Vincent arrived at his chamber, mere seconds before Catherine, which enabled him to watch her, as she approached. He never tired of looking at her, because she was so beautiful, and he loved the way a smile, would spread across her face, as she first caught sight of him.
Catherine greeted him saying, “Look at you, your hair is still wet! You look really cute with your hair combed back like that!”
Vincent looked down shyly and explained, “I came here directly from the bathing chamber.”
Feeling a bit self-conscious, he wanted to change the subject off himself, as he asked, “Have you enjoyed your morning?”
Catherine smiled and said, “Yes, I stopped by and said hi to Father after I saw you.”
Vincent stepped aside to guide Catherine inside of his chamber ahead of him, politely saying, “After you Catherine.”
But being excited about the surprise, awaiting Vincent inside, she instead insisted, “Let me guide you in! I sewed something for you during Sewing Circle, and I hung it inside for you earlier, so, close your eyes Vincent!”
Vincent complied, and allowed Catherine to lead him in. Excitedly, she said, “All right Vincent, you may turn around now.”
Over to See Photo
Vincent turned, and saw the curtains Catherine had sewed, covered much of his beautiful stained glass window!
Shocked at the sight, all Vincent could manage to say, was, “Catherine, there are no words!”
Catherine looked at Vincent and eagerly asked, “Are you pleased Vincent?”
Vincent was left speechless, as he searched for an assertion, that would not be a lie, yet would not hurt Catherine’s feelings.
Nodding he looked at Catherine, and quickly hugged her closely to him, in the hopes she could not examine his reaction too closely!
Catherine hugged him back, and told him sweetly, “I thought of you with every stitch.”
To which Vincent replied, "That is a most lovely thought, thank you.”
Just then Mouse walked in, asking, “Vincent, you coming to the site today?”
But before Vincent could answer, Mouse noticed the new curtains! With a quizzical look he asked, “What are those for?”
Vincent over-zealously explained, “They are new curtains CATHERINE has sewed for me MOUSE!”
Innocently, Mouse commented; “Uh, Catherine is making Vincent’s chamber look like a top-siders.”
Catherine’s face fell, as she heard Mouse’s untainted observation! That was the last thing she meant to do. Looking up at Vincent with a horrific look, she said, “Mouse is right Vincent, what was I thinking? I am taking the curtains down right away!”
Vincent insisted, “You will do nothing of the kind Catherine. I love you made them for me.”
Catherine pleaded, “I know Vincent, but they are all wrong here. I see it so clearly now, thanks to you Mouse. Just because there is a window does not mean I need to hang a curtain on it! Oh Vincent they must come down!”
Vincent soothed Catherine, as he told her, "We will discuss this later on."
He then turned to Mouse, to answer his question, and said, "Yes, I will be coming to the site today. I am most anxious to begin working on Catherine's chamber. You can go on ahead, and I will be there directly."
Happily, Mouse answered, "Ok Good, OK Fine...see you there."
After Mouse left, Cathrine tearfully noted, "What a goof I am! Sometimes I wonder if I will be able to leave my conventional ideas behind, to fit in here."
She then embarrassingly asked, "Honestly what was I thinking? Making curtains for your beautiful widow! Oh my!"
Vincent looked down at Catherine, as he assured her, “Everything you make for me is beautiful. Look here at this pouch you sewed for me in honor of our First Anniversary Catherine...it is very well constructed, and does it’s job of protecting the beautiful Rose enclosed inside of it quite well. When ever I look at it, I think of your hands busily sewing, and I can imagine perhaps a look of determination, that may have been on your face as well. I have worn this next to my heart every day since you gave it to me, I could never think of parting with it.”
Vincent went on to convince a disheartened Catherine, that he appreciated her gift very much. As he lifted her chin, he said, "And I am sure, with time, I will get used to the curt…”
Catherine looked at Vincent, and made him agree with her, by demanding, “You know I am right...I really feel they must come down, and deep in your heart, I believe you do to!”
Vincent hung his head, and conceded, “Perhaps we could redirect them." Looking about his chamber, he anxiously suggested, "We could hang them over my chamber entrance.”
Liking his idea very much, Catherine smiled and agreed, “Yes, now that does sound perfect.”
Knowing she must tell Vincent of her plans to go above, Catherine looked downward, and sadly mentioned, “I am going to return above today. I want to give Joe my resignation.”
Vincent’s heart skipped a beat, as he heard these words from Catherine. He was caught off guard, even though they had discussed this earlier in the week. He knew Catherine spoke about returning above on Wednesday, if his recovery continued as it should.
