| Beyond my Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Thirteen |
As she and Ronald waited for a reply from the newlyweds, she looked up at him smiling, saying, "Thank you so much for helping me get ready for the party tomorrow night."
Kindly, Ronald replied, "I was glad to help, and it was fun. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed entertaining friends."
Excitedly, Jennifer agreed, saying, "Me too! And you know, I really am looking forward to having everyone from the tunnels over...err I mean up."
She then giggled as she asked, "What IS the correct terminology in this case anyway? Up or over?"
Humored by Jennifer's question, Ronald said, "Either one Jenny."
Just then Catherine came to welcome their friends, and said, "Come on in, Vincent is in the den working on the new blueprint Elliot asked him to draw up."
To which Jennifer and Ronald accommodatingly said, they wouldn't stay, because they didn't want to interrupt the master at work, "Besides..." added Jennifer, "Tomorrow will be a big day. I have tons to do to get ready for my party."
Anxiously she asked, "Did you remind Pops?"
Sorrowfully, Catherine said she didn't! They were so excited to tell him about Vincent's news, she had forgotten! "I am so sorry Jenny! I will go talk to him now."
To which Ronald offered, "We'll go talk to him Cathy, and after that, I am kinda anxious to do some relaxing in my new chamber. Jenny, you haven't really had much of a chance to check it out yet have you?"
Thinking this sounded like a very nice idea, Jennifer agreeably said, "No I haven't."
Holding out his arm for her, he politely asked, "Shall we?"
Charmingly, Jennifer replied, "I would love to, I'm sure."
As they walked away, she looked back at Catherine, and with a smile, she waved goodbye.
Catherine was still smiling, as she rejoined Vincent. Looking up from his work, he tipped his head in a curious manner as he asked, "What makes you smile?"
Standing aside of him, she rubbed his back as she told him how sweet Jennifer and Ronald were together.
Knowing they were going to drop in, he curiously asked, "Where are they? I thought they were going to visit with us."
Not wanting to hurt Vincent's feelings, by saying they didn't want to interrupt his creative flow, she simply said, "They were going to go speak with Father about the party, and then...they are going to Ronald's chamber. I got the feeling they were anxious to be alone."
Teasingly, Catherine added, "I think I recall what that feeling is like."
Getting the subtle hint his wife was giving him, he put down his protractor, stood up, and with a raised brow, he said, "You should remember, however in the event you have forgotten, please allow me to remind you."
After embracing his wife, he then commandingly carried her off and reminded her, of all she pretended to have forgotten.
As the hours ticked away, Vincent lost track of time, as he watched his sleeping wife, resting in his arms. Feeling suddenly inspired by her beauty; he gently slipped away to work on his newly acquired architectural requisition, which Elliot proposed him.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring alcove, Catherine stirred in their gargantuan bed, awaking, because she missed Vincent lying next to her.
Sleepily, she slipped on her robe, and stepped to the den chamber, where the lights were brightly flickering. Warming herself, with her arms crossed in front of her, she smiled as she saw Vincent busily working on his print. Turning toward her, because he sensed her nearness, he eagerly asked her to come look, so he could show her the idea he had come up with.
Looking down at the blueprint, Catherine gasped as its brilliance! Breathlessly, she asked, "Vincent? You completed this tonight? It's a beautiful building...not to mention all the intricate details you added. It's...it's stunningly brilliant! That is the only word that comes to mind!"
Excitedly she hugged her husband, and said, "Elliot will be so thrilled with this as the adjacent building...it compliments the other one so perfectly!"
Nodding in agreement, Vincent felt bolstered as he said, "Yes, I believe it does."
Humbly he thanked Catherine, then told her, she had inspired him, and he was merely an instrument to some kinetic force, which had surged through him.
Excitedly, Catherine told Vincent she couldn't wait for him to present this to Elliot.
Proudly, Vincent nodded, and said, he would call Elliot first thing in the morning, to make plans of where the sentry should deliver the print.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hours later, as Elliot read the morning paper, he took a sip of his piping hot coffee, when his butler, Nigel brought him his Eggs Benedict.
Nigel, who had been with Elliot for many years, looked after him quite indulgently, so naturally when the phone rang, he offered to screen the call for him.
Waving his hand no, Elliot told him, he would answer, because this call was coming through on his personal line. Warmly he said, "Thank you anyway Nigel."
Answering the phone, he gasped when he heard Vincent tell him, the print was ready for him to see, and wondered where he should have it delivered.
