Protector of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Five __________________________________________
And so, with all the emotional subjects put to bed, Catherine and her Dad enjoyed a wonderful meal together. And as Willie brought out dessert and coffee, she sat down to have a cup of coffee too, and asked Charles about his upcoming trip to Florida.
To which Charles informed both Willie and Catherine, of all he and Peter hoped to accomplish down in Florida next week, and as he went into great detail, Catherine's thoughts began to drift, and she found herself looking back on her life...living in this beautiful home, and daydreaming of those days gone by.
Catherine realized, that throughout all these years, the two things that had remained constant, was her close relationship she has had with her Dad, and the loving watchful eye of Willie. And she couldn't help but feel so thankful, as she thought of how blessed she had been.
As the conversation came back into focus for Catherine, her Dad was guesstimating, that he would be back, in a week to 10 days. And just as they were finishing their coffee, Douglas, Charles' brother called, conveying his families disappointment that they did not spend Thanksgiving at the cabin together. And since they were driving through on their way home, they would like to stop in for a few hours tomorrow, to say hi.
Since Charles missed seeing them too, he said they better stop, and then muffled the phone to ask Willie, "Do you think you can whip up an impromptu Standing Rib Roast dinner, with those delicious little potatoes, for about, hmmm, say...8 people tomorrow around 2:00?"
To which in reply, Willie comically whispered, "Are you sure we couldn't just have a wienie roast?"
Catherine started to laugh, as Charles gave Willie a pleading look, and after she waved him off saying of course she could, Charles told his brother, "We will look forward to seeing you tomorrow then Douglas, and plan on eating here, I think Willie has something special she would like to prepare for the occasion!"
As Charles hung up the phone, he apologetically said, "I am sorry if I put you on the spot Willie, but Douglas loves your Standing Rib, and believe it or not, he is still raving about the meal you prepared for them five years ago!"
Upon hearing that it's been five years since she made that meal, Willie smiled and said, "Well of course, I can't hang on to an old record like that! I will be glad to do it. Soooooooo, let's see, I better get the Rib Roast out of the Deep Freeze that I had just picked up today for your Christmas Dinner from Morty's. You have to order them early you know, or you are out of luck getting a decently marbled roast! Now, just so you realize, I may not get another nice Rib Roast for Christmas."
To which Charles said, "It will be worth the sacrifice! Thanks Willie, I knew I could count on you!"
Charles then turned to his daughter and asked, "Hope tomorrow's good for you?"
In reply, Catherine happily answered, "Absolutely!"
And then Catherine asked, "Just thinking about Jenny...could she come too? Getting together tomorrow, would make up for not being together for Thanksgiving."
With a nod toward Willie, Charles said, "You are barking up the wrong tree! Ask Willie."
And so Catherine looked to Willie, and asked, "What do you think Willie?"
To which Willie, with an "OF COURSE" attitude, replied, "Sure Dear, that will be nice to see Jennifer again, it has been a while."
After plans were set, Catherine then looked over at the Christmas tree, and asked, "Well, shall we decorate?"
With a nod, Charles said, "Sure thing, I'll fix us our traditional Rum drinks, and turn on the stereo, no one can get you into the Christmas Spirit better than good ole' Bing Crosby!"
To which Willie said, "I quite agree! And while you two do that, I am gonna plan the menu for tomorrow!"
So together Catherine and Charles, reminisced about the ornaments they put up, both happy and moving, sang along to Bing, and enjoyed their Hot Buttered Rum. Yes, doing this simple tradition, brought them back to simpler times, reminding them of what really mattered, which was tradition, togetherness, and love.
So as the last ornament was placed, they both stepped back to admire the tree, and agreed, it was really beautiful!
As the time came to leave, Catherine hugged both her Dad and Willie goodnight, and said she would be back home again tomorrow, harboring an appetite!
And so, bundled up, and on the ride back to her apartment, Catherine sat pensively in the back seat of the cab, and she watched the snow covered city whiz past her. The city she has known, and loved all of her life, but in the past month, she has discovered another side to this city, and another side to her heart.
She thought of how she was making so many changes in her life, choosing to leave her old life behind, in every way. Catherine knew her Dad was right calling her and Vincent's relationship unconventional, as there was not anything conventional about it. Yes, she would be facing so many uncertainties to be with him, knowing only, she could not deny her heart.
Catherine then thought too, about the other major change she had decided to make in her career...leaving a safe, and secure career, with her Dad, and other familiar beloved colleagues, to jump into a ground floor position at the DA, working for a man, who seems resentful of her, and of whom, she is not too crazy for either! And so rightfully, she thought to herself, "What AM I doing?"
Catherine then thought too, about how elegantly her Dad had accepted all she had dealt him tonight, and he did so with such style and with such grace.
