So, in fulfilling his Father's request to speak with Lisa, Vincent stopped her as she was walking with a few of the children on her way to breakfast, and said, "Good morning Samantha, Eric and Kipper..."
After a pleasant reply from each of the tunnel children, Vincent humbly stated,"I feel badly interrupting such a jovial aggregation, however Lisa...may I have a word?"
Upon telling the children she would meet up later on, Lisa then turned to Vincent and replied, "Vincent...you look serious..what is it?"
So in a gentlemanly manner, Vincent offered his arm, and as they walked, Vincent told Lisa, "I need to share with you a fortuitous happenstance, though I didn't intend to have my heart-to-heart with Father so soon after you and I spoke last night...well as it so happens, I did...just moments ago."
Hesitantly, Lisa asked, "Please tell me more Vincent..."
And so Vincent described, "Well, our conversation took a twist and then a turn, and next thing I knew, I was reminding Father of your arrival here as a small child...and...so now after an emotional introspection, he would like to speak with you, speak to you without delay."
So with a hope filled heart, Lisa asked Vincent, "Do you think Father has forgiven me?
To which Vincent reiterated, "Lisa...I'm not sure forgiveness is the right term, but I believe his heart is open to see things, things from all of our pasts..."
And then because Vincent hated thinking Lisa felt the fault was all on her, he offered, "...and Lisa, you shouldn't feel like you are the sole barer of this burden from those days...we all need to ask each other for forgiveness, and I believe Father sees this now..."
To which Lisa pined, "Oh how I hoped this day would come, the day Father would remember me as that small girl who loved him so...well, shall I go RIGHT now?"
In reply, Vincent said, "If you would...Father is sick at heart and anxious to speak with you...do you want me to go and wait for you?"
Knowing this is something she alone needs to do, she thoughtfully blinked, and said, "Thank you Vincent...but no...I will go by myself."
So with optimistic expectations, Vincent watched as Lisa walked hesitantly at first, but then began to quicken her step toward Father's chamber.
Meanwhile as Jacob waited for Lisa, his mind raced...as he shamefully thought back, on all that had transpired in their lives, knowing the blame he had cast on a very young Lisa, was unfair, and ultimately was his to bear.
As Jacob now put himself, in a very young Lisa's place, it broke his heart, as he imagined the aloneness she must have felt, as she was banished from the tunnels, and how it altered her life, in ways he could never know.
So now...perhaps now he can try to drive away the past demons, which haunt them all so.
As Lisa stood at the threshold, she softly said, "Father, Vincent told me you wanted to speak to me...”
Humbly, Jacob stood up and shamefully turned his eyes downward, as he was unable to look at her, but then welcomed her, as he said, “Yes Lisa, please come in, I...I have so much to say to you.”
Upon entering Jacob’s chamber, she was unsure what to expect or hope for, and so nervously, she sat in the chair Jacob offered her, hesitant to expect too much from him, but yet boldly, wished for everything.
And so as she politely sat, and as she looked into his face, she could see he seemed to be visibly shaken. Perhaps it was to be not only HER time, but maybe THEIR time to put the past to rest.
So thoughtfully, Lisa said, "I am glad for this meeting Father...I have so much weighing on my heart...much I want to say too."
As Jacob sat down as well, unsure how to begin, he softly said, “I realize I should say Ladies first...however if you permit me..."
With a nod, Lisa gestured, of course, he may go first. And so Jacob began, "I, I have been in grave error. I realized today, for the first time, how wrong I was to have sent you away all those years ago, so wrong.”
As tears formed in Jacob’s eyes, he continued, "I cannot justify to you what I had done, please know I regret it now, with my whole heart, if I could go back in time, I would not have cast you away as I did. I made Vincent the center of my world, everything was about Vincent, he just seemed to have needed me more, and for this oversight...Lisa I am sorry. And...although there is so much more needing to be said to mend the past, I feel as the moments arise, they will be addressed, and hopefully explained in such a way, it can bring a complete healing to us both...”
As Jacob saw the tears in her eyes too, he offered, "So Lisa, if you can find the words, if you will..."
But upon hearing these words from the Man she so loved as a Father, Lisa tearfully began, “Father what you have just said, means so much to me...I believe it would be cruel for me to say what I was planning to say now..."
After hearing Lisa wanting to hold back on what she intended to say, Jacob humbly suggested, "Even if it will be hard for me to hear...I believe for your sake, you must."
So with a tilt of her head, Lisa hesitantly began, by saying, "Well, if you insist, here it goes...what I intended to say was, though you understood how much Vincent needed you...how didn’t you realize that we all needed you too...how...I needed you? I needed your love, and wanted your approval so badly, but I never seemed to be able to please you. Even as my dancing became more disciplined and refined, you never seemed to look twice. Possessing your love was my driving force, and receiving your approval, was why I was so focused, and obsessed to get better. In a strange way Father, I owe you for that devotion I developed toward dance.”