Stunned by Vincent's expediency, Elliot tried to comprehend this news, by clarifying, "You mean you have the new building drawn up already? But Vincent...I just gave you the details 10 hours ago!"
Explaining he had worked on it after they spoke, Vincent told him, "This is for a cause I feel passionate about Elliot. I only hope this second print conveys your vision for the clinic as well as my first one did for the foundation."
Though he was happy to hear Vincent shared his zeal for this task, he couldn't help but wonder how Vincent could have completed the blueprint for this immensely complicated building already! So with trepidation, Elliot cautiously informed him, "Have it sent to my office in the Manhattan Central Business District, and after I look at it, I will give you a call."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The day brought much excitement to the tunnel community, because tonight would be Jennifer's House-Warming party, and also because this was the day, the trolley was to be brought to the tunnel main, via the hand cranked pulley system Vincent came up with.
As the entourage trooped in the direction of the concealed tunnel, where the trolley stood in wait, they firstly had fun, checking out the Golden Crystal Cavern too!
Mouse was an enthusiastic tour guide, telling them of the first time he happened upon the cavern, never to find it again. "Lucky for me though..." he explained, "...I DID find it again!"
Vincent and Catherine silently stood, smiling to themselves, thinking and feeling so grateful Vincent had the fore-site to keep THEIR discovery of the Golden Crystal Cavern a secret, leaving Mouse the credit of this place, solely to himself.
As they next ventured onto the trolley's locale, it was grand fun for everyone to check out the vintage car. It was so much fun to have something new to horse around in, and the children very much loved sitting on board, taking turns as the conductor.
And though the trolley was a wonderful diversion, Vincent and Catherine were beside themselves, nervously awaiting word from Elliot, and what he thought about the blueprint for the clinic.
As they stood together, discussing the reasons why Elliot had not called yet, one of the children called out to Catherine, asking her to join in on the fun. "Come on Catherine, we need another passenger!"
Wondering if she should leave her anticipative husband, she looked up at Vincent, to see if he wanted her to stay with him until the phone call came. Lovingly, he told her to go and be with the children, assuring her, he would be fine.
As Catherine became ensconced in the game at hand with the youngsters...the phone rang.
Vincent gathered his mettle before saying hello, but instead of hearing Elliot's voice, there was a silence...then a dial tone.
Looking back at the phone, he thought to himself, "It sounds as if he hung up when he heard my voice..."
Puzzled by this action, he thought, "How strange."
Just then once more the phone rang, and after Vincent said hello again, a confused familiar voice asked, "Vincent? Is that you?"
Tipping his head, Vincent quizzically asked, "Lisa?"
Realizing it really was Lisa, Vincent was in awe, wondering how she could have known he had Elliot's phone!
With grave concern, he then asked Lisa, "Is everything all right? Is Devin all right?"
Embarrassingly, she answered, "Yes...Yes, of course, we are fine. We are in Hartford right now..."
Vincent spent a relief sigh, and asked, "How did you know you could reach me on Elliot's phone?"
Shakily, she replied, "I didn't."
Quizzically, Vincent began to ask, "You didn't? Then why did you call..."
It was then; he put it all together. Lisa wasn't intending on calling him at all...but rather Elliot!
And so he asked, "You know Elliot?"
In reply, Lisa softly answered, "Yes Vincent, I do."
Realizing now who Lisa's last suitor was before his brother, clarifying, he stated, "And so, it was Elliot who had broken your heart..."
Weakly, Lisa answered, "Yes...it was"
Concerned about his brother's welfare, Vincent sternly asked, "You are still with Devin?"
Charmingly, Lisa replied, "Yes, yes of course I am, the reason I was calling Elliot was because I had heard through a mutual friend of mine and Elliot's, that he spoke about me, wishing me well, and I was wondering how he was doing, that's all. There's nothing wrong with that, is there Vincent?"
In reply, he said no, there was nothing wrong with a friend checking on a friend, if that's all there was to it.
Vincent then made it clear, he hoped she would not hurt his brother.
She then tried to explain, "I am terribly embarrassed. I don't know how to explain my calling Elliot...except, I suppose I just needed closure. Elliot and I were just kind of left in limbo when I had to leave, and so...when I heard he spoke kindly of me, well, I...I just wanted to let him know, I was fine, and not to be concerned about me. I was going to tell him I am now with someone. I felt this was something I should do...however if truth be known, it felt good to know he at the very least, thought about me...even if only in passing."
