After Mary left, Vincent looked over at Catherine, and thought that like a tired out little nightingale, she was sleeping soundly, curled up snuggled in his chair.
As Vincent smiled to himself at the sweet sight before him, he carefully sat up, and was surprised by the fact the soreness in his ribs have subsided immensely! Barely any soreness at all this morning.
And so he sat for a moment on the edge of his bed, and thought of how the Hot Springs Chamber sounded Heavenly to him right now.
Quietly he gathered his things, and then wrote a short note to Catherine, telling her he went to bathe, and would see her upon his return.
As he stepped to the threshold, he looked back one last time at Catherine, and then stepped out into the tunnel, where he nearly ran smack into Ronald.
Ronald greeted him and said, "I was just coming to check on you! I never expected to see you up and about!"
Vincent put his arm around him, and said, "I thought a soaking may be just what I need. Care to join me?"
Ronald replied, "I went last night, but I will walk along with you."
Vincent replied, "Good, I will enjoy your company."
They slowly made their way through the tunnels, and it was slow because they were continually being stopped by people of the community, who wanted to wish Vincent a quick recovery.
As they walked along further, the two tunnel studs, next came upon Lisa!
Vincent warmly greeted her, not noticing at first that both Lisa, and Ronald seemed a little uncomfortable!
Lisa gently hugged Vincent, and told him how much better he looked this morning, and that in fact...he looked wonderful!
She then looked to Ronald, and told him the same.
Ronald politely said, "Thank you Lisa."
Vincent then invited her to join them to the Hot Springs Chamber where she politely declined because she went last night.
Vincent raised a brow, and looked firstly to Ronald who was looking down into his hands, and then back at Lisa who was looking at Ronald! Vincent then tipped his head, as he began to wonder...
Vincent then inquired, "Did you sleep well Lisa?"
Sensually, she replied, "Mmmm, to be frank, no I had not...normally I do, but..."
She then looked to Ronald before lowering her eyes to look back up at Vincent and continued, "...a relentless thought kept me awake."
Vincent shifted his eyes swiftly from Lisa and then to Ronald, wondering why Ronald was not contributing some trite polite comment on Lisa's poor night sleep!
So filling the void, he then said, "I hope it was not all the talk about Paracelsus..."
Lisa then said, "No Vincent, it was not Paracelsus who had penetrated my thoughts last night. Sometimes the thoughts of regret and what-ifs can keep you awake."
Vincent once more waited for Ronald to chime in, and began to wonder just what was going on!
As a silence fell between the three of them, Lisa then said, goodbye and she had better hurry, or she would be late for a class she was teaching that morning.
Vincent cautioned her to be careful, and she appreciatively said she would be.
To which Ronald too said goodbye, wondering how he can get their relationship on a more casual level. And was also concerned Vincent may have picked up on something.
As Ronald resumed their trek to the chamber, he suddenly realized, Vincent was still standing there in the same spot! And so he inquired, "Is something wrong?"
When Vincent didn't answer, who, out of protest was not going to budge until he received an explanation for Ronald's behavior!
Ronald then stopped too, and when he saw his pal's disapproving look, he feigned ignorance, as he asked, "Are you coming or what?"
Vincent looked downward for a moment, and as he decided to honor his friend's gentlemanly code of silence, he then said, "Yes Ronald...I am coming."
Meanwhile, Catherine luxuriously stretched as she woke up, and for a moment felt anxious that Vincent was gone!
She then found the note he had written to her. The note read:
Dear Catherine,
I am feeling much better this morning...
I will be at the Hot Springs Chamber,
and will be back soon, hopefully before you know
I am gone.
Vincent
Catherine smiled as she answered his note, saying she would see him later at breakfast, as for now she was anxious to put the first coat of varnish on his desk.
Catherine then folded up her quilt, and had just finished moving her chair back in place, when she heard Jacob at the threshold, say "Good Morning!" and waited for affirmation to come in.
