Subj: Kate Ch 39
Date: 7/18/00 2:44:47 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen
It was quite late by the time the men finished cleaning up. One by one, they entered the drawing room, with Chris and Gerard slumping in a chair as if coming home from the salt mines.
Looking at the two of them, Elizabeth asked, "Did you have an enjoyable experience?" Gerard grimaced.
"I lived alone for a long time, but I never had to wash that many dishes! I have a new respect for Mrs. Johnson." he said, laughing.
The sound of laughter exploded from the women. Carolyn and Kate were holding on to each other, while Julia and Elizabeth had to sit down for fear of falling.
Roger looked at his sister and asked tersely, "What is so funny, Liz?"
She couldn't answer him, she was laughing so hard.
Julia, holding her stomach, said, "Did you hand wash all those dishes, Roger?"
Roger looked at her as if she were insane. "Of course, we washed the dishes by hand. How else would they have been done?" None of the men could figure out where the humor was.
"Oh, Uncle Roger, don't you know we have a dishwasher? You could have put the dishes in there and been done much faster!" Carolyn exclaimed.
"I told you there was a dishwasher and you didn't believe me!" David cried.
Soon the men were laughing, too, ribbing each other about the mountain of dishes they scrubbed, rinsed, dried and put away.
Everyone finally calmed down and the topic of conversations turned to more mundane things. Amy had fallen asleep in a chair in the corner and David was having a hard time stifling his yawns. Kate was feeling the same as the children. Getting up from her chair, she walked over to Chris.
"Chris, Amy is asleep. May she spend the night?" Kate asked him. Chris nodded. "If someone would carry her upstairs, I'll put her to bed."
Before Chris could speak, Barnabas said, "I will carry her." He looked at Kate, who looked away quickly before nodding her approval.
Baranbas picked up the sleeping Amy and started for the stairs, while Kate shook David, who was almost asleep himself. She walked David to the stairs and put her arms around his shoulders to help steer him to his room. Barnabas followed with Amy.
At Amy's old room, Kate opened the door and said, "Put her on the bed while I take David to his room. I'll be right back." Guiding David to his room, Kate whispered in his ear, "David, you are on your own, bud. Sleep well, okay?" She kissed his forehead and closed the door.
Standing outside Amy's room, Kate heard Barnabas talking to a drowsy Amy.
"Don't you love Kate anymore, Barnabas?" Amy asked.
"Yes, Amy, I do." he said, his voice deep with emotion.
"Then why aren't you..., you know, why aren't you together? Doesn't she love you?"
Barnabas sighed before answering his little friend. "I am not sure. Kate is angry with me." His head dropped in sadness.
"Why don't you do what Chris and I do when we fight? We say we are sorry and hug each other. That might work, don't you think?"
Amy's naiveté almost made Barnabas cry. How could he make Amy understand that the problems between he and Kate couldn't be solved by a simple 'I'm sorry'.
"Amy, I thought you were asleep!" Kate said as she came into the room. "Barnabas, could you look in the dresser and see if we can find some p.j.s for her?" Kate took off Amy's shoes and socks and was helping unzip her dress when Barnabas came over with a nightgown Amy had left behind.
"Thanks, Barnabas. I think you had better go back downstairs so Amy can have a bit of privacy. Goodnight." Kate said. She concentrated on helping Amy get undressed.
"Of course. Goodnight, Amy, sleep well." Barnabas said before leaving the room.
"Goodnight, Barnabas!" Amy called. As she got under the covers, she asked Kate, "Don't you love Barnabas, Kate? You are kind of mean to him."
"Amy, I am not mean to Barnabas. I do love him, it's just complicated right now." Kate replied. Tucking the little girl in, she kissed Amy and told her to sleep well. As Kate walked to the door, Amy called after her.
"Kate, doesn't Barnabas want the baby? Is that what's wrong?"
Kate stopped suddenly, shocked at what she had just heard. "Has someone been talking to you about this, Amy?"
"Oh, no, I just overheard Mrs. Stoddard and Carolyn talking about a baby." Amy said. "I thought it might be yours and Barnabas'." She looked at Kate expectantly.
Kate sat on the bed and hugged Amy to her. "I don't know if Barnabas wants the baby, Amy. Now, I don't want to hear you talk about this to anyone, okay?" Amy nodded.
Kate kissed her again and walked to the door. Closing the door behind her, she almost trod on Barnabas. Startled, she let out a yelp.
"I am sorry, Kate. I didn't mean to startle you." he said. "I need to speak to you privately. Shall we go to your room?"
"We need to go back downstairs, Barnabas. Julia said she had an announcement to make and I don't want to miss it." Kate replied, turning on her heels.
Barnabas fought the urge to force her to stay. He knew she was avoiding him, but wasn't sure how to deal with it. One thing he knew, he could not resort to anger. The memory of Kate's face full of fear was seared into his mind. He never wanted her to look at him like that again. Shrugging, he followed her downstairs.