She then happily added, "Vincent, I don't want you to worry about Devin. We are so much alike he and I; both of us drifters and dreamers with our hearts planted in the same place, both longing for our tunnel home. We DO plan on coming back in mid-August before the ballet school begins."
Happy to hear this, Vincent stated, "I am glad."
Now since the initial shock of Vincent answering Elliot's phone wore off, Lisa asked, "Vincent...tell me, what are you doing with Elliot's phone?"
Vincent told Lisa a condensed version of his relationship with Elliot, to which Lisa was thrilled, and agreed to keep Vincent's venture under wraps, until the details are discussed. And in turn, Vincent agreed to keep Lisa's call to Elliot, to himself as well. To which Vincent jested, "Oh the tangled webs we weave..."
Lisa scoffed, "Nothing quite so sinister as a deception, but still all the same...I prefer to keep this private. I would feel so very self-conscious around Catherine if she knew Elliot was the one who...well..."
And with fondness, Lisa added, "...and for Catherine's sake too. She and I are making strides in building a friendship...I would hate her knowing Elliot and I had dated."
With discernment, Vincent said, "I understand."
Finally, Lisa told him they better say goodbye, as not to tie up the line in case Elliot was trying to contact him about his bid. So they said goodbye, and, they would be seeing each other soon.
It wasn't long after Lisa's call ended, that Elliot did call, and with Catherine now at his side, Vincent received word, it was a go!
Elliot conveyed, his entire board was ecstatic with the plans for both buildings, and he excitedly told Vincent, an underlying buzz had been born above in Manhattan this day, wondering who this brilliant architect was!
Assuredly though, Elliot said he was keeping Vincent's anonymity as he had promised he would, and explained, he simply told the white collared knights at his round table, he could not, nor would not reveal who the architect was, and so they needed to trust him IF, they felt as he did...that this architect, WAS their man.
Vincent apologized for any awkwardness this may cause him, but reiterated, there was no other way.
Elliot paused a moment before saying, he knew this stipulation would be hard for him to explain, but any awkwardness he may experience, is a small price to pay for Vincent's brilliant designs.
Vincent lowered his head, never believing he would be feeling so akin with this man on the other end of the phone. Not only because of this shared vision to honor Joseph Merrick...but because the same two women had impacted both of their hearts in varying degrees.
And it was because of these monumental issues, he did feel close to him...and so humbly he ended their conversation with a modest thank you, to Elliot.
To be continued
Chapter Fourteen
Kindly, Ronald replied, "I was glad to help, and it was fun. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed entertaining friends."
Excitedly, Jennifer agreed, saying, "Me too! And you know, I really am looking forward to having everyone from the tunnels over...err I mean up."
She then giggled as she asked, "What IS the correct terminology in this case anyway? Up or over?"
Humored by Jennifer's question, Ronald said, "Either one Jenny."
Just then Catherine came to welcome their friends, and said, "Come on in, Vincent is in the den working on the new blueprint Elliot asked him to draw up."
To which Jennifer and Ronald accommodatingly said, they wouldn't stay, because they didn't want to interrupt the master at work, "Besides..." added Jennifer, "Tomorrow will be a big day. I have tons to do to get ready for my party."
Anxiously she asked, "Did you remind Pops?"
Sorrowfully, Catherine said she didn't! They were so excited to tell him about Vincent's news, she had forgotten! "I am so sorry Jenny! I will go talk to him now."
To which Ronald offered, "We'll go talk to him Cathy, and after that, I am kinda anxious to do some relaxing in my new chamber. Jenny, you haven't really had much of a chance to check it out yet have you?"
Thinking this sounded like a very nice idea, Jennifer agreeably said, "No I haven't."
Holding out his arm for her, he politely asked, "Shall we?"
Charmingly, Jennifer replied, "I would love to, I'm sure."
As they walked away, she looked back at Catherine, and with a smile, she waved goodbye.
Catherine was still smiling, as she rejoined Vincent. Looking up from his work, he tipped his head in a curious manner as he asked, "What makes you smile?"
Standing aside of him, she rubbed his back as she told him how sweet Jennifer and Ronald were together.
Knowing they were going to drop in, he curiously asked, "Where are they? I thought they were going to visit with us."
Not wanting to hurt Vincent's feelings, by saying they didn't want to interrupt his creative flow, she simply said, "They were going to go speak with Father about the party, and then...they are going to Ronald's chamber. I got the feeling they were anxious to be alone."
Teasingly, Catherine added, "I think I recall what that feeling is like."
Getting the subtle hint his wife was giving him, he put down his protractor, stood up, and with a raised brow, he said, "You should remember, however in the event you have forgotten, please allow me to remind you."
