| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty-one Final Chapter |
Vincent could hear a song playing, from inside of Catherine's apartment, and said, "That is a most soothing song. I do enjoy it."
Happy that Vincent liked one of her most favorite songs, Catherine then offered, "I'll bring my tape player out here, so you can hear it better, it's a song called "It might be you".
Catherine then brought out the player, which was playing the tape, she herself had dubbed together, containing some of her most favorite songs.
When Catherine rejoined Jennifer and Vincent, she found them discussing different types of music, to which Catherine mused, of how Jennifer could definitely be pigeonholed in her musical tastes! If it isn't Journey, Styx, or Survivor, she just won’t listen to it!
Yes through the years, Jennifer and Catherine hardly ever agreed, when it came to music.
And so, to add his opinion, Vincent himself, went on to openly discuss, his most favorite of the classical artists, which made Jennifer’s head spin!
And so as Jennifer repeated Vincent's list of favorites, she questioned, “Grieg, Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, and Bach?”
To which in reply, Vincent with wonderment, shining in his eyes, described to Jennifer, “Yes. To hear their music vibrating, filtering its way down through the tunnels, Ahh it brings me such joy!”
Wondering about this sound system, Jennifer quizzically asked, “Filtering through the tunnels? What do you have some massive dolby's, with titanium woofers and tweeters?”
As Catherine smiled at Vincent, she answered, saying, “No Jen, Vincent has a lovely personal box seat, right below the bandstand in the park. We have spent many enjoyable nights there, listening to our favorite composers during the concerts, held right above us...haven’t we Vincent?”
To which Vincent whimsically nodded yes, as he privately reminisced to one special night, the night it had rained, and nothing was more beautiful to him, then the sight of his rained soaked Catherine, possessing the glee of a child playing in the rain!
As Jennifer listened, she shook her head, as she astonishingly said, “Finally you found a guy who is as crazy over that ancient stuff, as you are!”
In reply, Catherine scolded, “That “stuff” as you call it Jen is “Music”, and it wouldn’t hurt you to listen to it, instead of Steve Perry all the time.”
It was then, Vincent took Catherine’s hand, as he hopefully said, “Wednesday night, the orchestra is highlighting the works of Beethoven.”
To which Catherine enthusiastically asked, “They are Vincent?”
Answering with a nod, he then politely asked, “Would you accompany me Catherine?”
Happy to have been invited, Catherine happily replied, “Yes! We have been waiting for them to play his compositions all Spring! Oh I cannot wait.”
Jennifer listened, and privately got a boot out of these two, who seemed to be so well suited, and had so much in common!
Thinking about this place, where they go to listen to concerts, and wondering about the tunnels in general, Jennifer then went on to ask Vincent some questions about his world, and so she asked, "What kinds of things do the kids do? I mean are there sports and things?"
"Indeed." Replied Vincent, and then added, "We are always in search of new activities to keep their interest however. So if you have any suggestions..."
Upon thinking she did have an idea, Jennifer inquisitively, asked, "What about Putt Putt?"
To which Vincent curiously asked, “Please tell me about this, Putt Putt!”
In disbelief, Jennifer looked at Catherine, and burst out laughing as she said, “Its a game, its miniature golf Vinny! You have never heard of it?”
In reply, Vincent shook his head no, and as Jennifer explained the premise, he nodded, and said, “That sounds like it could be an interesting project to initiate down in the tunnels for the children. What do you think Catherine?”
In agreement, Catherine smiled and said, “I think a Putt Putt course could work beautifully in the tunnels community center.”
Conclusively, Vincent then nodded, as he said, “I shall broach the subject with Father. Yes, perhaps the Community Chamber, where it is quite spacious. It could be quite entertaining for a few of us grown-ups as well!”
Knowing topsider adults enjoy the game, Catherine agreed, “Oh yes it could be.”
As Jennifer stood up to leave she said, “Well, I think its time for me to scadoodle! So, Saturday we go to the children’s concert in the Tunnels! I can't wait! Oh my, all this intrigue! I feel like I am in some fantasy movie!”
Vincent then politely stood too, and as he tipped his head charmingly at Jennifer he said, “I shall look forward to introducing you to my world Jennifer.”
Vincent then looked to Catherine, and corrected himself, saying, “I should say, Our world.”
As Vincent spoke, and the way he looked at her friend, Jennifer got the chills, just feeling the chemistry between them. Yes Catherine’s Vincent had certainly made an impression on her!
