To which Catherine mournfully said, "There's nothing to say...and you have nothing to apologize for Jacob. We were just too late that's all, I had a feeling..."
As Catherine stood in preparation to leave, Jacob stood too, offering to accompany her to the entrance, to which Catherine replied, "We have had such a long day. You must be exhausted, I know I am...I will find my way back."
With this said, Rebecca kindly stepped up to say, "I can walk with you Catherine."
With a grateful nod toward Rebecca, Jacob then approached Catherine and as he took her hand, he said, "You know Catherine, I want you to always feel welcome here. I ah...I have grown very fond of you My Dear."
With affection, Catherine replied, "I have become very fond of you too Jacob, and one day I will see you again."
Sadly, Mary and Rebecca looked at each other, as they were both on the verge of tears, partly because of how sweet this exchange between Jacob and Catherine was, but also because everything went so terribly wrong despite their best efforts.
Catherine then turned from Jacob, toward Mary and Rebecca, and with a tragic smile she wanted to say she was happy to meet them, but as the tears flooded her voice, her emotion made it too overpowering to speak.
And so with a nod to Rebecca, Catherine indicated she was ready, and the two left Jacob's chamber, to walk back to the entrance of Catherine's world.
And so as they reached the rungs, Rebecca, in wanting to leave Catherine with a sense of what she had witnessed, said, "All I can say is that I know Vincent...and what ever it was Mack had said...it is not who Vincent is...the way he feels about you..."
Subtly, Catherine stopped Rebecca from saying anything more, knowing this was all so beyond saying anything comforting.
And as Rebecca realized how trite she sounded, she ended by saying, "Well goodbye, hope we see you again Catherine..."
As Catherine thanked Rebecca for her kindness, she then climbed back up to re-enter her world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Closing her apartment door, Catherine slid hopelessly to the floor, and her tears fell upon her copy of Wordsworth, the gift she had intended to give to Vincent that night. And so, she bent her head and into her hands...she cried.
As Noodles perked his head up, he sensed something was wrong. And so he pranced over to Catherine, and as he sat back away from her, he tilted his head, first to one side then to the other, before he started crying a sad, heartsick cry that dogs do. He then nudged his nose through her fingers, in an effort to get a response from her. Well, this sweet act, finally pulled Catherine from her grief, enough at least for her to acknowledge him.
And so putting Noodles before herself, she scooped him up onto her lap, and softly said, "Oh Noodles, this isn't a very good first night in your new home is it? Let's see if you are hungry."
Catherine then filled his bowls, and after scratching his little head, she lightened her tone, wanting to assure her new little charge, that all was well in his world.
Seeing Noodles seemed relaxed and contented, Catherine then stood up to light a few candles, and as she watched the flickering flames, which were always a source of comfort for her, she thought of how they held an additional warmth for her now...the memory of Jacob's chamber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meantime, while Vincent was attempting to discourage Brigit, he was struck once again by Catherine's overwhelming sadness.
And so as Vincent peeled Brigit's arms from around his neck, he quickly exited the water, no longer caring if Brigit saw anything or not! And so as Vincent dressed in the darkness of the corner, he told Brigit, "I must go to Catherine something is terribly wrong."
To which a very puzzled Brigit, asked, "Vincent what are ye talkin' about. How do ye know?"
To which Vincent replied, "Just know it is true. I don't know if this will make any sense to you Brigit...because I am only now beginning to understand this connection myself, but...this...this bond Catherine and I share enables me to have a sense of her thoughts, and her pain..."
After Vincent was dressed, he stood before Brigit and explained, "I am part of Catherine, and she is part of me. Wherever she is...I am, what ever she feels...I feel. It is as if our hearts are one. Please understand, this is why I must go to her."
Vincent then quickly left the Hot Springs Chamber, Brigit, and his home tunnels, to go to his Catherine.
Now all alone, naked in the water, Brigit thought to herself, "I believe it's time to give up, as the walls grow thick! And I think I understand now...as there's no competin' with such a bond, aye, the kind of bond I shared with me Ian."
As Brigit recanted her feelings, she realized all was not lost, because until Vincent entered her life, and touched her heart through his letters, no one had caught her attention, and excited her in such a manner since her Ian. And so she realized her heart was ready to love again...thanks to Vincent.
So as Brigit leaned her head back, alone with her thoughts, she decided before she left the tunnels for greener pastures, she would enjoy the relaxing hot springs, by herself.
Then...all of the sudden, she heard Pascal!
Enthusiastically, he called out, "Brigit are you here? I have looked everywhere else...Brigit?"
Silently Brigit sat, hoping against hope, the little man did not find her.
Ah but he did, and because of her enlightenment, Brigit decided to be truthful with him...about everything...yes even about the letter...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Catherine curled up on her couch, she watched as Noodles ate his food, and thought back on how she had begun this day with so much hope, and now, all hope...was gone.
Catherine had to face the fact, she arrived at the tunnels too late, and Vincent had moved on without her, and he was now with Brigit.
