As Vincent and Ronald headed for the Falls, they passed Mouse, who was instructing some reluctant looking recruits, to remove the pile of rubble from the 42nd street tunnel passageway.
And upon hearing the exchange, Vincent and Ronald looked at each other amusingly, as they heard Mouse say, “Ok Good, Ok Fine, we cannot have lunch until we are finished!”
To which in reply, a very disgruntled Kanin, said, “Ah Mouse, you cannot keep us from eating. Father wouldn’t allow it!”
With defiance, Mouse said, “Father put me in charge, what Mouse says is the law!”
And in reply, Kanin argued back, saying, “You may be in charge, but that doesn’t mean you can act like some Tyrant!”
As Kanin saw Vincent, and Ronald approach, he said to the other men, “Hey there’s Vincent, let’s ask his opinion. Vincent? How much authority does Mouse REALLY have anyway?”
In reply, Vincent thoughtfully answered, “Mouse has been granted complete control of the renovation operation by Father….”
Upon hearing Vincent's answer, Mouse then said to Kanin, and the others, “See what Vincent said! I told you!”
But then...Vincent, with the wisdom of King Solomon, boldly added, “Yes, Father has granted Mouse complete control, because of the faith he has in him. Father feels, Mouse’s goodness, and fairness shall prevail, and...he knows Mouse will guide his crews, with a compassionate guiding hand, as opposed to an iron tyrannical fist a lesser man would rule with."
As he placed a firm hand upon Mouse’s shoulder, Vincent continued on, "I know Father has faith, Mouse will lead this operation in the true spirit, in which the tunnels stand for, and as Father intended…with dignity and respect to each man, woman and child.”
And so, it was then, Mouse looked down guiltily, knowing he had let the authority go to his head. Apologetically he reluctantly said, “Ok Good, Ok fine, we will stop for lunch, done or not!”
As Vincent lifted his eyes, he looked at Ronald, and they shared a knowing smile between them, as it appeared Vincent had made his point with Mouse.
And so as Vincent and Ronald prepared to venture onward, Vincent said, “Have a good day lusty gentlemen. We shall join you for lunch shortly.”
With admiration, Ronald looked at Vincent, and said, “You handled that well, the way you brought Mouse's feet back to the ground was, done in a gentle, but firm manner."
Seeing a smile come to Vincent's eyes, Ronald continued, "And may I say, I cannot help but notice you are taking Catherine’s absence very well today.”
Vincent nodded in agreement, as they walked, and gratefully said, “Thanks to you, and Pascal for helping me put things into perspective, I have been able to better accept Catherine’s departure. And…of course, the work helps, and I must admit your proposing this morning's exercise diversion, had been a release as well. Thank you Ronald.”
With a brotherly affection, Ronald patted Vincent on the back and said, “Hey, I’m no shrink, but I have learned, keeping busy, and plenty of hard work, is the only thing that had kept me sane.”
To which Vincent replied, “You are right about work. Readying Catherine’s new home for her has been a lifeline for me. After I talked to Catherine last night, it left me with an urgency…with a desire to quickly finish her new home for her. I want it to be completed on her return.”
And then, Vincent with a husky passion in his voice, continued, “Her words, lifted me up past a barrier, I hadn’t realized I still owned.”
Not wanting to reveal any of the details of the intimate exchange he shared with her, Vincent stopped there, as he finished saying, “Our bond has never been stronger, and it is completely open. I feel nothing but elation from Catherine, as the time grows near for her to return.”
Eagerly, Ronald commented, “Hey we better take that swim then, so we can get back and finish that chamber.”
Agreeably, Vincent replied, "Lead the way.”
After their swim, Vincent and Ronald entered Catherine’s chamber, and were overwhelmed by their first impression!
To which Vincent told Mary, he was overcome, with the warmness in which her extra touches had added.
After Ronald complimented her too, Mary proudly said, how much she enjoyed helping and was happy they liked what she had done.
Ronald and Vincent then finished moving in the last of the furniture, and as Mary, Ronald and Vincent stood back admiring the chamber, they all felt it exuded the homey atmosphere Catherine would love.
(Click on this Link to see Catherine's Chamber)
Meanwhile, as Jacob finished with some administrative duties, he decided to venture over to the expansion site to check on things. And if truth be told...he hoped to see Mary too, and was dying to know what kind of gift Peter had presented her.
And so as Jacob entered, he excitedly said, “Catherine’s chamber is completed! Very nice, very nice indeed!"
Jacob then added, "Mary...I understand you were instrumental in the final touches? Very nice, I must say!”
Mary couldn't help but blush a bit, as she brought her hand to her heart, which brought attention to the new necklace she was wearing!
Upon noticing the necklace, Jacob’s eyes widened, as he saw Mary's exquisite Cameo Necklace!
But because Mary was still referring to her talent as a decorator, she modestly answered, "I do love decorating! It is a release of sorts for me!"
However Jacob was now caught up on what he was sure to be Peter's gift, and astonishingly said, “Your necklace…it is very striking! Is it new?"
