Protector of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twelve ____________________________________
Meanwhile, Vincent came up out of his sleep, to the sound of a message being tapped out on the pipes. The message was not just for him, but for the entire tunnel community.
With Catherine still in his arms, he lay still and silent, listening to the message, which was from William, announcing Supper was now ready to serve.
Vincent then expelled an amused scoff, as William added in a more abrupt tap, "...and don't be late!"
As Catherine stirred from her sleep, hovering somewhere in a heavenly twilight, she asked, "Is something funny?"
Realizing he woke Catherine, Vincent lovingly hugged her, as he explained, "William just announced Supper is prepared, and the trailing part of his message...urged everyone to be on time!"
Vincent then continued, as he gave a little insight, by explaining to Catherine, "William had complained to Father, he was getting a bit annoyed, that some of the community had been habitually arriving late to the Dining Hall."
And so Catherine softly noted, "Ah...I see, so the louder tapping at the end, was sort of like an exclamation point?"
Because Catherine's interpretation amused Vincent, he compliantly said, "Well, I suppose so, yes...like an exclamation point."
To which Catherine dreamily asked, "Then you should go?"
Without saying a word, Vincent then rose to tap out a message of his own, and so because she wondered, Catherine lazily asked, "What was your message?"
As Vincent returned to Catherine, he brought her back within his embrace, and answered, "They now know, not to expect either one of us..."
Feeling so happy they didn't have to rush off, Catherine then lovingly said, "I would have hated to leave without telling you here, within your enchanted chamber, how happy you make me."
To which Vincent lovingly said, "It is our chamber now Catherine, for you have made it so."
Contentedly, Catherine sighed as she told Vincent, "I don't ever want to leave here..."
And because Catherine's voice rose a little bit at the end, Vincent finished her sentence, as he softly whispered, "However..."
Catherine smiled as she realized her sentence was sort of pendant, and so she carefully expounded, "However...sadly...I have to. I should head back home and check on Noodles."
And because Vincent continued to protectively hold Catherine, without responding to all she had just said, Catherine looked up, and inquiringly asked, "Vincent?"
And so finally, Vincent expressed, "I am fearful to let you go. Our time together here seems like a dream...and I may awaken to find it had been so..."
And so, with an awing tone, Catherine agreeably said, "Yes...like a perfect dream...but it wasn't a dream...or if it was...we are both having it..."
To which Vincent with a heartfelt plea, said, "Stay Catherine...a while longer..."
In reply, Catherine lovingly whispered, "I will stay for as long as you want me to."
As Vincent serenely settled in once more, he then told her of how much contentment she had brought to his heart, and there were no words, for how she made him feel, by loving him. Vincent then pondered aloud, "I have always wondered about the wisdom of the words, "love is blind." Now I know how wise and true they are."
Upon hearing Vincent's comment, Catherine lovingly said, "Blind? No...not blind...Vincent...the way I feel about you is...well...how can I explain?"
Catherine then took a deep breath, and sweetly remembered, "When I first saw you..."
She smiled as she reminisced, "You were standing all by yourself, across the room, and when our eyes met...my heart missed a beat, and at that moment, when my heart recognized yours, I realized the power of our bond..."
Tenderly, Catherine then touched his face, and continued, "So don't ever think my love for you is blind...when in truth, you have given me sight, and since we have reaffirmed our bond...I have never been so clear in my life's direction before."
As Vincent listened to Catherine, his trembling breath gave him away, as his emotions affected his voice, when he said, "That first night...I had been admiring you from my vantage, you were so lovely, and gracious, and I admired your manner as you spoke to people about the room, leaving them smiling, and I wondered...wondered if I would be fortunate enough to speak with you myself. And when you did look at me, I was afraid you would look away...however, I was amazed when you did not. You instead smiled, and captured my heart with your warmth, and the kindness of your smile."
Vincent then bashfully confessed, "In truth Catherine, the moment you walked toward me...that single moment changed my life. Once our hands touched, there could be no turning back for me...no turning back to the single minded existence which consumed my days."
Catherine stood spellbound, as she said, "Well there is no turning back...not now for either of us."
Vincent embraced his Catherine, and softly replied, "Yes..."
And so as their contentment seemed to speed up the passage of time, they both agreed they could not put off Catherine's departure any longer.