As Noodle's finished his food, he pranced over to the balcony doors, letting Catherine know he had to go potty. Impressed by the fact, he was getting the routine down already, she told him, "Good boy Noodles, I'll get my coat."
And so as Catherine opened the doors, little Noodles ran out to his little corner of the balcony, where the papers were set up for him.
And while Catherine waited, the falling snow was gorgeous and mesmerizing, enticing Catherine to stay out a bit longer, even after she let Noodles back inside.
So pulling her coat closed, Catherine thoughtfully walked over to the wall of her balcony, Looking down over the city as the snow fell upon it. Catherine once again began to cry, thinking of how foolish she had been to raise her hopes.
When suddenly, without explanation she turned to the darkened corner of her balcony, and softly said Vincent's name, "Vincent?"
As Vincent stepped from the shadows, he huskily spoke, saying, "Yes Catherine."
Looking back at him in a stunned manner, Catherine wondered how could he be there so quickly, after he had just been with Brigit!
And so it was then, she wrongfully assumed Jacob must have forced Vincent to come and check on her, and so she with humiliation asked, "Did your Father make you come here?"
Upon hearing Catherine's question, Vincent stood a moment feeling quite confused! And he wondered why Catherine would mention anything about his Father, of whom she doesn't know, and of whom he thought was still in Florida! And because of feeling caught so off guard, he ardently said, "My Father...no...no..."
But because he was so concerned about her, Vincent then explained, "I had to see if you were well."
Still thinking her sadness was due to something the other man must have done to hurt her, Vincent, in a questionable pleading tone, tenderly continued, "Your sadness, I can feel how it is breaking your heart. What is wrong?"
Privately, Catherine turned her back as she wept...because she was sure Vincent knew exactly what was wrong!
Speaking her name once more, prompted Catherine to resignedly reply, "I know everything Vincent...everything..."
And then she woefully continued, "It is so ironic, just as I have come to a realization it is over between us...that's when you come to me...all this time my heart has been crying out for you...but you never came."
She then looked downward as she concluded, "And now that you are here...you are too late."
Vincent stood behind her, feeling rocked by her sadness, and was more than devastated by her words, as he now realized the reason for her sadness is because of him!
And so all he could say was her name, "Catherine..."
With her back still to him, Catherine softly said, "Please go."
Vincent stood wondering what he should do...he hated leaving Catherine this way. And so hesitantly he asked, "How can I leave...when I now understand why you are so..."
Upon hearing him try to explain, she tearfully whispered, "Vincent please."
Feeling so totally lost...Vincent felt he had no choice but to comply with Catherine's wishes. And so before he left, he softly said, "I will do as you ask."
And though he wanted to comfort Catherine; and tell her how much he loved her, his own certitude was now shaken, and he couldn't begin to assume she would want to hear all the things he wanted to say.
And because she was so unapproachable right now, he thought it would be for the best to honor her wishes. So quietly he descended from her...
As she stood there now alone, Catherine thought of another irony this night had brought to her, yes... after all this time of praying for Vincent to come to her, tonight she begged him to leave.
Yes, in the days before today, she petitioned endlessly for him to come, but things were different now...for tonight he had been with Brigit...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Jacob, Mary, and Rebecca, were still recovering from the tragic events which had transpired there today.
And Jacob felt responsible, because he had practically forced Catherine to come below, and now, what a mess, what a dilemma!
As they sat at his table, sadly, Jacob told Mary and Rebecca, about the conversation he had with Charles, revealing, "Here I had promised to look out for his daughter, and now, I am not sure what I can do to help this broken hearted girl."
And then with regret, Jacob expressed, "I had not fully realized how vulnerable both Brigit and Vincent had been! Now to end up in each other's uh...arms or so to speak, ahem, well this seems to be beyond repair!"
In an understanding tone, Mary told him, "There was no way you could have known the full scope of what was going on around here, although if you recall, I did try to warn you of what could transpire, but to my and Rebecca's credit, we did put forth our best efforts, attempting to keep Brigit at bay!"
To which Rebecca, with a nod, confirmed what Mary had said, and then she asked Jacob, "Shouldn't one of us go and tell Vincent, Catherine was here?"
Shaking his head, Jacob responded, "Whether we approve of Vincent's activity or NOT, we should respect his privacy...Oh dear...I am caught totally off guard!"
To which Mary gave Jacob a knowing look, and repeated, "Now Father, I hate to toot my own horn, but as I said, I tried to tell you..."
Just then Pascal entered, and sounding very down-hearted, asked, "Father may I speak to you?"
Looking up at Pascal, Jacob with concern, answered, "Yes, of course...what is it Pascal?"
Sadly, Pascal walked down the steps, and stood silent for a moment, before he informatively said, "Brigit wanted me to give Vincent something."
Looking very puzzled, Jacob asked, "Why didn't she just give it to him herself? Mack told us they were together in the Hot Springs Chamber."
And so Jacob, in trying to put everything into perspective, definitively asked, "Was Mack lying to us Pascal?"
