| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Thirty-Four |
As they shopped from one salon to the next, Catherine tried on several dresses,
before she found the right one for her to wear on her wedding day. Finally, she
was able to say, "Jen, this is the one."
Hesitantly, she turned to look at Jennifer, and asked, "What do you think?"
Jennifer nodded, and in agreement said, "Cathy, Yes! That dress is perfect...just
p-e-r-f-e-c-t-!"
Feeling it was perfect too, Catherine then looked back into the mirror, and
thought...she looked somehow, incomplete. This was still not the exact look she
had envisioned.
As she voiced her concern aloud, it caused Jennifer to offer, "Well, we haven't
tried on any veils yet. Is that what you feel is missing?"
Contemplatively, Catherine answered, "I don't know...maybe...but not a veil
exactly..."
Catherine stepped back out onto the sales floor, and was drawn to the back of
the store, where there were some Bridal cloaks displayed. She stood for a
moment and looked at the beautiful assortment of white flowing cloaks...and
suddenly she felt as if she had found what was missing.
Excitedly Jennifer walked up behind her and said, "Oh my yes! Cathy, this is it!
The missing link. A cloak would be right with that Gothic thing Vinny has going
on."
Catherine smiled as she dreamily said, "Yes, it does seem right doesn't it?"
Catherine's Dress and Cloak
Just then a saleslady approached and said, "Allow me to assist you."
As she gingerly slipped the cloak on over her gown, she brought the hood up,
and then looked to Jennifer for her reaction.
Biting her knuckle, Jennifer cried as she said, Cath...yes..."
Turning back around to look into a mirror, Catherine subtly smiled as she
thought to herself, now her wedding attire seemed to be complete...this was just
how she wanted to look on her wedding day for Vincent.
Since Catherine's gown and cloak had been found, the next order of business
was to pick out Jennifer's dress.
And since a cloak was a part of an ensemble to the dress she fell in love with,
they of course felt she should wear a cloak too.
As both girls happily carried out their newly acquired wedding attire, they smiled
at each other and Jennifer declared, "Mission accomplished!"
Jennifer's Dress
As they walked down 110th street, they decided to stop at Jennifer's apartment,
to drop off her dress, before Catherine returned to the tunnels.
Opening her closet doors, Jennifer, with great effort, tried to make room for her
new gown! As she complained she really needed to get rid of some of these old
prom and bridesmaid dresses, she realized she was talking to herself!
Turning around, she saw a pensive Catherine open the doors to the balcony,
and slowly walk outside.
Soberly, Jennifer joined her friend, and worriedly she looked at Catherine who
was looking out into the dusk painted sky, and asked, "Are you ok?"
Catherine warmly smiled as her thoughts went back to those sweet early days
when she first met Vincent. So many of those initial coveted encounters
between them, took place right there.
She stood for a moment more, before saying, "Yes I am fine, its just this
place...so many lovely memories..."
Reminiscently, she shared, "I don't know if I ever told you about the first time
Vincent came to check on me, after I came home after the attack..."
Jennifer thought back, and answered, "I don't think you ever did."
Tilting her head, Catherine wistfully went on to say, "It had been about eight
months since I last saw him, and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see
him again. All I had gone through seemed like a dream now that I was back in
my world. I kept asking myself, if there really was such a place as the tunnels
below, and did this man named Vincent really exist? Then he came, and I knew
it was all true."
Jennifer then asked, "Did you want to see him again?"
Without question, Catherine answered, "Oh yes Jen...and I was ready to see
him again. I had a lot of healing to do emotionally, and I worked hard at finding
the strength inside Vincent told me I had. It was his belief that empowered me,
and I didn't want to disappoint him."
Sadly Jennifer expressed, "I feel bad I wasn't there more for you."
Taking her friend's hand, Catherine told her, "Jen...this was something I had to
do on my own. There was nothing you could have done. I was on a mission,
and not very approachable. And...I understand how hard it was on both you and
Dad, knowing I had been a victim of such a heinous crime. Its hard to know
what to say."
Taking in a deep breath, Jennifer tearfully said, "Yes...first you were missing for
such a long time, and like a miracle...you came home. But when I first saw you
and your poor little face, well I will admit, it was difficult dealing with your
attack...you'll never know how it tore me apart. I so hated such an awful thing
happened to you."
In a nurturing tone, Catherine replied, "Ah, but look at the good that came of it.
I found my Vincent, or I should say, he found me."
Blowing her nose, Jennifer eagerly asked, "Okay now, let's not talk about all
that awful stuff! Just tell me about that night. Start at the beginning, and don't
leave out any details."
Complying with Jennifer's wish, Catherine smiled as she thought back, and
began, "Well that night, I had just sat down on my bed to go over some files
from work, when I heard a noise out on the balcony. I reached for my gun, and
came out here to investigate...and I..."
