Meanwhile, Vincent anxiously paced, and then he suddenly stopped as he felt Catherine was nearby, and thankfully, the huge iron door finally slid open.
As Catherine walked forward, she went right into Vincent's waiting arms, and as he protectively held her, he wondered about Charles, and so he asked, "Your Dad Catherine? He isn't with you?"
To which in reply, Catherine told Vincent her Dad thanked him for all he had done, and for his offer, but because of his plans with Peter, he would stay home and promised to be vigilant.
Meanwhile, as the sentries stood waiting, Vincent with a nod, silently thanked them for helping Catherine, and relieved them of any further tasks.
As Vincent looked down upon his crushed Catherine, he lifted her chin, and softly said, "Let me take you to my chamber, I have some tea steeping."
With a nod, Catherine sighed, and said, "Yes."
So together, Vincent guardedly held on to Catherine as they walked through the tunnels toward his chamber.
As Vincent pulled out a chair for her by the warming kettle, he served her and himself some tea.
Then, Vincent sat beside her, and kindly said, "Catherine you did what you had to do. Steven is a deranged man. You have nothing to feel guilty about, his actions precipitated yours."
Knowing this was so, Catherine nodded, and said, "I know you are right..."
And then Catherine added, "Dad agreed with you...I had to go to the authorities..."
Vincent nodded in acknowledgment of Charles' view point, feeling thankful Catherine's Dad had felt the same about this matter as he did.
But then Catherine regretfully continued, "...however, I'm not sure guilt is what I am feeling...I suppose I am feeling a sort of grief...grief because the kindness I tried to show him through our friendship, made no difference in his heart at all, and it seems official now...he is a lost soul."
Continuing, Catherine expressed, "I suppose once again I had been deceived by him, and now...he is destined to die all alone...most likely incarcerated in some prison hospital. I feel as if I failed him."
Vincent took Catherine's hand in his own, and was about to express what he had been suspecting, which was Steven was not really ill or dying. But because this theory may be too much to handle right now, he instead thoughtfully said, "It was not your failure Catherine, we cannot live another's life for them, we can only hope they are open to change, and we might inspire or influence them on some level to be a better person."
Catherine loved listening to what Vincent had to say, and so tenderly she reached up to touch his cheek, and said, "I have to wonder where I would be right now, had I not met you. You have changed my life...you have changed everything Vincent..."
In reply, Vincent whispered, "As you have for me..."
As Vincent noticed Catherine sleepily blink her eyes, he suggested she lie down. And without any argument, he led her to his bed. Kneeling down in front of her and with care, he slipped off her cold wet boots, and covered her with a quilt, to warm the winter chill from her. And with a saddened grateful smile, she warily closed her eyes, and it was there with Vincent she rested her weary soul.
Meanwhile Vincent sat near Catherine, watching her sleep, and after a long while he stealthily rose to light the candle on his writing table, thinking he had much to share in his journal.
Just as Vincent was about to dip his pen into the deep blue ink, it was then Jacob came to check on Catherine. And as Jacob stood at the threshold, Vincent raised his eyes, and walked to greet his father, where they spoke softly, so they would not wake her.
With great concern Jacob asked, "Mouse told me what has happened, how is Catherine?"
With a thoughtful nod, Vincent replied, "Spent...reporting her supposedly terminally ill friend has upset her greatly."
To which Jacob questioned, "Supposedly?"
With a nod, Vincent replied, "I hesitate to suggest this to Catherine at this time, however because of all we now know about Steven, I believe he feigned his illness...to gain Catherine's sympathies."
Understanding Vincent's hesitancy to speak about this with Catherine right now, Jacob responded, "Yes being deceived about such a matter on top of all else, well I dare say would be quite devastating indeed."
In reply, Vincent then added, "Yes, I suppose the truth will come out soon enough..."
Upon seeing Vincent's furrowed brow, Jacob asked, "There is something else Vincent?"
Raising his eyes to look at his father, Vincent revealed, "Catherine DOES know she did the right thing today, in her mind she does know this, but because she DOES believe Steven to be ill, I have to wonder if she will be able to reconcile this deed in her heart as well."
With an understanding tone, Jacob said, "With time perhaps..."
And so Jacob then said, "...well I don't wish to wake Catherine..so I shall go. I only wanted to check up on the Dear girl."
With an appreciative nod, Vincent said, "Thank you Father."
Before Vincent went back to his writing table, he looked down at Catherine as she peacefully slept, feeling so thankful for this temporary respite for her.
