As Catherine returned to the safely nestled tunnels, far below the subways,
Vincent was there to greet her.
Happily she smiled at him, and said, "Jennifer doesn't have any plans tonight, so
she will expect us at 8:00."
Vincent elegantly nodded, "Very well Catherine."
Catherine then gracefully accepted Vincent's escorting arm, and excitedly said,
"I am so eager to tell Jen our news. In fact, if she and I would have had more
time to talk this afternoon... I'm afraid I would've told her."
Vincent warmed by Catherine's excitement, looked downward with a private
beholden smile, and said, "I did wonder if you might."
With a hint of a chuckle to her voice, Catherine assuredly said, "No Vincent, I
didn't, but Jen knows me so well, I am surprised she had not guessed. I am so
happy, I am sure everyone must see it."
Vincent then stopped, to look at her and said, "I see it Catherine, as your
happiness mirrors mine."
Looking up into his sparkling blue eyes, Catherine dreamily said, "I can't wait to
be married to you Vincent...to take care of you, and stay at your side through
out the night. Sometimes I imagine what our day to day life will be like."
Vincent brought Catherine to him, and embraced her tenderly in his arms, and
as he expelled a desirous breath, he said, "I know what I want our days to be
like Catherine."
Softly she asked, "Like what Vincent?"
He looked at her, and professed, "I want to fill your days with a loving
protectiveness, and fill your nights with the warmth, that only truly belonging to
someone can bring."
She smiled up at him, and with tears misted in her eyes, she said, "I want to do
those things for you too..."
He then kissed her hair, and they stood together for a time, harboring the feeling
of completely belonging to one another.
Catherine reluctantly noted the time, said, "It's time for Mary's sewing circle."
Sweetly Catherine asked, "Will you walk with me to the sewing chamber?"
Vincent replied he would, and afterward, he would be returning to Peter's
chamber where all the crews would be working.
He then informed her, "Mouse believes with a little extra effort, we should be
able to complete the remaining tasks today."
Catherine asked, "Hmm, what's the rush Vincent?"
Thoughtfully, Vincent told her, "Father relayed to Mouse, that Peter is on
sabbatical next week, and...apparently...Peter had hinted to Father, if his
chamber were finished, he would spend part of his respite here below. So we
are hoping to have it all ready before he arrives, for Mary's Reading
Appreciation class tomorrow night."
Catherine smiled, and asked, "Oh, as a surprise for him?"
Softly Vincent answered, "Yes..."
She then inquired, "Is there anything I could do to help?"
Vincent tipped his head and suggested, "Ask Mary. She has already offered to
put the finishing touches on his chamber for him, perhaps she could use some
help."
As they stepped up to the Sewing Chamber's threshold, Catherine replied, "All
right then, I will check with Mary..."
Vincent then sweetly kissed his Catherine on the forehead, and said he would
see her later.
With a slight nod, she then lovingly watched him, as he walked away from her.
She stood thinking of how she loved the stride he owned, powerful, and so very
cordially precise. Just watching him, made her smile, and just as he was about
to turn the corner,
Vincent unexpectedly stopped, and turned around to look back at her.
As he tipped his head, a smile came to his eyes, before he continued on his way.
With a soft laugh, Catherine smiled back at him, loving the fact he turned
around one last time.
As Catherine took in a deep breath, to steady her heart, she then entered the
Sewing chamber.
Gleefully Mary said, "Ah Catherine has arrived! Wonderful, Father has saved
you a seat next to him."
Catherine went over to her reserved spot, and smiled thankfully at Jacob, who
warmly smiled back at her.
Mary then said, "Everyone...everybody listen up! I have to share something
amusing with you."
Vehemently she told them, "I overheard a few of the men, namely Pascal and
Ronald, cracking wise, anticipating the tool belts will be made with a floral
material!"
Mary then deviously smiled as she revealed, "Allow me to let you in on a secret.
I will be sewing two tool belts out of this lovely Daisy material. The rest of you
will sew the official tool belts, using this heavy cotton material, in this more
masculine shade of blue. However, my tool belts will be presented first...so..."
Jacob then laughingly inserted, "Oh, so they will think that all the belts will
follow suit, and will have floral patterns as well?"
