After Catherine hung up the phone, she continued to lie on her bed, wondering what in the world she was doing there, when all she wanted was to be with Vincent.
As she dried the tears from her face, she began to pick up on some of the talk and laughter, that was filtering up from Agnes’s kitchen, and so Catherine decided to go back and join everyone, to dispel the sadness that had taken over her heart.
Agnes warmly welcomed Catharine, saying, "You just missed Charades! Shall we play another round?"
Insistently, Catherine assured her, she was fine, and just wanted to visit with everyone.
Agnes served her a cup of coffee, as she asked, “Did you call home?”
Catherine nodded and said, “Yes I did Agnes, I just put it on my phone card.”
Agnes scoffed, “Oh I wasn’t worried about that Dear!”
Doug always the inquisitive one, asked, “What is this case about anyway Ma?”
Agnes looked at her son, and told him, “To put it simply, Mr. Benson was in the wrong place at the right time! That sweet old man is scared to death. He saw something incriminating, as he was vacationing in New York City, and Catherine needs to acquire his deposition so he doesn’t have to travel back there.”
Catherine told Douggy, “Yes, when I talked to him I felt so sorry for him, he was so frightened.”
Agnes reiterated, as she explained to her kids, “Catherine, is now the only person he will talk to.”
Smiling at Catherine, she said, “You my Dear, are the only person he will trust!”
Catherine smiled as she looked downward, and teased, “Yes…lucky me!”
Just then Agnes’s phone rang, “Hi Howard…well, I appreciate the call. Please promise me you will keep Brian posted until I get back with you.”
Agnes hung up the phone and asked Catherine, “Cathy, did your department send a body guard for Mr. Benson?”
Catherine vehemently, shook her head, saying, “No Agnes! We understood he was assigned protection from this level.”
Agnes anxiously said, “He is…was…The call just now was from Howard, our Police Chief. He said his officer, who is posted at Mr. Benson’s door, just reported he was approached by a man who said, he was supposed to take over for him, and said he was sent by the D.A. in New York City!”
Catherine grabbed the phone and said, “I’ll call Joe, Agnes…if this is so, it is news to me!”
Catherine made a quick call and luckily Joe was home! And so she asked, “Joe did you send someone here to protect Mr. Benson?”
Anxiously, he replied, “No why Cath?”
Catherine quickly filled Joe in, and before he hung up, he said, “Call me as soon as you get to the bottom of this Cathy. I am gonna be sweating it out until I hear from you!”
Assuredly she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll call you.”
Agnes stepped into action immediately, after Catherine relayed the D.A. had not sent a guard! She called Howard back to inform him who ever the guy was, he wasn’t from the New York D.A.! Agnes then told her kids, and Catherine, “I’ll be back everyone. I am going to meet Howard at the hospital!”
Catherine stood up, and said, “I am definitely going with you!”
Worriedly, Agnes argued, “No you stay put Catherine, I don’t know what in the world this is all about!”
To which, Catherine announced, “Agnes, this could be dangerous! I am going and that is that.”
One by one, each of Agnes’s boys piped up, “I’m driving you Ma!”
First Gary, Doug, Danny, and then Jim and Greg all stepped up to protect their Mom! In conclusion, Gary said, “We’re all going! Come on let’s go!”
Bernadette, Virginia and Paulette stepped up too and said, “There is no way you are leaving us behind…come on girls were’re going too!”
So they all loaded up into Danny’s van, all pumped up, for a little espionage!
But before they left, Catherine warned them, “This is a drug case you guys. I appreciate you wanting to protect us, but drugs, equal money, and that brings out the worse side of mankind!”
Catherine turned to Agnes and enforced, “I cannot warn you and your family enough about how dangerous this could be.”
Everyone in the van all agreed, they were going to help protect their Mom and Catherine, and it didn’t matter what the risk.
