Arriving at the site, Jacob welcomed his son, saying, “Well Vincent shall we go forth?”
Jacob did so very much want Vincent to be the first to inspect the expansion site. As Jacob was founder of the Home tunnels, he knew one-day, Vincent would be the one in charge, and he wanted him to have the same type of legacy with these newly re-opened tunnels, and chambers, he himself owned with the original.
Walking inside was like walking into a time capsule. There were still belongings there left behind in some of the chambers, several artifacts, and over in the corner of one of the chambers, were 2 stained glass window projects in the making nearly completed.
Vincent had dabbled in Stain Glass art, as he had made repairs to the one within his own chamber. It occurred to him since Catherine often commented how much she loved his stained glass, that these windows would make a glorious house-warming gift for her chamber. So excitedly he concluded to himself, he would finish them for her.
Yes, then she would be able to enjoy and have stained glass windows of her own! And as Vincent looked them over, and thought about what each window represented, Vincent thought to himself, he could not have made better choices if he were to choose patterns out for Catherine himself!
As they looked over all the former chambers (there were 6 in total) Vincent had decided on the one he wanted to renovate for Catherine.
Vincent, Jacob, Mouse, and Ronald did the initial inspecting on the timber joists, and beams. The reinforcement plans were mapped out, and it was work which could be started right away.
Jamie was growing very impatient, as she lingered outside the entrance! She was awaiting word from Jacob, that it was safe for her to go inside.
Finally Jacob welcomed her, so she too could pick out her chamber. With caution, he told her, “You may come in now, but only briefly!”
Jamie whizzed past Jacob as she said “Great Father!”
Mouse walked along with Jamie, as she looked at each chamber, and finally she decided! Her heart was set on the one that was 2 chambers down from Catherine’s.
Jamie turned to Mouse and told him, “You are the greatest for finding this tunnel and all these secret Chambers! I could just kiss you!”
And before Mouse knew what happened, Jamie gave Mouse a big kiss on his cheek! For once, Mouse was speechless, and everyone all around roared with laughter!
All the men were tired and hungry from all of their hard work, and they were more than ready to eat by the time William had sent a message on the pipes, signalling supper was prepared.
As Vincent walked with Jacob to the dining hall, he brought up the subject of revealing their world to Catherine’s friend Jennifer. “Father, I need to talk to you about a matter concerning Catherine’s close friend.”
Jacob holding on to Vincent’s arm, looked downward as he asked, “What is it?”
Carefully, Vincent explained, “It would seem it may be necessary to introduce her friend Jennifer to our world. She has been a trusted friend to Catherine for most of her life.”
With great concern, Jacob asked, “You say Catherine feels this is necessary?”
Vincent nodded, and clarified, “She worries Jennifer may not accept her moving away, without knowing to where.”
Jacob stopped as he looked at Vincent, and stated, “That means introducing this Jennifer to you as well.”
Vincent nodded, “Yes of course.”
Gently, Jacob inquired, “And Catherine does not think your differences will be a problem for her friend to accept?”
Vincent smiled as he relayed, “No Father, in fact it may be a necessity that she does meet me. You see Peter is quite uncomfortable with the fact Jennifer suspects he is the secret man in Catherine’s life, and he would like us to clear this up for him as soon as possible.”
Jacob chuckled, as he asked, “Peter is like a Father to Catherine, how could she think such a thing?”
Vincent nodded saying, “It seems Peter has had to withstand quite a grilling from her on his intentions toward Catherine’s welfare. At any rate, it would mean so much to Catherine if she could confide in her dear friend.”
Jacob chuckled at the mere thought of the pairing of Peter and Catherine, and said, “Oh my, Peter and Cath…yes well I suppose if Catherine feels it is warranted then it must be done. Tell Catherine her friend Jennifer may come below to her new home. I believe I am most anxious to meet this girl. She sounds quite feisty!”
Jacob excitedly added, “Our world. Vincent, it is growing! And you my boy will one day over see it all.”
Softly, Vincent replied, “That will not be for a very long time.”
Jacob stopped walking for a moment, and with an affirming raised brow, he squeezed Vincent’s assisting arm, and assured him, “But one day.”
As they continued on, Vincent was saddened by such a thought. For it seemed to him Father would always be there, somehow he would be able to defy the certainty of his mortality.
As Jacob and Vincent parted company at the tunnel junction, Jacob traveled on to the Dining Hall with the others and Vincent went back to his chamber to escort Catherine.
As Vincent entered his chamber, his powerful gait was halted, as he found Catherine sleeping so peacefully upon his bed. As Vincent approached, he looked down at Catherine taking in her beauty. He marveled at the happiness he found there within her heart, and a hint of a smile that had settled upon her lips. Vincent sat down beside her, as he took the book from her hands. As he read the title, he found she had chosen a biography of John Keats to read.
Vincent gently awoke his slumbering enchantress by whispering her name, “Catherine, I have returned.”
She opened her eyes, and smiled having Vincent there beside her, because this moment surpassed the blissful dream she just had in terms of being pleasurable. Sleepily, she whispered, “Ah…Vincent you are back.”
In answering, Vincent softly replied, “Yes, I am here.”
He then tipped his head, as he asked, “I wonder what made you smile as you slept. Were you dreaming?”
Catherine stretched, a cat-like stretch, recalling the dream she had, and exhaled a deep contented sigh, as she told him, “Yes, yes I was. You and I were swimming beneath the falls, we were so happy and carefree like children.”
Inquisitively, Vincent asked, “So we were young?”
Outstretching her arms, she invited Vincent to a loving hug, and then she seductively shook her head, and said, “Oh no Vincent! We were as we are now, except we were not afraid of anything, and...”
As she hugged Vincent tightly she whispered breathlessly, “…we made love there.”
Vincent raised his head from her embrace, to look at Catherine, for he was astonished at what she had said.
Suddenly, Catherine felt maybe she should not have revealed her entire dream! Embarrassingly she said, “I shocked you, I’m sorry.”
Revealing his own dream, he confessed, “I myself imagined and dreamt of us being close there as well, in both my sleep inspired dreams at night, and in my fantasy filled moments by day.”
Vincent dropped his eyes as he spoke, adding, “Now it appears, I have shocked you.”
Slyly smiling, Catherine said, “Sweetly shocked yes. But so pleased we would share such a romantic notion.”
Vincent kissed Catherine's hair, and huskily spoke, “Being able to tell you things I have kept hidden, desirous yearnings, frees me to think I may share all my dreams with you.”
Catherine looked back at Vincent, as she told him, “That is my wish, that you feel open enough with me to tell me anything.”
Vincent bent his head downward shyly, with his head tipped so endearingly to the side, he continued,“Then I shall tell you, since I was very young, I dreamt of being held closely by the woman I loved, so closely I could hear her heart beating, beating along with mine.”
As Catherine brought him down to her, she held him, making him feel so loved and fulfilled as she kissed his brow, and told him, “It is right you tell me your dreams.”
Vincent closed his eyes as he let Catherine’s words sooth his shyness away, while in her loving embrace.
As they heard the message announcing supper, sound out on the pipes for the 2nd time, reluctantly Vincent stood, and assisted Catherine from her cozy resting-place.
Vincent stopped at his writing table and picked up the letters for Jacob and Samantha, and told Catherine, “I must deliver these.”
He then took her by the hand, and lead her to the Dining Hall.
To be continued
Chapter Eleven
| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Ten |
