Catherine and Vincent worked all through the afternoon, and they both had just completed their projects before supper.
Catherine applied the last coat of varnish to both the pieces of furniture, and Vincent had just finished etching the verse into the drying limestone cement. Now all it needed to do was to dry before it's placement at Anna's grave tomorrow on Mother's day.
As he stepped back and looked down at this tribute he had created for Anna, Catherine noticed a look of contentment, that had settled upon his face.
She gingerly walked up to him, and shifted her eyes to the stone he had made. His beautiful handwriting mirrored his thoughts etched there along with a single rose above her name. She hugged him around his waist and then looked up at him, and said, "Vincent...it's lovely. Just perfect."
Vincent with his arm around Catherine, simply nodded, feeling in his heart that it was a right and a perfect tribute from him to Anna.
Catherine gave him a squench, and smiling up at him she asked him, "Are you as hungry as I am? All of the sudden I am starving, and we better not be late if we don't want to get into trouble with William!"
Vincent broke out of his reflective mood, and said, "Yes Catherine, of course, we mustn't be late."
As they entered the Dining Hall, Catherine noticed that Ronald had a dinner companion...Lisa!
Catherine thought they seemed to be having a good time, and were very much, enjoying each other's company.
Catherine and Vincent greeted those who said hello to them, as they made their way through the Dining Hall to their usual table, and sat down next to Ronald and Lisa.
Lisa smiled at Vincent and she said, "Vincent, you look wonderful! It is so thrilling to see you up and around. Ronald has told me Catherine has been taking excellent care of you."
Lisa then turned to acknowledge Catherine, who modestly smiled back and said in reply said, "I am doing my best. I want him back to his old self again as soon as possible."
Catherine still talking to Lisa, turned to Vincent and intimately said, "And I do agree Lisa, he does look wonderful."
Vincent intently looked back at Catherine, and without reserve he held her gaze, making everyone else feel a little ill at ease for just a moment, as if they were intruding on this magical couple. Then the uneasiness turned to an admiring wonder at this powerful bond they possessed...generating an energy that could be felt by everyone around them.
He then spoke her name and followed with an impassioned profession of, "...you have taken wonderful care of me."
Catherine too was lost in Vincent, and when she suddenly became aware of the others around them, she shyly looked downward, and said, "You give me too much credit Vincent. Let's talk about something else shall we?"
Talk around the table soon turned casual and light hearted, and everyone joined in and chatted away.
Catherine told Rebecca that her bookcase was completed, and that she could safely move it from the renovation chamber into her own, after the varnish has had a chance to completely dry.
Eager to do so, Rebecca asked, "How long do I have to wait Catherine?"
Sadly, Catherine suggested, "Well the can says 48 hours, but we'll see. Maybe it will dry faster than they say."
Anxiously, Rebecca said, "I hope so. I cannot wait to put it in the corner by my settee! It will look so charming there." To which Catherine in agreement said, she thought so too.
Vincent once again thanked Mouse and Pascal for helping him with the recovery of the Limestone, and then eventually...the conversation rolled around to Lisa and Ronald swimming at the Falls earlier that afternoon.
As Lisa playfully relayed some of the events of their day, Ronald uneasily sat, wondering what Catherine and Vincent must be thinking about him!
As everyone got up to help gather the supper dishes, Ronald precariously stepped up to Catherine, when they had a moment alone and asked, "Catherine...I would like to speak to you if I could?"
Catherine nodded compliantly and said, "Sure Ronald, what is it?"
Ronald furrowed his brow and said, "I don't know. I feel confused and I am sure you must be too. I mean here I am spending the day with Lisa, and yesterday I spent time with Jennifer!"
He nervously babbled as Catherine continued to listen, and he then finished by saying, "To be honest...I don't know what I am feeling!"
Catherine smiled at him compassionately, and said, "Ronald you sound like a man, who is not yet ready for a commitment. No one is pinning you down are they?"
Ronald tipped his head and admitted, "Well no..."
Catherine then advised, "Then take your time. See them both. Just let them both know you are not ready for a serious relationship, and for now, you want to see them, as well as other people."
