As Catherine laid sheltered in his arms, she then drifted off too, until a clanking that came across the pipe woke them.
They both stayed quiet though, feeling a contentment, and a comfort that such a closeness brought to each of them.
Catherine then looked up at Vincent and said, "Being with you like this, I feel like nothing can disrupt the happiness I feel."
Vincent whispered in reply, "I will do my best, for that to be so..."
Vincent then thought of how his adult life had been spent existing before he had met Catherine. He would carry out his day to day tasks, and in between, he would spend in an imaginary existence. And through this magical realm of dreams, he entertained that life could be different for him, never thinking that really...there could be anything more than those wishful fantasies.
He then in an astonished thoughtful manner told Catherine, "You have brought so many changes to my life...I now can see my time before, had been spent so...so solitary bound."
Vincent plaintively continued, "The very moment you came into my life, your nearness had expanded my term and lifted my limits. You have introduced me to a life of reality, that is more beautiful than any dream...and...you have brought to me a contentment, in accepting who I am, realizing I will always have questions of my existence...without ever procuring any answers."
Vincent then took a deep breath, and with a narrowing of his eyes he explained, "My need to know where I came from is less important to me now that I am coming to terms with all that I am. And as knowledge of Anna's life is coming more and more to light, I am made aware of the wasted time and energy I have spent, on the uncertainties of what might have been...of what life would have been like, had I not been forsaken as I had been, by my birth Mother."
Catherine listened to all Vincent said, and then soothingly relayed, "We all do that Vincent...we all tend to focus on the negative hurtful things that happen to us. We need to remember to focus on the
positive things in our lives when our heart pains us so. Sometimes it takes someone, or something to remind us...like Narcissa bringing you the ring she had found of Anna's today."
Catherine then tenderly said, "I keep thinking of the irony of Narcissa finding that ring today, after all these years. It is so much more than just a coincidence. Don't you think so too?"
Vincent huskily agreed, "Yes Catherine...perhaps Anna's spirit has been unsettled, and is working toward a resolve. The discovery of her chamber...this chamber that is now your home, the desk, the vile, the journal and the pictures...and now her ring..."
Catherine then dreamily said, "Almost as if she wants to make sure she is not forgotten by you...all this just before Mother's Day."
Vincent thoughtfully said, "These events bring to me both pause and sadness..."
Catherine looked up at Vincent and asked, "Why sadness?"
Vincent with reflection answered, "I had always been so grievous about my Mother's abandonment, I had not given Anna the acknowledgement that she deserved."
Catherine lovingly said, "This year you can make up for it then. Perhaps a tribute of sorts by her grave..."
Vincent searchingly said, "Catherine...yes perhaps...and then something else...something more..."
To which Catherine suggested, "Vincent, you have done some beautiful work here inside my chamber. You are so knowledgeable about all sorts of craftsmanship, with stone, carpentry, with glass... maybe you could etch something in stone for Anna, a verse, poem, or something from your heart."
Vincent then solemnly said, "Perhaps..."
Catherine reached up and softly touched his face, and said, "Well as nice as this is, I am due to freshen up. And after lunch, we can spend the afternoon reading from Wuthering Heights."
Vincent said he would stay just a bit longer, and would see her later.
After bathing, Catherine crossed paths with Jamie, and Laura. They were just coming back from the Laundry Chamber, with their fresh bedding.
Jamie excitedly mentioned, "Catherine...William asked Laura and I, to take Elizabeth her breakfast this morning..."
Catherine shot Jamie and Laura an anxious look, worried they may have seen the paintings Elizabeth was adding to Vincent's mural.
And so hesitantly, she then asked, "Yes...and how was your visit?"
Jamie laughed as she said, "Great! And, well she was quite busy!"
Questionably, Catherine tried to act nonchalant, as she replied, "Oh? Busy with what?"
Jamie started to laugh, as she said, "Cut the act Catherine! Elizabeth had to tell us since we caught her in the middle of painting Vincent as a baby!"
Letting her guard down, Catherine then excitedly asked, "And so tell me, how does it look?"
Laura then ecstatically signed, "So far the mural is beautiful! Vincent was such a sweet baby!"
Jamie unable to contain her enthusiasm, butted-in and said, "Yes, and she told us it is to be a surprise for Vincent! So don't worry...we will not say a word!"
Catherine graciously thanked them for their silence, and she smiled and then looked downward, as she lovingly said, "After the discovery of his baby pictures, I so wanted his infancy depicted there along with the other history of the tunnels. I hope he will be pleased."
The girls whole-heartedly agreed with Catherine and said they thought Vincent will be proud having his baby pictures included there with the other images.
As they prepared to part company at the threshold of Catherine's chamber, Laura signed to Jamie, that they had better get busy changing their bedding if they wanted to get it done before lunch.