These qualities her Dad had displayed so eloquently, are qualities he shares in common with Vincent, and these honorable traits are reasons she feels about Vincent as she does.
And so as she sat in the silence of the cab driver for about 10 minutes, she suddenly felt an urge to ask this stranger, "Have you ever followed your heart...even if it doesn't make any sense?"
The cab driver looked back at her through his rear-view mirror, and in a heavy Brooklyn accent said, "Nah...that follow your heart stuff is for dreamers, and poets...not for a regular guy like me. Give me Black and White any day!"
Wanting just a smidgen of commonality, Catherine looked at him, and asked, "You wouldn't even settle for a shade of Grey?"
To which the cabby winked at her, and admitted, "Well OK you got me, maybe I might live on the wild side with a shade of Grey."
He then looked back once more and saw Catherine seemed a little troubled, and so thoughtfully, he added, "But hey that's me! I know what I am, and I'm just a regular guy! I'm too old to follow my coagulated heart. But I can see you are someone special with a dream to follow...you follow your heart young lady."
As Catherine stepped out onto the curb in front of her apartment building, she said, "Thank you for your advice, kind Sir."
To which he kindly replied, "Any time, and no charge...for the advice that is!"
As Catherine laughed, she of course paid him his fair, and thanked him once more as she stepped back from the cab, and watched him drive away.
Catherine then turned, standing stone-like as she looked up to her balcony, and thought soon...Vincent would climb this building to be with her, or at least hoped he might be.
A smile then came to her lips, as she realized even the way Vincent comes to visit her is unconventional!
Yet...maybe all these differences were a part of what made knowing Vincent so special.
But though there were uncertainties, the one thing she was sure of, was she couldn't wait to be with him again, and she wanted to be there, waiting.
As Catherine greeted and took care of Noodles, she then called Jennifer to invite her to Dinner tomorrow at her Dad's. Explaining they would be having dinner with Uncle Douggy, Aunt Elaine and cousins Gerty and Robert.
To which Jennifer said she would love to come, and couldn't wait to see if Robert still wore a pen protector in his shirt pocket!
The two friends shared a giggle or two, about the ways of Catherine's Brainiac cousin, who in the end, they both said they dearly loved.
Catherine then sat down to relax a bit, closing her eyes, she was taken to a place where she and Vincent could walk together freely, be themselves...totally open, with nothing to hide.
She knew this was only a dream of course, and rationalized the only places for them to walk openly would be here, in the tunnels, or in their dreams.
Integrally, Catherine had come to terms with these limitations tonight, and with her Dad's blessings, she was now, even more so committed to Vincent.
The hour came when happily for Catherine, Vincent arrived. And after knocking, he walked to the balcony, and gazed over their city once more.
And as she happily greeted him, she said, "Hello Vincent."
He then turned, and stood for a moment, mesmerized by her beauty, and in a deep raspy reply, Vincent greeted her in kind.
Lovingly Vincent embraced her, and as Catherine looked up at him, she said, "I am so happy you are here. I missed you."
To which Vincent said he missed her as well, then noted, "You must be cold Catherine."
To which she said, "I am...shall we go inside?"
As they entered the apartment, Vincent was greeted by a very friendly Noodles, who after a little pat and scratch on the head, happily went back to gnawing on his chew toy.
Catherine smiled at their interaction, and then softly said, "I thought if you came, we could sit together by the fire again tonight..."
Vincent raised his eyes and looked to the already prepared spot for them, and answered, "Yes...very nice."
Vincent stirred the embers before bringing Catherine to him, and together they sat, contentedly watching the flames.
The time spent together this night was different somehow, different from before. Their relationship was becoming more comfortable, and with the support of loved ones, they were both feeling the freedom of following their hearts.
Looking into her eyes, he softly whispered, "Being with you again after yesterdays meeting with your Father...brings me pause..."
In reply, Catherine with care, asked, "How so Vincent..."
Holding Catherine's small hand, Vincent revealed, "Looking to the future...wondering what lies ahead for us...grateful and thankful for his gift of acceptance..."
He then lowered his head, as he continued, "...and because of your father's acceptance, I don't want to betray his trust where you are concerned, his beloved daughter..."
To which Catherine replied, "I suppose I feel that way toward Jacob too. I know on some level he still has concerns about us. I suppose it is the nature of being a parent...let's try not to look too deeply into it other than to say, parents will be parents."
With a loving sigh, Vincent said, "The way you look past our differences, almost make them seem non-existent."
With a loving tone, Catherine assured Vincent, "To me, they are..."
With a loving embrace, Vincent said, "Ahh Catherine..."
As Catherine snuggled into his warmth, she sighed, "They will be to you one day too, if you let them."
To which he lovingly said, "I do long for that day Catherine..."
