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29.03% The Dominus Blade / Chapter 9: Episode Nine: The Summons

Chapter 9: Episode Nine: The Summons

 Vincent Thys was in the Summerfield Library a little before ten o'clock. He had spotted Katherine's SUV sitting in the front parking lot when he drove in. He drove past, went around to the side, and parked in the shade of a large oak tree. He got out of the rental car, locked it, and strolled into the lobby and the main entrance. He glanced around but did not see Katherine, so he stood patiently near the circulation desk. A young black woman came up to the front desk and smiled at him. "May I help you, or are you waiting for someone?" she asked.

 "He's waiting for me," Katherine said walking up to him. "Can we use one of the study rooms, Chandra?"

 "Sure, room one is free," Chandra replied. 

 "Thanks," Katherine replied. She glanced over at Thys, "I don't expect we'll need the use of the room for more than an hour, tops!" Chandra nodded sagely and Katherine moved off to the room. Vincent followed her and as they got to the door, he slipped past her and opened it.

 "After you, Ms. Van Dermeer."

 "Thank you." She replied and stepped into the room. She laid her backpack on the table and pushed it to one side. Vincent was immediately beside her and pulled the chair out for her. She nodded silently her thanks and sat down. Vincent took the chair across from her. He pulled the chair back away from the table, sat down, crossed his legs, and unbuttoned his jacket. He was silent as she openly studied him with a critical eye. He studied her as well, making his assessments of the last Potential. 

 She was an attractive woman, but she hid it with clothes that were loose and skimmed over her body not revealing any of her curves. She was of fair complexion and had large deep blue eyes that currently looked as if she had not slept well in weeks. There were circles of fatigue under her eyes, and she held her body stiffly and poised for flight. She had very long blond hair that was pulled into a messy bun at the back of her head and held in place with a long lethal-looking pick that pierced a leather tooled hairclip. 

 Finally, she sat forward, "How did you get access to my checking account."

 "I did not access your checking account, Ms. Van Dermeer," he replied. "My client deposited the money, paid all of your debts, and has made all the arrangements for your travel."

 Her blue eyes widened, and she sat back in her chair. "Travel? I can't travel. I don't even have a passport! Besides, I can't accept that money not any of it!"

 "Why not?" He asked. "You were in trouble financially, that has been eliminated and you are free of all debt."

 "What do you want?" Katherine demanded instead of answering his question. She had inadvertently raised her voice, and though the study rooms were somewhat soundproof, her voice had carried enough to make Chandra glance their way. Katherine anxiously glanced out the glass windows then looked back to him and lowered her voice. "I mean, why me?"

 "You make it sound like something terrible has happened to you," Vincent said. "I can't see why you would resent it so much."

 "Have you ever heard the saying, there's no such thing as a free lunch?" She frowned at her backpack and reached around to twist it around, so it faced her. She pulled her smartphone out of the front pocket and waved it at Vincent like a pocketknife. "I have five hundred grand in my checking account, and I don't know who or why it's there or why you're back haunting me again!"

 He smiled. Katherine thought it odd he would have such a reaction to her angst, but she had to admit he was handsome in a thin European way. He was in his late twenties and looked like he had stepped out of a GQ magazine. His charcoal grey suit was expensive -- Italian, as were his leather shoes. His dress shirt was pale grey with a tie that matched his suit but was a silk brocade that caught the light in just a certain way that highlighted the fleur de lis designs worked in silk threads. He was tanned and sported a recent tinge of redness on his face and neck from being somewhere out in the sun without a hat or sunscreen. He was of average height, with dark brown hair, and light brown eyes. From his crisp English accent, he sounded like had been educated in England, but she was not certain. He might have been of French descent, the name Thys might have even been Dutch. He wore a gold signet ring on his right hand and there was some sort of pin on the lapel of his suit jacket. It looked heraldic in design. There were stylized leaves with seven circles that clustered around a sun, its rays blazing out in different directions. 

