| rrr |
The next morning, as everyone began to wake up, excitement filled the cabin.
Laura, Rebecca, and Jamie helped set the breakfast table, the pans were clanging as Mary prepared the bacon, and sausage, and Catherine meanwhile, started cracking the eggs for the pancakes.
As Jacob poured himself a cup of coffee, he noted, "Hmm, I cannot think of a more welcoming aroma, than bacon cooking.”
To which Mary thoughtfully replied, "I agree, it takes me back.”
Jacob then addressed Catherine by asking, “Scrambled eggs Catherine?"
With a smile, Catherine hopefully said, “I thought I would try my luck at pancakes again. Keep your fingers crossed Father.”
Warmly, Jacob replied, “No need for luck my dear, you did a marvelous job last time.”
He then thoughtfully continued, “Back in my day, we called pancakes flapjacks! And well, even if I do say so myself, I became quite first-rate at preparing them.”
With a surprised look, Catherine smiled as she asked, “You did?”
To which Jacob explained, “I was a short order cook at a corner coffee shop, working my way through college you see.”
As Catherine untied her apron, and offered the spatula to Jacob, she asked, “Would you do us the honors then Father?”
Vincent, who had stepped up enjoying the exchange between his father and Catherine, poured his coffee, and injected, “Yes Father, please do us the honors.”
As the demands for Jacob to cook began to echo around the table, Jacob happily complied! Catherine finished tying the apron around him, and as he stirred the batter once more, he poured eight beautifully round proportioned flapjacks! And when it was time to flip them, he did so with amazing flare!
Mary marveled, "Oh Jacob, I think if William could see you now, he would be a little envious of your skills!"
Jacob laughed as he said, "William has nothing to fear from me Mary. Although, if truth be known, I do love to cook. Many a time I have wanted to poke my nose into his kitchen, but I do know better!"
Meanwhile, just like clockwork, Peter, Mouse, and Pascal arrive just in time for breakfast! And so Peter jokingly said, “How do you like that? Our timing is perfect!”
Catherine greeted Peter with a hug around his middle, and said, “I was just about to call the three of you. I didn’t want you to miss out on Father’s specialty. Flapjacks!”
Not being a stranger to Jacob’s cooking, Peter sat down at the closest chair, and said, “Great! Bring ‘em on! It’s been years since I’ve dug in to a plate of Jacob's flapjacks and I’m starving.”
“Mouse.” explained Catherine, “Here is some fruit for Rocky. I thought he might be hungry too.”
Beaming back at Catherine, Mouse said thank you, and set Rocky down, to enjoy his breakfast of apples and bananas.
As they all sat around the huge round table, enjoying their delicious breakfast, they made plans for the day. It was decided the men would go out and find a Christmas tree to cut for the cabin, while the women ran into town on an errand.
As Catherine drove the ladies into New Haven, they were all so full of spirit as they listened and sang along with Christmas Carols! And when one of Catherine's favorite carols came on, "The Holly and the Ivy", she declared, "This is my most favorite Christmas Carol!" They all agreed it was beautiful, and sang along to the lovely melody.
As they passed by the many, beautifully decorated shops, that were readied for the Christmas Holiday, they ooohed and ahhhed, and had fun commenting about this display, or that decoration, saying which they liked best. When suddenly, Catherine announced, "There it is, The United States Post Office, I pray Vincent's gift is there waiting for me."
As Mary, Rebecca, Laura, and Jamie waited in the car, they all asked each other if anyone knew what the gift was. Well, since no one knew, they began to speculate what it might be. They all noted Catherine seemed to be quite secretive about it, and had not given even one hint to what it was!
To which Rebecca surmised, “Maybe Catherine doesn’t want to take a chance on Vincent finding out. You know how it is, you tell one person, and that person tells another confidentially, and the next thing you know, the word is out.”
With a pout, Laura signed, “But she can trust us!”
Trying to sooth her feelings, Mary explained, “Its not a matter of trust exactly, its more like…”
Then Jamie cut in, and with a sly smile, she smugly promised, "I will get it out of her, just you wait and see!"
Meantime, Catherine had exited the Post Office, and was holding the coveted package in her arms.
As Catherine opened the van's back door, and deposited the package on the floor, she then climbed into the driver's seat again, and happily said, "It came everyone. And so today after we finish decorating the cabin, I will ask Vincent to open his gift."
It was then Jamie cleared her throat as she fished for information, and offered, "Ahem, Catherine, that package looked kinda heavy..."
