Catherine

14. Secretive Joy [ End Of The First Season ]

Few days passed since the tragedy. Catherine was sitting on the living room, watching television, non-patiently waiting for any kind of information about her friend Eva, as she was too hesitant to talk about the subject with her parents. It was the first time in her life she had been paying so much attention to the news. Her mind was fully troubled by everything. She'd start visualizing that same evening in her head as the details slowly faded away. She missed her friend, even thought it was the second time she had met her outside work, and she had no idea if she had family members looking for her or not. She'd like to attend the funeral, or at least get the chance to give them her condolences. Catherine hasn't heard of her since that day. She has nightmares about Eva every night... about that man who ended her friend's life, looking her way, chasing her until she's able to wake up and burst out crying in the middle of the night, until her mother, her father, and her sister come to her rescue. She apologizes every time, countless times, until she falls asleep again. It doesn't matter how hard she tries to make it in silence, her little noises always reach out.

As she loses herself deeper in her own thoughts, her mother's hand reaches out to her. She looks up, a little startled, expecting her to be someone else.

" Hey my little baby, you wanna go get ready? Maybe take a bath and put on something else than your pajamas? Your guests are coming. " Carine said, as she ripped open a big smile to her daughter.

" Okay mom... " Catherine said as she stood up, staring at her mom, and then turning her head to the TV.

" Cat... " Carine said as her daughter turned her eyes back to her. " Today's a special day... try to have fun, alright? If you ever wanna talk, I'l be here, okay? " Catherine smiled and walked towards her mom for a hug.

" I will, mom. I promise. "

" Good girl. " Carine said.

The mourning turned into afternoon, and both Catherine and Ellen's friend started showing up. Some of them came along with their parents, and the living room slowly got crowded with 10 little heads moving around. The adults were at the backyard, all gathered up around a big table, full of food, discussing recent events that had happened in their life, and keeping things up to date. Everyone has given Catherine the appropriate amount of attention and affection. None of her friends knew for sure what had happened, as their parents had been very secretive about it, and her sister Ellen did not leave her side once, not even for 10 seconds, because she has been trying hard to make it so Catherine could be at her best on their special day. Most of their friends had only learned today that they were twins, which was something both of the girls enjoyed quite a lot to do. Making themselves each other's special secret, and laugh at the surprised and confused reactions their friends had, whenever they find out. Ellen was the one who enjoyed the most, and it took her a long time to convince Catherine to join the game as well, but as they got older, it became something very personal for both of them, to have a twin sister as a special secret, because it meant that they were protecting each other from the World. They were each other's treasure.

After lunch, Catherine realized her 'best friend' , Lucia, probably wouldn't come. She'd hope she could've talked to her about what happened a few days ago. She wasn't mad anymore, after her friend left her, and she's been considering that maybe she might have been right when she said they shouldn't mess with people they don't know. Catherine was among her friends and sister, all comfy on the sofa, some of them were on the floor, all of them under a big warm blanket, watching a movie on the TV. Catherine simply stared outside the window, wondering if the clouds could darken this day way more than they already did. Ellen kept holding tightly to her sister's hand. Catherine would sometimes start shaking for a few seconds, and Ellen would ask her if she was alright, wondering if she could be on the merge of bursting into tears again. Her parents would sometimes come around to give her a kiss on her cheeks or her forehead. They wanted to talk to her, and squeeze out as much information as they could, about the girl who had presumably died, but they couldn't do it. They couldn't look at her as she talked, because for every word she'd say, she'd get her eyes filled up in tears again. They know that they will, eventually, have to talk to her about it, and they will have to endure the pain, no matter how much they'll make Catherine cry.

By the time the movie was ending, the kids slowly started to leave, heading to the backyard to play outside. After awhile, the twin sisters went after them as well. It took sometime until Catherine started talking again, as they pushed her to do so. They would eventually try to make her laugh, tell a story or jokes they had learned with their parents, until she would start smiling again. Soon, Carine called out everyone to get around the table, as she came with two big homemade cakes, on each hand, she had been doing for the past 3 hours. She made sure they would be big enough to serve for everyone, and decorated them the best way she could, having the delicacy to not exaggerate on the cover. And it was perfect, just like her daughters liked it. Ellen and Catherine were given the special seat, surrounded by everyone as Carine lightened up the candles in front of them. Their eyes were sparkling right before the flames, as they stared at the figures singing to them, wishing them the best of health, praising them for the long run, and finally, wishing them the best birthday, hoping that this day, the day when they've completed their 10th anniversary, may be as unique as any other birthdays they will celebrate for the rest of their lives. The adults also took a moment to congratulate Carine and Gordon for the marvelous daughters they have, and the wonderful family they constructed together, which has been growing stronger along these 10 years since their beautiful daughters were born. Carine was moved by all the kind words, and ended up shedding some tears, until she burst out again as her husband held her in his arms. For the first time in their lives, the twins had seen their mother cry.