Vincent then opened the letter, and saw it was on stationary from St. Vincent's hospital. He smiled to himself at the irony of this coincidence, and he then read
St. Vincent's Hospital
Dear Vincent, I realize I have many friends there tonight waitin' to meet me, and I am sorry I will not be there to shake their hands, and to share this festive occasion with them. But it is ye Vincent, I will regret not meetin' most of all.
I am sittin' here at me father's bedside, readin' some of the words ye have written me in the past, and they have brought me solace, at such a tragic time.
In one letter ye wrote me there had been tryin' times in yer life, and these were the times ye learned the most about yerself. Ye also wrote ye feel it is how we respond in such times, that reveal our true character.
It has been these written words from ye, that have given me the strength to be here for me Dad, and have also given me a peace of mind.
Me father is very heavily sedated for the night, and though I don't want to leave his side fer long, I would still very much love to meet with ye. I will be in the hospital cafeteria at 11:00 p.m. If ye can, please meet me there. With much affection Brigit
Even though Vincent had reconciled the disappointment of not meeting Brigit earlier on, still he couldn't help but to be bolstered by this telegram. The fact Brigit sent word directly to him alone, meant so much!
It would seem his friendship was indeed valued and reciprocated by her after all.
Meanwhile, after hearing the personal aspect of Brigit's telegram, Catherine surprisingly said, "I didn't realize you "KNEW" Brigit personally!"
Humbly, Vincent informed Catherine, "Only by correspondence. We have been writing each other for almost a year now. When she knew she was coming to New York on a book tour, she suggested we meet. The plans all seemed to fall into place, meeting at a Hallows Eve Masquerade party. I could be myself, with nothing to hide."
Vincent then looked to Catherine for advice, and asked, "In her letter, she states she would still like to meet with me. What should I do?"
With a huge smile, Catherine replied, "Without question, you should go and meet her! As you said, tonight of all nights is the best time to do it."
Vincent then sincerely asked, "Will you accompany me?"
To which Catherine excitedly answered, "Yes of course! I will! I would love to!"
Reeling her mood in a notch, Catherine then said, "Listen to me...so star struck that I am forgetting this is a grievous time for Brigit."
And then with caution, Catherine suggested, "She may only want to see you Vincent...I may be intruding."
To which Vincent replied, "If I am going to do this...I need you with me."
With a tone of determination, Catherine then pledged, "Let's do it then!"
Feeling relieved he had a partner in this endeavor, Vincent then urgently asked, "What time do you suppose it is?"
Thinking back, Catherine said, "There's a clock above the bar."
Catherine then looked through the window and said, "It is 10:50! It might be close, but I think we can make it."
To which Vincent answered, "Yes...we must try."
Curiously, Catherine watched as Vincent anxiously looked over the terrace wall, and she couldn't help but wonder if Vincent was thinking of jumping over!
Realizing that would be crazy, Catherine then followed Vincent as he changed his direction, and lead her back through the Party.
Yes, little did Catherine know how right she was, because as Vincent peered over the wall, he did consider it! He knew it was a drop he could easily make, but knew Catherine could not, and so he had to resist his usual way of exiting, and opt for a more conventional mode.
And so as they made their way through the other guests, and after finally reaching the door, Vincent held Catherine's hand, as they set their pace for the hospital.
As they traveled onward, they finally reached the hospital, and when they did, Vincent hesitated before ascending the steps.
Stopping too, Catherine turned to Vincent and with concern asked, "Why are we stopping?"
To which Vincent worriedly answered, "I am beginning to question this meeting, perhaps expanding our friendship beyond our letters is not a good idea."
In an awing fashion, Catherine stepped up to Vincent, and reminded him, "It is what you wanted to do when you decided to come to the party, isn't it?"
Taking in a deep breath, Vincent answered, "Yes, but that was under different circumstances. We were going to casually meet at a party. But now she is asking to meet me as a supportive friend, in a time of grief. Won't I be deceiving Brigit if I don't reveal my true self to her?"
Catherine looked up at Vincent, and as she searched her heart, she then sincerely answered, "I don't know if you should share everything with Brigit tonight, it may be she just needs someone to talk to, someone to listen...but Vincent, with your intuitiveness, you will know the right thing to do."
Vincent nodded his head in agreement, thinking Catherine was right, he will know.