 "I will tell you why I am back," Vincent began. "But first I must ask you, a question; Have you ever heard of the Seven Noble Houses?"

 Katherine tilted her head in thought, casting her eyes upward, "Of Brussels?"

 "Then you have heard of it?" Vincent said looking hopeful.

 "I am a schoolteacher, you know!" she flung back at him. "That's not even a thing anymore."

 "Oh, but it is a thing," Vincent said. "A very real thing – of which you belong."

 Katherine laughed. "You can't be serious!" When Vincent did not respond she shook her head at him. "You can't be serious!"

 Vincent drew a breath and reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. When she flinched and drew back, he froze in his actions then reached into the jacket pocket slowly and drew out the sealed summons with two fingers. He held it up for her to see the envelope. "It is not a viper, Ms. Van Dermeer - only a letter, for you."

 She relaxed slightly and stared at the wax-sealed letter he extended to her. He held it lightly between his thumb and index finger. She took it and looked at the red wax seal, turning it up toward the overhead lights. There was an elaborate emboss in the wax. "Septum Noblium Familarum," she murmured, "Seven Noble Families."

 "Of which you belong. I was sent from the Dominus—"

 "The Dominus?" She repeated and turned the parchment letter over. "Sounds a bit medieval." her name was written in fine calligraphic lettering. It was not printed but hand-written she could see where the nib of the pen had caught on the grain of the paper before the flourish was finished at the end of her name. 

 "Yes, the Dominus, the leader of the Seven. Your family, Van Dermeer is part of his family."

 "This Dominus have a name?" Katherine asked looking up from the envelope at Vincent.

 "Nicklaus Alexander Vanderau." Vincent said.

 "Very impressive!" Katherine turned the letter back to the wax seal and she broke it. It snapped softly and she carefully opened the parchment paper. "It's written in a language I don't understand." She said.

 "Allow me," Vincent offered. "I will translate it for you."

 She handed the letter over to him. He looked at the writing. It was in Vanderau's hand. That was unexpected. Most of the summonses sent were written by one of the people employed by the Chamberlain. "To Katherine Elena Van Dermeer, you are hereby summoned to appear for testing by the Sept on 20 September. 

My consul and Indago, Vincent Michele Thys is empowered to provide limited information regarding the execution of your duties as they pertain to your family. You will cooperate with our consul, and we expect to see you in Geneva for preparation no later than September 1. Dominus Vanderau."

 "That's two days from now!" Katherine declared. "And I am summoned? What the hell?"

 "It is urgent that you come and represent your family," Vincent told her, glancing up from the letter. "You will be the first from his family in more than a century so, yes," Vincent replied and handed the letter back to her. "It is a summons. There is a jet waiting now at a private hanger, waiting to take us to Geneva."

 "For what kind of testing?" Katherine asked. "What kind of testing takes two weeks to prepare for?"

 "I cannot answer what I do not know," Vincent replied. "I only know that there have been people like me traveling all over the world searching for people like you. We are given a charge to free people like you, from any financial problems, clear away all problems that stand in the way of the summons, and make sure they arrive at their destination at the appointed time and place. You are the last and are more than three weeks past due."

 "Because I wouldn't talk to you the first time you showed up on my front steps?" Katherine guessed, raising a wry eyebrow at him.

 Vincent tried not to let her get under his implacable demeanor, but she had thwarted him, and he had been forced back to the Dominus in defeat! It still rankled him. "Yes," he intoned flatly. "Had you given me the time to explain it would not now be imperative!"

 She smiled pertly at him then folded her arms over her chest. "And if I refuse?" Katherine demanded. "What would you do then? Kidnap me?"

 "No," Vincent said softly and leaned forward, "Not that it has not been done before out of necessity -- but we are in the twenty-first century. But I can tell you this: You will have all the instructors and teachers - the best in their field to give you their knowledge and expertise. And then when it is time, members of the Sept will question you. It is an interview and testing of your abilities. If you are found lacking you come back here to your home and your life goes on normally."

