As Catherine and Vincent walked leisurely through the tunnel main on the way to Catherine's threshold, they stopped to warm themselves at the common fire kettle in the crux of the tunnels. And as they enjoyed the warmth from it, they heard some laughter and Caroling!
Looking at one another, they wondered who it could be! But their question was quickly answered, as a very festive trio, Jamie, Brooke and Laura came into the clearing.
Surprised to see Vincent and Catherine there, the girls all cheerfully said hello to them, to which Vincent, with a smile in his eyes, noted, “Oh my, so much levity tonight.”
To which Jamie replied, “Why not? It's Christmas!”
And as Catherine noticed the girl's braided tresses, she complimented them saying, "Such cute hairstyles."
Of which in reply, Brooke was first to say, "Awe thanks, we were showing the younger girls how to braid hair, so Laura demonstrated on my hair, and I demonstrated on Jamie's."
As Laura silently chuckled, she motioned toward her own short hair, and signed, "Nothing to braid here!"
After they all chuckled along at Laura's comment, Catherine noticed their clothes as well, and so she asked, "And hmmm, are those new outfits you three are wearing too?"
Agreeing with his very observant Catherine, Vincent tipped his head to listen as the girls all excitedly chimed in saying they were new, and Jamie explained, "It was our sewing project that Mary helped us with Vincent, when you took the children to see Narcissa."
With an approving nod, he complimented them on their sewing expertise, and then Jamie mentioned, "It's all thanks to Mary, she was able to...well to use her words, she was able to "Knock off" the design from a fashion magazine we showed her. We know we are all matchy matchy, but since we all loved the same top, we thought what the heck...we'll each just make it in different colors."
With an impressive nod, Catherine noted, "Very cute, and may I say the layered look is very much in style up top too."
After the girls said thank you for the compliments, Jamie mentioned, "Mary made one for Rebecca too, we didn't want her to miss our just because she had candles to pour."
Thinking this was such a nice gesture, Vincent responded, "I am sure Rebecca will appreciate your thoughtfulness."
It was then Brooke changed the subject, and with concern asked, “Oh how was Lin? Is she feeling better?”
With an excited angst, Vincent and Catherine exchanged looks, knowing they have a sweet secret to keep, and so in reply, Vincent said, "She is better...and she was sorry they missed the event last night..."
And then Catherine nervously inserted, "They as in, she and Henry, because he was disappointed too..."
And then trying to act as if nothing was amiss, Vincent replied, "Oh well yes of course you are right Catherine...Henry was sorry as well, and Dr. Wong was too, they were in fact ALL sorry to have missed."
But because they did not actually see Dr. Wong, Catherine inserted, "Not that Dr. Wong told us so, because we didn't see him..."
To which Vincent inserted, "No, no we did not see him, however if we had..."
And then Catherine butted in to say, "Yes, if we had, we are sure he would have said he was sorry to have missed, because Lin and Henry had said so!"
Thinking they were acting kinda weird, Jamie asked, "What's with you guys...your are acting strange! What did you have, too much sake?"
The girls all giggled, and then Vincent and Catherine did too, thinking Jamie's joking was a good diversion to their poor secret keeping demeanors.
But then Vincent assuredly answered, "We did not indulge in the rice wine this evening, however..."
And then Catherine romantically answered, "Yes however, we had a lovely Rosebud tea..."
Vincent then returned Catherine's divine gaze, as he said, "Yes the tea, the dining...everything was superb!"
And then Laura eagerly signed, "What did you have to eat?"
To which Catherine smiled and as she handed them the carryout container, she answered, “Well, see for yourselves girls..."
In response, Jamie excitedly asked, "For us?"
And as Vincent gave them the chopsticks Lin included, he replied, "In truth, we were not sure who would be the recipient, however we decided, the first we would cross paths with, then they shall receive the extra portion Lin and Henry sent home with us."
And so with delight the girls opened the box, and happily munched away!
And then with stars in her eyes, Brooke eagerly asked, “What about the room, tell us what the room like?”
Vincent took the liberty to answer this question, and as he looked down at Catherine, he said, “The room was softly aglow by Chinese lanterns...the walls, were red with golden symbols embossed upon it, there were Buddha, Dragon and Lion statuettes sitting about, oriental music was playing, AND lastly...there was a thickly braided velvet chord which was attached to a bell for us to pull, should we require anything..."
Excited to know, Jamie asked, "So did you? Did you need anything?"
With a slight smile, Vincent replied, "No we did not...everything was plentiful, and we were not in need of anything more."
With a romantic sigh, Laura signed, "It sounds so romantic!"