**********************************
In the drawing room, glasses of champagne were being passed around. Barnabas and Kate entered just in time for the big announcement.
Gerard and Julia stood together, arm in arm. Gerard cleared his throat before speaking.
"Julia and I would like to invite all of you to our wedding on December 15!" he said, his voice cracking.
Everyone cheered. Toasts were made to the happy couple and promises to help in any way to make the day a special one. Hugs and handshakes were exchanged.
As Barnabas hugged Julia, he said, "Are you happy, Julia?"
"Yes, I am, Barnabas. Gerard is a very special man." Julia replied, tears in her eyes.
Barnabas kissed her and turned to Gerard, shaking his hand. "You are a lucky man, Gerard. I hope you realize how lucky!"
Taking Julia's hand, Gerard kissed it and replied, "I do, Barnabas. Thank you."
Elizabeth put her arm around Kate's waist and pulled her close. "I had hoped it would be your wedding we would be celebrating, Kate. But I am delighted for Julia."
"So am I, Elizabeth. I know how she feels about Barnabas. With Gerard, I see her living a full life, not fighting a losing battle. Julia looks so full of life, doesn't she?"
"Yes, I have never seen her look more lovely." Elizabeth replied. "Now what are your plans? Now that Barnabas is back, what happens next?"
Kate shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Amy told me I was being mean to Barnabas. Maybe I am. He wants to talk to me in private, but I keep putting him off."
"Kate, you shouldn't avoid him. Whatever happens between you, Barnabas deserves to be heard. He is reaching out to you. It must be difficult for him; Barnabas is a proud man."
"You're right, Elizabeth. But it will have to be tomorrow. I am so tired. I am going to bed." She kissed Elizabeth goodnight and bid everyone else goodnight as well.
Stopping next to Barnabas, Kate said, "I am very tired, Barnabas. I do want to talk to you, but can it wait until tomorrow, please?"
"Of course, Kate. Shall I come here?"
"I'll call you, okay? Goodnight."
Barnabas watched her mount the stairs, a smile on his face. Tomorrow, Kate, he thought, tomorrow will be different!
*******************************************
Early the next morning, Kate, Amy and David trudged through the snow to the Old House. David and Amy kept stopping to throw snowballs at each other.
"Come on, you two, we'll never get there if you keep stopping." Kate called to them. They threw a snowball at her, which landed on her shoulder. From then on, the fight was on.
They threw snowballs at each other as they got closer to the Old House. Kate and Amy were screaming at the top of their lungs as David hit them with a barrage of snowballs. The noise brought Barnabas and Willie to the door. At that moment, a snowball hit Willie. He took off after the culprit, stopping only to pack a snowball to throw. Soon, his voice was added to the laughter and yelling as the snowball war continued.
Barnabas could see Kate, nose and cheeks red from the cold, snow on her coat and pants, screaming with the rest of them. He caught her eye at which point she threw the snowball in her hand at him. It hit Barnabas in the face. As he wiped off the snow, he could see Kate, trying not to laugh.
"I'm sorry, Barnabas. I didn't mean to hit you there! Next time I will aim lower!"
"Next time, it will be my snowball that hits you!" he threatened as he scooped up some snow. Throwing it, he aimed for Kate. It hit her in the back of the head as she turned to avoid it.
Kate laughed. Soon she and Barnabas were throwing snowballs at each other. Willie, David and Amy stopped what they were doing to help out. Amy was throwing snowballs at Kate, while David and Willie threw at Barnabas. Amy jumped on Willie, who fell in the snow, taking her with him. David fell on Amy and the three of them wrestled in the snow.
Barnabas stood watching the melee. He was laughing at Willie for being bested by a girl, when he felt snow go down his back. He quickly turned to see Kate move away from him.
"I'll get you for that, Kate!" he cried as he chased her. Catching up to her, he grabbed some snow and put dumped it down her shirt. At the same time, Kate slipped and fell, taking Barnabas with her.
They lay on the snow, Barnabas lying on top of her. Both were out of breath. Barnabas looked deeply into her eyes. Neither spoke. Barnabas stroked her hair, bringing his hand to her cheek.
A moan escaped from Kate's throat. Her heart was racing. She could see Barnabas' face above hers, moving closer. When he kissed her, she thought she would die. Memories of other kisses came flooding back. God, she loved him so much. She answered his kiss with a passion she thought she had forgotten.
After a few moments, Barnabas pulled away from Kate and whispered, "Kate, I have missed you so. I love you. Please allow me to know our child."
Kate began to cry. She held him close to her and whispered back, "I love you, Barnabas. I want nothing more than for us to be together, raising our child."
Kate and Barnabas kissed each other passionately. In the distance, they could hear Willie calling.
"Are you okay?" he yelled, coming towards them. David and Amy followed him.
Barnabas rolled off Kate, sitting up. He stood and helped Kate rise.
Putting his arms around her, Barnabas said, "Yes, Willie. Everything is just fine."