| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Nine |
As Rebecca and Catherine left the Guest Chamber, Catherine turned one last time, feeling grateful to this little chamber which served her well in her time of grief.
With a renewed feeling, Catherine walked back with Rebecca to her chamber, and they talked of the past weekend, and of how trying Catherine's absence had been on Vincent.
Confidentially, Rebecca told her, "He was not himself. Vincent kept saying until you were back home, he would not be able to relax. Needless to say it was not only your safety he was concerned about, but he was most anxious to make amends with you too. And although Lisa's return caused some problems, well as you know, that is all put to rest now."
Catherine looked downward grinning, "We have been through so much, I guess I knew we would survive Lisa's return here somehow."
Rebecca confided, "Yes, even Father has had a change of heart, and has made amends with Lisa. And, Vincent and Lisa worked through their issues, by talking things out. It seems they always could talk. They were always close, and now, they can be close again as brother and sister. I know its wrong for me to feel this way, but still, even after they put their pasts to rest, I am thinking it is for the best Lisa lives as a Top-Sider."
Catherine wondered what made Rebecca make such a comment. What kind of a relationship did Rebecca and Lisa have? And so carefully, she asked, "Were you close to Lisa as you grew up?"
Rebecca contemplated the question, and said to Catherine, "I'm not sure why, but she and I never had a close friendship. When we were younger children, it was always she and Vincent doing this or that, I just kind of tagged along, or I was off by myself. Of course usually we would bandy about in a group, Pascal, Winslow, Devin, but it was those two, who were always together. They would come up with some fun adventure, or they would be cooking up some wild and crazy..."
As she realized she was going on and on, Rebecca stopped herself, and then said, "I am sorry. I guess I talk too much. Maybe I shouldn't tell you all this."
Catherine touched Rebecca's arm as she assured her, "Please don't be on guard with me. I know they were close as children. It's all right for you to confide in me. I have accepted many things about their relationship, and I don't expect it to stop because I am now in Vincent's life. Still, I must confess, I too feel relieved she is not going to be living here."
Admittedly, Catherine explained, "This is a jealous streak I am working on Rebecca. I am a work in progress."
She then questioned, "But, why would you feel that way too?"
Rebecca looked down thoughtfully, and told Catherine, "I guess it is because..."
Just as the two girls arrived at Rebecca's chamber, they ran into Lou. Rebecca is the first to greet him saying, "Lou, what brings you back so soon?"
With concern, Lou answered, "Peter told me about Vincent's accident this morning, so I had to see how he was doing."
Holding the letters in his hand from Lisa, he added, "Oh yes, and Lisa asked me to deliver these to Jacob, little Samantha and there's a letter here for Vincent too."
Rebecca looked at Catherine just in time, to see a pall fall across her face.
Trying to sound cheerful, Rebecca told him, "Well I can tell you Father is still at the expansion site, and Heaven knows where Samantha is, and we know Vincent is resting in his chamber."
Lou looked to Catherine and asked, "How is he doing?"
With a warm smile, Catherine replied, "Father is quite pleased with his progress."
To which Lou stated, "Wonderful. I guess your being here has something to do with that."
Rebecca chuckled as she replied, "That's what we have all been saying."
Humbly Catherine looked downward, not knowing how to reply to the good-natured teasing, and still feeling taken aback by the fact Lisa has sent down a letter already.
So after Lou left to see Vincent, Rebecca couldn't help but notice how quiet Catherine was as she put away her things. Trying to help her open up, she asked, "Is the letter Lisa sent to Vincent bothering you?"
Catherine's chin quivered, as she questionably answered, "Silly uh?"
Rebecca took her by the hand, and she said, "I do understand."
She then thoughtfully continued, "I never finished telling you why I also felt relieved by Lisa leaving the tunnels. I guess all of my life, I, myself felt jealous over their closeness. Vincent and I have a wonderful relationship, he has always had a special place in my heart, and, I know I do in his as well, but somehow, our friendship seemed to pale to what he shared with Lisa."
Rebecca voicing her sadness, surprised even herself of the long ago sorrows she had hidden away. As a tear trickled down her cheek, she apologized, "I am so sorry, I don't know what has come over me!"
The two shared a hug, and started to laugh, causing Catherine to say, "Just look at us! We cannot let Lisa take away what either of us have with Vincent."
Wiping their tears away, they both agreed they would never allow that to happen.
Catherine then added, "Relationships are living things, and cannot be defined or duplicated between family or friends. They are special bonds and I suppose we wouldn't want a cookie cutter relationship with the people we love and care about. I know you are special to Vincent. He has told me so. Don't ever sell yourself short Rebecca. You are special to everyone here."