 "And what about that 500 grand in the bank," Katherine asked wryly. "I suppose that evaporates if I am found -- lacking?" She found that word offended her for some reason.

 "No, consider that payment for being inconvenienced by whatever training and preparations you are put through," Vincent replied.

 "This is unreal!" Katherine said looking at the parchment letter. She waved it at Vincent, "And dodgy not to mention risky and cultish!"

 "I understand," Vincent replied. "You have never dealt with anything like this before. Nor have I, but I have heard of only one individual who understood what was happening."

 "What happened?" Katherine asked.

 "He was tested and was lacking. He went back to his home in Germany." Vincent replied. "As I believe, he was very disappointed."

 There was that word again! Lacking. What did that mean exactly? Rather than draw him into another line of questioning she sat back in her chair and mimicked how he was lounging in the chair. "How long have you worked for this organization and Vanderau?" she asked him.

 "My family has been in the employ of the Sept since 1329. We have always been special consuls to the families. My grandfather was consul to the Vanderau family, and I have been consul and Indago for the last three years to the Dominus." Vincent replied.

 "Nearly seven hundred years ---That's a long time!" Katherine said. "In all that time, this is what your family did? Hunt down unsuspecting descendants of shadowy families and haul them up to be poked and prodded by seven members of a syndicate? I suppose if I try to escape this gilded prison I'll end up at the bottom of the ocean?"

 Vincent grinned at her. "You have a bloodthirsty imagination, Katherine. But to answer your question – No. No one I've ever heard of has ever ended up weighted down in chains to the bottom of Lake Geneva." 

 Katherine sighed and rolled her eyes heavenward. "You're not going to leave me alone are you?"

 He shook his head. "I cannot, Katherine. This is too important to the Vanderau family. I must do my job." 

 Katherine scrubbed at her face wearily. She studied him for a long time staring between the fingers she held over her face. As they sat there, she felt something oddly familiar click in her mind. She was not sure if she had dreamed this scenario, or if it was déjà vu but she suddenly realized that she was going to agree to the summons. She dropped her hands to her lap and sighed with a weariness that revealed to Vincent just how fatigued and worn down she was.

 Vincent also felt the surge of power flow from Katherine over him and he knew absolutely in his heart that she was the Potential the Sept had been waiting for! Time seemed to come to a halt. The time between heartbeats slowed to a near standstill. He saw something in her wake and as quickly as he spotted the power -- it was snuffed out. He waited in the silence that continued to grow and fill up the small study room. Finally, she nodded in agreement. "Okay! My prospects here at the moment are dried up. So, I guess two weeks in Geneva, Switzerland, wouldn't be a horrible summer vacation."

 Vincent began to breathe again, and he nodded, lowering his head just a second in silent thankful prayer. "May I ask you a question?" He asked as he looked up at her.

 "Go ahead," Katherine replied. "Ask away."

 "Do you speak any other languages other than English?" 

 "Not really, I took French in high school and college, but I didn't retain much. I suppose with practice I could converse with someone who spoke French." She said, "Why do you ask?"

 "I do not want you to be offended when I make my call to notify my superiors that you have agreed to come to Geneva. I will be speaking in French." Vincent pulled his smartphone from his inside jacket pocket and pressed a listing that immediately dialed the number. It rang twice and she heard a man's greeting voice. Thys nodded at Katherine and then spoke in rapid French that she only caught a word or two. But as Thys spoke, one word stood out from the rest. The word was 'gladio.' She would remember to look that word up when she got home. 

 "Done," Vincent replied and slid his phone back into his jacket pocket. "Now do you have anyone you need to notify of your departure?"

 "No," Katherine replied. "I have no family to speak of. I may let Mrs. Ellis know that I'll be gone for a few weeks, and to look after Ruby for me."

