| A Dream Within a Dream! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty |
After breakfast, Catherine told Vincent she was very anxious to get back to her project in the renovation chamber. To which Vincent offered to accompany her, and Ronald also stood and said, "I am heading that way too. I have about an hour before I go help Jenny. And maybe, just maybe I can help the crew finish up in Peter's chamber."
Happy Vincent would come, Catherine then said, "Good! Then you can tell me what you think about the finish on your desk so far. Oh and Rebecca, didn't you say you were coming also, to look for that shelf?"
To which Rebecca excitedly said, "Yes, I want to see if anyone has claimed that lovely little three tiered book shelf yet."
And so the four of them entered the restoration chamber, and after looking, they did find the book shelf, way back in a corner.
Ronald helped Rebecca pull out the well crafted piece of furniture, and then said, "Well if you don't need anything else, I will be over in Peter's chamber."
They all said they were good, and if they needed him, they would call.
As they looked the book shelf, over, they thought it could use a few coats of varnish too. And so Catherine offered, "I would love to refinish the book shelf for you Rebecca."
As Catherine applied another coat to the desk, Rebecca and Vincent began the light sanding to her newly acquired book shelf.
As Vincent glanced over at Catherine, he noticed something sparkling inside the top shelf of the desk.
And so he asked Catherine, "What is shining there?"
Looking around, Catherine inquired, "Where Vincent, shining where?"
Vincent walked over closer to the desk, and clarified, "There on that shelf within the desk. I don't recall seeing that there before."
Catherine looked back, totally astonished, and said, "It looks like a ring!"
Suddenly, Vincent feeling a familiar presence...turned to the darkened shadowed corner of the dark dim chamber, and asked, "Narcissa, is that you?"
Stepping from the darkness, which she herself, could only instinctively feel, said, "Yes child it is me. I knew you would find me out Vincent."
Catherine had only heard of Narcissa, but she had never met her before. She looked excitedly at Rebecca, who looked as mesmerized as Catherine knew, she must look!
Rebecca had only crossed paths with Narcissa very few times herself, since Narcissa, inhabits the lower levels deep below the tunnels, within the Catacombs.
Catherine looked back as this unusual woman who was with affection, very kindly smiling toward Vincent. And Vincent in turn, looked warmly back at her.
Vincent then in reply to Narcissa futile attempt to stay hidden, said, "It is because as you once said Narcissa, you and I are kindred spirits."
Vincent then politely asked, "Narcissa, you remember Rebecca?"
Narcissa stepped closer and said, "Of course, such a sweet child. An innocent heart!"
Rebecca politely said, "Good to see you again Narcissa.
Vincent then turned to Catherine and just as he was about to introduce her, Narcissa spoke out and asked, "And this is your Catherine?"
Vincent proudly reached for Catherine's hand, and brought her into step with him to go forward, and said, "Yes Narcissa, this is my Catherine."
Catherine reached out to shake hands with Narcissa, and as they touched Narcissa, widened her eyes and declared, "Catherine...you are an old soul...wise beyond your years. Ah but a gentle heart."
Smiling toward Vincent, she softly said, "I would have guessed as much."
Catherine looked up at Vincent and smiled in puzzled astonishment! She then looked back to Narcissa and asked, "How do you know, how can you tell that I am an old soul?"
Narcissa stared off, and in an entranced voice she said, "Because you possess a calm spirit Catherine. It is calm but very strong, and not easily swayed. One cannot arrive at such a place in one lifetime."
Turning to Vincent, Narcissa then noted, "So...you have discovered the ring."
Vincent questioned, "Are you the one who placed it there?"
Narcissa took Vincent's hand in hers, and said, "Yes Vincent. I found it early this morning near Anna's grave, because of the energy radiating from it, I believe it to be Anna's, I am sure of it."
She then dreamily explained, "Strange, the force that drew me to it..."
Narcissa went on to relay, "I was on my way to retrieve my daily water supply, when suddenly I changed direction. I found myself there in the alcove where Anna died, and could go no further, I suddenly felt depleted of all energy and had to rest. As I knelt down to ease myself onto the ground...I placed my hand upon it, the ring."
She then added, "I knew that it was meant to be in your possession Vincent."
Vincent reached in and took out Anna's ring. He looked at this beautiful ring of diamonds and sapphires. And as he looked back at Narcissa, he said, "I don't know how to thank you."
Narcissa softly said, "Be happy Vincent, and that will be thanks enough child."