With a bit of a giggle, Catherine admitted, "Yes! It kinda was!"
To which Jamie then said, "Gee, I am so stumped for a gift for Vincent, how did you decide what to get him?"
In reply, Catherine said, "I just listened to him, things he had said, and luckily I was able to find just what I thought would suit him."
Mary thinking Jamie was getting nowhere, butted in, and said, "Yes Dear, Vincent is very hard to surprise. He already has many of the great works of literature, so that option is out!"
And then Rebecca reiterated, "Yes, I know what both you and Jamie mean Mary, I have given Vincent dozens of candles through the years, I would love to come up with a new idea."
Laura signed her frustration as well about finding the right gift for Vincent, and as they all talked between themselves, Catherine started laughing, and said, "Okay everyone, I know what’s going on here! You are trying to find out what it is I am giving Vincent."
Poor Mary could hold back no longer and shrieked, "Oh my, yes its true Dear!"
And then Jamie excitedly asked, "What is it Catherine? Won't you tell us?"
Meanwhile, Rebecca and Laura sat on the edge of their seats, waiting for Catherine to answer. Until finally she said, "I would love to, but I can't. In a few hours you will find out along with Vincent."
They all settled back, and Jamie huffed, "Oh all right, I guess we shouldn't know before he does, but not knowing is driving us crazy!"
Seeing how badly they all wanted to know, Catherine apologized, and tried to divert the girl's attention by doing some window-shopping at the local Five & Dime, where she treated them all to a burger, fry, and a malted. As they noticed the time, they realized they should head back to the cabin, and the way home was filled with talk, music, and laughter. And they were having the time of their lives.
They returned to the cabin, just as the men had finished putting up the Christmas tree. Catherine loved they had positioned it in the corner where her Dad always put it, and so with tears in her eyes, Catherine said, "Oh it is beautiful, and it looks like the tree is ready to decorate.”
To which Mary excitedly said, "While you decorate, I will start preparing the chili for the bonn fire tonight. I thought I may as well put it on early so it will have a nice long time to simmer."
Jacob then stepped up, and said, "Quite right, that’s the only way to do Chili! Simmer, simmer, then simmer some more. Mary perhaps I may assist you."
To which Mary happily said, "By all means Father."
Replying to Mary’s suggestion, Catherine said, “Sounds good. I will get the decorations."
As she started up the stairs, she stopped, and turned to look at Vincent who had been admiring her from across the room, and it took her breath away as she realized he had been watching her.
Smiling, as she held out her hand to him, she asked, “Would you help me?"
Elegantly, Vincent nodded and said, "Of course Catherine."
Catherine took his hand, and led the way to the attic, where the decorations were stored.
As she pulled the string to the single bulb that hung loosely in the middle of the attic, Catherine spotted, the boxes marked "Christmas.”
Kneeling down beside them, she opened one of the storage boxes, and up on top was the popcorn string she and her Mom had made. Vincent recognized it at once as Catherine had told him the story behind it. Gently Catherine lifted it from the box, and brought it out of the plastic bag where it had been stored. Softly, Catherine told Vincent, "Dad and I haven't placed this on a tree since the year we had made it."
As she examined it, she closed her eyes and bent her head. She hadn't expected to feel so sad as she found these treasures from her childhood. And so she then admitted, "I don't know if I could ever put it on a tree again."
Vincent knelt down beside her, and gently took her into his arms, and softly he whispered, "You may. You'll know when you are ready."
Vincent then brushed her hair away, and justified, "Our memories are fashioned from our past, and have made us who we are. What a treasure to have them, and remember where we have come from.”
In reply, Catherine shared, “Sometimes remembering is so painful.”
Holding her, Vincent said, “Painful when the reminiscences involve our losses. But Catherine, it is alright to miss the people we love, it’s alright to be sad. We must revere even those moments when they surface, and then, after we honor them, we can remember the happy times too, and go forward.”
Then with encouragement, Vincent suggested, "Come, let’s go forward and live our lives in such a way, we make new memories to kindly look back on."
Catherine took a deep breath as she gathered herself up, and said, "You always make me see the value in all things, even in elements of sadness.”
Gently Catherine put the popcorn string back in its wrapping, and put it back in the box.
Catherine knew Vincent was right, and so she began to find joy in the task at hand. After gathering all the choice items, she told Vincent, "Let’s take these boxes, I think they have all we need to decorate the cabin."
