Subj: Kate
ch 38
Date: 7/13/00 9:35:35 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen
Kate threw her shoulders back and entered the drawing room. Elizabeth saw her come in and rose to greet her.
Taking Kate by the arm, she whispered in her ear, "Kate, Barnabas is here. Come over and say hello."
Kate looked around the room and found all eyes were on her; trying to guess what she might do. Even Barnabas was looking at her, which what she thought was trepidation in his eyes. Well, she thought, it's now or never.
"Barnabas," Kate said, walking towards him, "how nice to see you."
"Hello, Kate." he said, his voice rolling over her like a wave. That beautiful, deep voice was mesmerizing. His dark eyes were staring at her, willing her to come to him. Unwilling to succumb to his charms, she turned quickly to Carolyn.
"Carolyn, we need to finish dinner, plus set another plate for Barnabas. Ready?" she asked.
Carolyn nodded and followed Kate out of the drawing room. Barnabas followed as well. He grabbed Kate's arm before she got to the door leading to the kitchen. Carolyn looked at Kate and she nodded as if to say, go ahead, I'll be right there.
Turning to Barnabas, Kate said, "Let go of me, please!"
Realizing his mistake, Barnabas let go. Looking at her as he did in the drawing room, he asked, "How are you, Kate?"
"I am fine, Barnabas. You?" she asked in return.
"I am well. The child?"
Kate drew in her breath and let it out slowly. "The baby is doing well. Thank you for asking." She waited for him to say more.
Barnabas stood looking at her, but only said, "I am glad."
"Well, I guess I better go help Carolyn. Otherwise, we may never eat. I will see you at dinner." Kate turned and left the foyer.
Barnabas started after her, but a hand stopped him.
"Barnabas," Julia said, "were you expecting a more tearful reunion with Kate? She doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would make a scene in public."
Barnabas looked at Julia with sad eyes. Rubbing his hands together, he said, "I am not sure what I expected. I just thought that perhaps..." he left the sentence unsaid. "Tell me, Julia, is the child doing well?" he asked, his face full of concern.
Julia looked at him for a few moments before she answered.
"Well? Is the child all right?" he asked again, impatiently.
"Yes, Barnabas, the baby is doing very well. I am not Kate's obstetrician, but she told me things are going along normally." Julia narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you asking as a concerned parent, Barnabas? Or have you decided the baby isn't yours?"
Barnabas was taken aback. He didn't expect the question to come so baldly, but he shouldn't have expected anything less from Julia. She was always a forthright person. She didn't hold things back, sparing his feelings. Julia was the one person who would tell him the truth. And so, he knew, was Kate.
"The child is mine, Julia." he said quietly.
"Then tell Kate! Tell her. She needs to know." Julia said passionately. "Barnabas, she loves you. Tell her!"
"I-I-I can't tell her right now. This is a private matter between Kate and myself. It must be dealt with in private." Barnabas aid. Changing the subject, he said, "Let us join the others, Julia." She started to protest, but he cut her off.
"I don't wish to discuss this matter any further." he said.
"All right, Barnabas," Julia agreed, albeit reluctantly, "just don't wait too long to tell her."
***************************************
"Shit!" Kate cried as she entered the kitchen. Carolyn looked startled.
"What's the matter, Kate?" she asked.
"Why the hell didn't I just run into his arms and get this whole thing over with? Barnabas would be happy, your mother would be happy, everyone would be happy." Kate said, putting the potatoes on to boil.
"You don't sound too sure about yourself." Carolyn asked.
"Carolyn, I don't know what I want. I promised myself I would be strong and not to weaken when I saw him; but dammit! My knees almost buckled, my stomach turned to water and my heart, well, the less said about that the better." Kate helped Carolyn set the large pans of candied yams in the oven.
"Kate, listen, you have to expect something to happen. You haven't seen Barnabas in a long time. It's obvious he loves you. Barnabas is a very charming man. You would have to be made of steel not to react to him." Kate looked at Carolyn with tears in her eyes.
"Kate," Carolyn cried, embracing her friend, "don't cry, honey, I know it will work out for the two of you. Look at Chris and me. We're back together. Doesn't that prove that true love triumphs over adversity?"
Kate laughed through her tears. "No, it just proves that you and Chris are not as stubborn as I am!"
David and Amy ran into the kitchen at that moment. Kate hastily dried her tears so the children wouldn't see them.
David came up to Carolyn and asked, "Can Amy and I help you? We are bored sitting with the grown-ups."
"Yeah, all they want to talk about is the weather or if the fishing will be good this year. Booorrrriiinnnggg!" Amy said, rolling her eyes.
"What makes you think we are talking about anything more interesting, you two?" Carolyn asked.
"It has to be more interesting than with them. Now, what can we do to help?" David said, looking around the kitchen.
Kate put out the jars of pickles and cans of olives on the table. "Okay, you two, you can put the olives and pickles out. They need to go into the glass bowls. And," she said as David raced Amy to the can opener, "you may each have five olives to eat now. No more or you will spoil your dinner!"