Startled by that statement, Jennifer screeched asking, "Oh my God! Weren't
you afraid?"
Calming her, Catherine continued, "No Jen, the moment I stepped out, I saw
the book Vincent left me at the threshold. And I immediately recognized it as
being a gift from him. So, I looked around and saw him standing in the shadows
right over there. I was so happy to see him, and we embraced. Then I
remember, he looked at me and seemed to be
surprised the wounds on my face had healed. He spoke and almost inaudibly
said, "Your face" He turned from me, and seemed very much like a shy little
boy who wanted to run away."
Jennifer quizzically asked, "So was he disappointed that you didn't have the
scars anymore?"
Catherine had never thought too much about Vincent's reaction that night, and
so she found Jennifer's question very interesting. So she asked her friend, "Why
do you ask if he was disappointed?"
Jennifer shrugged her shoulders as she answered, "I don't know, I'm just asking,
you said he looked at you and then turned away."
Feeling unsettled by Jennifer's suggestion, Catherine said, "I don't know the
reason. What do you think it could have been?"
Narrowing her brow, Jennifer put on her amateur psychologist hat, and
suggested, "Well, maybe he was disappointed because you wouldn't need him
anymore. It sounds like he was the main person who took care of you after
your attack, and maybe, he liked feeling needed by you in that way."
Catherine searched her heart for an answer to the question Jennifer raised...and
then said, "Maybe...on some level that could have been true. He could have felt
since I had healed, we wouldn't have that commonality to identify with any
more."
In concurrence Jennifer said, "Yes, I could see that. Now, you looked normal
again, you were back in the main stream of society."
She then asked, "Will you ask him about it?"
With a contented sigh, Catherine then said, "No Jen, I guess it doesn't matter so
much what the initial reaction may have been about, because after all...though
he turned away, he turned back, and he didn't leave, he stayed...and I will never
forget how I felt being with him again."
Catherine then went on to explain the evolution of their relationship, "Because I
was no longer a victim, we were able to get to know one another on a different
level. We talked very late into the night until it was early morning, and some of
the things he told me during those hours...were extraordinary."
In a questioning tone, Jennifer asked, "Extraordinary? Like what?"
Thoughtfully, Catherine told her, "He said he knew I had grown stronger, and
he understood the struggles I had gone through to gain my newly found
strength. He said he knew this, because he could feel what I was feeling. I didn't
know what he meant exactly...not yet, not then. But it was astounding to me,
that as he shared his thoughts, and he spoke of his feelings, that they were so
like mine. And...when he explained his ideals or described his observances of
people about things that were once vague to me...suddenly made sense, and his
view points struck such a familiar chord in my heart..."
Jennifer then asked, "So...did you know you were in love with him that night?"
To which Catherine honestly shared, "It took me a while to accept that a
relationship with a man so different from myself...was possible. I knew I felt
close to him that night, because I cried at the idea of not seeing him again."
Seriously Jennifer asked, "What do you mean? Why wouldn't you see him
again?"
Answering Catherine said, "He came really to say goodbye. He said he knew
there was no place for him here in my world. But I couldn't let him leave
because I felt so connected to him, and as time went on...I understood there
was this bond between us...and we truly were a part of each other."
Jennifer tearfully said, "Ahhh....true love..."
She then lamented, "I still cannot believe that you were going through all this,
and I never knew! You never confided in me!"
Taking a moment to sort her thoughts, with understanding she said, "Don't be
sad about that Jen. I couldn't tell you because I didn't understand it all myself.
And I had promised Vincent I wouldn't tell anyone about him or his world. I
couldn't betray his trust."
To which Jennifer replied, "Well you definitely proved you can keep a secret!
Come on, let's fix some tea."
The two girls embraced and went in to brew their tea, when suddenly, Jennifer
had a brainstorm! She excitedly suggested, "Cathy, why don't you leave your
gown here too, you could spend the night the day before your wedding, and I
can help you get ready! Come on it will be fun! We can do facials...I will do
your hair, you do mine...give each other manicures...pedicures...come on, it
would only be fitting for you to get ready here in your old place."
Nodding, Catherine happily replied, "Yes Jen...I would love that."
They hugged, and shed a few more hormonal tears as they shared this most
joyous occasion in Catherine's life.
Realizing the time, Catherine said she had to go, when she suggested Jennifer
come too. That they could go below to the tunnels together for supper with the
community. But before Jennifer consented to go, she asked Catherine, "Are you
sure William won't freak out if I just show up?"
Catherine sincerely told her, "William has told me on several occasions you are
always welcome Jen. Besides, Mary's class is right after, so you may as well
come now."
As the girl's entered the tunnels via the basement's threshold, like magic,
Vincent was there waiting for them.
