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Post by Catherine Woodruff on May 1, 2009 23:50:52 GMT -5
As happy as Catherine had been when she first saw Reeves that day, that's how bad she felt now. She held her chest. She had never felt this before. It was like someone had punched her and for a second she thought she was having a heart attack. It hurt too much to cry. The pain was too much that even her tears didn't want to come out. She gasped a little for air not knowing what to say. This wasn't happening.
She hated it. She hated everything. She hated the social class for making such stupid rules. She hated her father for bringing her into this world or fortune. She hated Henry for keeping her from the one person who made her happy. And Reeves, the person she loved most in the world, she also hated for taking her heart and then ripping it apart right in front of her. She tried to speak, but nothing came out her mouth. She didn't know what was happening to her. She thought her body was telling her to cry, so she tried. She really did. She leaned forward and breathed hard into her lap and it sounded like she was pouting.
She turned to Reeves and grabbed him, throwing her arms around his waist. She held her wrist tightly around him so to never let him go. She was crying. The tears finally fell and she was crying.
"Don't leave me," she managed between sobs. "Please, please, don't leave me."
It was improper for a lady to beg.
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Post by reeves on May 1, 2009 23:57:47 GMT -5
"Don't leave me Please, please, don't leave me."
Reeves held tight to her as she sobbed, a tear falling down his own cheek. He stroked her hair, letting her head rest on his shoulder, just like on the ferris wheel. Reeves knew he couldn't ever leave her, he loved her too much. She was too special to him, that he would say goodbye to her just because of what other people did. The only thing that mattered to him was Catherine, and fixing her broken heart.
He kissed her forehead and held her at armslength. He managed a true smile and told her. "I won't, I promise. I love you. I only said those things because I felt like I had to...Catherine, I'm so mixed up, I dunno what to do. There would be so many things you could lose..." He stroked her cheek, wiping some of her tears away.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on May 2, 2009 0:07:08 GMT -5
She didn't want to let him go. Ever. She wiped her eyes, still breathing heavily from crying. She didn't know what to do. She would leave all of this, just to be with him. She knew Henry wanted her to be with Daniel, so did her father. Nobody really cared what she wanted except for Reeves. Maybe that was why she loved him so much. She sighed, drawing a quivering breath.
"I'll say it again that I have nothing else if I don't have you. I love you. I only want to be with you." She sniffed, putting her head down. "I wish there were some place we could be where it was just the two of us. Away from everything else."
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Post by reeves on May 2, 2009 17:32:12 GMT -5
"I'll say it again that I have nothing else if I don't have you. I love you. I only want to be with you."
Those words made Reeves happier than he had ever been, but he only nodded calmly and smiled, putting a finger under her chin and tipping her head up so she would look at him.
"If you're sure I'm what you want. But I ain't gonna leave you unless I'm sure you're okay. I love you, adn I don't want you to get hurt. Your family Catherine...I can't save you from anything, its you who has to save you. It's your decision. I just want you to happy, other wise, that special something inside of you, its gonna burn out. You can't let that happen."
Reeves nodded. "I dunno where we could go. I just don't want worries, I just want to be here with you. I'll do anything, I'll say anything for you, I'll be anything for you. I'm yours."
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on May 2, 2009 18:22:02 GMT -5
Catherine had heard stories of people committing murder and pleading temporary insanity. That was a good way to describe her -- temporarily insane. She didn't know what had happened to her in that moment, but the thought of losing him broke her down. Now, everything was okay. In that respect, anyway. Catherine sat there next to Reeves weighing out her options. It wasn't the first time she had thought about it, but until then she'd pushed it out of her mind. Now, it was something that had to be taken care of. She had to choose.
Her family would not accept Reeves, of that she was sure, but would they shun her like they had done her brother? She wished she could talk to him, Robert that is. She hadn't seen him for a long time and maybe he could give her advice on how he made his decision. She didn't know how it turned out for him. No one would talk about it while she was around, so she assumed things worked out.
She sighed. There was no way she could locate her brother. She had to make this decision on her own. Looking into Reeves' blue eyes, she smiled. She cuddled up next to him, again laying her head on his shoulder. She didn't want to think about what bad might come of them being together. Right now there wasn't anyone else in the world. If only it could stay that way.
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Post by reeves on May 5, 2009 17:00:43 GMT -5
Reeves just sat there, his arm wrapped around her, his chin resting on her soft curls, a smile playing on his face. It finally felt like they didn't have to worry as much about being together. Of course there were still difficulties and things were still uncertain. But Reeves knew that Catherine really cared about him, that she loved him, no matter what he was. He didn't know how this was all going to work out, but he couldn't leave Catherine, no matter what Henry or his own family said.
He had told Catherine he wasn't going to hurt her. Breaking her heart would be worse than anything he could do to her. Reeves realized now what fired that special glow inside of Catherine. He remembered when he had first taken in her face when she had swung open the door. Her eyes were dark green and sparkling like they were now, but not as bright. Catherine was happy now, happy that he was here.
He should have known he wouldn't be able to leave her even if he wanted to. That special girl would be imprinted on his heart forever, and he would never be able to forgive himself. Maybe she would be better off, physically, with a man like Daniel Astor. But in chains like that, waiting to marry a man that didn't even hold her heart, how would she ever be able to live life like that? Reeves wanted Catherine to be happy, and to have happy memories until the day she died. He smiled gently at her and took her hand in his, loving the way it felt, his worked down hands entwined in her porcelain ones.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on May 6, 2009 3:44:52 GMT -5
Catherine saw the front door beginning to open, but didn't have the will nor want to move from where she was. It wasn't until she saw who had opened the door in the first place, that she sat up from her slouching position and stood up. There, standing straight, was none other than Mister Lieutenant Governor himself, Timothy L. Woodruff.