To be continued
Part Four
Laura, Rebecca, and Jamie helped set the breakfast table, the pans were clanging as Mary prepared the bacon, and sausage, and Catherine meanwhile, started cracking the eggs for the pancakes.
As Jacob poured himself a cup of coffee, he noted, "Hmm, I cannot think of a more welcoming aroma, than bacon cooking.”
To which Mary thoughtfully replied, "I agree, it takes me back.”
Jacob then addressed Catherine by asking, “Scrambled eggs Catherine?"
With a smile, Catherine hopefully said, “I thought I would try my luck at pancakes again. Keep your fingers crossed Father.”
Warmly, Jacob replied, “No need for luck my dear, you did a marvelous job last time.”
He then thoughtfully continued, “Back in my day, we called pancakes flapjacks! And well, even if I do say so myself, I became quite first-rate at preparing them.”
With a surprised look, Catherine smiled as she asked, “You did?”
To which Jacob explained, “I was a short order cook at a corner coffee shop, working my way through college you see.”
As Catherine untied her apron, and offered the spatula to Jacob, she asked, “Would you do us the honors then Father?”
Vincent, who had stepped up enjoying the exchange between his father and Catherine, poured his coffee, and injected, “Yes Father, please do us the honors.”
As the demands for Jacob to cook began to echo around the table, Jacob happily complied! Catherine finished tying the apron around him, and as he stirred the batter once more, he poured eight beautifully round proportioned flapjacks! And when it was time to flip them, he did so with amazing flare!
Mary marveled, "Oh Jacob, I think if William could see you now, he would be a little envious of your skills!"
Jacob laughed as he said, "William has nothing to fear from me Mary. Although, if truth be known, I do love to cook. Many a time I have wanted to poke my nose into his kitchen, but I do know better!"
Meanwhile, just like clockwork, Peter, Mouse, and Pascal arrive just in time for breakfast! And so Peter jokingly said, “How do you like that? Our timing is perfect!”
Catherine greeted Peter with a hug around his middle, and said, “I was just about to call the three of you. I didn’t want you to miss out on Father’s specialty. Flapjacks!”
Not being a stranger to Jacob’s cooking, Peter sat down at the closest chair, and said, “Great! Bring ‘em on! It’s been years since I’ve dug in to a plate of Jacob's flapjacks and I’m starving.”
“Mouse.” explained Catherine, “Here is some fruit for Rocky. I thought he might be hungry too.”
Beaming back at Catherine, Mouse said thank you, and set Rocky down, to enjoy his breakfast of apples and bananas.
As they all sat around the huge round table, enjoying their delicious breakfast, they made plans for the day. It was decided the men would go out and find a Christmas tree to cut for the cabin, while the women ran into town on an errand.
As Catherine drove the ladies into New Haven, they were all so full of spirit as they listened and sang along with Christmas Carols! And when one of Catherine's favorite carols came on, "The Holly and the Ivy", she declared, "This is my most favorite Christmas Carol!" They all agreed it was beautiful, and sang along to the lovely melody.
As they passed by the many, beautifully decorated shops, that were readied for the Christmas Holiday, they ooohed and ahhhed, and had fun commenting about this display, or that decoration, saying which they liked best. When suddenly, Catherine announced, "There it is, The United States Post Office, I pray Vincent's gift is there waiting for me."
As Mary, Rebecca, Laura, and Jamie waited in the car, they all asked each other if anyone knew what the gift was. Well, since no one knew, they began to speculate what it might be. They all noted Catherine seemed to be quite secretive about it, and had not given even one hint to what it was!
To which Rebecca surmised, “Maybe Catherine doesn’t want to take a chance on Vincent finding out. You know how it is, you tell one person, and that person tells another confidentially, and the next thing you know, the word is out.”
With a pout, Laura signed, “But she can trust us!”
Trying to sooth her feelings, Mary explained, “Its not a matter of trust exactly, its more like…”
Then Jamie cut in, and with a sly smile, she smugly promised, "I will get it out of her, just you wait and see!"
Meantime, Catherine had exited the Post Office, and was holding the coveted package in her arms.
As Catherine opened the van's back door, and deposited the package on the floor, she then climbed into the driver's seat again, and happily said, "It came everyone. And so today after we finish decorating the cabin, I will ask Vincent to open his gift."
It was then Jamie cleared her throat as she fished for information, and offered, "Ahem, Catherine, that package looked kinda heavy..."
With a bit of a giggle, Catherine admitted, "Yes! It kinda was!"