****************************************
At 5 o'clock sharp, David and Amy announced that "Dinner is served!" Everyone filed into the dining room. Carolyn and Kate were standing behind their chairs. The dining room was alight with candles. Wine goblets and water glasses sat at each place setting. The wine sparkled in the candlelight. Even the milk in David and Amy's glasses looked beautiful. Steaming bowls of mashed potatoes, candied yams, carrots, green beans, gravy and stuffing sat on the table, waiting to be dished up. A large bowl filled with Caesar Salad sat with fresh grated parmesan and homemade croutons. The giant turkey Mrs. Johnson had ordered sat at the head of the table, adding its scent to the other aromas wafting around the room.
David and Amy had been elected to show everyone their seats. Roger and Elizabeth sat at either end of the table. Eliot was seated to Elizabeth's left, with Carolyn next to him.
"Dr. Mathews," Amy said, "you sit next to Carolyn and I sit next to you." Gerard held Carolyn's seat out for her.
Amy led Barnabas to the seat next to hers, to Roger's right. "I wanted you next to me, Barnabas. This way you can tell me where you have been." Amy said sternly. Barnabas smiled and held her chair for her.
David directed Chris to sit to the right of Elizabeth, with Julia between Chris and David. David held Julia's chair for her before Chris could react. Roger helped Kate to sit. Sitting across from Barnabas would be difficult, but Kate hoped that Amy would keep him occupied.
Once everybody was seated, Roger raised his glass and stood. "A toast to family and friends!"
"And to the cooks!" added Gerard.
"Hear, hear!" agreed Eliot and Chris.
"To family, friends, and the cooks!" they all said, raising their glasses and drinking.
"Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!" said Elizabeth, happily.
"Pass your plate, if you want turkey. Of course, I have to figure out how to carve this turkey!" Roger said, laughing. "Did Mrs. Johnson think we were feeding an army?"
"I think she wanted to be sure that David got enough to eat." laughed Carolyn.
"I don't eat that much!" protested David. He appealed to Kate for assistance.
Kate broke out laughing. "You? You don't eat much? And who was it that raided the refrigerator two nights ago? That apple pie did not walk off and eat itself!"
David looked a bit guilty. "But I was hungry!" he whined. "Besides, Mrs. Johnson told me I could have another piece."
"Yes, David, but it was supposed to be eaten the next day, not the same night!" Carolyn teased.
"Give it up, David!" Chris advised. "You are fighting a losing battle. Women are always right, no matter what!" He ducked as Julia hit him over the head with her napkin.
"Now you've done it, Chris! We men will never hear the end of it!" Gerard said.
"Oh, is that so, Dr. Mathews?" Kate said teasingly. "Men are the ones who want to be right; even if WE know that you are completely and totally wrong!"
Elizabeth put up her hands. "All right, this is supposed to be a peaceful family dinner. No arguing! Now, who will pass those delicious smelling carrots?"
***********************************
The rest of the meal passed quickly. Barnabas told Amy about his adventures in the cabin. He could feel Kate's eyes on him when she thought he wasn't looking. He wondered what she was thinking about. Barnabas had felt a psychic connection between them while he was away. Did they still?
He, too, watched Kate. He watched her laugh at some joke Gerard made, be serious while Roger explained a business matter, tease David about something. She was so at ease with these people. His family.
Barnabas couldn't get over how beautiful she looked. He had always heard pregnant women glowed, but had never witnessed the phenomenon for himself. Kate had a inner light he had never noticed before. Her face was a bit rounder than the last time he had seen her. He could see her breasts strain against the bodice of her dress. The garnet necklace she wore the first time he met her hung on her neck. Her blonde hair was hanging loose and it moved with a will of its own when she turned her head.
Kate glanced up suddenly as caught him staring. She looked away quickly, but not before Barnabas saw the smile in her eyes. He smiled to himself, thinking that perhaps all was not lost.
***********************************
Dinner was finally over. The turkey was nearly 2/3 gone, nothing was left of the potatoes, garnishes, vegetables and salad. The men sat with their hands on their almost bursting stomachs, groaning. The women looked at the dirty dishes and groaned as well. As they started to get up to clear the table, Eliot, Chris and Gerard stopped them.
"Ladies, cook, men, wash!" Chris said as he and the others stood and began to clear the plates.
"But.." started Carolyn.
"No buts, Carolyn, we can do the dishes and put the turkey away. We promise we won't break anything, right men?" Gerard reassured her.
"Yes, that's right, Gerard." Barnabas said. "I learned how to do dishes while I was away. I didn't break one dish, I am proud to say."
"Ah, but were the dishes breakable, that is the question." asked Julia, laughing at Barnabas' face, which fell.
"Well, no, the dishes were metal, but I didn't drop any." he said in his defense.
Elizabeth laughed. "Ladies, shall we retire to the drawing room for brandy and cigars?"
"I'm game, if you are, Elizabeth!" Julia said. "Remember to bring the coffee in as soon as you are finished cleaning up, gentlemen!"
Leaving the men looking at the table and each other, the ladies went into the drawing room. David tried to follow them, but Chris grabbed him and gently pushed him towards the table.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Chris said. "You are a man, too, David and you are just as stuck as the rest of us!"
'But I helped cook! I shouldn't have to do the cleaning up, too!" David said, hoping logic would help him out. It didn't.
Roger laughed and put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Sorry, son, peeling a few carrots does not excuse you. Come on," he said at David's glum expression, "it will be fun. You might actually learn to like it!"
David made a snorting sound. "I doubt it!"