Catherine then walked to the curtain and smiled as Jacob entered. He looked at her and commented, "You look well rested Catherine. How do you feel?"
Catherine stated, "I feel wonderful Jacob, and you?"
Jacob took in a deep breath, and said, the same. "Good, good, none the worse for the wear!"
He raised his brow and told Catherine, "It is time to get Vincent moving..."
But before Catherine could inform him Vincent was long gone, Jacob turned to the bed and cheerfully said, "Rise and Shine my boy! Oh my! Catherine...has Vincent gone somewhere?"
To which she informatively said, "Yes Father, I was still sleeping when he left, but he left a note, saying he went to bathe."
Jacob leaned on his cane, and said, "I had not expected he would be up yet today. Oh my, and Mary is on her way here to help ready him for his day."
Catherine then unwittingly smiled, causing Jacob to ask, "Something amusing Catherine?"
Realizing she was smiling, Catherine quickly answered, "Nothing amusing Father, I guess I am just so happy Vincent is better, and life seems to be back on track."
Jacob, then thankfully said, "And I would like to thank you for staying here last night. I was more tired than I realized, and as Mary relays to me...perhaps so were you."
He chuckled as he said, "Mary told me you were sound asleep when she brought Vincent his broth."
To which Catherine asked, "Mary was here? I never heard her! Oh my, maybe I wasn't such a great "Night Nurse" after all!"
Jacob responded, "I am sure you would have awakened if Vincent had needed you. The important thing was to have someone near by."
Catherine smiled sweetly as she answered, "Thanks for your confidence in me Father."
She then picked up the dented can of varnish from the table, and said, "Well if I am to complete the first coat before breakfast, I had better get started. I will see you at breakfast Father."
Jacob answered, "Till then Catherine."
Jacob was just about to exit Vincent's chamber, when Mary entered with the warmed water, sponges and a towel.
As she looked around she astonishingly asked, "Where is Vincent...and where was Catherine going?"
Jacob explained, "Catherine's going to the restoration chamber to begin Vincent's desk, and well, it appears Vincent felt well enough to go bathe for himself!"
Mary looked down at her supplies, and said, "Very good then. I am so pleased Vincent is up and about."
Jacob happily replied, "Yes indeed, I am as well."
Jacob then charmingly asked, "Would you permit my escorting you to the Dining Hall Mary? Perhaps we could enjoy a cup of tea before breakfast."
Mary put down her supplies near the basin, and happily said, "That sounds lovely Father."
Meanwhile, Vincent entered the hot steaming water, and as he leaned his head back, he closed his eyes, feeling the water swill around him easing the tension. And though he felt more relaxed, he could sense Ronald had a lot on his mind.
As Ronald sat on the rocky ledge, he thoughtfully looked back on the conversation that took place between he and Lisa there last night. Knowing how her boldness tested his fortitude, he sincerely hoped they could arrive at such a place, where they can truly be, and act like friends.
Vincent opened one eye to peer over at Ronald, and thought a moment before he asked, "Regrets?"
Ronald snapped from his thoughts, asked, "What was that Vincent?"
Vincent turned to look at him, and asked, "Second thoughts? I merely wondered if you were having doubts about a commitment with Jennifer."
Ronald shook his head, and said, "Second thoughts? No, no not second thoughts exactly, but perhaps hoping I have not hurt Lisa as I find out what is going on in this heart of mine. I do like Lisa too, but I know to sustain a meaningful relationship...chemistry is not enough...it should not be enough! Should it?"
Vincent smiled and said, "Maybe not enough to, as you say, sustain a relationship, however it has been known to be enough to at least begin one...chemistry between two people is a powerful thing, and sometimes cannot be denied."
Ronald looked at Vincent and sarcastically said, "Thank you my friend, you just confused the #$#% out of me!"
Vincent exited the water, and as he dressed he told Ronald, "Perhaps you should relax, and let your course be guided. Don't try to figure it all out, just let it fall into place."
