Music Recommendation: Twilights- Mirta da Silva
Nervousness filled Eve's body, as she had never spoken to this person before and knew how important she was to Vincent. She approached the bench when Katherina opened her eyes.
"Good evening," Lady Katherina greeted Eve with the politest smile she had ever seen until now.
Eve offered the lady a bow and returned the greeting, "Good evening. May I sit next to you?"
"Please," Lady Katherina raised her hand to show the space next to her. "You aren't from here, are you?"
"I am actually from Brokengroves, and then moved to Meadow," Eve responded, and she sat next to the beautiful and peaceful-looking woman. There was a baby bump on the woman, which she hadn't noticed in the beginning, and noticing her stare, Lady Katherina said,
"He's going to come out in two months."
"Oh," Eve's eyes widened. Lady Katherina was carrying Vincent.
The lady said, "It's been seven months, but it feels so short and I wish I could keep him inside," she smiled.
Curious, Eve asked, "How do you know it is a he?"
"The physician says the shape of my bump says a lot, and personally, it is a feeling of mine. I know it is a boy," Lady Katherina rubbed her belly with one of her hands with a content smile. She said, "The truth is someone else told me about it too. My mother sometimes sees the future and can predict things."
Eve nodded and replied, "Congratulations on having him."
Lady Katherina smiled, turning happier with just the thought of her child being born into this world. She asked Eve, "Forgive me, it seems like I forgot to introduce myself again," she softly laughed. "I am Katherina Moriarty."
Eve was so aroused in emotions that she hadn't realised she hadn't introduced herself. She said, "I am Genevieve Barlow. But you can call me Eve."
"Eve," Lady Katherina tested the name with a thoughtful expression before she smiled again. "Where in Meadow do you stay, Eve?"
"In the Dawson's residence. I live with my aunt, Aubrey Dawson. She's a governess," Eve answered the woman. The more right answer would be that 'she used to', but then saying she lived in Moriarty's mansion would garner her strange looks.
"A governess, how exciting!" Lady Katherina seemed like a bright and happy woman, and her children were nothing like her. She complimented Eduard Moriarty well, someone who didn't hold her high status as an accessory.
"How about you? Are you a governess too? Or married?" She stared at Eve, tilting her head.
"Both, Lady Katherina," Eve replied, noticing the woman looking at her in awe.
"You know, I always come here to rest my feet even though my mansion has plenty of plants and flowers. But it is good to see people walking up and down the streets, giving some fresh air," Lady Katherina said with a soft sigh. She said, "It gives me time to think, to settle my thoughts before being picked up by my husband," she laughed. "The sky looks beautiful, doesn't it." She said, "I am happy you are here... Eve."
Eve turned to look at the woman with a questioning look.
"I have been waiting for you, because my mother told me that there would be a woman who would show up in the future. A woman with hair that resembled the sun and eyes that were like the sea. Who will spend time with me because I won't be able to live my life to the fullest..." Lady Katherina said those words with sorrow, but her face was as calm as before.
Eve was left speechless as she hadn't expected her cover to blow this way.
Lady Katherina turned to look at Eve and asked, "Is my mother, right?" As their eyes met.
Eve pursed her lips before nodding, "She is right, Lady Katherina."
A small smile formed on Lady Katherina's lips, and she asked, "Who are you, Genevieve Barlow?"
Eve's eyes fell on the woman's baby bump, and Lady Katherina nodded, "I see. So that is how it is."
When Eve came to visit Vincent's mother, she hadn't expected the woman to have an inclination of who she was. It made her wonder for how long she had been coming here, waiting for her at this bench.
"I am sorry, Lady Katherina," Eve apologised, even though the woman already knew her fate through her mother. She asked, "I thought your parents were humans... "
"Oh, they are," Lady Katherina replied and then explained softly, "You see, my ancestor once married a witch without anyone's knowledge and one the time, though we aren't witches, there are a few traces that sometimes show up. Either abilities, or sometimes the character of a witch. How long do I have?" She asked, protectively shielding the baby bump.
"More than a decade," Eve responded and Lady Katherina sighed one more time.
"A decade is more than what I could ask for," Lady Katherina didn't look upset. Rather she seemed to have accepted her fate. Instead of worrying, she was ready to give her love and everything else to the people who were dear to her. "How is he?" There was a slight excitement in her voice as she asked about her unborn child.
"Vincent is an amazing man. He loves and holds you in high regard," Eve answered, noticing the sweet smile on the pregnant woman's lips. "He loves his family, and he protects the people whom he cares about." She decided not to mention the crazy side of her husband, wanting to keep that for herself. "He's also very handsome. He has your hair."
"Does he now..." Lady Katherina's smile told everything she didn't say in words. She was just happy and looking forward to raising her son. "Do I have another child?" Wanting to know if Vincent was the only one.
"Marceline."
"A girl," Lady Katherina liked that she had a boy and a girl. But when the woman noticed Eve's expression, she asked, "It seems like you both don't get along? What is it? If you have time, I would like you to tell me how you and my son met too."
Eve smiled, "I have time, Lady Katherina."
Eve told Katherina mostly happy and good things without going to the sad part of what was there. This included what Marceline had done to her and how she was in the House of Purgatory.
"She was always good to me," Lady Katherina said when they came to Lady Annalise. "Even though we don't speak now, it is good to know that she continues to be my friend," she smiled before placing her hand on Eve's. "Thank you for coming to visit me, Eve. Even though one day I won't be part of the future that you came from, I feel like I won't miss things the way I thought I would. At least I know a little now."
The Moriarty carriage stopped on the side of the street, and Eve knew it was time for her to leave. They both stood up, and Eve hugged the woman,
"Thank you, Lady Katherina."
Lady Katherina hugged Eve back before the two women, who appeared to be of the same age, pulled away from each other. From afar, Eduard Moriarty was making his way to where his wife was, and Eve said to the woman,
"Vincent misses you."
"Tell him I am always with him, and that I love him. And how proud I am of him," Lady Katherina said to Eve, even though she was yet to meet her son after two months.
"I will," Eve replied, walking away from there before disappearing behind a tree and never stepping out of there again.
Eduard Moriarty appeared near his wife. He kissed her lips and said, "Briggs said you hadn't returned and I came to get you. You spent a lot of time here today."
Lady Katherina put her hand around her husband's arm and hugged him. She replied, "I did. I was having a glimpse of the future."
"Were you?" Eduard laughed, not knowing if his wife was daydreaming of their future and their family.
Lady Katherina only smiled without commenting on it or uttering what Eve told her and keeping it to herself. She wanted to spend her time with happiness and offering love to her family. They walked out of the garden, making their way towards the waiting carriage, before returning home.