Upon hearing this, Jacob thought back on those days, and on all the children he raised, and he knew Devin too, had deserved more than he gave to him.
Jacob then wondered, what he could possibly do to make up for all the mistakes and time lost. In reply to Lisa's comment, Jacob said, “You are right...I should have guided you instead of shunning you. You were all my children. I should have embraced you all!”
Hesitatingly, Lisa reached across the table, before placing her hand on Jacob’s, and tearfully admitted, “Father, I do understand your devotion to Vincent. He was special to all of us. I believe we all felt as you did. He was our center as well. He held us together somehow, by his special and wondrous spirit.”
To which Jacob then hung his head in despair, as the regret for the past, carried such great pain for him, and hopelessly asked, "How can I possibly right this wrong after all these years?"
As Lisa discreetly wiped a tear away from her cheek, she gifted Jacob with a nice thought too, by saying, “Oh Father...there were wonderful times too, memories I have of feeling safe, and loved here by you..."
So with her head held high, and composure in tact, Lisa asked, "So Father? Why must we focus on the darkness of days gone by, why can’t we focus on the light, I just want to look forward and remember the light!”
To which Jacob solemnly yet hopefully asked, “May we Lisa? Vincent awoke something inside of me today, and helped me to remember what I had long ago forgotten. I had loved you once as a daughter, Dear girl, as a daughter. Can you really forgive me for my frailties?”
Nodding an emphatic yes, she then revealed, “I long for what I had lost all those years ago, a family. We all have frailties from those days that need forgiving. I forgive you Father. I forgive you, as Vincent has forgiven me...”
With a Fatherly manner, Jacob looked up at Lisa, feeling so thankful for her merciful heart!
It was then Vincent came to the threshold, with tray in hand, and asked,“Should I come back later Father? I wouldn't have interrupted, however Mary insisted both you and Lisa eat something. She noticed you both were absent from the Dining Hall.”
Jacob looked downward, as a nervous chuckle escaped his lips, and said, “Come in Vincent...your timing is perfect, it would seem Lisa, and I have reconciled. She has forgiven me.”
Warmly, Vincent said, "That is wonderful Father, wonderful. It seems to be a day for new beginnings for us all..."
Upon setting the tray down, he looked at Lisa, and continued, “I can see by your smile Lisa, your talk with Father went well."
To which Lisa replied as she looked at Jacob, "Better than I could have hoped for Vincent...I feel as if I am back home at last with my family."
And then Vincent remembered his other mission, which was to relay a message to Lisa, and so he whimsically relayed, "Oh and Lisa, the children are looking for you. They have completed their chores in the kitchen, as you apparently suggested they must do, before they can rehearse! And now it appears they are most anxious to begin rehearsal."
To which Vincent then looked at Jacob to say, "I don’t believe I have ever seen them do the dishes so quickly.”
With a raised a brow, Jacob turned to Lisa and said, “Very good! I see you are motivating the children in a good fashion so far."
Taking in a deep breath, Lisa expressed, "Fingers crossed, I promise to do my best...well Father, if I may..."
To which Jacob said, "Of course! Of course Lisa..."
And then remembering the tray was for them both, Jacob offered, "...before you go, have breaky with me...shall we see what Mary prepared?"
To which Lisa, with the style of a dancer approached the threshold, she turned to eagerly say, "Thankyou but no Father, I don't want to loose any momentum with the children, I have learned there is nothing more pliable than a willing student!”
Lisa then left the chamber, to which Vincent stifled a smile, as he told Jacob, “I believe she will be delighted to know, Eric too is one of her pupils now!”
Feeling the freedom that only absolution can bring, Jacob let go of a laugh, and asked, “Vincent? Does Eric have a crush on Lisa?”
Nodding, Vincent replied, “It would appear so Father.”
Amusedly, Jacob said, "Oh my!"
Vincent then tipped his head as he happily noted, “I am so pleased things went well between you and Lisa."
With warmth and emotion in his voice, Jacob answered, "Yes. I said the things which were needed to be said, and Lisa has forgiven me."
With a loving arm around his Father, Vincent simply nodded, happy this turned out so well.
Vincent then curiously asked, "Have Mouse, and Jamie come to see you yet?”
Affirmatively, Jacob replied, “Yes, and they agreed not to go near the closed off tunnel! At least Jamie did. Hmm, I was a bit preoccupied, but I don’t recall what Mouse had said. What in the world did he say?"
As he pondered the conversation, Jacob then inquired, "Why do you ask?”
Vincent paced as he told his Father, “When I saw Mouse in the Dining Hall, he seemed, aloof, perhaps a bit shifty.”
Vincent then stopped in his tracks, and as he turned toward Jacob, he asked him, “Are you sure you got through to him?”
Jacob admittedly said, “One can never tell with Mouse. I know you will be leaving for Catherine’s at nightfall, but till then, do you think you could…”
Vincent finished Jacob’s sentence for him, as he was thinking the same thing himself! And so he butted in as he said, “Keep an eye on Mouse? Yes of course Father.”
