As Catherine and Rebecca entered her chamber to retrieve the candles, Rebecca picked up the bundle of raffia wrapped candles, and excitedly asked Catherine, "Do you think she will like them?"
Warmly, Catherine looked at the blue version of the Winterfest-like candle, and told her how beautiful they were, and said she was sure Jennifer would love them.
Modestly, Rebecca looked downward as she finished tying a ribbon around the last bunch of candles, and said, "I do hope so Catherine."
Just then Mouse and Jamie entered the chamber with a crate full of the handmade candle-holders Rebecca had requested from them.
Happily Rebecca told them, "You're finished? Wonderful, then I will be able to take them with me now!"
Proudly, Jamie said, "Yeah, Mouse asked me, Laura and Brooke to help him. I admit, it was a little tricky at first not to crack the crystal as we chipped out the center hole, but we got the hang of it."
Irritatingly, Mouse inserted, "Wrecked five rocks from the crystal cavern not being careful!"
Offended by Mouse's ungratefulness, Jamie defended herself by saying, "Yeah, well you had the good chiseling tool, we had to use screw drivers!"
Curtly Mouse replied, "Works the same!"
Ignoring the typical arguing between Mouse and Jamie, Rebecca closely inspected the crystal sconces.
After twisting a candle in the chipped open hollow, she satisfactorily said, "Just perfect! You all have done a wonderful job!"
Touched by this thoughtful gesture, Catherine told them, "They really are beautiful! Jen will be absolutely thrilled."
As Jamie turned to leave, she said, "Hope so, well I'll see ya at the party."
As she grabbed Mouse's arm, who was busy checking out Rebecca's antique globe puzzle, she scolded, "Let's go already! Laura and Brooke are meeting us at the trolley! Come on, or I am going without you."
Happy about their next destination, Mouse replied, "Wait for Mouse."
Feeling so proud that her and Vincent's discovery, has given the younger people of the community a new place to hang out, Catherine smiled and told them to have fun but not to be late for the party.
After they left, she thoughtfully noted, "You know those two argue like crazy, but yet, I think they would be lost without each other."
Smiling, in agreement Rebecca said, "You are right Catherine. I think Jamie looks after Mouse quite like a big sister would, and Mouse, well I personally think he has a crush on Jamie."
Thinking that she thought so too, Catherine replied, "So do I, but didn't know if I should say anything!"
And then Catherine excitedly added, "Well we better get going!"
After Catherine and Rebecca gathered everything they needed to take with them, they excitedly headed toward the threshold. And as they passed by the kitchen, William stopped them, and requested, "Ah, great you haven't left yet! I told Jennifer I was going to mix up my special baked beans for the party, do ya think you can take these with ya?"
With an awing tone, Catherine said, "That was so nice of you William!"
To which he kiddingly said, "Heck, fixing a side dish is the least I can do! Her shindig is giving me a night off!"
The girl's laughed with William as they, at the same time, tried to handle the vat of beans, along with Catherine's relish tray, and the candles!
Well it was a little tricky, but they eventually balanced it out, and were now ready to enter the world above.
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Meanwhile, Jennifer started to ready her apartment for the party, and after looking at the clock, she suddenly realized there was still much to do, and was running out of time to pull this shindig together! And thought aloud, "Of all days I had to work late! Sometimes these sensitive artists can be so trying! I can't believe, I had to completely re-arrange the entire gallery so it was more Zen-like to suit Pepe', the Arteest!"
It was then she heard a knock on the door, and so Jennifer wishfully prayed, "I hope it's the reinforcements."
Upon opening the door, Jennifer happily exclaimed, "Cath! Becky! Thank God you're here! I am starting to panic! There is still tons to do, there are pillows to fluff, furniture to polish, the carpet needs to be vacuumed, food to prepare..."
To which Catherine calmly inserted, "Well that's why we are here, to help. It'll be fine Jen."
Cheerfully, Rebecca then added, "Yes! We will get it all done Jennifer."
With a nervous twitchy smile, Jennifer responded, "Thanks girls, I sure hope so!"