Ronald nodded resignedly, and said, "Maybe you are right..."
Just then William sounded the breakfast announcement, and Ronald then said to Vincent, "Come on let's go eat."
To which Vincent said, "First I must wake Catherine. Unless she has awaken in the interim."
Just then Mouse approached them, and asked, "Feeling better Vincent?'
Putting his arm around his bud, he assured him he was, to which a beaming Mouse replied, "Good, seems everyone is better today. Father is fine, and Catherine too."
To which Vincent asked, "You have seen Catherine?"
In reply, Mouse said, "Just did! She was with Rebecca going to breakfast."
"Well then..." Said Vincent, "I suppose a detour is in order then."
As Mouse walked with them, Ronald mentioned he was going above to help Jennifer move in, but before he could finish his sentence, he was silenced by the jubilant welcome they received as they walked into the Dining Hall.
With surprise, Ronald turned to Vincent, and said, "Everyone is happy to see you OLE man!"
To which Vincent replied, "I guess so, and happy to see you as well."
To which Mouse proudly said, "Everyone happy to see you are alive Vincent, and happy Ronald saved you."
Catherine at Jacob's side, smiled as she watched Vincent and Ronald, elegantly accepted the accolades.
They then took their seats at Jacob's table, Vincent beside Catherine, and with a smile in his eyes, said "Good morning Catherine."
To which she replied, "I am so happy you are feeling better. I was so surprised you woke before me!"
With a wonderment, he expressed, "I'm not...Catherine you endured much yesterday..."
And then Jacob's voice broke through their personal conversation as he said a word of thanks before they enjoyed the special breakfast of cured ham, scrambled eggs, and warm blueberry muffins.
Rebecca sitting on the other side of Vincent, smiled, saying, "I can't believe you are here with us, I mean yesterday, you were in so much pain, and now today, well today, it feels like just a normal day!"
And it was...so far, in fact..it was just a normal day down in the tunnels!
To be continued
Chapter Twenty
As Vincent smiled to himself at the sweet sight before him, he carefully sat up, and was surprised by the fact the soreness in his ribs have subsided immensely! Barely any soreness at all this morning.
And so he sat for a moment on the edge of his bed, and thought of how the Hot Springs Chamber sounded Heavenly to him right now.
Quietly he gathered his things, and then wrote a short note to Catherine, telling her he went to bathe, and would see her upon his return.
As he stepped to the threshold, he looked back one last time at Catherine, and then stepped out into the tunnel, where he nearly ran smack into Ronald.
Ronald greeted him and said, "I was just coming to check on you! I never expected to see you up and about!"
Vincent put his arm around him, and said, "I thought a soaking may be just what I need. Care to join me?"
Ronald replied, "I went last night, but I will walk along with you."
Vincent replied, "Good, I will enjoy your company."
They slowly made their way through the tunnels, and it was slow because they were continually being stopped by people of the community, who wanted to wish Vincent a quick recovery.
As they walked along further, the two tunnel studs, next came upon Lisa!
Vincent warmly greeted her, not noticing at first that both Lisa, and Ronald seemed a little uncomfortable!
Lisa gently hugged Vincent, and told him how much better he looked this morning, and that in fact...he looked wonderful!
She then looked to Ronald, and told him the same.
Ronald politely said, "Thank you Lisa."
Vincent then invited her to join them to the Hot Springs Chamber where she politely declined because she went last night.
Vincent raised a brow, and looked firstly to Ronald who was looking down into his hands, and then back at Lisa who was looking at Ronald! Vincent then tipped his head, as he began to wonder...
Vincent then inquired, "Did you sleep well Lisa?"
Sensually, she replied, "Mmmm, to be frank, no I had not...normally I do, but..."
She then looked to Ronald before lowering her eyes to look back up at Vincent and continued, "...a relentless thought kept me awake."
