Meanwhile, below in The Tunnels, word had spread throughout the community about Vincent's broken romance, and everyone tried to show him extra kindness.
Even William made Vincent's favorite, of Buckwheat Pancakes with honey cinnamon syrup, and Cured Ham for breakfast.
So when he didn't come to partake in this meal, everyone grew concerned for him, and it was Pascal who told Jacob he would go and check on him.
To which Jacob thoughtfully replied, "Yes Pascal, I believe he needs someone other than his doting Father to talk to. So please go to him...he may need a friend."
Upon arriving at Vincent's chamber, Pascal stood for a moment at the threshold, as he asked, "Hey Vincent, can I come in?"
As Vincent put down his pen, he looked up and cordially said, "Of course Pascal. What is it?"
Gingerly, Pascal entered, and as he sat down in the neighboring chair, he tritely inquired, "What ya doing? Writing in your journal?"
Knowing Pascal was on a fact finding mission, Vincent flatly answered, "No, Pascal, I am preparing the children's lesson."
To which Pascal over zealously replied, "Ah, I see..."
And because Vincent didn't seem to be open to conversation, Pascal wondered how to broach the subject of Catherine.
And so carefully, he began, "I, that is we were all concerned you didn't come for breakfast. You knew William prepared Buckwheat pancakes especially for you?"
Looking downward, Vincent then raised his eyes, and with a heavy laden breath, said, "Yes I knew Pascal, and I appreciate William making them for my sake. I will tell him I am sorry if I disappointed him by not arriving for breakfast."
To put his friend at ease Pascal then expressed, "Yeah, well it was no big deal, I know William understands, its only that, well since none of us hardly ever miss any of his meals, we kinda worried about ya."
As Vincent looked down-hearted, knowing he let William down, he stayed quiet wondering how he was going to get through losing Catherine with all these helpful, caring, yet prying eyes on him.
And because Vincent was contemplating his plight, and didn't reply, Pascal asked, "Ya feeling OK?"
To which Vincent with emotion, confided, "It is just so difficult, I couldn't face everyone this morning, and if you could perhaps explain to the others that I need time...a bit of time to reconcile all of this..."
Feeling for his friend, Pascal commiserated with him by saying, "I think I know what you mean. It's hard to have any time to yourself, with everyone hovering around, asking if you're OK...I think I get it..."
As Pascal realized he just did this very thing, he laughed at himself as he said, "Hey listen to me Mr. Buttinski himself! But all I wanna say, the upside is you are never alone, ya know. We all just want to help if we can."
Vincent looked into his hands as he then shared, "I appreciate your concern, however there are some things no one can help me with. I have much to privately sort out, and put into perspective."
In reply, Pascal with kindness said, "I understand."
As Vincent needed Pascal to intervene between he and his father, he asked, "Do tell Father not to worry about me, I just need time to find my way back to where I was...I need to forget the idea of a different kind of a life, and find a way to accept once more...the way my life must be."
Feeling useful that there was something he could do to help, Pascal promised he would go directly to Jacob and tell him not to be concerned, and explain how things are.
With a grateful nod, Vincent then picked up the pen, and politely said, "For now Pascal, I must prepare this lesson plan for the children."
Getting the hint, Pascal weakly smiled at his friend, and said, "I will see you later then."
As Pascal left him, Vincent now alone, hung his head and felt a sobbing take over his being once more. How he longed to see Catherine again, but knew he had to except, it all had only been...a dream.
And now, he had to begin his journey finding his way back to that contentment which he once owned, in his everyday existence before love, and before Catherine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Catherine with her work day behind her, excitedly headed home, with her hopes raised once more, praying that tonight...Vincent would call upon her.
As she brewed some coffee, Catherine turned on her TV and absentmindedly listened to the news. The top story however caught her attention, as it was about Brigit O'Donnell.
The news report stated, that Brigit's Father had passed away this afternoon at St. Vincent's Hospital, and she would be taking his body back to Ireland, back to his homeland for burial.
A reporter, who managed to get a brief interview with her at the airport, questioned her, "Brigit what will you do now. Will you make Ireland home once again?"
A devastated Brigit, answered, "A year ago, there was nothin' I wanted more than to return to the welcomin' arms of my Motherland. However now, there is nothin' for me there, except for the Blessed ground that cradles my deceased loved ones. I feel like this is my home now. And there is a man I do wish to see again. A very Dear...Dear friend. Vincent, if you hear this, I will return, and I want ye to consider all of what I said to ye the other night. For now...I must take my Father back home."
Catherine couldn't believe what she had just heard Brigit say! It sounded like there was perhaps more, than just a friendship between she and Vincent!
Thinking back, Catherine had never asked Vincent how his conversation with Brigit had gone Halloween night at the hospital. What could Brigit have said to Vincent that she wanted him to consider? What all could have transpired?