As Jennifer headed for the doors to leave, she turned back to say, “Vinny I can’t wait until I get to meet all those other interesting tunnel people you live with, and I sure loved meeting you!”
Bemused, Catherine looked at Vincent, and as she caught his eye, she smiled a smile that had a bit of an apologetic tinge to it, as if to say, “Gotta love her!”
But before Jennifer left, Catherine quickly took a few more pieces of Pizza and placed them onto Vincent’s plate, and as she closed the box, she said, "Jen, please take the rest of the Pizza!
As Catherine, gave Jen a goodbye hug, she then with heart felt emotion, said, “I am so glad you two have finally met.”
In reply, Jennifer raised a brow, as she softly replied, “I like your Vinny, Cathy.”
Then Jennifer informatively said, “Just so you know, I’ll be in and out taking measurements of the windows and other stuff." ("Do You Remember?")
Excitedly, Jennifer looked around and said, "I cannot wait to move in here, and get out of my old place! When I pay my landlord his rent tomorrow, I can only imagine his face when I say, “Hey Harry…Adios! I will gleefully tell him, how happy I am that I will not have to deal with his non-super-like skills this summer! And that I am moving into an apartment, where not only the Air conditioning works, but The Super does too!”
Catherine laughed, as she said, "You and Harry have sure had a cantankerous relationship."
Wanting to be sure Jennifer had her key, Catherine double checked by asking, “You have your key right?”
Wondering if she did, Jennifer started to frantically search her purse, and as she found it, she shouted, “Eureka!” and declared, “Yes I have it, and I will be here at noon on Saturday as we planned then. See you on Saturday Vinny! And Cath...call when you get back! Now you be careful! Love ya!”
Upon hearing Jennifer's last words of caution, Catherine cringed, because she had not yet had a chance to tell Vincent about her going out of town!
And so as Jennifer closed the doors, she was unaware of the commotion her words had caused!
Curiously, Vincent tipped his head as he asked, “Back? What did Jennifer mean?”
Slowly Catherine turned to face Vincent, as she said, “I was going to tell you. You see, I have to get a deposition from Benson tomorrow. I will be flying out to a little town in Ohio to interview him. Mr. Benson won’t talk to anyone else but me. He is frightened, and I suppose it's because I am the only one he has spoken with so far, and he trusts me.”
As Catherine stepped closer, she carefully said, “I should be back on Friday, Saturday morning at the very latest.”
All Vincent could think of, was of how he could not except this! He had scarcely made it through the day after Catherine left the tunnels that afternoon, let alone travel out of the city, and Vincent knew Benson was an eyewitness on that huge drug-ring case!
And so Vincent sorrowfully bellowed, “I don’t want you to go! Say you won’t do it!”
In disbelief, Catherine stepped back, and said, “I can’t say no to this Vincent. The whole case depends on his testimony!”
Incensed, Vincent stepped to the wall, and as he looked over the city, he could feel himself loosing his control, and then he shakily said, “Please don’t go! You must not go, it is too dangerous! These people are evil, and will stop at nothing! Tell Joe you changed your mind!”
Knowing he was concerned, Catherine assuredly gripped his cloak, and enforced she would be cautious, and then said, “Please understand, I can’t just turn my back, I can’t believe you would want me to!”
Defiantly, Vincent pulled away as he said, “Believe it Catherine! I do want you to turn away from this. I will not be near you to guard you! You are putting yourself in such danger.”
In reply, Catherine firmly reminded Vincent, “You have taught me many things Vincent. You taught me to be strong, and to face my fears, to make a difference! Deep in your heart, you cannot really want me to turn away from this responsibility. It will help this city we both love.”
Vincent could feel his anxiety mounting, as he bellowed in an anguished filled voice, “Then you would be wrong, deep in my heart, I don’t want you to go! I would rather you turn your back on this danger, than turn your back on our dream!”
Vincent had never spoken to Catherine like this before, and Catherine was stunned! She in turn questioned, “Is that how you see this? You think I am turning my back on our dream? Nothing could be farther from the truth, please try to understand...”
It was then Vincent cut in to helplessly share, “What I understand is our dream is nearly within our grasp, and yet I fear we shall never touch it! It is so near, and I can see it so clearly, yet if you go, I am fearful of losing it forever.”
To which Catherine tearfully lamented, “I can see it clearly too, and it is a beautiful life! It is a life I cannot wait to live, but before I can let go of my role here, I have this last commitment to fulfill.”
