To which Vincent kindly replied, "No Catherine, I have lived in New York City...all of my life."
With a questioning, astonished tone, Catherine then asked, "How is it I have never met you before?"
But before Vincent could answer, she surmised, "Or maybe we have met, and I don't recognize you with your disguise in place?"
Vincent in a quiet cursed tone said, "No, we haven't met. I never would have forgotten if we had."
He then lowered his head, feeling suddenly saddened by his fate, as the reality of his life overwhelmed him.
Catherine then in agreement said, "I believe you are right, I wouldn't have forgotten either."
Staying silent for a moment, Catherine privately thought, although she had just met Vincent minutes ago, she felt so open to him, thinking she had never felt such an instant connection to anyone before. And though she didn't know for certain, she sensed this feeling was a mutual one...and this enticing man felt this way too.
And so because she was right...Vincent steadily looked into Catherine's searching eyes, and softly answered, "Yes...We both would have remembered."
The way Vincent reached into her heart with his words, voice...his eyes, Catherine herself now knew she was right. And as she took in a deep breath, Catherine simply answered, "Yes..."
And as the brilliant blue hue of Vincent's eyes continued to captivate and fascinate Catherine, she then added, "...forgive me if I am staring, but your eyes are the most beautiful blue..."
She then stopped herself, thinking she sounded so flirtatiously forward, and then apologetically said, "I don't mean to embarrass you."
As Vincent tried to put Catherine at ease, he told her, "In truth...your flattering words have given me courage."
To which Catherine sweetly questioned, "Courage? How so?"
In reply, Vincent kindly said, "Well, because of your flattery, it has given me the courage to ask you to dance."
Relieved she had not frightened him off, Catherine smiled, and said, "I would love to..."
Taking her by the hand, Vincent then lead Catherine out to the dance floor.
As they poised themselves, Vincent then tenderly put one hand at her waist, and held her hand in his.
Being held by Vincent like this was very intoxicating to Catherine, to feel his hand upon her, to look up into his eyes, pondering just where this beautiful stranger had been all of her life.
They danced to the waltz named, "Once upon a Dream!", and as they danced, they looked deeply into each others eyes. This moment carried them to a place, where not even self-conscious shyness could foil this romantic, magical moment.
And though there were several other couples dancing, no other pair could hold a candle to the aura surrounding Vincent and Catherine...and even the other couples, could not help but be drawn to them as well.
Meanwhile, off to the side, watched a very interested observer, Catherine's Dad! He could not help but wonder, who is this guy, that managed to capture his daughter's attention so completely?
As the song came to an end, Catherine noticed her Dad intently watching off to the side, and so Catherine smiled, as she carefully mentioned, "That's my dad over there. I would love for you to meet him, unless..."
To which Vincent cut in, and suavely said, "I would be honored."
Loving his politeness, she then lead him over to Charles, and with a slight nervousness, said, "Hi Dad. I want you to meet Vincent...this is Vincent..."
As Catherine had no last name to put with Vincent's first, she turned to him and humorously said, "I just realized I don't know your last name..."
Just as Vincent was about to reply, a waiter came by with a tray of champagne, and offered the three of them a glass.
After the waiter departed, Charles forgetting about learning Vincent last name, finished the introductions, by saying, "Well we were just getting to know each other, so allow me to introduce myself, I'm Charles, this young lady's very proud papa."
In reply, Vincent politely nodded and said, "Pleased to meet you Charles..."
While the two men shook hands, Catherine too bypassed learning Vincent's last name, and instead inserted, "Vincent is a native New Yorker Dad."
To which Charles nodded saying, "You don't say? Ah New York, such a great place to live. Don't you agree?"
In reply Vincent said, "Yes...the city is so alive, seeming as though it is a living, breathing entity in of itself, with so many facets, and due to its people, hosts a diversity and a greatness...like no other city can boast."
Due to the depth of his answer, both Catherine and Charles momentarily stood staring, and because Charles liked his answer so very much, he held up his glass up, and respectfully said, "Allow me to make a toast then to the people of New York City!"
Charles gathered his thoughts, and continued, "Let's see....May the road rise up to meet you...may the wind be always at your back...awe...oh boy...the wind at your back...cheeze, I know this Blessing like the back of my hand...err...wind always at your back..."
Knowing this Blessing his self, Vincent kindly offered, "Allow me if you will..."
Feeling embarrassed, with a nod, Charles encouraged, "Please Vincent help me out here."