Catherine admired the commitment to their Mother, but still cautioned, “All right, but please, let the Police do their job. I feel it is important for me to go. It may be reassuring to Mr. Benson if he were to see me.”
Agnes enforced, “Cathy is right…I don’t want anyone playing Dirty Harry when we arrive at the hospital! Is that clear?”
The van was filled with disappointed, “Awe all rights!” as they continued on their way!
As they arrived at the Hospital, Chief Howard met Catherine, and Agnes as she and her family piled out of the van! Confidently he announced, “Everything is all right. We just hauled the guy off. He is in custody.”
Agnes thanked the Chief, and quickly made some introductions. Catherine asked Chief Howard, “Is Mr. Benson aware of this breach?”
Howard calmly said, “He’s not aware of a thing! We handled it all with the utmost discretion!”
Catherine heaved a huge sigh, and said, “Thank you Chief, could we up the protection on Mr. Benson? We will cover any additional fees this would incur at our end!”
Chief nodded, “All ready done! We doubled security on him! So you can rest assured all is under control!”
Appreciatively, Catherine told him, “Well I will certainly sing your praises back home Chief! Our whole case rides on that dear man’s deposition! His testimony will do great good for many people, and it will put away the big guy. As you can imagine I am most anxious to get his deposition as soon as possible. If there is any thing you could do to expedite this for me, I would be most grateful!”
Chief Howard said, “I will be in touch first thing in the morning with an appointment time Catherine. I will do what I can!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vincent returned to the tunnels renewed with fervent furor, to complete Catherine’s chamber. Talking to her tonight on the phone filled him with such an anxiousness to work hard, at making Catherine’s new home comfortable and inviting for her.
As He finished installing the last of the stained glass windows, Mary and Rebecca entered Catherine’s future chamber. Mary was the first to speak, catching Vincent’s attention, “Vincent…Glory me! You have done a beautiful job in here. Now all you need are the finishing touches!”
Rebecca agreed, “Oh Vincent the windows are beautiful! Oh, and look, the little alcoves are so cozy!” Mary shook her head in wonderment, as she said, “Oh Vincent, this was truly a labor of Love! You must be tired…it is getting quite late!”
Vincent turned to the two women, and said, “I am about to quit for the night. And what of you two? I saw the torches burning in the restoration room, as I passed by earlier. You both are working late as well!”
Mary embarrassingly looked downward, as she knew Vincent was right. They were as motivated as he was. Rebecca chimed in, “There has been so much to clean and restore! Mary and I are finding the most wonderful pieces of furniture, and knick-knacks that were left behind in these old chambers!
You must come and have a look to see if there is anything you want to claim for Catherine’s chamber.”
Vincent nodded, and said, “Yes, I would like that. I prefer to wait however, until Laura, Jamie, and any others have made their desires known.”
Mary put her hand on Vincent’s arm and assured him, “I can show you the things the girls have expressed their interest in Vincent. But Vincent there are so many things gathered from these 6 abandoned chambers, lovely things…”
Mary turned to Rebecca for validation, and asked, “Aren’t there Rebecca?”
Rebecca nodded excitedly, “Oh yes…there is one item if no one else chooses, I myself have my eye on.”
Vincent nodded, and conceded, “Very well then perhaps I will have a look. Will you two ladies join me?”
Eagerly, Rebecca said, “I will Vincent!”
Mary stalled a moment and then said, “How about if I meet you two there. I have something I must get first.”
Vincent wiped his hands, and slipped his tunic on over his muslin shirt, and said, “Shall we Rebecca?”
As the two walked down the tunnel to the restoration chamber, they talked about the excitement these new chambers have brought to the community!
Rebecca hesitated a moment before she asked, “Vincent? Is Lisa still coming on Saturday as planned?”
Vincent tipped his head and said, “I haven’t heard other wise…I am assuming so.”
Glumly, she then said, “I see. And what about Catherine, how is she supposed to feel about Lisa being here?”
Picking up on a little animosity, he assured her, “Rebecca...it will be all right.”