As Mary looked downward, she took a deep breath she said, “Yes, Peter brought it back from England for me. As Peter explained it to me, it is constructed from a Queen conch shell!”
And so it was then, that Vincent stepped up to look too, as he remarked, “Yes Mary, very lovely, and it suits you perfectly.”
In reply, Mary nodded and graciously said, “Thank you Vincent, Peter had said something quite similar.”
Feeling a bit downhearted, by such an extravagant gift, which was beyond his means, Jacob cleared his throat, and said, “Well if you excuse me, I am due to meet Kipper for a game of chess. Have a good day everyone.”
As Jacob turned to leave, Vincent couldn’t but help but notice the pall that had fallen over his demeanor.
And so Vincent excused himself from Mary, and Ronald, by saying, “Well I must go as well, thank you my dear friends for all of your help.”
As Vincent came up behind Jacob, he asked, “Father is everything all right?”
To which Jacob, nodded and tried to sound cheerful, as he said, “Yes…yes of course Vincent, why do you ask?”
Putting his arm around his Father, Vincent said, “I cannot help but wonder if Peter’s gift to Mary, has upset you in some way.”
Knowing he had been found out, Jacob stopped in his tracks, and with his head bent he said, “It is funny Vincent, but on some level it does! I don’t know why I feel as I do.”
And then Jacob nervously chuckled, as he looked at his son, and said, “Am I so transparent Vincent?”
To which Vincent assuredly replied, “Only to me Father…only to me. I am certain no one else noticed.”
Heaving a sigh of relief, Jacob said, “Good Vincent. Ah to have some one know you so well, is both a curse and Blessing, as I cannot hide anything from you.”
To which Vincent squarely surmised, “I imagine you have a few secrets hidden away Father, even from me.”
As Jacob looked up at his son, he offered, “Come walk me back to my chamber."
Vincent then put his arm around his Father, and the two men walked in silence sharing a love and a closeness, richer than most Father's and Son's are fortunate to ever know.
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As Catherine prepared to board the plane at gate 3, she had a few tears in her eyes as she bade Agnes' Family goodbye. Perhaps it was the margarita she enjoyed at Loma Linda’s, causing her to be a bit more emotional than usual, but she really liked this family, and they her. She made them promise to contact her if they ever came to New York City.
Catherine settled in to her seat, and as the plane taxied for the take-off, she thought about the new life she was beginning. This was her last professional deed as the Assistant D.A., and sending the depo over the wires to Joe, she really was officially done. Although a thought did plague her the fax may not have gone successfully, but knew she would get the depo in Joe's hands tomorrow at the very least!
Now Vincent would have her total attention from this day forward, and she could hardly wait!
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Meanwhile, Vincent passed Laura, and Jamie, as they were heading toward their new chambers to meet Mary.
Excitedly, the girls told him Mary agreed to help finish arranging their chambers with furniture they had chosen from the restoration chamber.
Gratefully, Laura signed, “Thank you for talking to Father for me Vincent. I am so excited to have a place all of my own.”
With a warm smile, Vincent signed as he spoke, “You are most welcome Laura. I am just on my way to Catherine’s apartment to drop off a homecoming gift for her. I will check on you both upon my return.”
Jamie said, “See ya later Vincent, and by the way, we love Catherine’s chamber! We’re sure she will too!”
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As Vincent arrived on Catherine’s balcony to leave her properly wrapped gift, he noticed the balcony doors were open to Catherine’s apartment, and he could see Jennifer inside.
As Jennifer fiddled with Catherine’s answering machine, she was attempting to get it back to where it was before she nosily listened to the messages. Unfortunately Jennifer accidentally clicked it on, and Joe’s message seem to bellow through out the room:
“Cath…I have been thinking about you a lot…since you told me you were moving in with this guy.
Maybe I should have been more, ah I don’t know…maybe I should have been more specific. You, and I could be good together. If you give me a chance, I wouldn’t ask you to change your whole life around for me, not like he has. All I ask is you think about it…er…me…I mean think about us. Call me the minute you get home. I er…well you know...”
Upon hearing this messge, Vincent stood frozen. He felt as if he had heard a revelation of truth, a truth he always felt was perhaps inevitable. That Catherine should have a conventional life in this world above. Be a wife, a mother, have a home and a career, with someone as good, and as fine as Joe.
Gently he placed Catherine’s book on the patio table, and as if in a state of shock, he accidentally turned over a chair, as he turned to leave. Quickly exiting he lowered himself over the ledge, and headed back to the tunnels, back to his world.
And as Jennifer heard the noise on the balcony, she eagerly said, “Hey Vinny, is that you?”
But when she stepped out, she looked around finding the tipped over chair, and then the book gift wrapped for Catherine!
And it immediately occurred to her, that Vincent must have heard Joe’s message, on the answering machine, and so she lamented, “Oh no, Joe’s message must have upset Vinny! Running over to the ledge she yelled, “Vinny come back!”
Knowing she really screwed up, she wondered how she would explain all of this to Catherine!
To be continued
Chapter Twelve
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| Dreams of Gold! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Eleven |
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