Catherine wondered, how she could she ever compete with the friendship Vincent and Brigit had. Recalling how Vincent had told her they corresponded for about a year, and had shared much in their letters to one another.
She now could not help but wonder if Vincent could have been with Brigit last night? Perhaps that was why he hadn't come to see her.
Stopping herself from getting too carried away with this whole notion, Catherine decided to see what would happen tonight.
And...if Vincent would come to see her tonight, that would prove the feelings she felt between them, had been real, and true.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Rebecca made her way to Vincent's chamber, needing to deliver a message to him from a helper.
Standing at the threshold, Rebecca called out, "Vincent? I have a note for you."
Rising from his bed, Vincent walked over to Rebecca, and as he accepted the correspondence, he politely said, "Thank you Rebecca."
As he opened the note, he was saddened by the news of Brigit's fathers death, and so aloud he sighed, "Ahh, Brigit."
Rebecca looked up at Vincent, and told him what the helper relayed about Brigit's television interview, saying, "Brigit mentioned you by name, saying when she returns to New York City, she hopes to see her good friend Vincent again! And she also said she wanted you to re-consider what she had said to you."
With great curiosity, she asked, "What could she have meant Vincent?"
Upon hearing Rebecca's question, Vincent pondered on how to answer! And so gingerly, he sat down at his writing table, and politely asked, "Tea?"
And after Rebecca said yes, Vincent skirted her question for a moment more as he poured their tea.
As Rebecca sat with her tea now in front of her, she softly asked, "Vincent?"
Humbly, Vincent raised his eyes, as he informed her, "It seems through our correspondence, she had arrived at a level where she entertained the thought, of a possible relationship with me, or should I say...with the man she had been corresponding with."
Inquisitively, she asked, "Vincent...have you told her of your home here, and about your differences?"
Tipping his head, as he explained, he replied, "Yes, however it was not until our meeting at the hospital."
With concern, Rebecca asked, "You must trust her greatly to confide in her..."
With a nod, Vincent then explained, "Yes...this is true...I do trust Brigit, and I felt it was necessary, as she made an implication that she wished for things to deepen between us."
Hearing this scoop straight from Vincent, Rebecca decadently asked, "She said this straight out? Seems rather bold Vincent!"
To which Vincent agreeably said, "Yes I suppose it was bold of her..."
And then Rebecca said, "Now I can see why you felt it was necessary to tell her everything..."
Thoughtfully, Rebecca then asked, "...so what did you say? How did you tell her about who you are?"
Vincent then replied, "I told her though my letters had contained my heart and soul, there was a side of me I kept hidden and secret."
Rebecca who was hanging on to Vincent's every word prodded him along, as she said, "Yes...go on..."
Vincent with a smile in his eyes, recalled the way the conversation had gone, and said, "Well...when I told her, who I was...she accepted me."
With care, Rebecca asked, "Vincent, so do you think you could ever feel anything for Brigit?"
Vincent looked grief-stricken as he stood, and said, "How could that be possible Rebecca? I had already met Catherine by then, and the entire sum of who I was, and am...is totally devoted to HER! No...although I was flattered by her proposition, I couldn't ever think of Brigit in that way."
Rebecca hesitated a moment before she asked, "And now that things with Catherine seem to have ended?"
Vincent resignedly sat back down, and with his head bent sorrowfully, he told Rebecca, "Now, it is even more inconceivable. For now my heart is shattered and broken. There is nothing left to give."
Rebecca tearfully said, "Oh Vincent I am so sorry. I wish I could help in some way."
With great concern she then asked, "Is it right to give up all hope already?"
Quietly, Vincent replied, "Because of the fact Catherine had not left a note in reply to mine...this fact alone, has left me with no hope. It is gone, and I must except the dream is over, ended really...before it truly began."
For the sake of his survival, he dared not raise his hopes again.
Once again, Vincent was a pensive traveler on a lonesome path.
As Rebecca left Vincent alone in his chamber, he stretched out upon his bed, and mercifully sleep overcame him. The only place that he would find peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Catherine fearing the worse as the evening turned into night, had to wonder if Vincent was indeed, involved with Brigit.
Did he have a change of heart about the relationship they had begun?
Oh how she needed Peter right now! She needed his help so badly, because other than Peter, there was no other connection to Vincent.
Catherine then shifted her thoughts to Peter, and what he himself must be going through right now, and with a silent prayer, she shifted her concern to Peter and to sweet Mother Alcott. Waiting to hear news was hard on Catherine and her Dad, because they both loved her very much.
So between Vincent, and Mother Alcott, Catherine's heart was burdened with much sorrow and grief, and she sought out some solace through one of her favorite books, and chose to read, "The Tragedies of Shakespeare."
Turning through all of Shakespeare's brilliant plays, she turned to her favorite of all, "Romeo and Juliet", hoping to find some thing she could identify with in this play she knew and loved so well. And so she began to read:
Romeo: Farewell, farewell! One kiss, and I'll descend.