As he brought a hand to his chest, he was visibly shaken as he asked, “Today Catherine?”
Catherine could only nod, because she was afraid if she spoke, her voice would quake with emotion.
Vincent hugged Catherine, and told her, “I know you must.”
Catherine softly cried, as she told him, “I don’t want to leave, not even for a few days.”
Vincent held her tightly and sighed, “I know, we must think on our days ahead, when we will be always together.”
Grievously, she said, “I miss you already.”
Vincent looked down at Catherine, and felt so helpless at the thought of her leaving his side, because he wanted her with him always.
Vincent tried to be strong and assuring, for Catherine’s sake. And so he held her tighter still, as he hopefully asked, “Will you assist me with something first?”
Catherine snuffled as she answered, “Of course, anything Vincent. What is it?”
Vincent nodded in the direction of the curtains, and then looking back at Catherine, he asked, “Will you lend me your expertise in Curtain hanging, so the curtains may occupy their new location?”
Catherine smiled through her tear filled eyes, and nodded, “I would love to.”
The two worked together, and when they finished, they stood back and looked at the curtain clad chamber entrance, to admire their handy work! Then they both looked simultaneously at each other, and agreed, the curtains looked great there. Vincent then held out his hand, and led Catherine to his bed.
Catherine sat on its edge, as Vincent sat beside her, and took her hand in his, he softly said, “Promise me when you are above, you will be careful.”
Assuredly, she said, “Of course I will. I have you to come home safely to. I won’t do anything foolish.”
Catherine then leaned back on the bed, and asked, “Hold me one more time before I have to leave you.”
Vincent laid beside his Catherine, holding her tenderly to himself.
As he looked up at his chamber’s domed ceiling, with misted eyes, he confessed in a soft mournful whisper, “Many times I have imagined holding you like this here, imagining you would not turn away from me.”
With tears glistening in her eyes, Catherine’s voice owned a hint of wonder as she asked, “Turn away? How could you have thought I ever would.”
Vincent looked down at his Catherine, to reply, "It was before, when I would dream of many things and before I was certain, you dreamt them too."
To which she said, "We are not dreaming any longer Vincent. This is our life now."
Vincent felt so blessed knowing what Catherine said was true. They were living their dream.
Catherine soon lamented, “I should go, if I am to catch Joe at work.”
Vincent helped her up, and with a loving embrace, asked, “You will return on Saturday?”
To which Catherine promised, “Saturday, if not before Vincent.”
As she stood up, she reminded him, "Jen will be coming Saturday too, if she hasn't any plans that is. I cannot wait for her to meet you, and Father.”
Catherine smiled as she wondered what their meeting, will be like!
Thoughtfully, she then added, “I should tell you, I will be seeing Lisa later, Father has a letter for her, and I will be delivering it.”
Vincent stopped, and surprisingly asked, “Lisa? You will be visiting Lisa?”
Confidently, she confirmed, “Yes. I think a meeting between us is necessary, for all concerned. Everyone is anxious wondering what it will be like when we will both be here in the tunnels together. Rebecca told me so. And I don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable. I have been thinking about doing this for a while now.”
Vincent thankfully said, “Lisa has changed. We all feel a change within her heart.”
Uneasily, Catherine admitted, “Still, I am a little nervous about speaking with her, but I just know it is something I should do.”
Vincent hesitated a moment, and then asked, “Catherine?”
Looking up at Vincent, she asked, “What is it?”
Vincent pondered a moment, before he walked over to his writing table, and picked up a letter. As he gazed at it for a moment, he then looked toward Catherine, and asked, “As long as you are seeing Lisa, would you mind delivering my letter as well?”
Incredulously, Catherine started laughing, as she asked, “Deliver a letter for you too?”
She then thought to herself that being a delivery girl for Vincent, was really putting her to the test!
However, this would truly show Lisa, she is willing to put everything behind them.
Pretending to be slightly irritated, she congenially said, “Give me your letter! Boy this is one for the record books! Please tell me, I am not being foolish delivering your letter to an old girl friend!”
Vincent hid his smile, as he looked downward, and said, “No not foolish, you have nothing to fear from a relationship that has come full circle. Once again we are family to one another.”
Vincent escorted Catherine to her threshold, and as he leaned against the wall looking so downhearted, she shed a lonely tear, that glistened from the flickering light of the tunnel torches.
Catherine comforted him by saying, “We’ve been apart before, and for longer periods of time, please don’t feel so badly.”
Vincent with his sorrowful eyes, averted downward, whispered, “I am afraid your nearness has become a necessity for me. Already I feel my aloneness envelope me.”