Clapping her hands together, she gaily said, "Yes exactly Father! That will teach
them to speculate about my common sense in regard to good taste!"
Jacob then laughed, and said, "Splendid Mary...Splendid!"
As Mary distributed, the pre-cut material, she received affirmations that her idea
was great, and of how they could not wait to see the men's reaction when she
presents her
tool belt to them!
As Mary came up to Catherine and Jacob to give them their allotted supplies, it
gave Catherine a chance to ask Mary, about helping out in Peter's chamber.
Mary thankfully replied, "Oh yes Catherine, if you would meet me there
tomorrow, after the children's reading class, that should give us enough time to
spiffy up the place! It just so happens, I was with Peter when he had picked out
his choice of furniture from the restoration chamber. We grouped it all together
and put it to the side. So I plan on having some of the workers help carry the
furniture to his chamber, and what we can do then, is to arrange the pieces, and
just give Peter's chamber the womanly touch, to cozy it up a bit."
Catherine then excitedly said, "I will come as soon as I can."
Jacob observing Catherine's excitement, noted, "I take it you are happy about
Peter's eventual move here Catherine?"
Catherine thoughtfully said, "Yes, very much Father..."
In a motherly tone, Mary said, "I imagine Peter must be like a second Father to
you..."
Solemnly Catherine shared, "Yes...I have known him all of my life, and after
my Dad died, well he naturally stepped up, wanting to be there for me."
Jacob wondering if his future Daughter-in-law, may ever look upon him so
fondly, subtly nodded, and feeling slightly deficient, as a mentor in Catherine's
life, said, "Of course."
Catherine noticed a look cross Jacob's face, and felt bad she may have slighted
him, and so after watching him make several attempts to thread his needle, she
gingerly took the needle and thread from Jacob's hands, and asked, "May I
Father..."
With a shaky smile, he said, "Thank you Catherine, the old eyes are not
functioning very well today."
Catherine waited for Mary to walk on before she said, "You know Father...I
feel like a very lucky girl, I have Peter to look to..."
As she handed him back his threaded needle, She then added, "...and now, I
also have you."
Happily Jacob, said, "I am pleased you may look upon me in that way
Catherine, after all, it will not be but a few months, and I shall officially be your
Father-in-law!"
Jacob chuckled slightly and then added, "I dare say, such an official standing,
just may knock Peter out of his reigning sector!"
In agreement, Catherine said, "Yes that just might do it Father."
Catherine then softly laughed, and with a warmness in her eyes, she smiled as
she watched Jacob's seasoned hands, sew together his tool belt's pattern panels,
squinting as he attempted to precisely sew his stitches, unknowingly, endearing
himself even more so to Catherine.
By the time everyone had finished their aprons, it was late afternoon. Everyone
proudly compared their craftsmanship to each others, when Mary broke in, and
asked, "Are we ready for our field trip to the expansion tunnels, where we can
present the tool belts to the workers?"
Everyone excitedly answered they were, and could not wait to see the look on
their faces as Mary first presents hers!
And so Mary's Menacing Mob of Mending Maidens (except for Jacob of
course), talked and laughed as they made their way through the tunnels.
As they entered Peter's chamber, Jacob stood out front, and said, "Impressive
indeed! Quite a lot of progress has been made!"
Mary added, "Oh my yes! You have all been working very hard!"
She then cleared her throat, and said, "As all of you workmen are aware, the
sewing class today was committed to making tool belts so we can now provide
each man with his own."
Mary then unfolded the two floral tool belts, and held them up for all to see, and
said, "Let's see, Ronald, this one can be yours...and Pascal this one is yours."
See Aprons
As she presented the Daisy patterned tool belts to them, they both stood wide
eyed, and speechless!
The other men too, looked stunned, thinking Pascal was right, when he jokingly
said Mary would be using a floral material for the tool belts!
After looking around at his fellow workers, Pascal firstly collected himself to
finally say, "To use Father's often used phrase...there are no words..."
And then Ronald said, "Mary, thank you for the, err the cheerful looking tool
belt!"
Mary replied, "Oh you don't have to thank me! The look on both of your faces
is thanks enough!"
Just then the sewing brigade started laughing, and Mary, at that point, kindly
handed the two rascals their real tool belts, and said, "I could not resist, I heard
you two talking earlier, and I thought it would be fun to tease you boys."
