Vincent knew he was sunk no matter what approach he took, so he simply told Catherine the truth about the incident, the best he could anyway...and so carefully, he began, "Because of Brigit's loneliness, she had made a futile attempt to bestow her affections..."
To which Catherine quickly inserted, "On second thought Vincent, I don't think I want to hear the particulars..."
With a nod, Vincent felt relieved he didn't need to go into detail, and then said, "Loneliness, can compel you to act out, even deceive your heart...if you allow it..."
So with assurance, Vincent continued, "...so to answer your question, ultimately nothing happened between Brigit and I here..."
Catherine's mind was spinning, as she was not expecting to have to deal with a situation concerning Brigit today!
And so she firmly said, "You know what Vincent, whether something ALMOST did, or didn't happen, at this point, I really just want to go..."
And so humbly, Vincent asked, "Stay Catherine...a while longer?"
As Catherine looked up at him, she not wanting to feel duped or appear gullible, needed time to think, and so she tersely replied, "Just give me a minute Vincent!"
And so she walked away from him, and with arms folded, Catherine looked out over the Falls, trying to calm down as she wondered what to do.
Well because she was stepping close to where the rocks could be loose, Vincent warned, "Not so far out..."
And as Catherine turned to his voice, her foot slipped, causing a rock to slide over the edge, and with one swift movement, Vincent called out her name, and brought Catherine to sounder ground and into his arms!
And though Catherine wasn't that close to actually going over herself, Vincent's protective action, definitely gave the couple a nice segue to reconciling...again!
So as Catherine, with a bit of a humored edge, responded, "I suppose just because you saved my life, you don't think I should be mad anymore."
Taking advantage of what ever bone has been thrown his way, Vincent with a smile in his eyes, tipped his head, and asked, "Well, are you?"
To which Catherine, who was still in Vincent's arms from his heroic rescue, couldn't help but smile too, as she said, "I suppose not..."
With a hopeful nod, Vincent raised a brow as he asked again, "Then you will stay?"
In response, Catherine pulled herself away, and as she smoothed her jacket, she hosted a noble demeanor, as she said, "Maybe just for a minute or so more.
Happy this was so, Vincent protectively lead her over to sit with him ( against a different wall this time ) in this unique chamber.
Apologizing Vincent said, "I am sorry Catherine. I hoped to erase all dystopian feelings from your last visit...however, alas, it wasn't to be."
With the release of a angst riddled sigh, Catherine answered, "Well there was one bright spot..."
And then with a smile, Catherine continued, "...I did love the song the children wrote for me."
Loving things were getting back to where they were, Vincent leaned his head upon Catherine's and said, "Ah Catherine..."
And this time the silence between them was golden, as this moment was cherished, appreciating the fact, they felt close to one another once more.
And yes, they were even able to dispel, and discount all earlier undercurrents, and genuinely enjoy the rest of their time there. Talking and sharing new things with each other, until the time came, when Catherine had to leave to re-enter her world.
So as they walked slowly back to her apartment's basement threshold, Catherine looked reluctantly at the rungs that served her as a ladder to climb back into her world.
To which meanwhile, Vincent heaved a heavy sigh, and leaned against the tunnel wall, feeling badly, Catherine's first official visit, was marred by the discovery of Brigit's hairpin.
So thoughtfully, Vincent asked, "Catherine, I hate for you to leave when I sense, perhaps all has not been dispelled..."
Softly and sweetly Catherine noted, "If you sense something, I suppose it's my distrust of Brigit...hiding my letter from you like she did...along with her other antics."
With a nod, Vincent responded, "I understand Catherine..."
And so Catherine then said, "So on a lighter note...I did enjoy my day here with you..."
To which Vincent replied, "I am pleased...I shall call upon you at dusk..."
With a smile, Catherine nodded, and with one last look, she walked to the ladder, and as she climbed upward, she left her heart below.
Meanwhile, as Vincent stood there alone now...a gift idea came to him...a gift for Catherine! So after returning to his chamber to write down his request in a note, he went looking for a runner to deliver it to Lin, when as luck would have it...Lin was delivering produce to the tunnels."
With surprise, Vincent said, "Lin, this is quite a coincidence, I have a favor to ask of you..."
And as he handed Lin the note, he asked, "Is it too much to ask you to deliver this to Mr. Smythe for me?"
To which Lin said, "No trouble at all!"
And then hurriedly, Lin said, "I would love to stop and talk, but I have a bus to catch, I just needed to make a delivery for Grandfather."
In response, Vincent said, "Next time then...safe travels Lin."
And with a quick hug, Lin was off and running.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in her world now, Catherine stood at the elevator waiting for the doors to open, when she suddenly felt a pull to visit Mr. Smythe's shoppe.
And so upon looking at her watch, thinking there was still plenty of time before his book shoppe would close, Catherine thought, "I wonder if Mr. Smythe will have William Blake's book with "The Evening Star" poem. Ooo, it sure would make a perfect Thanksgiving gift for Vincent."
And so Catherine changed direction, and instead of entering the elevator, she hooked a cab to head into the Village.
And on the ride, Catherine watched all of the people, who were bustling between the shops, with what she imagined, was the purpose of buying the perfect gift for a special loved one.
And so Catherine thought, "With Vincent in my life...I have a purpose now, and the holidays will be extra special for me too."
As Catherine entered the book shoppe, the tinkling bell sounded, and Mr. Smythe looked up and said, "Catherine! Thou fair-haired angel of the evening!"