 "Ruby?" Vincent repeated. "A pet?" 

 "My car," Katherine said ruefully, "You've met Mrs. Ellis, she's my neighbor. She doesn't drive anymore, but she knows how. She drove a medical supply truck when she was in the army. When her eyesight went, they took her driver's license away, but she can make sure Ruby stays running while I'm away."

 "No one else?" He asked.

 She angled a fierce look at him. "If you're picking around for the name of my ex – it was Taylor Ballard and I have not heard from him since he moved in with his office manager."

 Vincent decided not to reveal he had seen the break-up nor that he had been happy to see him go! Instead, he shrugged his shoulders lightly, "I will take your answer as: No." 

 "He is a therapist," Katherine added. She could not hold back on the sarcastic tone in her voice and Vincent did not probe any further. He knew the boyfriend had been a therapist in the same office practice as the psychiatrist she had seen. He nodded silently. 

 "How do I travel without a passport?" Katherine asked. "You can't throw out a wad of money and just get a passport."

 "You can, and all your paperwork is in order," Vincent told her. "You will have a valid international passport waiting for you. There will be a few documents we will need to go over, but we can do that on the flight. It will be quite a long flight with a brief stop in London."

 "I can't believe I am going to do this!" Katherine said more to herself than to Thys. 

 "Think of it as an adventure of a lifetime!" Vincent replied.

 They both rose from the table, and she picked up her backpack. As she slung the strap over one shoulder she angled a sideways look at Vincent, "Do you like barbeque, Mr. Thys?"

 "I have not ever had American barbeque," he replied.

 "Come by the house and I'll take you to the best-smoked barbeque in Atlanta. My treat, I can afford it now." 

 "What time shall I arrive?" Vincent asked.

 "About 6:30 and dress is casual for this establishment." She said with a tight smile. "This is a diner."

 He inclined his head in a slight bow, "I will be appropriately attired, madam."

 She rolled her eyes at him, and he chuckled. She was not as intractable as she presented herself to be. Vincent thought his dinner date with Katherine would be one he would thoroughly enjoy.


next chapter

Chapter 10: Episode Ten: Chivalry is Not Dead!

 When Katherine got home and was standing in her small entranceway, she closed the door and leaned against it, clutching her backpack in her arms. She closed her eyes. What had she just agreed to do? What had possessed her to agree to this ridiculous trip? She opened her eyes and glanced over where her desktop computer sat. The screen saver had a cycling set of images of snowcapped mountains and alpine meadows. It always reminded her of the first opening scenes of "The Sound of Music". She watched the scene cycle through then reached back and locked her door, dropped her keys in the basket. She slowly walked down the hallway to her bedroom. 

 She dropped her backpack on the bed and pulled open her closet door. She looked at the clothes hanging there. Then she heard her cell phone chime. A text message. She turned away from the clothes closet and plopped down on her bed, pulling her cell phone from the front pocket of her pack. She thumbed the text app open and saw that it was yet another confirmation of payment from her school union loan officer. She had forgotten about that loan! She looked at the amount and felt tears come unbidden to her eyes. This was a debt incurred by Taylor – he had asked her to help him pay for his lease on his office and she had foolishly gone deeper in debt to help him. 

 A mysterious stranger, in another country, had paid it off! The Dominus! Katherine closed the text app and fell back to gaze up at the ceiling of her bedroom. Who was this person? Why would he do this for her – someone he did not know? Why? She sighed and held up her phone, she needed to make the reservations for dinner. She found the number on her phone list and called, "Papa's BBQ". She made the reservation for two at 7 o'clock. She placed her phone on the charging mat and went back to her closet to look for a suitcase. She only had a black carry-on bag with a retractable handle and rolling caster wheels. She had used it once when she and Taylor had gone on vacation. She pulled it down from the top of her closet, cut all the flight tags off, and opened it to air out. It still smelled of plastic and dryer sheets. She had had the foresight to toss a couple of the sheets in after the last trip to Florida. She had no idea what kind of weather Switzerland was having in late August and early September. She stared at the suitcase.