And so as Vincent complied, he humbly recited the Irish Blessing from the beginning, saying, "...May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, The rain fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand."
After the conclusion of the poem, both Catherine and Charles, were still looking at Vincent for a few seconds more, and it wasn't until Vincent raised his glass, that they snapped out of their state of wonder, to do the same.
After they all took a sip, Charles then curiously asked, "Are you Irish Vincent?"
Self consciously, Vincent looked downward, and said, "I have a friend who is, and whenever he bestows these fond wishes upon myself, it never fails to move me."
In reply, Charles nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, it is a compelling Blessing."
Thinking on what Vincent had said about New York City, Charles asked, "The way you speak about our fine city...I am wondering, have you lived elsewhere as a means to compare it to others?"
To which Vincent humbly replied, "No...not lived in others, however I enjoy reading and learning about other cities...countries...places...and in learning about the people, the human factor of different cultures...it is evident to me the people here have a spirit as in no other place..."
With an understanding, Catherine stood listening to Vincent's answer, and because she totally agreed, she simply responded with an appreciative nod.
And Charles too agreeably said, "You are right about that Vincent!"
Realizing he was monopolizing the conversation, Charles lovingly looked at Catherine, and then to Vincent, as he said, "I couldn't help but notice you two danced together very well."
In reply, Catherine looked admiringly up at Vincent, and giggled a bit as she said, "That was all due to Vincent, Dad! You know me, I have two left feet."
To which Vincent softly interjected, "Not so Catherine...for you danced beautifully."
Charles could not deny this chemistry that was going on between his daughter, and this beguiling stranger, and he could not help but to be intrigued by his manner himself! There was something so different about him, something special.
Just as Charles was about to grill Vincent a little about his life, and profession, Rita who was dressed as a Spanish dancer, came playfully swaying up to him, and as she took the rose out from between her teeth, she said, "Charles you promised me a dance!"
Charles put down his champagne, and laughed as he said, "Yes I guess I did. But first, before I subject you to my dancing, I want you to meet Vincent. And Vincent this is one of my right hand men, er women, my legal secretary, Rita. of whom I would be totally lost with out."
To which Vincent said, he was very pleased to meet her.
Rita who was enthralled by Vincent's beautiful eyes, and his entire get up, commented, "I am very pleased to meet you too! And I gotta say, your look is amazing!"
Rita then turned to Catherine, and said, "I do believe you nabbed the most handsome guest here!"
To which Charles looked at Rita, and with an insulted tone asked, "What am I? Chopped liver?"
In reply, Rita looked over at Catherine, and then teasingly noted, "Always fishing for compliments!"
Realizing he wasn't going to get one, Charles then heard the band cue up "The Monster Mash, and as he took Rita's hand, he humorously said, "Come on Lolita, they're playing our song!"
As Rita happily followed, she excitedly said, "Si Senior'! I love this song!"
Catherine couldn't help but laugh at this pair, who thoroughly enjoy picking at one another all day long at work, and were still in good form tonight!
However knowing her Dad had just visited the Chiropractor, Catherine couldn't help but with concern remind him, "Remember you just had an adjustment Dad."
Catherine then softly laughed, and Vincent too bent his head in amusement, and said, "They seem to have a genuine rapport."
To which Catherine, thoughtfully validated, "Yes they do. Rita has worked for...or I should say "with" Dad, hmm, twenty years or more now, both she and Marilyn. And all three of them, had built Dad's portion of the firm into what it is today...yes, they have been through so much, and have been together every step of the way. And even though Dad has other partners, I don't think there is any one Dad trusts more than Rita and Marilyn."
As Vincent watched the two dancing, he turned back to Catherine, and insightfully noted, "It is important to have someone in your life you can trust...someone who has your back..."
Thinking this was so too, Catherine feeling a little disarmed by Vincent's intuitiveness, replied, "Yes..I agree..."
As Catherine and Vincent, walked back to their secluded spot by the terrace doors, Catherine excitedly expressed, "I can't wait for Brigit to arrive!"
Catherine then glanced at the clock, and worriedly added, "It seems she should have by now."
To which Vincent with a concerned nod, agreed.
Thinking about her love of Brigit's writings, Catherine asked Vincent, "What works of Brigit's are you the most familiar with?"
With a slight tilt of his head, Vincent thoughtfully answered, "Brigit's book "300 days". This book changed my life, opened doors for me, which is why I am here tonight. I must tell her...express what her works have meant to me."
