| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Eight |
Catherine tried to reason with Vincent by calmly saying, "If Paracelsus had
wanted to hurt me, he could have...I really don't think he wanted to do me any
harm...I think you may be over re-acting Vincent..."
Angrily Vincent interrupted, and said, "No arguments!"
Trying to lighten his mood, she teased, "I have to wonder what Father will say
about your staying the night in the expansion area?"
Continuing his anxious stride, he said, "Father will say I made the right decision."
Trying to keep up with him, Catherine breathlessly said, "Vincent!"
Slowing down, Vincent bent his head, feeling bad as the realization settled in, he
was walking pretty fast for Catherine.
In his mind, he was eager to check on Jamie and Laura, and to deliver Catherine
to the safe haven of her chamber.
So Vincent slowed his pace, and lovingly said, "I am sorry..."
To which Catherine softly said, "There's nothing to be sorry for Vincent...I just
hate to see you so upset over this."
Upon entering the tunnel of the new expansion chambers, Vincent stepped up to
Jamie's chamber, and was relieved to see she and Laura were together. They
were up late working on a gift for Peter, so they could give it to him tomorrow
night.
Guardedly, he asked them to double up for the night, because Catherine just
had an encounter with Paracelsus.
Catherine trying not to frighten the girls too much, added, she didn't feel he
meant her any harm.
Sternly, Vincent reiterated, that still...just the same...they should stick together.
Turning to Catherine he instructed, "Stay here until I return Catherine. This is a
message I do not want to send Father over the Master Pipes. I will be back as
soon as I can."
And because Vincent was so concerned, Catherine didn't even try to argue, and
said she would wait there with the girls until he returned.
Vincent then went to Jacob, and told him of the request Paracelsus had made of
Catherine, concerning the picture of Anna.
So upon hearing of his nemesis' close proximity to the community, Jacob
dispatched several sentries to go chamber to chamber with a caution of
Paracelsus's presence in the expansion chambers, he then turned to Vincent and
shockingly asked, "Was he alone?"
To which Vincent answered, "Yes Father...he was alone. Catherine said she did
not think he wanted anything more, than the request which he presented to her."
With concern, Jacob hobbled to his table, and said, "Still...it is good to be
cautious. The fact he is comfortable enough to venture forth from his dungeon
alone, is not a good thing!"
Feeling agitated by this incident, Vincent paced and said, "Yes it concerns me as
well! This proves we must not let our guard down Father."
Vincent then lowered his head, and with his voice full of anguish, he said,
"Father...if he were to do anything to Catherine..."
With a tone of concurrence, Jacob comforted his son, and said, "I understand
Vincent..."
Scheming that something must be done, Vincent then proposed, "Somehow we
must better secure our home chambers!"
Agreeably Jacob said, "Yes, we will talk about this tomorrow...for now, try to
get some rest."
To which Vincent offered, "I will stay in Peter's new chamber...I want to be
nearby..."
In agreement, Jacob with an approving look said, "Good, very good then. Good
night Vincent, and be cautious for your own good as well."
Vincent in reply, answered he would, and then left his Father, to return to
Catherine.
Meantime, as Catherine sat on the bed along with Jamie and Laura, the two
younger girls excitedly asked for details about Vincent's proposal!
Upon thinking back on the moment, Catherine smiled, and as she looked down
at her ring, and told them, "Well...it definitely took me by surprise..."
To which Jamie concisely guessed, "I imagine he was calm and cool! I can't
picture Vincent ever getting nervous!"
With surprise, Laura looked over at Jamie, and emphatically signed, "Are you
kidding? Every man in love loses his cool around the woman he loves Jamie!"
In denial, Jamie shook her head no and questionably said, "Yeah but Vincent?"
With a smile, Laura nodded as she signed, "Yes! Even Vincent!"
With a quizzical look, she then inquisitively signed, "Do you both remember,
when I had to stay with you Catherine, to testify?"
After both Catherine and Jamie said that yes, they remembered, Laura
continued, "Well...Vincent walked me to the threshold to meet you, and
although I know he was hesitant about my going above, I think he was even
more nervous about seeing you again! He kept smoothing his hair, and adjusting
his cloak!"
After hearing Laura recant her story, Jamie cracked up laughing, and Catherine
tipped her head, and smiled at this sweet insight into Vincent's private
demeanor, concerning his early feelings for her.
Beginning to think in that temper, Jamie too then offered, "Yes, you know, you
are right Laura! I remember when Lin and Henry hid out here, and they ended
up having their marriage ceremony here too...well...Vincent could not decide
what to wear! He must have tried on all of his best shirts, asking me for my
opinion about each one!"