 She was about to climb into a jet with strangers and go off into a country where she did not know anyone, or even if these people were legitimate! Just because they had lots of money to throw around did not mean they were aboveboard. Katherine pushed the carry-on to one side with her foot and looked into the mirror that hung on the back of her bedroom door. She frowned at the image of herself. What made her so special? Katherine stuck her tongue out at her reflection and turned away. 

 While she had it on her mind, she went back to her closet to look at what she would wear to dinner. It was casual – she had told him to dress casually. She did not see anything that caught her eye. She went to the back of the closet and looked at her dresses. A dark blue tiered maxi dress, it was a little bohemian and had a lace-up bodice that cinched up a bit at the waist. There were tiny sequins of iridescent blue sewn in swirling patterns all over the dress and caught the light when you walked. She had always felt good in the dress, so she decided to try it on. She stripped off her pants and top and pulled it on. The tiers fell over her hips, and she pulled at the strings of the bodice. She turned to look at her reflection in the mirror. 

 She still felt pretty in the dress! This was what she would wear. She wiggled out and decided to hang it up in the bathroom as she showered and got ready. The steam from the shower would relax any wrinkles. She found the shoes that went with the dress and frowned at her feet. She'd have to paint her toenails! Katherine stopped in the hallway -- she was not going on a date – she was only having dinner with a man who was at least four or five years her junior. "What in hell are you thinking?" Katherine stormed off down the hall, muttering to herself under her breath. 

 She entered the bathroom, reached in, and turned on the shower. She closed the door and looked at the dark blue tiered maxi dress. Katherine pulled off her underwear and stepped into the shower. As she took the bar of rosemary lavender soap and scrubbed it into the sponge the scent of both began to ease her sadness and she began to think about what had happened to her in the last 24 hours. She was about to embark on an adventure – one from which she might not return. It could be dangerous, it could be the most exciting thing she ever experienced, or it might be a vacation of relaxation. She just wasn't sure.

 Katherine was not one to jump quickly into anything, and yet here she was preparing to do just what her logical and sensible mind was screaming at her not to do! She turned the water off and stepped out onto the rug and she began to dry off. She pulled the band from her hair that she had used to pull her hair up from getting wet. Wear it up or wear it down? She liked the bohemian scarf that went with the dress, it had sequins too, she would wear her hair loose but let the scarf keep it tamed. She took the dress off the hook on the bathroom door and padded down the hall nude, her skin cooling off as she felt the central air conditioning. The last of the August heat was pushed back by the unit humming outside. It was a nice 68 degrees! She took her time with her makeup. Nothing was too overly done, a little translucent powder brushed over her face and across her collar bones making her skin have a faint sateen finish. She applied a deep rose lip stain and then a lighter pink over that. 

 She glanced at the clock on the bedside table it was 6:15. She slipped on her undergarments and decided a light slip would be appropriate. Katherine donned her dress and drew up the lacings of the bodice, so it cinched her at the waist just enough to show off her curves. The leather sandals were dyed to match, and she stuck her feet into the shoes and gave each toenail another touch of the rosy color nail polish. She was complete! Katherine took one last look at herself in the mirror that hung on the back of her bedroom door. "Not bad for an old spinster woman!"

 The doorbell chimed and Katherine felt suddenly nervous. But she shook her hands and arms vigorously and headed to the front door. She stopped looked through the peephole and grinned. Vincent Thys was dressed casually – expensively casual! He looked crisp and cool in a slim-fitting pair of navy chinos, saddle brown loafers, and no socks. Saddle brown belt with a narrow gold buckle and an untucked pale blue short-sleeve linen shirt that was open at the neck. He looked like he'd stepped off his yacht in Monaco – right down to the sunglasses and golden tan! He pressed the doorbell again and she braced herself and opened the door. "Right on time!" she announced, "I just have to find my purse – come on in." She stepped back to allow him into the hallway. 