Feeling bad they were overheard, Ronald apologetically smiled, and said, "I am
sorry you heard us Mary."
To which Pascal too smiled, and then humbly added, "I suppose we deserved
this."
Ultimately the two guilty parties, started laughing, telling Mary they hadn't
realized she was a practical joker.
Thinking of days gone by, Mary dreamily replied, "Ah, in my day...well, in my
day I could be a bit of a prankster."
Mouse then stepped up, and as he held up one of the floral tool belts, he said, "I
like flowers Mary. If it's OK, I will take this one."
Over to See Mouse
Mary compliantly said, "Sure Mouse, which ever one you choose is just fine
with me."
Vincent leaning on Ronald's shoulder whispered to his friend, "It takes a secure
man to wear a Floral Tool belt."
Ronald nodded, and said, "It take guts all right, and as I recall, someone else
had the cohones to wear a floral sling!"
Raising a brow, Vincent enforced, "As I say, it takes a secure man..."
As everyone recovered from having a good laugh, each man was presented with
a tool belt. And Vincent was proud of the tool belt Catherine had made
especially for him.
Gratefully, he said, "Thank you...I love you monogrammed it for me."
Proudly Catherine said, "Turn around and try it on for size."
Over to See Vincent
Vincent obediently turned, and raised his arms up out of the way, while
Catherine tied the bow for him. As she then spun him around, to look at how he
looked with it on, she said, "Oh it is perfect Vincent, you look so cute."
Tipping his head, he teasingly said, "Good, as cute was the look I was so
arduously striving for."
Everyone then visited for a while, mingling with the workers, and spoke about
the work that had been done there.
Jacob was especially pleased with the stained glass window, and praised Vincent
on his workmanship.
The dinner announcement came through the master pipes, and Jamie who was
standing with Catherine and Vincent teasingly said, "Let's see...Catherine is right
here with us, so...that must have been an authentic Dinner announcement!"
Catherine shook her head, knowing it may be a while to live her faux-pas down,
and laughed as she said, "Very funny Jamie!"
To be continued
Chapter Five
Vincent was there to greet her.
Happily she smiled at him, and said, "Jennifer doesn't have any plans tonight, so
she will expect us at 8:00."
Vincent elegantly nodded, "Very well Catherine."
Catherine then gracefully accepted Vincent's escorting arm, and excitedly said,
"I am so eager to tell Jen our news. In fact, if she and I would have had more
time to talk this afternoon... I'm afraid I would've told her."
Vincent warmed by Catherine's excitement, looked downward with a private
beholden smile, and said, "I did wonder if you might."
With a hint of a chuckle to her voice, Catherine assuredly said, "No Vincent, I
didn't, but Jen knows me so well, I am surprised she had not guessed. I am so
happy, I am sure everyone must see it."
Vincent then stopped, to look at her and said, "I see it Catherine, as your
happiness mirrors mine."
Looking up into his sparkling blue eyes, Catherine dreamily said, "I can't wait to
be married to you Vincent...to take care of you, and stay at your side through
out the night. Sometimes I imagine what our day to day life will be like."
Vincent brought Catherine to him, and embraced her tenderly in his arms, and
as he expelled a desirous breath, he said, "I know what I want our days to be
like Catherine."
Softly she asked, "Like what Vincent?"
He looked at her, and professed, "I want to fill your days with a loving
protectiveness, and fill your nights with the warmth, that only truly belonging to
someone can bring."
She smiled up at him, and with tears misted in her eyes, she said, "I want to do
those things for you too..."
He then kissed her hair, and they stood together for a time, harboring the feeling
of completely belonging to one another.
Catherine reluctantly noted the time, said, "It's time for Mary's sewing circle."
Sweetly Catherine asked, "Will you walk with me to the sewing chamber?"
Vincent replied he would, and afterward, he would be returning to Peter's
chamber where all the crews would be working.
He then informed her, "Mouse believes with a little extra effort, we should be
able to complete the remaining tasks today."
Catherine asked, "Hmm, what's the rush Vincent?"