Happily Catherine hugged him, and they walked a little way before Vincent
asked, "Did you find a gown to your liking Catherine?"
Happily she answered, "Oh yes...but more importantly, I hope it will be to your
liking too."
To which Jennifer offered, "Honestly Vinny, Cath looks just gorgeous in it! It is
a great dress."
Vincent then said, "The anticipation for our day is heighten at the prospect of
seeing you in such a gown."
Jennifer then asked, "I hope it's OK I came for dindin."
Graciously Vincent replied, "Of course you are always welcome Jennifer. In
fact, Father just inquired if you would be coming to dine, and attend Mary's
class as well. He mentioned since you have been coming, the sessions have
become a bit more spirited."
Gulping Jennifer asked, "Oh no, is that a good thing?"
With a smile in his eyes, he told her...it was.
As they entered the Dining Hall, Jennifer spotted Ronald who was finishing up a
discussion with Mouse. She was thinking he looked so handsome, when
suddenly he turned, and smiled broadly, as he saw she was with Catherine and
Vincent.
Joining her at her side, he said, "What a surprise! I am glad you came early."
Taking his hand he offered, she said she was too.
Immediately behind them, Mary, Rebecca, Olivia, Jamie and Brooke arrived
together for the evening meal. They had just concluded their Wedding Planners
meeting, and were still excitedly talking amongst themselves, when they saw the
four of them.
As they greeted each other, the ladies were so excited to hear the dress shopping
was a success, and couldn't wait to hear more details once Vincent wasn't
around!
Mary was especially happy to hear Catherine completed this task, and feeling as
if the plans were all falling in to place, she smiled as she asked to have a word
with Jennifer.
Wanting to fill Jennifer in, Mary confidentially told her about the subjects
covered at the meeting. She told her Rebecca has poured the candles, and Rosa
was going to supply the flowers for the nuptials. Peter has generously offered to
supply the several rib roasts for the dinner, and would be picking them up from
Morty for William.
Mary, then asked, "Now what about you? Did you have luck finding the
decorations you had in mind Dear?"
Eagerly, Jennifer said, "I did! Maybe Ronny will help me bring them down later
on."
Mary clapped her hands and said, "Wonderful...it seems even with the
confusion of the moved up wedding date, and all the other things going on,
everything is coming along splendidly."
As Jacob walked in, he happily greeting everyone, and as he caught sight of
Jennifer with Catherine, he enthusiastically said, "Hello Catherine, and Jennifer!
I am pleased to see you both have returned! In fact, only a little while ago, I had
asked Vincent if Jennifer would be coming early to dine before we attend
Mary's class."
To which Jennifer smiled, and said, "I hope its all right, I kinda feel like I am
barging in!"
As Jacob warmly smiled at her, he said, "We will have to do something to make
you feel more at home then. After all, one is never barging in when one comes
home."
Feeling so touched by Jacob's kind words, Jennifer replied, "Well suddenly
Father, that feeling has gone away...and you always make me feel welcome and
at home here."
Turning to Catherine, Jacob kindly asked, "So tell me Dear, were you able to
find your desired wedding attire?"
With a smile, Catherine replied, "Yes, I did Father, in fact we both did.
Jennifer's dress is really pretty too."
In response, Jacob said, "Good, very good then! I am sure you both will be
lovely."
Jennifer smiled up at Ronald, and he at her, as he whispered for only Jennifer to
hear, "Yes, lovely is the word I would use too."
As talk turned to Mary's reading class, Vincent then asked, "Did you have time
to finish you chapters Father?"
To which Jacob slyly said, "I did! Just barely, but I did. I confess an unexpected
nap overtook me this afternoon, and threw me off a bit. If not for Rebecca
coming to change out a few of my candles for me, I would have been in a real
pickle."
Rebecca giggled, as she relayed, "I didn't know anyone could fall asleep like
that! There Father was, sitting straight up, and his book still in his hands in a
reading position! At first I thought he was just in deep concentration!"
Taking the teasing good-naturedly, Jacob explained, "Ahh yes, a habit I
developed from being an overworked, and under rested med student!"
After some of the others chimed in saying they were caught up as well, Jacob
turned to Jennifer, and asked, "And you Jennifer, I didn't hear you say yet, have
you studied?"
Proudly, Jennifer answered, "I did! I am all caught up and I am ready!"
Impressed by Jennifer taking her preparation for her participation seriously, he
teasingly said, "Good, then we are both armed and dangerous!"
Jennifer laughed, and so did the others at Jacob's terminology, and as he felt he
had a good audience, Jacob turned toward Mary, and assessed, "It should be a
lively discussion tonight."
Taking in an excited, yet controlled breath, Mary said, "Ah, indeed!"
To be continued
Chapter Thirty-Five
