And so...it was quite late by the time the Well’s brothers finally arrived at the hot springs chamber! And when they got there, they found the tunnel’s bathing crowd had dwindled down to the last of the male population, of which was Kanin.
And because Devin and Kanin had yet to meet, Vincent proudly introduced his brother to his good friend Kanin. The two greeted each other kindly, and then Vincent noted, "You seem to be running as late as we are..."
To which Kanin explained, "I had to wait for Olivia to get back before I could get ready...we had ta tag team watching over little Lukey, he was napping and we didn't want to wake him...you know how cranky he gets when he doesn't get his nap!"
And because Vincent had been witness to a cranky Lukey, he smiled as he said he understood, and then told Devin, "You shall meet Kanin's young son tonight, and I promise you, he will steal a piece of your heart, as he has each of ours."
So upon telling Devin he was glad to meet him, Kanin then said he would see the guys later on.
After Kanin left, Devin quizzically asked, "So what's his story? He's married and has kid livin' down here?"
So as the brothers dressed, Vincent explained, "Yes, Kanin and his wife Olivia, both found their own way here...each for private reasons, and then found one another...and are now, a happy family..."
With that said, Vincent slipped on his new doublet, and as Devin took in the sight of Vincent looking all gothic and gallant looking in his new attire, he said, “You’re looking fine little brother, looking fine.”
Vincent gave his brother a nod of thanks, and then suggested, “Perhaps we should see if Father needs assistance with anything.”
To which Devin agreed, saying, “Great idea. Let's go and check on the ole’ man.”
And so as they made their way through the tunnels, they spoke of many things, this and that, serious and lighthearted, however the upper most thought on Vincent’s mind was Catherine. He kept thinking how pleased he was she would be coming to their Christmas Eve Celebration tonight, and that his Catherine would soon be meeting his beloved brother.
And so as his excitement overtook his thoughts, Vincent fell silent for a moment or two, causing Devin to ask, “Hey, is somethin’ wrong?”
To which Vincent thoughtfully said, “I am thinking of Catherine, and of how important it is to me she is going to meet you, and you her.”
With a big brotherly concerned tone, Devin revealed, “Well it’s important to me too. I can’t wait to meet this woman who won over my little brother’s heart.”
Devin then considerately added, “I don’t think I have ever met anyone who has been so many things to so many different people. No matter who I talk to, from Peter to Father, Mary, Pascal, they all say how kind Catherine is.”
Vincent listened to Devin, and knew this was true. Catherine’s kindness did transcend over many facets, and she was able to translate her love and concern to so many. And so he responded, “Yes, she manages to convey her care so naturally, she has so much to give to all who are in need.”
After taking in Vincent’s soulful description of his lady love, Devin couldn’t help but be thankful his brother had her in his life, and as he felt his emotions begin to surface, he lightened the atmosphere a bit, by teasingly adding, “And I hear she is beautiful too! Uh? So is she? Is she beautiful?”
Because of the fact the mere thought of Catherine turned him inside out, Vincent timidly looked downward in an attempt to hide his affections, and so with a quickened heart he softly replied, “Yes, she is beautiful.”
Devin seeing he made his bashful brother embarrassed, tried to bring him back by saying, “Hey I knew she would have to be. You always appreciated a beautiful woman. I remember the way you and Father would study all the great master’s art work, deciphering their model’s compositions.”
Devin then coyly added, “I personally thought you two hid behind all that heady artsy fartsy talk, just so you could look at naked ladies.”
This made Vincent smile, and so he confessed, “Perhaps that is partially true, at least on my part.”
They both had a laugh, and then surmised since Father was a man too, it was most likely true on his part as well.
With that said, they had arrived at their Father’s threshold, and when they stepped in, they saw him sitting with Mary, over a steeping pot of tea.
As Jacob saw his sons enter, he cheerfully greeted them by saying, “Vincent, Devin! You are ready for the festivities I see!”
Mary greeted them too, and then acknowledged their polished look by saying, “And may I say, both looking very handsome!”
To which both Vincent and Devin complimented Mary by telling her how lovely she looked this evening too.
It was then Jacob adjusted his glasses to better inspect his younger son’s appearance and then he asked, “What a handsome vest you have on Vincent, is it new?”