Loving the way this conversation was going, Catherine smiled and with a
reflective tone, said, "As I recall...He looked really handsome that night..."
Upon wanting to get back on track, about his marriage proposal to Catherine,
Jamie asked, "So anyway, how did he ask you? Was Vincent nervous when he
asked you to marry him?"
Thinking back, Catherine hesitated a moment, and then admittedly said, "Well,
maybe a little, I know once I saw my engagement ring, and I realized Vincent
was actually proposing to me...I couldn't stop from shaking."
The girls swooned as they looked at her ring again, and then Laura signed,
"How did he ask you?"
Catherine stayed thoughtfully silent for a second or two, wondering how much
to share about their private moment, and wasn't sure how Vincent would feel
about telling it.
Then suddenly, from behind, Catherine heard Vincent's deep resonating voice
answer Laura's question, by saying, "I knelt at Catherine's side, and I asked,
"Catherine...will you marry me?"
Catherine spun around to look at Vincent, and with a slow blink of her eyes, she
longingly replied, "And I answered, yes Vincent...I will marry you."
Both Laura and Jamie sighed, and the girls agreed, it must have been very
romantic!
In reply, Catherine looked back at the girls, and answered, "Yes it was very
romantic."
Vincent then stepped inside the chamber, and apologetically said, "I hate to
disrupt your visiting, however it is quite late. I will be nearby in Peter's
chamber, should you two need anything."
They all said "Goodnight" to one another, and then Vincent walked Catherine
back to her chamber.
As they walked, Catherine said, "Thank you for coming to rescue me tonight. It
is amazing to know should I have been in real trouble...you would have known."
To which he subtly replied, "I am thankful for our bond Catherine. I am
thankful and amazed by it more and more every day since its existence."
As he thought about the inception of their connection, when he found her
miraculously in the dark shadows, which had consumed the park on that foggy
night of April 12th, he now understood it was no miracle.
It was the goodness within Catherine's heart...calling out to his...to help her, and
was the beginning of this bond forming between them, that would connect
them...forever.
With her bag of statues in hand, Catherine satisfied, yet a bit guiltily said, "Well
mission accomplished, I have what I ventured out for."
She then added, "I am sorry to cause you to worry tonight Vincent. I guess I
was excited to set mine out on the table."
With a shake of his head, Vincent had a smile in his eyes, as he looked at his
impetuous Catherine, who couldn't wait until the morning to get them.
With a twist of his mood, he tried to sound light hearted as he suggested, "Let's
see how it looks. Where are you going to display yours?"
Excitedly Catherine unwrapped them, and as she dusted hers off, she set it out
on the reading table, just as she envisioned. Stepping back, she sighed, "Home.
Right where it belongs."
Warmly, Vincent knowing this keepsake her Dad had given her was so
important to her, he sincerely said it looks perfect there.
As he then embraced Catherine, he said goodnight...again...and reminded her he
was but a little ways away should she need anything.
Teasingly, she replied, "That thought may keep me awake Vincent."
As he turned to leave her securely snuggled in within her chamber, he in turn
replied, "Yes...it may keep me awake as well Dear Catherine..."
The morning came, and talk of the new Putt Putt course filled the dining hall at
breakfast with giggles and chatter. Everyone speculating on the fun and benefits
of such an activity!
And as usual, after breakfast, it was another busy day for the tunnel community.
Everyone went their separate ways, implementing individual tasks, and chores,
and Catherine felt like one of the community now too, having a vocation of her
own to fulfill.
Eagerly, she walked to her class, and as the children cheerfully greeted her, they
breezed through their lesson, and happily, it went smoothly, without incident!
Meanwhile, Vincent and Ronald moved the furniture Peter had chosen into his
chamber.
And later as the day progressed, Jamie, Laura, Brooke and Olivia, took the
children to the Community Chamber to try out the new game of Putt Putt.
And it was then, when Catherine met Mary and Rebecca, in Peter's soon-to-be
chamber.
The three ladies had fun arranging and re-arranging the furniture, adjusting wall
hangings, and adding the beautiful Tiffany lamp for his reading table.
Rebecca set out the many candles she poured for Peter in a lovely shade of
blue, Mary arranged the quilt she had completed especially for him, and proudly
Catherine set out the statue she was giving to Peter, onto the side table, near his
bed.
Catherine knew the moment he saw it, he would recognize it was from her, in
honor of her Dad.
