all the burnt down column candles around the Great Hall, with fresh tall ones.
Mary was thankfully ecstatic, and informed them along with Peter, that
everything was running along quite smoothly...just like clockwork.
She then anxiously said, "Excuse me won't you? I was just telling Peter it is
time to cut the cake!"
And so Mary ventured over to single out the wedding couple from the exclusive
Well's family circle, and urgently informed them of what was next on their
agenda, which was Cut the Cake!
Meanwhile, Samantha, Eric, Zach and Kipper, were hovering nearby so they
didn't miss anything, and overheard Mary!
Excitedly they looked at each other, before a curious Samantha anxiously
inquired, "So is it REALLY time to cut the cake?"
Sweetly Catherine smiled, confirming, "Apparently so."
Samantha then eagerly, asked, "Are you gonna smoosh cake all over Vincent's
face Catherine?"
To which Kipper added, "Yeah are you? That would be neat, just like Olivia did
to Kanin!"
Raising a brow, Vincent asked his young male comrade, "You are hoping I
suffer the same fate as did Kanin?"
Gleefully, Kipper answered, "Sure! Everyone would love to see a good food
fight, and normally we're not allowed to do anything with food, except eat it!"
Eric joined in, saying, "And besides Vincent, your Wedding Day is the one time
you can get Catherine good, and she won't get mad at ya."
Searchingly, Vincent looked at Catherine, and scratched his chin as if
contemplating this whole food fight thing!
Catherine laughed as she looked back at her husband, and with caution, asked,
"What are you thinking?"
Thoughtfully, he replied, "Just wondering Dear Catherine, just wondering..."
Amusedly, Rebecca told Vincent, "Well, I just want to remind you, that after
Kanin retaliated...Olivia DID get mad!"
Nodding, Mary inserted with dismay, "Yes she did! What a display they
exhibited!"
Jacob began to laugh, and said, "Indeed! She became so angry at her poor
bewildered groom for getting cake all over her face! Kanin quickly found out,
what was good for the goose, was not ALWAYS good for the gander!"
Pascal added, "Yeah, and it took us an hour to find Olivia after she ran off."
Vincent tipped his head, saying, "Hmm, Me thinks I would be wise to take heed
from Kanin's experience."
Smiling, Catherine surmised, "Me thinks we both would be wise Vincent."
To which the children all disappointedly chimed in at the same time, how
disappointed they would be, if Vincent and Catherine, didn't do something fun!
Catherine was beginning to think twice about the more refined behavior choice,
since it was not to the children's liking. Maybe they should opt for the
smooshing method!
Catherine then playfully suggested, "Well, what do you think Vincent, should
we make a pact? Are we going to agree to mutually SMOOSH, to use
Samantha's terminology, or...agree not to smoosh?"
In a heavy Shakespearean accent, Vincent replied, "Ah, to smoosh or not to
smoosh, that is the question!"
A question that caused Eric to hopefully shout, "Agree to smoosh, agree to
smoosh!"
Looking slyly at one another, Catherine winked at Vincent, seeming to signify
they had arrived at an agreement. Vincent then gallantly held out his arm to
escort Catherine to the cake table.
Arriving to the section of the Great Hall where the Wedding Cake was set up,
Mary positioned Catherine and Vincent in front of the beautifully decorated
cake.
By now quite a crowd gathered, and needless to say, all of the children pushed
their way forward, so they could have front row seats to see what was gonna
happen.
Catherine smiled up at her husband as he placed his strong hand over her
delicate, to poise the knife atop the cake. Together they sliced all the way down,
through the confectionery floral petals and into the rich buttery cake. Hesitating
for just a moment as they held a piece up to each other's mouth.
It was a delightful moment as Vincent politely fed Catherine hers, but
mistakenly, she simultaneously, smooshed Vincent's cake into his mouth!
Suddenly it was evident, there was a problem with their pact! Clearly...they
misunderstood what the other had agreed to!
A shocked look came over Vincent's face as he said, "Was I mistaken? I
thought we agreed NOT to smoosh!"
To which she apologetically exclaimed, "And I thought we agreed TO smoosh.
As not to disappoint the children!"
And disappoint the children...they did not! They were thoroughly entertained
and delighted by this chain of events, and began laughing. They loved seeing
Vincent with cake all over his face, and the other guests all roared with laughter
as well!
Catherine felt so terrible when Mouse and Pascal began teasing Vincent his
woman got the best of him!
Wanting to help him earn back his dignity in front of his friends, Catherine made
quite a show of it, as she apologized and lovingly took care of her dear sweet
husband. She took a napkin, and gently wiped the frosting firstly, off of his
dimpled chin, begging for his forgiveness by saying "I really am sorry Vincent...I
honestly thought we were gonna smoosh! Please say you forgive me?"