Jamie groaned, "Yeah, yeah, let's do mine first and then yours. If we double team it will be quicker."
Laura agreed, and the girls said goodbye to Catherine and trotted off to do their chores.
Catherine stood for a moment and smiled at the two younger girls, as they walked away, and it looked as if Jamie never stopped talking, and Laura never stopped signing!
Catherine thought reflectively on her and Jenny's friendship through the adolescent years, and thought
they were a lot like Jamie and Laura, so much to say, and not enough time to say it!
Catherine entered her chamber, and Vincent was still sleeping so soundly, that he didn't even move at the sounding of the lunch announcement.
Deciding to let him sleep, Catherine thought she would just bring a tray back for him when he woke up.
So just as Catherine entered the tunnel, Jacob was rounding the corner to check on Vincent.
Concernedly he asked, "So how is Vincent Catherine? Rebecca relayed to me he had tired out earlier, and is resting within your chamber."
Catherine smiled assuredly and told him, "He is still sleeping Father. He does seem tired, but seems all right otherwise. He actually admitted he may have overdone it this morning!"
Hoping Jacob approved of Vincent resting there, in a questioning tone, she said, "I hope that is all right Father. Its just that my chamber was so close."
Jacob raised a brow and said, "Yes, under these circumstances Catherine. I am sure no one would think scandalously about Vincent resting here during his recovery."
Catherine nodded in agreement, and then anxiously changed the subject by saying, "I thought I should allow him to sleep, and ask William if I could bring a luncheon tray back to him."
Jacob nodded, and said, "Yes Catherine, wise decision."
He then cleared his throat, and asked gallantly, "May I escort you to the Dining Hall?"
Catherine relieved Jacob agreed with her judgement, happily answered, "Yes Father."
As they entered the Hall arm in arm, everyone concernedly asked about Vincent! Jacob assured everyone Vincent was fine, and was just resting.
After lunch, a few of the children approached Catherine, and with Joseph as the ring-leader, he asked her, "I wanted to remind you about your promise that you made to me yesterday Catherine! Do you remember?"
Catherine squinted a little, feigning that she had forgotten her promise to read to them tonight!
Tapping her chin, she said, "Let me see, I know that there was something that I promised you yesterday Joseph...but I can't remember what in the world it was!"
Joseph seeing through her act said, "I know you remember Catherine!"
She smiled at him and said, "You know me too well Joseph. Yes I do remember..."
And as Catherine spanned the faces of all the children, she said, "...and I am looking forward to it too. What shall I read? Any requests?"
Samantha stepped up and said, "I remember seeing "The Velveteen Rabbit" book in your chamber. Catherine could you read that to us tonight?"
Catherine felt a bittersweet melancholy wash over her at the mention of this book. She looked downward remembering "The Velveteen Rabbit" was her favorite book from her childhood. In fact her Dad would read it to her when she was a girl, and so for that reason, it was from this very book she read an exert at her Dad's Memorial Service.
So warmly she smiled, and told Samantha, "Yes, I will bring it along with me, and read it to you tonight..."
She then excitedly proposed, "...and maybe Vincent will be up to coming with me tonight too!"
They all happily said they hoped Vincent would be coming too, and they couldn't wait to hear the story. Then like a flash Mary scooped the children away for their afternoon lessons.
William prepared a bountiful tray for Vincent, and Jacob accompanied Catherine back to her chamber, wanting to look at his son for himself to check on his progress. They found him just stirring from his sleep, and after Jacob had a short conversation with him and checked his vitals, he left there satisfied that Vincent was indeed on the upswing.
Vincent rose from the bed beginning to grow weary of all this careful attention from everyone! He confided in Catherine, "I know it is out of love that Father worries so, however...his hovering is a good incentive for me to recover all the more quickly!"
He then looked over at the tray Catherine had brought back and as she guiltily smiled, she explained, "I didn't want to wake you, so I brought you your lunch William prepared for you. And I am sorry, I suppose this is under the label of pampering?"
Vincent looked downward at Catherine and passionately said, "From you Catherine, I shall endure the pampering."
As she smiled up at him, she softly told him, "Come then and eat your lunch while it is still warm, and I will be first to read from our book."
Vincent dutifully followed Catherine to her writing table and as he sat down at the meal that was set before him, he said, "Ahh Catherine, two gratifying pleasures at once, a good meal, and the resonating intonation of your voice."
Catherine bashfully smiled and spoke in a breathless voice, "I'll get the book Vincent."
As she returned after picking up the book, she settled in the chair beside him, stealing glances up at him when she could, thinking of how much that she loved him.
They whiled away the afternoon together, later moving into the reading chamber, where Vincent took his turn reading to Catherine, escalating her with the sound of his deep huskilated voice, to a state that she was certain, was only a step away from Heaven.
