| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Eighteen |
As Catherine entered her apartment, she felt like a stranger walking in the shoes of another. Ever since the death of her father, her current life style seemed so pointless now. Pointless when her heart was connected to Vincent, in the hidden city below.
Assuredly, Catherine looked around her apartment, and knew, she had no second thoughts, no regrets leaving her life here, for it was no longer possible for her to exist in any realm that did not openly include her Vincent. Yes, she was more than ready to leave her old life behind.
Her time in the tunnels this week, had delivered her and Vincent, to a new level in their relationship. They were two people openly in love, and they were slowly becoming more. The thought of Vincent's nearness, and of his sweetness, left Catherine so very lonely without him.
Out of anxiety, she collapsed on her bed, dreading all that lay ahead of her, she allowed her thoughts to wander and think of Vincent.
Their last moments together were most compelling for Catherine. His manner pierced her soul when he held her, and when he spoke of his insecurities, it broke her heart.
Affectionately, she recalled, as she laid with him, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing, and listening to his immense heart beating. Dreamily, she then thought of how this was a wonderful moment for them, and of how they could have stayed there forever in his darkened chamber, never wanting to move, or want for anything more.
After laying on her own bed for awhile, Catherine made herself get up, for she knew she had to get things in motion!
First she checked her answering machine, and found she had one message from Willie, seven from Jenny, two from Joe, and one from Peter, which included the phone number, where he could be reached in London, in case there were any problems with Vincent’s recovery. He also mentioned he would be returning Thursday night. Ah, so if Mary asks her again, now she can give her a definite answer.
Catherine thought first things first! She was anxious to call Jenny and invite her to the tunnels on Saturday, and to tell her that indeed, her apartment would be “Up for Grabs!”
Gleefully, Catherine said, “Jenny, it’s me!”
In reply, Jennifer screamed into the phone, "Thank God! How are you, and where are you?”
Catherine calmly said, “I am home, and I am fine. In fact, I have never been better.”
Teasingly, Jennifer asked, “That Viagra did the trick uh?”
please?”Jennifer's silliness, caused Catherine to plead, “Don’t start with the Viagra talk,
Jennifer conceded, saying, “Oh all right, but you are driving me crazy with all of this secret romance stuff! I guarantee, you would be just as curious as I am, if it were the other way around, which it isn't and would never be, because nothing this romantic ever happens to me.”
So carefully, and slowly, Catherine approached the subject of Vincent, by asking, “Jen, what if I were to tell you I would like you to meet Vincent, the mystery man?”
Questionably, Jennifer asked, “Vincent?!! Who the *%#& is Vincent? And where does this leave Peter?"
She then clarified as she continued, "So if I got this straight, after three straight days of making whoopee, you are now dumping Peter?"
Carrying on with her infamous "One way conversation", Jennifer continued, "Although I must tell you, when he called me on Monday, he sounded weird! Totally weird. He refused to tell me where you two were staying! I have been worried sick!”
Catherine tried to butt in by saying, “Jen, Vincent IS the mystery man, it was never Peter. I tried to tell you! I just couldn't reveal Vincent to you before.”
Wondering why he had to be kept a secret, Jennifer inquired, “REVEAL HIM? What is he in the KGB, FBI, CIA, Mafia, or is he some alien? An illegal alien? Or an underground mogul?”
Softly, Catherine replied, “The last one, well, sort-of, except he is no mogul. He is the most wonderful man, I have ever met. Jen I want you to meet him and visit his world.”
Jennifer could not believe this. She is actually going to meet the mystery man! And so excitedly, she said, “Name the time and place Cathy. I cannot wait.”
Catherine explained to Jennifer, about the children’s concert on Saturday, and told her the best she could, about Vincent and his world.
Though Jennifer told her seeing is believing, she accepted the terms. She would not tell a soul. This would be a secret she would have to promise to keep, and never ever talk about it, not even to her therapist.
The two girls made plans for Jennifer to come over later that night, as Catherine had so much to fill her in about.
Next on Catherine’s list to contact was Joe! And Joe, she knew she needed to talk to in person. And oh yes, during her travels, she would deliver Vincent, and Jacob’s letters to Lisa! And so she headed for the DA.
When she entered her office floor, everyone happily greeted her, and asked a zillion questions out of concern for her, because they all heard she had a family emergency. As Catherine explained the emergency wasn't quite as serious as they all feared, she thanked them for asking, and then excused herself, so she could go speak with her boss.
As Catherine walked slowly back to Joe’s office, she realized quitting was going to be harder than she thought. During her time at the DA, she had met some wonderful, caring people, and would miss them very much. But a new life awaited her, and it would be a life, with the man of her dreams.
Peaking into his office, Catherine asked, “Are you busy Joe?”
Sitting at his desk, he seemed a bit frazzled, as he balanced the phone in the crook of his neck, and shuffled through some files, looking for some viable info, but the moment he heard Catherine’s voice, he looked up and smiled at his absentee associate.
As he nodded at Catherine to come in, he abruptly said into the phone, “Commissioner, I will have to call you back!”
Rushing right over to Catherine, he asked, “Everything O.K. Chandler?”
She pleasantly smiled at him, and said, “Yea Joe, everything is fine.”
Joe tipped his head to the side, as he asked, “Your family emergency Cathy, all taken care of?”
Catherine nodded, “Happily, yes Joe. I am sorry if I left you in the lurch, but it couldn’t be helped.”