Vincent knew she meant well, and would do anything to please the children, so
to ease her mind, he answered, "Catherine, there is nothing to forgive...after all,
it is only a little sugar and flower AND very tasty."
As Catherine continued to wipe off more of the icing, she privately whispered in
his ear, "You are too kind to forgive me...I really am sorry."
With a softening to his voice, he replied, "Dear Catherine, you are sweet to
worry so."
In an attempt to assure everyone, he was not unhappy with his rowdy bride,
Vincent pulled a remaining chunk of dangling cake from his cheek, and popped
into his mouth, saying, "Hmmm, does my wife know how to serve dessert or
what?"
Again, everyone laughed, relieved for the happy ending to the cake feeding
event, and eager to taste some cake too. So, at that, William stepped in to cut
the cake for the guests.
On Mary's direction, the minstrels began playing again, and a cleaned-up
Vincent, asked Catherine if she would like to dance.
Looking up into his eyes, she suggested, "Would you mind if we sat down to
catch our breath for a moment?"
Elegantly Vincent agreed, and then escorted Catherine to a lovely little corner of
the hall, where there was an ornate stone bench to rest on.
As they sat down, Catherine hugged Vincent's arm, and rested her head on his
shoulder. After letting go of a contented sigh, she whispered, "Now this is
Heaven!"
Upon hearing Sebastian nearby entertaining the children, she noted, "The
children sure love Sebastian don't they."
"They do, and he loves them." Vincent then thoughtfully added, "He once told
me there is magic in the smile of a child."
With an amused grin, Catherine replied, "That's ironic, since it's the magic he
performs, that puts the smiles there."
Vincent softly laughed at Catherine's insight, and said, "Yes...that is true."
Delightfully, Catherine remarked, "This is kinda fun watching everyone else for
a change uh?"
Looking about the Hall, Vincent had to agree, and said, "You are right...this is a
nice change."
With a smile Catherine then added, "The ladies and the younger girls all look so
pretty in the dresses Jenny gave them!"
To which Vincent replied, "I don't believe an event here has ever been so
colorful!"
He then perked up a little as he relayed, "Look Catherine, Lisa is dancing with
Devin! Hmm, what a pairing up they make! This could be an interesting
development."
Catherine sat upright so she could see them too. Elatedly she agreed, "Oh yes!
A very interesting development! They look like they are having a very nice time
together, and have a lot to talk about."
Vincent surmised they were more than likely catching up, as they had not seen
one another in many, many years.
Next Catherine turned Vincent's attention to Jennifer and Ronald, who were also
dancing, looking so much in love.
Vincent thought they did too, and revealed he didn't think it would be long until
Ronald would be ready to officially pop the question. Regretfully adding, "Of
course it would most likely mean his departure from the tunnels as well."
Thinking how difficult that will be on Vincent, Catherine sadly nodded, realizing
it would most likely be so, but offered, "They are our good friends...I am sure
they will visit us a lot Vincent."
After admitting he thought they would visit often too, Vincent then amusedly
pointed out Jamie was dancing with Michael, and Mouse was watching them
very closely from the sidelines!
Curiously Catherine asked, "Where?" Then once she saw Mouse on tiptoes,
craning his neck to see Jamie with her dancing partner, she proclaimed, "Oh I
can see Mouse now!
He does look a little worried doesn't he?"
"A bit." Replied Vincent.
Just then, they saw Brooke approach Mouse, to give him a piece of cake.
Catherine and Vincent agreed Brooke didn't look too pleased either!
They could see the two conversing while Mouse ate his dessert, when suddenly,
he set down his plate, and before they knew it, Mouse and Brooke took to the
dance floor.
They swirled all about, right past Jamie and Michael!
Catherine couldn't help but ask, "Vincent, do you think Mouse and Brooke are
trying to get Jamie and Michael to notice them?"
Tipping his head, he answered, "Without a doubt dear Catherine."
They then decided the ploy was successful, because as the mistrals changed
songs, so did the dancing partners. Mouse was now dancing with Jamie, and
Brooke with Michael! Sweet!
Catherine couldn't help but mention how cute the younger children looked as
they danced with each other! She thought it seemed as if Samantha and Kipper
in particular, were trying to host a sophisticated air, in an attempt to mimic the
adults who were dancing in their midst.
She then added as she newly noticed Laura seemed to be teaching Zach how to
dance.
Turning to Vincent she said in utter appreciation, of how all the children seem
to really look out for one another here.
Vincent assured Catherine it was true, adding, "I believe it has always been that
way. After all, we are a family."
Thoughtfully Catherine listened to Vincent, loving the fact she was now a part
of this tunnel family too.
Vincent next pointed out that Dr. Wong, Lin and Henry seemed to be enjoying
themselves as they stood on the other side of the hall talking to William.
Catherine jokingly guessed they were maybe swapping recipes!
