I'm so glad everyone is enjoying the story. Here's another dose!
Chapter 5
It shocked them both. Catherine dropped the bag and the towel. It sounded like a bomb in the silence of the room. Chris nearly dropped Megan had she not been clinging to his neck, he would've.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" She screamed with delight, smiling happily.
Catherine was the first to respond. She grabbed Megan from Chris's arms and got out her coloring book and crayons. She sat her on the bed and gave it to her. Catherine and Chris stood there staring at each other for a long time until a knock on the door broke through. John appeared, telling them dinner was ready. They followed him back upstairs and sat at the table in the middle of the kitchen. Chris sat across from John, beside Catherine and Megan sat beside her. Mashed Potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, bread, and pork chops occupied the table. All in matching blue and white bowls. Catherine raised her eyebrows. Since when did men care about dishes?
"I do have a wife. I have her leave when there are....visitors." John answered her question without knowing it. Cat nodded and fixed Megan and herself a plate.
"So..." Cat broke the silence a few minutes later. "Why do you do this?"
"Do what?" John asked.
"This. Helping the witnesses."
"You answered your own question Ms. Kelly." He answered.
"You can call me Catherine."
Catherine? So he was the only one allowed to call her Cat? What was that supposed to mean? Maybe she felt the same way as him. Maybe she just figured he should call her Cat since it was a mouth full like Catherine. He should have liked a mouth full of 'Cat'. He still couldn't believe Megan had called him Daddy. It was understandable though, in a sense. She had never really had a father figure, or had she? Had there been men in Cat's life? Sure she hadn't been with a man before, but of course she had dates. What teenage girl doesn't date? A girl who grew up too fast.
At the end of dinner, they retreated back to the basement. Cat got her pad and pen, flopped down on the bed and started writing. Chris sat at the desk and wrote in his own green hard covered book. When Catherine noticed this, she closed her book and laid it down on the nightstand table. She got up quietly and walked up behind him. She shrieked as he grabbed her by the arms and pinned them at her sides. Their eyes met.
"You shouldn't sneak up on people. It could get you hurt some day." Cat merely nodded and he let her go. She rubbed at her wrists. "Did I hurt you?"
"A little."
"I'm sorry, didn't mean to." She nodded again.
She pulled up another chair on the other side of Chris and looked at him.
"What do you write?" He smiled.
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"Yeah, I would."
"I keep a journal." Cat smiled.
"Really?"
"Yep." He noticed her book on the table. "What do you write?"
Catherine got up and went to the table. She picked up her tablet and brought it back. She turned the page she had written that night at the first house. With reluctance she handed it over. Chris took it.
I sit here looking out at the moon, the garden is full of color I wish in my heart that is over soon, But I know that this is for the better.
I know I will make it, but I still feel the fear
He didn't read the rest of it. Chris looked at Cat sitting in the chair in front of him. Without thinking twice about it, he pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She buried her head in his neck and the sobs rocked her body against him.
"You're gonna get through this, Cat, I promise. I won't let anything happen to either one of you." He whispered into her hair.
Chris pulled her up to look at him. He cupped her face in his hand. Tears rolled down her face and her cheeks were a rosy red. Snot trickled out of her nose. He got a clean white handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face. Putting it at her nose he said 'blow' and she did. He cleaned her up and hugged her again.
"I promise."
To Catherine, that was the best thing she had heard in years.
Chapter 6
The next morning, they left early. They had to be in Concord by nine that night. If they weren't there, the operator was to call the station back in Mainsville immediately and they were to think the worst. Megan was still asleep in the back seat, Catherine was in sweats in the passenger seat and Chris sipped at a hot cup of coffee.
"What music do you listen to?" Chris asked, looking over at Cat. She looked up from dragging eyelids.
"Country and rap."
"Odd combo. I think I got some rap in here."
He pulled the visor down in front of him and pulled out a CD then stuck it in the player. He put it on the third track and turned it down. Bass rocked the speakers and Cat knew the artist instantly.
"Like fifty cent?" Cat nodded, lipping the words as she stared out the wind shield.
Catherine sighed but still sang and wiggled around in her seat. Chris misunderstood that for nervousness. He put his hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. She smiled the best she could.
"We need to stop." She blurted out.
"You just used the bathroom. We're on a tight schedule."
"Why when you get in a car with a guy, do they think they have full control over your bladder? Is there a consent form I signed and just don't remember it?" Chris laughed.
"I don't know, did you?"
"I don't think I do. But hey, if you say so. But you really need to stop."
"For what?" He asked, the aggravation in the voice.
"Do you want pee on your seats?
The tires squealed as he gunned it to the gas station across the road. Cat had to laugh. Once everything was taken care of, they got back on the road. Catherine and Chris sang along some more to the CDs he had. Eventually though, sleep overcame Cat and she fell asleep.
Chris watched Cat. Her head would loll to one side and she'd snap back awake. The last time though, she simply slumped against the door and slept. Her facial expression was relaxed and unconcerned. Once, she whispered his name. He knew he exaggerated it. Why would she say his name? It was well after noon before she woke. When she did, she sat up with a very weird expression.
"What the hell is this?" She asked indicating the radio. Chris laughed. "Is this like a CD of old people songs?"
"Hey! This is good music, alright. Don't make me pull this car over."
"And just what would you do if I made you pull the car over?" She gave him a smile and he cleared his throat, shifting in his seat.
"You ok?"
"Peachy." Cat smiled.
"Yeah, you look just peachy to me." Chris's lips broke out in a smile.
It was eighty forty-five when they arrived at the next operator's house. It was like the first. Woods surrounded it, a small pond in the back and it was an old two story house. They were given a small room on the top floor of the house. It contained a twin bed, a full bed, a dresser and a desk. Pretty much the same as the last house. The both beds had quilts folded on the foot and clean white sheets. Megan fell asleep in the small bed while Catherine was in the shower.
"Well...let me go get some quilts and I'll make a pallet on the floor." He headed for the door.
"Wait." He paused and turned to look at her. "Why don't you just sleep in the bed with me?"
Chris raised his eyebrows. "You sure?"