Thoughtfully, Vincent told her, "Father relayed to Mouse, that Peter is on
sabbatical next week, and...apparently...Peter had hinted to Father, if his
chamber were finished, he would spend part of his respite here below. So we
are hoping to have it all ready before he arrives, for Mary's Reading
Appreciation class tomorrow night."
Catherine smiled, and asked, "Oh, as a surprise for him?"
Softly Vincent answered, "Yes..."
She then inquired, "Is there anything I could do to help?"
Vincent tipped his head and suggested, "Ask Mary. She has already offered to
put the finishing touches on his chamber for him, perhaps she could use some
help."
As they stepped up to the Sewing Chamber's threshold, Catherine replied, "All
right then, I will check with Mary..."
Vincent then sweetly kissed his Catherine on the forehead, and said he would
see her later.
With a slight nod, she then lovingly watched him, as he walked away from her.
She stood thinking of how she loved the stride he owned, powerful, and so very
cordially precise. Just watching him, made her smile, and just as he was about
to turn the corner,
Vincent unexpectedly stopped, and turned around to look back at her.
As he tipped his head, a smile came to his eyes, before he continued on his way.
With a soft laugh, Catherine smiled back at him, loving the fact he turned
around one last time.
As Catherine took in a deep breath, to steady her heart, she then entered the
Sewing chamber.
Gleefully Mary said, "Ah Catherine has arrived! Wonderful, Father has saved
you a seat next to him."
Catherine went over to her reserved spot, and smiled thankfully at Jacob, who
warmly smiled back at her.
Mary then said, "Everyone...everybody listen up! I have to share something
amusing with you."
Vehemently she told them, "I overheard a few of the men, namely Pascal and
Ronald, cracking wise, anticipating the tool belts will be made with a floral
material!"
Mary then deviously smiled as she revealed, "Allow me to let you in on a secret.
I will be sewing two tool belts out of this lovely Daisy material. The rest of you
will sew the official tool belts, using this heavy cotton material, in this more
masculine shade of blue. However, my tool belts will be presented first...so..."
Jacob then laughingly inserted, "Oh, so they will think that all the belts will
follow suit, and will have floral patterns as well?"
Clapping her hands together, she gaily said, "Yes exactly Father! That will teach
them to speculate about my common sense in regard to good taste!"
Jacob then laughed, and said, "Splendid Mary...Splendid!"
As Mary distributed, the pre-cut material, she received affirmations that her idea
was great, and of how they could not wait to see the men's reaction when she
presents her
tool belt to them!
As Mary came up to Catherine and Jacob to give them their allotted supplies, it
gave Catherine a chance to ask Mary, about helping out in Peter's chamber.
Mary thankfully replied, "Oh yes Catherine, if you would meet me there
tomorrow, after the children's reading class, that should give us enough time to
spiffy up the place! It just so happens, I was with Peter when he had picked out
his choice of furniture from the restoration chamber. We grouped it all together
and put it to the side. So I plan on having some of the workers help carry the
furniture to his chamber, and what we can do then, is to arrange the pieces, and
just give Peter's chamber the womanly touch, to cozy it up a bit."
Catherine then excitedly said, "I will come as soon as I can."
Jacob observing Catherine's excitement, noted, "I take it you are happy about
Peter's eventual move here Catherine?"
Catherine thoughtfully said, "Yes, very much Father..."
In a motherly tone, Mary said, "I imagine Peter must be like a second Father to
you..."
Solemnly Catherine shared, "Yes...I have known him all of my life, and after
my Dad died, well he naturally stepped up, wanting to be there for me."
Jacob wondering if his future Daughter-in-law, may ever look upon him so
fondly, subtly nodded, and feeling slightly deficient, as a mentor in Catherine's
life, said, "Of course."
Catherine noticed a look cross Jacob's face, and felt bad she may have slighted
him, and so after watching him make several attempts to thread his needle, she
gingerly took the needle and thread from Jacob's hands, and asked, "May I
Father..."
With a shaky smile, he said, "Thank you Catherine, the old eyes are not
functioning very well today."
Catherine waited for Mary to walk on before she said, "You know Father...I
feel like a very lucky girl, I have Peter to look to..."
As she handed him back his threaded needle, She then added, "...and now, I
also have you."
Happily Jacob, said, "I am pleased you may look upon me in that way
Catherine, after all, it will not be but a few months, and I shall officially be your
Father-in-law!"
