Meanwhile, Catherine made her rounds on her lunch hour, and first on her list, was to pick up the much coveted snow globe for Vincent from the repair shop.
She had no sooner walked through the door, when Catherine spotted the globe up on the shelf, tagged for pickup.
Thrilled to see Vincent’s snow globe was repaired and waiting for her, Catherine told the gentleman behind the counter she was the one who had requested the snow globe repair via the proprietor of the Christmas Cottage. Happily she pointed out, “I see it is right up there and it looks perfect!”
Catherine then added, “Dr. Alcott, who had dropped it off for me yesterday, told me when I pick it up, I am to ask for Mr. Heibel. May I speak with him?”
Putting out his hand, the man behind the counter said, “I am he. And yes I wanted to personally talk to the person who was picking up this rare commodity.”
Catherine put out her hand to greet him in kind, and said, “I am very pleased to meet you Mr. Heibel. I am Catherine Chandler.”
As Mr. Heibel reached up to retrieve the globe from the shelf, he explained, “I was able to restore it…”
And as he handed it to Catherine, he explained all he had done, saying, “I filed down the cracked lip on the glass globe, and changed out the old gasket before refilling the liquid.”
With tears of joy glistening in her eyes, Catherine inspected and shook the globe, and when she saw the magical crystallized snowflakes falling about like her own, she attempted to express her gratitude to this talented man, saying, “You just cannot know what this means to have had this globe restored.”
Mr. Heibel smiled as he replied, “Ya know, I hear that a lot. I guess its cuz snow globes are usually tied to a cherished childhood memory, or, may have been a gift from someone special.”
Mr. Heibel then inquisitively asked, "So which is it? Which reason is yours?”
Thinking on the man’s question, Catherine considerately determined, well, since it was a gift from her Great-Grandmother, who was so very special to her, and the fact she and Vincent each loved their own versions since childhood, it had also provided some cherished childhood memories as well! So, Catherine smiled as she thoughtfully said, “Both reasons actually fit.”
But then Catherine turned thoughtful as something Mr. Heibel had said, was bugging her, and so she asked, “You mentioned something about this globe being rare?”
With a raised brow, Mr. Heibel said, “Yes, that’s right.”
Mr. Heibel then explained, “When I removed the damaged glass globe from the base, I noticed it wasn’t just glass, it is actually lead crystal, which was rarely used here in America. However, in the 30's and 40's it was used in Europe for such crafts, specifically, in England. Oh and yes, I must tell you about the snowflakes!”
Totally immersed in the info the man was providing her, Catherine eagerly asked, “Yes?”
Thoughtfully Mr. Heibel excitedly continued, “Well, the snowflakes that are in snow globes are usually made of a high density plastic, however...the snowflakes in your globe here are actually diamond crystals!”
To which Catherine expounded, “Diamond crystals? Oh my!"
Catherine then thought back on what Vincent had said, saying he imagined the snowflakes WERE diamonds, and thought she could not wait to let Vincent know he was right!
But so to Mr. Heibel, Catherine replied, "I myself always loved the way they glittered, but I had no idea they were diamond crystals!”
With a nod, Mr. Heibel concluded, “Yes, yes, quite an extravagant snow globe you have here, and quite rare.”
Mr. Heibel went on to explain, “From my research, I can tell you the artisan was the renowned Jacobus Holmes, and hmmm, I would estimate it to have cost maybe a grand or so back then.”
With awe, Catherine told him, “I’ve heard of him! And to think Great-Grandmother would have given me such an expensive gift! Imagine that! I mean I was just a young girl. And she never cautioned me to handle it with care, or anything like that. Nor had she ever told my Dad anything about its value.”
Catherine then with angst, thought back on the way she handled her own through the years, and though she was not careless, she certainly did not handle her snow globe with kid gloves!
And so with a giggle Catherine relayed, “When I think of how I would shake my own like this one, its amazing I never dropped it or anything.”
With confusion, Mr. Heibel asked, “Well now I am confused, isn’t this snow globe yours?”
Realizing she should fill Mr. Heibel in, Catherine smiled, and said, "It was...but then....allow me to explain..."
And so Catherine went on to tell the whole story, and relayed to Mr. Heibel that this globe was a duplicate gift her aged Great-Grandmother had given to her, and of how she chose to donate it to Toys for Tots.
As Mr. Heibel intently listened, Catherine continued, "As they say truth is stranger than fiction, well all these years later, I have become friends with the person who had received my donation. And well, I thought it would be a wonderful Christmas gift to have it repaired for him."
Stunned by this information, Mr. Heibel asked, “So you mean you once owned two?"