Juliet: Art thou gone so? Love, lord, aye, husband, friend! I must hear from thee every day in the hour, For in a minute there are many days: O, by this count I shall be much in years Ere I again behold my Romeo!
Romeo: Farewell! I will omit no opportunity That may convey my greetings, love, to thee.
Juliet: O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?
Romeo: I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve For sweet discourses in our time to come.
Putting her beloved Shakespeare down on the table next to her Wordsworth, it occurred to Catherine, that perhaps Peter was NOT her only connection to Vincent after all...what if Vincent were to order another book from Mr. Smythe?
So with hope in her heart, Catherine thought that yes, she would wait a few more days, and if Vincent doesn't come to her, she would resort to trying to contact him through a book order she would place with Mr. Smythe.
At least she wasn't at a total dead-end after all...
Once again the hour grew late, and it was clear there would NOT be a visit from Vincent.
As she laid down upon her bed, she was certain sleep would not come again tonight.
However...sheer exhaustion and despair did bring sleep to Catherine, numbing her aching heart.
The next day at work Charles once again checked on his heart-broken daughter. So upon opening her office door, as he simultaneously knocked, he kindly spoke, "Catherine Ann?"
Suspicious of whenever her Dad included the use of her middle name, with trepidation she asked, "Yes Dad, what is it?"
Insultingly he teased, "What a down-hearted greeting! I only wanted to see if you will join me for lunch in a little bit..."
With a sideway glance, Catherine looked accusingly at her Dad, and asked, "...and...to see how I am doing?"
With a self conscious smile, Charles sat down in the chair across from her, and admitted, "Yes...and to see how you are doing..."
To which he then added, "...can I help it if I am concerned? I am your Daddy after all."
With a sad smile, Catherine had to admit, "No Dad, in fact your concern is quite wonderful really. But I don't want you to be worrying about me..."
To which Charles leaned forward in his chair, and inserted, "Well damn right I am worried about you..."
Charles then stopped himself, and carefully asked, "Did you...did you hear the news last night?"
Realizing her Dad heard the news too, she softly replied, "Yes I did...I know Brigit's Father had died, and I heard her mention Vincent..."
Now knowing his daughter also heard the interview, Charles then went on to say, "I did too! And let me tell ya, after I heard the newscast, I couldn't help but wonder just what in the &%$# Vincent's intentions are! Is he stringing both of you along?"
Although Catherine thought AND wondered the same things...it was different hearing someone else doubt him!
So protectively, Catherine was quick to jump to Vincent's defense as she said, "Oh Dad, I'm sure Vincent isn't a playboy or up to doing anything sinister..."
Softly Catherine continued to say, "...I don't think Vincent is capable of intentionally hurting anyone. I must admit though, I did wonder if maybe Vincent's feelings for Brigit were stronger than he knew, and maybe doesn't know how to tell me."
Upon hearing there still has been no communication, Charles looked sadly at his daughter and clarified, "Then you still haven't heard from Vincent at all?"
To which Catherine sadly answered, "No...no I haven't...but in spite of that fact Dad...I still care about him, and hope to hear something...all I ask is, you don't judge him too harshly."
So out of respect for his daughter, Charles compliantly said, "OK, OK Princess, I won't judge him, not YET anyway, and I will even drop it...FOR NOW. But when you DO hear from this Vincent character, I want you to let him know, I want to speak to him."
As Charles got up, he gave his daughter a very much needed hug, and then he turned to leave.
But because it bothered him that his daughter seemed to be so emotionally invested in this Vincent already, a thought had struck Charles!!
And so Charles spun back around, to sternly ask, "This Vincent...he ah...he..."
Oblivious to what her Dad was about to ask, Catherine looked back up from her file, as she responded, "Yes Dad?"
To which Charles searchingly asked, "...this Vincent didn't take advantage of you the other night did he?"
And because her Dad's question took her by surprise, she unexpectedly chuckled, as she replied, "Oh Dad! You sound just like Jenny!"
And then as Catherine warmly reflected on the night she and Vincent met, she softly answered, "But in answer to your question, no Vincent didn't take advantage of me Dad...he was a perfect gentlemen."
Feeling satisfied with his daughter's answer, Charles calmed down, and then said, "Just checking, I am not usually wrong about a man's character, I never would have left you in his care that night if I had felt a bad vibe."
Charles then added, "So on that note, I am sure there will be a reasonable explanation when you do hear from him."
Taking in a deep breath, Catherine said, "I hope so Dad."
And then taking a firm stance once more, Charles added, "At least there better be!"
Knowing she would not be getting anywhere defending Vincent to her Dad, mainly for the fact Vincent had no defence, she changed the subject. And so with care, Catherine mentioned, "I know you'll let me know when you talk to Peter..."
With an assuring nod, Charles replied, "Of course...as of right now...nothing new to report...just keep them in your thoughts and prayers..."
With immense sadness, Catherine replied, "I will..."