With care, Catherine reached under the tree for Vincent's last gift, and said, “One more gift."
As Vincent felt the weighty contents within, he shook it a bit, and said, "I cannot imagine what this could be…”
Excitedly, Catherine replied, “One way to find out.”
With a smile in his eyes, Vincent lifted the lid, and read a card that was inside. It read, “To Vincent, a wish of hope, love, and renewed faith during this Blessed Holiday Season when anything is possible.”
He thanked her for the lovely card, and said, how her words were profound, and wished the same for her. He then pealed away the tissue paper, and brought out a pair of specially sized skates from their box. He seemed to be awestruck as he silently inspected them, and simultaneously slipped off a boot. With wonder, he slid his foot inside, and as he looked up at her, with a look of astonishment, he said, "They fit!"
Catherine smiled, as she tearfully asked, "Surprised?"
In awe, Vincent asked, "How and when did you get my size?"
Catherine smiled as she informatively said, "It took a little sleuthing, but once I managed to trace one of your boots, I sent that on to a specialty shoe, and skate manufacturer."
Vincent then put on the other skate, stood, and stated, "Such a gift Catherine."
Catherine slipped on her coat, and as she grabbed her skates, she asked, “Shall we join the others?"
As the two approached the lake, everyone, one by one began to look their way! With Catherine’s mystery gift to Vincent now revealed, Rebecca and Pascal in particular, were taken aback, for it would be they, better than anyone else, who knew the pain of Vincent's childhood, remembering how year, after year, Vincent had to stay behind, unable to join them skating.
And so it was they, who first approached Vincent, and with a brotherly hug, Pascal said, "It looks as if you can finally join us!"
Rebecca too, with a beaming smile expressed, “What a wonderful gift Catherine. Save a skate for me Vincent.”
To which he promised, “I have you embossed upon my skate card Rebecca.”
Just then, Jamie pelted Pascal with a snowball, which took him away to indulge in an all out snowball fight, along with Mouse and Laura. And of course, Jacob and Mary could be heard from the glow of the bonn fire, shouting words of caution to be careful!
Vincent then asked Catherine, “Shall we?” And with the invitation issued, Catherine happily accepted, and so they skated off, getting used to the skates, the ice, and the flying snowballs. But before you knew it, Vincent skated with the grace of someone who had skated before, and he even successfully executed a few fancy moves.
As the moon illuminated the sky, they took a break from the ice, to sit around the fire, passing bowls of chili Mary and Jacob had made together. Everyone marveled how delicious it was, and it was there they told stories, and sang a few carols, as well as made plans for the rest of the time they had.
Tomorrow it was decided, they would go sledding down the big hill, Laura, Jamie, and Mouse spotted hiking that morning on the other side of the meadow.
Catherine and Rebecca, also reminded Vincent about his promise of making a snowman, to which he boldly assured them, "Tomorrow, we shall build a spectacular snowman!"
Playfully, Peter passed around the "Jim Beam" for those who were inclined, and Catherine poured steaming Hot Cocoa for the others. And as a special treat, they roasted coconut-coated marshmallows over the fire! These were a big hit, especially with Rocky!
It was then when Vincent, without a word, rose to his feet, and took to the vacant ice. He glided gracefully along, skating with such style, and ease.
Catherine stepped to the shore, so she could better watch him. As Vincent skated, he looked so powerfully carefree, with his scarf flowing in the wind. Discreetly he looked at his Catherine, wanting to make sure he had the audience he hoped he had. Once he was sure he did, he tried a few of his newly developed fancy moves, and he, even skated backwards!
Catherine never saw Vincent this lighthearted, and confident as he was here on the ice. A place, where he could be open, and free. She thought in fact, he seemed to be as happy as she had ever seen him.
As the Christmas Carols bellowed through the speakers, Vincent skated to Catherine, and took her hands in his.
They made a striking couple out on the ice this night. Vincent, powerful, and sure, and Catherine, beautiful, and happy. They touched everyone's heart as each one stopped in their tracks to watch them.
As Mary looked over at Jacob, she spotted a tear streaming down his cheek as he watched his beautiful son. Sweetly she took her hankie, and without a word, she discreetly wiped it away. Jacob looked back at her, bestowing upon her, a shaky smile of thanks.
It was long after everyone else retired, and it was only Vincent and Catherine who remained around the fire, and with a breathless sigh, Vincent commented, "Its been a day."
With a smile, Catherine softly said, "Yes, a wonderful day."
As he held her protectively within his embrace, he then noted, "And in a few more days it will be Christmas. The first Christmas we will share."
As she shifted her gaze from the flames to Vincent, she replied softly, "And together, we will make our own lovely memories, which will serve us well, in the years to come."
Merry Christmas
The End
Catherine and Vincent's Christmas in Connecticut!