Ronald looked contemplative, as he recalled, "You know Catherine, when you were all in danger, I thought that incident clarified everything for me. I thought I knew exactly how I felt about Jenny. But it didn't last! I am as confused as ever."
Catherine then said, "I know you are a good man, Ronald, and you would never intentionally hurt anyone. Just take your time! I know you are worried about Jenny, and to be honest, I am too, but I know she does want you to be happy. So you need to find out who does that for you."
Ronald thankfully nodded and said, "You are right...I should clarify things with Jenny as soon as possible then."
Catherine agreed by saying, "Yes that would be good of you to do so Ronald."
As everyone soon went their separate ways, Ronald kindly offered to escort Lisa safely above. Upon contemplating his gallant offer, Lisa elegantly smiled, and said, "I would love that..."
As they walked arm in arm through the city streets, Ronald intently listened, as Lisa filled their time with talk of her new career, as well as her past. As they arrived at her apartment, Lisa unlocked her door, turned to Ronald and invited him inside. Ronald however, declined her invitation, because until he talked with Jennifer, he didn't want to advance his relationship with Lisa...even though truth be told, he was tempted...
And so reluctantly, Rondald said goodnight, and did accept Lisa's kiss of gratitude to his cheek, before he turned to leave.
But not wanting to totally give up yet, Lisa then sensually added, "I wish you wouldn't go Ronald..."
Wantonly Ronald turned back and admittedly said, "I find I don't want to go either Lisa."
And so Lisa stepped closer, took his hand and said, "Then don't...stay with me."
As Ronald took Lisa into his arms, he guiltily said, "I want to stay, but if I do before I speak to Jenny, I feel it wouldn't be fair to either of you."
Lisa then whispered, as she nuzzled close to him, saying, "Come in...just for some tea or coffee..."
Ronald hesitantly stepped forward, wondering what he should do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Vincent and Catherine were still in the Dining Hall, ambushed by the children, asking that they put them to bed tonight, and begged for Catherine to read to them again.
After they happily agreed to doing so, the talk turned to other subjects, which also led to millions of questions from the children.
Jacob who had been talking to Mary, felt his attention being pulled to the other side of the Dining Hall toward his son and Catherine. As he watched them, he admired their ease with the children.
Then suddenly and unexpectedly, he felt a melancholy wash over him. It saddened him to think they could never have a child of their own. Then a dreaded thought crossed his mind. What if Catherine's love of children grew so great, that her need for Motherhood could not be denied, and she left Vincent because of it? He unwittingly knitted his brows in a sorrowful tragic furrow, causing Mary to ask, "What is it Father? What's wrong?"
Jacob roused from his sad thought, answered Mary, "It's nothing Mary...nothing to concern you with. I was just thinking to the future, which I know, one should not do! We should cherish the moment, right? Each God given moment. After all there are no guarantees for any tomorrows, not for any of us."
Mary suspiciously agreed, wondering why his mood had changed so dramatically from a whimsical disposition to an introspective tone, and caused him to look so tragically sad.
The children then all ran past them on their way out of the Hall, and Jacob did his job, cautioning them to slow down.
Vincent and Catherine who were on their way out too, stopped so Vincent could tease his Father by asking, "Aren't you ever going to give up Father? The children cannot conceptualize the command of slowing down!""
Jacob looked at him and exasperatingly declared, "No, I will not give up!"
He then accusingly pointed his finger at Vincent, and added, "And you! You, yourself as a child, elicited the very same warning from me many times as well! And you would not listen to me either Vincent!"
Catherine smiled up at Vincent, and in her mind tried to imagine him as a little boy. Thanks to Elizabeth's work, she had an idea of what he looked like, but still to have known him as a child...she knew Jacob must have had his hands full.
She had heard stories of how Vincent had shown signs of extreme intelligence even as a very small child, disarming any "Child Psychology" methods Jacob tried to utilize!
Catherine giggled as she listened to Jacob carry on, thinking Vincent in his childhood, certainly must have been quite a challenge, even for Jacob to raise.
