| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Seventeen |
As the song ended, everyone applauded in response to the lovely rendition of
the sweet song, "Only time" the musicians had played, and then the minstrels
announced the next song was for Catherine via special request from her future
husband.
The jongleurs then summoned Rolley forward to sing, and to play along with
them, as they performed, "Nothings gonna change my love for you".
Surprised by this lovely gesture, Catherine looked up at Vincent, as he tenderly
took her into his arms, and they danced as though there was no one else...no
one else in the world but them.
Vincent then spoke of what a gracious hostess she had been this evening, and
then said, it seemed she was enjoying herself. After admitting she was, he then
wished for her, their wedding day should follow in kind.
Self-consciously she admitted, "I am afraid Mary's nervousness may be
contagious. I wasn't worried about the planning until she began going through
the list of things to do."
Vincent quizzically noted, "I hadn't realized Mary was such an authority on the
matter of wedding planning."
Catherine nodded and anxiously said, "Oh yes, she helped plan the weddings of
her 2 younger sisters many years ago, so she knows everything that needs to be
done!"
Regretfully, Catherine added, "Its just she seems to be envisioning a much more
elaborate wedding than I am."
Vincent masterfully assured her, "Catherine, I want this to be the wedding you
desire, not Mary...you must take a stand and take control before it is too late to
say anything...this is our wedding, and it should reflect your taste."
Catherine smiled, as she corrected him and said, "Our taste, Vincent, yours and
mine. And I really want just a simple wedding as you and I spoke, and agreed
on...like Lin and Henry's beautiful modest ceremony."
She then admitted, "I must confess I really do need Mary's help, I will just have
to start speaking up, so Mary understands just what we have in mind."
She then sensuously sighed and said, "For now, I don't even want to think about
all the arrangements that must be made...I only want to dance to this song you
chose for me."
As she listened to the words of the song, she thoughtfully asked, "How did you
come to know this song?"
Vincent explained, "As Rolley struggled to prepare himself for a different sort of
life, free
of drugs, I would furtively visit the taverns he worked in, checking on him all
through that
attenuated hot summer, I could hear him sing and play the piano from the
opened
establishment's doors..."
Vincent thereupon, continued to explain the first time he heard this particular
song, "...one night, I heard Rolley singing, and the lyrics of this song, struck me
profoundly, and gave voice to my heart, expressing with words...what I was
feeling for you."
Tenderly, he then said, "I am pleased you like it as well as I."
Catherine in reply whispered, "Hmm, I do...such a romantic notion Vincent."
To which Vincent tenderly answered, "Yes..."
Catherine then noted, "I hadn't realized Rolley had such a lovely voice! He
really is as gifted a singer as he is a pianist."
As a look of wonderment overtook Vincent's face, he then with a faraway look,
agreed before he pondered, "Yes he is, and I find it amazing with all the abuse,
with all the self neglect...he had never lost his gift."
He then turned to look at Catherine, and added, "It totally astounds me, through
it all...he never lost his ability to touch one's heart, with a song."
As this fairy tale couple danced, their friends and family looked happily and
lovingly upon them.
Each one knowing they had privately searched their own heart to ultimately
accept, and understand the love between these two people, who were outwardly
different, but in their hearts...were very much the same. They all knew and
believed it was a miracle they had found one another, and it was right they
had...because they belonged together.
After the song ended, Vincent and Catherine were brought back to reality with
the sound of cheering from the onlookers who had encircled them.
Catherine bashfully smiled and looked downward, as Vincent graciously tipped
his head and accepted their extended token of affection.
Vincent then took Catherine by the hand, and together they walked up to Rolley
to thank him for singing the song for them.
To which he profusely assured them it was his pleasure to sing it for them.
He then tearfully admitted if not for their intervention, he was certain he would
have remained a wandering lost soul.
Lightening the mood, Rolley then took in a deep breath, and cheerfully said,
"Well I better get back to the ivories. If you two will excuse me...there is
another request to fill, and this one is from Ronald."
Vincent and Catherine pardoned their dear friend, and then stood back amongst
the others, and watched as the music continued, and the other couples now took
to the floor.
Catherine smiled as she mentioned to Vincent, "Ronald and Jenny are sweet
together aren't they?"
Vincent looked back into Catherine's eyes, and said, "Yes...I have noticed they
are very natural, yet...tender with one another..."