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-three
They both stayed quiet though, feeling a contentment, and a comfort that such a closeness brought to each of them.
Catherine then looked up at Vincent and said, "Being with you like this, I feel like nothing can disrupt the happiness I feel."
Vincent whispered in reply, "I will do my best, for that to be so..."
Vincent then thought of how his adult life had been spent existing before he had met Catherine. He would carry out his day to day tasks, and in between, he would spend in an imaginary existence. And through this magical realm of dreams, he entertained that life could be different for him, never thinking that really...there could be anything more than those wishful fantasies.
He then in an astonished thoughtful manner told Catherine, "You have brought so many changes to my life...I now can see my time before, had been spent so...so solitary bound."
Vincent plaintively continued, "The very moment you came into my life, your nearness had expanded my term and lifted my limits. You have introduced me to a life of reality, that is more beautiful than any dream...and...you have brought to me a contentment, in accepting who I am, realizing I will always have questions of my existence...without ever procuring any answers."
Vincent then took a deep breath, and with a narrowing of his eyes he explained, "My need to know where I came from is less important to me now that I am coming to terms with all that I am. And as knowledge of Anna's life is coming more and more to light, I am made aware of the wasted time and energy I have spent, on the uncertainties of what might have been...of what life would have been like, had I not been forsaken as I had been, by my birth Mother."
Catherine listened to all Vincent said, and then soothingly relayed, "We all do that Vincent...we all tend to focus on the negative hurtful things that happen to us. We need to remember to focus on the
positive things in our lives when our heart pains us so. Sometimes it takes someone, or something to remind us...like Narcissa bringing you the ring she had found of Anna's today."
Catherine then tenderly said, "I keep thinking of the irony of Narcissa finding that ring today, after all these years. It is so much more than just a coincidence. Don't you think so too?"
Vincent huskily agreed, "Yes Catherine...perhaps Anna's spirit has been unsettled, and is working toward a resolve. The discovery of her chamber...this chamber that is now your home, the desk, the vile, the journal and the pictures...and now her ring..."
Catherine then dreamily said, "Almost as if she wants to make sure she is not forgotten by you...all this just before Mother's Day."
Vincent thoughtfully said, "These events bring to me both pause and sadness..."
Catherine looked up at Vincent and asked, "Why sadness?"
Vincent with reflection answered, "I had always been so grievous about my Mother's abandonment, I had not given Anna the acknowledgement that she deserved."
Catherine lovingly said, "This year you can make up for it then. Perhaps a tribute of sorts by her grave..."
Vincent searchingly said, "Catherine...yes perhaps...and then something else...something more..."
To which Catherine suggested, "Vincent, you have done some beautiful work here inside my chamber. You are so knowledgeable about all sorts of craftsmanship, with stone, carpentry, with glass... maybe you could etch something in stone for Anna, a verse, poem, or something from your heart."
Vincent then solemnly said, "Perhaps..."
Catherine reached up and softly touched his face, and said, "Well as nice as this is, I am due to freshen up. And after lunch, we can spend the afternoon reading from Wuthering Heights."
Vincent said he would stay just a bit longer, and would see her later.
After bathing, Catherine crossed paths with Jamie, and Laura. They were just coming back from the Laundry Chamber, with their fresh bedding.
Jamie excitedly mentioned, "Catherine...William asked Laura and I, to take Elizabeth her breakfast this morning..."
Catherine shot Jamie and Laura an anxious look, worried they may have seen the paintings Elizabeth was adding to Vincent's mural.
And so hesitantly, she then asked, "Yes...and how was your visit?"
Jamie laughed as she said, "Great! And, well she was quite busy!"
Questionably, Catherine tried to act nonchalant, as she replied, "Oh? Busy with what?"
Jamie started to laugh, as she said, "Cut the act Catherine! Elizabeth had to tell us since we caught her in the middle of painting Vincent as a baby!"
Letting her guard down, Catherine then excitedly asked, "And so tell me, how does it look?"
Laura then ecstatically signed, "So far the mural is beautiful! Vincent was such a sweet baby!"
Jamie unable to contain her enthusiasm, butted-in and said, "Yes, and she told us it is to be a surprise for Vincent! So don't worry...we will not say a word!"
Catherine graciously thanked them for their silence, and she smiled and then looked downward, as she lovingly said, "After the discovery of his baby pictures, I so wanted his infancy depicted there along with the other history of the tunnels. I hope he will be pleased."
The girls whole-heartedly agreed with Catherine and said they thought Vincent will be proud having his baby pictures included there with the other images.
As they prepared to part company at the threshold of Catherine's chamber, Laura signed to Jamie, that they had better get busy changing their bedding if they wanted to get it done before lunch.
Jamie groaned, "Yeah, yeah, let's do mine first and then yours. If we double team it will be quicker."