Bolstered by Catherine's guidance, Rebecca turned to hide her emotions, as she said, "This drawer is empty for you to put your things in."
Catherine knowing Rebecca is a modest person, allowed her change of subject, and replied, "Great, I guess I will need it. I brought more things with me than I may need."
They both giggled and with a feeling of closeness between them, they continued to settle Catherine in.
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Meanwhile, as Lou peaked into Vincent's chamber, he asked, "How ya feeling?"
Vincent looked up from his writing table, and happily stood to welcome him. In reply, he said, "I am fine Lou."
And as Vincent looked downward toward his arm, he added, "And please, no comments about this truss Mary sewed for me!"
Lou grinned, and told him, "Not on your life my friend!"
Vincent holding out a chair for Lou, asked, "What brings you back to the tunnels so soon?"
Lou settled in the chair, and handed him the letters, explaining, "Two things, I am delivering these for Lisa, and I wanted to see how you were. I heard about your accident, and I wanted to see for myself you were alright."
Vincent nodded as he tried to focus on Lou, but he couldn't help but ponder the content of Lisa's letter. "I am doing very well. Tomorrow I hope to get back to my usual routine."
Lou hated to cut his visit short, but he had plans to meet an old friend for Supper. "Will you see to it Jacob, and Samantha also receive their letters?"
Compliantly, Vincent said, "Of course Lou, and thank you for your concern."
As soon as Lou left, Vincent hesitantly opened his letter to see what Lisa wrote, he then read:
My Dearest Vincent,
I am all settled into my little apartment, and the word little may be too gracious of a description for it! However, it is cute, and it is mine.
Already I miss Father, the tunnels, and you. I find myself anxious for Saturday, so I can come below again...come home again...and teach the children.
Vincent my head is still spinning from all we talked about this weekend. I feel so elated to be back in Father's good graces, and in yours. I want you to know I do hope that you and Catherine will be able sort things out, as I can tell you love her...really love her. I don't believe I ever saw your eyes glisten, as they do whenever you speak of her, or even say her name. I envy her that.
At any rate, I will see you Saturday Vincent. So till then.
Love, Lisa
Vincent took a deep breath and inexplicably, he looked to his chamber's threshold, where Catherine stood. Vincent stood up, and laying the letter down, he guiltily told Catherine, "A letter from Lisa."
Catherine nodded, "Yes Vincent, I know."
Vincent stammered a bit, not knowing exactly why he felt so guilty! He then began to overly explain, "It, it is a note just to say she is settled in. That's all Catherine."
Catherine walked up to Vincent and taking his hands in hers, said, "It is okay if you correspond with Lisa. You needn't feel bad or guilty because of your friendship with her."
Vincent bent his head, as he agreed, "You are right Catherine, of course."
Catherine wrapped her arms around his waist, and told him there was a time when it may have been an issue. But not anymore. She then said, "Let's not waste another moment discussing your friendship with Lisa."
Just then Ronald arrived at Vincent's chamber, he cleared his throat to make himself known, and then relayed, "I was just coming to let you know the debris is now cleared. Did you still want to inspect the opened chambers?"
Vincent looked down at Catherine, for just an instant, wondering if he should go just as she arrived.
To which Catherine assured him, "You should go Vincent, I will be fine. I would love to curl up and do some reading while you are gone."
A smile came to his heart, as he envisioned Catherine, laying upon his bed, with a book in hand, and so he lovingly told her, "Make yourself at home."
Vincent then turned to Ronald, and said, "Lead the way my friend."
Ronald and Vincent's walk back to the expansion site was a quiet one. Vincent wondered if it was because of his relationship with Catherine. And so being such good friends, he honestly asked, "Does Catherine and my relationship, make you uncomfortable?"
Ronald lowered his head, and sadly he told him, "Yes, I must admit it does."
Vincent assumed Ronald meant it was because of their differences, that made him feel this way, and so he sorrowfully said, "I see. I am not so naive to realize there might be some who do not understand this bond we have between us."
Hearing the sadness in his friend's voice, Ronald just realized, Vincent mistook what he meant, and so he stopped Vincent in his tracks as he explained, "No man! What I meant was it makes me uncomfortable in the sense of being a reminder. Seeing you two together makes me miss the closeness I shared with my wife."
The two continued walking as he told him, "We were very much like you and Catherine, so in love. I was just taken back to a very sweet memory. And for a moment, I was feeling badly for myself."
To be continued
Chapter Ten
