To which Catherine excitedly said, "Ronald did come Jen, he's right behind me.
While you two say hello to each other, I will go outside to wait for Vincent."
Feeling bolstered by overhearing Jennifer, Ronald then said, "I hope its all right I
invited myself along Jenny."
Beaming with joy, he was there, Jennifer smiled and said, "Of course it is. You
never need an invitation here Ronny."
He then with a smile inquired, "Did I hear you say, you made Stuffed
Mushrooms?"
Nodding proudly, she said, "Yes, I wanted to make something you liked, just in
case."
He shook his head wondering how did Jennifer know he liked them, forgetting
he had mentioned it the first night they met, when they had talked about almost
everything.
And so he asked, "How did you know they are one of my favorites?"
In reply, Jennifer reminded him he had spoken about things he missed most
about his life above.
Recalling now, he had mentioned his love, of a favorite restaurant which served
the most delicious stuffed Mushrooms. And so in amazement, he said,
"Astonishing you would have remembered that Jenny."
Shyly she said, "Not astonishing at all Ronny...I remember everything you told
me that night."
Softly he said, "That is very sweet Jenny, thank you for making one of my
favorite foods for me."
Meanwhile, as Catherine waited for Vincent, she looked over the illuminated
city, like she had done, a million times before when she lived there...both alone,
and too, after Vincent had entered her life. When she then stood at his side, and
together they would gaze over the city, they both loved so much.
Catherine was so caught up in her thoughts, she did not hear Vincent, as he
softly stepped up from behind to embrace her.
Swooning in his presence, she held his arms in place, as she turned her head to
look up at him. Taking in the lusty spring night breeze, she said, "It is such a
clear night...look at how bright the moon, and the stars are."
Vincent looked up and around and said, "Yes...
Just then she turned in his embrace, and said, "This is such a special place for
us."
Nodding, Vincent thoughtfully said, "Yes, it was here you read to me for the
first time, so beautifully..."
Closing her eyes, as she recalled that sweet night, when Vincent had finally
came to her, so many months after she came back above, and said, "Yes, the
night I began to understand the changes that had occurred in my heart."
Vincent effectively said, "And I...in mine."
Catherine let go of a contented sigh, before she changed the subject by asking,
"Are you ready to tell Jenny?"
Vincent looked down, and saw the excitement in his Catherine's eyes. Knowing
she was eager to tell her life long friend their news, and felt pleased, that it was
so.
Elegantly nodding, Vincent gave Catherine a supportive hand, and said, "Yes
Catherine."
As they entered the apartment, Jennifer looked up from the table where she had
just steeped some tea for Catherine and Vincent, and smiled widely, as she saw
Vincent had arrived!
Cheerfully, she greeted, "Vinny! Hi, how's it going?"
Vincent subtly smiled as he said, "Well Jennifer. And you?"
Smiling as she handed Ronald a beer, she said, "Just Wonderful!"
As Jennifer handed Vincent his cup of tea, she looked around, and hopefully
asked him, "So tell me...how do you like what I have done with the place?"
Vincent took in the vivid color change, and he looked around at the bold colors
of violet, and deep blue furniture, whose colors were mirrored in the brightly
colored floral paintings on the walls, that held the same shades of violet.
He could not help but think, that although he liked her taste, it did not suit him
as compliantly as Catherine's elegant paler shades had.
Honestly though, he replied, "Very nice."
She looked around herself and said, "Thank you, I just love it here!"
Playing the hostess, she then said, "Let's make a toast to my new crib!"
As Catherine accepted her cup of tea from Jennifer...it was then, Jennifer
noticed the ring on Catherine's hand! And so she said, "The ring...the ring on
your ring finger...looks very much like an engagement ring..."
To which Catherine said, "It is Jen, Vincent and I are engaged. We wanted to
tell you the news together."
As Jennifer tearfully hugged Catherine and then Vincent, she told them how
happy she was for them!
Excitedly, she then said, "Oh Cath, your ring, it is beautiful...Vinny, it is so
perfect!"
Catherine looking down too, at the ring on her hand, lovingly said, "Yes it is."
Jennifer then suggested they sit out side, and then turned to Catherine, and said,
"Cath, I need to ask you about this one knob on the stove, it doesn't work right."
Catherine looked serious, as she said, "You just have to jiggle it a little bit, but
that was why I always used the back burners. I am sorry, I thought I had
mentioned that."
As Jennifer discreetly made a "come on" motioning nod with her head, she then
anxiously said, "I would've remembered if you had...maybe you better
demonstrate exactly what I need to do."
Efficiently Catherine headed for the kitchen, feeling badly she may not have
showed her friend the little trick she used when living there. And so she said,
"Of course!"
As soon as they stepped inside the kitchenette, Catherine began to demonstrate
the knobs on the stove for Jennifer, when Jennifer said, "Oh stop that...I know
how the knobs work..."