To be continued
Chapter Forty-Seven
Mary was thankfully ecstatic, and informed them along with Peter, that
everything was running along quite smoothly...just like clockwork.
She then anxiously said, "Excuse me won't you? I was just telling Peter it is
time to cut the cake!"
And so Mary ventured over to single out the wedding couple from the exclusive
Well's family circle, and urgently informed them of what was next on their
agenda, which was Cut the Cake!
Meanwhile, Samantha, Eric, Zach and Kipper, were hovering nearby so they
didn't miss anything, and overheard Mary!
Excitedly they looked at each other, before a curious Samantha anxiously
inquired, "So is it REALLY time to cut the cake?"
Sweetly Catherine smiled, confirming, "Apparently so."
Samantha then eagerly, asked, "Are you gonna smoosh cake all over Vincent's
face Catherine?"
To which Kipper added, "Yeah are you? That would be neat, just like Olivia did
to Kanin!"
Raising a brow, Vincent asked his young male comrade, "You are hoping I
suffer the same fate as did Kanin?"
Gleefully, Kipper answered, "Sure! Everyone would love to see a good food
fight, and normally we're not allowed to do anything with food, except eat it!"
Eric joined in, saying, "And besides Vincent, your Wedding Day is the one time
you can get Catherine good, and she won't get mad at ya."
Searchingly, Vincent looked at Catherine, and scratched his chin as if
contemplating this whole food fight thing!
Catherine laughed as she looked back at her husband, and with caution, asked,
"What are you thinking?"
Thoughtfully, he replied, "Just wondering Dear Catherine, just wondering..."
Amusedly, Rebecca told Vincent, "Well, I just want to remind you, that after
Kanin retaliated...Olivia DID get mad!"
Nodding, Mary inserted with dismay, "Yes she did! What a display they
exhibited!"
Jacob began to laugh, and said, "Indeed! She became so angry at her poor
bewildered groom for getting cake all over her face! Kanin quickly found out,
what was good for the goose, was not ALWAYS good for the gander!"
Pascal added, "Yeah, and it took us an hour to find Olivia after she ran off."
Vincent tipped his head, saying, "Hmm, Me thinks I would be wise to take heed
from Kanin's experience."
Smiling, Catherine surmised, "Me thinks we both would be wise Vincent."
To which the children all disappointedly chimed in at the same time, how
disappointed they would be, if Vincent and Catherine, didn't do something fun!
Catherine was beginning to think twice about the more refined behavior choice,
since it was not to the children's liking. Maybe they should opt for the
smooshing method!
Catherine then playfully suggested, "Well, what do you think Vincent, should
we make a pact? Are we going to agree to mutually SMOOSH, to use
Samantha's terminology, or...agree not to smoosh?"
In a heavy Shakespearean accent, Vincent replied, "Ah, to smoosh or not to
smoosh, that is the question!"
A question that caused Eric to hopefully shout, "Agree to smoosh, agree to
smoosh!"
Looking slyly at one another, Catherine winked at Vincent, seeming to signify
they had arrived at an agreement. Vincent then gallantly held out his arm to
escort Catherine to the cake table.
Arriving to the section of the Great Hall where the Wedding Cake was set up,
Mary positioned Catherine and Vincent in front of the beautifully decorated
cake.
By now quite a crowd gathered, and needless to say, all of the children pushed
their way forward, so they could have front row seats to see what was gonna
happen.
Catherine smiled up at her husband as he placed his strong hand over her
delicate, to poise the knife atop the cake. Together they sliced all the way down,
through the confectionery floral petals and into the rich buttery cake. Hesitating
for just a moment as they held a piece up to each other's mouth.
It was a delightful moment as Vincent politely fed Catherine hers, but
mistakenly, she simultaneously, smooshed Vincent's cake into his mouth!
Suddenly it was evident, there was a problem with their pact! Clearly...they
misunderstood what the other had agreed to!
A shocked look came over Vincent's face as he said, "Was I mistaken? I
thought we agreed NOT to smoosh!"
To which she apologetically exclaimed, "And I thought we agreed TO smoosh.
As not to disappoint the children!"
And disappoint the children...they did not! They were thoroughly entertained
and delighted by this chain of events, and began laughing. They loved seeing
Vincent with cake all over his face, and the other guests all roared with laughter
as well!
Catherine felt so terrible when Mouse and Pascal began teasing Vincent his
woman got the best of him!
Wanting to help him earn back his dignity in front of his friends, Catherine made
quite a show of it, as she apologized and lovingly took care of her dear sweet
husband. She took a napkin, and gently wiped the frosting firstly, off of his
dimpled chin, begging for his forgiveness by saying "I really am sorry Vincent...I
honestly thought we were gonna smoosh! Please say you forgive me?"
Vincent knew she meant well, and would do anything to please the children, so
to ease her mind, he answered, "Catherine, there is nothing to forgive...after all,
it is only a little sugar and flower AND very tasty."
