Subj: Kate chapter 17
Date: 5/9/00 5:58:13 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen
Over a delicious dinner of filet mignon, fresh asparagus,
French bread and baby red potatoes in dill and butter, Kate and Barnabas avoided
the subject of their future together. Neither wanted to talk about it, it was
too hard to imagine. Neither wanted to admit there might not be a future together
at all.
Instead, they spoke about Kate’s Collins Family History book. After much appeal
from Kate, Barnabas told her about Joseph Collins. "Joseph was a sensitive and
artistic boy. My father thought his brother should go into the shipping business
as he had done when my father was of age. The thought of being a businessman
was abhorrent to Joseph."
"I remember the arguments between the two of them. I was just a little boy,
but children hear things adults would rather they didn’t. My father’s voice
was loud and obstinate, Joseph’s softer, but just as obstinate. My mother tried
to come between their arguments many times, but Father refused to listen to
her. ‘Joseph was a Collins and shipping is what the Collins men do’ he would
say. Joseph would come into my room after one of their confrontations and draw
pictures for me. It seemed to be the only way to calm the anger he felt. I still
have some of them. I should show them to you. Everything a little boy of 5 would
want in a drawing; dragons, castles, knights, pirate ships. It was wonderful."
Barnabas said.
"I would love to see the pictures. Why did you not show them to me before?"
Kate asked, putting her hand on his.
Barnabas smiled to himself. "I didn’t want to show you because they are so personal.
Uncle Joseph drew them just for me; no one else ever saw the drawings." He laughed.
"I suppose I was being a bit juvenile about it. You will see them, I promise."
He continued. "Father was pressuring Joseph to conform to his idea of a Collins
man. Joseph was encouraged by my grandmother to draw and paint. As a matter
of fact, he is the one who painted the portrait hanging in the drawing room
of Collinwood. He painted it the year Grandmother Sarah died. Considering how
my father felt about Joseph’s drawing, the portrait was his favorite painting
of my grandmother.’
Barnabas smiled at the memory. Taking a drink of wine, he said, "Joseph wanted
to be an artist. He ate, slept and breathed art. He was very good, but Father
would not change his mind about the family business. When Joseph was 15, I woke
up in the middle of the night with Joseph standing at the foot of my bed. He
told me, "Barnabas, I am going away. I want you to have my sketch book. Keep
it hidden so your father can not see it." Joseph handed me the sketch book and
I put it under the bed. Joseph looked so sad, I started to cry. He held me in
his arms for awhile. We sat there for what seemed a long time. Then he kissed
me on my forehead, told me to be a good boy for my mother and left. I never
saw or heard from him again. Until you showed up, that is."
Barnabas stopped for a moment, then continued. "My father told everyone that
Joseph was no longer welcome in our house, that he wasn’t a member of the family
anymore. If he should come back, we were to tell him we did not know who he
was." Barnabas sighed. "My father could be rather cruel when it suited him.
I don’t know if Father tried to find Joseph later in life. Perhaps he did. Father
had softened his heart by the time he had to lock me in my coffin."
Kate had tears in her eyes by the time Barnabas had finished. "Poor Joseph;
and poor Joshua. How hard it must have been to know that he drove Joseph away,
never to see him again." She wiped her eyes and smiled. "Thank you for telling
me the real story, Barnabas. It fills in some missing pieces and confirms what
I originally thought. Thank you." she said warmly.
Barnabas smiled at her and raised his glass. "To Uncle Joseph and you, for bringing
the family together!"
Kate clicked her glass against his. They both drained their glasses and set
them down. Barnabas excused himself and left the table.
While she was waiting, Kate thought about what they had shared that evening.
It was so wonderful to be with Barnabas in that way. I have never felt like
this with any other man. But what am I going to do? she thought. I have to get
the journal from Julia and leave here as soon as possible. How can I leave this
extraordinary man? I love Barnabas so much. He makes me feel so good, so loved
and cared for.
As if he could read her mind, Barnabas came back to the table and bent down
to her ear. He whispered, "I love you, Kate."
Kate turned her head towards him and kissed him. "I love you, too, Barnabas."
She kissed him again. "Can we go home now? I am tired and it’s a long journey."
she asked.
Barnabas nodded. "Of course, my dear. Let me pay the check and we can be on
our way." Barnabas hailed the waiter. As he handed the check to Barnabas, Kate
stood up and walked to the front of the restaurant. Barnabas paid the bill and
they walked out of the restaurant together, arm-in-arm.
As they approached the car, Kate stopped. "I am not so sure I can drive all
the way home. Will you drive instead? she asked.
Barnabas looked at her and said, dubiously, "Are you sure you trust me behind
the wheel of your van?"
"Of course I do. Besides, I will probably be asleep anyway." she laughed and
unlocked the passenger side door. Barnabas helped her in and went to the driver’s
side; Kate unlocked the door from the inside and put the keys in the ignition.
"I have to warn you, Barnabas, this car doesn’t have the standard engine you
are used to driving. Stephen and I modified it for the trip here. This engine
has the power of a race car. Be careful, okay? It can get to you; before you
know it, you are driving like Mario Andretti." she warned.
Barnabas shrugged his shoulders and turned the key. "If I can handle you, I
can handle anything. After tonight, I don’t think I could make love to anyone
else. You showed me things I never knew could happen between a man and a woman."
His rich deep voice sent shivers down Kate’s spine. "Let’s get home before we
end up in the back of the van, okay?" Kate said, turning on the heater. Even
though she knew the VW’s heater wouldn’t be warm until the engine was warm,
Kate felt she needed it. The cold air might do them both good.
Barnabas pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street. They headed towards
Collinwood to an unknown future. Once Kate had the information she needed from
Julia, she was going to leave. And Barnabas knew he wanted to keep Kate here,
no matter what the cost.