To be continued
Chapter Nine
wanted to hurt me, he could have...I really don't think he wanted to do me any
harm...I think you may be over re-acting Vincent..."
Angrily Vincent interrupted, and said, "No arguments!"
Trying to lighten his mood, she teased, "I have to wonder what Father will say
about your staying the night in the expansion area?"
Continuing his anxious stride, he said, "Father will say I made the right decision."
Trying to keep up with him, Catherine breathlessly said, "Vincent!"
Slowing down, Vincent bent his head, feeling bad as the realization settled in, he
was walking pretty fast for Catherine.
In his mind, he was eager to check on Jamie and Laura, and to deliver Catherine
to the safe haven of her chamber.
So Vincent slowed his pace, and lovingly said, "I am sorry..."
To which Catherine softly said, "There's nothing to be sorry for Vincent...I just
hate to see you so upset over this."
Upon entering the tunnel of the new expansion chambers, Vincent stepped up to
Jamie's chamber, and was relieved to see she and Laura were together. They
were up late working on a gift for Peter, so they could give it to him tomorrow
night.
Guardedly, he asked them to double up for the night, because Catherine just
had an encounter with Paracelsus.
Catherine trying not to frighten the girls too much, added, she didn't feel he
meant her any harm.
Sternly, Vincent reiterated, that still...just the same...they should stick together.
Turning to Catherine he instructed, "Stay here until I return Catherine. This is a
message I do not want to send Father over the Master Pipes. I will be back as
soon as I can."
And because Vincent was so concerned, Catherine didn't even try to argue, and
said she would wait there with the girls until he returned.
Vincent then went to Jacob, and told him of the request Paracelsus had made of
Catherine, concerning the picture of Anna.
So upon hearing of his nemesis' close proximity to the community, Jacob
dispatched several sentries to go chamber to chamber with a caution of
Paracelsus's presence in the expansion chambers, he then turned to Vincent and
shockingly asked, "Was he alone?"
To which Vincent answered, "Yes Father...he was alone. Catherine said she did
not think he wanted anything more, than the request which he presented to her."
With concern, Jacob hobbled to his table, and said, "Still...it is good to be
cautious. The fact he is comfortable enough to venture forth from his dungeon
alone, is not a good thing!"
Feeling agitated by this incident, Vincent paced and said, "Yes it concerns me as
well! This proves we must not let our guard down Father."
Vincent then lowered his head, and with his voice full of anguish, he said,
"Father...if he were to do anything to Catherine..."
With a tone of concurrence, Jacob comforted his son, and said, "I understand
Vincent..."
Scheming that something must be done, Vincent then proposed, "Somehow we
must better secure our home chambers!"
Agreeably Jacob said, "Yes, we will talk about this tomorrow...for now, try to
get some rest."
To which Vincent offered, "I will stay in Peter's new chamber...I want to be
nearby..."
In agreement, Jacob with an approving look said, "Good, very good then. Good
night Vincent, and be cautious for your own good as well."
Vincent in reply, answered he would, and then left his Father, to return to
Catherine.
Meantime, as Catherine sat on the bed along with Jamie and Laura, the two
younger girls excitedly asked for details about Vincent's proposal!
Upon thinking back on the moment, Catherine smiled, and as she looked down
at her ring, and told them, "Well...it definitely took me by surprise..."
To which Jamie concisely guessed, "I imagine he was calm and cool! I can't
picture Vincent ever getting nervous!"
With surprise, Laura looked over at Jamie, and emphatically signed, "Are you
kidding? Every man in love loses his cool around the woman he loves Jamie!"
In denial, Jamie shook her head no and questionably said, "Yeah but Vincent?"
With a smile, Laura nodded as she signed, "Yes! Even Vincent!"
With a quizzical look, she then inquisitively signed, "Do you both remember,
when I had to stay with you Catherine, to testify?"
After both Catherine and Jamie said that yes, they remembered, Laura
continued, "Well...Vincent walked me to the threshold to meet you, and
although I know he was hesitant about my going above, I think he was even
more nervous about seeing you again! He kept smoothing his hair, and adjusting
his cloak!"
After hearing Laura recant her story, Jamie cracked up laughing, and Catherine
tipped her head, and smiled at this sweet insight into Vincent's private
demeanor, concerning his early feelings for her.
Beginning to think in that temper, Jamie too then offered, "Yes, you know, you
are right Laura! I remember when Lin and Henry hid out here, and they ended
up having their marriage ceremony here too...well...Vincent could not decide
what to wear! He must have tried on all of his best shirts, asking me for my
opinion about each one!"