Jacob chuckled slightly and then added, "I dare say, such an official standing,
just may knock Peter out of his reigning sector!"
In agreement, Catherine said, "Yes that just might do it Father."
Catherine then softly laughed, and with a warmness in her eyes, she smiled as
she watched Jacob's seasoned hands, sew together his tool belt's pattern panels,
squinting as he attempted to precisely sew his stitches, unknowingly, endearing
himself even more so to Catherine.
By the time everyone had finished their aprons, it was late afternoon. Everyone
proudly compared their craftsmanship to each others, when Mary broke in, and
asked, "Are we ready for our field trip to the expansion tunnels, where we can
present the tool belts to the workers?"
Everyone excitedly answered they were, and could not wait to see the look on
their faces as Mary first presents hers!
And so Mary's Menacing Mob of Mending Maidens (except for Jacob of
course), talked and laughed as they made their way through the tunnels.
As they entered Peter's chamber, Jacob stood out front, and said, "Impressive
indeed! Quite a lot of progress has been made!"
Mary added, "Oh my yes! You have all been working very hard!"
She then cleared her throat, and said, "As all of you workmen are aware, the
sewing class today was committed to making tool belts so we can now provide
each man with his own."
Mary then unfolded the two floral tool belts, and held them up for all to see, and
said, "Let's see, Ronald, this one can be yours...and Pascal this one is yours."
See Aprons
As she presented the Daisy patterned tool belts to them, they both stood wide
eyed, and speechless!
The other men too, looked stunned, thinking Pascal was right, when he jokingly
said Mary would be using a floral material for the tool belts!
After looking around at his fellow workers, Pascal firstly collected himself to
finally say, "To use Father's often used phrase...there are no words..."
And then Ronald said, "Mary, thank you for the, err the cheerful looking tool
belt!"
Mary replied, "Oh you don't have to thank me! The look on both of your faces
is thanks enough!"
Just then the sewing brigade started laughing, and Mary, at that point, kindly
handed the two rascals their real tool belts, and said, "I could not resist, I heard
you two talking earlier, and I thought it would be fun to tease you boys."
Feeling bad they were overheard, Ronald apologetically smiled, and said, "I am
sorry you heard us Mary."
To which Pascal too smiled, and then humbly added, "I suppose we deserved
this."
Ultimately the two guilty parties, started laughing, telling Mary they hadn't
realized she was a practical joker.
Thinking of days gone by, Mary dreamily replied, "Ah, in my day...well, in my
day I could be a bit of a prankster."
Mouse then stepped up, and as he held up one of the floral tool belts, he said, "I
like flowers Mary. If it's OK, I will take this one."
Over to See Mouse
Mary compliantly said, "Sure Mouse, which ever one you choose is just fine
with me."
Vincent leaning on Ronald's shoulder whispered to his friend, "It takes a secure
man to wear a Floral Tool belt."
Ronald nodded, and said, "It take guts all right, and as I recall, someone else
had the cohones to wear a floral sling!"
Raising a brow, Vincent enforced, "As I say, it takes a secure man..."
As everyone recovered from having a good laugh, each man was presented with
a tool belt. And Vincent was proud of the tool belt Catherine had made
especially for him.
Gratefully, he said, "Thank you...I love you monogrammed it for me."
Proudly Catherine said, "Turn around and try it on for size."
Over to See Vincent
Vincent obediently turned, and raised his arms up out of the way, while
Catherine tied the bow for him. As she then spun him around, to look at how he
looked with it on, she said, "Oh it is perfect Vincent, you look so cute."
Tipping his head, he teasingly said, "Good, as cute was the look I was so
arduously striving for."
Everyone then visited for a while, mingling with the workers, and spoke about
the work that had been done there.
Jacob was especially pleased with the stained glass window, and praised Vincent
on his workmanship.
The dinner announcement came through the master pipes, and Jamie who was
standing with Catherine and Vincent teasingly said, "Let's see...Catherine is right
here with us, so...that must have been an authentic Dinner announcement!"
Catherine shook her head, knowing it may be a while to live her faux-pas down,
and laughed as she said, "Very funny Jamie!"
To be continued
Chapter Five
| 11 |
| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Four |
