It was February 14th, and the workday seemed never ending. And because of Catherine's insightful expertise, Joe was beginning to depend and demand more from her, so the stack of files on her desk only grew higher by days end. Which normally, Catherine would welcome the challenge, but not today, not on Valentine's Day! Even though she and Vincent had not made any plans to spend Valentine’s together, she hoped to see him; she missed him, and wanted to be with the man she cared for so much. Meanwhile throughout the office, Catherine listened as everyone was preparing for the celebration. Some were making restaurant reservations, others were ordering fresh cut flowers, and then there were the forgetful Romeos, who were planning last minute stops at the drug store to pick up cards, and Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates for the loved ones in their lives. Catherine knew there would not be any of these types of stereotypical overtures between them, you know the things other couples do...no not on this Valentine's Day, or on the Valentine Days in the years to come. It is not that any of these traditional gestures even mattered that much to Catherine, not really. However, she was beginning to realize just what caring for a man so different, really meant in terms of effecting her everyday life. Her relationship with Vincent would be something she will always have to hide, and this secret would forever set her apart from the rest of the world, family and friends. And...it has been a struggle learning to accept the limits on their time together, which is unfortunately, sporadically sparse, and all these things were beginning to tug at her heart. But even still, knowing all this...Catherine would never walk away from this impassioned connection she and Vincent shared....as he was claiming more and more of her heart. Finally at home, Catherine lit the last of the candles, as a melancholy began to settle over her. As she questioned her dampened hopefulness, she realized it was brought on because of the wondering, always wondering when she would be seeing him... As she put on the necklace Vincent had given her, she regained some of her faith, and thought maybe tonight he WILL come... So expectantly Catherine stepped out on her balcony, she looked into the darkened corners, and then embraced herself, heaving a lonely anguishing breath, because he was not there. It was an unusually warm February evening, and she closed her eyes for a moment, as she felt the late winter breeze, that oh so pleasingly blew past her, teasing and tousling her hair. It felt heavenly, and she wished Vincent were there to share this beautiful night with her, when suddenly, she sensed Vincent was there. Turning around, she spoke his name, and he, in a deep fond whisper, spoke hers. And for a moment Vincent stood entranced, taken aback by how beautiful Catherine looked in the glimmering moonlight. As he then approached, he was not shy this night to look at her, and told Catherine how beautiful she looked on this Valentine's Day night. Without breaking his gaze, Catherine humbly replied, "Thank you..." And then added, "I am so glad you are here Vincent..." Vincent then said he could not stay away, and had a Valentine’s gift for her, so reaching inside his cloak, he presented it to her. As Catherine accepted his gift, she lifted the book, Great Expectations from it's wrapping. And as she recognized this book, she felt quite overcome, because this was the very book he had read to her, as she lay injured, bandaged, and so worriedly frightened below in the tunnels. Vincent's voice had quieted and comforted her, and because of this fact, it was so very special to her. As Catherine looked upward, she softly voiced, "Great Expectations...it's our book.” With a thoughtful nod, Vincent then said he had written an inscription inside for her. And so Catherine opened the book’s cover, and read, Dear Catherine, To the woman who has captured my heart with her beauty, and thereby harbors my soul. Vincent Catherine told Vincent she loved what he had written, and as she swept a tear aside, she said it meant so much to her. She then told him his gift was inside, and asked if he would come in so she may give it to him. Vincent looked downward for a moment, then back deeply into her eyes, and answered yes. As they stood at the threshold of her candlelit apartment, Catherine could feel Vincent's hesitation, and so she held out her hand to guide him in her world, much like he once did to guide her through his. As they settled in together, Catherine gave Vincent his gift. Firstly he opened the card, and read, To Vincent, for all of eternity Love, Catherine Vincent whispered, "Lovely..." and sat silently for a moment as her words touched and warmed his heart. As he then opened his gift, the beauty of the portrait stunned him, for he knew of this painting. And so Vincent shared of how he felt Frederic Lord Leighton’s painting, Flaming June, seemed to be of a woman waiting, wanting, and wondering, and was perhaps a perfect reflection of aloneness. He then privately thought of how this was an all too familiar feeling, as he had lived with this feeling throughout all of his life, that is before he met Catherine. Catherine agreed, saying she imagined the woman who was wearing the flowing red gown, may have fallen asleep on her settee, wanting, waiting, wondering if her love was going to come to her... She then also privately thought, "Wanting, waiting and wondering..." To which Catherine recognized, was very much how she so often felt too, since she met Vincent. And then because of sensing her heartache, Vincent helplessly expressed, how badly he felt he was not able to give her all she desired. Feeling guilty for her selfish thoughts, Catherine told him he did give her all she desired, and tonight she realized how little the traditional things mattered to her anymore. And though she admitted to being lonely sometimes, she told Vincent she would wait through a hundred lonely nights, for the one when they could be together. Taking her in his arms, Vincent sighed, as he confessed, "Ah Catherine...I can see my error now, there have been times when I should have made myself known." In wonderment Catherine asked, "You mean here? There have been times you were here and I didn't know? When?" With a nod, Vincent explained, "Times when I could feel your restlessness, confusion, and yes, at times fear. I had to know you were safe. It seems your position with the D.A. has put demands upon you, demands which, though you haven't revealed them to me, have placed you in danger." Catherine nodded as she admitted, "There have been times when I did't tell you about an assignment because I didn't want you to worry, but I can see I was in error now too, because somehow you knew anyway." Catherine shook her head as she marveled, "Vincent...the way you know my heart is an amazing thing, and your coming here tonight is proof of it, because seeing you was my deepest wish." To which Vincent thoughtfully expressed, "Yes...it is as you wrote in the card you gave me, I too believe our connection will last through all of time." Because she believed this too, Catherine smiled up at him, and asked, "Read to me Vincent?" Opening up the book he had given to her, Vincent began to read, and as he did, Catherine leaned back against him, and closed her eyes, loving the sound of his voice, and adoring the devotion it owned. Feeling whole and contented being with Vincent this night, she felt she could not want for anything more on this Valentine's Day, because she knew at last...she had everything, everything. The End Sharon's Beauty and the Beast Home Page |
Veiled Longings... A Valentine Story By Sharon Holtz *********** |
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