| The Shore of Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Six |
Catherine smiled, as she said goodbye to the little girl, and then thought of how fixing Samantha's hair, reminded her of the happy nurturing times, she had spent with her Mom.
As Catherine closed the wooden doors to the cabinet, she couldn’t help but think how sad it was, Samantha had never shared such moments with her Mom too.
Dreamily, she thought about her Mom, and the times they had shared, and she realized in a few weeks, it would be Mother’s Day.
Mother’s day was always a very difficult day for her to get through, but maybe this year would be different.
She would try to make it different! Instead of dreading and lamenting that day’s arrival, and dwelling on all the sadness it brought to her, she would instead embrace it, and be thankful she did have a wonderful Mother who had loved her.
After all, she was blessed, unlike Vincent, or Samantha, who had to reconcile their misfortune of having a Mother who could not, for whatever reason raise them for themselves.
And so with Vincent being busy, having time to herself, Catherine decided to go back to the restoration chamber, and have a look at Anna’s desk again. Mary and Peter's visit sidetracked her earlier, she had yet to figure out, what kind of varnish she should pick up at Harvey’s paint store on Wednesday.
As she lifted the roll top, she thought of how wonderfully crafted this beautiful desk was. After all these years, it rolled back easily and right into place.
Catherine had fun, as she checked out the drawers, and noticed that two of them were locked. Hmmm, she quizzically wondered, if Vincent knew where the key was. Remembering how her Grandmother hid her desk's key under neath, she ran her hand on the underside of the desk, and felt a key taped to the bottom. As Catherine looked at the key, she wondered what to do.
Tapping her chin with the key, she debated if it was right for her to take a look? Catherine ultimately decided she should wait, and it was only right for Vincent to be the one to unlock the drawers.
Meanwhile, though there were others unlocked, so Catherine opened the one, and it pulled completely out of from the desk.
As she inspected it to see how to slide it back in, she found on the bottom of the drawer a letter taped flushed to the underside.
As she opened the letter, Catherine thought it appeared to be torn from a diary or maybe a journal. As she stepped closer to the light illuminating from the burning torch, she held the paper up so it could catch the light from it, and she read;
Catherine stood motionless for a few minutes, and as she wiped the tears from her cheeks, she thought she had never read anything more beautiful! Anna loved Vincent so much, and this letter shows he was loved as much, as any child.
She could not wait to show Anna’s journal entry to Vincent. What a treasured gift she had found.
As she returned to her chamber, she waited for Vincent to come to her. He said he would come right after he completed the chores Jacob had asked him to do.
Catherine entered her homey chamber, and as she lay upon her bed, she closed her eyes, and just took in the ambiance. Never before had she felt the significance of being there in Anna’s old chamber.
Catherine thought to herself, “This was where she cared for Vincent, here when he was first brought to the tunnels.”
As Vincent stood at the threshold, he saw Catherine laying quietly on her side, softly he asked, “Catherine, are you awake?”
Catherine turned to the magic of Vincent’s voice, and said, “Oh yes Vincent, I’m awake, just waiting for you.”
As Vincent approached her bed, he relayed, “You certainly changed Samantha’s tears into smiles Catherine. I and Father wish to thank you for your help with her today.”
Catherine smiled herself, and said, “She is a special little girl Vincent. You know I was thinking, maybe later this week, since Samantha is missing Lisa so much, I could take her up and meet Lisa for lunch.”
Quickly adding, “I haven’t said anything to Samantha yet, Vincent. I wanted to know what you and Father thought about it first.”
Vincent bowed his head, and said, “We will ask Father, but don’t be disappointed if he does not say yes.”
Thoughtfully, he continued, “It is a hard line to walk. Right now Samantha is happy, and we are her only family, and her only option beside the legal Foster Home program. Were she to go above too often, she may become discontented, and restless. Until she is older and can make her own decisions, we must be guarded.”
Vincent looked at Catharine, and could see how her face had fallen, he then added, “However I will not discount the possibility, I only want you to understand the ramifications of such activities.”
Catherine nodded and said, “It was only a thought Vincent. But I do understand Vincent.”
She sat up, and patted the bed aside of her, and said, “Vincent come here. I want to tell you something.”
Quizzically as he sat down he asked, “Yes Catherine? Tell me what is on your mind.”
Catherine hugged Vincent, and said, “I would rather tell you what is in my heart.”