 He snatched his sunglasses off and let his dark brown eyes take her in. "Why Ms. Van Dermeer – you look enchanting!"

 She smiled and turned away so he could not see her blushing like a high school girl. "I'll be right back. Have a seat!" She called over her shoulder. 

 Vincent smiled. She had been hiding away but was happy to see that she was a quiet beauty but had to admit she was far more lovely than he had guessed! She would turn heads everywhere she went. Rather than sit down, he looked at the books on her shelves, and the few photos on her mantlepiece. She was an eclectic collector of interesting things. In a China cabinet, there were antique dolls, an enameled and gold embellished glass decanter with small cups that had definite Russian origins, there was an incised dragon teapot, delicate cups and saucers, and a few pieces of folk-art carvings that were interesting. He turned away from the China cabinet and looked in the dining room. Occupying the entire room was a black Steinway baby grand piano!

 Katherine found her clutch and dropped the few essentials she had tossed on her bed. Wallet, powder compact, and her lip stain if she managed to eat it off at dinner. She stuffed it all in her clutch and took one last look at herself in the mirror. She drew a deep breath and strolled back up to the living room.

 She found Vincent standing in her dining room where she kept her piano. He ran a hand over the closed keyboard. He looked up at her. "Do you play often?"

 Katherine joined him in the room and ran a hand over the glossy black side of the piano. "As often as I can. When my cable TV had to go, I practiced, a lot."

 "Will you play for me?" Vincent asked. "Do we have time?"

 Katherine's eyes traveled to the clock on the wall. "I promise after dinner, okay?"

 Vincent nodded. "Shall we go?"

 "Sure," she said. "It's not far but be prepared for a crowd. The place is small, but the food is excellent!"

 Vincent followed her to the door, as she picked up her house keys, he opened the door for her. She smiled her thanks, and he locked it behind him. He took her elbow, and they walked over to his rental. He opened the passenger door and she sat and swung her legs in. He pulled the seat belt strap and handed it to her, so she did not have to reach around and find it. She clicked it in place, and he closed her door. Katherine was a bit nervous by all the courtly attention but just assumed it was the way he had been groomed to be by his family. It was refreshing to see chivalry was not dead!

 He got in, started the car engine up, the AC was going but he adjusted it and put his seatbelt on, and glanced over at her as he pressed the navigation button on the dashboard. "So where are we going?"

 "Papa's BBQ 8356 North Mills Street."

 The car's navigation chimed softly, and the woman's voice repeated Katherine's address and the dashboard screen lit up with the destination. Vincent backed out of her drive and proceeded on their route. He glanced over at her, "Your accent is not as pronounced as the natives here in Georgia, have you lived here your whole life?"

 "No, my parents traveled around a good bit," Katherine replied. "I was an Air Force brat. My father was commissioned all over the United States. When he retired, we moved here when I was sixteen."

 "And your mother, did she work?" he asked.

 "No, she was headed to Julliard when she met my father. Her parents were very upset that she didn't pursue her musical career." Katherine replied. "That's how I inherited the baby grand."

 "Did she teach you to play?" 

 "No! My mom didn't have the patience to teach me," Katherine replied. "But she made sure I took lessons from the best teachers wherever we lived. When I entered college, I minored in music but got my degree in education."

 "No family anywhere near you?" Vincent asked, he looked over at her as they stopped at a traffic light. 

 "Not anymore," She replied. "I might have some distant cousins out in Kansas. An aunt raised my father. Both his parents died when he was just a boy. My mother was an only child. By the time I graduated college everyone was gone. My parents died within months of each other, so I've been on my own since then."