"Daddy..." Catherine gasped.
He stared straight at her, not looking at Reeves once as he spoke in a calm, even voice, "Catherine, your mother is waiting for you. Go inside and wash up for dinner."
She didn't argue. This wasn't Henry who had caught her in the act, it was her father -- a man she was a bit in awe of and yet still feared him. He had never hit or even yelled at her once in her life, but there was something about the way he stood, the way he spoke, that let her know when he was serious, he was really serious. Glancing back at Reeves, then her father, Catherine slowly made her way inside.
Mr. Woodruff's eyes switched to the boy who now sat alone in the swing as soon as he heard the door closed.
"Seth Reeves, I presume?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "It seems you have become rather fond of my daughter, my Catherine."
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Post by reeves on May 6, 2009 12:35:51 GMT -5
"Seth Reeves, I presume? It seems you have become rather fond of my daughter, my Catherine."
Reeves nodded, letting his gaze go to his now lonely hand up to the man who was Catherine's father. He wasn't nervous, as he thought he would be, Reeves wasn't easily worked up, only when he was really angry about something. He stood up, glad he had taken the time today to wear a nicer jacket and had washed his face and hands. He was still a street rat, but he didn't look so much as one, maybe middle class at least.
"Yes Lietenant sir, with all do respect, I do care about your daughter very much, sir," Reeves stated calmly, watching Catherine's father steadily with expectant blue eyes.
He had no idea what would happen next. Maybe he would be killed, or taken off to some work house or jail, or Catherine might be taken away. It didn't matter. Reeves would be honest no matter what. He studied the Governor's fine suit, upright matter. He could see some of the resemblence of Catherine in him, and some of Henry too, of course the Governor didn't look as wicked or decieving as Henry. But the governor had power, more power than Henry had.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on May 6, 2009 14:42:05 GMT -5
He nodded, confirming his knowledge of this all ready. He did not shake Reeves hand, but instead moved to stand beside a cushioned seat near the swing.
"There is no question of whether you know who I am by the way you address me, but I know little about you." He paused as he sat down. "I have seen you here before, delivering garments for my wife."
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Post by reeves on May 6, 2009 14:52:34 GMT -5
"There is no question of whether you know who I am by the way you address me, but I know little about you. I have seen you here before, delivering garments for my wife."
"Yes sir, I believe I've made deliveries for her once or twice. I work for the Manhattan Department store for now, until something better shows up, sir. I live with my three siblings in our own apartment, in Harlem, sir. My brother's been given a scholarship to attend collage. My sister takes good care of us, has taught me everything I know, sir."
Reeves told him, hoping he hadn't added to many sirs. He swallowed slightly and glanced around for a moment. The governor had a perfect poker face, it was hard to read.
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on May 6, 2009 15:04:34 GMT -5
In his line of work it was important for one to be unreadable. If someone saw you falter it would be taken as weakness and in came the sharks. He again nodded once Reeves had finished talking.
"I don't think you a bad person, son." Mr. Woodruff considered himself a reasonable man and did not think what he was asking was in any way over the top. "However, my daughter seems to have returned your feelings for her and that presents a problem. As her father, you must understand, my concern?"
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Post by reeves on May 6, 2009 15:54:03 GMT -5
"I don't think you a bad person, son. However, my daughter seems to have returned your feelings for her and that presents a problem. As her father, you must understand, my concern?"
Reeves nodded, and looked down at his feet for a moment thinking. "Yeah, I understand. I ain't exactly in tail coat and a top hat either. I know I'm not the type you want for your daughter. I can't give her half of what Daniel Astor fellow could. Catherine is responsible though, and she really loves you. She talks really highly of you. It's just she ain't happy. She's unsure about her life being settled. I came to tell your daughter goodbye, but I couldn't do it. She needs me and I need her. That's just how it is, and nothing you do to me is gonna make that change."
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on May 6, 2009 16:27:01 GMT -5
Mr. Woodruff sat and listened to the boy. He had a great deal of courage, that of which he admired, but he was a father first and a lieutenant second. It wasn't necessarily about money. It was about class. If Reeves had been been the prince of England, but didn't have a dime he would probably be accepted. If he just happened upon a fortune, he would be coined as new money and ignored by those higher up. It was a complicated system with many rules, but every one of those rules had an exception.
"You and Catherine together would be unfitting for social stature. I know you think you are doing the right thing. You are thinking with your heart rather than your head. You are both very young and at the time this may seem logical. Because it is the right thing to you must say your goodbyes and let her go."
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Post by reeves on May 6, 2009 16:51:12 GMT -5
"You and Catherine together would be unfitting for social stature. I know you think you are doing the right thing. You are thinking with your heart rather than your head. You are both very young and at the time this may seem logical. Because it is the right thing to you must say your goodbyes and let her go."
Reeves shook his head defiantly but wordlessly and finally said softly, "I can't do that sir. I told her I'd never leave her. I promised. I can't break her like that."
Maybe he was just thinking with his heart, he still believed it was possible for he and Catherine to be together. He didn't care how unfitting it was. Catherine loved him and he loved her, he didn't see how it had to matter. He would be able to give her love, food on the table, a home, maybe not fancy dresses and a repuation, but she would be free. She wouldn't be the showcase of some boy who didn't even love her. Why couldn't they see anything of Catherine's happiness?
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Post by Catherine Woodruff on May 6, 2009 17:10:06 GMT -5
Mr. Woodruff was taken aback by by Reeve's outright defiance. Not many people had come out straight and disagreed with him. At least not in a way such as this.
"Are you defying me, boy?"
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