Here was this boy-genius, with a strong inquisitive nature that needed to be tamed and guided...and combine that, along with his physical differences...his face...his beautiful face that enraptures you so by his unique features, and then add that sweet wild head of hair he owns...
Catherine suddenly felt her heart ache, as she longingly thought there could be no sweeter challenge in this world to attempt, but to raise their own beautiful child that would be like him.
Jacob then chuckled slightly, bringing Catherine back into their conversation, as he amusingly shook his head, and in an understanding tone he said, "Ah I realize you were always in a hurry, children are always in a hurry! So much of life to live."
Jacob then tipped his head as he pondered, "However it really should be the other way around shouldn't it? I mean, old folks like myself, should be the ones scurrying around trying to experience all we can while there is still time!"
Dreamily, Jacob then observed, "After all, the sand in my hour glass...is running out! If only these old bones could accommodate the urgency."
Vincent worriedly commented, "What a dire thing to observe Father. You are not old, and you have many, many years ahead of you to achieve whatever it is you wish yet to accomplish. Please don't talk in such a foreboding manner."
Mary then worriedly contributed, "Yes, just a moment ago he made a similar comment! Father are you feeling all right?"
Mary then reached up to feel his forehead, irritating Jacob for this unnecessary focus on his health!
He then growled, "Mary, I am fine, can't a man vocalize his observances without everyone making a big deal of it?"
Vincent feeling a little badly, realizing he was the one who had started the fuss over Jacob's comment, tried to appease his Father by saying, "Of course you can Fath..."
Jacob then butted in to add, "After all, a man has not gone through life as long as I, to merely sit silently back, hoarding all this valuable knowledge, and keeping his advice to himself about all he has learned and discovered about this world!"
Mary tried to calm him by saying "Of course he shouldn't Father!"
Jacob took in a deep breath, and adjusted his tunic, and proudly said, "Indeed he should not!"
They all stood uneasy for a moment, wondering how to gracefully change the subject, when Vincent finally spoke and affably informed Mary and Jacob, "We...we are caring for the children, and putting them to bed tonight."
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-six
Catherine applied the last coat of varnish to both the pieces of furniture, and Vincent had just finished etching the verse into the drying limestone cement. Now all it needed to do was to dry before it's placement at Anna's grave tomorrow on Mother's day.
As he stepped back and looked down at this tribute he had created for Anna, Catherine noticed a look of contentment, that had settled upon his face.
She gingerly walked up to him, and shifted her eyes to the stone he had made. His beautiful handwriting mirrored his thoughts etched there along with a single rose above her name. She hugged him around his waist and then looked up at him, and said, "Vincent...it's lovely. Just perfect."
Vincent with his arm around Catherine, simply nodded, feeling in his heart that it was a right and a perfect tribute from him to Anna.
Catherine gave him a squench, and smiling up at him she asked him, "Are you as hungry as I am? All of the sudden I am starving, and we better not be late if we don't want to get into trouble with William!"
Vincent broke out of his reflective mood, and said, "Yes Catherine, of course, we mustn't be late."
As they entered the Dining Hall, Catherine noticed that Ronald had a dinner companion...Lisa!
Catherine thought they seemed to be having a good time, and were very much, enjoying each other's company.
Catherine and Vincent greeted those who said hello to them, as they made their way through the Dining Hall to their usual table, and sat down next to Ronald and Lisa.
Lisa smiled at Vincent and she said, "Vincent, you look wonderful! It is so thrilling to see you up and around. Ronald has told me Catherine has been taking excellent care of you."
Lisa then turned to acknowledge Catherine, who modestly smiled back and said in reply said, "I am doing my best. I want him back to his old self again as soon as possible."
Catherine still talking to Lisa, turned to Vincent and intimately said, "And I do agree Lisa, he does look wonderful."
Vincent intently looked back at Catherine, and without reserve he held her gaze, making everyone else feel a little ill at ease for just a moment, as if they were intruding on this magical couple. Then the uneasiness turned to an admiring wonder at this powerful bond they possessed...generating an energy that could be felt by everyone around them.