Catherine sighed and agreed, "Yes...tender is an excellent way to describe how
they treat each other."
She then looked up at her future husband and said, "You have such insight
Vincent...not only into my heart...but into others natures too. How do you do
it?"
After examining what Catherine had said, Vincent thought about her question,
and came to realize that before she had entered his life, he was always on the
outside looking in.
And so Vincent surmised, "I suppose after so many years of watching others
interact within relationships, and observing people's reaction to life's trials and
joys, it has become second nature to me."
Catherine held tightly to his massive hand, and then lovingly said, "Well that is
just one of the things I love so much about you."
Rebecca stepped up to Vincent and Catherine, along with Pascal, and excitedly
asked, "Have you two noticed Michael and Brooke have danced to nearly every
song?"
Catherine gleefully smiled and said, "Oh yes, I have Rebecca!"
Vincent then commented, "It seems they are closer than ever since Michael has
gone above to attend college...perhaps it is true...absence does...make the heart
grow fonder."
Pascal rocked back on his heels, and said, "That is what they say!"
Just then Mouse came running by chasing Arthur who had followed him to the
Hall, shouting, "Arthur...get back here! You are going to get me in trouble!"
Arthur started to run in and out below the tables, causing laughter to erupt
among the guests, as Mouse followed behind him in his tracks attempting to
catch him!
Jamie watching from the sidelines along with Laura, shook her head, and calmly
walked over to the banquet table for an apple from the horn of plenty. As she
shined an apple on her sleeve, she took a bite of it, and then stooped to offer the
rest of it to Arthur.
As Arthur smelled the fresh apple, he scampered up to Jamie, with Mouse
following close behind.
Mouse smiled as he saw Jamie had accomplished this seemingly insurmountable
feat, capturing this slick little rascal!
He thankfully said, "I owe you one Jamie! Now come on Arthur, I am taking
you home."
As the song, "From this moment on" ended, "Jennifer and Ronald came over to
the group, and said, it was getting late, and Ronald would be walking Jennifer
back home.
Jennifer then hugged Catherine and said, she would most likely not see her until
Tuesday, for their appointment at the DA, because Sunday she would be gone
all day to Hackensack, attending her Mother's Family reunion.
With that being said, Ronald quizzically inquired, "Oh my! A Family reunion?
That is great, I didn't know people still had those!"
Jennifer laughed and said, "Oh yes, my Mom's side of the Family has them the
same weekend every year, so no one has an excuse to miss it!"
With an approving nod, Ronald once again emphasized, "Well I think that is
really nice. People should keep in touch with their ancestors in such a way."
Jennifer knitted her brow together, and asked, "What about your family Ronny,
do you ever visit them?"
With a faraway look, Ronald answered, "I did when my parents were living. But
I have not seen my uncle in years...not since the funerals..."
He then quickly added, "He lives in Arizona on a reservation, and other than
him, there is no other immediate family still living."
Jennifer saw the hurt in Ronald's eyes, and softly said, "Well...maybe you
should plan a visit..."
Then as a thought came to her, she asked, "Would you want to join me on
Sunday...I should warn you before you say yes, my Mother will be riding along."
As he rolled the idea around in his head, sincerely he answered, "Yes...I would!"
Then, just as quickly he said, "Oh but I can't!" Turning to Vincent he
exclaimed, "I almost forgot, you were starting to tell me earlier about some ideas
for additional alcoves in Catherine's chamber! When did you want to start that?"
Placing his hand on his good friend's shoulder, Vincent assuredly said, "There is
plenty of time, if you like, go with Jennifer."
Ronald, happily said, "Then I think I will! What time do we leave?"
Jennifer explained, "Once I get home, I will call Ma, and check."
Catherine smiled at Ronald and said, "Well all I can say is you better go hungry!
Jenny's family has the best cooks in the world. I have gone to a couple of the
reunions myself through the years, and was in heaven with the assortment of
desserts, and other dishes."
Jennifer admitted, "Catherine is right, you better come hungry..."
She then turned to look lovingly at Vincent and Catherine, and said, "...well
goodnight...I just cannot tell you how excited I am for you two!"
The friends then bade a goodnight to each other, and as the party began to wind
down, soon one by one, the other top-sider guests began to leave after receiving
a heartfelt thank you, from the engaged couple.
To be continued
Chapter Eighteen