Softly he urged, “What then Catherine, tell me what is in your heart.”
Lovingly, she said, “As I laid here waiting for you to come to me, I could feel so much love here within these chamber walls. From all the love that has been nurtured here…your love for me, my love for you…Anna’s love as she cared for you here…”
Vincent softly asked, “Anna’s love for me…you can feel it here Catherine? Still?”
Catherine smoothed his long hair down his back, and nodded yes, and just as she was about to tell him about Anna's journal, suddenly she could feel Vincent’s breath quicken, and he seemed to have a shortness of breath.
Worriedly, Catherine looked at him, and could see something was wrong! “Vincent, Vincent what is it?”
Vincent brought his hand to his heart, and as he closed his eyes, he whispered, “I’m not sure Catherine…I have never felt like this before.”
Catherine carefully helped him to lay down, and elevated his feet. Quickly, she ran to the threshold, and yelled out into the tunnel, hoping for Jamie or someone to hear her! Since no one answered her, Catherine had no other choice but to run for Jacob and Peter!
As Catherine rinsed out a wash cloth from her wash basin, she placed it on Vincent’s forehead, and said, “Vincent, do you think you will be alright for a moment, I would like to get Father and Peter to look at you!”
Vincent nodded, and as he opened his eyes, he had a fear within them that frightened Catherine. She tried not to cry as she said, “Vincent, I’ll be right back!”
Vincent tried to call her back to use the master pipe system, but Catherine was already gone, and too frazzled to think of it herself.
Meanwhile, Peter called on Jacob, and asked, “Are you busy?”
Looking up to find Peter with a friendly smile, Jacob realized how terribly crass he had been earlier, as he spoke to Vincent about him.
Sincerely, he welcomed him in, and said, “Come in Peter, Vincent told me you were coming to see me. I understand you are going to prepare a chamber in the new expansion area.”
Peter nodded and said, “What do you think about it Jacob? I will only if you approve.”
Jacob hobbled up to his old friend, and as warmness settled between them, he told him, “Of course Peter, your are welcome to pick the chamber of your liking, and begin your eventual migration here to the tunnels.”
In a relieved manner, Peter scoffed, and said, “You know you surprise me Jacob. Somehow, I wasn’t quite sure how you were going to react to my request. I don’t know, I have sensed an irritation from you lately. Like maybe you are mad at me or something.”
Ashamedly, Jacob bowed his head, and sadly admitted, “Peter, I cannot deny my actions. I know I have been acting strained lately. Please accept my apologies.”
Peter quizzed him further and asked, “What’s the problem Jacob, what have I done?”
Regretfully, Jacob looked at Peter, and admitted, “I suppose I have been jealous, I have seen you and Mary growing closer.”
Adding, “Why only today, Vincent made me admit to my own feelings for Mary.”
Peter shook his head, and said, “Jacob, Mary and I, we are just friends. I have been more attentive I suppose lately, but it is only because, I don’t know, I seem to have had a rebirth of sorts. Since the death of my Uncle Marty a few weeks back, it did something to me. Do you know he only had family members there at his funeral…all of his life, he spent working, and had not taken the time to make any friends. Well it made me look at myself. I have realized I was on that same road. I want the people who are important to me to know they are important to me!”
Warmly, Peter looked knowingly at Jacob, and said, “Maybe you should try it too. I mean does Mary have any idea how you feel?”
Jacob astonishingly said, “I dare say, I didn’t want to step on your toes as you were wooing Mary, and no, she hasn’t any idea.”
Peter chided, “Then you should tell her! Come on Jac…”
Just then Catherine burst into Jacob’s chamber and said, “Please Father, Peter, follow me back to my chamber, Vincent is breathing erratically, and then he subconsciously reached for his heart! I don’t know what it could be!”
Peter and Catherine ran ahead as Jacob instructed, and he would come as quickly as he could.
To be continued
Chapter Seven
As Catherine closed the wooden doors to the cabinet, she couldn’t help but think how sad it was, Samantha had never shared such moments with her Mom too.
Dreamily, she thought about her Mom, and the times they had shared, and she realized in a few weeks, it would be Mother’s Day.
Mother’s day was always a very difficult day for her to get through, but maybe this year would be different.
She would try to make it different! Instead of dreading and lamenting that day’s arrival, and dwelling on all the sadness it brought to her, she would instead embrace it, and be thankful she did have a wonderful Mother who had loved her.
