Page 134 of Like in Love with You
Mother meets Catherine’s eyes, so much brimming between them. So much now so broken between them.
“She will,” Father says.
Catherine glances at him, Mother and Lady Tisend’s fight echoing in her head. “Not just because he tells you you have to?”
Father opens his mouth, affronted.
“Will it change your mind if I won’t?” Mother asks.
Catherine pushes through the knot in her throat, disappointment flooding through her veins. “No,” she says. It’s cracking, and bruised, but it’s true.
Catherine will love Rosalie, will choose Rosalie, whatever the cost, but she had... she hoped—
Mother nods slowly, her body still so stiff, face still so blank. “I have never regretted marrying your father, but I do regret the manner in which it happened. I was backed into the decision. It was the right one, but not how I wanted to make it andI—” She glances at Father, whose face has softened, and takes a deep breath. “I want you to have the choice.” Her eyes meet Catherine’s. “I don’t agree, but neither will I stand in your way.”
It’s not a weeping hug and unquestioned support. It’s not the two of them, girls together against the world, anymore. It’s not the fairy tale.
It’s not what she wanted.
But it’s a start.
“Thank you,” Catherine says, grateful, and grieving, and wounded, and hopeful all at once.
They stand there staring tearfully at each other, learning each other all over again.
“Well,” Father says, smiling at them both. “I suppose we should go deal with our guests. Can’t leave Lord Tisend to referee your mother and Lady Tisend on his own.”
Mother huffs and Catherine lets out a small laugh. Some things never change, at least.
Mother steps away from Father, opening the door to the sitting room. She glances at Catherine and nods once before heading inside.
“She’ll come around,” Father repeats, stepping forward to squeeze Catherine’s hand.
“I know,” Catherine says, squeezing back. “Thank you.”
Father smiles, his eyes crinkling, and then lets go, heading inside.
Catherine remains just outside the doorway, alone. She takes a deep breath, trying to let the onslaught of elation, and hurt, and exhaustion, and hope cascade off her until she feels steady again.
Taking her happiness, choosing her happiness, comes at acost. It isn’t perfect. It isn’t painless. It isn’t without sacrifice. But it’s her choice.
“All right?” Catherine blinks as Rosalie slips out into the hallway. “I was eavesdropping,” she admits, stepping forward to wrap her arms around Catherine. “I’m sorry.”
Catherine holds tight to her shoulders, pressing her face into her hair. She’s sorry too. But she’s also so incredibly happy.
“I love you,” she whispers, pulling back to meet Rosalie’s eyes. “And the rest will come.”
Rosalie smiles, reaching up to brush the remaining tears from her cheeks. “The rest will come.”
Catherine lets the sparkle in Rosalie’s eyes fill her up. There’s a lot of life to be lived together. A lot after their happy-ever-after to get to.
She takes Rosalie’s hand and strides into the sitting room, looking around at the Tisends and her parents, gathered on their two worn settees, Christopher and Lady Jones in the armchairs between them. Wholehearted acceptance might not be in the immediate offing, but they’re all here.
Christopher beams at her beside Lady Jones. Christopher, Amalie, and Henrietta—they’ll build a better world with them, whether all of their parents ever come around or not.
Even so, the words stick momentarily in her throat. Rosalie squeezes her hand, and there’s a tingly feeling that flows from the touch of her palm, the press of her fingers, the heat of her body close against Catherine’s arm.
They’ll do this together. They’ll choose the future, together.
Rosalie nods up at her once, smiling.
Catherine takes a deep breath and turns back to their families, determination spreading through her. “So.”