Nodding worriedly, Jacob said, “Thank you Vincent. It is just that Mouse, is so headstrong. Once he gets an idea to do something, it is hard to discourage him!”
Jacob then chuckled, as he recalled the one incident, when Mouse brought down a “Grounds Keepers Electrical Cart" below from the park!
Jacob then inserted, "He nearly ran over Elizabeth in her section of the tunnels.”
Vincent’s half grin, gave him away! Although he tried to sound irritated by hisirresponsibility, he like everyone else, found these antics of Mouse humorous.
And so Vincent added, "Of course the battery has since died, so thus the cart sits, virtually immovable, still gracing a branch of the south-side tunnel.”
Trying to hide his smile as well, Jacob asked, “He never got rid of it? Oh my. Perhaps that would be a good project to keep him busy and out of trouble uh?”
Lifting the lid to his plate of food, Jacob took in the steam that arose from his breakfast, and realized he was quite hungry! Perhaps a clear conscience, and un-ladened heart helped rouse his appetite, but at any rate, he then eagerly noted, "Hmmm, Buckwheat pancakes!"
As Jacob then poured on the heavy syrup over the melted butter, he enforced his earlier train of thought, by adding, "As we were saying, perhaps it would be wise to keep an eye on MOUSE!”
As Jacob prepared to take a bite, Vincent cleared his throat, and noted, "Ahem...you know Father, with all the tension filled events this morning, I nary had a bite of brekky myself...and Mary did say she had prepared the tray for two..."
Letting go of a chuckle, Jacob said, "I wondered how long it was going to take you to mention that! Sit down my boy!"
So as Father and Son finished enjoying breakfast together, Lou entered, and greeted them saying, “Hello Gentlemen, how are you both?”
As Vincent stood to welcome him, he said, “Good to see you Lou. I understand you had been here to speak with Father, however I don’t believe I have seen you since Winterfest!”
In agreement Lou nodded, saying, “Yes, you know, I believe you are right! Geez, it is good to see you Vincent.”
To which Jacob warmly asked, “So what is the occasion that brings a busy barber like you, here to see us in the middle of the day?”
Informatively, Lou relayed, “Well it's Lisa’s lawyer, Mr. Webb stopped by, and gave me this registered letter and asked me to get it to her ASAP.”
Curiously nodding, Jacob replied, “I see, hmmmm, well perhaps we better give it to her right away.”
And because Vincent sensed an urgency, he offered, “I will go and tell her Father."
Pleased Vincent offered, Jacob replied, "Very good then Vincent, very good."
So after excusing himself, Vincent left to tell Lisa.
Upon entering the Great Hall, Vincent was able to observe Lisa's interaction with her young apprentice. To which Lisa was saying, “Very good Samantha, until next week then.”
As Samantha looked at Lisa with great admiration, she admitted, “It will be so hard to wait till then. I wish we could have another class in between.”
Holding Samantha’s gaze, Lisa sternly told her, “We must not become single minded. It is a big world and we must focus on all things. Now run along. You did well today. And thank you for helping me put the chairs back in place."
But as Lisa watched Little Samantha sadly turn to walk away, she couldn't help remember all the extra hours she herself spent dancing by herself in this Great Mighty Hall, and so she called out to the young girl, and said, "Samantha?"
With hope, Samantha turned around and asked, "Yes Lisa?"
To which Lisa approached her, and with a smile said, "You know there tisn't a law which says we cannot practice on our own...when ever we have the inclination to do so."
So as Samantha pondered this word she had not heard before, she with curiosity, asked, "Inclination?"
With a nod, Lisa giggled a bit as she explained, "Yes, "inclination" means a desire to do something, or feel like doing something..."
As Samantha got it, she smiled, and said, "Oh, I get it now...thanks Lisa!"
To which Lisa playfully said, "Run along now, and catch up with the others."
So after Samantha ran out, Lisa turned around, and saw Vincent standing there, and so curiously, Lisa asked, “What is it? The look on your face, you seem amused.”
Looking downward, he told her, “Not amused, just pleased.”
Happily, she replied, “I am happy you are pleased with me. Ah Vincent, it is so wonderful to be home, to be together again, and have a chance at a new beginning."
Vincent nodded, and then hesitantly said, “Yet...I sense an unrest within you.”
Turning her back to Vincent, she felt stunned he could see and sense this feeling she had. Thinking to herself, Vincent was right. She did feel restless, because she longed for a part of her old life. The part where she was able to dance and share her talents with the world. She did love the accolades as well. She really hated to admit that part of her ego existed, but she did seem to thrive on the praise she received through her profession.
And so she admitted, “There is a degree of unrest. I do miss being with the company. They became my second family. It was a way in which I lived, forover half of my life.”
Vincent nodded, saying, “I understand..."
And then Vincent added, "...ahem, my reason for coming is because Lou has brought a registered letter for you. It is from your lawyer, and you need to sign for it. May I escort you?”
To be continued
Chapter Twelve
| Where Rainbows End! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Eleven |