In concurrence, Catherine replied, "Yes...I too felt compelled to meet her, and tell her how special her work has been to me too."
Appreciating they felt the same in this manner, Vincent raised his glass to toast along with Catherine, saying, "To Brigit's thought provoking writing...
Catherine raised her glass, saying, "To Brigit."
Looking into each other's eyes, Vincent then added, "...and to you Catherine..."
In an effort to steady her voice, Catherine responded, "To you as well Vincent..."
And without looking away, they both sipped their champagne.
As Vincent put down his glass, he thoughtfully noted, "You and your Father seem very close."
Warmed by his observance, Catherine looked downward as she replied, "Yes we are. Dad is so wonderful, I love him very much."
Vincent closed his eyes, and with a heartfelt whisper said, "Yes I can feel it between you."
To which Catherine astonishingly asked, "You can?"
As Vincent opened his eyes, assuredly, he said, "Yes."
Catherine then with heavy emotion surmised, "I suppose our closeness, is due to the fact all we have, is each other."
Catherine then continued as she shared, "My Mom died when I was ten, and ever since then, it has been just me and my Dad."
Thoughtfully, Vincent noted, "What a great loss for one so young to bare."
In reply, Catherine softly told him, "Yes, it is a loss that stays with you, my Dad and I both still feel the emptiness, after all these years."
Upon hearing Catherine's testimony, Vincent bent his head sorrowfully, and whispered, "Yes..."
And because of the understanding tone in Vincent's reply caused Catherine to look at him, and say, "You seem to understand."
And then Catherine carefully asked, "Your Father and Mother, are they still living?"
To which Vincent answered, "My Father is. We too are very close. He has been everything to me."
Looking downward, Vincent then continued, "As far as my mother, I don't know if she is alive or not, I never knew her. She had abandoned me as an infant, and my Father then took care of me."
Compassionately, Catherine responded, "I am so sorry. You have endured an even greater loss than I, at least I have the memories of a loving Mother, but for you not to..."
Catherine then halted her sentence, realizing she may be delving too deeply, and saying too much, perhaps drudging up feelings for him he has reconciled away.
Catherine then apologetically said, "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to go on, and on."
With a tragic smile to his eyes, Vincent optimistically offered, "Yes, my sorrows have been great, however, I have been blessed with a wonderful Father."
Catherine smiled back at him, admiring his outlook, and sweetly said, "Let's toast to our Fathers then."
They then raised their glasses once more.
Just then Charles approached the two, and Catherine teasingly asked, "Were your ears burning Dad?"
To which Charles disappointedly said, "I don't know how to tell you this sweetie, but I have to leave. Rita just twisted her ankle out on the dance floor, now not to worry, it may not be serious, but we really should have it x-rayed."
Urgently, Catherine set her glass down, and with a tone of efficiency insisted, "I'll get my coat."
To which Charles raised a brow as he stopped her, and teasingly asked, "And miss meeting Brigit? No, we will be fine, in fact Rita's daughter Jean is meeting us there, and, if we are lucky, we may be back within the hour. St. V's is just up the road two blocks."
It was then Charles turned to Vincent, and held out his hand and asked, "May I count on you to look after my daughter while I am gone?"
Vincent with a firm handshake, and suave sincerity, respectfully answered, "Yes Charles."
Kindly, Charles nodded approvingly, because in Charles' profession, he found that a hand shake told much about a man and his character.
And, this particular hand shake with Vincent, was Charles' way of making a connection to this man, whom, his daughter seemed to be quite enamored with!
And so with an appreciative nod, Charles said, "Thank you Vincent. Well I better go...Rita's waiting in the car."
With a sad, but encouraging smile, Catherine then said, "All right Dad, tell Rita we will be wishing her well. And if you're not able to make it back to the party, don't worry, I'll take a Taxi back to my place."
Upon hearing his daughter may need to hail a taxi, he began to dig in his wallet, saying, "You might need some money kiddo."
To which Catherine held her hand over her Dad's, ensuring she had some money, and not to worry about her. Just take care of Rita.
To which Charles said, "OK Good then, good. Keep your fingers crossed..."
And so he kissed Catherine on the forehead, and teasingly said, "What a date uh?"
Smiling Catherine replied, "No worries Dad...now go!"
Kindly, Charles looked back once more, and said, "Talk to you soon."