Meanwhile...just moments after Charles and Rita had left, the Host of the Gala event, stood in the center of the room to make an announcement.
And he said, "May I have your attention? Please your attention."
Suddenly everyone turned toward Harold, to hear what he had to say. He regretfully began, "I just heard from Brigit O'Donnell's press secretary, and he would like for me to read a letter to all of you from Brigit herself, and it reads:
St. Vincent's Hospital
Dear Honored Guests, Regrettably I will not be able to attend the party ye planned in me honor. I just received word that me Father is in a hospital right here in New York City, and sadly I learned, he is terminally ill.
Those of ye, who know me, and me life's story, also know me Father and I haven't spoken in many years. And though actions and attitudes might separate and distance a family...Love will lead ye back together.
So it is love that binds me to his side. Know still, I am saddened not being with all of ye tonight. I know ye will understand.
Sincerely, Brigit O'Donnell
Harold then concluded, "I am just as sorry, as all of you are, that we will not be meeting this magnificent author tonight. So...please keep Brigit and her Father in your prayers..."
And then graciously, Harold added, "...and STAY! Don't leave, continue to enjoy the evening the best you can under these circumstances...Thank you everyone."
Upon hearing this news, Catherine and Vincent stood silently for a moment, as did everyone else.
As the realization of not meeting Brigit settled in on Vincent, he felt so badly the plan of meeting Brigit tonight would not be happening.
Vincent then considered the friendship he and Brigit had formed through their letters. Yes, in their letters, they revealed personal heart aches to one another, and shared so much...he then pondered why this friendship wouldn't be strong enough for Brigit to still try to meet him somehow?
Chastising his selfishness, he then knew he had to rise above his own feelings, and be hopeful for Brigit, as she was reconciling with her Father.
Slowly chatter about the room started again, and when Catherine looked at Vincent she saw how let down he was.
Feeling this way too, Catherine then acknowledged, "Quite a disappointment."
Upon clearing his throat, Vincent heaved a deep resigning sigh, and said, "Yes indeed."
To which Catherine then sadly suggested, "Maybe next time."
Vincent nodded, even though he knew a chance to meet someone like Brigit, could only happen for him...on a rare night, such as this. And he knew this opportunity may never come again.
However, to appease Catherine, he softly replied, "Next time..."
Instinctively, Catherine then reached down for Vincent's hand and with a gentle tightening, she smiled tenderly up at him.
Vincent looked down at their hands intertwined, looking at their differences, and he wondered how Catherine would really feel if she knew his façade, was his true visage.
Vincent then, upon remembering some of Brigit's words, "Live for today, it is all you really have", he was able to find some kind of solace for masquerading out in the world, in a perhaps deceiving manner.
And so these words, lifted him above his self pitying state, and enabled him to then smile to himself, as he found a sweetness, in this comforting gesture from Catherine.
As the air in the room seemed a bit stuffy, Catherine softly asked, "Shall we get some fresh air?"
Thinking this sounded nice, Vincent looked back, and kindly said, "Yes."
As he opened the French Doors, Vincent stepped down onto the terrace, and turned to guide Catherine through.
Just then Catherine heard someone call her name, and much to her dismay, she looked up and saw it was TOM! Yes it was Tom, all right, and he had chosen to appropriately dress as the Grim Reaper!
Arrogantly, Tom shot Vincent a look, and sneered back at Catherine and said, "I thought you were coming here with your Daddy."
And because Catherine didn't want to dignify Tom with an answer, Catherine replied, "Tom please, keep your voice down, don't make a scene."
Catherine's comment, reminded Tom, that she was right, he really didn't want to make a scene! All the elite were there, and he still wanted to at least put up a front that he and Catherine were friendly, and so under his breath, he smiled as he chided, "Don't walk away from me!"
Looking back at him, Catherine tried to stifle him further, by quietly saying, "You are being rude Tom."
To which Tom feigned a laugh, as he angrily replied, "Well, I am still talking to you...so if you think you can..."
Well up to this point, Vincent was trying not to butt in, however, because of Tom's persistence, he was beginning to see he may have to.
And so Vincent stepped back up into the room, and with his height as a menacing tribute, he easily towered over Tom!
So with a dignified dominance, Vincent kept his voice at a low ebb, and as he looked down on Tom, he said, "Your behavior toward Catherine is unconscionable...and for the life of me, I am wondering why you are still here..."
Although Vincent spoke quietly, his manner definitely emanated his intent, and as Tom looked up at Vincent, he for once was speechless!
Cowering, Tom backed away, and tried to act as if nothing was wrong between he and Catherine, and said, "Good to see ya..." and then he turned around, and couldn't get away fast enough!
Oh my! To see Tom intimidated by someone was truly a sight to behold, and because of this rarity, Catherine tried to stifle a smile, which she felt may seem a bit rude to Vincent for her to host.
However, it thrilled her that Vincent turned out to be her Knight in Shining Armor tonight, helping her out of this situation! She thought he had handled this whole thing so eloquently, and loved the way it made her feel, so safe and protected.
With a tip of his head, Vincent asked, "An old beau I assume?"
With embarrassment, Catherine humbly replied, "Afraid so..."
Vincent then looked into her beautiful green eyes, eyes that revealed much to him, and as he motioned toward the terrace, he asked, "Shall we Catherine?"
