The two walked arm in arm, as Vincent escorted Catherine back to Rebecca’s chamber. They walked slowly as they were relishing the moment of being happy together again.
Catherine looked at Vincent’s striking image, as he was unaware, and she thought he looked so masterful as he led her through his secret world.
Vincent sensing Catherine’s gaze, asked, “Catherine?”
Catherine hugged Vincent’s arm as she asked him, “Tell me more about our bond Vincent, from your point of view I mean."
Thoughtfully Vincent tipped his head, and explained, “Sometimes your thoughts or emotions come through to me quite strongly. So strongly in fact, I cannot deny their access. It is those times I feel like you are calling for me to feel your fears, happiness, sadness. At times your desires.”
To which because Vincent still felt haunted by his earlier behavior, sadly told her, “I know all you want from me. And I know I am making many errors in our relationship. The ways of romance are not coming as easy for me as they should be. However, it is easy loving you.”
He then held Catherine lovingly to him as he whispered to her, “I love you Catherine.”
In a soft reply, she said, “I love you too. I always will.”
As they continued on, Brooke went whizzing past them, saying, “Hi Vincent and Catherine!"
To which Vincent asked, "What is your hurry?"
Walking backwards as not to lose any time, she explained, "Well, I was so caught up in helping Mary and Rebecca making candles, I didn't notice the time! Laura and Jamie are caring for the children this evening, and they asked if I would read their bedtime story to them tonight! They must be wondering where I am!”
Catherine looked at Vincent, and with a smile she shrugged her shoulders thinking reading to the children sounded like fun!
Vincent nodded at Catherine, in an “as you wish” manner and told Brooke, "Catherine and I will read to the children tonight.”
Brooke let out a relieved sigh, and said, “You will? Wonderful! I am afraid I left Rebecca and Mary with all of the tidying up, and they sure could use help.”
Vincent then added, “Well, this will give you a chance to go back and help them.”
Brooke raised her brows, and nodded, “Yes it will Vincent. Thank you both!”
She started to run back in the direction in which she came, when she turned and yelled, “Oh by the way we have been reading “Jungle Book”, we are starting Chapter Three!”
Vincent and Catherine entered the dorm-like chamber, and they were totally shocked by the site before their eyes!
There were pillows flying about, squeals of laughter and a couple of tears that needed drying too. It looked as if Laura and Jamie had lost control!
Vincent and Catherine’s presence was soon noted by the children. One by one, they turned their way, poking and hushing each other until all was quiet. Vincent’s calming voice rang through out the chamber, “Hello Children.”
Laura and Jamie ran up to them, and pleaded, “Thank Heaven’s you two are here! Does this mean we can go now?”
Then Laura signed, “They are driving us crazy!”
Vincent relieved them of their duties, as he told them, “We will take over, however it is important to maintain order. Once the children know they can get away with this type of behavior with you, well you will not stand a chance of retaining your authority status with them. Which as we all know is so important with young children! Caring for the children is the most important job here, and it is not to be taken lightly. They deserve our best, and next time you both are in charge, I expect you to give it.”
Vincent looking a bit sternly at the duo added, “Get some rest. Your names are on the A.M. Roster for the morning. So it appears you will have a chance to prove yourselves then.”
They both gasped, looked at each other, and ran as quickly as they could out into the tunnels!
Catherine looked up at Vincent and asked, “Oh my where do we start.”
After looking around, he suggested, “It looks as if Natalie has been crying, if you would sooth her, I will go see what is wrong with Joseph.”
Catherine approached Natalie, who was a dark haired darling, about the age of 6. “Natalie, can you tell me what is wrong?”
Natalie nodded, and pointed over at Joseph. Just about the same time, the same question was asked of Joseph by Vincent, and he in-turn, pointed at Natalie.
Catherine and Vincent exchanged smiles, and raised brows! They then brought the two children together, in an effort to solve the dilemma.
