Chapter 26

Rosalie invited Catherine and Oliver along with Eliot for Nora and Richard's party in her café. They celebrated in the honor of the newly wedded. That day, Scarlet Café was booked for the private party, and everyone was informed in advance. Eliot noticed Catherine being troublesome and sat with her. He talked to her about, how are you holding up these days fortunate married woman?'. Although she appeared a little distressed to him, but she replied in a positive manner, 'Life is fine just household responsibilities have enlarged! And they become your first priority these days!'. He told her, 'Your health should be your first priority, the rest can be taken care of gradually! I am saying this because you look weak and a little lost, today!'.

She looked at him and smiled a little to distract him from noticing her and pointed toward Nora and Richard saying, 'It is their day today let's not just get carried away talking about me!'. He sighed and added, 'Yes, Cathie you sure are right but we must be in our right mind too to celebrate our friends! This is not possible if we will be lost sitting in a corner and will be absent while we are physically present somewhere else!'. He held her arm and took her to the center where they all danced in their awkward manner. Oliver did worry about Cathie dancing with Eliot because his attention was now somewhere else a lady friend of Nora sitting with her other friends. He hinted her to join him, and she went to his table where he already joined George and Angie. He requested her to dance, and they both felt uncomfortable at this action of his.

Catherine while dancing with Eliot noticed Oliver dancing with another spinster name Luna. She felt quite uneasy as she witnessed the same girl visiting him. Eliot noticed slight tears in her eyes, and she leaned her head over his shoulder to hide it from all. Rosalie who was quite happy to have this little congregation going so well. She noticed Catherine leaning on Eliot's shoulder during the dance. She also catches sight of Oliver who danced with Luna leaving off the Cafe together. She summed the two instances and knew there was something off. She and the rest dreaded this day. She went to George and Angie's table and asked them to dance as well. She requested Nora to let her dance with Richard too and she agreed. Rosalie danced off with Richard and requested him something in secrecy. She wanted him to spy on what Oliver was doing.

She then after the brief dance joined Catherine who sat alone in her table was watching the rest dance pleasantly. Richard and Anne-Marie were now dancing, and Eliot joined Nora for the dance along with George and Angie who were ordered by Rosalie not to sit like oldies in their table. So, they had to dance till their heels fell off! She spoke to her and asked her, 'Cathie, is everything alright? I saw you crying earlier!'. She didn't hide anything this time and she told her, 'I don't know! I have no idea what is happening to me? I am suspicious of him, but he is so convenience that I just believe him!'. Rosalie knew that it was not right for her to say that she knew that this day would come. But the shocking revelation was it followed quite quickly and that broke Cathie and Rosalie both. She comforted her and requested her to wait a little. She had something arranged for Oliver and they wanted to catch him red-handed. She was now tired and had no idea where Oliver went, she requested Eliot to follow him and make sure to remain inobtrusive.

She asked Catherine, 'Where are you staying these days?'. Catherine told her, 'In our house at the district!' She was careful not to provoke her, but she knew there was no other way around. So, Rosalie inquired, 'Oliver owns another house in the district there?'. She replied, 'Not any that I know of? But he often stays at hotels with his workers on weekends!'. 'Well, that is fine! Do not go to your house today just stay at your mother and have a good time because as you told me he will not be home today as well! So, just relax and we will visit the district and watch some cricket there tomorrow! Is that alright with you?'. Catherine answered, 'Alright, I would just stay here and certainly I would accompany you there!'. Catherine was deeply concerned but she felt relaxed after the conversation with Rosalie.

The following day Eliot, Rosalie and Catherine went to the Lake District. As they reached the area where they had this cricket match, they spotted Luna and Oliver there. Eliot distracted Catherine by talking her out and covering her vision, but he failed at his attempt. She witnessed him laughing and flirting with Luna in public. She decided to not back off and destroy their outing. And even she was desperate inside, but she watched the game till the end and ignored him. At the end of the game when Oliver realized that he has been caught red-handed he went over to Catherine didn't talk to him and told him, 'Be off I don't want to spoil my day with your non-sense! Get lost you cheat! You're a fraud . . ..!'. Eliot told him, 'Please just back off and let us be! She is here with us!'.

Oliver though appeared unpretentious when back and behaved as if he is there with her for some business and he didn't play with her blond curls and didn't even feed her with pastry as he was doing earlier. Cathie whined severely that day and Rosalie regretted their visit there. She requested Eliot, 'Just drop me off to my home! I just want to settle it with him!'. Rosalie added, 'You will be alright, all by yourself? I could just . . .. stay! If you want!'. Catherine replied, 'I think I must confront him myself! There is no other way around it! I was just blind, and I couldn't see what you all anticipated! He has not changed!'. They dropped her to off to her home as she requested, and Eliot was fumed at his daring manner of approaching them.

Eliot spoke to her, 'Do you think she will be able to do that on her own!'. Rosalie replied, 'I do not want to say that, but I think you know that very well too! But let her at least have her space and time to cope with it! We can now hope that she is alright at the end of it!'. Eliot nodded in agreement and the rest of the ride to the town was a dreadful and uncomfortable one. They were terrified for Cathie as she is just the sweet soul that would not be able to confront him well. Catherine waited for him that night and he came in late. He carried her to the room and placed a blanket over her in the bed. She woke up early in the morning and he was awake. She freshened up and went in the kitchen where he waited for her at the dinning. She questioned him, 'I think we cannot continue like this at all?'.

'What do you mean, Cathie?' he spoke feigning ignorance. 'I have witnessed you with another women and it is clear to me that you have decided to put me in a vulnerable spot with this new affair! I just can't trust you! And I cannot continue this marriage as well!'. Oliver told Catherine, 'Do you think I am doing it for the joy or satisfaction! I am just required to do that his father have good connections and that is why . . ..!'. 'That is why you think you need to play dirty!' she said. Oliver uttered, 'Cathie . . ..!'. She told him, 'Had I know that I wouldn't have married you! It is unjustifiable! Yet . . ..! You are daring enough to do explain! You are not in any position to do that! You have no right!'. Oliver replied to her, 'Cathie . . ..! I love you!' Catherine wheezed in irritation, 'Of course, you love me! And you were caught flirting with her during the whole match! You . . ..!'. He interrupted, 'Cathie . . ..! How can I make you believe?'. He approached Catherine and held her hand, 'I promise I would not repeat such a mistake ever again! Cathie . . ..! Just give me another chance!'. Catherine again fell for him, and he embraced her tightly.