Vincent stood at the threshold of the Guest Chamber, where he found Ronald on bended knee.
Sensing someone’s presence, Ronald instinctively turned to the doorway. He quickly stood, as he saw it was Vincent.
He couldn't help be hesitant, considering the way Vincent acted earlier, so Ronald was nervous wondering what to expect from this meeting. He nodded hello, and solemnly said, “Vincent.”
Vincent stepped forward, and with his head bent in sorrow, he said, “I didn't mean to intrude I can meet you later, if you would prefer to be alone.”
Ronald sadly laughed as he repeated those words, “Prefer to be alone. No Vincent, I don’t prefer to be alone, but alone is what I am in this world. It would seem that is what fate had planned for me.”
Vincent in an apologetic tone, added, “I only meant to say, I can come back at another…”
Ronald interrupted him as he urgently said, “Stay. There is something I wanted to say to you.”
Vincent began to say; “I too have some…”
Ronald interrupted once again, as he said, “With all due respect, l must go first.”
Stepping forward, Vincent said, “Of course.”
Pondering his words, Ronald paced for a moment, before saying, “I was wrong just now when I said I was alone in this world, if it were not for the Wong family, you, Father, and the entire Tunnel Community, I am not sure where I would be right now. All of you are now my family. From the day you and I met, I felt perhaps in a past life, maybe we had been brothers. I consider you both my friend, and my brother.”
Vincent felt his emotions swell by these heart felt words from Ronald, and he felt all the guiltier for hearing them.
Ronald continued, “Somehow I crossed a line tonight in our friendship as I talked with Catherine. Now I feel that line has been darkened with mistrust. I am sorry for that Vincent. I promise, you need not ever feel threatened by me, or mistrust me again. I will never give you cause to do so. I will leave if you ask me to.”
Vincent approached Ronald and took a moment as he attempted to collect himself. Shaking his head, he shamefully told Ronald, “There are no words for the shame I feel. I have hurt Catherine and you with my possessiveness. It is I, who must make a promise to you. I will not allow my mind to become clouded with these insecurities ever again. I am sorry if I have made you feel uncomfortable here now. These tunnels are as much your home as mine. I will do all I can to erase my foolishness from your heart, if you allow me. Catherine has forgiven me, please tell me you do so as well.”
Ronald heaved a relieved emotional sigh, as he said, “Of course Vincent, of course.”
The two men embraced, and Vincent felt euphoric by the forgiveness gifted him by his friend. He then said, “I feel a heaviness has been lifted from my heart by your forgiveness. I too feel a brotherly bond with you.”
Clearing his throat of emotion, Vincent added, “I will leave you now.”
He then walked to the threshold, turned, and asked, “Will I see you in the community chamber after breakfast?”
Ronald smiled and looked downward as he scoffed, “Of course, it will not be me to break our 8 year streak!”
Nodding, Vincent smiled and said, “Tomorrow then. Goodnight.”
The next morning, Vincent arrived at Rebecca’s chamber, to call on Catherine. Rebecca, greeted him, saying, “Good morning. Catherine should be back shortly. She left with Jamie and Laura awhile ago for the bathing chamber. She wanted to freshen up before breakfast. Come on in.”
Vincent looked at Rebecca, and seriously asked, “How is Catherine this morning Rebecca?”
Smiling, Rebecca answered, “Happy, like a woman in love. Why?”
Vincent bent his head and confided to Rebecca, about their problem last night. With an understanding tone, she assured him, “Well, all I can tell you is there was no sign of sadness, or any thing like that. We talked last night before we fell asleep, and again this morning before I left for the bathing chamber.”
Vincent felt very relieved, once again, they have weathered another storm, and to Rebecca he said, "Thank you for befriending Catherine. It means so much to me you two are becoming friends."
To which Rebecca thoughtfully said, "I like her Vincent, and it means a lot that you asked me to look out for her."
Just then, a smiling Catherine walked in with Laura, and Jamie. They came back to get Rebecca for their trek onto the Dining Hall. Catherine approached Vincent and asked devotedly, “Good morning Vincent. How are you?”
Vincent dropped his gaze for a moment, and hesitantly continued as he raised his eyes to recapture hers, and replied, “Good. Its a new day in many ways.”
The message clanging through the pipes penetrated the moment. It was William announcing breakfast was now ready. And so the five of them bounded through the tunnels toward the Dining Hall, talking on their way.
As they fell behind a few steps, Vincent quietly told Catherine about his talk with Ronald. "I spoke with Ronald after I left you last night."
He then continued saying, "He has forgiven me as well.”
Catherine smiled, as she told him, "I am so glad!"
Vincent painfully pondered, “How is it I have managed to hurt the ones I am closest to?”
Catherine looked tenderly upward, and as she seized his gaze, she told him, "Its because you care so much, and love so deeply.”
Catherine then sweetly added, “I would’t have you any other way.”
Vincent walked silently as Catherine’s words resonated with him, and mercifully healed his heart.
They met up with Pascal near the pipe chamber, and he walked on the rest of the way with them. As he and Vincent walked side by side, Pascal discreetly asked, “Is everything all right between you and Catherine?”
Vincent looked at Pascal as he thanked him; saying, “Last night you helped calm me and your advice about talking openly to Catherine was wise. I thank you Pascal.”
Vincent then added, "I also spoke to Ronald. He is a good, and forgiving friend."
Pascal patted his huge friend on the back, and happily said, "Very good Vincent, very good. You are back on track then.”