To which Vincent looked at Catherine as he replied, "It was...it was all quite lovely...just like my dining companion...”
With a blushing to her cheeks, Catherine looked downward, and then told the girls, "It really was a lovely evening in every way."
The giggling girls, teasingly ooh’d and ahh’d, causing Vincent and Catherine to laugh a bit at themselves, knowing it can be uncomfortable being around a lovey, dovey couple.
And so since Vincent, wanted to change the subject from their romantic evening, he cleared his throat before he asked, “So, do tell, where are you three going at this hour?”
“Well…” explained Jamie, “Rebecca still had candles to prepare for the Christmas Eve Celebration, and so we told her after we put the children to bed, we would check to see if she still needed help. So that's where we are headed, AND we are going to surprise her with the top Mary made for her too.”
Tipping his head, Vincent then posed the question, “Catherine? Shall we join them on this endeavor as well?”
In total agreement, Catherine excitedly said, “Yes, I believe we shall.”
As they walked into the candle making chamber, Rebecca, who had 15 things going on at once, happily said, “The troops have arrived! And what? Vincent, and Catherine too? Wonderful!”
Without wasting a moment, Rebecca handed everyone a sweat head band, along with a battle station, to which they tackled and completed the tasks in no time flat!
After the last candle was hoisted, Rebecca sat down on the nearest available surface, heaved a fatigued, but satisfying sigh, and admitted, “You know I should learn my lesson by now. I know I have only moments to raise the candles out of the second dipping, but I always think I can do it! If you guys hadn’t arrived when you did, I don’t know what I would have done.”
As Catherine looked over and above at all the drying red and green candles, she admiringly said, “This candle making is really complex work! I am glad I was able to help and see how you do all this Rebecca.”
Proudly Vincent looked at Rebecca, and said, “In the years past, Rebecca would refuse help, and insist on pouring all the candles herself, especially the candles for Winterfest.”
With a roll of her eyes, Rebecca confessed, “I know how stubborn I once was Vincent! I used to feel it was my duty to do everything myself. But I am learning to be less stringent, and thanks to you and Mary this past Winterfest, well I realized it can be more fun sharing the task too."
Upon hearing Vincent and Mary helped Rebecca pour Winterfest Candles, Brooke pouted, as she said, "I offered to help Rebecca, why didn't you get me too?"
To which Rebecca teasingly reminded Brooke, "If I remember correctly, I do believe you were visiting with Michael that day..."
And as Brooke blushed, she answered, "That's right...I guess it was my fault I missed out on helping."
And then teasingly, Jamie and Laura made googley eyes, and Jamie started to sing, their favorite taunt "Brooke and Michael sitting in a tree..."
The two girls giggled, and as Rebecca shushed them saying they shouldn't tease Brooke, she pivoted the conversation, noting, "Oh, by the way...because we were so busy, I didn't have the chance to say how cute your tops turned out..."
Thinking this would be a good time to surprise Rebecca, the girls all nodded in agreement, and it was Laura who presented the shirt, and signed, "Mary made one for you too."
And so as she gave Rebecca her top, Brooke expressed, "We all agreed that we didn't want you to miss out getting a new garment, just because you were stuck making candles, so while we worked on our own tops, Mary made yours."
Loving the fact Mary did this for her, Rebecca said, "How sweet! I can't wait to try it on."
And then Jamie mentioned, "Mary thought you would probably wanna wear yours with a skirt, rather than trouser pants, and we all agreed with her on that."
With a nod, Rebecca giggled, and as she gently refolded her top, she said, "You are all right, I'll be wearing a skirt."
It was then Rebecca turned to Vincent and Catherine, and asked, "How was Lin feeling tonight?"
And so Vincent and Catherine had to answer this question about Lin's health AGAIN!
But after learning from their prior experience of overreacting, Catherine left answering totally up to Vincent!
So in reply, Vincent said Lin was fine, and simply left it at that.
Relieved to hear this update, Rebecca then slyly asked, "And...how was your dinner date?"
To which Vincent said, "We were just relaying to Jamie, Laura and Brooke what a grand time we had. Lin and Henry made sure of that."
And then Jamie, handed a pair of chopsticks to Rebecca, and offered her the food container, and said, "Here try this delicious food that Catherine and Vincent brought back! We saved the rest for you!"
As Rebecca enjoyed her portion, Brooke said, "Tell Rebecca about the room! With the statues and everything!"
So Vincent and Catherine did, not leaving out a single detail about the decor. And so it was, the group had fun talking and visiting for a bit, before Vincent said, “Well its late, and since everything is done, I shall walk you to the threshold Catherine.”
