Well because they didn't want to be over heard by the Taxi Driver, the few blocks, was a fairly quiet ride.
As Jennifer and Ronald entered her apartment, they sat down on the couch, and Ronald noted, "I realize I hurt you by my naive dating method...Jenny, though I am not a teenager, this whole possibility hit me kinda unexpectedly...I never thought I would get involved again..."
To which Jennifer admitted, "I know Ronny, I understand, and I don't want to push you...I can't imagine losing all you have lost, but I do know how I feel about you. I am crazy about you. You are the nicest man I have met in a long, long time. But I also understand chemistry is a tangible thing and not always conceptual. And...I guess I am better off knowing that now rather than later. So if a friendship is all I should expect from you, then..."
Ronald then stood up and in a confused manner said, "I am not saying that Jenny, I am attracted to you! I feel like such a jerk! All I do know is right now I cannot not offer you anything more than what you suggested earlier. And that is maybe see other people, as well as each other, and just take our time, until we know."
As Jennifer took a deep breath, she felt relieved it really was not a total brush off, and with a genuine smile, said, "Yes Ronny, we can do that."
She then stood too, and as he stepped closer to her, he said, "Well I better go Jenny. I will see you on Tuesday then?"
To which Jennifer sweetly answered, "Yes I will see you on Tuesday."
Upon which Ronald offered, "I will come early to help haul the Putt Putt course down to the Tunnels..."
Thinking that would be nice, Jennifer then offered, "Well if you come extra early, I will make dinner for you!"
With a sweet smile, Ronald softly said, "I'd like that Jenny..."
They said their good nights, and as Ronald gave her a hug, he gave Jennifer a gentle kiss goodnight.
As she closed the door after he left, she felt so thankful she still had a chance with him. And vowed to herself, to keep her cool, as not to scare Ronald off.
Yes...keep her cool the best she could anyway!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, below in the tunnels, Vincent and Catherine were talking as they strolled a leisurely walk, arm in arm toward her chamber.
So upon his return to the tunnels, Ronald nodded a greeting as he passed them, and because Vincent and Catherine seemed to be deep in a conversation, he just kept walking!
And at the same time, because Ronald didn't speak, Vincent stopped to teasingly ask, "Nothing to say to us Ronald?"
In response, Ronald spun around, to reply, "I just didn't want to interrupt you two."
To which Vincent kindly retorted, "Ah, you could not ever be an interruption Ronald."
Feeling humbled by his good friends words, Ronald smiled and nodded as he thoughtfully said, "I suppose I have a lot on my mind."
Ronald then cleared his throat, and as he looked to Catherine he told her, "After I walked Lisa home, I, well I bumped into Jennifer. We had a long talk, and she agrees to take things slow and see others as well."
Catherine tried to sound unconcerned as she said, "Good Ronald, I am glad you had the chance to speak with her so soon."
But in her heart, she knew such a conversation would have been upsetting for Jennifer. She wanted to ask Ronald how Jennifer took it, but decided that no...unless she was asked a specific question, she would try to mind her own business.
In reply, Ronald nodded, and then lowered his eyes as he said, "Well goodnight you two."
Vincent and Catherine said "Goodnight" to a very thoughtful Ronald, and then Vincent looked to Catherine and asked, "What was that about?"
To which Catherine relayed the conversation she shared earlier with Ronald, and she then sighed as she said, "I am worried about Jenny, she really likes him! What if he chooses Lisa over Jenny?"
In response, Vincent wisely said, "If Ronald chooses Lisa over Jenny, then we will have to accept that. It is his decision Catherine."
With a sad look in her eyes, she admitted, "I know Vincent...I know, and I will accept it, it is just that I don't want Jenny to feel uncomfortable coming to visit, that's all."
To which Vincent asked, "Are you sure that's all there is to it Catherine?"
With a humble smile, Catherine admitted, "Well, they are just so cute together..."
With an affirmative nod, Vincent had to agree, but then assured Catherine, "Jennifer will be fine..."