And so as Vincent wrote for quite a time, Catherine stirred, and asked, "Did I sleep long?"
Softly, Vincent replied, "For a nice while Catherine..."
As he stood to go and sit at her side, he tenderly asked, "Feeling better?"
With a heavy hearted sigh, Catherine admitted she did, saying, "Yes Vincent, always when I am with you."
Vincent then told Catherine, "Out of concern, Father stopped to check on you."
To which Catherine kindly smiled, and said, "Awe, how sweet of him to worry about me. I hope you told him I'm alright..."
With a nod Vincent said he did, but then added, "We all know you are a strong spirit Catherine, however we also understand how this ordeal has pained you...but Father said the passage of time will help lesson the hurt..."
With a nod, Catherine said she appreciated his faith in her, and then a thought crossed Catherine's mind, and she lamented, "Because of the fact I have cut all ties with Steven now, I am concerned for the people of the city, as we don't know what all he is capable of."
With a tip of his head, Vincent pondered this too, and then supposed, "I am sure the police will do their part...thanks to you, they now know who to look for Catherine..."
Discussing this further they both agreed, and it was then that Vincent changed the subject to the upcoming Christmas holidays. And so he expressed, "On a more cheerful note Catherine, it is both Father's and my desire for you and your Dad to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us here in the Tunnel's along with Peter. I am unsure what your plans are, however if you can..."
Happy for the invitation, Catherine replied, "I would love that Vincent...I suppose I will see what Dad thinks though, for so long it has been just us two."
Saying he understood, Vincent then informatively said, "Father plans to ask as well, however I wanted you to hear it from me first, perhaps to give you time to think about it."
Upon saying she didn't need any time, Catherine said she would love nothing more than to spend Christmas all together there with him, Peter and Father.
Just as Vincent finished talking, it was then his Wintry Snow Globe caught Catherine's eye! And so with interest, Catherine sat up and said, "Your snow globe..."
To which Vincent glanced over his shoulder at his keepsake, and said, "Yes...I put it out just today..."
With a tone of wonder, Catherine said, "It looks like mine! May I see it?"
To grant Catherine her wish, gingerly, Vincent walked over to get it for her.
Sitting back down at her side, he sadly said, "I was disheartened to see that somehow the water has dissipated from it, and now it has lost much of it's magic."
And as Vincent handed it over to Catherine to better look at it, he asked, "Still look similar?"
As Catherine held it in her hands, she excitedly responded, "Yes, this is exactly like the one I have! Exactly!"
Then with a tone of wonder, Vincent reached over and turned the key on the bottom, and asked, "Does your music box play the same song as well?"
Catherine's smile widened as "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" played, and she excitedly said, "It does!"
Upon looking back at Catherine, Vincent tipped his head, and asked, "What are the odds of us both having the same snow globe?"
To which Catherine surmised, "Well, a cottage motif must have been a popular theme back then, because when I was a young girl, I myself actually had two of them!
Thoughtfully, Vincent inquired, "Two?"
With a warm amused smile, Catherine answered, "Yes you see, my aging and very sweet, forgetful Great-grandmother unintentionally gave both of them to me on two separate occasions."
To which Vincent asked, "And they were identical?"
In response, Catherine smiled, as she verified, "Yes, identical."
Catherine then continued as she dearly recalled, "It was the year I had turned twelve and it was on Thanksgiving when my Great-grandmother gave me, my cousins, Gertrude and Robert, you know, the cousins I spent time with this weekend..."
With a nod, Vincent replied, "Yes..."
Continuing, Catherine recalled, "...well she gave us each a snow globe, each one was different, Robby's has Santa Claus, and Gerty a Snowman, and mine of course a little cottage like this one, and though the snow globes were so respectively different, she had written the same sentiment to each one of us on the bottom of our snow globes. Anyway, Great-Grandmother told us, she wanted us to have them early, so we could enjoy them all through the upcoming Holidays."
Continuing on, Catherine said, "Then about a week later, we went to visit her, and she gave me another one just like the first, and she again said she wanted me to have it early so I can enjoy it through the upcoming Holidays. Wondering if I should tell her she had already given me one, I looked up at my Dad for guidance, and he discreetly shook his head no, indicating it might hurt her feelings if I did. So I thanked her, and inquisitively, I looked on the bottom, to see if she had signed this one like she had the other one, and it tugged at my heart, and at my Dad's too, to see she had written the very same sentiment on the second one too. Well, later on, after an insightful phone call to my Uncle Douggy, we found out my cousins had received duplicate snow globes in their matching motifs from Great-Grandmother too. So after talking to my cousins, we all agreed to give our doubles to a local charity. And so liking the idea of giving something so special to someone in need, the very next day, I re-wrapped it, and Dad took Jenny and I to the square, and we placed the gift under our cities Toys for Tots Christmas tree."
