Yes, Brigit did her best to win Vincent over, and gave it all she had, touching his arm every chance she got.
But what really shocked Mary, Rebecca, and the others, was when Brigit placed her hand on Vincent's leg, as she laughed at one of Winslow's wry stories!
So...because they could see right through Brigit, Mary and Rebecca in particular exchanged irritated looks, as she was so engaging to the fellas.
And I must say, Brigit's choice of dress, did not help to endear herself to the clan of conservative women either! Yes the snug sweater was quite beyond the pale!
So anyway, as the community dined, one of the gents asked where she was from. To which Brigit happily took over the reins of the conversation, and gleefully shared stories about her country, and what it was like to grow up in Ireland.
And Brigit's descriptive wild sagas, entertained everyone, especially the children!
In fact, Brigit's vivid stories piqued their imaginations, and curiosities so much, the children started asking a lot of questions, yes...many, many detailed questions!
Well, Brigit, who had not been around children very much, needless to say, was becoming agitated by all the queries! And it was mainly because the children's interruptions had thwarted the flow of her tales!
And so because Jacob himself wanted to hear what Brigit had to say without interruption, he quieted the children, by scolding, "Now children, allow Brigit to finish her story, you may ask questions later on! There are times we must just listen!"
With an appreciative nod toward Jacob, Brigit continued reminiscing, saying how much she loved to ice skate as a child, stating ice skating was the one and only thing she liked about Winter.
Brigit then turned to Vincent to say she saw Wollman Ice Skating Rink as she came through the park earlier with Lin, and mentioned, "I read the builder Donald Trump had repaired it makin' it usable now."
To which Vincent nodded, raised a brow, and offered, "Perhaps one of the others can take you skating later on, as I watch from afar."
This suggestion of Vincent's gave Pascal the edge he was hoping for, and so gleefully he spoke up, saying he would be happy to accompany Brigit skating.
As Mary and Rebecca heard him eagerly volunteer, they exchanged shocked and astonished looks as this was so unlike Pascal!
And so feeling a bit put out that even prudent Pascal succumbed to Brigit's charms, Rebecca could not resist asking, "If you go, who will watch the PIPES Pascal?"
To which he wittily replied, "Pipes Shmipes! We have a guest to entertain!"
With dismay, Rebecca widened her eyes, as she looked at Mary, who she, along with everyone else, was thinking the same thing...never before had Pascal ever been so cavalier about monitoring the Pipes!
Stepping up in defense of Pascal, Jacob agreeably said, "Yes...I am sure one of the novices can fill in...and, Oh...by the way, ahem...Vincent, before you and Pascal go above to take Brigit skating, I, ahem, I would like to give you something."
As Jacob brought the parcel forth, he presented it to Vincent, and chuckled at his own impatience, as he revealed, "I suppose I should wait for a special occasion, either Christmas or your Birthday, but I confess, I cannot wait that long!"
Everyone around the Dining Hall gathered in close, as they were all anxious to see what Jacob was giving to Vincent, because since gifts were rarely given below in the tunnels, it was exciting for everyone!
Vincent tipped his head, as he received the brown paper parcel from his Father, and he questionably asked, "A book, from Mr. Smythe's?"
And it was then when he held this parcel in his hands, that he felt someone, sensed someone calling out to him. However since the impression was fleeting, and stopped, as quick as it started, Vincent was able to set this unusual impression aside, as he turned his attention back to his Father.
And so, with a nod, Jacob, added, "Yes, it is from Mr. Smythe! Lin had picked it up you see, and she passed it on to Brigit, and Brigit onto me, and now I...to you! This was why Brigit asked you to be a buffer of sorts earlier...isn't it Brigit?"
To which Brigit feeling so proud to be a part of the secret gift transfer, gleefully said, "Aye Jacob! I couldn't think of a way to git rid of Vincent long enoof to give ye the book! So that is why I so forwardly asked ye to take me to see yer chamber!"
Jacob chuckled as he blushed, and teasingly replied, "Yes, Brigit, a bit forward indeed! I dare say!"
Mary practically bit her tongue, as she squeezed Rebecca's hand, whispering, "Take me now Lord before I say something to that Girl!"
To which Rebecca calmed her leader, by saying, "Remember, deep cleansing breaths Mary, inhale, exhale..."
Meanwhile Jacob continued, "However, back to you Vincent! I am afraid this is becoming a long prelude to your opening your gift! So Vincent, please...open!"
With a smile in his eyes, Vincent then reverently unwrapped the brown paper, and inspected the title of the book, reading it aloud, "Shakespeare's Sonnets, Father...there are no words!"