After embracing his wife, he then commandingly carried her off and reminded her, of all she pretended to have forgotten.
As the hours ticked away, Vincent lost track of time, as he watched his sleeping wife, resting in his arms. Feeling suddenly inspired by her beauty; he gently slipped away to work on his newly acquired architectural requisition, which Elliot proposed him.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring alcove, Catherine stirred in their gargantuan bed, awaking, because she missed Vincent lying next to her.
Sleepily, she slipped on her robe, and stepped to the den chamber, where the lights were brightly flickering. Warming herself, with her arms crossed in front of her, she smiled as she saw Vincent busily working on his print. Turning toward her, because he sensed her nearness, he eagerly asked her to come look, so he could show her the idea he had come up with.
Looking down at the blueprint, Catherine gasped as its brilliance! Breathlessly, she asked, "Vincent? You completed this tonight? It's a beautiful building...not to mention all the intricate details you added. It's...it's stunningly brilliant! That is the only word that comes to mind!"
Excitedly she hugged her husband, and said, "Elliot will be so thrilled with this as the adjacent building...it compliments the other one so perfectly!"
Nodding in agreement, Vincent felt bolstered as he said, "Yes, I believe it does."
Humbly he thanked Catherine, then told her, she had inspired him, and he was merely an instrument to some kinetic force, which had surged through him.
Excitedly, Catherine told Vincent she couldn't wait for him to present this to Elliot.
Proudly, Vincent nodded, and said, he would call Elliot first thing in the morning, to make plans of where the sentry should deliver the print.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hours later, as Elliot read the morning paper, he took a sip of his piping hot coffee, when his butler, Nigel brought him his Eggs Benedict.
Nigel, who had been with Elliot for many years, looked after him quite indulgently, so naturally when the phone rang, he offered to screen the call for him.
Waving his hand no, Elliot told him, he would answer, because this call was coming through on his personal line. Warmly he said, "Thank you anyway Nigel."
Answering the phone, he gasped when he heard Vincent tell him, the print was ready for him to see, and wondered where he should have it delivered.
Stunned by Vincent's expediency, Elliot tried to comprehend this news, by clarifying, "You mean you have the new building drawn up already? But Vincent...I just gave you the details 10 hours ago!"
Explaining he had worked on it after they spoke, Vincent told him, "This is for a cause I feel passionate about Elliot. I only hope this second print conveys your vision for the clinic as well as my first one did for the foundation."
Though he was happy to hear Vincent shared his zeal for this task, he couldn't help but wonder how Vincent could have completed the blueprint for this immensely complicated building already! So with trepidation, Elliot cautiously informed him, "Have it sent to my office in the Manhattan Central Business District, and after I look at it, I will give you a call."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The day brought much excitement to the tunnel community, because tonight would be Jennifer's House-Warming party, and also because this was the day, the trolley was to be brought to the tunnel main, via the hand cranked pulley system Vincent came up with.
As the entourage trooped in the direction of the concealed tunnel, where the trolley stood in wait, they firstly had fun, checking out the Golden Crystal Cavern too!
Mouse was an enthusiastic tour guide, telling them of the first time he happened upon the cavern, never to find it again. "Lucky for me though..." he explained, "...I DID find it again!"
Vincent and Catherine silently stood, smiling to themselves, thinking and feeling so grateful Vincent had the fore-site to keep THEIR discovery of the Golden Crystal Cavern a secret, leaving Mouse the credit of this place, solely to himself.
As they next ventured onto the trolley's locale, it was grand fun for everyone to check out the vintage car. It was so much fun to have something new to horse around in, and the children very much loved sitting on board, taking turns as the conductor.
And though the trolley was a wonderful diversion, Vincent and Catherine were beside themselves, nervously awaiting word from Elliot, and what he thought about the blueprint for the clinic.
As they stood together, discussing the reasons why Elliot had not called yet, one of the children called out to Catherine, asking her to join in on the fun. "Come on Catherine, we need another passenger!"
Wondering if she should leave her anticipative husband, she looked up at Vincent, to see if he wanted her to stay with him until the phone call came. Lovingly, he told her to go and be with the children, assuring her, he would be fine.
As Catherine became ensconced in the game at hand with the youngsters...the phone rang.
Vincent gathered his mettle before saying hello, but instead of hearing Elliot's voice, there was a silence...then a dial tone.
Looking back at the phone, he thought to himself, "It sounds as if he hung up when he heard my voice..."