So, as they climbed the steps, hand in hand together, they entered the hospital and headed for the cafeteria.
And as they walked, Vincent noted, "We are nearly five minutes late. Do you think she will still be here? Do you think she will have waited?"
To which Catherine optimistically said, "Yes...I think she would wait."
They both stood at the entrance and looked about the room. It was somewhat busy, but Brigit would not be hard to spot. Her picture graced the back of her latest book, and she was beautiful with long auburn colored hair.
And so as they both continued to scope out the room, suddenly, Vincent said, "I believe I see her. Over in the corner."
To which Catherine excitedly agreed, "Yes I think so too!"
It was then Catherine said, "Once we meet Bigit...I will leave you two...I would like to check and see if Dad and Rita are still here."
With an encouraging embrace to his arm, Catherine asked, "Well, shall we?"
And so Vincent suavely nodded, and said, "I am ready."
Meanwhile, Brigit looked at her watch one last time, and with a disappointed sigh, she decided Vincent must not be coming.
As she took her last sip of coffee, she felt a huge shadow fall over her! And as she looked up at a towering figure of a man, she asked, "Vincent?"
Elegantly, Vincent nodded, but before he could speak, a burley looking man stepped up, and urgently asked Brigit, "Friends of yours?"
To which Brigit held her hand up so her bodyguard would chill out, and responded, "Yes...tis fine..."
And after Brigit's security stepped down, Vincent, in his husky velvet tone, was able to finally greet her, saying, "Hello Brigit."
And although Brigit was downhearted about her father, Vincent definitely caught her attention in a big way! She had been so captivated by his letters, and couldn't wait to meet him, and although he was in a disguise...ahhh, he did not disappoint her. He was striking...and she was enthralled by his stature!
And so in reply, Brigit warmly responded, "Vincent, I am so pleased ye came...I'd have been crushed if I hadn't met ye tonight...and OH jist look at ye! Yer choice of masquerade is most extraordinary! Looks so real!"
Politely, Vincent nodded a thank you gesture, and then turned to Catherine, and said, "I would like you to meet Catherine."
Clearing her throat, Brigit turned to Catherine, and in a heavy Irish accent, she nodded and said, "Pleased to meet ye as well Catherine."
To which Catherine humbly replied, "The pleasure is mine Brigit, I only wish we were meeting under better circumstances."
Brigit nodded in understanding, and then turned back toward Vincent, and warmly said, "And Vincent, finally we are face to face! I feel as if I am meetin' an ole friend."
With a humbled manner, Vincent replied, "And I feel the same."
Thinking Brigit looked so isolated and alone, concernedly Catherine asked, "Are you here all by yourself?"
With a sigh, Brigit answered, "Aye, except for me bodyguard that's protectin', I am alone, as I am all that grumpy ole man has...but I tell ye true, there is no where else I would rather be, at 'is side, listenin' to 'is belly achin'. I know he enjoys the attention 'is complainin' brings him!"
Heaving an exhausted sigh, Brigit motioned to the chairs, and then offered, "Please sit down, and talk to me."
As Catherine realized she should give Vincent and Brigit time alone to visit, she explained, "If you both will excuse me for a bit, I must also check on a friend."
Happy to have Vincent to herself, Brigit kindly answered, "Of course Catherine."
As Catherine sensed Vincent was a little uneasy, subtly, she gave him an encouraging smile, and then promised, "I won't be long."
As Catherine turned to walk away, concernedly, Vincent stood watching, until she turned the corner and was out of his sight.
Curiously, Brigit watched Vincent, and then sadly smiled, as she observantly said, "I must tell ye Vincent, the fond connection between ye two, is quite illuminatin'."
Feeling a bit surprised Brigit had sensed what both he and Catherine knew they had, Vincent hesitated before he asked, "You recognize this bond between Catherine and I?"
With a slight nod, Brigit stared off, as she remembered days gone by, and disclosed, "Aye. That is how it was with me and me Ian..."
With a respectful silence, Vincent acknowledged the loss of Brigit's husband.
With compassion, Vincent then asked Brigit about her Father's condition, asking, "Your Father, how is he?"
To which Brigit mournfully answered, "Death is close. The doctors believe it could be soon. To think of all the bloody wasted time I let slip by because I was too proud. Now there he lies on his deathbed, and we are both tryin' to make up for lost time. Even after Ian died, I couldn't go to me father. Ahh Vincent...me personal life has been a bit of a shamble I am afraid. All I really have is me work."