To which Jamie then said, "Gee, I am so stumped for a gift for Vincent, how did you decide what to get him?"
In reply, Catherine said, "I just listened to him, things he had said, and luckily I was able to find just what I thought would suit him."
Mary thinking Jamie was getting nowhere, butted in, and said, "Yes Dear, Vincent is very hard to surprise. He already has many of the great works of literature, so that option is out!"
And then Rebecca reiterated, "Yes, I know what both you and Jamie mean Mary, I have given Vincent dozens of candles through the years, I would love to come up with a new idea."
Laura signed her frustration as well about finding the right gift for Vincent, and as they all talked between themselves, Catherine started laughing, and said, "Okay everyone, I know what’s going on here! You are trying to find out what it is I am giving Vincent."
Poor Mary could hold back no longer and shrieked, "Oh my, yes its true Dear!"
And then Jamie excitedly asked, "What is it Catherine? Won't you tell us?"
Meanwhile, Rebecca and Laura sat on the edge of their seats, waiting for Catherine to answer. Until finally she said, "I would love to, but I can't. In a few hours you will find out along with Vincent."
They all settled back, and Jamie huffed, "Oh all right, I guess we shouldn't know before he does, but not knowing is driving us crazy!"
Seeing how badly they all wanted to know, Catherine apologized, and tried to divert the girl's attention by doing some window-shopping at the local Five & Dime, where she treated them all to a burger, fry, and a malted. As they noticed the time, they realized they should head back to the cabin, and the way home was filled with talk, music, and laughter. And they were having the time of their lives.
They returned to the cabin, just as the men had finished putting up the Christmas tree. Catherine loved they had positioned it in the corner where her Dad always put it, and so with tears in her eyes, Catherine said, "Oh it is beautiful, and it looks like the tree is ready to decorate.”
To which Mary excitedly said, "While you decorate, I will start preparing the chili for the bonn fire tonight. I thought I may as well put it on early so it will have a nice long time to simmer."
Jacob then stepped up, and said, "Quite right, that’s the only way to do Chili! Simmer, simmer, then simmer some more. Mary perhaps I may assist you."
To which Mary happily said, "By all means Father."
Replying to Mary’s suggestion, Catherine said, “Sounds good. I will get the decorations."
As she started up the stairs, she stopped, and turned to look at Vincent who had been admiring her from across the room, and it took her breath away as she realized he had been watching her.
Smiling, as she held out her hand to him, she asked, “Would you help me?"
Elegantly, Vincent nodded and said, "Of course Catherine."
Catherine took his hand, and led the way to the attic, where the decorations were stored.
As she pulled the string to the single bulb that hung loosely in the middle of the attic, Catherine spotted, the boxes marked "Christmas.”
Kneeling down beside them, she opened one of the storage boxes, and up on top was the popcorn string she and her Mom had made. Vincent recognized it at once as Catherine had told him the story behind it. Gently Catherine lifted it from the box, and brought it out of the plastic bag where it had been stored. Softly, Catherine told Vincent, "Dad and I haven't placed this on a tree since the year we had made it."
As she examined it, she closed her eyes and bent her head. She hadn't expected to feel so sad as she found these treasures from her childhood. And so she then admitted, "I don't know if I could ever put it on a tree again."
Vincent knelt down beside her, and gently took her into his arms, and softly he whispered, "You may. You'll know when you are ready."
Vincent then brushed her hair away, and justified, "Our memories are fashioned from our past, and have made us who we are. What a treasure to have them, and remember where we have come from.”
In reply, Catherine shared, “Sometimes remembering is so painful.”
Holding her, Vincent said, “Painful when the reminiscences involve our losses. But Catherine, it is alright to miss the people we love, it’s alright to be sad. We must revere even those moments when they surface, and then, after we honor them, we can remember the happy times too, and go forward.”
Then with encouragement, Vincent suggested, "Come, let’s go forward and live our lives in such a way, we make new memories to kindly look back on."
Catherine took a deep breath as she gathered herself up, and said, "You always make me see the value in all things, even in elements of sadness.”
Gently Catherine put the popcorn string back in its wrapping, and put it back in the box.
Catherine knew Vincent was right, and so she began to find joy in the task at hand. After gathering all the choice items, she told Vincent, "Let’s take these boxes, I think they have all we need to decorate the cabin."
To be continued
Part Four
| Catherine and Vincent's Christmas in Connecticut! Part Three |