Regretfully, Catherine then sighed, "Well, this time...I really better go."
To which Vincent nodded in reply, and readied himself to take Catherine back to her threshold.
As he put out the last of the candles, he took Catherine by the hand, and snuffed out the torches light that was mounted on the outside tunnel wall, and slowly and sadly, they left their chamber.
As Vincent stood at the bricked entry of Catherine's threshold, he softly said, "I shall come in a little while to see you are safely home... "
With an amorous tone, Catherine softly said, "I will be waiting Vincent."
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As Catherine reentered her apartment, Noodles happily jumped up on her, and with an amused chuckle, Catherine greeted him in return, saying, "Hello Noodles, I missed you too."
After a moment or two of petting Noodles, he then whined and pranced to the balcony door, making it known, that he needed to go outside.
As Catherine let him out, and sat down, to wait on Noodles, she looked around her apartment, and she could not believe how different her world looked to her now. She longed for the feel of the tunnels, she missed their small charming chamber, and she longed to be with Vincent again.
And so, a while after Noodles ate, and seemed contentedly settled in, Catherine thought it might be nice to fix a snack for Vincent, but finding nothing suitable to fix, Catherine realized all was not lost, she could place an order for takeout!
And so that's what she did...Catherine placed an order at Pai's, to have some Chinese food delivered.
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Meantime, Henry peaked around the corner into the cash office and said, "I will be right back Lin, I am going to make a delivery into Manhattan."
As Lin looked up in disbelief at her tired husband, she asked, "You are making the delivery? Why isn't Ernie?"
To which Henry smiled, and sheepishly said, "He had a hot Date! So I told him he could leave for the evening."
Hopelessly, Lin shook her head, and said, "Honestly Henry...you are too kind to be a boss!"
Appreciating his wife's compliment, Henry then sweetly asked, "Don't you remember what it is like to be so much in love?"
To which Lin smiled, as she flirtatiously walked toward her once, star-crossed love, and as she nuzzled with him, she said, "Of course I remember...I think."
And then as a thought occurred to Lin, she then worriedly said, "You know Henry, we have both been working so hard, that it has been a while since we had a hot date ourselves!"
Thinking Lin was right, Henry sweetly kissed his wife, and said, "You are right Lin...come get your coat, and after we make this delivery, I am going to treat you to a pizza at Poppy's!"
To which Lin excitedly said, "Pizza? You know how I love Pizza...mmm I am putty in your hands. However, we mustn't tell Grandfather! He would never approve of all that cheese in our digestive tracts!"
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As Catherine welcomed Vincent inside, Noodles happily greeted Vincent and then as per usual, went about his business, and took a luxurious nap on HIS and Catherine's bed!
Vincent looked down at Catherine and regrettably said, "I must not stay long Catherine. With Father gone, I feel I must be accessible in case anyone may need me."
Catherine hugged Vincent, and lovingly said, "I understand Vincent."
As she took his hand, she then happily informed him, "I want you to know, I...only just about 10 minutes ago, talked to our father's. They have arrived safely, and Peter was preparing them his famous recipe, "Battered Flounder"!"
To which Vincent with great concern, inquired, "And Father...how did he sound?"
Thinking back, Catherine replied, "I think he sounded good, and your Father wanted me to tell you hello, and to remind you, you shouldn't stay too late."
As Vincent heaved a relieved sigh, he then amusedly said, "It sounds as if Father is getting back to his old self."
With a warm understanding smile, Catherine then led Vincent to the couch, and as she backed into his embrace, she said, "Since you missed supper, I ordered some takeout..."
And then with concern, Catherine said, "...I hope you like Chinese food..."
To which Vincent nodded, and said, "Yes, I do enjoy it."
Vincent then relayed to Catherine, "We have friends, the Wong family in China Town, who on a rare occasion, come below and take over William's kitchen and treat the community to Chinese Cuisine."
Upon remembering Catherine had crossed paths with Lin at Mr. Smythe's bookshop, Vincent then added, "In fact, Lin, the woman you had assisted at Mr. Smythe's shop, happens to be a part of that very family. You will officially meet Lin, and her family at Winterfest."
Catherine smiled and expressed, "Well I look forward to it."