Vincent smiled as he thought on how generous Catherine was even as a small girl. And so he said, "Even then...you had a giving heart..."
And then Vincent started to put two and two together! Catherine's Great-grandmother had written a sentiment on the underside of both snow globes and Catherine had given her duplicate away to Toys for Tots!
And so curiously, Vincent asked, "May I?"
And so as Catherine handed Vincent back the globe, she said, "Of course..."
Gingerly, Vincent turned it over, and running his finger over the cherished inscription that meant so much to him as a young boy, he asked, "Do you remember the sentiment your Great-grandmother had inscribed on your snow globe Catherine?"
Recalling, Catherine answered, "Yes I do, because I had just re-read the inscription yesterday...she wrote, "Allow Your Heart to Dream!"
Thoughtfully, Vincent with astonishment said, "Then I must thank you for this beautiful gift Catherine...and posthumously thank your Great-grandmother as well."
Puzzled, Catherine asked, "What do you mean Vincent?"
Vincent then showed Catherine the inscription on the bottom, to which she in disbelief read, "Allow Your Heart to Dream!"...Vincent...this was mine, the one I gave away! How could you have ended up with it?"
With a smile in his eyes, Vincent then went on to explain of how his brother Devin, had stepped up into the long line of children from Ridley Hall, and deceptively passed himself off as one of the orphans, and received this gift from the Toys for Tots organization.
With thoughtful pondering, Vincent surmised, "And well...when Devin opened the gift, and saw it was this beautiful snow globe, he decided, that he wanted me to have it, so I may have a snowy world always at my fingertips. And so he passed it on to me."
Thoughtfully, Vincent then shared how the inscription her great-grandmother had written, impacted him throughout his life.
It moved Catherine as Vincent told her reading those words, eased a wanton pain within his heart, and gave him the courage to dream that one day...he may be loved by someone, as if he were like any other man.
Catherine's gaze pierced his heart, as she tearfully told him, "That is very ironic Vincent, since the reason I love you so much, is because you are not like any other man."
They then embraced, and spoke how their prophetic stars must have been aligned with each others...even back then, when they were children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Charles had returned from the D. A. and had just enough time to ready his pad for his visitors.
Yes, Charles was able to put his worries on the back burner, long enough to be a good host to Peter and the ladies. And the ladies were all very enchanted by Charles lovely home, and said for a bachelor, he certainly had a knack for decorating. But because he couldn't take credit for the decorating, he confessed between Catherine and Willie, he had a lot of guidance.
So after a nice visit, chatting over some wine and cheeses, Jessica, Evelyn and Sylvia left, wanting to get ready for their dinner date.
It was then after the ladies left, Charles was able to fill Peter in about Steven. So because they were going to pickup Jacob anyway, they decided to venture down to the tunnels early, as they were both anxious to check on Catherine.
And so as the two stood at Jacob's threshold, they all greeted one another, and eagerly, Charles asked, "How is Catherine?
Easing his friend, Jacob said, "She was soundly resting when I last checked on her about an hour or so ago."
Thankfully Charles replied, "You don't know the solace it gave me knowing she was here with you and Vincent today..."
Charles then said, "I have some information to share with her about Steven, and a message for her from Joe Maxwell too."
Upon hearing Joe's name, Jacob inquired, "He is to be Catherine's new employer...is he not?"
In reply, Charles said its true, he is, and then added, "Joe and I did some checking this afternoon, and we found out Catherine's friend, well former friend Steven, has illegal connections. Steven's company subsidizes these city wide crime rings, involving drugs, muggings and prostitution, cases the D.A. has been trying to crack for a year or so now. And Catherine's tip today, put a name on it, fissuring the investigation wide open. And so they are looking to arrest Steven now, but unfortunately, he is no where to be found. The authorities fear he may have left the country, and because Cathy had mentioned to me Steven has a home in Spain, they are checking all international flights. But I gotta say, neither Joe or I think he would leave without trying to take Cathy with him!"
To which Jacob expounded, "Good Heavens! So you believe he would stoop so low? And after Catherine was so kind to him! Imagine that! Well as I have said in the past, at times it seems no good deed goes unpunished! And well I feel I must mention..."