To which Pascal solemnly answered, "No, Mack wasn't lying, when I found Brigit in the Hot Springs Chamber, she told me Vincent was there too, but suddenly he had to leave! He needed to check on Catherine, cuz they have one brain, err one heart or something that's hooked together."
Clueless what any of this meant, Mary quizzically noted, "None of this is making any sense!"
In agreement, Rebecca said Mary was right, and then Jacob asked, "Perhaps we should start at the beginning Pascal, and please tell us all you know."
And so, dejectedly, Pascal plopped down into a chair, and then sadly revealed, "Well earlier, I was looking all over for Brigit, and finally I found her in the Hot Springs Chamber! And when I found her...she confessed that she went to there to "Be With" Vincent, IF you know what I mean...but he fought her off, which she said was quite admirable of him..."
With a shake of his head, Pascal asked, "I mean can you imagine being able to resist the most beautiful girl in the world?"
Wanting to be clear, Mary looked to Jacob and then to Pascal, and asked, "So you are saying Vincent and Brigit didn't...well they didn't have, there were no sexual dealings?"
With a shake of his head, Pascal then verbalized, "Nada..."
Feeling so thrilled this was so, Rebecca and Mary, clasped hands, and so in wanting to get back on track with the story, Mary turned back to Pascal, and urgently asked, "So what else did Brigit say?"
In an effort to remember everything through his broken hearted anguish, Pascal recalled, "Well, oh yeah, Brigit said after Vincent fought her off, and convinced her he only loved Catherine, all of the sudden, Vincent told Brigit that Catherine needed him! And he knew Catherine did because of the one heart or brain thing they have, and so he just left Brigit, right there! All ALONE! And that's when I found her."
Pascal then continued, "Brigit told me, after Vincent left her like that, well that's when she finally realized how strong the connection was between Vincent and Catherine. And because Brigit said I am such a good listener that's when she ended up telling me everything..."
To which Jacob asked, "Everything?"
Well because Pascal liked Brigit sooo much, he hated to paint her in a bad light, and so he hesitantly replied, "...yea everything...Brigit said she felt guilty about something she had done."
Curiously, Jacob prodded Pascal along, asking, "Which was?"
Looking up at Jacob, Pascal took an envelope from his pocket, and revealed, "I guess before Lin picked up that book you ordered for Vincent, well Catherine had asked Mr. Smythe if she could put a personal letter inside the book for Vincent to find, but Brigit found it before Vincent did, and never told him about it. So now since Vincent clearly loves Catherine, Brigit wants me to give it to him...so anyway Father, since you will probably see Vincent before I will, would you make sure he gets Catherine's letter?"
To which after accepting the letter from Pascal, Jacob kindly said, "Of course..."
Meantime, holding her tongue, Mary shot Rebecca a look, and with pursed lips, thought to herself, "That brazen harlot!"
And then Pascal added, "Before Brigit left, she asked me to tell Vincent, despite everything, she hoped he could forgive her."
With surprise, Mary asked, "Left...what do you mean she left?"
To which Pascal explained, "Since it was over for her and Vincent...in the romance department anyway, Brigit said she might as well leave...she wanted to check out the Ritz...so I walked with her through the park to hail a Taxi."
Seeing how upset Pascal was, Rebecca sympathetically asked, "You really do like her uh Pascal?"
With a grim grin, Pascal answered, "Yeah...I really do, but I guess I never stood a chance, cuz the whole time, she liked Vincent the best. I guess I shoulda seen it."
As Jacob, Mary and Rebecca stood silent around their dear friend, Rebecca finally said, "Well Brigit doesn't know what she is missing."
Mary too then added, "I agree with Rebecca one hundred percent! And Pascal, I think you are better off without her!"
Not appreciating such a comment about the girl of his dreams, Pascal argued, "Don't say that Mary, Brigit is a great girl, and I woulda been lucky to have her...even just once, look my way..."
Apologizing, Mary replied, "I am sorry Pascal...I didn't mean to upset you, its just that you are a special man, we all know it, and we all love you very much."
With that said, Jacob gave him a pat on the back, and said, "Being in love is hard on a man...but somehow we have to carry on, and remember...you have all of us."
Pascal looked up at each of them, and humbly said, "Thanks you guys..."
And as Pascal stood up to leave, he thought of Brigit's one last request, and asked, "Oh yeah and one more thing, if anyone finds a fancy hairpin, it is Brigit's...she was sure it was blown out of her hair during "The Tour of the Hell Hole", so I looked all around the Chamber of the Winds, but never found it. So if anyone finds it laying around...she asked if we would mail it to her...well, I've been away long enough...I really need to get back to the pipes..."
With empathetic encouragement, Jacob responded, "Yes, yes of course, now go to your pipes Pascal, and work at keeping our community safe, as you do so well my friend."
As Pascal approached the threshold to leave, he turned back around, reflectively smiled, and shared, "You know Brigit always called me Piscal...Piscal. I will never forget the way she would say my name...Piscal..."