Vincent stayed quiet for a moment, before he offered, “Catherine paid a visit to Lisa before she left for Ohio.”
Rebecca stopped in her tracks and asked shockingly, “She did? How was she received by Lisa?”
Vincent looked at her as he answered, “Very well, Catherine told me, they had a pleasant visit together. Catherine did this so we may all be at ease, during the times Lisa may be visiting the tunnels. Let us not forget, Lisa considers this her home, or lose site of the fact this WAS her home.”
Rebecca felt ashamed, and knew her comment made her look petty in Vincent’s eyes. When in truth she wanted the opposite. She admired Vincent so much, and really wanted what he shared with Lisa.
As they walked silently Rebecca tried to hide the tears, as she felt she was always saying the wrong things.
Vincent looked at Rebecca, and with concern, asked, “Rebecca? Are you upset?”
Rebecca couldn’t speak, but sadly nodded, and so Vincent stopped, and touched her shoulder, prompting her to stop too. He then asked, “What is it?”
She looked downward, and said, “I am afraid you see me, as the meddlesome homely evil step-sister, envious of the beautiful one!”
Vincent tipped his head, and lifted Rebecca’s chin, as he curiously asked, “Rebecca, how could you say such a thing?”
Pitifully, she looked at him, and as she cried, said, “Because Vincent, it is just how I feel.”
Vincent took Rebecca into his loving embrace, and said, “Ah Rebecca, that could not be further from the truth. There is not even an ounce of evil inside of you. Moreover, homely? Oh Rebecca, you are beautiful. You should not feel inferior to any woman.”
Rebecca looked down embarrassed, and revealed, “But Vincent, I do feel inferior to Lisa. I always have. She is so beautiful, and so full of life. No matter how I tried, I could never be exciting like her.”
Vincent smiled as he marveled, “Ah woman!”
Rebecca looked astonishingly at Vincent, as she said, “Well that is a funny comment to make after I just told you my deepest darkest secret Vincent!”
Vincent went on to explain, “Rebecca, when we were children, Lisa always spoke of her wish, to be like you. She thought you were the true natural beauty, with hair of golden curls. Yes it is true…she was envious of you.”
Rebecca shook her head in disbelief, “No…Lisa jealous of me?”
Vincent nodded, and said, “Yes it is true. She would comment, she wished that she and I could share a close kinship like I shared with you.”
Rebecca winced in wonderment as she thought back to their days as children. She reminded Vincent, “But it was always you and her off on some adventure, or getting into mischief. You two were always having fun together!”
Vincent nodded in agreement, and said, “Yes Rebecca, that is all true, but it was you and I, who really shared what was important. Don’t you recall how we would sit for hours in the echo chamber, listening to the world above, or at the falls, watching the whirling water beneath us. Or the times we would read and debate some of the books Father assigned to us. Those were times of great substance, times I will always cherish Rebecca. You have always been special to me.”
Rebecca wiped her eyes, as she asked, “Vincent…you never thought I was boring? I always worried, I was sooooo boring!”
Vincent soothingly said, “No Rebecca, you were never boring, with you I could just be me. To just sit with a friend is a wonderful thing.”
Rebecca hugged Vincent tightly as she said, “Oh my…I am a bit embarrassed to say the least. All these emotions pouring out! Vincent, it is just that, you are my most adored person in all the world. I feel so good to know that I am special to you too.”
Vincent put his arm around Rebecca, as they continued their walk to the restoration chamber, and said, “Don’t ever doubt how special you are to me Rebecca. I am sorry you did not JUST know it.”
Vincent tipped his head as he shared, “I am learning a lot today, on how important it is to others, to speak from my heart.”
He then added, “We all should Rebecca…I wish you had let me know how you were feeling all this time. Because, when you share the things hidden within your heart…well it is a powerful thing.”
With an emotional nod, Rebecca agreeably said it was, and then arm in arm, they continued their trek.
