She then waited patiently for Ronald to respond to her statement, and when he was literally speechless, she said, "I know there is an attraction between us. I am never wrong about these things."
Ronald had to admit, and say, "I cannot deny you are a very attractive woman. But I have come to realize there has to be more between two people. And I think we both know, I am just not your type Lisa."
Lisa elegantly tilted her head, and asked, "And what type would that be Ronald?"
Taking in a deep breath, Ronald searched for a way to politely say, he was not the least bit interested in the opera, or the ballet, and thought she needed a more cultural type man, one who goes for that high-brow stuff!
And so he then carefully said, "The type of guy who is comfortable in the circles your career takes you Lisa."
With certainty he implied, "I know you must have realized this too."
With a sigh Lisa admitted, "Yes, I suppose I have, however there are times when chemistry takes over between two people...and maybe that can be enough."
Ronald wearily said, "For some I suppose it is..." He then questioned, "Without mutual interests to build on, how long could that last?"
Smiling sensually, she asked, "Mmm, wouldn't it be fun finding out?
Lisa lowered her eyes as once again Ronald stood quiet and with a gentlemanly demeanor kept his agreement to himself!
Lisa then asked, "And you feel you and Jennifer do have things in common?"
Ronald admitted, "Yes Lisa, we do share a common ground."
Lisa then pouted as she asked, "So...you are choosing Jennifer...over me?"
Ronald softly said, "Lisa....I don't want to hurt you."
Thoughtfully Lisa tried to figure this all out! Ronald was preferring Jennifer over her! Even though...she knew she was much prettier then Jennifer!
Though Lisa was not a loose woman, she has had a few hot romances, and always got the man she set her sights for!
Suddenly she realized what Ronald was talking about here, was something deeper than an ego gratification, of getting the catch! He was looking for a person he could have a relationship with. This thought was foreign to Lisa as she had just escaped a tyrannical superficial relationship. A relationship where her beauty was of the upper most importance.
Lisa, embarrassingly brought her arms up around herself, and tearfully said, "Well... don't I feel foolish..."
Ronald softly said, "Don't feel foolish Lisa. It is just that coming from where I have been, a wonderful marriage with a woman I shared everything with...I know how it should be. "
Lisa then assured him, "All my life I have relied on my beauty to get what I want, and now as I grow older, I am realizing that is not enough, not for the right man anyway."
Lisa added, "I want you to know l do like you Ronald, and so very attracted to you. I suppose I was hoping for something more, something deeper than friendship."
Lisa then said, "I could tell Jennifer had a crush on you, however, I hadn't realized...that you felt the same toward her."
Ronald explained, "Until today, I didn't either. I hope I can still refer to you as friend Lisa. Friendship should never be underrated..."
To which Lisa teasingly said, "We could be perhaps friends with benefits. No one would need to know."
Ronald raised his brow, and trying to keep eye contact, said, "I would know Lisa...and you would know."
Lisa looked downward disappointedly and clarified, "Because of the way you feel about Jennifer?"
Tenderly he answered, "Yes...because of my feelings for Jennifer...and because of my feelings for you too Lisa. You deserve better."
She softly touched his face, and searching his eyes, she then said, "You really are a friend."
Still teetering between two chain of thoughts, and not totally ready to give up, Lisa knew his eyes would be on her as she left the water. And so she turned as she closed her robe, and acknowledged, "Friends then. Just friends, Well Ronald, we can try it."
And as she left the chamber she added, "You know where to find me if you want some friendly...chit chat."
Ronald stood motionless as Lisa left him, wondering what just happened! The only thing he was sure of, was a need to do many laps so he would be able to sleep!
Meanwhile, Vincent's chamber was now void of all his well-wishers, and only Jacob and Catherine remained.
Jacob pulled two chairs together, and efficiently surmised aloud that, "Yes, that should do it!"
He then rubbed his hands together as he turned to the wardrobe, and asked, "Vincent you do have an extra quilt stored in here, do you not?"
Vincent in astonishment asked, "You are not planning on sleeping here are you Father?"
Jacob then exuberantly inserted, "Of course I am! I am the night shift."
Vincent then concernedly explained, "Then your effort will be in vain! I promise you I will not be able to rest knowing you are sitting upright in that makeshift bed. You must go to your own chamber and rest. Trust I will be just fine."
Jacob loudly argued, "No arguments Vincent! I am staying and that, my boy...is that!"
Vincent closed his eyes, and exasperatingly said, "I am too tired to argue Father...do what you will."
Jacob nodded triumphantly, and as he walked toward Vincent's wardrobe in search of the extra quilt!
Catherine cleared her throat, as she hopefully volunteered, "If you permit, allow me to look after Vincent through the night."
Jacob looked lovingly at Catherine and then past her toward Vincent, and repeated, "So you wish to be on the night shift Catherine?"
She looked admiringly at Vincent and said, "It is the least I can do. He is injured because of coming to our rescue."
She then looked back at Jacob and softy said, "You have done your part Father, and I know you must be exhausted too. I want to stay with him."