Vincent rose from his seat to give his Father an embrace of loving gratitude, saying, "You don't know what this means to me, however, what is the reason for giving me such an auspicious gift? As you said, tisn't Christmas, nor my Birthday..."
Clearing his throat of emotion Jacob told his son, "Well Vincent...I dare say, perhaps rather than classifying this gift as being given early for either of the afore mentioned auspicious occasions, you might consider this gift is late! You see, it is for the additional 104 Sonnets you neglected to tell me you had memorized..."
To which Winslow in a panic, looked to Pascal, then Rebecca, before he asked, "Oh no! Did I miss something! Are you still issuing assignments Father?"
With a chuckle, Jacob assured him, "Needn't worry yourself Winslow, this is concerning something between Vincent and I."
And so Father and Son, shared a knowing look, and though this gift raised a question or two among the other dwellers, Jacob felt this was just between he and his son.
And as far as Vincent sharing any details...he didn't, as he was too modest to elaborate.
But then, because of Winslow's question, ( and to show off a bit in front of Brigit... ) Jacob felt this was an opportunity to teach a lesson! And so Jacob boisterously instructed Winslow, "Remember, we as humans should never stop learning Winslow, and just because you are no longer in a class of mine, I do hope you continue to challenge your self...and this goes for all of us! Everyday, read, and learn! I dare say, it is quite beneficial to present our gray matter with new, exciting, and informative material to soak up."
Upon hearing Jacob going on and on, behaving so full of himself, Mary whispered to Rebecca, "Yada yada yada! Are you listening to Father?"
With a raised brow, Rebecca nodded saying she was, and then speculated, "Well Mary, don't be too surprised, if Father presides over a session of some sort while Brigit is here!"
In reply, Mary brusquely stated, "I was just thinking the same thing! A session so Father can perform and showcase his knowledge! Literature 101 soon to come!"
In the meantime, Brigit watched this interaction between Jacob and his community with utter fascination, thinking, "This place! What a tale I could be writin'...if I were allowed!"
It was then, when Vincent turned to Brigit and Pascal, to ask, "Well, shall we?"
Feeling excited to be going above, both Pascal and Brigit said they were indeed ready, so the newly formed three amigos, went to their perspective chambers, to retrieve their coats, cloaks, hats and gloves.
Vincent meanwhile, as he traveled onward to his chamber, was privately wondering if maybe...he would see Catherine in the park again, even if it would be nothing more than a glimpse of her, perhaps a final glimpse, giving his heart a chance to say goodbye.
And so as Vincent entered his chamber, with a reverence, he placed his Father's unexpected gift, on his writing table, and with a smile in his eyes, he touched the vintage tome, and picked it up once more.
As he held this book in his hands, Vincent thought of how it moved him so, that his Father would surprise him in this manner, so unexpectedly. And just as Vincent was about to flip through it's pages, he felt that same strange impression...as if someone was calling out to him, when just then...Pascal interrupted this cryptic sensation, as he excitedly said, "We're ready Vincent!"
With care Vincent put the book back down, but before he moved another step, Vincent felt a sense of a beckoning once more! So as he tried to hone, and tune in, the feeling began to weaken, and fade away...and though this incident did leave Vincent feeling unsettled, he then walked out into the tunnel main, continuing onward, as he greeted Brigit and Pascal, saying he was ready as well.
And with that said, as the three of them walked through the tunnels, Pascal relayed a story about growing up there, telling Brigit, "Vincent always loved the snow!"
To which Pascal with a chuckle continued, "Hey Vincent...do you remember how Devin, Winslow and I would bring down buckets full of snow, so we could have snowball fights down here in the tunnels? That would sure get Father riled."
And so with a raised brow, Vincent noted, "Yes, and I believe that may have been what made it so enjoyable..."
With a whimsical look in his eyes, Vincent then added, "At least as far as Devin was concerned..."
And because Brigit wondered more about Vincent's brother, she asked, "Ah, and Devin is yer brother, Jacob spoke of?"
To which Vincent told Brigit the story of his brother, Jacob's biological son, who had gone away, leaving he, his Father and the Tunnels behind.
But as not to dwell on the sorrowful aspect of Devin leaving, Pascal instead spoke about the good times they all had together. And as Pascal told one story, and then another, he saw how amused Brigit was, and maybe began showing out a bit with his animated gestures.
But it was true, Brigit was quite entertained, hearing these accounts of growing up here in this extraordinary place, and about the childhood of Vincent...a most incredible man.
And yes, as Pascal's anecdotes delighted Brigit, they also managed to lighten Vincent's heart, as he thought back on his carefree days as a boy.
