Master of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Seven _____________________________________
And when Jennifer exited the elevator, she was so happy to see Catherine was in her doorway, waiting for her!
And so she ran down the hall, and hugged her friend, as she said, "Thanks so much Cath!"
To which Catherine replied, "You are welcome, so what's going on at The Center?"
In reply, Jennifer excitedly said, "The Beverly Hills Diet Lecture, and the speaker is going to be Judy Mazel herself!"
Knowing how much Jennifer had been looking forward to attending one of her lectures, Catherine warmly smiled at her friend, and said, "Well, I hope you have a good time."
So as Catherine handed Jennifer the money, Noodles stood looking up at Jennifer too, hoping for a pat on the head by this newcomer, and so in a cheerful manner, Catherine said, "Looks like Noodles hopes so too."
Jennifer then reached down to pet Noodles, and said, "Oh look at you! What a cute little doggy you are!"
And so as Jennifer stood back up holding Noodles, she then looked at Catherine, and after giving her a Double-Take, she suddenly sensed something was wrong with her friend.
And so Jennifer, suspiciously asked, "Hey, what's going on?"
To which Catherine shook her head, and innocently said, "Nothing..."
Knowingly, Jennifer squinted at her, and accusingly said, "You look like you have been crying..."
Wondering if she can actually cover up enough to convince Jennifer, Catherine said, "Crying? Nah, now Jen, you had better go, you don't want to be late!"
Wondering what the deal was, Jennifer then said, "Hey, quit trying to give me the bums rush! I know when something is wrong."
To which, Catherine adamantly replied, "I am fine...probably allergies."
After first accepting her friends explanation, Jennifer then questioned it by noting, "But it's too late in the year for pollen..."
And then looking at the little dog she was holding, said, "...hope you are not allergic to NOODLES!"
And so, upon having a possible faux allergy source, Catherine vehemently stated, "Me too!"
Just then the phone began ringing, and Catherine, who was so thankful for this diversion, anxiously said, "I better answer..."
To which Jennifer happily stood holding Noodles, and said, "Oh sure..."
And so Catherine picked up the phone, and said, "Hello? Yes I am Catherine Chandler, and yes, Charles is my Dad..."
As Jennifer heard Catherine's conversation, she frantically ask, "Is your Dad alright!"
Stepping closer, Jennifer cautiously whispered, "What is it Cath?"
Upon hanging up the phone, Catherine turned, and tearfully said, "Oh Jen, Dad is in the hospital! I need to fly down to Florida to be with him!"
Wondering what happened, Jennifer then anxiously asked, "What's wrong?"
Helplessly, Catherine worriedly relayed, "They're not sure. Dad became ill at the Airport, where he explained he had taken his two friends, Peter and Jacob to the airport, because they needed to fly back home. So that means he is down there all alone, and the nurse said he was very reluctant to give them my number, because he didn't want to cause me any needless worry. Isn't that just like Dad? At any rate, she said they are running some tests to see what's wrong, but the nurse thinks it may be food poisoning."
And so as Jennifer snuggled little Noodles, she assertively said, "You get ready, and I will take Noodles over to my Mom's, she will take care of him while you are gone."
To which Catherine asked, "Are you sure she won't mind?"
In reply, Jennifer shared, "I am sure. She misses her dog Queeny so much, I know she will love having him around, so don't worry about Noodles. You have enough to think about."
Thankfully, Catherine said, "That will be a great help. Oh Jen...you are going to miss your lecture now."
To which Jennifer anxiously said, "Who can think of a possible 10 pound weight loss in as little as 7 days NOW?!"
And then Jennifer insistently added, "Let's just worry about getting you down to Florida!"
With regret, Jennifer added, "I only wish I could go along with you. I love your Dad too."
Warmed by her dear friend's sentiment, Catherine held her hand over her heart, as she with emotion said, "I know you do."
Realizing she had much to do, Catherine then took a deep breath, and started making a mental list of all she needed to do before she left. And so she said aloud, "Let's see, I need to call the airlines, and then Willie, and leave a message for Peter telling him what has happened! Also, I have to call Uncle Douggy and Aunt Elaine, Marilyn, Rita and Harvey..."
And so as Catherine sat down on the couch with the phone book, she decidedly said, "First things first, call the airport! I hope I can get a flight out right away."
Upon hearing Catherine's list of people to call, Jennifer stood looking at Catherine and waited for her to add Vincent to her list. But when it was clear Catherine was not going to mention him... Jennifer squinted at her, and asked, "WELL, you better call Super-Stud too....right?"
As Catherine dialed the phone, she looked up at Jennifer, and quizzically asked, "Who?"
To which Jennifer then reiterated, "Vincent! Aren't you going to call him too? You never mentioned his name on your list of people to call."
And it was then, that it occurred to Jennifer, she was right earlier, something was wrong! And it probably had something to do with Vincent again! And so she suspiciously asked, "I knew it! You two are on the outs again, aren't you?"
Realizing she couldn't fool Jennifer any longer, Catherine curtly replied, "Yes Jen, and I don't want to talk about it! Right now, I have to think about Dad."