Vincent asked them, “Now one of you must tell us what happened.”
Natalie took a huge gulp of air and then tattled, complaining, “Joseph hit me in the arm!”
Vincent was very alarmed by this act of violence, and so he turned to Joseph, and asked, “Joseph, I will not tolerate such behavior. What prompted you to do such a thing?”
In answer to Vincent's question, Joseph said, “I told her I don’t kiss any yucky old girls and she kissed me anyway, so I clobbered her!”
Catherine looked at Vincent, in time to see him bend his head in angst! She loved watching him interact with the kiddies, and enjoyed hearing his solutions and suggestions as well.
After Vincent collected himself, he told Joseph, "That is no way to react Joseph! I ask you to apologize to Natalie!”
Reluctantly, Joseph agreed, and said, “Oh all right Vincent, but I don’t have to kiss her too do I?”
Assuredly, Vincent told him, “No you do not. You DO know, it isn’t right to hit people don’t you Joseph?”
Joseph stammered, “Yeah, I guess so Vincent. I am sorry Natalie, but you better not kiss me anymore!”
Vincent sighed, “Well if that is the best you can do, then off to bed. And Joseph you may pick 2 extra chores off of the work list for tomorrow, and for the next day following!”
Joseph nodded, and turned as he said despairingly, “All right Vincent! Man, girls sure do make life miserable!”
Catherine could stifle herself no longer, as she smiled at Vincent and said, “Something tells me Joseph's point of view will change as he grows older.”
They then tucked all the children in, and Vincent turned to Catherine and asked if she would like to read to the settled, tamed group.
This was an invitation, Catherine could not say no to, and so she said, “I would love to!”
Catherine went over to the library wall, and withdrew, “The Jungle Book”. She settled down and opened the pages, and she started to read chapter three.
All eyes were on her, as she enthusiastically acted out the story. As she read up to the next chapter, she looked around and told the children, the rest will have to wait for another day, because it was getting late.”
Jeers and “Awe come-on’s” were heard all around the chamber, which prompted Vincent to tell them, “Children, it is time to settle in for the night.”
Vincent then stopped at each child’s bed, and as he bent downward to give them a loving hug, he told them “Good night”.
Catherine followed behind him, and did the same.
As they continued on to their original destination, Vincent complimented Catherine on her ease by which she read so eloquently, to the children. In awe, he told her, “The way you read to the children, you have such a beautiful way by which you did so. You captivated them.”
Catherine shyly lowered her eyes, as she said, “I enjoy it.”
As they walked, Catherine realized she had not asked Vincent about his wound, and so she asked, “Did Father check your arm after supper?”
Happily, Vincent said, “Yes and was pleased, so he gave me permission to return to my daily activities tomorrow."
Jokingly, he added, "Alas though, that means no more leisurely afternoons at the Falls.”
Smiling at Vincent, Catherine teased, “No more afternoons Vincent? Then we must make the most of the nights then.”
Arriving at Rebecca’s, Vincent looked downward at Catherine, his emotions hovered near the surface as he told her, “Thank you for your forgiveness tonight.”
She thought for a moment, before she spoke, knowing what she had to say, could not go unsaid. So tenderly, she relayed, “Vincent, you realize Ronald sensed your unhappiness with him too.”
Vincent nodded, knowing he must make amends with Ronald as well, so sadly he said, “Yes Catherine. I must offer an apology to him as well. I do not need to add to his heart-aches.”
As Vincent leaned against the tunnel wall, he looked downward feeling badly, knowing that was exactly what he had done.
Catherine reached up around Vincent’s neck, as she told him, “I think you will feel better after you speak with him, well, good night.”
He lovingly responded, and hugged her good night.
As he stepped at the threshold of Ronald’s chamber, Vincent could see he was not there, and so he wondered, if he could still be at the Guest Chamber? In his quest for his friends forgiveness, he headed there next.
To be continued
Chapter Fifteen
| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Fourteen |