Looking over at Devin, Vincent proudly acknowledged, “It is a Christmas gift from my brother...and it is an official Doublet Father.”
And so it was then Devin smoothed out the back of the doublet, and with a pat to his brother’s shoulder, he asked, “It suits him, don’t you think?”
With an approving nod, Jacob agreeing, said, “To be sure.”
And Mary too, with an assessing eye, critiqued, “Yes, it is very much Vincent’s style.”
Vincent then said, “We are on our way to meet Catherine, and we wanted to see if you required anything before we go.”
Assuredly, Jacob replied, “No, no, I am sufficiently prepared for the Christmas Eve festivities."
Jacob then with concern asked, "Now you say you are going to meet Catherine? I heard she was coming with Charles and Peter as well. Had their plans changed?"
To which Vincent self-consciously answered, "They will be accompanying Catherine as well...I mis-spoke mentioning only Catherine. I apologize."
This oversight caused Mary to giggle, as she said, "No need to apologize Vincent! We know what you meant."
Given this chance to tease Vincent about Catherine, was too good to pass up, and so Devin and Jacob took a moment to do just that, saying Vincent obviously has a one track mind, with thoughts only for Catherine!
And so Vincent took the ribbing good-naturedly, before Jacob finally shifted gears, and finished up by saying, "Ah yes, with Catherine, Charles, and Peter coming, along with Dr. Wong, Lin, Henry, and many other helpers, I believe we should have a good gathering this Christmas Eve. I dare say it should be a time.”
With a nod, Vincent said he thought so as well, and then meekly Mary asked, "Will Jessica be joining us this evening?"
To which Jacob answered, "I suppose one never knows where Jessica is concerned, however the last I heard she left town as planned, and would be gone until after the New Year."
And so upon hearing this information, Mary looked into her hands, trying to hide her relief as she replied, "I see."
It was then Vincent took a second glance at his Father’s attire; and noticed he was also donning something new. And so it was Vincent’s turn to ask, “Is that a new garment you are wearing Father?”
As Mary waited for Jacob to answer, she sat self-consciously; as it was she who had sewn the new tunic he had on. She thought back to the moment she received the fine pelts and bolts from a helper, that she knew exactly what she would use them for, which would be a fine garment for Jacob to wear for Christmas.
And so after Winterfest, Mary had secretly measured Jacob's other garments for size, and privately she sewed, working on Jacob’s gift in between knitting the children’s afghans and working on other gifts, until she was finished. And happily she completed it just in time for Christmas.
And so Jacob, with gratification looked toward Mary and answered, “Yes, it is new! It is a Christmas Gift from Mary.”
Jacob then chuckled a bit as he owned up, “I ah, I was waiting for you to notice.”
Vincent and Devin both complimented Mary on being such a good seamstress, and said how great their father looked in this suede tunic with the thin velvet trim. Then Vincent added, “Mary, you are truly gifted.”
Humbly Mary accepted their compliment of her being a good seamstress, but at the same time, discounted the fact she was gifted.
And so in a matter-of-fact voice, Mary explained, “Oh my I just do it; I have sewn since I was a little girl.”
Mary then wistfully thought of her lovely gray-haired grandma, who lived with her family when she was young. She and her Grandma spent many hours together and it was she who patiently taught her to sew, knit, and crochet’.
And so with great loving appreciation, Mary said, “I will always be thankful to my Grandmother for passing on the know-how to do such things.”
Jacob listened, and thoughtfully acknowledged, “Yes in this busy world, most times it is the grandparents who have the time to teach children some of life’s truly worthwhile lessons.”
Jacob then switched gears a bit as he brought up his new tunic once more, by boasting, “Oh and yes, and I want you boys to examine the fit!"
Jacob then stood, and with a slight turn to the left, and then to the right, he contended, "This garment is so comfortable. I don’t feel restrained in the least, not even around my expanding middle.”
This caused everyone to chuckle a bit, even himself before Jacob kindly continued, “And I have been to a fine tailor or two in my day, so I know of what I speak when I say what a great fit this tunic is. Mary, I must say, you do as good as job as any of them did, or perhaps better!"
With a slight inclination of a bow, Jacob finished up by saying, "And so again, Mary, I thank you.”