 He negotiated a turn and she pointed to the diner on the left just as the navigation voice announced, "Your destination is on the left."

 They found a parking spot about a block away and Vincent expertly steered the car into the spot and turned the engine off. Katherine grinned at him, "I never did get the knack of parallel parking."

 He laughed. "Many years of navigating busy cities and streets." He got out and was at the passenger door when Katherine unclipped the seatbelt. He opened the door and extended a hand to her. She swung her legs out and took his hand. Once she was standing next to him, she realized he was much taller than she had realized. She felt a bit out of sync with things. She had not been out with a man in more than a year! Vincent crooked an arm, "Shall we cross here or walk back up the street and cross?"

 "Might be better to stay on this side of the street," Katherine replied as she slipped her hand under his crooked arm. "More streetlights." It was twilight, with just a flush of daylight still lingering across the tops of buildings. They strolled up the brick street, past several boutiques and other shops that were still open for business. Vincent kept her toward the store side and was constantly scanning the area around them and the people they passed. They crossed the street with other people heading to the diner. Young couples laughed and talked about what they were going to order. Katherine was not used to having a man be so protective! Taylor usually was in such a hurry to get places, and Katherine had to always hurry to catch up. She could never tell if he was just inconsiderate or did not want to be seen with her. Vincent, on the other hand, adjusted his long stride to her shorter gait, shielded her from the passing pedestrians, and held the door of the diner open for her as they stopped at the entrance. "Two for Van Dermeer" Katherine said. 

 The woman nodded as she found the name, checked it off, and grabbed two menus, "Follow me, would you like a booth or a table?"

 "Booth," Katherine responded. "Away from the bar, please."

 The young woman nodded and altered her trail through the islands of tables and people toward the wall where the bank of red leather booths was located. She smiled up at Vincent as he stepped into the press of people and cleared a way for her. He sheltered her with his arm, politely excusing themselves as they passed. When they reached the booth, Vincent waited until Katherine was tucked in on her side before he slid in on the other side.

 The woman handed them their menus and a young man came over with utensils wrapped in cloth napkins. "I'm Andrew, I'll be serving you this evening. What can I get you to drink?"

 Vincent looked at Katherine. She glanced up from her menu, "I'd like lemon tea, lots of ice, please."

 "And you sir?" Andrew asked.

 "I'll have the same," Vincent replied.

 "Coming up," Andrew said and went off on his errand.

 Vincent glanced at the menu, but he was not sure what he would like so he sat back and watched as Katherine scanned the menu. When she felt his eyes on her she looked up. "Not sure what to try?"

 "I will leave that up to you, Ms. Van Dermeer."

 She closed the menu, "You don't have to be so formal, it makes me feel like an old lady."

 "No one could infer you were an old lady!" he said, his dark brown eyes studying her face. "What do your friends call you?" Vincent asked with a slow smile that was just short of flirtatious. 

 "Most everyone calls me Katherine." She replied, sending him an admonishing look. But smiled back as he chuckled at the faint blush that crept into her cheeks. "What about you?" 

 "And I am Vincent," Thys replied. "No nickname?"

 She shook her head and then reopened the menu. "Not now. When I was a little girl, my father called me Kat. Do you have a nickname?"

 Vincent shook his head. "Vincent to everyone." 

 Katherine opened the menu again to glance at the entrees, "Well, Vincent I think unless you have any dietary or religious restrictions, we should go for the barbeque sampler-- it's for two. You get a little of everything that is barbequed and a couple of sides and sauces."

 He nodded. As he was studying her, she flipped the menu over and then glanced up. Her deep blue eyes flickered a sudden storm of anger and hurt. Vincent felt the flash of anger down his spine, and he sat up straight his hands curling into fists and coming to rest on the table.

 Katherine felt the sudden shift in Vincent, and she glanced at his fists as his knuckles turned white. He fought to control the rage. She reached out and laid a hand on his hand closest to her. Vincent's blazing gaze locked with hers and the fury was snuffed out! She fought for calm and lowered her eyes briefly, "It's all right!"