Loving the way this conversation was going, Catherine smiled and with a
reflective tone, said, "As I recall...He looked really handsome that night..."
Upon wanting to get back on track, about his marriage proposal to Catherine,
Jamie asked, "So anyway, how did he ask you? Was Vincent nervous when he
asked you to marry him?"
Thinking back, Catherine hesitated a moment, and then admittedly said, "Well,
maybe a little, I know once I saw my engagement ring, and I realized Vincent
was actually proposing to me...I couldn't stop from shaking."
The girls swooned as they looked at her ring again, and then Laura signed,
"How did he ask you?"
Catherine stayed thoughtfully silent for a second or two, wondering how much
to share about their private moment, and wasn't sure how Vincent would feel
about telling it.
Then suddenly, from behind, Catherine heard Vincent's deep resonating voice
answer Laura's question, by saying, "I knelt at Catherine's side, and I asked,
"Catherine...will you marry me?"
Catherine spun around to look at Vincent, and with a slow blink of her eyes, she
longingly replied, "And I answered, yes Vincent...I will marry you."
Both Laura and Jamie sighed, and the girls agreed, it must have been very
romantic!
In reply, Catherine looked back at the girls, and answered, "Yes it was very
romantic."
Vincent then stepped inside the chamber, and apologetically said, "I hate to
disrupt your visiting, however it is quite late. I will be nearby in Peter's
chamber, should you two need anything."
They all said "Goodnight" to one another, and then Vincent walked Catherine
back to her chamber.
As they walked, Catherine said, "Thank you for coming to rescue me tonight. It
is amazing to know should I have been in real trouble...you would have known."
To which he subtly replied, "I am thankful for our bond Catherine. I am
thankful and amazed by it more and more every day since its existence."
As he thought about the inception of their connection, when he found her
miraculously in the dark shadows, which had consumed the park on that foggy
night of April 12th, he now understood it was no miracle.
It was the goodness within Catherine's heart...calling out to his...to help her, and
was the beginning of this bond forming between them, that would connect
them...forever.
With her bag of statues in hand, Catherine satisfied, yet a bit guiltily said, "Well
mission accomplished, I have what I ventured out for."
She then added, "I am sorry to cause you to worry tonight Vincent. I guess I
was excited to set mine out on the table."
With a shake of his head, Vincent had a smile in his eyes, as he looked at his
impetuous Catherine, who couldn't wait until the morning to get them.
With a twist of his mood, he tried to sound light hearted as he suggested, "Let's
see how it looks. Where are you going to display yours?"
Excitedly Catherine unwrapped them, and as she dusted hers off, she set it out
on the reading table, just as she envisioned. Stepping back, she sighed, "Home.
Right where it belongs."
Warmly, Vincent knowing this keepsake her Dad had given her was so
important to her, he sincerely said it looks perfect there.
As he then embraced Catherine, he said goodnight...again...and reminded her he
was but a little ways away should she need anything.
Teasingly, she replied, "That thought may keep me awake Vincent."
As he turned to leave her securely snuggled in within her chamber, he in turn
replied, "Yes...it may keep me awake as well Dear Catherine..."
The morning came, and talk of the new Putt Putt course filled the dining hall at
breakfast with giggles and chatter. Everyone speculating on the fun and benefits
of such an activity!
And as usual, after breakfast, it was another busy day for the tunnel community.
Everyone went their separate ways, implementing individual tasks, and chores,
and Catherine felt like one of the community now too, having a vocation of her
own to fulfill.
Eagerly, she walked to her class, and as the children cheerfully greeted her, they
breezed through their lesson, and happily, it went smoothly, without incident!
Meanwhile, Vincent and Ronald moved the furniture Peter had chosen into his
chamber.
And later as the day progressed, Jamie, Laura, Brooke and Olivia, took the
children to the Community Chamber to try out the new game of Putt Putt.
And it was then, when Catherine met Mary and Rebecca, in Peter's soon-to-be
chamber.
The three ladies had fun arranging and re-arranging the furniture, adjusting wall
hangings, and adding the beautiful Tiffany lamp for his reading table.
Rebecca set out the many candles she poured for Peter in a lovely shade of
blue, Mary arranged the quilt she had completed especially for him, and proudly
Catherine set out the statue she was giving to Peter, onto the side table, near his
bed.
Catherine knew the moment he saw it, he would recognize it was from her, in
honor of her Dad.
To be continued
Chapter Nine