She then turned to Catherine, and said, "YOU make him happy...I feel his gladdened energy fill this room."
Catherine stood speechless, unsure what to say that wouldn't sound trite to this intuitive woman.
Narcissa then walked out to the tunnel and said, "I must return now. Vincent, Catherine, Reecca...visit me sometime soon. I have much to share with you."
Then she was gone. Catherine smiled at both Vincent and Rebecca, and said, "She is an amazing woman!"
Vincent nodded and said, "Yes she is."
Rebecca then added, "When ever I have been in her presence I feel...feel energized or something. It is hard to explain! Don't you feel it too?"
Catherine rubbed her arms and trembled as she said, "Yes I do too Rebecca."
Rebecca then anxiously asked, "Vincent may I see Anna's ring?"
Vincent, held the ring in the palm of his huge hand, and as Rebecca looked at it, she expounded, "It is beautiful...and so small. Anna must have been a petite woman."
As Vincent put it protectively in the little leather pouch, he then said, "Catherine I am suddenly very tired."
Catherine looked at him worriedly and told him, "My chamber is so nearby, why don't you lay down there."
She then offered, "I will come with you..."
To which Vincent stopped her by saying, "No Catherine...finish your project. There is no need for concern, I am only tired."
Catherine conceded and reluctantly said, "All right then, I will meet you there in a little while, I'll just apply one more coat."
Vincent nodded, and turned to the threshold, when Rebecca stopped him and over-protectively asked, "Should we call Father?"
Vincent turned to her and said "I am fine Rebecca, I just need time alone to rest and reflect."
To which Rebecca weakly smiled and apologetically said, "I understand."
Catherine then, in an effort to cover her concern, cheerfully added, "I will check on you later, and maybe then we can read Wuthering Heights. We have to complete our assignment before Mary's class on Tuesday."
Vincent in reply said, "That would be most pleasing Catherine..."
He then nodded before turning and with a heavy stride, he went to Catherine's chamber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Ronald knocked on Jennifer's door, and as she opened the door, she excitedly said, "Look Ronny...for an extra Twenty five dollars, they put everything right where I wanted it! Doesn't it look great?"
Ronald nodded in pleasing approval, as Jennifer continued to say, "I would definitely recommend this moving company to anyone!"
Piquing his curiosity, Ronald then quizzically asked, "What company did you hire?"
Jennifer with a hesitant smile, told him, "Two Men and a Truck! Cute name uh?"
They both started to laugh, and Ronald teasingly said, "Only you would find a moving company with such a title Jenny!"
He then looked around, and since everything was pretty much in order, he asked, "What would you like me to do then Jenny? There must be something."
Jennifer smiled and answered, "Well nothing I can think of right now. Not really, the little stuff I can do later as I go."
She then apologetically said, "I am sorry if it seems like a waste of your time Ronny. Its just when they offered, I thought it was a good idea after the traumatic day we had yesterday, and there just wasn't enough time for me to let you know."
In a sincere reply, Ronny said, "Being with you could never be considered a waste of time Jenny. I am still glad I came."
As they held one another's gaze, Jennifer then softly said, "Well good, because I am so glad you are here. Now we can just hang out, and talk. And...I am starving how about you?"
Ronald shook his head no and said, not starving, but could have a little something along with her. He then explained, William had made a huge breakfast in celebration this morning.
Jennifer then said, "Good, I hate to eat alone. Maybe we can sit outside, it is such a beautiful spring day."
The two then went out onto the balcony, with their coffee and Honey drenched English muffins, and as they sat enjoying one another's company, a warm soothing breeze blew past them.
And as their conversation comfortably flowed, Ronald thought how nice it was being here with her.
With Jennifer, there was a warmness between them, not the anxiousness he felt with Lisa, the kind of sexual tension that left him nervous and on edge.
Yes, with Jennifer he was comfortable, and contentedly relaxed.
Jennifer then reflected, "I think this balcony is going to be my favorite spot. I know Cathy loved this feature of the apartment."
Jennifer then giggled, as she added, "Of course now I understand why. It was the only way Vinny could visit her here."
Ronald then with amazement, marveled, "Can you imagine! I have to say, I sure am glad Vincent's balcony climbing days are over! If I had known all this time how far up Catherine lived, I would have been far more apprehensive each time he said he was going to go see Catherine."
Ronald then astonishingly said, "Their relationship has no boundaries does it Jenny?"
Jennifer smiled at Ronald, and with total admiration in her misted eyes, she agreed with him as she softly said, "I don't think it does..."
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-one