Joe nodded sincerely as he said, “Don’t worry about it. I am just happy all is well, and you are BACK!”
As Joe raced around to the other side of his desk, he gathered up the Benson file, and instructed Catherine, “You are the only one who can do this Cathy, I thought the case was down the tubes, then you walked in here today like an Angel!"
Then Joe went on to explain, "As it turns out, this Benson geezer, will only talk to you! How do ya like that, and unfortunately, he is living out in no-man's land with his daughter in Maumee, Ohio! Ya gotta fly out tomorrow, and talk to him Cathy. We need his depo so we can nail that S.O.B Wilkins! If we do, then the city can be wiped clean of at least one Drug dealing Rat!”
Catherine was stunned. Here she was ready to hang all this up, and now she was getting sucked back in! She knew she had to do this, not only for Joe, but for the city she so dearly loved. But how will Vincent take this! Catherine knew in her heart he will be upset, about her traveling so far away, working on a Drug case no less! But it would be for the last time.
Catherine sadly looked at Joe, as she said, “Joe, you have to know up front, after I return from getting Benson's depo, I will not be able to see the case through to the end.”
Taking a deep breath, she looked at Joe and continued, “I came in here today to give you this.”
Regretfully, Catherine handed Joe her written resignation letter, and told him, “It is my two week notice.”
Joe stumbled back, totally floored by this unexpected development, and argued, “YOU CAN’T QUIT!
We’re a team like Holmes and Watson, like Starsky & Hutch, or Andy and Barney for God's sakes!”
Tearful, yet amused, Catherine asked, “You consider us a team Joe?”
Joe shrugged his shoulders, and embarrassingly said, “Yea, of course, I thought we were becoming a great team...and I, well I kinda thought you considered us that way too."
Catherine looked downward and said, "You never told me that before Joe, and you are right...we are a great team."
And so in pleading his case, he continued, “Look Chandler, I know it isn’t glamorous around here, but we are making a difference, every day we nail some bad guy and make things a little bit better.”
Catherine approached Joe, as she tried to explain, “It isn’t the glamour, you know that Joe. And truth be known, I have loved my job here, working with you. But I had to make a choice. I have a chance to be happy, with the man I love. I can no longer live away from him. Please say you understand. Can you be happy for me?”
Joe heaved a resigned breath, and as he stepped closer to Catherine, he took her hand in his, and said, “Yea I can be happy for you Chandler, but oh so sad for me.”
He then scoffed, as he confessed, “You know I always thought that maybe one day you and I would, Oh I don’t know, maybe end up together.”
Catherine smiled and sadly said, “Ah Joe when you are in love, you don’t just “end up together”. One day a very lucky lady WILL come along and sweep you off your feet. And then you will know what I am talking about.”
With a boyish tip of head, he replied, "I think someone already has..."
Kindly, she gave Joe a hug, and with a peck on the cheek, she confessed, “You will always have a place in my heart you know that.”
The two of them regrouped, and then got down to business. Intently, Catherine asked, “So tell me Joe, I am yours for 2 weeks. You are the boss, just tell me what you need me to do?”
Joe nodded, and cleared his throat of emotion, and went on to explain, “Things are set up to meet with Benson in the afternoon. Now you may have to stay the night there in this city called Maumee, it all depends on…”
Catherine interrupted, asking, “Joe where in the world is Maumee, I can’t say I have ever heard of it.”
Joe smiled and said, “A big city it aint! Its right outside of Toledo, now don’t say you have never heard of Toledo!”
Catherine giggled, and said, “Of course I have Joe, Klinger on MASH is from Toledo.”
Joe shook his head and teased, “Klinger is from Toledo, listen to you. The only thing you know about Toledo is that Klinger on MASH is from there? Pathetic!”
Catherine argued, “Tell me more then. What do you know about Toledo?"
Resolutely, Joe said, “Of course I know a few facts about Toledo! I am THE trivia expert around here.”
Joe's reply caused Catherine to tease back, "Used to be THE expert you mean.”
He then proudly reminded her, “Who won the Office Trivia Contest?”
Reluctantly Catherine admitted, "Oh yeah, I guess you did win the last go round."
Wistfully, she then smiled as she observed, “Listen to us Joe, we are actually arguing over who is the trivia expert.”
Joe looked down hiding his melancholy and ironically laughed as he said, “Yea I guess we are, it is just nervous energy on my part Cath. I hate to see you go.”
Joe went back to his desk, and tried to act business-like, as he went on to say, “Anyway, I have a ticket here for tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., and you will arrive in Toledo Express around 11:15. Mr. Benson’s Attorney will meet you there, and her name is Agnes Hayes. She will take it from there."
He then looked warmly at her and said, "I owe you one for this. If there is anything I can do, just ask.”
Catherine looked down sheepishly before she asked, “Can I have the rest of the afternoon off? Now don’t yell, it is just that I have something very personal to take care of.”
Joe waved his hand as he said, “Yea why not, I wasn’t expecting you in today anyway. Check with Gilda before you go, she should have all the files you will need for your trip.”
Catherine turned to leave and said, “Thanks Joe.”
Suddenly, Joe stopped her, to warmly say, “It won’t be the same around her without you Cathy.”
Catherine looked around the bustling office, and back at Joe and as she sadly nodded, she confessed, “You know Joe, I am gonna miss it around here myself. See you in the morning.”
To be continued
Chapter Nineteen