Silently they sat, both knowing everything, yet knowing nothing. Everything about how special their love was, but nothing about the uncertainties of where their love would take them. So for now...they accepted what they had, and were the happiest either one had ever been.
They then talked a while about their day, and Catherine told Vincent her Dad had accepted her career change when she had told him about the D.A.
Vincent nodded pleasingly and said that was good, and knew her father's approval would make the transition go much easier for her.
The hour had come for Vincent to go, they made plans to see each other again on Sunday. Yes, tomorrow would be full, as Catherine would be spending the day at her Dad's, visiting with relatives who were passing through the city.
And so Vincent held her tenderly as they regretfully said goodnight.
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The next day was a joyous reunion for the Chandler families, Charles with his brother Douglas, and wife Elaine, and also for Catherine with her cousins, Gerty, and Robert.
Yes, because their parents were so close, the three cousins basically grew up together, sharing so much, such as vacations, Holidays, and sleep-overs at the Grandparents, just all the good things extended families share.
And Jennifer and Willie also shared in the reunion, as they were considered part of the family too.
So after the initial hellos, feet were stomped, and coats were hung up, it was Aunt Elaine who first noted, "Your house is so cozy and Christmassy!"
To which Charles proudly said, "Thanks Lanie, we still have the outside to decorate yet, but inside here, well that's all due to Willie, she is quite the decorator."
Humbled to be called out, Willie replied, "Ah, I do love to decorate, but I can't take credit for the tree...that was all you and Cathy!"
Upon saying that was true, Charles smiled at his daughter and said, "Yep, and we did a good job too didn't we honey..."
Looking up at the tree, Catherine replied, "I think so too Dad, it really is a pretty tree."
To which Aunt Elaine and Uncle Douglas agreed, and then Gertrude concurred, saying, "It is pretty, it makes me anxious to decorate back home now...when are we going to start decorating Mom and Dad?"
In response Elaine said, "Well honey I wanted to wait until we got back from the cabin. So I imagine we can start decorating any time now probably tomorrow."
Teasing his brother, Douglas said, "Thanks Charles, I was hoping to have a down day tomorrow, but looks like the gauntlet has been laid."
Slapping his brother on the back, Charles said, "You know what they say, there's no rest for the wicked."
Everyone laughed, and then Willie announced there were some coffee brewing in the kitchen, so the reunion between Charles, Douglas and Elaine moved into the kitchen, while Catherine and Jennifer caught up with the latest scoops from Gerty and Robert.
And naughtily, Jennifer had Catherine in stitches as she whispered, "Darn, Robert would be wearing a sweater vest! Now we can't tell if he still wears a pocket protector!"
But though Jennifer and Catherine shared a private anecdote, they loved Gerty and Robert, and being connected with them again meant so much to them both, not to mention it was totally mutual, on the side of the visiting cousins.
Soon it was time for Dinner, and as Willie served the Standing Rib Roast, there were raves heard all about the Dining Room! And it was cute that all through out the dinner, Catherine couldn't help but notice Robert, seemed to be still a little smitten with Jennifer!
The conversation around the table, then came full circle, as it covered light hearted subjects, to heart tugging stories about Peter's loss, and then back again to some happy memories they all shared.
And as Charles pushed his chair away from the table, he saluted Willie by saying, "Willie you have outdone your self! Everything was delicious!"
To which Douglas too said, "I concur Willie! And if you ever come around our neck of the woods, Elaine and I would like to reciprocate!"
And then Elaine added, "You made our reunion here so special today, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
Though Willie tried not too, she did cry a few emotional tears as she said, "It was my pleasure, believe me! Now scoot everyone! I have my own method of cleaning up and you will just be in my way! So go on now!"
Even though Willie was firm, Catherine would have none of it, and neither would Elaine, Jennifer or Gerty. They insisted on helping, and that was that!
And so there was plenty of girl talk a-flow, as they cleared the table, covered up the bowls of left-overs, and then loaded up the dishwasher!
Elaine couldn't help but bring up a few stories of Catherine and Gerty as youngsters, long before Willie knew them. And then she finished up by saying, "These two girls..."
She then became misty eyed as she put her arms around each of the girls, and continued, "...ahem....these two girls brought Caroline and I so much joy. From their baby doll stage to the Barbie phase...we had a ball shopping for them at Christmas time. Of course we had to be on the same page, no matter what it was the girls were getting, weather it was p.j.'s, sweaters or doll houses, they had to be the SAME!"
To which Gerty teasingly noted, "Although I didn't know what it meant at the time, but Dad and Uncle Charles always said, you two were living vicariously through us..."
With a giggle, Catherine added, "And I wonder what gave them that idea?"
To which Gerty inserted, "Maybe it was because we had to wait for our turn to check out our own gifts!"