As they entered the Dining hall, they all said Good Morning to Jacob, who was at the entrance as usual to greet everyone as they started their busy day down in the tunnels.
And as Jacob noticed Vincent was not donning the sling, he addressed his son, and said, “I see you are not wearing your truss Vincent!”
To which Vincent replied, “After receiving your clearance for regular activity today, well I assumed you meant the sling would no longer be needed.”
Jacob smiled, as he nodded, “Yes Vincent you are right of course. I was only hoping to get a little more mileage out of teasing you about it, that's all. I suppose you should be thankful you are a rapid healer.”
In response, Vincent amusedly assured Jacob, “Oh I am thankful Father, and because I no longer need the floral sling, believe me, for that fact alone...I am thankful!”
It was then Pascal led the way to their usual table, where they all settled in.
Next to arrive was Ronald, and he nodded at the group as he passed by their table, and said, “Good morning everyone.”
To which in response, Vincent stood as he pulled out the chair next to himself, and welcomed Ronald saying, “Your chair Ronald.”
Humbly, Ronald stood for a moment, feeling grateful and happy to be back as they were again, and so he replied, “Of course.”
The uncomfortable moment quickly passed, and soon all was forgotten, as chatter and laughter, could be heard through-out the hall.
Meanwhile, with interest, Laura and Jamie looked over at the children’s table, where it would seem Mary and Brooke, had no problem, keeping everything under control!
They then said to each other, if they could do it, then so could they. Still, they could not help but anticipate how things would go after breakfast, when it would be their turn to watch over the little rascals!
Cheerfully, Jamie began to rave about the new chamber she picked out, and Laura started to pout as she busily signed comments back and forth with Vincent, as she told him, she wanted a chamber in the new area too!
Vincent assured her he didn't see any problem with this, but they would have to receive Jacob's permission first.
It was then that Jamie pulled out this stone she had found in the area Pascal had been investigating. A stone looked to have a fossil inlaid on the surface, and so she excitedly showed it to Pascal, who in turn gave it to Ronald to decipher.
As Ronald looked at it, turning it over in his hands, he shook his head, admitting, “I am not sure, it looks like a crustacean of some sort, but then it could be a, well no, hey I’m sorry Jamie I would only be guessing at this point. I’m just not certain.”
Vincent looked to Catherine and asked, “Perhaps you might be able to identify this fossil.”
Catherine looked downward, as she felt unsure if she should chime in or not. So shakily, she answered, “Oh Vincent I don’t know, if Ronald is unsure, I doubt that I...”
Vincent squeezed Catherine’s hand, and with encouragement, he prodded, “It wouldn't hurt to look would it?”
With a smile, Catherine excitedly admitted, “I am dying to check it out!"
So quickly she jumped up to peer over Ronald’s shoulder, and being kinda surprised he didn't know, said, “Look here Ronald, the way the antenna extends, it has to be an oriental roach!”
Ronald, looked closer, and with doubt, he squinted, saying, “I don’t know, it could be a powder post beetle too.”
Defiantly, Catherine shook her head, as she told him, “Can't be, if it were a beetle, the body would be segmented, where as this one is…”
Away the two-paleontologist wannabe’s went on, discussing this and that theory, and Vincent...listened with a smile in his heart, thrilled the two people he loved, were acting normally again.
Promptly after the kitchen clean-up was completed, Mary approached Catherine, to excitedly inform her, “Sewing Circle Time!”
Catherine began to giggle, because of Mary's habit of singing, whenever she spoke the words Sewing Circle, which really amused her!
She acknowledged Mary, before turning to Vincent, and told him, “Well here goes nothing! Will I see you later Vincent?”
Contentedly, Vincent replied, “Of course Catherine.”
He then stood back, and watched as Catherine walked away from him, and just as she was about to turn the corner, she unexpectedly turned around to smile at him. Vincent’s heart leapt at this unexpected gift from his beauty, and he felt like a very lucky man because of it!
Mary walked with Catherine to the Quilting chamber, and helped get her acquainted with the inner workings of the place. She told her, there were plenty of remnants to pick from, and Catherine was allowed to pick which ever one she wanted.
After looking over all the bolts, she chose an earth tone colored material, for the project she had in mind! As they all arranged their projects, and prepared their material, it was then time to settle in and sew.
They all sat together at these long tables, that were set up for the ease of laying their projects out. They all chit-chatted as they sewed, and it wans’t long until the chamber walls were buzzing with gossip, and tunnel news! Oh yes scoops ran rapid amongst all the ladies, and Catherine enjoyed being a part of it all!
The time passed quickly, and Mary continually peaked over at Catherine, giving her some sewing tips, and they shared a few giggles too.
Later, Rebecca and Catherine, had a chance to sit alone, and this gave Rebecca a chance to tell Catherine, that Vincent had confided in her earlier. Pleasantly, Rebecca said, “You and Vincent seem so happy this morning.”
In reply, Catherine told her, “Yes Rebecca, everything is fine now, but I am afraid I hurt Vincent terribly as I spoke with Ronald about a mutual hobby last night.”
Rebecca nodded, because she understood the problem, but in Catherine's defence she said, “Vincent knows he was wrong last night. I think part of the problem is that Vincent is such a sensitive man.”
Catherine agreed as she then admitted, “Which is why I care for him so much.”
The girls ended their Sewing Circle meeting, with a spot of tea and special cookies William had baked for them, and afterwards, they all went their separate ways.
To be continued
Chapter Sixteen
| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Fifteen |