 "Katherine?"

 When she looked up the frosty smile she gave the man, gave even Vincent pause at the sudden change in her demeanor. "Hello, Taylor."

 The ex-boyfriend! Vincent leaned back on his side of the booth and angled a look first at Katherine to gauge how he should react, then looked at Taylor, who stuck out a hand, "Taylor Ballard, Mental Health Professional at Piedmont Health Services." 

 Vincent met Taylor's gaze full-on and ignored the extended hand. "Vincent Thys, International Consul to the Vanderau Corporation, of Amsterdam, Geneva, Germany, Paris, and London."

 Taylor pulled his hand back and slid the palm down his hip to his pants pocket. He looked back to Katherine, "Wow, well, you're looking well, Katherine. Feeling okay?"

 "Katherine is looking exceedingly well, Mr. Ballard," Vincent responded softly and with just a hint of a suggestion that stunned Katherine for a moment then smiled warmly at Vincent. 

 "Yes, I feel quite good!" She said and looked back to Taylor, "You coming or going?"

 "We're going," Taylor said slowly looking between the two of them. "Kim's freshening up. I thought I'd come over and say hello. You know, Doctor Prichard has asked about you --,"

 "Violating HIPPA laws and practices is always dangerous ground to be walking on as a therapist!" Vincent said sharply. "A lapse of judgment on your part!"

 Andrew took that moment to arrive to take their order. He placed the tall glasses of lemon iced tea in front of Katherine and Vincent and placed paper-wrapped drinking straws next to the tea glasses. He looked between Taylor and Vincent and waited to see what was going to happen. Katherine handed the menus to Andrew and ordered. "The number seven, Barbee for two, coming up!" He cheered and as he sailed off, gave a sour look in Taylor's direction.

 Looking out of place and out of ammunition, Taylor nodded stiffly in Vincent's direction, turned on his heel, and walked out collecting the confused and slightly miffed-looking Kim who waited at the cashier's counter. Vincent kept his eyes on the pair until they had gone then looked over at Katherine. Her lopsided grin did not hide the hurt and the bright tears that welled in her eyes told Vincent everything he needed to know about the amazing woman sitting across from him. "Thank you, Vincent."

 He reached out and took her hand in his. He looked down at the hand he held, it was cold and trembled slightly. "Let it go, Katherine. Think about your upcoming adventure."

 She laughed and she daubed at the corners of her eyes with her napkin. She saw the large platter coming. "Are you ready for a smoky barbeque adventure?"

 Andrew wielded the tray table like a pro. He set the tray with the platter of smoked and grilled meats and the sauces down. "Enjoy!" Andrew said as he set everything on their table between them. Katherine introduced Vincent to Papa's barbeque, and they chatted on a wide variety of subjects. She found Vincent incredibly knowledgeable about history, people, and places.

 Finally, he sat back and waved off eating any more. "I am stuffed to the gills! You are correct, this was the best meal I have had in a long time!" 

 Katherine had finished a long time ago but watched as Vincent enjoyed his meal. Andrew came and cleared away the dishes and slipped the padded folder containing the bill on the table. Katherine reached over to take the folder. Vincent laid a hand over hers, "You do not have to do this, Katherine. I do have an expense account."

 "I want to," she replied. "For the first time in a long time, I can do this without the fear of having my card declined or having to rely on someone else to do the paying."

 Vincent lifted his hand, and she slipped her bank card into the slot. Andrew breezed by, scooped the folder up, and headed to the cashier. "As I recall you promised me musical entertainment."

 "I did, didn't I," She replied. "Well, we can head on back to the house and I'll keep my promise."

 They got to their feet and made their way to the cashier who printed the receipt for Katherine to sign. She added a nice tip for Andrew and walked out with Vincent into the warm evening. 


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