Sharon's Beauty and the Beast Home Chamber
As Vincent felt the weighty contents within, he shook it a bit, and said, "I cannot imagine what this could be…”
Excitedly, Catherine replied, “One way to find out.”
With a smile in his eyes, Vincent lifted the lid, and read a card that was inside. It read, “To Vincent, a wish of hope, love, and renewed faith during this Blessed Holiday Season when anything is possible.”
He thanked her for the lovely card, and said, how her words were profound, and wished the same for her. He then pealed away the tissue paper, and brought out a pair of specially sized skates from their box. He seemed to be awestruck as he silently inspected them, and simultaneously slipped off a boot. With wonder, he slid his foot inside, and as he looked up at her, with a look of astonishment, he said, "They fit!"
Catherine smiled, as she tearfully asked, "Surprised?"
In awe, Vincent asked, "How and when did you get my size?"
Catherine smiled as she informatively said, "It took a little sleuthing, but once I managed to trace one of your boots, I sent that on to a specialty shoe, and skate manufacturer."
Vincent then put on the other skate, stood, and stated, "Such a gift Catherine."
Catherine slipped on her coat, and as she grabbed her skates, she asked, “Shall we join the others?"
As the two approached the lake, everyone, one by one began to look their way! With Catherine’s mystery gift to Vincent now revealed, Rebecca and Pascal in particular, were taken aback, for it would be they, better than anyone else, who knew the pain of Vincent's childhood, remembering how year, after year, Vincent had to stay behind, unable to join them skating.
And so it was they, who first approached Vincent, and with a brotherly hug, Pascal said, "It looks as if you can finally join us!"
Rebecca too, with a beaming smile expressed, “What a wonderful gift Catherine. Save a skate for me Vincent.”
To which he promised, “I have you embossed upon my skate card Rebecca.”
Just then, Jamie pelted Pascal with a snowball, which took him away to indulge in an all out snowball fight, along with Mouse and Laura. And of course, Jacob and Mary could be heard from the glow of the bonn fire, shouting words of caution to be careful!
Vincent then asked Catherine, “Shall we?” And with the invitation issued, Catherine happily accepted, and so they skated off, getting used to the skates, the ice, and the flying snowballs. But before you knew it, Vincent skated with the grace of someone who had skated before, and he even successfully executed a few fancy moves.
As the moon illuminated the sky, they took a break from the ice, to sit around the fire, passing bowls of chili Mary and Jacob had made together. Everyone marveled how delicious it was, and it was there they told stories, and sang a few carols, as well as made plans for the rest of the time they had.
Tomorrow it was decided, they would go sledding down the big hill, Laura, Jamie, and Mouse spotted hiking that morning on the other side of the meadow.
Catherine and Rebecca, also reminded Vincent about his promise of making a snowman, to which he boldly assured them, "Tomorrow, we shall build a spectacular snowman!"
Playfully, Peter passed around the "Jim Beam" for those who were inclined, and Catherine poured steaming Hot Cocoa for the others. And as a special treat, they roasted coconut-coated marshmallows over the fire! These were a big hit, especially with Rocky!
It was then when Vincent, without a word, rose to his feet, and took to the vacant ice. He glided gracefully along, skating with such style, and ease.
Catherine stepped to the shore, so she could better watch him. As Vincent skated, he looked so powerfully carefree, with his scarf flowing in the wind. Discreetly he looked at his Catherine, wanting to make sure he had the audience he hoped he had. Once he was sure he did, he tried a few of his newly developed fancy moves, and he, even skated backwards!
Catherine never saw Vincent this lighthearted, and confident as he was here on the ice. A place, where he could be open, and free. She thought in fact, he seemed to be as happy as she had ever seen him.
As the Christmas Carols bellowed through the speakers, Vincent skated to Catherine, and took her hands in his.
They made a striking couple out on the ice this night. Vincent, powerful, and sure, and Catherine, beautiful, and happy. They touched everyone's heart as each one stopped in their tracks to watch them.
As Mary looked over at Jacob, she spotted a tear streaming down his cheek as he watched his beautiful son. Sweetly she took her hankie, and without a word, she discreetly wiped it away. Jacob looked back at her, bestowing upon her, a shaky smile of thanks.
It was long after everyone else retired, and it was only Vincent and Catherine who remained around the fire, and with a breathless sigh, Vincent commented, "Its been a day."
With a smile, Catherine softly said, "Yes, a wonderful day."
As he held her protectively within his embrace, he then noted, "And in a few more days it will be Christmas. The first Christmas we will share."
As she shifted her gaze from the flames to Vincent, she replied softly, "And together, we will make our own lovely memories, which will serve us well, in the years to come."
Merry Christmas
The End
Catherine and Vincent's Christmas in Connecticut!
Sharon's Beauty and the Beast Home Chamber
| 11 |
| I |
| Catherine and Vincent’s Christmas in Connecticut! Part Five Final Chapter |