Happy Tom hadn't ruined everything with Vincent, Catherine smiled and said, "Yes..."
Stepping out through the doors, Catherine put her arm through the one Vincent had offered, and slowly they walked to the edge of the terrace.
Taking in a deep shuddering breath of the chilly autumn air, Catherine appreciatively replied, "Its so lovely out here..."
Noticing Catherine seemed a bit chilled, Vincent took off his cloak, and gallantly draped it over her shoulders, he said, "This will keep you warm."
As Catherine snuggled deeply into his cloak, she found such pleasure in the musky, sweet essence emanating from it, and she knew it was Vincent's warmth that was comforting her now.
And so as Catherine looked up to thank him, she thought he looked so striking, so handsome in the moonlight, and though she knew it was only his disguise, she thought he looked...beautiful...
After finally remembering herself, Catherine sweetly replied, "Thank you Vincent."
As he offered a slight "your welcome" nod, Vincent dropped his eyes, before looking heavenward, and with an awestruck tone, said, "The moon is brilliant tonight..."
He was then reminded of the poem he had just read earlier, A Night-Piece. And so in an entranced manner, he recited:
"The clear moon, and the glory of the Heavens. There in a black-blue vault she sails along."
As Catherine heard Vincent's recitation, she knew there was something very familiar about the words he had just spoken, and it bothered her she couldn't remember where she knew them from.
But because she loved the way he spoke so much, she shook off the annoying feeling, and with admiration, she said, "That sounded poetic."
To which Vincent replied, "Yes...it's from a poem I know."
He then in a thoughtful manner, shared, "There have been times, when I have contemplated the enormity of the night sky, and have wondered if what we are, or if what we do, really matters, or makes any kind of a difference in this world..."
Catherine then too looked skyward, and agreed, saying, "Yes....looking up into the heavens...at the moon and at all the trillions of stars, it can make you feel quite small, and inconsequential..."
And then she insightfully added, "But just think though, if all we ever do is make one tiny little ripple during our lifetime, well, that does matter, possibly affecting someone else's life in ways we may never be aware of."
As she thought of an example, Catherine then added, "Like Brigit...touching so many people with her words...like she has you...and me..."
Thinking on Catherine's uplifting perspective, Vincent simply replied, "Yes...like Brigit..."
He then thoughtfully noted, "....perhaps then...we should live our life accordingly..."
Thinking "The Golden Rule" was a wonderful methodology to live by, Catherine optimistically replied, "Perhaps we should! I mean wouldn't it be nice if everyone did, and we were all kinder to one another...with a little less rudeness in the world?"
Still trying to shake the humiliation from the encounter with Tom, Catherine felt she wanted to explain her past relationship with him to Vincent. And so she cleared her throat, and began, by saying, "Speaking of which, I really would like to clear the air about the way Tom acted."
To which Vincent asked, "Clear the air?"
Timidly, Catherine replied, "Well, you must be wondering why I ever had anything to do with a person such as Tom."
Since Catherine brought the subject up, Vincent truthfully admitted, "I do wonder..."
And so Catherine humbly explained, "He wasn't always so pushy, in fact when I first met him, Tom was very nice. But as his career progressed, I began to see the worst in him, his social climbing, stepping over others to get ahead, his greediness, and other unbecoming traits surfaced, well as his value system shifted, I knew there was no other choice but to end it with him."
Catherine then continued, "Though we broke up months ago, he still cannot seem to accept it. I have come to believe it is simply a matter of wanting what he can't have. I hear from him almost daily, and he will not take no for an answer."
Catherine then appreciatively added, "With your help, I believe he might have gotten the message tonight though."
Vincent with a raised brow, agreeably said, "You may be right."
Catherine then self consciously mentioned, "I hope you don't think badly of me for being fooled by such a man."
Wanting to put Catherine at ease, Vincent looked intently back at her, and with compassion said, "Catherine, I know its because of your kind heart that you didn't first see the bad in him. And I know how people can deceive us...not really being who they are projecting... "
Suddenly, upon hearing his own words, Vincent realized he was really no different from Tom!
And though he didn't set out to deliberately deceive anyone tonight, he in truth, was deceiving Catherine.
Vincent then privately reasoned, as he had ventured out tonight, it was for one purpose only...to fulfill his dream of meeting Brigit!
Now in meeting Catherine, Vincent is reminded of another dream, the dream of being in love with someone who loved him in return.
And from the moment Catherine entered the room, he knew she was the one, somehow he knew they were destined to meet. And although Vincent couldn't explain how, somehow he knew Catherine felt the same way toward him. Somehow...he knew what was in her heart.
And so because of feeling as he does, Vincent could not help but to think back on his Father's many warnings through the years. Jacob always talked to him about the dangers of venturing above. Vincent always thought of dangers in the sense of his physical being. But now he realized there are other dangers as well. The dangers which pain the heart...and what he was feeling was painful...for he had fallen in love with Catherine...and for Vincent...this was a dream that can never be...
And since he realized a relationship with Catherine would not be possible, he knew somehow he must find the courage to do the right thing, and...say goodbye to Catherine.
Meanwhile Catherine stood, feeling flattered by Vincent's kind words, knowing he understood how she had been duped by Tom...
And so for the moment, she was happy...not yet realizing this was the beginning of goodbye..