Warmly Mary smiled, and humbly said, “And again, you are welcome Jacob.”
Both Vincent and Devin shared an amused look as suddenly they felt as if they were intruding. Well being intuitive as Jacob is, he cleared his throat as he realized, he had been doting over Mary perhaps a bit too long in his son’s presence, and so he looked to them and gratuitously clarified, “So you say you are on your way to meet Catherine?”
Now it was Vincent's turn to tease his flustered Father by saying, "Yes, we are meeting Catherine, and as we had clarified earlier, we are meeting Charles and Peter as well."
Clearing his throat as Jacob laughed at himself, he humbly said, "Of course...it would appear mis-speaking is the mode of the day where highlighting only Catherine is concerned!"
Everyone shared an amused moment, and then Jacob informatively reminded them, “Now remember, we are to meet at the tunnel main. Everyone will be congregating there and we shall wait for your return with our guests, to go onto the Great Hall.”
Since this was nothing new, Vincent let the “Fatherly Reminder” go, and he simply answered, “Don't worry Father, we will come straight away, and shall meet you in the tunnel main.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, upon finally getting home, Catherine breathlessly entered her apartment, and placed all of her newly acquired goodies from the gift exchanges, under her tree, she then piled the empty plates in the sink and after slipping off her shoes, she turned on her favorite Bing Crosby Christmas CD, to sit down for just a moment to contemplate her Christmas Eve thus far.
What a wonderful day it had been, from the Christmas party at her Dad's firm, and then the D.A.’s Holiday party, not to mention seeing Jenny and Noodles.
Reaching over for Vincent’s repaired snow globe, she removed it from its bubble wrap to inspect it once more. She shook it, and as she watched the tiny prisms fall to the little cottage’s rooftop, Catherine now wondered how she hadn't figured out that the snow flakes were really diamond crystals like Vincent had! The way they sparkled, was just so beautiful!
And then walking over to her own snow globe, Catherine compared the two, thinking of how after many many years, the globes were side by side once more. But then upon realizing the value, and the fragility of the globes, Catherine thought she better not mess around, and had better wrap Vincent's globe up, where it would be safe and sound!
And so Catherine wrapped it in her paper of choice, and happily placed it in a bag, along with the other items she would be taking below. And then she thought of how excited she was to give Vincent back his globe, intact and pristine once more.
Catherine then popped the hors d’oeuvres into the oven, and proceeded to get ready for the party. And after she put in her last earring, the doorbell rang! And so once again, because she was actually ready on time, she cheerfully answered the door, saying, “Merry Christmas Dad, Merry Christmas Peter.”
And then Catherine gave each of them a welcoming kiss on their cheek, and stepped back to say, “Oh my, don’t you two look handsome tonight.”
To which Charles stepped up to Catherine, gathered her hands in his, and expounded, “And you look stunning dear daughter, stunning.”
After Peter seconded the motion, he then added, “But then again, you always do!”
With a soft giggle, Catherine shook her head, and teasingly asked, “You two wouldn’t happen to be biased would you?”
Innocently Charles asked, “Biased? Not I, I am a trained lawyer. So nary a biased bone to be found in this body of mine!”
And then Peter laughed as he claimed not to even know what the word meant!
And so wanting to be the proper hostess, Catherine hopefully asked, “Think we have time for a little refreshment?”
With a nod, Peter said, "I believe we do!
Catherine then brought out the tray she had prepared with the brandy and glasses from the kitchen onto the coffee table, and then graciously said, “I was hoping we would have time to have a holiday toast before we left for the tunnels. Dad would you do the honors?”
And so Charles kindly poured them each a glass, and as he raised his up, he said, “To my sweet daughter, and to my dear friend, Merry Christmas.”
Before Catherine sipped her brandy, she reciprocated by saying with a voice full of emotion, “Merry Christmas.”
Peter did the same, and the three of them stood together, with warmth in their hearts because of the love they shared for one another.
Catherine then put down her glass, and picking up the tray, she offered them each an hors d’oeuvre she had prepared, asking, “Would you like to try one?”
As Charles looked over the tray, he smiled saying, “Ah you spoil me, Stuffed mushrooms, my favorite.”
Peter tasted and said, “Delicious! Hey, what are these by Birds-eye, or wait, I'll bet they are Stouffers?"