As Catherine continued to wipe off more of the icing, she privately whispered in
his ear, "You are too kind to forgive me...I really am sorry."
With a softening to his voice, he replied, "Dear Catherine, you are sweet to
worry so."
In an attempt to assure everyone, he was not unhappy with his rowdy bride,
Vincent pulled a remaining chunk of dangling cake from his cheek, and popped
into his mouth, saying, "Hmmm, does my wife know how to serve dessert or
what?"
Again, everyone laughed, relieved for the happy ending to the cake feeding
event, and eager to taste some cake too. So, at that, William stepped in to cut
the cake for the guests.
On Mary's direction, the minstrels began playing again, and a cleaned-up
Vincent, asked Catherine if she would like to dance.
Looking up into his eyes, she suggested, "Would you mind if we sat down to
catch our breath for a moment?"
Elegantly Vincent agreed, and then escorted Catherine to a lovely little corner of
the hall, where there was an ornate stone bench to rest on.
As they sat down, Catherine hugged Vincent's arm, and rested her head on his
shoulder. After letting go of a contented sigh, she whispered, "Now this is
Heaven!"
Upon hearing Sebastian nearby entertaining the children, she noted, "The
children sure love Sebastian don't they."
"They do, and he loves them." Vincent then thoughtfully added, "He once told
me there is magic in the smile of a child."
With an amused grin, Catherine replied, "That's ironic, since it's the magic he
performs, that puts the smiles there."
Vincent softly laughed at Catherine's insight, and said, "Yes...that is true."
Delightfully, Catherine remarked, "This is kinda fun watching everyone else for
a change uh?"
Looking about the Hall, Vincent had to agree, and said, "You are right...this is a
nice change."
With a smile Catherine then added, "The ladies and the younger girls all look so
pretty in the dresses Jenny gave them!"
To which Vincent replied, "I don't believe an event here has ever been so
colorful!"
He then perked up a little as he relayed, "Look Catherine, Lisa is dancing with
Devin! Hmm, what a pairing up they make! This could be an interesting
development."
Catherine sat upright so she could see them too. Elatedly she agreed, "Oh yes!
A very interesting development! They look like they are having a very nice time
together, and have a lot to talk about."
Vincent surmised they were more than likely catching up, as they had not seen
one another in many, many years.
Next Catherine turned Vincent's attention to Jennifer and Ronald, who were also
dancing, looking so much in love.
Vincent thought they did too, and revealed he didn't think it would be long until
Ronald would be ready to officially pop the question. Regretfully adding, "Of
course it would most likely mean his departure from the tunnels as well."
Thinking how difficult that will be on Vincent, Catherine sadly nodded, realizing
it would most likely be so, but offered, "They are our good friends...I am sure
they will visit us a lot Vincent."
After admitting he thought they would visit often too, Vincent then amusedly
pointed out Jamie was dancing with Michael, and Mouse was watching them
very closely from the sidelines!
Curiously Catherine asked, "Where?" Then once she saw Mouse on tiptoes,
craning his neck to see Jamie with her dancing partner, she proclaimed, "Oh I
can see Mouse now!
He does look a little worried doesn't he?"
"A bit." Replied Vincent.
Just then, they saw Brooke approach Mouse, to give him a piece of cake.
Catherine and Vincent agreed Brooke didn't look too pleased either!
They could see the two conversing while Mouse ate his dessert, when suddenly,
he set down his plate, and before they knew it, Mouse and Brooke took to the
dance floor.
They swirled all about, right past Jamie and Michael!
Catherine couldn't help but ask, "Vincent, do you think Mouse and Brooke are
trying to get Jamie and Michael to notice them?"
Tipping his head, he answered, "Without a doubt dear Catherine."
They then decided the ploy was successful, because as the mistrals changed
songs, so did the dancing partners. Mouse was now dancing with Jamie, and
Brooke with Michael! Sweet!
Catherine couldn't help but mention how cute the younger children looked as
they danced with each other! She thought it seemed as if Samantha and Kipper
in particular, were trying to host a sophisticated air, in an attempt to mimic the
adults who were dancing in their midst.
She then added as she newly noticed Laura seemed to be teaching Zach how to
dance.
Turning to Vincent she said in utter appreciation, of how all the children seem
to really look out for one another here.
Vincent assured Catherine it was true, adding, "I believe it has always been that
way. After all, we are a family."
Thoughtfully Catherine listened to Vincent, loving the fact she was now a part
of this tunnel family too.
Vincent next pointed out that Dr. Wong, Lin and Henry seemed to be enjoying
themselves as they stood on the other side of the hall talking to William.
Catherine jokingly guessed they were maybe swapping recipes!
To be continued
Chapter Forty-Seven
| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Forty-Six Wedding Index Page |
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