As they arrived at Catherine's chamber, she snuggled into his arms, and said, "Well...goodnight Vincent."
Well because of not being asked to come in, Vincent raised a brow, and dejectedly asked, "You are not going to invite me to stay Catherine?"
To which Catherine admitted, "I wanted to, but I expected you would say no, because you believe I need my sleep!"
And so Catherine with hope, softly asked, "Will you come in?"
Without a word, Vincent took her hand and preceded Catherine over her threshold.
Together in the reading-room, they sat down upon the couch, where Vincent held Catherine in his arms.
With care, Catherine asked Vincent how he was feeling, and he told her he was speedily mending, and expected to be back to his regular routine on Monday.
Happily, she looked up at him and thankfully said, "Good Vincent, I am so happy to hear that."
Vincent then spoke about the story she had read to the children, and expressed, "Catherine...your Mother must have been a very enchanting woman. To introduce you to such a mystical song and story of make believe."
Catherine thoughtfully said, "She was...she wanted me to hold on to my childhood for as long as possible."
Catherine looked sullen as she surmised, "Perhaps she knew my wonderful phase known as childhood would soon be marred by sadness..."
With a more cheerful tone, Catherine continued, "At any rate, sometimes she was more of a kid than I was! She could be so child-like at times when we would play these imaginary games...I can remember attempting to play along, but missing the mark somehow. She knew pretending was difficult for me, so I think she purposefully would invent these games, so I would have to develop my imagination."
Vincent nodded thoughtfully, and then asked, "So did she achieve her objective?"
Contemplating Vincent's question, Catherine sat silent for a moment before answering, then sadly she softly said, "I suppose out of necessity...because when Mom became sick, it had to be me to initiate our world of pretend. When she was sick in bed, I would tell her some stories...I would just kind of make them up as I went along. Some of them never really went anywhere, but I remember making up a few really good stories she enjoyed."
To which Vincent lovingly told her, "You will have to tell me one of those stories sometime Catherine."
Looking up at him, Catherine softly replied, "I promise one day when I can...I will."
With a knowing nod, Vincent stood silent allowing Catherine her memory, before Vincent thoughtfully mentioned, "Tomorrow Catherine...I am ready to place Anna's stone at her grave."
Thinking of the task, Catherine said, "It will be a meaningful day..."
To which Vincent responded, "Yes, and I thank you for helping me Catherine. I am not sure I would have thought of doing such a tribute..."
As he reached for her hand, Vincent with hope, asked, "...will you go with me?"
With tears in her eyes, Catherine answered, "Of course..."
To which Vincent released a sigh, as he said, "Good..."
Vincent then mentioned, "I should go Catherine. There are a few things I need to prepare for our journey tomorrow."
Saying she understood, Catherine upon realizing she had some time to herself, said, "Maybe I will do some writing then."
Vincent brought Catherine sweetly to him, as he said, "Sounds as if you will be busy, and I will not be missed."
To which Catherine with a smile replied, "Well now, don't assume too much. But yes, I will have plenty to keep me busy until I see you again..."
With a nod, Vincent responded, "Which will not be till morning, at breakfast."
Looking up at Vincent, Catherine softly said, "Till breakfast then..."
And because he hated to leave Catherine for any length of time at all, Vincent regretfully said, "Goodnight Catherine."
Catherine walked Vincent to the threshold, and watched him as he walked away from her, softly saying, "Good night Vincent."
Which caused him to turn back to look at her one last time, before he continued on with his task.
The next day, immediately after breakfast, Vincent and Catherine were joined by Jacob, Pascal, and Mouse, for the trip to the catacombs...to Anna's grave.
It was a slow and arduous journey, because of the wheel barrel, which rolled precariously along. If truth be known though, Jacob was glad of it, as it allowed him to keep the pace without asking to stop.
As they arrived at their destination, Pascal and Mouse lifted the stone from the wooden wheel-barrow, and put it where Vincent wanted it, just below the original rustic carving at Anna's crypt.
As they all stood back in a silent Memorial, Jacob asked aloud, "Won't you read what you had written Vincent?"
