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..."

To be continued
Chapter Six
Hero of my Heart!
By Sharon Holtz
Chapter Five
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