Just as Catherine and Vincent rejoined the rest of the celebrants, Lin and Henry came up to them, along with Dr. Wong.
Lin looked up firstly to Vincent and then to Catherine and with tears in her eyes, expressed how happy she was they have reconciled.
Lin then gathered in her excitement, as she politely made the introductions. And so respectfully she said, "Grandfather, this is Catherine, Catherine, this is my Grandfather, Dr. Wong."
As Dr. Wong bowed to Catherine in greeting, he said, "I have heard much about you these days, from both Vincent, and my Granddaughter. They speak very highly of you."
Kindly, in reply, Catherine charmingly said, "Thank you Dr. Wong. I have heard much about you too, and how much your aid, helps keep the tunnels going."
Looking up at Vincent, Dr. Wong revealed, "In truth, these tunnels has kept us going. There were times, when we have needed both shelter, and protection. .."
And then with a fore-boding demeanor, Dr. Wong continued, "...China Town has not always been an easy place to begin a business, and if it were not for Vincent coming to our rescue on a few occasions, I can tell you truthfully, my family would not be here today."
To which Vincent humbly said, "The alliance has been mutual Dr. Wong."
And so after a respectful silence, Lin then brought Henry up forth, to say hello to Catherine.
To which Henry, bashfully smiled, as he politely said, "I am pleased you are here tonight."
As Henry turned to his wife, he affectionately said, "I want you, and Vincent to know, you have no greater advocate on this earth, than my wife...when she saw your arrival tonight Catherine, she squeezed my hand so tightly, she nearly broke it!"
Upon hearing Henry's accusation, Lin shockingly, said, "Oh Henry! I did not!"
With a nod, Henry then gave Lin, a pouting look, as he held up his hand, to show her the redness of it.
After inspecting, Lin gasped, and then profusely apologized to her husband, and said, "Oh my, I am so sorry!"
Though Henry enjoyed the babying from his beautiful wife, he was a little embarrassed he had mentioned it. And so he demurely smiled and said, "Well, not to fear, I think I will live to chop and slice vegetables, another day Lin."
With a smile in his heart, Vincent looked down in amusement, and then glanced around the Great Hall, as he commented, "May I say Winterfest has never been so...so colorful. The bolts of fabric you gave the women for their dresses, has certainly brightened up the festivities."
As Lin looked around too, she, in agreement said, "You are right...although there was that one Winterfest, many years ago...do you remember? It was the year all the Gypsies traveled here to New York City, to come to the celebration. Of course, it may be because we were young, that the memory of the colors seem so vivid to me now...but I will never forget some of their dresses! They were garments of which, I had never seen before!"
With a nod Vincent agreed, and said, "Yes I remember,..they were spectacular."
Dr. Wong commented too, however since it was before Henry met the Wong's, he had no knowledge of it.
And so turning to Dr. Wong, Vincent relayed of how the sampling of the new tea had gone well with the community, and of how his Father appreciates the benefits of this blend as well.
Dr. Wong acknowledged that Jacob too had mentioned it, and said how happy he would be to provide the new herbal blend, from this day on.
Meantime, while Vincent and Dr. Wong spoke, Catherine took a moment to thank Lin for all of her letters, and calls of concern, saying, "I feel badly you were thinking I was angry with you, Lin, nothing could be further from the truth. What you tried to do for Vincent and I that day..."
Relieved, Lin felt tearful as she said, "I would do anything for Vincent and now that I consider you to be my friend, anything for you as well..."
To which Catherine with heart replied, "And I am glad to call you my friend too Lin."
So after the girls shared a moment, they then made plans to meet for lunch soon, and Lin also asked Catherine to invite her nice friend Jennifer to join them as well.
They all spoke a while longer, and then Vincent and Catherine parted company to mingle about,Vincent then proudly introduced Catherine to several of the other Helpers from above, and surprisingly, there were a few of them she already knew!
Yes, Catherine knew Benny, who owns her favorite Candle shop, "Flickers". Benny provides the tunnels with all the candle making supplies they need. And she also knew Morty, the butcher, who as it turns out, has known William, since they were just boys. And finally, Catherine also knew Rosa, the Flower Lady. Rosa has a Floral stand on the corner of 5th Avenue.
With a tip of her head, Catherine marveled as they walked on, saying, "Vincent, sometimes it is a very small world!"
To which Vincent expelled an amused breath, and nodded in agreement.
