Protector of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Seven _____________________________________
The next morning below in the tunnels, as Jacob and Vincent walked back to Jacob's chamber from breakfast, Jacob looked over at his son, and anxiously inquired, "Well, may I expect you will be back here directly with Catherine?"
To which Vincent nodded, and said, "Yes you may Father. And I should add, Catherine was quite pleased you had extended the invitation for her to visit today."
To which Jacob chuckled, as he inquired, "Oh my, she was?"
Jacob then rubbed his hands together, as he replied, “Very well then...you must go meet her, it is nearly time, and you do not want to keep her waiting.”
As Vincent stepped to the threshold, he looked back once more at his Father, and he smiled to himself, as he saw Jacob once again, rearrange the stack of specifically chosen books, he wished to show Catherine.
Meantime, as Catherine entered the tunnels, she was happy Vincent was there, waiting to greet her.
Smiling up at him, she then self-consciously looked downward, as she was sure her flushed complexion, revealed how he affected her.
Catherine couldn't help but to laugh at herself, thinking at her age, she was not able to conceal her unsteady emotions, better than what she was doing.
But in truth, she couldn't...and Vincent too, felt the strong connection between them, and as he held his arm out for her, they silently walked along contentedly happy to be re-united again.
Catherine then looked over at him, as she asked, "Did you have a good nights rest?"
With a smile in his eyes, Vincent looked downward and said, "Yes Catherine."
Tilting his head to look at her, he softly asked, "And you?"
To which Catherine replied, "Yes, I did too."
Catherine smiled as she then relayed, "I did have to scoot Noodles over, but once I did lie down, I must have drifted right off to sleep. And I...I had this beautiful dream."
And as Catherine was about to relay the theme of her dream, she realized, she had actually had this dream several times before.
And so Catherine then told Vincent, "The dream I had, carried me to a place where there were no differences...or lovelier still...maybe it was a place where differences didn't matter."
Thoughtfully, Catherine paused for a moment, and as the impression came back to her, she smiled as she continued, "Yes it was a beautiful open place, and there was no need for anyone to hide."
As Vincent listened, he raised a brow, and dreamily said, "That indeed sounds like a lovely place."
To which Catherine nodded, and softly said, "Oh it was, and we were both so happy, and free there."
As Catherine looked over at Vincent before continuing, her smile faded, as she saw a pensive manner come over him. And so Catherine with great care asked, "Vincent...what is it?"
To which Vincent thoughtfully, replied, "Sometimes our dreams reveal...the things which most concern us..."
Vincent then stopped, and looked downward, before he looked directly back into Catherine's eyes, and implied, "...perhaps, the fact we cannot walk freely up in your world...concerns you more than you know."
As Catherine answered, she thoughtfully said, "I don' believe so."
In all honestly though, Catherine could not totally discount what Vincent had said, and thought about the wisdom of his implication.
And then she had to ask herself, why DID she dream of an open life for them, as often as she did.
And so, Catherine from her heart, reflectively explained, "I suppose my dream may really be more of a wish. A wish that the world could be a more loving, and accepting place..."
To which Vincent realistically, answered, "Just so you understand, this place you fantasize about, can only be found in your dreams Catherine...and in mine."
As they silently resumed their walk, Catherine tightened her grip on Vincent's hand, and for now, she felt protective of him, and of his vulnerable breaking heart, knowing he does envision the same beautiful dream too.
And then as if he were reading Catherine's mind, Vincent softly said, "Do not be sad for me Catherine..."
To which Catherine admittedly, said, "I do feel sad...but it’s because of how I made you feel. I shouldn't have told you about my dream."
In response, Vincent mindfully said, "I am only concerned for your happiness, and need to know you can be happy with the limitations which loom before us. I need to know you are not waiting for something which will never happen."
And then Vincent sadly added, "Catherine...we both know, there is no place for me in your world...and I think I need to hear you say it as well..."
In reply, Catherine passionately said, "I haven't any rose colored glasses on. I know what our reality is, and because this is true, I only want to make the most of our time together."
To which Vincent softly noted, "You speak of dreams so often Catherine...I had to be certain you are seeing our life for what it is."
Catherine then wistfully added, "For me, dreams are merely a place to visit, where the imaginable impracticalities of life we wish for, can exist. However..."
Catherine then tipped her head, as she softly asked, "...haven't you ever heard...dreams can come true?"
Vincent feeling enchanted by Catherine's words, affirmatively said, "Yes Catherine..."
As Catherine placed her hand upon his heart, she said, "We have to imagine them here first. Here in our hearts."
Lovingly, Catherine then tenderly shared, "But Vincent...I gladly accept our life for what it is...and I love our reality...you have made me so very happy."
Vincent then touched her cheek, and as she responded to his touch by bringing her own hand up onto his, he knew what she said was true, and with an impassioned acknowledgment, he simply said, "Yes..."
They stood for a moment, entranced by their closeness, before Vincent brought Catherine to him, and as he rested his cheek upon her head, they stood for a long while in each other's sheltering embrace.