Surprisingly Catherine said, "But you just said..."
Jennifer anxiously barked, "I know what I just said, that was just to get you in
here alone!"
Then out of the blue, Jennifer started crying, and said, "Oh my God, I just
realized...you are really engaged! You are really getting married!"
Excitedly, Catherine said, "Yes...I a m really getting married!"
Jennifer then tearfully bellowed, "How soon? When are you going to tie the
knot?"
Catherine started to answer, "This summer...we don't have an exact day yet..."
When Catherine suddenly realized, Jennifer's tears, were not exactly tears of
joy, and wondered if maybe she didn't approve. So with concern she asked her,
"What's wrong? Do you have reservations about my marrying Vincent?"
Jennifer shook her head no, as she grabbed a paper towel to blow her nose, and
she said, "Its got nothing to do with Vinny...its just that it looks like I am going
to be the last of our group to get married!"
Catherine comforted her friend, and said, "I know, how you feel Jen, when ever
I would hear another one of our friends were to be married, I was happy for
them, but then a feeling of being left behind would inevitably wash over me."
Jennifer nodded, and bellowed, "Yes...yes that is exactly how I feel
Cath...believe me, I am thrilled for you and Vinny."
Catherine looked into Jennifer's eyes and said, "I haven't forgotten our pledge
Jen."
Jennifer snuffled, and then asked, "Our pledge?"
Catherine laughed as she rested her forehead against Jennifer's and reminded
her, "Yes...remember? It was the summer before we entered the 9th
grade...and we were sitting in the middle of the empty Football field..."
Jennifer nodded, and said, "I remember sitting on the 50 yard line for most of
that summer waiting for you to finish track, and watching the football players as
they practiced for the upcoming season, but I don't remember any pledge!"
Catherine reflectively said, "Well, we promised, that which ever one of us
married first, we had to do help get a man for the other one."
Jennifer laughed as she wiped her tears away, and said, "Oh my God, I forgot
we had said that! Didn't we put it in writing too?"
Laughing Catherine said, "Oh probably...yes I think that we did. But anyway...I
don't want you to worry, you will find someone too, who knows, maybe Ronny
is the one you have been looking for!"
Jennifer sadly nodded and said, "I think he may be, now all I need is for him to
think so too."
Catherine assured her she would do her best to help out in that area, whenever
she could.
Grabbing the platter of munchies from the oven, Jennifer firmly said, "I will
hold you to it, well come on, I wanna go look at Ronny some more."
To be continued
Chapter Seven
While you two say hello to each other, I will go outside to wait for Vincent."
Feeling bolstered by overhearing Jennifer, Ronald then said, "I hope its all right I
invited myself along Jenny."
Beaming with joy, he was there, Jennifer smiled and said, "Of course it is. You
never need an invitation here Ronny."
He then with a smile inquired, "Did I hear you say, you made Stuffed
Mushrooms?"
Nodding proudly, she said, "Yes, I wanted to make something you liked, just in
case."
He shook his head wondering how did Jennifer know he liked them, forgetting
he had mentioned it the first night they met, when they had talked about almost
everything.
And so he asked, "How did you know they are one of my favorites?"
In reply, Jennifer reminded him he had spoken about things he missed most
about his life above.
Recalling now, he had mentioned his love, of a favorite restaurant which served
the most delicious stuffed Mushrooms. And so in amazement, he said,
"Astonishing you would have remembered that Jenny."
Shyly she said, "Not astonishing at all Ronny...I remember everything you told
me that night."
Softly he said, "That is very sweet Jenny, thank you for making one of my
favorite foods for me."
Meanwhile, as Catherine waited for Vincent, she looked over the illuminated
city, like she had done, a million times before when she lived there...both alone,
and too, after Vincent had entered her life. When she then stood at his side, and
together they would gaze over the city, they both loved so much.
Catherine was so caught up in her thoughts, she did not hear Vincent, as he
softly stepped up from behind to embrace her.
Swooning in his presence, she held his arms in place, as she turned her head to
look up at him. Taking in the lusty spring night breeze, she said, "It is such a
clear night...look at how bright the moon, and the stars are."
Vincent looked up and around and said, "Yes...
Just then she turned in his embrace, and said, "This is such a special place for
us."
Nodding, Vincent thoughtfully said, "Yes, it was here you read to me for the
first time, so beautifully..."
Closing her eyes, as she recalled that sweet night, when Vincent had finally
came to her, so many months after she came back above, and said, "Yes, the
night I began to understand the changes that had occurred in my heart."
Vincent effectively said, "And I...in mine."
Catherine let go of a contented sigh, before she changed the subject by asking,
"Are you ready to tell Jenny?"
Vincent looked down, and saw the excitement in his Catherine's eyes. Knowing
she was eager to tell her life long friend their news, and felt pleased, that it was
so.
Elegantly nodding, Vincent gave Catherine a supportive hand, and said, "Yes
Catherine."