And so now that the flood gates were open, Jennifer began to rant and rave, as she started to gather Noodles things, and all the while, she was loudly muttering expletives about Vincent!
As Catherine was trying to talk to the airlines, she had to hold her hand over the receiver, as she pleaded, "Jen please, the person on the other end of the phone can hear you."
And so Jennifer took in a deep breath, in an effort to calm herself down, and then promised she would not say another word, but only after she added, "If I ever get my hands on this guy, I swear, I am going to give him a piece of my mind! Ever since you met him, you have had nothing but problems!"
Meanwhile, as Catherine was gathering information, she was told there weren't any more flights out tonight, and so they were checking into chartering a plane for her. And so as Catherine's call was placed on hold, it allowed her an opportunity to tearfully plea, "Jen..."
Seeing she was making the situation worse, Jennifer apologetically said, "Well I am sorry, but I really cannot believe this! You two become closer than ever, and then he dumps you? What a Jerk! It turns out he is just like any other man!"
Realizing how it must seem to her friend, Catherine tried to explain, as she softly cried, "Our situation is not...well I wish I could explain."
Catherine then tragically continued, "What has happened between Vincent and I, IS because he is NOT like any other man, he cares, and feels everything so intensively... And the reason we have issues right now, is because he is selfless...and it's all because of Steven..."
Shocked to hear Catherine's creepy ex, would have something to do with her current problems with Vincent, with confusion, Jennifer asked, "Is Steven back in the picture?"
Realizing what a long story this was, Catherine cut it short, by saying, "Not in the way you think...earlier today, Steven and I crossed paths, and Vincent overheard his boastful conversation, where Steven not only vowed his love to me, but his riches too! Well, Vincent believes it is for my welfare to forget him, and move on with someone who is well off, like Steven."
In a incredulous tone, Jennifer asked, "Did you tell him what a jerk Steven is? And of how controlling he was when you were with him?"
To which Catherine replied, "I tried Jen...but it was useless...he is convinced..."
Thoughtfully, Jennifer hesitantly asked, "Don't be mad at me for asking, but does Vincent have a point? I mean is he destitute or something?"
With heartfelt conviction, Catherine not thinking in monetary terms, replied, "No Jen...in a sense...Vincent is one of the richest people I know, and just so you know, no matter what circumstances divide Vincent and I, our hearts will be forever connected, and I will never stop loving him.
Catherine's words tugged at Jennifer's heart, and as a tear rolled down her cheek, she promised, "All right, I won't say anything more."
But then because Jennifer was steaming mad at Steven, for the part he played in all of this, Jennifer added, "Did you at least get to tell Steven, thanks for nothing, and to leave you alone?"
To which Catherine then explained, "Not exactly, you see later on, Steven cane here to finish our conversation, and he told me he has an illness, and because he hasn't long to live, he would very much like to make amends with those of us he had hurt, during his life time, and well, though I told him I was with someone else, Steven said he will gladly accept just being friends."
With a foreboding tone, Jennifer warned, "Oh don't fall for his big sob story Cath! He is so good at tugging at your heartstrings. That was why it took you so long to break up with him before!"
As Catherine sat, still on hold with the airlines, she told her friend, "Jennifer he is dying! A person doesn't lie about something like that."
To which Jennifer shamefully said, "I suppose not...but still it is STEVEN we are talking about."
With a nod, Catherine told her suspicious friend, "If you would have been in my shoes, you wouldn't have turned him away either...I couldn't just turn my back on him..."
In a calming fashion, Jennifer butted in to say, "Just be cautious...that is all I ask!"
To which Catherine promised, "I will...and just know, I am not as naive as you paint me to be...I DO have my guard up."
To which Jennifer sternly said, "You better!"
Meantime, as luck would have it, it was then, Vincent came to the balcony, and as he nervously looked inward, he could see Catherine had company. This happenstance caused his heart to sink, knowing he would have to come back later on, to beg her forgiveness.
And so as Catherine finalized her plans, called everyone she needed to, she packed her things, and thanked Jennifer for all of her help, saying the taxi should be coming any time now.
As the two friends hugged, Catherine promised to call with an update on her Dad's condition, as soon as she could, and after a few anxious tears, Jennifer then left with Noodles.
Closing the door after her friends departure, Catherine turned, and looked longingly to the balcony doors. As she opened them, she then walked outside into the darkness of night, she stood still, and listened, hoping to detect any sense of Vincent, any sense of him at all.
But she didn't, all she felt was the icy, cold bitter winter wind, seemingly whispering with its cruel freezing elements, that she was alone...yes indeed, Catherine was feeling abandoned by Vincent, and felt so deserted and isolated from the man she loved.
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Meanwhile, a while later, Peter and Jacob arrived back at home, and as they waited for their baggage, Peter caught a glimpse of Catherine as she ran by them, heading for the chartered plane area.
And so to Jacob, Peter excitedly motioned, "Hey! There's Cathy!"
To which Peter then called out to her, but because of all the activity, he went unheard by her.
And so Peter's first thought was, Charles must have arranged for Catherine to pick them up!
And so Peter told Jacob to stay put, and he would find her, and tell her they were waiting for their luggage.