And then as Jennifer noticed Catherine was carrying her relish tray, she excitedly noted, "Wonderful, you remembered the Relish Tray! Thanks Cath, and Rebecca...please say those are a pot of William's beans... "
To which Rebecca said, "Yes they are, and I think he made enough to feed an army!"
In gleeful reply, Jennifer screeched, "Yes!!"
And so as Rebecca looked around, she asked, "Where do you want them Jennifer?"
To which Jennifer said, "Let's put them on the stove, here come with me..."
So as the two gals stepped away, Catherine looked about her old apartment, and feeling a bit nostalgic, she sat down as she noted all the changes Jennifer had made to it! The art, the furniture, the painted walls...and so too, Catherine thought back on all the changes she herself had made in her own life...and thought of how living as a top-sider, seemed like a life time ago.
As the girls rejoined Catherine, she complimented her friend by saying, "Jen, you sure have such a knack for decorating. The colors and special touches...it really suits you..."
To which Jennifer replied, "Well you had it decorated cute too! But thanks! I just kinda gave it my own flare, oh my garsh! I just love it here..."
And then after taking in a heaving breath, Jennifer asked, "So about the party, AND about eating...do you think we should try to eat at tables, of which I only have two folding tables, plus my kitchen table, but then I don't have enough chairs!"
Thinking that a casual walk about would be fine, Catherine looked at Rebecca for affirmation as she suggested, "Well I think we can just hold our plates, and if someone wants to sit, well they can just find a spot for themselves..."
To which Rebecca in solidarity nodded, and said, "Oh absolutely! We will all be mingling about anyway, well, much like our Winterfest celebrat..."
But before Rebecca could finish, Jennifer was off on another thought, and asked, "And do I have enough drinks to offer, I have iced tea and hot tea...sodas...and oh my goodness we have to set up..."
And then looking all about, Jennifer began to nervously babble, saying, "Where to start...where to start?"
Getting a little kick out of how nervous Jennifer seemed to be over this BBQ, Catherine shared a smile with Rebecca, and after making a strategic decision, she poured them each a glass of iced tea, and wisely suggested, "Why don't we just take a moment to relax, and plan our mode of operandi."
Thinking that a taking a break, was the worse thing to do, Jennifer heaved an argumentative sigh, and squealed, "You have got to be joking! Everyone will be coming in less than 2 hours!"
As Catherine and Rebecca began to laugh, Jennifer at first seemed irritated with them for not understanding, then had to laugh herself, because of how nervous she was!
And so then, after grabbing the dangling glass from Catherine, who was holding it like a tempting coveted prize, she said, "Oh what the heck...let's take a break, Chips anyone?"
Rebecca laughed at Jennifer's response, and loved the fact she was there with Catherine and Jennifer, being as one with the gals. Socializing was difficult for her because of growing up with Lisa. She always felt overshadowed and unimportant. But with Catherine and Jennifer, she was relaxed and could be herself. Albeit, she was definitely not the life of the party, but was very kindly receptive to a good time all the same.
Excitedly, Catherine turned to her and suggested, "Oh Rebecca, show Jen the surprise you brought her!"
And so excitedly, Rebecca presented the old oak box, and offered, "I made some candles for tonight, and the sconces, Mouse, Jamie, Brooke and Laura made."
Upon setting her glass down, Jennifer checked out the beautifully blue hued candles, and expounded, "I love 'em! Thank you, thank you thank you! They will look great on the mantel, and just all over the apartment, and maybe out on the balcony too."
Together, the girls strewed the candles about, and after they finished, they stepped back and admired them, and how much they added to the ambiance of Jennifer's place.
They next went to work in the kitchen getting all the food ready. Jennifer had decided since the weather was so nice, that she would have a barbecue. Hamburg's and Hot-dogs, along with Potato Salad, William's Baked Beans, Deviled Eggs, and a few desserts, courtesy of the local bakery!
So after the salads were mixed, eggs deviled and ground beef made into patties, the girls got themselves ready just in time for the arrival of the first guest.
And happily for Jennifer, the first guest was Ronald! Lovingly Jennifer greeted him, saying, "I am so happy you are here!"