He then spoke her name and followed with an impassioned profession of, "...you have taken wonderful care of me."
Catherine too was lost in Vincent, and when she suddenly became aware of the others around them, she shyly looked downward, and said, "You give me too much credit Vincent. Let's talk about something else shall we?"
Talk around the table soon turned casual and light hearted, and everyone joined in and chatted away.
Catherine told Rebecca that her bookcase was completed, and that she could safely move it from the renovation chamber into her own, after the varnish has had a chance to completely dry.
Eager to do so, Rebecca asked, "How long do I have to wait Catherine?"
Sadly, Catherine suggested, "Well the can says 48 hours, but we'll see. Maybe it will dry faster than they say."
Anxiously, Rebecca said, "I hope so. I cannot wait to put it in the corner by my settee! It will look so charming there." To which Catherine in agreement said, she thought so too.
Vincent once again thanked Mouse and Pascal for helping him with the recovery of the Limestone, and then eventually...the conversation rolled around to Lisa and Ronald swimming at the Falls earlier that afternoon.
As Lisa playfully relayed some of the events of their day, Ronald uneasily sat, wondering what Catherine and Vincent must be thinking about him!
As everyone got up to help gather the supper dishes, Ronald precariously stepped up to Catherine, when they had a moment alone and asked, "Catherine...I would like to speak to you if I could?"
Catherine nodded compliantly and said, "Sure Ronald, what is it?"
Ronald furrowed his brow and said, "I don't know. I feel confused and I am sure you must be too. I mean here I am spending the day with Lisa, and yesterday I spent time with Jennifer!"
He nervously babbled as Catherine continued to listen, and he then finished by saying, "To be honest...I don't know what I am feeling!"
Catherine smiled at him compassionately, and said, "Ronald you sound like a man, who is not yet ready for a commitment. No one is pinning you down are they?"
Ronald tipped his head and admitted, "Well no..."
Catherine then advised, "Then take your time. See them both. Just let them both know you are not ready for a serious relationship, and for now, you want to see them, as well as other people."
Ronald looked contemplative, as he recalled, "You know Catherine, when you were all in danger, I thought that incident clarified everything for me. I thought I knew exactly how I felt about Jenny. But it didn't last! I am as confused as ever."
Catherine then said, "I know you are a good man, Ronald, and you would never intentionally hurt anyone. Just take your time! I know you are worried about Jenny, and to be honest, I am too, but I know she does want you to be happy. So you need to find out who does that for you."
Ronald thankfully nodded and said, "You are right...I should clarify things with Jenny as soon as possible then."
Catherine agreed by saying, "Yes that would be good of you to do so Ronald."
As everyone soon went their separate ways, Ronald kindly offered to escort Lisa safely above. Upon contemplating his gallant offer, Lisa elegantly smiled, and said, "I would love that..."
As they walked arm in arm through the city streets, Ronald intently listened, as Lisa filled their time with talk of her new career, as well as her past. As they arrived at her apartment, Lisa unlocked her door, turned to Ronald and invited him inside. Ronald however, declined her invitation, because until he talked with Jennifer, he didn't want to advance his relationship with Lisa...even though truth be told, he was tempted...
And so reluctantly, Rondald said goodnight, and did accept Lisa's kiss of gratitude to his cheek, before he turned to leave.
But not wanting to totally give up yet, Lisa then sensually added, "I wish you wouldn't go Ronald..."
Wantonly Ronald turned back and admittedly said, "I find I don't want to go either Lisa."
And so Lisa stepped closer, took his hand and said, "Then don't...stay with me."
As Ronald took Lisa into his arms, he guiltily said, "I want to stay, but if I do before I speak to Jenny, I feel it wouldn't be fair to either of you."
Lisa then whispered, as she nuzzled close to him, saying, "Come in...just for some tea or coffee..."
Ronald hesitantly stepped forward, wondering what he should do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Vincent and Catherine were still in the Dining Hall, ambushed by the children, asking that they put them to bed tonight, and begged for Catherine to read to them again.
After they happily agreed to doing so, the talk turned to other subjects, which also led to millions of questions from the children.