Laura agreed, and the girls said goodbye to Catherine and trotted off to do their chores.
Catherine stood for a moment and smiled at the two younger girls, as they walked away, and it looked as if Jamie never stopped talking, and Laura never stopped signing!
Catherine thought reflectively on her and Jenny's friendship through the adolescent years, and thought
they were a lot like Jamie and Laura, so much to say, and not enough time to say it!
Catherine entered her chamber, and Vincent was still sleeping so soundly, that he didn't even move at the sounding of the lunch announcement.
Deciding to let him sleep, Catherine thought she would just bring a tray back for him when he woke up.
So just as Catherine entered the tunnel, Jacob was rounding the corner to check on Vincent.
Concernedly he asked, "So how is Vincent Catherine? Rebecca relayed to me he had tired out earlier, and is resting within your chamber."
Catherine smiled assuredly and told him, "He is still sleeping Father. He does seem tired, but seems all right otherwise. He actually admitted he may have overdone it this morning!"
Hoping Jacob approved of Vincent resting there, in a questioning tone, she said, "I hope that is all right Father. Its just that my chamber was so close."
Jacob raised a brow and said, "Yes, under these circumstances Catherine. I am sure no one would think scandalously about Vincent resting here during his recovery."
Catherine nodded in agreement, and then anxiously changed the subject by saying, "I thought I should allow him to sleep, and ask William if I could bring a luncheon tray back to him."
Jacob nodded, and said, "Yes Catherine, wise decision."
He then cleared his throat, and asked gallantly, "May I escort you to the Dining Hall?"
Catherine relieved Jacob agreed with her judgement, happily answered, "Yes Father."
As they entered the Hall arm in arm, everyone concernedly asked about Vincent! Jacob assured everyone Vincent was fine, and was just resting.
After lunch, a few of the children approached Catherine, and with Joseph as the ring-leader, he asked her, "I wanted to remind you about your promise that you made to me yesterday Catherine! Do you remember?"
Catherine squinted a little, feigning that she had forgotten her promise to read to them tonight!
Tapping her chin, she said, "Let me see, I know that there was something that I promised you yesterday Joseph...but I can't remember what in the world it was!"
Joseph seeing through her act said, "I know you remember Catherine!"
She smiled at him and said, "You know me too well Joseph. Yes I do remember..."
And as Catherine spanned the faces of all the children, she said, "...and I am looking forward to it too. What shall I read? Any requests?"
Samantha stepped up and said, "I remember seeing "The Velveteen Rabbit" book in your chamber. Catherine could you read that to us tonight?"
Catherine felt a bittersweet melancholy wash over her at the mention of this book. She looked downward remembering "The Velveteen Rabbit" was her favorite book from her childhood. In fact her Dad would read it to her when she was a girl, and so for that reason, it was from this very book she read an exert at her Dad's Memorial Service.
So warmly she smiled, and told Samantha, "Yes, I will bring it along with me, and read it to you tonight..."
She then excitedly proposed, "...and maybe Vincent will be up to coming with me tonight too!"
They all happily said they hoped Vincent would be coming too, and they couldn't wait to hear the story. Then like a flash Mary scooped the children away for their afternoon lessons.
William prepared a bountiful tray for Vincent, and Jacob accompanied Catherine back to her chamber, wanting to look at his son for himself to check on his progress. They found him just stirring from his sleep, and after Jacob had a short conversation with him and checked his vitals, he left there satisfied that Vincent was indeed on the upswing.
Vincent rose from the bed beginning to grow weary of all this careful attention from everyone! He confided in Catherine, "I know it is out of love that Father worries so, however...his hovering is a good incentive for me to recover all the more quickly!"
He then looked over at the tray Catherine had brought back and as she guiltily smiled, she explained, "I didn't want to wake you, so I brought you your lunch William prepared for you. And I am sorry, I suppose this is under the label of pampering?"
Vincent looked downward at Catherine and passionately said, "From you Catherine, I shall endure the pampering."
As she smiled up at him, she softly told him, "Come then and eat your lunch while it is still warm, and I will be first to read from our book."
Vincent dutifully followed Catherine to her writing table and as he sat down at the meal that was set before him, he said, "Ahh Catherine, two gratifying pleasures at once, a good meal, and the resonating intonation of your voice."
Catherine bashfully smiled and spoke in a breathless voice, "I'll get the book Vincent."
As she returned after picking up the book, she settled in the chair beside him, stealing glances up at him when she could, thinking of how much that she loved him.
They whiled away the afternoon together, later moving into the reading chamber, where Vincent took his turn reading to Catherine, escalating her with the sound of his deep huskilated voice, to a state that she was certain, was only a step away from Heaven.
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-three
| A Dream Within a Dream! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty-Two |