As the evening unfolded, it turned into quite a jubilant night, and from time to time, Catherine would look over at her Dad, to see if he was enjoying himself...and he was...he was having a wonderful time! And Charles found he knew quite a few of the helpers too.
Taking in all the festive fellowship, Vincent noticed Lin and Mary talking, and then saw Brigit joining the clutch. And so as Vincent wondered how welcoming Mary would be, he was pleased to see the three talking and laughing quite amicably.
Meanwhile, as they chatted, Mary glanced over at Jacob, when suddenly he looked back at her too! And so as they both nodded a greeting to one another, Mary felt her cheeks blush, perhaps just a touch.
Deciding to go and intermingle with Mary, Jacob adjusted his tunic, and just as he began to cross the room to her, Samantha "The Winterfest Crier" ran up, and pointing to the Great Hall's threshold, said, "Look Father...your friend is here!"
As Jacob looked to the doorway, with much to his surprise, stood Jessica!
Upon seeing Samantha pointing too, Mary looked over, and her excitement shifted, as her heart fell, when she saw that Jacob's old flame had arrived, and also because...Jacob had changed direction, and instead of walking toward her, he walked toward Jessica!
Meantime, Rebecca, from her vantage, who was privately watching this exchange between Mary and Jacob, had witnessed the sudden change in events as well!
So, as she stood along with Vincent, Catherine, Charles and Peter, she absentmindedly, and very disappointedly said aloud, "Awe...poor Mary..."
Upon hearing Rebecca, Vincent tipped his head as he asked, "Is something amiss with Mary?"
With a blush of embarrassment, she explained, "No...I'm sorry, just thinking out loud...I shouldn't say anything more..."
To which Peter then chimed in, "What is it Rebecca, if there is something wrong with Mary, especially health wise, we should know."
Realizing she was causing everyone undue concern, Rebecca finally caved, and said, "Well, Father was just about to ask Mary to dance, and then Jessica arrived, and he instead went to greet her...."
So sadly Rebecca added, "...and I could see from here Mary's face fell from disappointment."
After hearing this scenario, Charles with a gleam in his eye, schemed, "Well, nothing like a little competition to put a man back on his course!"
To which Catherine suspiciously, asked, "What are you up to Dad?"
As Charles, raised a brow at his daughter, Peter then said, "Uh, I see what you mean..."
And then Charles asked, "So, what do you say Peter, we each give Mary a turn around the dance floor!"
Upon hearing this scheme, Rebecca clapped her hands together giddily, and then guiltily said, "Oh my! I suppose I shouldn't admit this, but I cannot wait to see Father's face when he notices Mary dancing!"
To which Charles then admitted, "I did plan on asking Mary for a dance before the night was out anyway, so if you will all pardon me everyone...there is no time like the present!"
Boisterously, Peter cheered Charles on, by saying, "Go for it Twinkle Toes, and I'll be your backup!"
As Charles approached Mary, he politely asked, "Mary, may I have this dance?"
To which Mary down heartedly said, "Oh Charles, perhaps later..."
With an understanding nod, he said, "Ah, I see, and I understand....but if I may give some advice, the one sure way to get a man's attention, is by showing him he has a little competition..."
Charles, then continued to look at Mary, as he waited for her to get the hint, when she, in an attempt to hide her feelings, said, "I'm not sure what you mean Charles, I don't want anyone's attention."
Deciding to allow Mary her privacy, Charles then offered his arm, and asked again, "Well, shall we anyway?"
Demurely Mary smiled, and said, "I suppose I shouldn't say no to you on your first Winterfest, now should I?"
With a sweet smile back, Charles said, "I would think it very rude of you, if you did Mary!"
She then gracefully put down her glass of cider, and said, "Well, you may call me many things, but rude is not one of them."
And so, as the two danced, the peanut gallery watched Jacob, who was still talking to Jessica, when suddenly he did a double take, as he caught site of Mary, on the dance floor!
To which Peter comically noted, "The way Jacob spun his head around, I fear he may be suffering from whip lash tomorrow!"
They all laughed at Peter's joke, and happily commented that it looked like "Operation Twinkle Toes" seemed to be working!
As the song came close to it's conclusion, Jacob then attempted to excuse himself from Jessica, so he could ask Mary for the next dance.