Catherine tried to sound assuring, as she promised, “I will return as quickly as I can.”
To be continued
Chapter Eighteen
Catherine greeted him saying, “Look at you, your hair is still wet! You look really cute with your hair combed back like that!”
Vincent looked down shyly and explained, “I came here directly from the bathing chamber.”
Feeling a bit self-conscious, he wanted to change the subject off himself, as he asked, “Have you enjoyed your morning?”
Catherine smiled and said, “Yes, I stopped by and said hi to Father after I saw you.”
Vincent stepped aside to guide Catherine inside of his chamber ahead of him, politely saying, “After you Catherine.”
But being excited about the surprise, awaiting Vincent inside, she instead insisted, “Let me guide you in! I sewed something for you during Sewing Circle, and I hung it inside for you earlier, so, close your eyes Vincent!”
Vincent complied, and allowed Catherine to lead him in. Excitedly, she said, “All right Vincent, you may turn around now.”
Over to See Photo
Vincent turned, and saw the curtains Catherine had sewed, covered much of his beautiful stained glass window!
Shocked at the sight, all Vincent could manage to say, was, “Catherine, there are no words!”
Catherine looked at Vincent and eagerly asked, “Are you pleased Vincent?”
Vincent was left speechless, as he searched for an assertion, that would not be a lie, yet would not hurt Catherine’s feelings.
Nodding he looked at Catherine, and quickly hugged her closely to him, in the hopes she could not examine his reaction too closely!
Catherine hugged him back, and told him sweetly, “I thought of you with every stitch.”
To which Vincent replied, "That is a most lovely thought, thank you.”
Just then Mouse walked in, asking, “Vincent, you coming to the site today?”
But before Vincent could answer, Mouse noticed the new curtains! With a quizzical look he asked, “What are those for?”
Vincent over-zealously explained, “They are new curtains CATHERINE has sewed for me MOUSE!”
Innocently, Mouse commented; “Uh, Catherine is making Vincent’s chamber look like a top-siders.”
Catherine’s face fell, as she heard Mouse’s untainted observation! That was the last thing she meant to do. Looking up at Vincent with a horrific look, she said, “Mouse is right Vincent, what was I thinking? I am taking the curtains down right away!”
Vincent insisted, “You will do nothing of the kind Catherine. I love you made them for me.”
Catherine pleaded, “I know Vincent, but they are all wrong here. I see it so clearly now, thanks to you Mouse. Just because there is a window does not mean I need to hang a curtain on it! Oh Vincent they must come down!”
Vincent soothed Catherine, as he told her, "We will discuss this later on."
He then turned to Mouse, to answer his question, and said, "Yes, I will be coming to the site today. I am most anxious to begin working on Catherine's chamber. You can go on ahead, and I will be there directly."
Happily, Mouse answered, "Ok Good, OK Fine...see you there."
After Mouse left, Cathrine tearfully noted, "What a goof I am! Sometimes I wonder if I will be able to leave my conventional ideas behind, to fit in here."
She then embarrassingly asked, "Honestly what was I thinking? Making curtains for your beautiful widow! Oh my!"
Vincent looked down at Catherine, as he assured her, “Everything you make for me is beautiful. Look here at this pouch you sewed for me in honor of our First Anniversary Catherine...it is very well constructed, and does it’s job of protecting the beautiful Rose enclosed inside of it quite well. When ever I look at it, I think of your hands busily sewing, and I can imagine perhaps a look of determination, that may have been on your face as well. I have worn this next to my heart every day since you gave it to me, I could never think of parting with it.”
Vincent went on to convince a disheartened Catherine, that he appreciated her gift very much. As he lifted her chin, he said, "And I am sure, with time, I will get used to the curt…”
Catherine looked at Vincent, and made him agree with her, by demanding, “You know I am right...I really feel they must come down, and deep in your heart, I believe you do to!”
Vincent hung his head, and conceded, “Perhaps we could redirect them." Looking about his chamber, he anxiously suggested, "We could hang them over my chamber entrance.”
Liking his idea very much, Catherine smiled and agreed, “Yes, now that does sound perfect.”
Knowing she must tell Vincent of her plans to go above, Catherine looked downward, and sadly mentioned, “I am going to return above today. I want to give Joe my resignation.”
Vincent’s heart skipped a beat, as he heard these words from Catherine. He was caught off guard, even though they had discussed this earlier in the week. He knew Catherine spoke about returning above on Wednesday, if his recovery continued as it should.
As he brought a hand to his chest, he was visibly shaken as he asked, “Today Catherine?”
Catherine could only nod, because she was afraid if she spoke, her voice would quake with emotion.