Jacob who had been talking to Mary, felt his attention being pulled to the other side of the Dining Hall toward his son and Catherine. As he watched them, he admired their ease with the children.
Then suddenly and unexpectedly, he felt a melancholy wash over him. It saddened him to think they could never have a child of their own. Then a dreaded thought crossed his mind. What if Catherine's love of children grew so great, that her need for Motherhood could not be denied, and she left Vincent because of it? He unwittingly knitted his brows in a sorrowful tragic furrow, causing Mary to ask, "What is it Father? What's wrong?"
Jacob roused from his sad thought, answered Mary, "It's nothing Mary...nothing to concern you with. I was just thinking to the future, which I know, one should not do! We should cherish the moment, right? Each God given moment. After all there are no guarantees for any tomorrows, not for any of us."
Mary suspiciously agreed, wondering why his mood had changed so dramatically from a whimsical disposition to an introspective tone, and caused him to look so tragically sad.
The children then all ran past them on their way out of the Hall, and Jacob did his job, cautioning them to slow down.
Vincent and Catherine who were on their way out too, stopped so Vincent could tease his Father by asking, "Aren't you ever going to give up Father? The children cannot conceptualize the command of slowing down!""
Jacob looked at him and exasperatingly declared, "No, I will not give up!"
He then accusingly pointed his finger at Vincent, and added, "And you! You, yourself as a child, elicited the very same warning from me many times as well! And you would not listen to me either Vincent!"
Catherine smiled up at Vincent, and in her mind tried to imagine him as a little boy. Thanks to Elizabeth's work, she had an idea of what he looked like, but still to have known him as a child...she knew Jacob must have had his hands full.
She had heard stories of how Vincent had shown signs of extreme intelligence even as a very small child, disarming any "Child Psychology" methods Jacob tried to utilize!
Catherine giggled as she listened to Jacob carry on, thinking Vincent in his childhood, certainly must have been quite a challenge, even for Jacob to raise.
Here was this boy-genius, with a strong inquisitive nature that needed to be tamed and guided...and combine that, along with his physical differences...his face...his beautiful face that enraptures you so by his unique features, and then add that sweet wild head of hair he owns...
Catherine suddenly felt her heart ache, as she longingly thought there could be no sweeter challenge in this world to attempt, but to raise their own beautiful child that would be like him.
Jacob then chuckled slightly, bringing Catherine back into their conversation, as he amusingly shook his head, and in an understanding tone he said, "Ah I realize you were always in a hurry, children are always in a hurry! So much of life to live."
Jacob then tipped his head as he pondered, "However it really should be the other way around shouldn't it? I mean, old folks like myself, should be the ones scurrying around trying to experience all we can while there is still time!"
Dreamily, Jacob then observed, "After all, the sand in my hour glass...is running out! If only these old bones could accommodate the urgency."
Vincent worriedly commented, "What a dire thing to observe Father. You are not old, and you have many, many years ahead of you to achieve whatever it is you wish yet to accomplish. Please don't talk in such a foreboding manner."
Mary then worriedly contributed, "Yes, just a moment ago he made a similar comment! Father are you feeling all right?"
Mary then reached up to feel his forehead, irritating Jacob for this unnecessary focus on his health!
He then growled, "Mary, I am fine, can't a man vocalize his observances without everyone making a big deal of it?"
Vincent feeling a little badly, realizing he was the one who had started the fuss over Jacob's comment, tried to appease his Father by saying, "Of course you can Fath..."
Jacob then butted in to add, "After all, a man has not gone through life as long as I, to merely sit silently back, hoarding all this valuable knowledge, and keeping his advice to himself about all he has learned and discovered about this world!"
Mary tried to calm him by saying "Of course he shouldn't Father!"
Jacob took in a deep breath, and adjusted his tunic, and proudly said, "Indeed he should not!"
They all stood uneasy for a moment, wondering how to gracefully change the subject, when Vincent finally spoke and affably informed Mary and Jacob, "We...we are caring for the children, and putting them to bed tonight."
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-six
| A Dream within a Dream! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty-Five |