Puzzled by this action, he thought, "How strange."
Just then once more the phone rang, and after Vincent said hello again, a confused familiar voice asked, "Vincent? Is that you?"
Tipping his head, Vincent quizzically asked, "Lisa?"
Realizing it really was Lisa, Vincent was in awe, wondering how she could have known he had Elliot's phone!
With grave concern, he then asked Lisa, "Is everything all right? Is Devin all right?"
Embarrassingly, she answered, "Yes...Yes, of course, we are fine. We are in Hartford right now..."
Vincent spent a relief sigh, and asked, "How did you know you could reach me on Elliot's phone?"
Shakily, she replied, "I didn't."
Quizzically, Vincent began to ask, "You didn't? Then why did you call..."
It was then; he put it all together. Lisa wasn't intending on calling him at all...but rather Elliot!
And so he asked, "You know Elliot?"
In reply, Lisa softly answered, "Yes Vincent, I do."
Realizing now who Lisa's last suitor was before his brother, clarifying, he stated, "And so, it was Elliot who had broken your heart..."
Weakly, Lisa answered, "Yes...it was"
Concerned about his brother's welfare, Vincent sternly asked, "You are still with Devin?"
Charmingly, Lisa replied, "Yes, yes of course I am, the reason I was calling Elliot was because I had heard through a mutual friend of mine and Elliot's, that he spoke about me, wishing me well, and I was wondering how he was doing, that's all. There's nothing wrong with that, is there Vincent?"
In reply, he said no, there was nothing wrong with a friend checking on a friend, if that's all there was to it.
Vincent then made it clear, he hoped she would not hurt his brother.
She then tried to explain, "I am terribly embarrassed. I don't know how to explain my calling Elliot...except, I suppose I just needed closure. Elliot and I were just kind of left in limbo when I had to leave, and so...when I heard he spoke kindly of me, well, I...I just wanted to let him know, I was fine, and not to be concerned about me. I was going to tell him I am now with someone. I felt this was something I should do...however if truth be known, it felt good to know he at the very least, thought about me...even if only in passing."
She then happily added, "Vincent, I don't want you to worry about Devin. We are so much alike he and I; both of us drifters and dreamers with our hearts planted in the same place, both longing for our tunnel home. We DO plan on coming back in mid-August before the ballet school begins."
Happy to hear this, Vincent stated, "I am glad."
Now since the initial shock of Vincent answering Elliot's phone wore off, Lisa asked, "Vincent...tell me, what are you doing with Elliot's phone?"
Vincent told Lisa a condensed version of his relationship with Elliot, to which Lisa was thrilled, and agreed to keep Vincent's venture under wraps, until the details are discussed. And in turn, Vincent agreed to keep Lisa's call to Elliot, to himself as well. To which Vincent jested, "Oh the tangled webs we weave..."
Lisa scoffed, "Nothing quite so sinister as a deception, but still all the same...I prefer to keep this private. I would feel so very self-conscious around Catherine if she knew Elliot was the one who...well..."
And with fondness, Lisa added, "...and for Catherine's sake too. She and I are making strides in building a friendship...I would hate her knowing Elliot and I had dated."
With discernment, Vincent said, "I understand."
Finally, Lisa told him they better say goodbye, as not to tie up the line in case Elliot was trying to contact him about his bid. So they said goodbye, and, they would be seeing each other soon.
It wasn't long after Lisa's call ended, that Elliot did call, and with Catherine now at his side, Vincent received word, it was a go!
Elliot conveyed, his entire board was ecstatic with the plans for both buildings, and he excitedly told Vincent, an underlying buzz had been born above in Manhattan this day, wondering who this brilliant architect was!
Assuredly though, Elliot said he was keeping Vincent's anonymity as he had promised he would, and explained, he simply told the white collared knights at his round table, he could not, nor would not reveal who the architect was, and so they needed to trust him IF, they felt as he did...that this architect, WAS their man.
Vincent apologized for any awkwardness this may cause him, but reiterated, there was no other way.
Elliot paused a moment before saying, he knew this stipulation would be hard for him to explain, but any awkwardness he may experience, is a small price to pay for Vincent's brilliant designs.
Vincent lowered his head, never believing he would be feeling so akin with this man on the other end of the phone. Not only because of this shared vision to honor Joseph Merrick...but because the same two women had impacted both of their hearts in varying degrees.
And it was because of these monumental issues, he did feel close to him...and so humbly he ended their conversation with a modest thank you, to Elliot.
To be continued
Chapter Fourteen