And so Jacob nonchalantly said, "Well, I suppose I should make my rounds Jessica. I will look you up shortly. However do help yourself to some refreshment, won't you partake in some Cider, or Ginger wine perhaps?"
Knowing a brush off when she hears one, Jessica, looked sideways at Jacob, and sadly smiled, as she notably asked, "She DOES look lovely doesn't she Jacob?"
Taken aback by Jessica's intuition, Jacob in a guilty questionable tone, feigned to be clueless, as he asked, "She...who do you mean Jessica?"
To which Jessica knowingly answered, "Mary...and don't act as if you haven't noticed!"
Shyly Jacob looked downward as he admitted, "Oh yes, well I suppose that she does...oh, and that reminds me...I should ask her for that dance we had spoke about earlier."
In reply, Jessica who saw Mary still dancing with Charles, raised a brow, as she noted, "Well Jacob, it doesn't appear as if she is wasting any time waiting on you! Although...I must say...you are worth waiting for."
Jacob, then shakily smiled at Jessica, and said, "We have known one another for a long time...and, you know me perhaps too well. Ah, you are a remarkable woman Jessica."
With a heavy sign, Jessica then teased, "Ah, but not remarkable enough to leave this place for."
To which Jacob softly answered, "This is my home Jessica, I have come to realize I could never leave..."
With a look of wonder Jessica looked around the Hall, and said, "On a night like tonight, I have to agree. How can I blame you?"
Jessica, then flirtatiously asked, "You will save room on your Dance Card for me...an old friend?"
With love for this woman, who truly was an old friend, Jacob took her hand, and said, "Of course...it would be my honor."
Just then Lou approached them, and said, "Well, if this guy isn't going to ask you to dance Jessica, may I?"
To which Jessica accepted Lou's invitation, and said, "Of course Lou."
As Jessica and Lou waltzed off, Jacob then looked over at Mary, who had just nodded a gracious thank you to Charles.
But as luck would have it, just as Jacob was about to approach her, Peter moved in, and scooped him, and the next thing Jacob knew...Mary was dancing with Peter!
Meantime, Vincent stood in readiness to be the next one to ask Mary to dance, and having youth on his side, he too beat Jacob to the punch for the song after Peter!
Although Rebecca and Catherine knew, they should not be laughing, but the look of frustration on Jacob's face, was priceless! And from where they stood, it was all quite cute, like a sweet comical orchestrated ballet!
At last, as Mary ran out of suitors, Jacob finally made his move.
And so as Jacob quickly tottered up to Mary, he cleared his throat, and he asked, "May I have this next dance Mary? That is if the others haven't tired you out!"
To which Mary coyly, yet graciously accepted Jacob's dance request, by saying, "I would love to Father..."
And so, finally, the two of them walked out to the dance floor together to await the next song.
Just then the minstrels put down their instruments, and announced, "Your attention please...we'll be back after we take a break."
Upon hearing this announcement, Jacob's face reddened as he looked to Mary, and Mary too embarrassingly said, "It appears we will have to wait till after the minstrels return."
To which, Jacob looked over his glasses at Mary, and informatively said, "I HAVE been waiting Mary..."
To which Mary asked, "You have?"
With a resounding "Yes!" Jacob then mentioned, "Patiently waiting too, I might add..."
It was then Mary nodded toward Jessica, as she said, "I thought since Jessica was here now, that...well I assumed you would not have time for a dance with me."
In reply, Jacob softly said, "Jess..oh not so Mary...Jessica is a freind...a dear old friend, only visiting our home tunnels on this prestigious occasion...now come, let's have some refreshment."
Feeling a little more self assured in her standing with the man she so admired, the two then walked over to the banquet table, and Mary happily insisted, on preparing Jacob a plate.
And so with care, she selected what she knew were all of Jacob's favorites, a slice of Onion Pie, to go along with a drumstick and a chive pinwheel roll on the side.
And as they glanced over at the dessert table, they decided to save the Bread Pudding, for the next go round.
Upon finding a private place to eat together, they stood talking about how wonderful the night was, and noticed it was one of the best turn-outs from "The Helpers", that they have had, in a long time.
Meantime, the children, whom Rolley had gathered together, were now ready for their small concert they had planned specifically for Winterfest.
And so Rolley stood in front of the children, and after he got everyone's attention he said, "The children would like to sing for you this evening. They hope you will enjoy their selection."
Rolley then turned to them, and raised his arms to direct them in their first selected song, "From a Distance".