Vincent stepped up, and in his emotion filled graveled voice, he read,
In Honor of Anna Pater
I dedicate this Memorial
so that her silent heroism
may not be forgotten
To an Angel
who miraculously found me
To the Woman
who tenderly nurtured me
To my Mother
who found it within her heart
to love me
My love and devotion for all days
Your son, Vincent
They all stood around Vincent silently sharing in his moment, but each too having their own special Mother's Day tributes for their own Mother's in their hearts.
Catherine thought of her beautiful young Mom, who was taken far too early from this world, taken from her and from her Dad.
Jacob, thought of his aged Mother, who died an hour before he could be with her, before he could tell her...how much he loved and appreciated her one last time.
Mouse and Pascal too had their mournful memories, but were happy to be there for Vincent on this day. To share in their friend's newly found ability to celebrate Mother's Day in honor of a woman, who truly was his mother, in every sense of the word.
Vincent then made a motion as he shifted his feet, and turned to both his Father and Catherine, signaling that he was ready to go.
As they walked back toward the main tunnels, Catherine asked Vincent if he was up to making one more stop, and she asked if they could take a detour before supper.
He said he was feeling fine, and he then intriguingly agreed to the detour.
Vincent thanked everyone for taking part in this special time for him, and he then accepted Catherine's hand, and allowed her to lead the way.
As they entered the Painted Tunnels, Elizabeth called out in her usual apprehensive manner, "Who is it?"
To which Catherine answered, "It's Catherine and Vincent is with me..."
Hoping Elizabeth was finished with the mural, she then hesitatingly asked, "Is this a good time?"
Elizabeth then gleefully greeted them by saying, "It is a perfect time Catherine! I still have to paint in with color, but do come on in and see what I have added to our history Vincent."
Vincent was followed by Catherine as they both stepped up to the wall with the newest paintings to view Elizabeth's work.
New additions to the painted tunnels
Vincent brought his hand to his heart, as he loudly sighed, "Elizabeth, what you have painted here, they emulate perfectly the pictures that were just found."
He in amazement turned to her, and asked, "How could you have..."
Elizabeth chuckled gaily as she told him the answer to the question he had not finished asking. She nodded to Catherine and said, "Catherine showed the pictures to me the other day, and asked if I could paint them here in time for Mother's Day."
Vincent tipped his head thinking back on the last couple of days, knowing the pictures had been in his possession since Catherine brought them to him.
And so he then asked, "Catherine, when did you have a chance to show Elizabeth the pictures?"
She remorsefully said, "I stopped by to see Elizabeth on my way back from the restoration chamber with Anna's journal. The thought came to me then, that maybe if I showed Elizabeth the pictures, she could copy them here for you."
Catherine then in a mock irritated manner, added, "Of course I didn't realize at the time...that making an impromptu stop, you would send a search party out for me!"
Vincent guiltily looked downward, and with a smile in his eyes he deducted, "Ah, so this was your impromptu stop."
Catherine smiled and said, "Yes, and I couldn't tell you where I went, because I wanted this to be a surprise."
Elizabeth laughed and said, "Yes here I am sketching away on the my wall, and I am hearing all the messages two-and-fro about Catherine's where-abouts! I thought "Oh my Golly!", that Paracelsus sure has everyone stirred up!"
Vincent then looked at Catherine and lovingly said, "I did fear the worst that night. I had no sense of you or of what you were feeling!"
Catherine answered, "I tried to block my excitement as not to give the surprise away."
She then looked back to the wall, and asked, "Didn't Elizabeth do a beautiful job!"
Vincent nodded as he agreed, "Yes she did...seeing Anna added to our history, today of all days...completes the day."
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-eight
| A Dream Within a Dream! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty-Seven |
| In Honor of Anna Pater I dedicate this Memorial so that her silent heroism may not be forgotten To an Angel who miraculously found me To the Woman who tenderly nurtured me To my Mother who found it within her heart to love me My love and devotion for all days Your son, Vincent |