To which Catherine proudly, discounted both guesses, and claimed, “Well, I actually made these myself, Jenny gave me her recipe.”
To which Charles added, "Good job honey...very good..."
Gaily they then chatted a bit, talking about their day, with Charles informing Catherine that Joe phoned, thanking him for the Springsteen tickets.
To which Catherine said she was glad he had, and then mentioned how excited he was when she gave them to him, saying, "Joe was actually speechless for a moment Dad!"
In reply, Charles relayed, "Well I am sure glad the thought occurred to me to pass them on to Joe. He's a good kid, we must have talked for a good 20 minutes or so. He told me, and I quote, that you pulled his @$$ out of the fire by helping him with his Christmas shopping!"
Peter and Catherine laughed, and then Catherine explained, "Joe sure has colorful language, and it really wasn't any problem picking up gifts for him Dad, because the little gift shop was right next to Mr. Heibel's...and speaking of which..."
Catherine then sat her brandy down, and going over to the wrapped up, and newly repaired snow globe, she carefully removed it from the paper, and held it up, saying, "Look Peter! It's perfect now. I can't even tell where it had been repaired!"
Both Charles and Peter checked it out, and after comparing it to Catherine's on her mantle, they both agreed, it was good as new!
As Catherine gingerly re-wrapped the globe, she expressed, "I really cannot thank you enough Peter! If you hadn't smuggled this out of the tunnels, and gotten it over to Mr. Heibel's yesterday, I wouldn't have gotten it back in time for Christmas! I cannot wait to present it to Vincent. Hopefully he hasn't noticed it was missing yet."
To which Peter said, "Knowing him he has, but he will be getting it back soon enough, so it won't hurt him to stew a little bit."
With a smile, Charles then relayed, "Hey Jenny brought Cathy a little surprise to the office party today."
To which Catherine excitedly added, "She sure did...Jenny brought Noodles! He looks so healthy, you know, the cold nose, bright eyes, the whole bit...not to mention, he seems so very happy..."
And then Catherine teasingly continued, "...but he wondered where Uncle Peter was."
Upon hearing the term Uncle, Peter put his foot down saying, "Woooa, I like the little fella, but I ain't gonna be an Uncle to any dog!"
Everyone laughed, and then Peter expressed, "Seriously though, I am sorry I missed seeing Noodles, and missed the Christmas Party."
To which Charles replied, "Yeah we were sorry too, we were looking for ya...especially Marilyn and Rita...they asked me a few times if you were coming..."
Humbled he was missed, Peter then said, "I tried to make it, but a few appointments were added on, and they screwed up my plan. But I gotta say, I am surprised you allowed a dog in the office? You sure have loosened up through the years old chap.”
Charles knew Peter was right, but then informatively said, “Hey you think I have loosened up, we had to get Bruno to agree, now that took a little doing! There was a time unless it was a Seeing Eye dog, they were not coming in! But since it was for Cathy, Bruno said OK!”
As Catherine listened in, she then warmly added, “All I can say, I'm glad Bruno said yes, because I loved seeing Noodles again. Jenny says he is sooo good for her Mom. Great company.”
Peter nodded saying, “Yeah, Noodles was always a great companion for Mom."
As Peter's voice cracked, he finished saying, "Mom loved him so much.”
Suddenly, grief oriented emotions flooded Peter's heart, because this would be his first Christmas without his beloved Mother.
The many memories from the years gone by, so many wonderful memories. Peter did not realize it would hit him as hard as it has, but after talking to his sister on the phone that afternoon, and in trying to console her, well it stirred, and brought all his own grief up to the surface again.
Meanwhile, Catherine and Charles looked at one another, and understood Peter was still having some rough moments, and so Charles told him, "You know, the Holidays are kinda tough, and you never know what may trigger a tug at your ole' heart-string. It may be a Christmas Carol or a taste of a peanut butter cookie, for each of us its different. But hey, we get through it cuz we have each other to lean on."
Peter nodded, too sad to speak right away, but when he found his voice, he said, "I know, without all my friends, it would be pretty tough."
Peter then cleared his voice of emotion, looked at his glass, and jokingly asked, "Hey what's in this brandy, every time we have a glass of this stuff, I end up all sentimental and philosophical..."