To be continued
Chapter Nine
As she dried the tears from her face, she began to pick up on some of the talk and laughter, that was filtering up from Agnes’s kitchen, and so Catherine decided to go back and join everyone, to dispel the sadness that had taken over her heart.
Agnes warmly welcomed Catharine, saying, "You just missed Charades! Shall we play another round?"
Insistently, Catherine assured her, she was fine, and just wanted to visit with everyone.
Agnes served her a cup of coffee, as she asked, “Did you call home?”
Catherine nodded and said, “Yes I did Agnes, I just put it on my phone card.”
Agnes scoffed, “Oh I wasn’t worried about that Dear!”
Doug always the inquisitive one, asked, “What is this case about anyway Ma?”
Agnes looked at her son, and told him, “To put it simply, Mr. Benson was in the wrong place at the right time! That sweet old man is scared to death. He saw something incriminating, as he was vacationing in New York City, and Catherine needs to acquire his deposition so he doesn’t have to travel back there.”
Catherine told Douggy, “Yes, when I talked to him I felt so sorry for him, he was so frightened.”
Agnes reiterated, as she explained to her kids, “Catherine, is now the only person he will talk to.”
Smiling at Catherine, she said, “You my Dear, are the only person he will trust!”
Catherine smiled as she looked downward, and teased, “Yes…lucky me!”
Just then Agnes’s phone rang, “Hi Howard…well, I appreciate the call. Please promise me you will keep Brian posted until I get back with you.”
Agnes hung up the phone and asked Catherine, “Cathy, did your department send a body guard for Mr. Benson?”
Catherine vehemently, shook her head, saying, “No Agnes! We understood he was assigned protection from this level.”
Agnes anxiously said, “He is…was…The call just now was from Howard, our Police Chief. He said his officer, who is posted at Mr. Benson’s door, just reported he was approached by a man who said, he was supposed to take over for him, and said he was sent by the D.A. in New York City!”
Catherine grabbed the phone and said, “I’ll call Joe, Agnes…if this is so, it is news to me!”
Catherine made a quick call and luckily Joe was home! And so she asked, “Joe did you send someone here to protect Mr. Benson?”
Anxiously, he replied, “No why Cath?”
Catherine quickly filled Joe in, and before he hung up, he said, “Call me as soon as you get to the bottom of this Cathy. I am gonna be sweating it out until I hear from you!”
Assuredly she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll call you.”
Agnes stepped into action immediately, after Catherine relayed the D.A. had not sent a guard! She called Howard back to inform him who ever the guy was, he wasn’t from the New York D.A.! Agnes then told her kids, and Catherine, “I’ll be back everyone. I am going to meet Howard at the hospital!”
Catherine stood up, and said, “I am definitely going with you!”
Worriedly, Agnes argued, “No you stay put Catherine, I don’t know what in the world this is all about!”
To which, Catherine announced, “Agnes, this could be dangerous! I am going and that is that.”
One by one, each of Agnes’s boys piped up, “I’m driving you Ma!”
First Gary, Doug, Danny, and then Jim and Greg all stepped up to protect their Mom! In conclusion, Gary said, “We’re all going! Come on let’s go!”
Bernadette, Virginia and Paulette stepped up too and said, “There is no way you are leaving us behind…come on girls were’re going too!”
So they all loaded up into Danny’s van, all pumped up, for a little espionage!
But before they left, Catherine warned them, “This is a drug case you guys. I appreciate you wanting to protect us, but drugs, equal money, and that brings out the worse side of mankind!”
Catherine turned to Agnes and enforced, “I cannot warn you and your family enough about how dangerous this could be.”
Everyone in the van all agreed, they were going to help protect their Mom and Catherine, and it didn’t matter what the risk.
Catherine admired the commitment to their Mother, but still cautioned, “All right, but please, let the Police do their job. I feel it is important for me to go. It may be reassuring to Mr. Benson if he were to see me.”