Finally, Vincent then reluctantly said, "Father is waiting..."
As they continued along, their conversation became more inclusive, and Catherine reminded Vincent, that her Dad and Peter were leaving for Florida later on today. And added, because of her Dad's absence, she would be very busy at work this week.
Catherine then thought of something she had forgotten to tell Vincent about! She had totally forgotten to tell him, she discovered her Granddaddy had helped represent Jacob back in the 50's on a court case hearing.
Then, upon realizing what she knew about Jacob's past was bordering on confidential, she decided she shouldn't say anything till she could mention it privately to Jacob first.
And so as they arrived to a warm welcome from Jacob, Catherine smiled as she returned his fatherly embrace, and sat down in the chair Vincent had held out for her.
It was then, Jacob relayed to Vincent and Catherine, saying, "You just missed Peter, he came to say goodbye before he left for Florida, OH, and to leave a prescribed supplement of some kind for me. Hmm, wonder where he left it..."
And because he didn't immediately see the bottle containing the supplement, Jacob waved it off saying, "It's here somewhere, at any rate, Peter was quite anxious to go and watch a game at your Father's."
With a slight chuckle, Catherine nodded and said, "Ah yes...THE annual Football game!"
Catherine then addressed both Jacob, and Vincent as she continued, "This football team rivalry has been going on for years. So you can imagine when their teams play against each other, it is quite the event! Dad prepares his special chili, and Peter brings the beer."
Catherine then humorously added, "One year I had forgotten it was THE Game day, and I popped in to pay Dad an impromptu visit. Well, as soon as I walked into the foyer, I could hear them from the study, and the language that was flying...well, I didn't want to spoil their fun, so I turned right around and left. They never knew I was there!"
To which Jacob laughed, as he said, "I dare say! You are a wise girl."
To which Catherine admitted, "It's nice Dad is able to relax once in a while. He can be so driven because of his position at the firm."
To which Jacob observably said, "You seem to understand your father quite well."
Thoughtfully, Catherine said, "Well we are together so much, not only are we Father and Daughter, but colleagues too, and he of course, is always a father first, so wants to be an exemplary figure for me, no matter how old I am."
As Vincent and Jacob listened, they both said this was understandable, and then Jacob surmised, "Despite the dichotomy, working together must tighten ones relationship, I should think..."
With a reflective nod, Catherine answered, "It has...my Dad has taught me so much, and because of his ethics, I have grown even more proud of him, if that were possible..."
And then Catherine told Jacob her news, as she sadly said, "...which has made my recent decision, a very tough one to make. "
Thoughtfully, Catherine then continued, "I will be leaving the family firm in a few weeks, and will start out in an entry level at the D. A."
As Jacob digested this scoop, he astoundingly repeated, "Leaving the family firm...oh my, must have been quite a difficult decision to make indeed."
As Catherine took a deep anxiety filled breath, she said, "Yes it was...it's hard leaving my co-workers who have been like family to me...and going into training for a new job which will be demanding in differing ways..."
And then as she looked toward Vincent, she shared, "...but due to Vincent's encouragement, I realized this is something I must at least try, so last night I told my Dad about my decision."
Wondering about Charles' reaction, Jacob asked, "How did your father receive the news?"
To which Catherine shared, "With understanding...Dad told me I must follow my heart in all I do...always..."
Upon hearing Charles' words of wisdom, Vincent looked at Catherine, and without saying so, he understood Charles’ advice to his daughter, was directed toward her relationship with himself, as well as her profession.
It was then Jacob thoughtfully injected, "So...in a few weeks...you will be starting a new job...what a brave bold choice."
And then as the thought struck him, Jacob excitedly said, "And...in a few weeks...we will be celebrating Winterfest!"
Jacob then looked downward, attempting to hide his emotions as he said, "And this year...we have much to celebrate...much to celebrate."
Humbly, Jacob looked up at his son, and then to Catherine, as he shakily said, "Ah...please forgive my emotions."
Upon seeing his father affected by something, Vincent with a comforting tone, asked, "Father...what is it?"
To which Jacob revealed, "It was just something Peter had said before he left."
Curiously, Vincent lovingly probed, "Which was?"
In reply, Jacob thoughtfully said, "I suppose there is no reason why I cannot share this with you both..."
And so Jacob continued, "...Peter told me, since the death of his Mother, the tunnels seem to hold new meaning for him. And he found this was no longer just a place where he was needed, but rather it was a refuge for him, a place, which he himself needed more, than he had realized."
And then Jacob smiled at Catherine, as he continued, "And...Peter expressed he was pleased, he can now share this world with both you, and your Father."
Upon hearing this about Peter, Catherine smiled back at Jacob nodding, thinking as she did so, of how hard it must have been for Peter to have kept this secret so sacredly through the years.
As Jacob took a deep breath, he looked up at his son, and he repeated, "So yes...as I started to say before...this year at Winterfest, because of our growing connections to the world above, we have much to celebrate Vincent."
Vincent looked to his Father, and then to Catherine and said, "Yes Father...we do."