Subj: Kate chapter 24
Date: 5/15/00 1:43:06 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen
Stephen and Kate’s grandparents were eating supper when they heard the roar of the van’s engine. Stephen jumped up from the table and ran to the window.
"She’s back, she’s back!" he cried to her excited grandparents. Stephen pulled open the kitchen door as Kate got out of the van. She looks like shit!, Stephen thought to himself. He sprinted to the van and hugged Kate close.
Behind him, Gramps and Nonnie was waiting their turn to hug their only granddaughter.
"Kate, we thought you would never come back!" Gramps whispered as he hugged her tightly. "I am sure glad to see you, honey."
He stepped back so Kate could hug her grandmother. Nonnie held her tight and swayed gently back and forth. As she rubbed Kate’s back, she said sternly, "You had us worried, young lady!" Nonnie kissed Kate on the cheek and whispered tenderly, "But we are glad you are back safe and sound."
Kate leaned against her Nonnie and burst into tears. Nonnie pushed past Gramps and Stephen to take her into the house. Stephen began to pull out Kate’s bags, with Gramps helping to carry them in the house.
Going into Kate’s room, Nonnie led Kate to the bed. "Now sit down and tell me all about this man you have fallen in love with." she said, putting her arm around Kate’s shoulders.
Kate looked her grandmother in amazement. "How, how did you know?" she asked, laying her head on Nonnie’s shoulder.
"You forget I am a woman, too, little girl. I know the signs of a broken heart very well. Tell me about him. Does he love you, too? What are your plans? Are you going back to him?" Nonnie threw the questions at Kate before she could answer.
Kate pulled away from Nonnie’s shoulder and threw up her hands. "I can’t answer you if you don’t stop for breath, Non." she said through her tears. It felt so good to be back home with her beloved grandparents. Kate always felt so safe and secure and happy here.
Just like with Barnabas, a voice inside her head told her. Kate threw herself on the bed and cried harder. Nonnie rubbed her back to soothe her; just like she had done since Kate was a baby.
Gramps knocked on the door softly. "Ev, is she okay?" he asked his wife. Nonnie nodded and motioned for him to close the door.
He shut it and went back in the living room. Stephen had found the red journal belonging to Julia Hoffman and was pouring over it intently. He looked up when the older man entered the room.
"This is it, Paul! All we have to do is duplicate the formula and Ryan is home free! I have got to go and tell him right now." Stephen leapt to his feet, hurriedly said goodbye to Gramps and ran to his car.
Gramps stood at the door watching Stephen leave. Thank God, Kate was able to find a cure for Ryan, he thought. Both Stephen and Ryan were like sons to him and his wife. They helped Gramps with chores that had proven too difficult for him nowadays. They also helped Nonnie put up wallpaper, rearrange furniture and cook. Both he and Nonnie missed Ryan’s culinary triumphs. It would be good to have the ‘family’ back together again.
Gramps turned as he heard someone enter the room. Nonnie sat on the sofa and motioned for him to join her. He sat next to her, grabbing her hand as he did so.
"Well, is Kate going to live?" Gramps said jokingly.
Nonnie smiled and said, "Yes, she will live, but it will be hard for her. She fell in love with a man from the past. She fell pretty hard. I can tell Kate wanted to stay with him, but Ryan’s needs outweighed her own. It is going to be tough around here for awhile. We need to be sympathetic without being obvious about it." Nonnie looked at Gramps and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Just remember how her mother was when she was in love and Brian was away for so long."
They both laughed at the memory, but were saddened because their beautiful daughter was no longer with them. They hugged each other tightly. They had lost a number of special people in their lives, but none wrenched the heart as much as the loss of their beloved daughter, Rachel.
A small cough broke into their reverie. Kate stood in the doorway, smiling bleakly. She ran to the couch, and squeezing between her grandparents, said, "I am so glad to be home with you, Gramps and Nonnie! I missed you terribly." She hugged them closely and tried not to think about the man she left behind in Collinwood, circa 1969. It was no use.