In response Charles anxiously asked, "Yes, what is it Jacob?"
With a suspicious tone, Jacob shared, "Vincent has privately wondered if this Steven is ill at all! That perhaps he only tried to appeal to Catherine's sense of kindness. Of course Vincent hasn't suggested this to Catherine as yet, as he feels it would be too much to bare right now."
With a scratch to his chin, Charles looked over at Peter, and replied, "Hmm, there's a thought. Knowing all I know now, I wouldn't put it past him."
To which Peter in accordance said, "I wouldn't put it past him either!"
After the three contemplated this possibility, Jacob then added, "At least he was found out...before he had done any real harm to her, and you know she is safe here Charles...yes indeed, she can stay here as long as she needs to. In fact perhaps you should stay here as well. Vincent expressed concern this diabolical person, could try to hurt Catherine by hurting you!"
Heaving a sigh, Charles angrily replied, "Yes, Cathy told me of Vincent's concerns, and Joe also said the same thing, but it's not me I am worried about! It's my daughter! I cannot believe this Steven lashed out at Cathy like he did! If I get my hands on him..."
To which an equally ticked off Peter chimed in saying, "I am right there with ya Charles! Let me have a minute with him too!"
Yes! All three of these men felt the same way toward this Steven, Jacob included! However, Jacob felt he needed to calm his two tight fisted buddies down! And so he calmly reminded them, "That is all Catherine would need right now, is to see you two with a couple of black eyes! Now we all know how revenge taints the heart..."
To which Peter replied, "Yeah maybe, but remember the saying, an eye for an eye..."
Realizing he did let his anger get out of control, Charles apologized and thanked Jacob for being the voice of reason.
Upon which Jacob nodded, and then kindly said, "Let's go check on your girl shall we?"
As the three walked through the tunnels toward Vincent's chamber, Charles thoughtfully shared, "I appreciate the support, Cathy's all I've got you know..."
To which Peter replied, "We know..."
As they approached Vincent's threshold, they stepped through, and with much relief, Charles greeted his daughter with a fatherly hug, saying, "Great to see you are all right Honey."
Happy to see her Dad as much as he was her, Catherine in turn, tearfully said, "I am so glad to see you too."
Looking over at Vincent, Charles continued, "Thank you for keeping my daughter safe."
To which Vincent stood, and warmed by their emotion filled re-union, not wanting to intrude, he simply acknowledged with a humble nod.
Charles then looked back to his daughter, and gently explained, "Cathy...there is some news about Steven. You see Joe and I did some digging this afternoon..."
And because Catherine wondered how her Dad and Joe got together, with surprise, Catherine asked, "You and Joe?"
In reply, Charles explained, "This afternoon, right after you and I spoke, I went to see Joe. And we found out that unfortunately, and without a doubt, Steven is involved in several of the crime rings around the city, not only the muggings, but the illegal drugs, and prostitution rings as well. They are tracking him down as we speak...and Joe wanted me to relay, how impressed he was that you have cracked the city's biggest crime ring in recent history...and you're not even on the payroll yet!"
Knowing it was Vincent who helped put it all together, and that she was only in the right place at the wrong time, Catherine rectified, saying, "I didn't do anything Dad...I was just unlucky enough to be associated with Steven...that's all. But Vincent, he was the one who connected Steven to the mugger before any of us did."
With appreciation, Charles said, "Of which I will be eternally grateful..."
Humbly, Vincent shifted his stance, and softly said, "It was Catherine who showed true courage, reporting Steve was a difficult task..."
Because Charles agreed, he thankfully replied saying, "You are a modest man Vincent...and also quite right..."
Turning to his daughter, Charles then added, "...it took courage to do what you did Cathy...and Maxwell thinks so too."
And then Charles added, "And Joe seems genuinely concerned for your welfare, and said not to come to work until Steven is found."
But before Catherine could comment on any of this, Peter looked at his watch, and excitedly inserted, "Well gentlemen, I hate to say it, but we better go!"
Meanwhile, it was then that Mary arrived with a tray, and was looking downward, being careful not to spill the soup, as she said, "Vincent, I know Catherine hasn't had lunch...so before the evening meal is served, here's a light snack..."
And then by the time she set the tray down, both Peter and Charles said hello to her, and as Mary looked up, she with surprise and a smile said, "Well good day to the both of you, oh and Father's here too! How nice."
And then looking down at the tray, Mary offered, "And I...well I should have brought more rations! But not to fear...I shall get supplements.""