After all, she was blessed, unlike Vincent, or Samantha, who had to reconcile their misfortune of having a Mother who could not, for whatever reason raise them for themselves.
And so with Vincent being busy, having time to herself, Catherine decided to go back to the restoration chamber, and have a look at Anna’s desk again. Mary and Peter's visit sidetracked her earlier, she had yet to figure out, what kind of varnish she should pick up at Harvey’s paint store on Wednesday.
As she lifted the roll top, she thought of how wonderfully crafted this beautiful desk was. After all these years, it rolled back easily and right into place.
Catherine had fun, as she checked out the drawers, and noticed that two of them were locked. Hmmm, she quizzically wondered, if Vincent knew where the key was. Remembering how her Grandmother hid her desk's key under neath, she ran her hand on the underside of the desk, and felt a key taped to the bottom. As Catherine looked at the key, she wondered what to do.
Tapping her chin with the key, she debated if it was right for her to take a look? Catherine ultimately decided she should wait, and it was only right for Vincent to be the one to unlock the drawers.
Meanwhile, though there were others unlocked, so Catherine opened the one, and it pulled completely out of from the desk.
As she inspected it to see how to slide it back in, she found on the bottom of the drawer a letter taped flushed to the underside.
As she opened the letter, Catherine thought it appeared to be torn from a diary or maybe a journal. As she stepped closer to the light illuminating from the burning torch, she held the paper up so it could catch the light from it, and she read;
Catherine stood motionless for a few minutes, and as she wiped the tears from her cheeks, she thought she had never read anything more beautiful! Anna loved Vincent so much, and this letter shows he was loved as much, as any child.
She could not wait to show Anna’s journal entry to Vincent. What a treasured gift she had found.
As she returned to her chamber, she waited for Vincent to come to her. He said he would come right after he completed the chores Jacob had asked him to do.
Catherine entered her homey chamber, and as she lay upon her bed, she closed her eyes, and just took in the ambiance. Never before had she felt the significance of being there in Anna’s old chamber.
Catherine thought to herself, “This was where she cared for Vincent, here when he was first brought to the tunnels.”
As Vincent stood at the threshold, he saw Catherine laying quietly on her side, softly he asked, “Catherine, are you awake?”
Catherine turned to the magic of Vincent’s voice, and said, “Oh yes Vincent, I’m awake, just waiting for you.”
As Vincent approached her bed, he relayed, “You certainly changed Samantha’s tears into smiles Catherine. I and Father wish to thank you for your help with her today.”
Catherine smiled herself, and said, “She is a special little girl Vincent. You know I was thinking, maybe later this week, since Samantha is missing Lisa so much, I could take her up and meet Lisa for lunch.”
Quickly adding, “I haven’t said anything to Samantha yet, Vincent. I wanted to know what you and Father thought about it first.”
Vincent bowed his head, and said, “We will ask Father, but don’t be disappointed if he does not say yes.”
Thoughtfully, he continued, “It is a hard line to walk. Right now Samantha is happy, and we are her only family, and her only option beside the legal Foster Home program. Were she to go above too often, she may become discontented, and restless. Until she is older and can make her own decisions, we must be guarded.”
Vincent looked at Catharine, and could see how her face had fallen, he then added, “However I will not discount the possibility, I only want you to understand the ramifications of such activities.”
Catherine nodded and said, “It was only a thought Vincent. But I do understand Vincent.”
She sat up, and patted the bed aside of her, and said, “Vincent come here. I want to tell you something.”
Quizzically as he sat down he asked, “Yes Catherine? Tell me what is on your mind.”
Catherine hugged Vincent, and said, “I would rather tell you what is in my heart.”
Softly he urged, “What then Catherine, tell me what is in your heart.”
Lovingly, she said, “As I laid here waiting for you to come to me, I could feel so much love here within these chamber walls. From all the love that has been nurtured here…your love for me, my love for you…Anna’s love as she cared for you here…”
Vincent softly asked, “Anna’s love for me…you can feel it here Catherine? Still?”
Catherine smoothed his long hair down his back, and nodded yes, and just as she was about to tell him about Anna's journal, suddenly she could feel Vincent’s breath quicken, and he seemed to have a shortness of breath.
Worriedly, Catherine looked at him, and could see something was wrong! “Vincent, Vincent what is it?”