To which Catherine clarified, "Well as I say, My Great-Grandmother was old and forgetful..."
Excitedly, Mr. Heibel then explained, "I understand, but what I find amazing is there were only 4 of this style made to begin with, and curiously they were never sold, so the fact your Great-Grandmother had two of them to give away is kinda amazing. The other two you see, are in fact, a part of the late Jacobus Holmes personal collection, where they are to this day, on display at his birth home. Its now a type of museum, I guess you might say a local haunt.”
With a quizzical look, Catherine thoughtfully asked, “Hmm, if they were never sold, I cannot imagine how Great-Grandmother managed to get the other two she gave to me?”
To which Catherine then covertly said, “I think there may be a story here somewhere.”
In agreement, Mr. Heibel nodded, as he said, “I think so too. You’ll let me know what you find out, won’t you?”
As Catherine assured him she would, she thanked him once more, and they wished each other a Merry Christmas.
As Catherine shook the questions from her mind for now, she was on top of the world because of the fact, Vincent's globe was restored, and ready for gift giving!
Catherine then went next door, to pick up four new snow globes as she promised for Joe. Luckily there were still six snow globes on hand with the Nativity theme, and so Catherine asked for four of them to be boxed up. As she went to pay for them with the money Joe gave her, unfortunately, he was ten bucks short. So making up the difference with her own money, she continued with the sale, and headed back to work.
Upon Catherine’s return to the office, Joe eagerly approached her, and when he saw her full shopping bag, he hopefully asked, “Mission accomplished?”
As Catherine held his eye contact, she carefully brought out one of the boxes, and un-wrapped the globe from the packing paper, and as she held it up for him to see, she guardedly asked, “Well, you tell me, what do you think? Are they what you had in mind?”
Joe smiled as he took the snow globe in his hands, and after giving it a shake, expounded, “That’s what I’m talkin’ about, a Nativity Scene! Perfect Cathy!”
Joe then cautiously asked, “Ya got four of 'em right?”
In reply, Catherine assuredly said, “Yep, four of them. Oh turn the key, they play music too!”
As Joe turned the key, and shook the globe once more, he listened, and replied, "The First Noel...gee, that's terrific!"
And then Joe with concern asked, “They ARE all the same, right? I mean they all gotta be the same!"
Joe then worriedly reiterated, “Like I said earlier, if they don't match, then they will be comparin’ 'em, and asking why I gave this one to this aunt, and this one to that aunt, just believe me, it will be best, if they are all the same.”
As soon as Catherine could chime in, she then confirmed, “They are all the same, all Nativities...Oh and Joe the gift shop included free gift bags, with name tags too.”
Just then, Edie hurriedly approached Joe to tell him he had a phone call. And so as Joe turned to Catherine, he said he would be right back to get the rest of the low down on the globes.
Meantime, this gave Catherine a chance to catch her breath, and as she hung up her purse and coat, Joe headed back to Catherine's desk to get the globes.
And as Joe walked, he began fishing around in all of his pockets to see if he had any cash, and then said, "That was Ma who just called, and she needs me to stop off at Sullivan's to pick up a Panettone she ordered for tonight..."
And as Joe realized he didn't have even a dime left, the thought struck him, he may have some change coming back to him from the globes! And so Joe hopefully asked Catherine, "Any chance I'm getting any change back?"
Picking up on the fact, Joe was short on cash, Catherine couldn't find it in her heart to say that "NO" there wasn't any change, and in fact, Joe owed her ten bucks!
And so Catherine found herself instead reaching into her purse, saying, "Twenty one bucks."
To which Joe said, "Great, that should cover it."
Catherine was so glad she hadn't mentioned yet that he owed her some money, and meanwhile, in her heart, Catherine justified this teeny white lie, because she didn't actually say it was "his change"!
And so as Catherine handed Joe the cash, with a look of gratitude, he kindly told her, “Thanks kid.”
And so with curiosity, Joe reiterated, "So you say there are gift bags in here too? And they were free?"
To which Catherine said, "Yep and with gift tags! So once you get home, all you have to do is pop each globe into a gift bag, write your Mom's and aunts names on the tags, and you are good to go!"
In reply, Joe happily said, "Perfect! Man, you sure simplified my gift givin this year! Thanks again Cathy!"
With a smile and a bit of emotion to her voice, Catherine said, “You are welcome Joe.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, as the tunnel community entered the Great Hall, to prepare for Christmas Eve, Vincent stopped in his tracks, as he had the sensation, that the hall was in a subtle state of disarray!
And so with an astute feeling of heightened alert, Vincent subtly assessed the hall’s layout, and aloud he noted, “Something is amiss.”