Vincent hugged Catherine, and told her, “I know you must.”
Catherine softly cried, as she told him, “I don’t want to leave, not even for a few days.”
Vincent held her tightly and sighed, “I know, we must think on our days ahead, when we will be always together.”
Grievously, she said, “I miss you already.”
Vincent looked down at Catherine, and felt so helpless at the thought of her leaving his side, because he wanted her with him always.
Vincent tried to be strong and assuring, for Catherine’s sake. And so he held her tighter still, as he hopefully asked, “Will you assist me with something first?”
Catherine snuffled as she answered, “Of course, anything Vincent. What is it?”
Vincent nodded in the direction of the curtains, and then looking back at Catherine, he asked, “Will you lend me your expertise in Curtain hanging, so the curtains may occupy their new location?”
Catherine smiled through her tear filled eyes, and nodded, “I would love to.”
The two worked together, and when they finished, they stood back and looked at the curtain clad chamber entrance, to admire their handy work! Then they both looked simultaneously at each other, and agreed, the curtains looked great there. Vincent then held out his hand, and led Catherine to his bed.
Catherine sat on its edge, as Vincent sat beside her, and took her hand in his, he softly said, “Promise me when you are above, you will be careful.”
Assuredly, she said, “Of course I will. I have you to come home safely to. I won’t do anything foolish.”
Catherine then leaned back on the bed, and asked, “Hold me one more time before I have to leave you.”
Vincent laid beside his Catherine, holding her tenderly to himself.
As he looked up at his chamber’s domed ceiling, with misted eyes, he confessed in a soft mournful whisper, “Many times I have imagined holding you like this here, imagining you would not turn away from me.”
With tears glistening in her eyes, Catherine’s voice owned a hint of wonder as she asked, “Turn away? How could you have thought I ever would.”
Vincent looked down at his Catherine, to reply, "It was before, when I would dream of many things and before I was certain, you dreamt them too."
To which she said, "We are not dreaming any longer Vincent. This is our life now."
Vincent felt so blessed knowing what Catherine said was true. They were living their dream.
Catherine soon lamented, “I should go, if I am to catch Joe at work.”
Vincent helped her up, and with a loving embrace, asked, “You will return on Saturday?”
To which Catherine promised, “Saturday, if not before Vincent.”
As she stood up, she reminded him, "Jen will be coming Saturday too, if she hasn't any plans that is. I cannot wait for her to meet you, and Father.”
Catherine smiled as she wondered what their meeting, will be like!
Thoughtfully, she then added, “I should tell you, I will be seeing Lisa later, Father has a letter for her, and I will be delivering it.”
Vincent stopped, and surprisingly asked, “Lisa? You will be visiting Lisa?”
Confidently, she confirmed, “Yes. I think a meeting between us is necessary, for all concerned. Everyone is anxious wondering what it will be like when we will both be here in the tunnels together. Rebecca told me so. And I don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable. I have been thinking about doing this for a while now.”
Vincent thankfully said, “Lisa has changed. We all feel a change within her heart.”
Uneasily, Catherine admitted, “Still, I am a little nervous about speaking with her, but I just know it is something I should do.”
Vincent hesitated a moment, and then asked, “Catherine?”
Looking up at Vincent, she asked, “What is it?”
Vincent pondered a moment, before he walked over to his writing table, and picked up a letter. As he gazed at it for a moment, he then looked toward Catherine, and asked, “As long as you are seeing Lisa, would you mind delivering my letter as well?”
Incredulously, Catherine started laughing, as she asked, “Deliver a letter for you too?”
She then thought to herself that being a delivery girl for Vincent, was really putting her to the test!
However, this would truly show Lisa, she is willing to put everything behind them.
Pretending to be slightly irritated, she congenially said, “Give me your letter! Boy this is one for the record books! Please tell me, I am not being foolish delivering your letter to an old girl friend!”
Vincent hid his smile, as he looked downward, and said, “No not foolish, you have nothing to fear from a relationship that has come full circle. Once again we are family to one another.”
Vincent escorted Catherine to her threshold, and as he leaned against the wall looking so downhearted, she shed a lonely tear, that glistened from the flickering light of the tunnel torches.
Catherine comforted him by saying, “We’ve been apart before, and for longer periods of time, please don’t feel so badly.”
Vincent with his sorrowful eyes, averted downward, whispered, “I am afraid your nearness has become a necessity for me. Already I feel my aloneness envelope me.”
Catherine tried to sound assuring, as she promised, “I will return as quickly as I can.”
To be continued
Chapter Eighteen
| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Seventeen |