Jacob heaved a sigh as he knew the tide cannot be turned, and he had no choice but to recede. And just as he was going to say so, he noticed Vincent had fallen asleep! And with a chuckle, Jacob said, "He is sleeping, sssshhhh! We dar'snt wake him."
And so Jacob looked at Catherine over the top of his glasses, and in a Fatherly manner said, "You have been through quite an ordeal today, as we all have, and I am concerned for your welfare too."
To which Catherine replied, "I realize Father, but I think I could get more rest here near Vincent than I would knowing you are straddling two chairs."
Looking at the two chairs, he then admitted how unappealing it looked, and then asked, "What about you Catherine, I cannot imagine it will be much better for you there."
To which she noted, "I am of smaller stature than you Father. I will be fine. In fact, I will snuggle into the big chair there. I don't think I will need two. Sometimes they slide apart, and before you know it...bloop on the floor."
Jacob laughed, at her description, and then humbly stepped closer to Catherine and said, "You know Catherine, I have yet to commend you on the bravery you exuded today, as you pleaded for Vincent's life. I was taken quite aback as I heard you talk to John in such a steadfast manner. I am convinced it was one of the factors which altered the outcome of this day."
Catherine knitted her brow in an awing fashion as she said, "I would have done anything to help Vincent...just as you and the others who love him, were willing to do."
She then brought her hand up to her heart and said, "I love him Father...with all that I am."
Jacob nodded, and narrowed his eyes in an intuitive knowing way, and he tenderly answered, "Yes...I do know, and now...I do understand Catherine."
He then softly added, "And I dare say, Vincent is a very lucky man."
Catherine tearfully looked at Jacob as his words that he had just spoken, meant so much to her.
Jacob then gently informed Catherine, "It will be either I, or someone else back early to relieve you, so you...my Dear, can then rest in your own chamber..."
Jacob turned thoughtful, and he nervously shifted his weight from leg to leg, as he hesitated a moment feeling a little guilty for leaving, asked, "So you really think you will be comfortable here?"
To which Catherine reiterated, "I will pull the chair close to Vincent's bed, and I will be fine."
Jacob sighed, "Very good then, I will leave Vincent in your care. Do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything..."
Catherine assured him, "I won't hesitate Father."
He then hobbled toward the threshold, and swayed the curtains open out of his way, and chuckled as he said, "These curtains, I suppose I may one day get used to them. Well good night Catherine."
Catherine followed behind him and warmly said, "Good night Father."
To be continued
Chapter Eighteen
Ronald had to admit, and say, "I cannot deny you are a very attractive woman. But I have come to realize there has to be more between two people. And I think we both know, I am just not your type Lisa."
Lisa elegantly tilted her head, and asked, "And what type would that be Ronald?"
Taking in a deep breath, Ronald searched for a way to politely say, he was not the least bit interested in the opera, or the ballet, and thought she needed a more cultural type man, one who goes for that high-brow stuff!
And so he then carefully said, "The type of guy who is comfortable in the circles your career takes you Lisa."
With certainty he implied, "I know you must have realized this too."
With a sigh Lisa admitted, "Yes, I suppose I have, however there are times when chemistry takes over between two people...and maybe that can be enough."
Ronald wearily said, "For some I suppose it is..." He then questioned, "Without mutual interests to build on, how long could that last?"
Smiling sensually, she asked, "Mmm, wouldn't it be fun finding out?
Lisa lowered her eyes as once again Ronald stood quiet and with a gentlemanly demeanor kept his agreement to himself!
Lisa then asked, "And you feel you and Jennifer do have things in common?"
Ronald admitted, "Yes Lisa, we do share a common ground."
Lisa then pouted as she asked, "So...you are choosing Jennifer...over me?"
Ronald softly said, "Lisa....I don't want to hurt you."
Thoughtfully Lisa tried to figure this all out! Ronald was preferring Jennifer over her! Even though...she knew she was much prettier then Jennifer!
Though Lisa was not a loose woman, she has had a few hot romances, and always got the man she set her sights for!
Suddenly she realized what Ronald was talking about here, was something deeper than an ego gratification, of getting the catch! He was looking for a person he could have a relationship with. This thought was foreign to Lisa as she had just escaped a tyrannical superficial relationship. A relationship where her beauty was of the upper most importance.
Lisa, embarrassingly brought her arms up around herself, and tearfully said, "Well... don't I feel foolish..."
Ronald softly said, "Don't feel foolish Lisa. It is just that coming from where I have been, a wonderful marriage with a woman I shared everything with...I know how it should be. "
Lisa then assured him, "All my life I have relied on my beauty to get what I want, and now as I grow older, I am realizing that is not enough, not for the right man anyway."
Lisa added, "I want you to know l do like you Ronald, and so very attracted to you. I suppose I was hoping for something more, something deeper than friendship."
Lisa then said, "I could tell Jennifer had a crush on you, however, I hadn't realized...that you felt the same toward her."