As Peter finally caught sight of her again, he was very perplexed, when she went through security, and gave a ticket to an attendant!
Yes, it soon became clear to Peter, that Catherine was not there to greet them, but was instead, traveling herself!
And so Peter then thought to himself, "Where in the world would Cathy be going? I am going to see where her flight is heading!"
And as Peter asked the attendant, what the plane's destination was, well much to his surprise, he discovered the flight was a non-stop chartered flight down to Florida!
In a totally bewildered state, Peter stood for a moment, and as he scratched his chin, he then tuned back to the attendant, and asked to use the phone.
Urgently, Peter called his service, and picked up Catherine's detailed message, telling him her Dad was taken to the hospital, and she was flying down to Florida, to be with him!
As Peter hung up the phone, he then went over to Jacob, and told him what he had learned!
Taken aback, Jacob was aghast to hear Charles had fallen ill after they left, and in fact was so ill, he needed to be hospitalized!
And so Peter then said, "I'll call the hospital and check his condition. Maybe I can get someone to tell me how serious this is!"
As Peter called the hospital, much to his surprise, the switch board operator connected him right to Charles' room, and he was actually able to talk, to a very sedated Charles, himself!
And so Charles sleepily confirmed, "It was food poisoning, and I should be fine in a few days, and the nurse tells me, Catherine is on her way down here."
To which Peter told him it was true, for they had just seen her at the airport, but she was in such a rush, they didn't get to speak to her.
In reply, Charles said, "Ahhh, that dear daughter of mine..."
As Charles voice trailed off, Peter sensed how tired he was, and so he ended the conversation by telling him, Jacob sends his well wishes too.
To which Charles said to tell Jacob thanks, and then even in his drug induced state, he was worried about others, and so with care, he asked, "How's Petey doing?"
To which Peter explained, "Dunno nothing yet pal, just landed...but keep him in your prayers. I will keep you informed, and as soon as I know, you will know. So just relax, and sleep well, and just get better. I don't want you worrying about Mom's legal matters either right now....all that can wait!"
To which Charles admitted, "Yes...the way I am feeling right now...I think the estate will be on hold for a day or two...but don't worry, I'll get 'er done."
Kindly, Peter replied, "I know you will....good night now, I will see you soon."
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Meanwhile, Catherine's flight was lonely, and full of trepidation. What was wrong with her Dad? Will he be all right? What would she do, should something happen to him? Her Dad was always so healthy, and strong, that she rarely thought about this scenario.
And now...as she had time to think, Catherine began to regret she insisted Uncle Douggy stay put, and wished he would be meeting her in Florida. But it only made sense for her to first find out what her Dad's ailment was before he flew down.
And so as Catherine sat alone, and frightened, she silently prayed for her Dad's good health, and hoped he would be all right.
And though she had heartbroken thoughts of Vincent too, for now, her problems would have to wait, as her Dad had to come first. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Peter helped Jacob carry his satchel, and as they entered the Tunnels, they passed Vincent, who was on his way out, for his second attempt to see Catherine.
And so surprisingly, Vincent said, "Father, Peter...you are home!"
Vincent then embraced them both, and said, "I am so pleased you have returned safely."
To which Jacob lovingly held his son's hand, as he said, "I am pleased to be back, unfortunate though for the circumstances. You see Peter's great nephew is ill again."
Sympathetically, Vincent expressed, "So sorry Peter."
Optimistically, Peter shared, "My niece feels it is a minor set back, but one can never be too cautious, so I felt I should come and oversee his care."
And then Peter added, "Of course through Cathy, you probably know all this, but pretty crazy about Poor OLE Charles uh?"
Upon which, Vincent tipped his head, and concernedly asked, "Charles? Has something happened to him?"
With a questioning look, Peter turned to Jacob, and they both realized they were about to give Vincent the distressing news!
And so it was Jacob who carefully said, "Unfortunately, Charles fell ill at the airport right after our plane had taken off...and well, it appears he has a case of food poisoning."
To which Vincent alarmingly asked, "Does Catherine know?"
To which Jacob frankly answered, "Well yes of course, that is why she is..."
Jacob then noticed, Vincent had his cloak on! And putting two and two together, he realized, Vincent must not know Catherine has left to be with her Dad!
So gingerly, he informed him, "Vincent, yes...she has left to care for him. We only just a while ago, crossed paths with her at the airport."
Jacob stepped closer to his visibly shaken son, and asked, "Vincent, this has happened all so suddenly. I doubt Catherine could have had time to contact you."
As Vincent became even more lost in his thoughts, Jacob looked to Peter with the hopes he could help him smooth all this out!
And so Peter then added, "Yes when we saw her at the Airport, she was in such a rush, I couldn't catch her!"
With an optimistic tone, Jacob then offered, "Perhaps she has left word for you at her apartment Vincent."
To which Vincent sadly said, "There will be no word left for me Father, for much has happened between us while you were gone. I was on my way to see her now, to beg her forgiveness."
As the sad thought of how alone Catherine must be feeling, filled his heart, Vincent then tragically added, "And now she has left before I could tell her I was wrong...and assure her, I will be here waiting, and praying for her safe passage."