Vincent shifted his eyes swiftly from Lisa and then to Ronald, wondering why Ronald was not contributing some trite polite comment on Lisa's poor night sleep!
So filling the void, he then said, "I hope it was not all the talk about Paracelsus..."
Lisa then said, "No Vincent, it was not Paracelsus who had penetrated my thoughts last night. Sometimes the thoughts of regret and what-ifs can keep you awake."
Vincent once more waited for Ronald to chime in, and began to wonder just what was going on!
As a silence fell between the three of them, Lisa then said, goodbye and she had better hurry, or she would be late for a class she was teaching that morning.
Vincent cautioned her to be careful, and she appreciatively said she would be.
To which Ronald too said goodbye, wondering how he can get their relationship on a more casual level. And was also concerned Vincent may have picked up on something.
As Ronald resumed their trek to the chamber, he suddenly realized, Vincent was still standing there in the same spot! And so he inquired, "Is something wrong?"
When Vincent didn't answer, who, out of protest was not going to budge until he received an explanation for Ronald's behavior!
Ronald then stopped too, and when he saw his pal's disapproving look, he feigned ignorance, as he asked, "Are you coming or what?"
Vincent looked downward for a moment, and as he decided to honor his friend's gentlemanly code of silence, he then said, "Yes Ronald...I am coming."
Meanwhile, Catherine luxuriously stretched as she woke up, and for a moment felt anxious that Vincent was gone!
She then found the note he had written to her. The note read:
Dear Catherine,
I am feeling much better this morning...
I will be at the Hot Springs Chamber,
and will be back soon, hopefully before you know
I am gone.
Vincent
Catherine smiled as she answered his note, saying she would see him later at breakfast, as for now she was anxious to put the first coat of varnish on his desk.
Catherine then folded up her quilt, and had just finished moving her chair back in place, when she heard Jacob at the threshold, say "Good Morning!" and waited for affirmation to come in.
Catherine then walked to the curtain and smiled as Jacob entered. He looked at her and commented, "You look well rested Catherine. How do you feel?"
Catherine stated, "I feel wonderful Jacob, and you?"
Jacob took in a deep breath, and said, the same. "Good, good, none the worse for the wear!"
He raised his brow and told Catherine, "It is time to get Vincent moving..."
But before Catherine could inform him Vincent was long gone, Jacob turned to the bed and cheerfully said, "Rise and Shine my boy! Oh my! Catherine...has Vincent gone somewhere?"
To which she informatively said, "Yes Father, I was still sleeping when he left, but he left a note, saying he went to bathe."
Jacob leaned on his cane, and said, "I had not expected he would be up yet today. Oh my, and Mary is on her way here to help ready him for his day."
Catherine then unwittingly smiled, causing Jacob to ask, "Something amusing Catherine?"
Realizing she was smiling, Catherine quickly answered, "Nothing amusing Father, I guess I am just so happy Vincent is better, and life seems to be back on track."
Jacob, then thankfully said, "And I would like to thank you for staying here last night. I was more tired than I realized, and as Mary relays to me...perhaps so were you."
He chuckled as he said, "Mary told me you were sound asleep when she brought Vincent his broth."
To which Catherine asked, "Mary was here? I never heard her! Oh my, maybe I wasn't such a great "Night Nurse" after all!"
Jacob responded, "I am sure you would have awakened if Vincent had needed you. The important thing was to have someone near by."
Catherine smiled sweetly as she answered, "Thanks for your confidence in me Father."
She then picked up the dented can of varnish from the table, and said, "Well if I am to complete the first coat before breakfast, I had better get started. I will see you at breakfast Father."
Jacob answered, "Till then Catherine."
Jacob was just about to exit Vincent's chamber, when Mary entered with the warmed water, sponges and a towel.
As she looked around she astonishingly asked, "Where is Vincent...and where was Catherine going?"
Jacob explained, "Catherine's going to the restoration chamber to begin Vincent's desk, and well, it appears Vincent felt well enough to go bathe for himself!"
