CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
As Caitlin stood there, Kendra took a step forward, and haughtily stepped between her and her brother. She stared at Caitlin with a defiant, territorial look, one that was clearly meant to tel Caitlin to back off. That Sam was Kendra’s territory now.
Caitlin looked over at Sam, hoping that he would pick up on what was going on, that he would push her out of the way—
that he would be immune to such behavior.
But alas, he was not. Caitlin was shocked to see that Sam seemed to become completely subordinate in Kendra’s presence, as if she held some sort of invisible power over him. He even seemed to slump a bit, and Kendra seemed to stand tal er. It looked as if he were helpless around her.
Caitlin’s her heart fel at the site. She had seen this happen with other friends in the past. It was obvious that Sam was in her grip.
“Kendra,” Caitlin echoed slowly, in a cool voice, looking her right in the eye. “I don’t believe we have been introduced.”
“We haven’t,” Kendra stated, in a cold tone.
“Wel ,” Caitlin said slowly, feeling her anger begin to rise,
“you’re standing between me and my brother, and we were in the middle of a conversation.”
Kendra stared back at Caitlin, and she could see a flash of indignation cross over her eyes. But she didn’t move.
Sam stepped up from behind Kendra and stepped in between the two of them, as if sensing the confrontation that was about to happen.
“No, it’s not like that,” Sam said to Caitlin, in a conciliatory tone. “She just wanted to introduce herself. Caitlin, this is Kendra. Kendra, this is my sister, Caitlin.”
Caitlin noticed that Sam was sweating; he was nervous for them to like each other.
But Caitlin continued to stare Kendra down with a look of steel, and Kendra did the same. Sam looked back and forth between them, increasingly nervous.
“My brother and I were just discussing a trip we are going to take,” Caitlin said coldly. “In fact, we wil be leaving tomorrow, so you can say your goodbyes now.”
Caitlin felt that she had to take control, to take action to help break Sam from the grip of this clearly destructive woman that he seemed helpless around. It was bold and aggressive, but she felt that she had no other choice.
Kendra turned and looked at Sam. He avoided her gaze, and avoided Caitlin’s, too. Caitlin had never seen him so fidgety.
“I doubt that,” Kendra said back. “Sam’s not going anywhere. After al , he and I have plans for tomorrow.”
“We do?” Sam asked, and Caitlin could hear the hope in his voice. His tone of voice told her everything she needed to know, and she felt her heart sink. He wasn’t seriously going to let himself be run by this girl, was he?
“That’s right,” Kendra said. “We do.”
Caitlin stared back at Kendra, seething with hatred. She prayed that Sam would summon the resolve to stand up to her. As long as Caitlin had known him, he had always seemed to have this problem. He had always attracted the wrong women, women who were bossy, control ing, and always bad for him. Samantha had been the latest example. And now, Kendra. Sam just had bad luck in this area. Caitlin wasn’t surprised.
But she was stil mad. She had hoped that Sam would have changed, would be strong enough to tel her No. That he would join Caitlin on their mission.
But Sam turned and looked at Caitlin with sad, guilty eyes.
She could see in those eyes that deep down he wanted to go with her, but was unable to say no to Kendra.
“I’m so sorry Caitlin,” Sam said, in a broken voice. “I… I don’t think I can go tomorrow.”
Caitlin nodded, keeping a calm composure. But deep inside, her heart was breaking. She could see the victorious smile on Kendra’s face, and she felt her anger rising. But she knew there was little she could do. She had learned from past experiences that, when it came to affairs of the heart, at the end of the day, one could never real y have any influence or control over a friend’s relationships.
That was always something that they just had to work out on their own. If Sam was going to make any changes, it would have to come from him.
Caitlin took control of her anger and immediately turned and walked away, before she did anything rash.
“Caitlin, wait!” Sam cal ed out after her.
But she wasn’t going to stop. He had made his decision, and it was clear.
And truth be told, deep down, she felt that she was no one to judge. She knew what it was like to be in love, to want to forgo the mission. He would just have to let his own destiny take its course.
As she walked, she realized al the more, that this mission was just something that she was meant to do alone.
*
Caitlin retreated back to her room, closing the door firmly behind her. She wanted to be alone, and she wanted privacy. It had been such a long, overwhelming day. She had learned so much from Aiden, had risen to the heights on the battlefield, performing better than she ever thought she could.
She had been overwhelmed at seeing Blake, hurt by his not remembering her—and then overwhelmed at seeing Sam.
As if al that were not enough, she had to meet Kendra, too, and had been overwhelmed at seeing her brother in her grip.
So many conflicting thoughts and feelings raced through Caitlin at once, she barely knew how to process it al . It had felt like ten days in one.
As sunset fel , Caitlin took off her clothes and soaked in her tub. She felt every muscle in her body relax. Ruth sat patiently at her side.
Caitlin’s mind raced. She thought of Sam, of how much he had changed. She thought of Aiden.
Of her new skil s. She thought of her dad, her mission. She thought of Sam’s dream, of the floating key. Of the Notre Dame. As al these thoughts blended together, she felt more determined than ever to fulfil her mission.
Versail es was fil ed with every luxury, but she felt that her mission was cal ing her elsewhere. Al the people that she loved and knew were here (except for Caleb), but they were al distracted. Pol y seemed to be in the grips of her singer boyfriend. Sam had Kendra. Blake didn’t even remember her.
And she felt that, already, she had taken her training nearly as far as she could for this time and place. She didn’t know how much was left for her here, and she felt it was time to move on.
Caitlin got out of the tub, dried herself with a huge towel, then changed into the casual wear that had been left by her bedside. It was a silk bathrobe, white and gold, intricately designed, and as she put it on, she’d never felt anything more luxurious.