| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Eighteen |
Vincent turned to Peter and asked, "Are you returning above tonight as well?"
Peter scoffed, "Are you kidding? I am going to be staying in my new chamber!
Tonight begins my vacation at the Hospital, and since I plan on spending most
of it here, I might as well get my bed broke in. I cannot tell you how thrilled I
am you have all prepared it for me so quickly."
Jacob worriedly looked to Vincent, and asked, "Will you see to it the torches are
lit for Peter within his chamber."
But before Vincent could say anything, Peter said, "Jacob, you old worry wart,
and I know you are going to bring up that one time, I caused a bit of a...ahem,
fire, but Vincent has shown me how to safely light a torch since then!"
Mary stepped up in defense of Jacob, by eagerly reiterated, "Jacob is right to be
concerned Peter…it is a little more tricky when a torch is freshly oiled."
She then proudly added, "Which we made sure all of yours were!"
Peter resignedly said, "Then I will be extra cautious."
Mary then changed the subject, by sweetly saying, "Well goodnight then Peter,
and sleep well. You know...it will be so nice having you as one with the
community this week. See you at breakfast."
Peter smiled, and said, "Thank you Mary, and goodnight everyone."
Jacob too warmly said, "Good night my friend."
With that said, the two men embraced, and then Peter, walked along with
Catherine and Vincent, to the new expansion chambers.
Being the last two remaining in the Great Hall, Jacob turned to Mary and asked,
"Are you ready to go back to the Tunnel Main yet Mary?"
To which she sadly answered, "Yes, I suppose so...I hate to go."
She then took one last look around the hall, and let go of a satisfied sigh, and
then turned to Jacob and asked, "It WAS a lovely party wasn't it Jacob?"
Jacob offered his guiding arm for Mary, and agreeably said, "Indeed it was
lovely Mary, a very lovely party. You with Rebecca's help, orchestrated it
beautifully."
With a confident nod, Mary said, "Yes, we managed to work together quite
nicely, along with the help of the rest of the girl's…now hopefully we can do as
well for the actual Wedding celebration itself! With the date moved forward, I
told Catherine I hope everything can be properly planned!"
As they began their trek back to Mary's chamber, Jacob gave Mary a
compassionate look, and insistently said, "There will be plenty of time. We will
all pitch in. Don't worry so."
Mary agreeably nodded, and said, "Oh I know…its just…just …just that…"
Unable to control her flood of tears, Mary suddenly began to cry uncontrollably,
and she then inaudibly, "ItsjustthatIwantVincenttohaveabeautfulwedding!"
Jacob halted their journey, and helplessly looked at his emotional companion.
Gently he took Mary into his comforting embrace, and said, "There, there now,
there is no need to cry."
As he tried to calm her, a saddened smile crossed his trembling lips, and he
carefully asked, "Now once more…a little more slowly, what was that you said
Mary?"
Mary grabbed her hankie from her sleeve, and as she dabbed at her eyes, she
then blew her nose, and said, "I want so much for Vincent to have a beautiful
wedding Jacob, and of course I want that for Catherine too, its just all through
the years, of watching Vincent struggle with his self worth, and wage his
personal inner battle to accept who he was, I just never could have dreamed I
would be planning a wedding for him."
Jacob smiled, and with a tear forming in his own eyes, he softly said, "Yes…it is
something none of us dared to hope for him…still here we are…preparing for
his nuptials and with a beautiful person such as Catherine."
Silently they two looked at one another, and then Jacob once more presented
his arm for Mary to grasp, and continued onward.
Meanwhile, Vincent and Catherine walked Peter home, and as Peter
successfully, lit his own torches without incident, Vincent warmly said, "I pray
you will be comfortable here."
Peter looked around his cozy chamber, and said, "I am sure I will be…I gotta
tell ya, I just love my new pad!"
Catherine laughed, before giving Peter a peck to his cheek, and then sweetly
said, "I will love having you here…it really feels more like home now."
Peter warmly smiled, and said, "Thanks kiddo. Well goodnight you two, it has
been quite a night, and before it is over I just want to say, how happy I am for
you both."
They in turn said, goodnight, and then Vincent walked Catherine to her chamber.
As they walked, Vincent turned to Catherine, and hesitated a moment before he
spoke, and finally with concern asked, "Was that true Catherine?"
Worriedly Catherine inquired, "Was what true?"
In reply Vincent asked, "This seems more like home to you now with Peter
here?"
With much regret, Catherine had not realized what she had intended to be a
welcoming and boosting sentiment for Peter, had hurt Vincent! With an awing
tone, she said, "Of course it seemed like home…"
Then introspectively, she searched her heart, wondering why perhaps she had
said it, and thought maybe there was more truth to her statement than she
realized.
Lovingly, she tried to explain, "…but having Peter here…the man who had been
the only constant all through my life, well I suppose it is natural that he does
enhance, and warm up my world a little bit more."
