I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The night before Stewart left for Japan I sat in the far corner of the second floor of the library where there was a hidden nook I could sit in to read. It was in a window that overlooked a large portion of the east end of the grounds, which was a change from my room that overlooked the west end. It was lightly raining and I was paying more attention to the patterns the rain was making in the fountains than the book on my lap. I heard one of the library doors open then close and two voices murmuring. I was thankful I couldn't see them from my hideout and kept reminding myself that he was leaving in a few hours, Alex was driving him to Heathrow so he could leave his car at Tillington rather than having to pay for long term parking at the airport.

I thought I was invisible up there, but just after the grandfather clock sounded the half hour after nine Alex called, 'Catherine?'

Once I recovered from the shock of her knowing I was up there I said, 'Yes?'

'What are you doing up there?'

'Reading.'

'Oh? What are you reading?'

'The Communist Manifesto.'

Her chuckle drifted up and over the banister to me. 'Would you come down for a mo? I've something I'd like to show you.'

What's she going to do, make out with Stewart in front of me? I chastised myself for thinking such a horrible thing and folded the blanket I'd had over my knees and placed it in the cupboard beneath the window seat before going down the staircase to the main floor of the library. As I reached them Stewart gasped then laughed. I didn't know why he was laughing at me, but it hurt my feelings and I pouted out, 'What?'

'You're actually reading The Communist Manifesto!'

'Yeah?'

He shook his head in disbelief; I suppose he thought I'd been joking. Alex put her arm around my shoulders and addressed Stewart in a proud way, 'Yes, our Catherine's becoming a proper socialist.' She bumped her head playfully against mine and took my hand then led us out into the hallway saying to me, 'I have a surprise for you.' I glanced over my shoulder at Stewart, who was following along behind us with an expression of consternation on his face. I didn't know if it was because she was holding my hand and not his or if he didn't know what the surprise was, either way it was nice not to be the gooseberry for once and I happily walked along with her. Once we reached the west wing of the fourth floor I realised we were going to her studio and figured maybe she'd finished another of the paintings in the tarot card series and wanted to show us before Stewart left the country. (Stewart was leaving the country! Have I mentioned that?) She opened the door and switched on the light, there was a large canvas in the middle of the room, it was on an easel facing the windows.

'I finished your painting, Catherine.'

It took a moment for me to realise what she was referring to. 'Already? I thought paintings took a long time.'

She smiled, 'I've been working on this one quite a bit.'

Stewart sighed, 'That's no exaggeration.' I looked to him for an explanation, but he only frowned back at me. I realised Alex must have spent most of the last week working on it, man, that must have ticked old Stewart off. Maybe that's what they'd been having an argument over that day in the back garden. I tried not to smile.

Alex turned to me, 'I hope it's all right that I brought Stewart along. Only I figured he should see what I've been working on these past few days.'

I nodded and responded with a casual, 'That's fine.' Ha! Beat that Stewie!