As they entered the apartment, Jennifer looked up from the table where she had
just steeped some tea for Catherine and Vincent, and smiled widely, as she saw
Vincent had arrived!
Cheerfully, she greeted, "Vinny! Hi, how's it going?"
Vincent subtly smiled as he said, "Well Jennifer. And you?"
Smiling as she handed Ronald a beer, she said, "Just Wonderful!"
As Jennifer handed Vincent his cup of tea, she looked around, and hopefully
asked him, "So tell me...how do you like what I have done with the place?"
Vincent took in the vivid color change, and he looked around at the bold colors
of violet, and deep blue furniture, whose colors were mirrored in the brightly
colored floral paintings on the walls, that held the same shades of violet.
He could not help but think, that although he liked her taste, it did not suit him
as compliantly as Catherine's elegant paler shades had.
Honestly though, he replied, "Very nice."
She looked around herself and said, "Thank you, I just love it here!"
Playing the hostess, she then said, "Let's make a toast to my new crib!"
As Catherine accepted her cup of tea from Jennifer...it was then, Jennifer
noticed the ring on Catherine's hand! And so she said, "The ring...the ring on
your ring finger...looks very much like an engagement ring..."
To which Catherine said, "It is Jen, Vincent and I are engaged. We wanted to
tell you the news together."
As Jennifer tearfully hugged Catherine and then Vincent, she told them how
happy she was for them!
Excitedly, she then said, "Oh Cath, your ring, it is beautiful...Vinny, it is so
perfect!"
Catherine looking down too, at the ring on her hand, lovingly said, "Yes it is."
Jennifer then suggested they sit out side, and then turned to Catherine, and said,
"Cath, I need to ask you about this one knob on the stove, it doesn't work right."
Catherine looked serious, as she said, "You just have to jiggle it a little bit, but
that was why I always used the back burners. I am sorry, I thought I had
mentioned that."
As Jennifer discreetly made a "come on" motioning nod with her head, she then
anxiously said, "I would've remembered if you had...maybe you better
demonstrate exactly what I need to do."
Efficiently Catherine headed for the kitchen, feeling badly she may not have
showed her friend the little trick she used when living there. And so she said,
"Of course!"
As soon as they stepped inside the kitchenette, Catherine began to demonstrate
the knobs on the stove for Jennifer, when Jennifer said, "Oh stop that...I know
how the knobs work..."
Surprisingly Catherine said, "But you just said..."
Jennifer anxiously barked, "I know what I just said, that was just to get you in
here alone!"
Then out of the blue, Jennifer started crying, and said, "Oh my God, I just
realized...you are really engaged! You are really getting married!"
Excitedly, Catherine said, "Yes...I a m really getting married!"
Jennifer then tearfully bellowed, "How soon? When are you going to tie the
knot?"
Catherine started to answer, "This summer...we don't have an exact day yet..."
When Catherine suddenly realized, Jennifer's tears, were not exactly tears of
joy, and wondered if maybe she didn't approve. So with concern she asked her,
"What's wrong? Do you have reservations about my marrying Vincent?"
Jennifer shook her head no, as she grabbed a paper towel to blow her nose, and
she said, "Its got nothing to do with Vinny...its just that it looks like I am going
to be the last of our group to get married!"
Catherine comforted her friend, and said, "I know, how you feel Jen, when ever
I would hear another one of our friends were to be married, I was happy for
them, but then a feeling of being left behind would inevitably wash over me."
Jennifer nodded, and bellowed, "Yes...yes that is exactly how I feel
Cath...believe me, I am thrilled for you and Vinny."
Catherine looked into Jennifer's eyes and said, "I haven't forgotten our pledge
Jen."
Jennifer snuffled, and then asked, "Our pledge?"
Catherine laughed as she rested her forehead against Jennifer's and reminded
her, "Yes...remember? It was the summer before we entered the 9th
grade...and we were sitting in the middle of the empty Football field..."
Jennifer nodded, and said, "I remember sitting on the 50 yard line for most of
that summer waiting for you to finish track, and watching the football players as
they practiced for the upcoming season, but I don't remember any pledge!"
Catherine reflectively said, "Well, we promised, that which ever one of us
married first, we had to do help get a man for the other one."
Jennifer laughed as she wiped her tears away, and said, "Oh my God, I forgot
we had said that! Didn't we put it in writing too?"
Laughing Catherine said, "Oh probably...yes I think that we did. But anyway...I
don't want you to worry, you will find someone too, who knows, maybe Ronny
is the one you have been looking for!"
Jennifer sadly nodded and said, "I think he may be, now all I need is for him to
think so too."
Catherine assured her she would do her best to help out in that area, whenever
she could.
Grabbing the platter of munchies from the oven, Jennifer firmly said, "I will
hold you to it, well come on, I wanna go look at Ronny some more."
To be continued
Chapter Seven
| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Six |