Agnes enforced, “Cathy is right…I don’t want anyone playing Dirty Harry when we arrive at the hospital! Is that clear?”
The van was filled with disappointed, “Awe all rights!” as they continued on their way!
As they arrived at the Hospital, Chief Howard met Catherine, and Agnes as she and her family piled out of the van! Confidently he announced, “Everything is all right. We just hauled the guy off. He is in custody.”
Agnes thanked the Chief, and quickly made some introductions. Catherine asked Chief Howard, “Is Mr. Benson aware of this breach?”
Howard calmly said, “He’s not aware of a thing! We handled it all with the utmost discretion!”
Catherine heaved a huge sigh, and said, “Thank you Chief, could we up the protection on Mr. Benson? We will cover any additional fees this would incur at our end!”
Chief nodded, “All ready done! We doubled security on him! So you can rest assured all is under control!”
Appreciatively, Catherine told him, “Well I will certainly sing your praises back home Chief! Our whole case rides on that dear man’s deposition! His testimony will do great good for many people, and it will put away the big guy. As you can imagine I am most anxious to get his deposition as soon as possible. If there is any thing you could do to expedite this for me, I would be most grateful!”
Chief Howard said, “I will be in touch first thing in the morning with an appointment time Catherine. I will do what I can!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vincent returned to the tunnels renewed with fervent furor, to complete Catherine’s chamber. Talking to her tonight on the phone filled him with such an anxiousness to work hard, at making Catherine’s new home comfortable and inviting for her.
As He finished installing the last of the stained glass windows, Mary and Rebecca entered Catherine’s future chamber. Mary was the first to speak, catching Vincent’s attention, “Vincent…Glory me! You have done a beautiful job in here. Now all you need are the finishing touches!”
Rebecca agreed, “Oh Vincent the windows are beautiful! Oh, and look, the little alcoves are so cozy!” Mary shook her head in wonderment, as she said, “Oh Vincent, this was truly a labor of Love! You must be tired…it is getting quite late!”
Vincent turned to the two women, and said, “I am about to quit for the night. And what of you two? I saw the torches burning in the restoration room, as I passed by earlier. You both are working late as well!”
Mary embarrassingly looked downward, as she knew Vincent was right. They were as motivated as he was. Rebecca chimed in, “There has been so much to clean and restore! Mary and I are finding the most wonderful pieces of furniture, and knick-knacks that were left behind in these old chambers!
You must come and have a look to see if there is anything you want to claim for Catherine’s chamber.”
Vincent nodded, and said, “Yes, I would like that. I prefer to wait however, until Laura, Jamie, and any others have made their desires known.”
Mary put her hand on Vincent’s arm and assured him, “I can show you the things the girls have expressed their interest in Vincent. But Vincent there are so many things gathered from these 6 abandoned chambers, lovely things…”
Mary turned to Rebecca for validation, and asked, “Aren’t there Rebecca?”
Rebecca nodded excitedly, “Oh yes…there is one item if no one else chooses, I myself have my eye on.”
Vincent nodded, and conceded, “Very well then perhaps I will have a look. Will you two ladies join me?”
Eagerly, Rebecca said, “I will Vincent!”
Mary stalled a moment and then said, “How about if I meet you two there. I have something I must get first.”
Vincent wiped his hands, and slipped his tunic on over his muslin shirt, and said, “Shall we Rebecca?”
As the two walked down the tunnel to the restoration chamber, they talked about the excitement these new chambers have brought to the community!
Rebecca hesitated a moment before she asked, “Vincent? Is Lisa still coming on Saturday as planned?”
Vincent tipped his head and said, “I haven’t heard other wise…I am assuming so.”
Glumly, she then said, “I see. And what about Catherine, how is she supposed to feel about Lisa being here?”
Picking up on a little animosity, he assured her, “Rebecca...it will be all right.”
Vincent stayed quiet for a moment, before he offered, “Catherine paid a visit to Lisa before she left for Ohio.”