With concern, Jacob curiously asked, “Amiss? As in what way Vincent?”
Turning to look at his Father, Vincent thoughtfully said, “I’m not sure, however, something…”
Mouse looked around, and since he himself didn’t notice anything, he shrugged his shoulders as he matter-of-factly said, “Seems OK.”
To which Mary asked, "Yes, to me too, but what do you see that is different, or out of place Vincent?"
As Mary, Jacob and Mouse waited for Vincent's answer, everyone else of the community listened too, as they curiously lent an ear to await Vincent’s calculated assessment.
Being the ever caring vigilant guardian to his tunnel family, Vincent could not precisely answer their questions. So since he could not quite put a finger on what he was sensing, Vincent, wanting to put everyone at ease said, “I did not mean to alarm everyone. It is probably nothing.”
Cheerfully, he then rallied, “Let us get back to why we came here this afternoon, which is to prepare for our Christmas Eve Celebration.”
As the levity returned, everyone chatted and got right to work, but since Devin had not been inside the Great Hall for years, he looked around, and in an awestruck manner said, “Look at those tapestries would ya? They are still here!”
And so while Jacob walked over to discuss the tapestries with Devin, Pascal came up behind Vincent and suspiciously said, “You can’t fool all the people all the time my friend, tell me what is wrong.”
For a mere instant, Vincent held his façade before he crumbled, not surprised really it would be Pascal who saw through him. Putting his arm around his old friend, they both amusedly shared an acknowledged camaraderie, and so he told Pascal, “See the tapestries there, where Father and Devin are standing?”
In a questioning manner, Pascal answered, “Yes…”
“Well…” continued Vincent, “… the floor aside of them is scuffed, and the table nearest there is ever so slightly akimbo…”
Acknowledging, and concurring with Vincent’s clues, Pascal then noted, “Yes...as if someone moved the table so they could reach the tapestries! Do you think they wanted to steal them?”
Thoughtfully, Vincent replied, “Unknown. But it does prompt me to recall last evening, and the sounds Mouse said he heard coming from this area.”
Quick to respond, Pascal reminded Vincent, “But the sentry said….”
With a raised brow, Vincent inserted, “It could be perhaps they thwarted a possible assault on our great hall.”
Thinking this was a probable scenario, Pascal with wonder and worry said, “Yeah! And wow! Then we must be extra vigilant my friend!”
In agreement, Vincent replied, “And so we shall.”
And so in the meantime, William entered the Hall with a huge vat of popped popcorn, and as he approached Mary, he warmly said, "Here's the popcorn you asked for Mary, and you may note...it is popped to perfection! Nary a burnt kernel in the batch!"
As Mary inspected the kernels, she nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, they do look perfect! Much better than last years batch! Thank you William."
And because there was a compliment mixed in with an insult, William wasn't sure how to respond! And so he with a frown, replied, "Me thinks...ye are welcome!"
And because of his tart reply, Mary gave him a sideways look, while Rebecca stepped up to try and sooth things over, by cheerfully asking, "Will you stay to help string the popcorn with us William?"
Well since it was Rebecca he was talking to, William softened his demeanor, answering, "Thanks Becca, but I have much to do! I have a feast to prepare!"
And so after William departed, Rebecca asked Mary, "Why did you have to bring up last years burnt popcorn Mary? I think you insulted William!"
Feeling a bit guilty, Mary confessed, "I don't know why I said that! Oh shame on me...I can't seem to hold my tongue when William's concerned."
And then Mary asked, "Won't you excuse me for a moment, I really must apologize!"
With hope Rebecca watched, as Mary caught up with William, and was happy to see Mary humbled herself to apologize. Yes it was quite cute to see Mary kind of sway a bit as she looked into her hands, and then with open arms, William accepted her apology.
And so as Mary returned, she in turn hugged Rebecca as she said, "Honestly Dear Girl, you are an invaluable moral compass for me! Thank you for calling me out..."
As Rebecca kindly replied, "I know your heart Mary, and believe me when I say, there is no one kinder...well we better gather the children...this popcorn isn't going to string itself!"
The two ladies laughed at the prospect of self stringing popcorn, and then gathered all who wanted to help. So gaily everyone sat as they strung the popcorn garland, which was needed to decorate the tree.
In the meantime, the Tree was set up in its place of honor, and everyone helped decorate, children and elders alike, getting it ready for the Christmas Eve festivities!
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Meanwhile top side, the hour was nearing for the D.A.'s office party to begin.
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-Three
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| Destiny of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty-Two _________________________________ |