Ronald explained, "Until today, I didn't either. I hope I can still refer to you as friend Lisa. Friendship should never be underrated..."
To which Lisa teasingly said, "We could be perhaps friends with benefits. No one would need to know."
Ronald raised his brow, and trying to keep eye contact, said, "I would know Lisa...and you would know."
Lisa looked downward disappointedly and clarified, "Because of the way you feel about Jennifer?"
Tenderly he answered, "Yes...because of my feelings for Jennifer...and because of my feelings for you too Lisa. You deserve better."
She softly touched his face, and searching his eyes, she then said, "You really are a friend."
Still teetering between two chain of thoughts, and not totally ready to give up, Lisa knew his eyes would be on her as she left the water. And so she turned as she closed her robe, and acknowledged, "Friends then. Just friends, Well Ronald, we can try it."
And as she left the chamber she added, "You know where to find me if you want some friendly...chit chat."
Ronald stood motionless as Lisa left him, wondering what just happened! The only thing he was sure of, was a need to do many laps so he would be able to sleep!
Meanwhile, Vincent's chamber was now void of all his well-wishers, and only Jacob and Catherine remained.
Jacob pulled two chairs together, and efficiently surmised aloud that, "Yes, that should do it!"
He then rubbed his hands together as he turned to the wardrobe, and asked, "Vincent you do have an extra quilt stored in here, do you not?"
Vincent in astonishment asked, "You are not planning on sleeping here are you Father?"
Jacob then exuberantly inserted, "Of course I am! I am the night shift."
Vincent then concernedly explained, "Then your effort will be in vain! I promise you I will not be able to rest knowing you are sitting upright in that makeshift bed. You must go to your own chamber and rest. Trust I will be just fine."
Jacob loudly argued, "No arguments Vincent! I am staying and that, my boy...is that!"
Vincent closed his eyes, and exasperatingly said, "I am too tired to argue Father...do what you will."
Jacob nodded triumphantly, and as he walked toward Vincent's wardrobe in search of the extra quilt!
Catherine cleared her throat, as she hopefully volunteered, "If you permit, allow me to look after Vincent through the night."
Jacob looked lovingly at Catherine and then past her toward Vincent, and repeated, "So you wish to be on the night shift Catherine?"
She looked admiringly at Vincent and said, "It is the least I can do. He is injured because of coming to our rescue."
She then looked back at Jacob and softy said, "You have done your part Father, and I know you must be exhausted too. I want to stay with him."
Jacob heaved a sigh as he knew the tide cannot be turned, and he had no choice but to recede. And just as he was going to say so, he noticed Vincent had fallen asleep! And with a chuckle, Jacob said, "He is sleeping, sssshhhh! We dar'snt wake him."
And so Jacob looked at Catherine over the top of his glasses, and in a Fatherly manner said, "You have been through quite an ordeal today, as we all have, and I am concerned for your welfare too."
To which Catherine replied, "I realize Father, but I think I could get more rest here near Vincent than I would knowing you are straddling two chairs."
Looking at the two chairs, he then admitted how unappealing it looked, and then asked, "What about you Catherine, I cannot imagine it will be much better for you there."
To which she noted, "I am of smaller stature than you Father. I will be fine. In fact, I will snuggle into the big chair there. I don't think I will need two. Sometimes they slide apart, and before you know it...bloop on the floor."
Jacob laughed, at her description, and then humbly stepped closer to Catherine and said, "You know Catherine, I have yet to commend you on the bravery you exuded today, as you pleaded for Vincent's life. I was taken quite aback as I heard you talk to John in such a steadfast manner. I am convinced it was one of the factors which altered the outcome of this day."
Catherine knitted her brow in an awing fashion as she said, "I would have done anything to help Vincent...just as you and the others who love him, were willing to do."
She then brought her hand up to her heart and said, "I love him Father...with all that I am."
Jacob nodded, and narrowed his eyes in an intuitive knowing way, and he tenderly answered, "Yes...I do know, and now...I do understand Catherine."
He then softly added, "And I dare say, Vincent is a very lucky man."
Catherine tearfully looked at Jacob as his words that he had just spoken, meant so much to her.
Jacob then gently informed Catherine, "It will be either I, or someone else back early to relieve you, so you...my Dear, can then rest in your own chamber..."
Jacob turned thoughtful, and he nervously shifted his weight from leg to leg, as he hesitated a moment feeling a little guilty for leaving, asked, "So you really think you will be comfortable here?"
To which Catherine reiterated, "I will pull the chair close to Vincent's bed, and I will be fine."
Jacob sighed, "Very good then, I will leave Vincent in your care. Do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything..."
Catherine assured him, "I won't hesitate Father."
He then hobbled toward the threshold, and swayed the curtains open out of his way, and chuckled as he said, "These curtains, I suppose I may one day get used to them. Well good night Catherine."
Catherine followed behind him and warmly said, "Good night Father."
To be continued
Chapter Eighteen
| A Dream Within a Dream! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Seventeen |