She then looked searchingly up at Vincent and asked, "That is not a bad thing is
it?"
With a smile in his eyes, he said, "No Catherine…it is not a bad thing..."
Vincent in turn went on to explain, why her comment had wounded him like it
had. So he then said, "I just want to be sure you have everything you need to be
happy. Please promise you will tell me if you feel restless, or if there is anything
I can do to make this really a home for you."
Smiling to herself, thinking the only thing she needed or wanted was Vincent
himself. So sweetly she said, "All I need to make this really home, is you..."
As he leaned his cheek against her soft silken hair, he then spoke in a husky
undertone as he responded, "You know you already have me."
He then lamented, "I know I should go, however I so very much want to stay,
just for a little while."
Happily, Catherine said, "Yes, please do, and we can talk all about the
celebration, and..."
Vincent was just about to enter Catherine's chamber when Laura, Jamie, and
Brooke came rushing by, giggling and talking about how cute Michael was.
The moment they saw Catherine and Vincent they straightened up, shushed
each other, and tried to look sophisticated as they walked by them.
The three girl's nodded a hello to the celebrated couple, and then Jamie said,
"Good night Vincent and Catherine, great party!"
The other two girl's chimed in that yes they had a wonderful time, to which
Vincent replied in a fatherly tone, they were pleased this was so, but then
added, "Isn't it time to turn in?"
To which Jamie excitedly said, "We know, but we are still so charged up! We
promise to stay in Laura's chamber as we talk. Oh and just so you know,
Brooke is spending the night in Laura's chamber."
Laura then nodded and signed, "We won't stay up too late."
Brooke held up her little satchel with her overnight things, and before Vincent
could ask, she shared, "And yes...Father and Mary know where I am! I told the
sentry too, so they all know I haven't been kidnapped from my chamber or
something!"
The girls all laughed, and Jamie chimed in, saying, "Yeah we didn't want them
to think Paracelsus took Brooke!"
To which Vincent replied, "Very good then. Goodnight young ladies."
Catherine smiled as she listened to this interchange, and as soon as she could get
a word in edgewise, she also said a warm goodnight.
Before they entered Laura's chamber, Brooke, quickly turned, and ran up to
Catherine, and said, "I will tell you more tomorrow, but I just want to say
thanks again for helping me. Good night Catherine."
With a warm hug, Catherine said, "I can't wait to hear more. Good night
Brooke."
Catherine and Vincent then settled in on the couch, and as she poured them
some tea, she said how lovely everything was.
With a nod, Vincent agreed saying, "Everyone who helped, and came to
celebrate, did so with so much love and happiness."
Turning a bit serious, Vincent then said, "We should discuss our living
quarters..."
Excitedly, Catherine asked, "Yes...you have an idea? Tell me what you are
thinking."
Thoughtfully, Vincent shared, "I was thinking we could refine the undeveloped
alcoves, and expand into those. If you agree, then we should start tomorrow."
Catherine in agreement, said, "I do love it here so much. And yes, tomorrow it
is."
As he leaned his head upon hers, he sighed, "Good, then we have a home."
Vincent then turned to Catherine, and said, "It truly is late Catherine. I should
go..."
Catherine, agreed and said, "I suppose..."
They then shared a long lingering embrace, as they hated to say goodnight to
each other, when Catherine finally said, "Well goodnight Vincent…"
Vincent tenderly took Catherine's hand in his, and as he looked at the
gracefulness of it, he tenderly brought it to his lips to offer a kiss of devotion
and then turned to leave.
Catherine sadly stood at her threshold, and watched him as he walked away,
and then as he would always do as he sensed her looking at him, he looked back
at her one last time, and then with a lonesome gait, he walked back to his
chamber.
The next day was a busy one, sewing circle for the tunnel ladies, and the men
gathered to work on Catherine's chamber, with the intent of turning her
chamber into one for Catherine and Vincent, a home they would share together
anew.
So it was quite exciting, not only for Catherine and Vincent but for everyone, to
start this project.
Vincent took a discreet moment, to ask his Father's approval to add a little
kitchen in the plans for Catherine. He explained to his Father, she voiced her
desire to cook personally for him on a rare occasion.
Jacob thought about the idea seriously before he answered, and ultimately
consented… with the stipulation this kitchen would not create a wedge between
them and the rest of the community.
He then went on to preach, the foundation of the tunnels is togetherness, and
unity! And he would still expect them to share their meals with them.
Vincent nodded in agreement that yes they would not be changing tradition, but
rather it would simply enable Catherine to do something she enjoyed so very
much.
Consenting, Jacob smiled and said, "Well now, let's take a look at those plans."
They then took out the maps, and together they re-scored the layout of their
chamber, with a small kitchenette, now included for Catherine."
To be continued
Chapter Nineteen