And so as Catherine slid off the box she was sitting on, she said, “Yes, I am ready.”
Meanwhile, Jamie, Laura and Brooke tried to shimmy the supply barrel back into place, and when Vincent saw what they were trying to do, he scolded them saying, "Girls, please allow me."
Well while Vincent helped the girls, Rebecca turned to Catherine and said, “Thanks for helping Catherine."
To which Catherine replied, "You are so welcome, and oh, before I forget, here's the sweatband you lent me."
As Rebecca mentioned, the use of a sweatband was Mary's idea, she then with heart added, "Catherine may I take this moment to say, the happiness you have brought to Vincent...well...I'm not sure what I want to say exactly, but I just love seeing him so happy...”
Very much appreciating this one on one conversation with Rebecca, Catherine tried to express what was in her heart too, by saying, “It goes both ways Rebecca, Vincent has made me happy too, and the way you have all been so welcoming...means so much to me."
With a smile, Rebecca expressed, “I hope you always feel welcome here...”
To which Catherine begrudgingly admitted, “I do...and I am growing more and more so..."
And then Catherine continued, "...but I do realize how worried everyone must have been for Vincent as we went through our problems.”
“Truthfully yes.” Said Rebecca, “But none of us should be immune to the joys and trials of love. And Vincent deserves those experiences more than anyone. He has such a giving heart.”
With misted eyes, Catherine replied, “Yes, he does.”
Just then Vincent walked up, and asked, “Are you ready Catherine?”
To which Catherine answered she was, and then Rebecca and she exchanged an embrace of friendship.
As they prepared to leave, Rebecca said, “Thanks again for helping and for the food."
Upon saying she was most welcome, they said goodnight to the other girls too, and then walking onward alone toward the portal of Catherine’s apartment, she slipped her arm through his, and said, “Let’s walk slowly; I don’t want to leave your world yet.”
To which Vincent unconsciously smiled, causing Catherine to ask, “What? What is it?”
With a tipping of his head, Vincent weighed his words, before he shared, “I was thinking of how the barriers of our individual worlds seem to be melding, as our province is expanding in ways I could never have hoped or dreamed of.”
In a questioning tone, Catherine asked, “You mean our being able to go to a restaurant together?”
With an affirming nod, Vincent agreed, but then added, “There is that, however I am referring to ways which are more poignant. Such as having our parents approval, enabling you to be open, harboring no secrets from your Father, which I know would have weighed heavily on your heart.”
After admitting this was so, Catherine then made more of a statement than asking a question, saying, “This was important for you too, wasn’t it?”
Stopping in his tracks, Vincent brought Catherine to him, and as he embraced her, said, “Very much, because it is clear how much you love your Father, and he you. I wouldn’t have wanted to be the reason for interfering with that closeness.”
Contemplating her relationship with her Dad, through the years, thinking on the good and the tragic, she softly replied, “What you say is true. We are close.”
Catherine then thoughtfully considered, “And I really don’t know anyone who is as close with their Dad as I am, except maybe you.”
Turning to walk again, Vincent softly said, “Yes.”
Seeing the sadness in Vincent's eyes, caused Catherine to acknowledge, “Such a relationship is wonderful Vincent, and it should make you happy.”
“I am, however…” Vincent then guiltily admitted, “…because of the closeness my father and I fashioned when I was young, I feel may have stolen time away from my brother Devin. They never really had a chance to find that one thing between them, which binds a boy to his father.”
Optimistically, Catherine conveyed, “Well maybe they will still find their one thing, as long as there is life, there is hope.”
Intently Vincent listened and prayed this would be so.
As they walked past the tunnel which lead to their far off little chamber, Vincent slowed his pace even more, and confessed, “I earlier hoped we may go to our chamber, but our excursion helping Rebecca may have divested our time, it is well past midnight.”
Catherine looked down the darkened pathway to their little chamber and as she contemplated the late hour, she knew he was right. It was late, and it will be a busy day tomorrow. Both at the D.A., and then tomorrow night is the Christmas Eve Celebration, not to mention she still had presents to wrap for tomorrow’s work gift exchange!
So as she snuggled into his embrace, and regretfully acknowledged, “We really had to help the girls, ‘tis the season after all.”
Vincent sweetly returned her embrace, and with a trembling breath, repeated, “Ahh yes, 'tis the season.”
They then walked on, and as they approached the broken bricked threshold, Catherine thanked Vincent for the lovely evening, and tenderly she reached up to kiss his cheek, and said she would see him tomorrow night.
She then slipped in and out of the torches light as she made her way up the ladder, turning once more to say goodnight to her Vincent.
