned sheepishly. 'There's an inscription.'

I turned it over and read the inscription:

Cate Lawrence, a great actress and the thinking mans crumpet. S.E.

I giggled and, impulsively, kissed his hand. 'Thank you, Stephen, but I couldn't accept this, it's not…'

'It's a gift, Cate, a gift to someone I admire and who I could not get out of my mind since I last saw her. Please accept it.'

'Well…'

'Please?'

'I'll treasure this.' I immediately put it on, admired it and smiled at him. 'Thank you.'

We left the restaurant and we walked hand in hand to the taxi. 'Good lord,' Stephen said suddenly.

'What?' I asked, alarmed.

'There's man over there taking our photograph, he's on that motorcycle. I will tell him to cease immediately.'

'Don't worry,' I laughed. My knight in shining armour, I thought with a strange pride, he's so protective of me.

Stephen saw me to my door. My mind was whirling, not knowing what to do. One part of me wanted him to kiss me the other was screaming that he was a man and I used to be one. No! I was still one! Wasn't I? Wasn't I? But, I wanted him!

'It was wonderful tonight, Cate,' he murmured, standing close. 'You were fabulous as usual and beautiful, as usual,' he added with that crooked smile.

'Thank you,' I whispered, looking up at him, my heart was pounding.

'So beautiful,' he breathed and leaned closer. 'Would it be terribly forward of me if I kissed you?'

'No, no…I don't think so.'

He slipped his arm around me, pulled me close and our lips finally met. The feeling as our lips touched was electric, sweeping through me and spinning my head, leaving my breathless.

Suddenly, I felt his erection against me, he was obviously aroused and it brought home the realisation of what I was doing. I had just kissed a man and, what's more, I knew I had enjoyed it.

Stephen stared down at me, his lips forming that smile I was becoming incredibly fond of. 'I've dreamed of that,' he murmured. 'Thank you.'

'Did the reality match the dream?' Shut up, my inner voice was silently screaming, don't prolong this, get away!

'Even more so. You must be tired,' he said.

'I am and I wouldn't like to fall asleep again,' I said, trying a joke, although I felt nothing like joking.

'I could watch you sleep, I wouldn't mind.' Stephen shook his head as if trying to clear his mind. 'Of course, I must go. I will telephone you with details for the weekend?'

'Please do.'

'Goodnight, Cate.'

'Goodnight Stephen.'

End of Catherine Lawrence Part 12 by Carmenica Diaz

  

  

  

*********************************************
© 2004 by Carmenica Diaz. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, and compilation design) may be printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without the express written consent of StorySite and the copyright holder.