Vincent brought his hand to his heart, and as he closed his eyes, he whispered, “I’m not sure Catherine…I have never felt like this before.”
Catherine carefully helped him to lay down, and elevated his feet. Quickly, she ran to the threshold, and yelled out into the tunnel, hoping for Jamie or someone to hear her! Since no one answered her, Catherine had no other choice but to run for Jacob and Peter!
As Catherine rinsed out a wash cloth from her wash basin, she placed it on Vincent’s forehead, and said, “Vincent, do you think you will be alright for a moment, I would like to get Father and Peter to look at you!”
Vincent nodded, and as he opened his eyes, he had a fear within them that frightened Catherine. She tried not to cry as she said, “Vincent, I’ll be right back!”
Vincent tried to call her back to use the master pipe system, but Catherine was already gone, and too frazzled to think of it herself.
Meanwhile, Peter called on Jacob, and asked, “Are you busy?”
Looking up to find Peter with a friendly smile, Jacob realized how terribly crass he had been earlier, as he spoke to Vincent about him.
Sincerely, he welcomed him in, and said, “Come in Peter, Vincent told me you were coming to see me. I understand you are going to prepare a chamber in the new expansion area.”
Peter nodded and said, “What do you think about it Jacob? I will only if you approve.”
Jacob hobbled up to his old friend, and as warmness settled between them, he told him, “Of course Peter, your are welcome to pick the chamber of your liking, and begin your eventual migration here to the tunnels.”
In a relieved manner, Peter scoffed, and said, “You know you surprise me Jacob. Somehow, I wasn’t quite sure how you were going to react to my request. I don’t know, I have sensed an irritation from you lately. Like maybe you are mad at me or something.”
Ashamedly, Jacob bowed his head, and sadly admitted, “Peter, I cannot deny my actions. I know I have been acting strained lately. Please accept my apologies.”
Peter quizzed him further and asked, “What’s the problem Jacob, what have I done?”
Regretfully, Jacob looked at Peter, and admitted, “I suppose I have been jealous, I have seen you and Mary growing closer.”
Adding, “Why only today, Vincent made me admit to my own feelings for Mary.”
Peter shook his head, and said, “Jacob, Mary and I, we are just friends. I have been more attentive I suppose lately, but it is only because, I don’t know, I seem to have had a rebirth of sorts. Since the death of my Uncle Marty a few weeks back, it did something to me. Do you know he only had family members there at his funeral…all of his life, he spent working, and had not taken the time to make any friends. Well it made me look at myself. I have realized I was on that same road. I want the people who are important to me to know they are important to me!”
Warmly, Peter looked knowingly at Jacob, and said, “Maybe you should try it too. I mean does Mary have any idea how you feel?”
Jacob astonishingly said, “I dare say, I didn’t want to step on your toes as you were wooing Mary, and no, she hasn’t any idea.”
Peter chided, “Then you should tell her! Come on Jac…”
Just then Catherine burst into Jacob’s chamber and said, “Please Father, Peter, follow me back to my chamber, Vincent is breathing erratically, and then he subconsciously reached for his heart! I don’t know what it could be!”
Peter and Catherine ran ahead as Jacob instructed, and he would come as quickly as he could.
To be continued
Chapter Seven
| Thank you Dear God, for letting me find Vincent this day. I walked the city streets tonight searching, looking for something! I felt distraught and so alone. I have had so much despair since I lost my baby, and though the others have tried to help me and tried to understand what I was going through, nothing made a difference. I missed my baby so much, and I didn’t think anything or anyone could help me find my way. Then like a miracle, I heard a cry! A helpless cry and as I searched through the refuse, I found a baby! He had been left inside the dumpster at St Vincent’s hospital. As I scooped him up in my arms, I felt his helplessness, and I knew he needed me. I don’t know why his Mother left him there, I don’t know how she could have left this beautiful little boy, when I would have done anything to save my own. Nevertheless, for whatever the reason, you led me to him. Many say I saved his life tonight by finding him, but in truth, he saved mine. As I sit here within my chamber, and I watch him sleeping in my arms, I feel my heart swell with love…so much love. Already, I love Vincent as if he were my own, yes, I named him Vincent in honor of the place he was found. I shall cherish him, and love him for all of my days, and I thank you for this miracle on this very sweet, bitter cold, cold night. |