Holding Catherine in his sight until he could no more, Vincent brought his hand to his heart, feeling the beating and cadence quickening, wishing she could have stayed.
And so alone now, Vincent walked back to the home tunnels, lost in his thoughts of Catherine, when suddenly the feeling came over him once again...the feeling that he was not so alone after all.
And so he called out, "Paracelsus...I know it is you...I know you are there...what do you want?"
Stepping from the shadows, Paracelsus replied, “Want? What do I want?”
With a raised brow, he mordantly answered, “World Peace and harmony…”
He then approached a rigid Vincent, and expounded, “I don’t want anything Vincent…this may surprise you, but I wish to give YOU something. Shall we call it a gift?”
As Paracelsus looked down at the parcel he held, he humbly said, “This is an heirloom from the man who was a Father to me, and he told me, it was handed down to him from his Father…and I want to pass it onto you...”
Helplessly, Vincent softly replied, “I cannot accept this Paracelsus…”
“Take it…” Pleaded Paracelsus, “…you are my only…”
Paracelsus stopped himself from saying Vincent was his only son, an entitlement Paracelsus believed Vincent, in spite of everything, truly owned.
But he instead said, “I have no one else to give this to.”
And with that said, Paracelsus stepped closer, and before he handed Vincent the linen wrapped gift, he couldn't help himself, and though he tried to fight off the petulant side to his demeanor, he no longer could, and irately said, “You after all, were to be my son, supposed to be MY son. After Anna died, it was I who was supposed to raise, and nurture you. But instead, the honorable, and righteous Jacob stole you from me!”
As a shameful calm came over him, he gathered his thoughts and continued, “I, however looking back, NOW understand why he did.”
Hesitantly, Paracelsus admitted, “It took me along time to understand he did so not to hurt me, but rather to protect you, because he loved you too.”
With a nod, Paracelsus added, “Even I must admit, it was a courageous thing he did.”
Vincent stood silent, not wanting to say anything to either incite or encourage this man, who was trying to reach out to him.
Taking in a deep breath, Paracelsus then looked down at the gift he held, and coaxed, “Perhaps if you would consider one reason, and one reason alone why you should accept this from me, then maybe you would."
To which Vincent asked, "Which is?"
With a bit of a humbled manner, Paracelsus replied, "Because, it would be a good deed, a good deed toward an evil man. Please take it.”
As Vincent meekly and uncertainly took the gift from him, Paracelsus heaved a relieving sigh, as he solemnly said, “I hoped seeing this as a good deed, just might appeal to you. You do like to do good for others, don’t you? You are a good man at heart Vincent, just like Jacob.”
Sadly, Paracelsus ironically laughed, as he added, “Perhaps you ended up with the right parent after all…”
As Vincent stood tall before the small evil man of the tunnels, he had to ask, “Why now? Why do you wish to give this to me now?”
“Let’s just say…” began Paracelsus, “...I have come to terms with my mortality, and after hearing Jacob’s recitation the other night, I…”
With a note of shock and surprise at the notion Paracelsus was near by the night Jacob told the story of the First Tunnel Christmas, Vincent interrupted, asking, “You heard Father tell the story of the First Christmas here in these tunnels?”
“Yes.” answered Paracelsus in a quizzical manner, “And I dare say, Jacob’s gracious words toward myself, were stunning to me. Hearing him speak of those early days, begged me to recall the way we were back then, comrades indeed.”
Clearing his throat, Paracelsus went on to say, “In addition to the harmonious memories his story invoked, I also thought of the areas of contention which grew like a gulf between us. And so I began to consider perhaps, it was time I repay him in some way. So when you open your gift in his presence, there is something inside of significance for him...the act of my giving this item to him, shall speak volumes, of which I cannot. He will understand.”
In reply Vincent said, “I will make sure he receives what you want him to have.”
Paracelsus looked up at Vincent, and with a sense of reprieve in his eyes, he said, "The fact you have taken this from my hands into yours, has lifted a huge weight from my heart...for this I thank you...”
And before Vincent could find words to say in reply to this seemingly sincere evil man, he was gone! Paracelsus was gone!
Looking down at the parcel, Vincent contemplated this metamorphosis which overcame Paracelsus! Clearly he had changed, his heart seemed changed!
Then Vincent thought, even Paracelsus is not immune to the magic of Christmas.
As Vincent walked onto the main tunnels, he decided if his Father had not yet retired, he would speak to him about this encounter with Paracelsus.
To be continued
Chapter Seventeen
: }
| Destiny of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Sixteen _______________________________________ Deck The Halls |
| aa |
| i |
| 11 |