As Vincent turned away to hide his primal anguish, Catherine pleaded, “Vincent look at me please!”
Vincent was so distraught he could feel his control leaving him, something inside was erupting, and he could stifle his anguished cry no longer! As he let go of his pain, Catherine heard for the first time, Vincent’s grief stricken moan as it echoed through the still night air. It was so sorrowful, it broke her heart.
In a calming, yet tearful voice, she said, “Please know, I will be all right.”
As Vincent’s emotions were spent, he looked down into Catherine’s beautiful face, and he whispered, “I don't want you so far from me that I am powerless to protect you. If anything should happen to you…”
To comfort, and assure him, Catherine put her arms around Vincent and soothingly said, “I will come back to you, and when I do, it will be with a clear resolve, and without regret. I will be all right, and I will come back to dream our dream.”
Catherine then sweetly added, “Have faith, try to see me with the strength I have gained from knowing you.” {"Always on my Mind")
To which Vincent rasped, “I do see you Catherine, I see my other self, my reason, my love.”
Catherine took his hand once more, and she said, “Your answer is the same as mine when I look at you Vincent. Come, lay with me here.”
As Vincent gave in to his need to feel close to Catherine, he slipped his cloak off for them to lay upon.
Catherine settled herself on their berth that Vincent provided, and as she laid down, she looked up at her Vincent, wanting to share herself with him, and hold him in the hopes it would sooth his worried soul.
He looked at her through his tear-clouded eyes, overcome with wonderment at Catherine’s beauty and her generous loving heart, as she opened her arms for him.
Vincent slowly lowered himself to her, feeling only the power of their two hearts beating together.
As Catherine held him, she kissed and parted his hair, and lovingly said, “Everything is going to be all right. Please believe it as I do.”
Vincent’s voice seemed to possess a sadness, a resolve, as he spoke to her and said, “If you must go, I will keep my faith strong. Come home safely to me.”
And so it was there on Catherine's balcony, that they held each other, and though it was the most intimate they had ever been, it was not an impassioned embrace, but rather a nurturing cherished moment in time for them. Neither making overtures for anything more than what they possessed at that moment. They loved being so close, holding on to one another, and Vincent loved being held so tenderly, and it was there, they fell asleep together until a chill settled in, and woke Catherine.
As she looked down at Vincent, laying so peaceful and calm in her arms, she gently woke him, and told him, “The time, its twilight.”
As Vincent opened his eyes, innocently he looked at her, and sweetly held her close.
As Catherine hugged him back, she smiled so happily thinking of her sweet Vincent, and so softly, she told him, “You make me smile.”
To which he then said in a hushed husky whisper, “It takes so little to make you happy. There are times I wish I could give you more."
As she returned his tenderhearted gaze, she said, "You do give me more than I could ever ask for. You give me everything.”
Vincent held back his emotions as he looked to the rising sun, and regretfully said, "I should go." ("Only Time")
As he stood to leave, Catherine picked up her tape player, and gave it to Vincent and said, “Take this with you, and as you play these songs that touch my heart, let them touch your heart for me in my absence."
Vincent nodded as he placed the player, securely inside his shirt, and as his chin slightly quivered he whispered, “That is a lovely thought Catherine.”
In preparation for his descent, he turned once more to Catherine, and with tears in his eyes, he told her, “When you are gone, you mustn’t forget our bond, stay open to our bond at all times so I can guide you from afar.”
Catherine nodded as she hugged him goodbye, and whispered softy, “I will Vincent, I won’t forget.”
Tearfully, he looked to the Heavens and helplessly said, “It is all we will have between us while you are gone…”
Vincent then told her, “I will die a thousand times until your return Catherine, come safely home.”
With one last look at one another, a broken hearted Vincent left his Catherine.
Long after Vincent was gone from her side, she still sat outside watching the dawning of the brand new day, as she searched her soul.
Catherine bemoaned, and asked herself if she was wrong to be going, when this upset Vincent so much? Was she wrong not to put their happiness first?
As Catherine looked to the Heavens above, she searched her heart once more, when, suddenly her question was answered, and she knew. Catherine knew she could not turn away from this commitment to the case, to Joe, or to the city. If she didn't follow through, it would be against everything Vincent had taught, and exemplified. And she was sure, deep down, Vincent knew it too.
Yes, it was the right thing to go, even though, she so badly wanted to stay.
The End...
of "All of my Life!", but will be continued in..."Dreams of Gold!”
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