Catherine stopped dead in her tracks as she recognized Mr. Smythe had just recited the opening line form "The Evening Star."
With amazement, Catherine smiled and said, "Mr. Smythe...this is too crazy! There is no possible way you could know I was hoping to find the book by William Blake, with that very poem in it!"
To which with a tip of his head, Mr. Smythe looked cunningly at Catherine and asked, "Isn't there my Dear?"
As Catherine thought back on the past events, she raised a brow, and replied, "On second thought...there sure is something magical about You and this shoppe..."
With a tone of humor, Mr. Smythe conceitedly agreed, saying, "Finally someone who agrees with me!"
As he then came out from around his counter, he approached Catherine, and as he mysteriously squinted, he asked, "Am I imagining things or have you become even lovelier my Dear?"
Humbly, Catherine blushed and teasingly said, "Well I don't know about that, but I am definitely happier than when last we met, and I wish to thank you once again, for placing my letter inside Mr. Well's book order or me."
Thinking this was a good thing, Mr. Smythe then slyly inquired, "Ah, things must have worked out with Mr. Wells hmmm?"
To which Catherine nodded, and said, "Yes they have...and the book I would love to get is for him. He enjoys Blake's work as much as I do."
Thinking about his inventory, Mr. Smythe squinted, and then said, "One moment my Dear...let me see what I have of Mr. Blake's."
And so meantime, as Catherine stood waiting, a beautiful Chinese girl walked in, and she and Catherine smiled at one another.
And because the Chinese girl was in a rush, she asked Catherine, "Is Mr. Smythe here?"
Explaining, Catherine said, "He is getting a book for me...he should be back any moment."
As the whining sound of the buses air brakes screeched, the girl nervously said, "Oh there is the bus, I don't have time to wait! May I impose upon you to see that Mr. Smythe receives this?"
As Catherine took the letter, something passed through her, and she tried to shake off the deja-vu-ish feeling she had! And so she smiled, saying, "It's no imposition at all. I will be glad to give this to Mr. Smythe for you."
The grateful girl thanked Catherine profusely, and ran our the door to catch her bus, and it was then, Catherine placed the letter on the counter for Mr. Smythe.
As Mr. Smythe came up from his storage room, he happily said, "I have three copies my Dear. Look them over and decide which one you would like to give your Mr. Wells. As you can see they are all in mint condition."
Catherine was so happy he had the book, and so she joyfully said, "I don't know about the Black...hmmm, but I really like the Brown leathered cover, I personally would love to have the Red one, but I think Mr. Wells would prefer the Brown for himself over the Red."
As Catherine paid Mr. Smythe, she thanked him, and as they said their goodbyes, Catherine started to step through the door, when she remembered the letter she promised to pass on!
And so Catherine excitedly said, "OH Mr. Smythe, I nearly forgot to tell you...a beautiful young Oriental girl left a letter for you! It is there on your counter."
To which Mr. Smythe said, "Beautiful hmmm? No one more beautiful than you, I am most sure Catherine!"
Catherine then blushed, and giggled as she said, "Oh Mr. Smythe! You do love to embarrass me I think!"
In response, Mr. Smythe donned an innocent look, and said, "Me? Oh never Catherine!"
And so warmly, Catherine replied, "Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, see you soon!"
Mr. Smythe wished Catherine the same, and after she left, he picked up the envelope, and broke the seal. And as he pulled out the letter, he read:
Dear Mr. Smythe, I am requesting a copy of William's Blake's Poetical Works. I hope you have one on hand, as I long to give as a Thanksgiving gift to someone very special. I do hope you can help me in this endeavor, as this book and a certain poem within, The Evening Star holds a very special meaning for us. Sincerely Mr. Wells
After reading the note, Mr. Smythe began humming, as he nonchalantly wrapped the Red leathered book in his traditional brown paper, and continued in a manner that indicated he was not the least bit surprised or affected by this occurrence, not in any way, shape or form.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Catherine returned home, she excitedly greeted Noodles, who jumped up on her to welcome her home! So after putting Vincent's book on her desk, she bent down to pet him, saying, "Hello Noodles, I am happy to see you too!"
Feeling so wonderful by Noodle's greeting, Catherine lovingly picked him up, to give him his long awaited affection. And so as her phone started ringing, she went to answer it.
With Noodles still in her arms, Catherine answered, "Hello?"
To which Jennifer without any hesitation, excitedly asked, "Well what's his place like? Is he a Felix, or an Oscar?"
As Catherine tried to figure out what Jennifer was talking about,she asked, "Felix or an Oscar?"
Heaving a frustrated sigh because she had to explain, Jennifer irritatingly, answered, "Is he tidy, or is he a slob?"
Catherine giggled, as she finally understood Jennifer's train of thought, now knowing Jennifer was referring to the Ying and the Yang of the Odd Couple!
And so Catherine gave it some thought, and then answered, "Well...I would say, neither Jen. He is just perfect! His place was neat, but does have some meaningful memorabilia sitting around, and books! Oh Jen, he has tons of books. So just like everything else about him...to answer your question his place was comfortable, and very nice...just perfect!"
In an unbelieving manner, Jennifer insisted, "Come on! There must be something about him that is out-of-whack! He cannot be this great! And if he is, where has he been hiding?"
To which Catherine thoughtfully said, "Believe me when I tell you Jen, he has been right under our noses the whole time."