Saying he was happy to be there too, he then privately added, "And may I say, you look very pretty tonight Jenny."
To which in reply, Jennifer shyly thanked him, and said he looked quite handsome tonight as well! She then welcomed him inside, where he said hi to Catherine and Rebecca too.
After all the niceties were exchanged, Ronald rubbed his hands together and said, "Well I arrived a little bit before the others, so tell me, what can I do to help?"
To which Jennifer hopefully suggested, "Well, how about a commitment to do the grilling? I was hoping you could mix up your special seasoning, you know the one that is so yummy on the burgers."
Graciously, Ronald said he would be happy to grill, and he then looked at Catherine and Rebecca to teasingly say, "Since my secret seasoning concoction is requested by me' lady, I better go mix it up before everyone comes, and tries to steal my recipe."
As Ronald went to gather his ingredients, he looked up in the spice cupboard, and asked, "Where is the huge shaker of garlic salt Jen? Hmm, you cannot possibly be out of it! "
And because Jennifer knew right where it was, she rushed into the kitchen to say, "Its on the stove, I used it on my eggs this morning!"
Jennifer then giggled as she accusingly said, "I want you to know you have me hooked on garlic salt now, I use it on everything!"
With a laugh, Ronald said, "Good thing you bought this jumbo shaker then! This should last a good long time."
Pleading, Jennifer laughed saying, "Don't laugh at me Ronny! Mom told me it was a better buy per ounce than the smaller one."
Upon hearing the two sounding so domesticated and acclimated to one another, Catherine turned to Rebecca and with a low ebb excitement, whispered, "It sounds like Ronald is right at home here with Jenny! I think they are so sweet together don't you?"
With a nod, Rebecca agreeably said, "Oh yes they are! If you could have known Ronald back when he first came to live with us, well all I can say is he is a new man. And I believe it is all because of Father's and Vincent's help, that he has managed to find a purpose in life again."
She then added, "But because of Jennifer, he has managed to find joy. Oh Mary and I were talking, and we both think they are a perfect match."
Happy to hear Jennifer has impacted this tragic man's life, just as he has her good friends', Catherine smiled, and said, "I think so too! A perfect match."
As the tunnel community started to arrive, Jennifer welcomed them and Jacob was the first to approach Jennifer to thank her for her hospitality. And then he turned to Catherine so say, "Vincent should be arriving soon my dear, I dare say, arriving in his usual fashion!"
To which Catherine replied, "Oh good thanks Father, I've been checking but he isn't here yet."
After patting her hand he said, "I'm sure he will be any moment now."
And then Jennifer announced, "Anyone who wants a tour, follow me!"
So excitedly Jennifer proceeded to give a tour of her re-decorated apartment. And because Mary who had been there for Catherine's Bachelorette party, well she kinda took over the tour! Excitedly explaining to Jacob, William and Pascal, most of the art work on Jennifer's walls were all done by local artists!
With his hand to his chin, Jacob commented, "Very impressive of you Dear, to support local talent I mean!"
In reply, Jennifer said, "Thanks Pops! Some of the artists I personally get to know, and sometimes it's the artist I can identify with, as well as their work. And the Van Gogh replicas...well I guess it is obvious, he is one of my favorites!"
By now Jennifer AND Mary had quite an entourage following them around for the tour, and even Catherine joined the group!
And as everyone Oooed and ahhed at the apartments special features, they all had to agree it was the balcony they loved the most about the apartment.
Because Jennifer was such a great hostess, she asked both Catherine, and Rebecca to help her pass out refreshments, and after everyone had a cold drink, or some freshly steeped tea, Catherine checked the balcony once more for Vincent!
Well after several balcony checks, Catherine started to become concerned, and asked Pascal, if he was sure Vincent left when they did.
To which Pascal, also with concern, said he was sure he did, and they all then surmised that he really should have been there by now!
It was just about then, when Jamie asked..."Hey! Where's Mouse? I thought he came with us."
To which Laura worriedly signed, "He was with us, at first anyway!"
To be continued
Chapter Sixteen
| Beyond my Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Fifteen |