Both Jennifer and Willie got a kick out of these stories, and continued to listen, as they finished the kitchen cleanup.
Gerty then looked to Catherine and said, "All kidding aside, so much of who I am is because of our closeness as children. Every Christmas memory, trails back to a time from our childhood."
With heartfelt agreement, Catherine said, "Awe Gerty that is so sweet...and the same is true for me too. We were two lucky girls, as my Mom and you, Aunt Elaine, always made sure our Christmas dreams came true..."
To which Elaine, confirmed what Catherine said, by saying, "It was important, and we sure did our best..."
With one last swipe to the counter, Willie declared they were done, and then suggested they check on the guys.
And so as they entered the Living room, Robert stepped up beside Jennifer and asked for her email address, as he would like to correspond with her after he returns back home.
Because Jennifer sensed he had a crush on her, she cleared her throat, as she said, "Sure, but Robert I should let you know I am interested in someone else. So as long as you know it would be only as friends."
To which Robert appreciating her being up front, resignedly said, "Well I guess that would be groovy...just friends then..."
With a warmness, Jennifer smiled and said, "Let me just grab a pen, and pad from my purse, and I'll write down my email for you."
But before she moved, Robert gallantly said, "No need Jennifer!" He then reached into his shirt, and from under his sweater vest, he produced a pen and pad from his protected dress shirt pocket.
Jennifer glanced discreetly at Catherine, who had been observing from the foyer, and the two girls shared a silent look, which said, Ah, Robert did not disappoint us! He DOES still have a pocket protector!
Meanwhile, Gerty walked along with Catherine, and told her she would like to come and spend a weekend before Christmas, so they could do some authentic New York City shopping!
To which, in reply Catherine happily told her she would be more than welcome, and she could come anytime. And then with a sorrowful look, Catherine questionably added, "How many years have we been trying to plan this? Let's really do it this year Gerty."
With determination, Gerty replied, "You are right! I always say I would love to come, and then never find the time! Before I know it Christmas is here and over. But this year will be different. I will check my calender as soon as I get home, and call so we can firm up a plan."
As Robert overheard their conversation, he mentioned he just might tag along too, to which Catherine said he would be more than welcome too.
And because they were making plans to get together, it made saying goodbye so much easier. And so as they said farewell, goodbye hugs were issued all around, and as the relatives hopped back into their car, with full bellies, they left too, with fond memories of a wonderful reunion.
As Jennifer was feeling full and tired, she said she would get going too, and said a heartfelt thank you and goodbye to both Willie and Charles, and a sisterly hug to Catherine too.
And then there were three. Catherine, Charles and Willie, who retreated into the kitchen for one last cup of coffee, and they talked about the wonderful time they had today, and much was due to the superb dinner Willie had made them.
And as Willie yawned she said it was her pleasure, and then said it was time she hit the road too.
Charles and Catherine, thanked her, and with loving hugs they told Willie goodnight.
Catherine then looked to her Dad, and said, "My cab should be coming soon too...I hate for this day to end. It was a good day.."
To which Charles sighed he said, "It was nice wasn't it?"
To which he informatively said, "And tomorrow its back to Florida for me! Now you realize I will be gone for at least a week Cathy..."
To which Catherine said she knew, a week to ten days, and then mentioned she didn't want him to worry, that she would hold down the fort for him at work.
In reply, Charles then earnestly said, "Ahh thanks kiddo."
With a thoughtful look, Charles then surmised, "I suppose it won't be long after I get back, that you will be leaving for your new gig."
Knowing this was true, Catherine hesitantly agreed, saying, "If you need me to stay longer Dad I can stay. Hopefully Joe will understand..."
To which Charles said, "We'll see, but we should be fine, after all Harvey has trained under the best."
Feeling honored by the kind compliment bestowed upon her by her Dad, Catherine did so too in kind, as she then said, "Just as I have."
Wanting to part on a high note, Charles then said, "I am proud of you Cathy. Not everyone has the courage to live their life as you are."
To which Catherine humbly said, "Thank you Dad, but its not without trepidation and outright fear! What if this is a huge mistake?"
Thoughtfully, Charles answered, "Won't know if its a mistake, unless you try right? And I believe it goes without saying, you can always come back..."
Thankfully, Catherine then said, "Well, that does take a bit of the pressure off..."
Just then the taxi honked, and Catherine said, "Well, it sounds as if the cab is here for me. I guess this is goodbye till you come home. I love you, and have a safe trip."
Charles kissed his daughter's forehead, and said, "Will do, and I will talk to you in a day or so."
And so as Catherine climbed into the Cab, she rolled down the window to wave a final farewell to her Dad.
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And so as Catherine returned home to Noodles, her evening was long and quiet, void of the excitement of a planned visit from Vincent, thinking, tomorrow, their reunion will be all the sweeter for this absence.