And for that moment, though he was still so broken, he was able to rise above all his heartache, to be uplifting for Brigit's sake...
So, as they continued to reminisce, amusedly talking, walking arm in arm, the iron door slid open...and there, on the other side, stood a very cold, and shivering Catherine.
And from her vantage, as Catherine took in the jovial scene, she felt even more wounded and humiliated as her worse fears had come to pass, as she was faced with the most unkindest of realities, Brigit...at Vincent's side, in his world, gloating, and beaming like a woman in love.
And it was then, Catherine noticed, Vincent was providing Brigit with an escorting arm, the arm he had once offered her, on a night not so long ago...
Meanwhile, Vincent himself, was feeling so overwhelmed, that he was speechless. His heart broke and stopped beating as he looked down at Catherine, looking so cold and so forlorn. And for a moment he couldn't move, as he then wondered, if it was Catherine he sensed calling out to him from the entrance just a bit ago?
And so as he finally collected himself, he slipped off his cloak, and stepped away from Brigit to place it over Catherine's shoulders. To which he then conveyed his concern, lamenting, "Allow me Catherine...you are freezing..."
As Catherine could not stop herself from shaking, she replied, "I called out...and hoped somehow tonight, you would hear me even through this iron door...I couldn't leave until I spoke to you."
And because Vincent now understood it had been Catherine he had sensed calling out to him earlier, he sorrowfully replied, "I apologize...I should have recognized and acted upon this...this impression I had..."
As Brigit watched on, feeling a bit like "The cat that swallowed the canary", she tritely butted in, as she said, "Yoohoo, hello Catherine."
In reply, Catherine pulled herself away from Vincent's gaze, and politely said, "Hello Brigit...I am so sorry to hear about your Father, my condolences."
To which Brigit humbly, yet curtly answered, "Aye, thank ye Catherine."
And Vincent then thought to introduce Pascal to Catherine, and so he said, "This is my good friend Pascal, Pascal this is...Catherine."
Politely, Catherine said hello, to a very stunned Pascal, who was still so surprised, that Vincent's Catherine was actually there! And so he astonishingly replied, "Hello, Catherine...nice to actually meet ya...I've heard alot about ya...err..." And because Pascal wasn't sure how much he should say, he decided to stop right there before he said something Vincent wouldn't want him to say.
Meantime, Brigit wanting to move this whole encounter along, noted, "Ye say ye couldn't leave till ye spoke to Vincent? Hmmm, must be quite important!"
Upon sensing how Brigit seemed to be put off by her presence, Catherine then addressed Vincent directly, as she mournfully said, "Peter asked me to deliver this letter. His Mother died today, and he wanted you to know..."
Vincent feeling saddened by this news, looked back at Catherine and conveyed his grief by mournfully saying, "This is sorrowful news..."
To which Catherine agreed, saying, "Yes it is, Peter's Mother was a lovely woman..."
And then as Catherine began to remove his cloak, she subtly took in Vincent's warm musky scent from it, and softly said, "Thank you for once again lending me your cloak..."
Catherine then nodded a goodbye in the direction of Pascal and Brigit, and as she was blinded by her tears, she turned to leave.
For a moment, Vincent stood paralyzed, before he called out, "Catherine!"
As Vincent rounded the corner, he caught up with her at the entrance of the snowy tunnel, and he spoke her name once more, saying, "Please wait?"
Reluctantly, she stopped with her back still to Vincent, so he would not see her tears that were falling.
And when Vincent reached out and touched Catherine's shoulder, they both felt the passionate force from their bond once again, as it seared their hearts, and touched their souls, as powerfully as the night they met.
Catherine couldn't deny feeling a connection of some kind, and knew even now after all the heartache of the past weeks she still felt the same...yes, there was still something...
And Vincent couldn't deny feeling a connection either as his heart's desires were awaken once more by Catherine's beauty and gentle goodness; and as they stood there together, it seemed as though God had suspended time for them.
But because of all the falsehoods they each privately believed to be true...they were both equally sure it was way too late for the dream, they had only begun to dream...
And so since for the moment, they were alone, Vincent wanted to confirm the footprints he found by the door last night, were Catherine's.
And so he made more of a statement than a query by saying, "Catherine, you knew you could find me here..."
Without thinking, Catherine began to say, "Last night, after you left the park...I foll..."
But, because Catherine did not want to sound like some crazed desperate woman, who was stalking him, she halted her sentence, and changed course, by simply replying, "Yes...I did..."
Well Vincent had heard enough to know his suspicions were correct, and so he accepted her simplified explanation, by thoughtfully saying, "I see..."