Rebecca stopped in her tracks and asked shockingly, “She did? How was she received by Lisa?”
Vincent looked at her as he answered, “Very well, Catherine told me, they had a pleasant visit together. Catherine did this so we may all be at ease, during the times Lisa may be visiting the tunnels. Let us not forget, Lisa considers this her home, or lose site of the fact this WAS her home.”
Rebecca felt ashamed, and knew her comment made her look petty in Vincent’s eyes. When in truth she wanted the opposite. She admired Vincent so much, and really wanted what he shared with Lisa.
As they walked silently Rebecca tried to hide the tears, as she felt she was always saying the wrong things.
Vincent looked at Rebecca, and with concern, asked, “Rebecca? Are you upset?”
Rebecca couldn’t speak, but sadly nodded, and so Vincent stopped, and touched her shoulder, prompting her to stop too. He then asked, “What is it?”
She looked downward, and said, “I am afraid you see me, as the meddlesome homely evil step-sister, envious of the beautiful one!”
Vincent tipped his head, and lifted Rebecca’s chin, as he curiously asked, “Rebecca, how could you say such a thing?”
Pitifully, she looked at him, and as she cried, said, “Because Vincent, it is just how I feel.”
Vincent took Rebecca into his loving embrace, and said, “Ah Rebecca, that could not be further from the truth. There is not even an ounce of evil inside of you. Moreover, homely? Oh Rebecca, you are beautiful. You should not feel inferior to any woman.”
Rebecca looked down embarrassed, and revealed, “But Vincent, I do feel inferior to Lisa. I always have. She is so beautiful, and so full of life. No matter how I tried, I could never be exciting like her.”
Vincent smiled as he marveled, “Ah woman!”
Rebecca looked astonishingly at Vincent, as she said, “Well that is a funny comment to make after I just told you my deepest darkest secret Vincent!”
Vincent went on to explain, “Rebecca, when we were children, Lisa always spoke of her wish, to be like you. She thought you were the true natural beauty, with hair of golden curls. Yes it is true…she was envious of you.”
Rebecca shook her head in disbelief, “No…Lisa jealous of me?”
Vincent nodded, and said, “Yes it is true. She would comment, she wished that she and I could share a close kinship like I shared with you.”
Rebecca winced in wonderment as she thought back to their days as children. She reminded Vincent, “But it was always you and her off on some adventure, or getting into mischief. You two were always having fun together!”
Vincent nodded in agreement, and said, “Yes Rebecca, that is all true, but it was you and I, who really shared what was important. Don’t you recall how we would sit for hours in the echo chamber, listening to the world above, or at the falls, watching the whirling water beneath us. Or the times we would read and debate some of the books Father assigned to us. Those were times of great substance, times I will always cherish Rebecca. You have always been special to me.”
Rebecca wiped her eyes, as she asked, “Vincent…you never thought I was boring? I always worried, I was sooooo boring!”
Vincent soothingly said, “No Rebecca, you were never boring, with you I could just be me. To just sit with a friend is a wonderful thing.”
Rebecca hugged Vincent tightly as she said, “Oh my…I am a bit embarrassed to say the least. All these emotions pouring out! Vincent, it is just that, you are my most adored person in all the world. I feel so good to know that I am special to you too.”
Vincent put his arm around Rebecca, as they continued their walk to the restoration chamber, and said, “Don’t ever doubt how special you are to me Rebecca. I am sorry you did not JUST know it.”
Vincent tipped his head as he shared, “I am learning a lot today, on how important it is to others, to speak from my heart.”
He then added, “We all should Rebecca…I wish you had let me know how you were feeling all this time. Because, when you share the things hidden within your heart…well it is a powerful thing.”
With an emotional nod, Rebecca agreeably said it was, and then arm in arm, they continued their trek.
To be continued
Chapter Nine
| Dreams of Gold! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Eight |