With a final swig of his brandy, Charles said, "Ya know...I think you're right...I do too."
Charles then set his glass down, and said, "Well what do you say we go and create some new memories, happy memories to sustain us in the years ahead."
Catherine gathered her emotions, and loved what her Dad had just said, create some new memories. After so many years of being heartbroken during the Christmas Season, she knew it was time to look forward not back. So with new found excitement in her heart, she smiled, and in agreement said, "I am ready too. Shall we go?”
And since Peter was ready too, they traveled the now familiar route to the secret apartment entrance to the tunnels.
And Charles and Peter walked aside Catherine, rather than behind this time, and together they discretely entered the basement foyer, and one by one, descended the ladder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And meanwhile, as the three top-siders stepped into the torches light, there to meet them were the Well's brothers, but because Vincent was in the forefront, Devin stood back, as his brother graciously greeted them, saying, "Merry Christmas."
To which Catherine excitedly replied, “Merry Christmas Vincent.”
Meantime, Peter and Charles also replied to Vincent's Holiday cheer, saying, “Merry Christmas” in joyful unison, and it was then that Peter saw Devin!
And with a knowing look within both their eyes, Peter happily addressed Devin too, warmly saying, “Devin, you came home! How wonderful! Merry Christmas to ya bud.”
As Devin stepped up to shake Peter's hand, he replied, "Thanks to you Peter..."
Peter then fell back, to give Vincent the opportunity to introduce his brother, and so gallantly he did, firstly to Charles, to which Devin stepped forth to shake his hand, and said, “Nice to meet you Charles.”
Warmly, Charles replied, “Well thank you Devin. It's good to meet you too.”
Vincent then introduced his brother to Catherine, a task he had been eager to do since Devin’s arrival last night. And so gingerly he said, “Devin, I would like you to meet...Catherine, Catherine this is my brother Devin.”
And because Catherine knew better than anyone, how much it meant to Vincent to have Devin home for Christmas, she with tears in her eyes, smiled firstly at Vincent, and then looked back at Devin to reply, “It's nice to meet you, and so wonderful you came home for Christmas.”
Devin shook her hand, and was overcome by really how beautiful Catherine was!
And so in an effort not to stare, Devin managed to graciously say, "Happy to meet you too, and yes...it feels really great to be home for Christmas..."
And it was then Charles asked, "So it's been a while since you have been home Devin?"
To which Devin nodded and explained, "Yes it has been, but I had been thinking about coming home for many years now...really since I left, but I never had the nerve...but then this Christmas, I heard from Peter..."
It was then, Vincent who was proudly looking on, addressed Peter to say, “Devin told us you helped direct him home.”
With a tone of humor, Peter answered, “I did...I thought it was time for me to butt in..."
But then Peter solemnly noted, "And though I may have helped, it was all you Devin. You were the one who decided to take the leap, and make the journey.”
To which Devin humbly and sincerely replied, “But I wouldn't have made that decision if not for you Peter...I know that as sure as I am standing here. In fact if you would have asked me a week ago if coming home was possible...I wouldn't have thought so, and because I heard from you...well...here I am!"
Appreciating the credit, Peter though warmly implied how proud he was of Devin for facing all he needed to face for his Father and brother.
As Devin contemplated what Peter said, he knew it was true...he did a lot of soul searching to make the journey home. And so he responded, "Yeah, maybe so, I guess Christmastime seems to be a good reason to accept a hand up, and make that leap..."
Devin then looked at Vincent, and as he humbly chuckled, he said, "Before we take the focus off me, of which I really want to do...I just want to say my reunion with Father and you, has exceeded all of my hopes and expectations.”
To which, Vincent with a smile in his eyes, added, "Ahhh, but you know I can not allow you the last word big brother..."
After everyone shared a chuckle with the brothers, Vincent continued, "...you need to know that your Homecoming has fulfilled both Father's and my ultimate Christmas wish. We wanted you to come home for Christmas.”
And with that said...everyone let the subject go as Devin requested, but meanwhile, Catherine and Charles looked onward still, as they witnessed another component of Peter’s involvement here. His care and loving friendship is so far reaching, how proud they were to call him their friend too.
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-Five
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| Destiny of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty-Four _____________________________________ |