Mary looked down at her supplies, and said, "Very good then. I am so pleased Vincent is up and about."
Jacob happily replied, "Yes indeed, I am as well."
Jacob then charmingly asked, "Would you permit my escorting you to the Dining Hall Mary? Perhaps we could enjoy a cup of tea before breakfast."
Mary put down her supplies near the basin, and happily said, "That sounds lovely Father."
Meanwhile, Vincent entered the hot steaming water, and as he leaned his head back, he closed his eyes, feeling the water swill around him easing the tension. And though he felt more relaxed, he could sense Ronald had a lot on his mind.
As Ronald sat on the rocky ledge, he thoughtfully looked back on the conversation that took place between he and Lisa there last night. Knowing how her boldness tested his fortitude, he sincerely hoped they could arrive at such a place, where they can truly be, and act like friends.
Vincent opened one eye to peer over at Ronald, and thought a moment before he asked, "Regrets?"
Ronald snapped from his thoughts, asked, "What was that Vincent?"
Vincent turned to look at him, and asked, "Second thoughts? I merely wondered if you were having doubts about a commitment with Jennifer."
Ronald shook his head, and said, "Second thoughts? No, no not second thoughts exactly, but perhaps hoping I have not hurt Lisa as I find out what is going on in this heart of mine. I do like Lisa too, but I know to sustain a meaningful relationship...chemistry is not enough...it should not be enough! Should it?"
Vincent smiled and said, "Maybe not enough to, as you say, sustain a relationship, however it has been known to be enough to at least begin one...chemistry between two people is a powerful thing, and sometimes cannot be denied."
Ronald looked at Vincent and sarcastically said, "Thank you my friend, you just confused the #$#% out of me!"
Vincent exited the water, and as he dressed he told Ronald, "Perhaps you should relax, and let your course be guided. Don't try to figure it all out, just let it fall into place."
Ronald nodded resignedly, and said, "Maybe you are right..."
Just then William sounded the breakfast announcement, and Ronald then said to Vincent, "Come on let's go eat."
To which Vincent said, "First I must wake Catherine. Unless she has awaken in the interim."
Just then Mouse approached them, and asked, "Feeling better Vincent?'
Putting his arm around his bud, he assured him he was, to which a beaming Mouse replied, "Good, seems everyone is better today. Father is fine, and Catherine too."
To which Vincent asked, "You have seen Catherine?"
In reply, Mouse said, "Just did! She was with Rebecca going to breakfast."
"Well then..." Said Vincent, "I suppose a detour is in order then."
As Mouse walked with them, Ronald mentioned he was going above to help Jennifer move in, but before he could finish his sentence, he was silenced by the jubilant welcome they received as they walked into the Dining Hall.
With surprise, Ronald turned to Vincent, and said, "Everyone is happy to see you OLE man!"
To which Vincent replied, "I guess so, and happy to see you as well."
To which Mouse proudly said, "Everyone happy to see you are alive Vincent, and happy Ronald saved you."
Catherine at Jacob's side, smiled as she watched Vincent and Ronald, elegantly accepted the accolades.
They then took their seats at Jacob's table, Vincent beside Catherine, and with a smile in his eyes, said "Good morning Catherine."
To which she replied, "I am so happy you are feeling better. I was so surprised you woke before me!"
With a wonderment, he expressed, "I'm not...Catherine you endured much yesterday..."
And then Jacob's voice broke through their personal conversation as he said a word of thanks before they enjoyed the special breakfast of cured ham, scrambled eggs, and warm blueberry muffins.
Rebecca sitting on the other side of Vincent, smiled, saying, "I can't believe you are here with us, I mean yesterday, you were in so much pain, and now today, well today, it feels like just a normal day!"
And it was...so far, in fact..it was just a normal day down in the tunnels!
To be continued
Chapter Twenty
| A Dream Within a Dream! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Nineteen |