To which Vincent tried to comfort her by saying, "Through your work, you have contributed so much to the world! Your message has given encouragement to so many, and has been uplifting to us all, surely that gives you some comfort."
As Brigit wiped away her tears, with a sly sad smile, she softly said, "Comfort yes, but that doesn't keep this Irish gal warm at night."
Upon hearing such a private longing, Vincent was taken aback, wondering if she meant it as personal, and flirtatious as it came out. So feeling a bit uncomfortable, Vincent acknowledged, "You have been through some rough times Brigit."
In reply, Brigit agreeably said, "Aye, the pain I felt when I lost Ian was beyond words. And now as I am about to loose me father, sometimes I wonder if life is just a collection of losses we each must embrace and find someway to endure, and rise above some how."
In a compassionate intonation, Vincent said, "Yes it does seem that way at times, then we turn around one day, and we are struck with a joy that was totally unexpected. One day, an unexpected joy will come, and you will begin your life anew."
Looking into Vincent's eyes, she said, "I believe ye are right. Even now, in the midst of all me pain, ye have brought me an element of joy. Somehow, I felt if ye came here tonight, that ye would."
Brigit then outwardly, and very flirtatiously added, "Ye know Vincent, there has been no one since Ian. And believe me when I tell ye, many have tried to take his place!"
Warmly, Brigit then recalled, "Ahh, me Ian was such a smart man. He was constantly stimulatin' me thinkin', ahh, among other things! There has been no one capable of turnin' me head, or excitin' me like he could."
Directly, Brigit then added, "No one, that is until ye. This past year, when I started receivin' yer letters, the way ye wrote, so intimately from yer heart, helped me to step outside me grief...and...I found meself lookin' forward to yer next letter, as yer letters became the highlight of me life...and because ye have stood out from all the others, I began to believe maybe there could be another in me life. Yes...I fancied it may be ye!"
Upon hearing all Brigit was saying, Vincent now realized he had NOT misinterpreted her forwardness earlier on! And so silently sitting in a state if shock...it appeared as though Vincent had been caught off guard tonight once more!
And so as Vincent sat speechless, Brigit then continued, "I do have a confession, when I sent ye that telegram tonight, I was a assumin' ye would be comin' here alone."
Being totally at a loss for words, Vincent looked downward, unsure of what to say in response to everything she had confessed.
Upon noticing how uncomfortable Vincent appeared to be, Brigit then mercifully said, "Don't worry Vincent, I can see things with ye, and yer lady are serious. Aye, it is me loss, I just wanted to be honest with ye about me feelins'."
To which Vincent humbly replied, "I am flattered you would consider me in that way...however Catherine and I...."
With an embrace to his arm, Brigit sadly said, "Aye I know, we can at least be friends...."
Wanting to know more about her competition, Brigit then asked, "So tell me...how long have ye been with Catherine?"
With an awestruck tone, Vincent replied, "Only tonight. When Catherine entered the room, she awoke in me...an old dream. A dream I put away as a young man, the dream of falling in love."
With surprise, Brigit asked, "A fine figure of man like ye, and with eyes so blue, they'd make Peter O'toole envious?
Brigit, then continued, "Well I have to ask, why would ye ever put away such a dream?"
To which Vincent carefully replied, "Because, until Catherine, I never believed anyone would be able to accept me."
Thinking it was too bad Catherine met him first, Brigit replied, "Well, I would have accepted ye too, in a...how do ye say it around here, in a New York Minute!"
Turning serious, Brigit then said, "In all sincerity...I dreamt of how it was goin' to be when we did met...and all I can say, is I do wish I'd 'ave met ye first."
Out of curiosity, Brigit then asked, "So tell me...why dinny ye think anyone could accept ye?"
Because of all Brigit had said, and since she asked, it was then Vincent decided it was right to tell her his story. And so as he hesitated a moment to find the words, Brigit encouragingly said, "We have shared so much Vincent...tell me why...
And so slowly he began, "Do you remember in my letters I wrote telling you I was not like any other man, that I was different."
To which Brigit answered, "Aye, ye do have a sensitivity about ye. That is very rare in a man...in fact...I don't think..."
As Vincent cut Brigit short, he softly inserted, "It is not because of the ways you speak about Brigit..."