Meanwhile, Catherine met Jennifer at the curb with her luggage, and though she tried to smile at her dear friend, Jennifer already knew something was wrong.
And so her Mom wouldn't hear, Jennifer whispered, "Hey, something IS wrong, what's up Cath?"
With a tremble to her voice, Catherine replied, "We'll talk later Jen..."
And then with valiant smile, Catherine suggested, "...for now, let's just have fun for your Mom's sake..."
With a questioning nod, Jennifer replied, "Okay Cath, later."
Jennifer then turned to open the trunk, and loaded up Catherine's gear, and in an effort to instill some fun into the outing at Catherine's request, Jennifer declared, "Ready or not...Aunt Doris, here we come!"
So after cheerfully greeting Mrs. Aranson, Mrs. Aranson in a motherly tone asked, "Catherine Carroll Chandler! Are you eating? You look thinner! Oh my you young girls are always dieting!"
So with a bit of a chuckle, Catherine replied, "I eat! Believe me! I am just staying busy at work. When you are the newbie, you have to do a little more to prove oneself."
With concern, Mrs. Arsnson then said, "Yes, and I hear all about how dangerous your new job can get too Dear. Jennifer tells me everything! What about that mobster you had to take down! Oh my! Well I am glad he's behind bars, but not happy you are the one to have to do it!"
In response, Catherine assured her, "The Boys in Blue help keep us safe, and I will admit, it does get exciting!"
Thinking about the Policemen, Mrs. Arsnson asked, "Are any of those boys single Catherine?"
With a nod, Catherine said, "A few are, and I am way ahead of you, if any of them are Jenni's types, I will be on it!"
To which Mrs. Aranson answered, "That's good to hear Dear...but honestly, I still wish you would have stayed at the firm! It is beyond me why you quit!"
And then Mrs. Aranson painfully added, "...you know Jennifer, I believe that burger from "BILL'S GRILL" has given me GAS!"
Upon hearing the GAS alert comment, both Catherine and Jennifer exchanged worried looks, which prompted Jennifer to hurriedly pass back the Bean-O bottle to her Mother, and expressed, "Will this help?"
With the courage of a martyr, Jennifer's Mom told her, "Oh it should, now don't worry about me. I think I'll just rest my eyes for a while. Catherine, will you give me my Hemorrhoid Ring? It should be right up there on the floorboard by your feet."
With an expedient gesture, Catherine handed Jennifer's Mom her ring, to which Mrs. Aranson adjusted her ample girth upon the donut shaped pillow, promptly popped a couple of the ant-acid tablets, and with hope, closed her eyes.
Meanwhile, Catherine and Jennifer made some idle chit chat, until they heard the sweet, sweet sound of Mrs. Aranson SNORING, which gave Jennifer the green light to do some interrogating!
So searchingly, Jennifer insistently said, "Sounds like it's safe to talk now Cath...what's going on with Mr. Mysterious? Problems?"
As Catherine thought of how to answer Jennifer, she hesitated because there was so much she could not tell her friend. But how she wished she could confide in Jennifer. Catherine felt so isolated at times because of her relationship with Vincent, which DID set her apart from the other people in her life she also loved.
So thoughtfully, Catherine began, "Yes, there is a problem, but Jen I can't take advantage of you by crying on your shoulder, and just tell you a part of my problem when I cannot share everything! I know that would drive you even more crazy!"
And because she felt Catherine was about to crack, Jennifer spurred her along by saying, "No it wouldn't Cath! I promise it won't...just tell me what you feel ready to tell me. I mean you don't have to tell me who he is or anything, just speak in generalities."
Upon hearing Jennifer's generous offer of being her sounding board, Catherine expressed, "Awe Jen, thank you, but I just can't! It is so hard leaving you out of any part of my life...but it's just that..."
As Jennifer listened to Catherine's emotional reply, she couldn't take it any more, and so she butted in, and said, "Oh STOP Cath Stop! I feel so guilty! I confess!"
Being taken totally off guard by Jennifer's outburst, Catherine quizzically asked, "Confess about what? And what do you feel guilty about?"
As Jennifer gave Catherine a knowing look, she took a deep breath and revealed, "Because, I know who he is! I know who you are seeing, I know who your mysterious boyfriend is! And trust me I am not judging! In fact...I think it is exciting! And if I were I honest, I think I am even a little jealous! Imagine a secret romance no one else can know about!"
Upon hearing Jennifer's claim, Catherine gave her a disbelieving look, knowing there could be no possible way she could know about Vincent!
And so Catherine dared Jennifer, as she said, "You don't know who he is, I think you are just trying to bait me!"
In response, Jennifer nodded, and bearing a huge grin on her face, she insisted, "Oh yes I do! And I want you to know you CAN trust me! These lips are sealed!"
And because Catherine wouldn't or couldn't be fooled by Jennifer, she scolded, "You are relentless Jen! Now please stop it. You can't possibly know him."
To which Jennifer dreamily cooed, "Don't be so sure! I DO know him, and believe me when I say, I can't think of anything more romantically sweet than a relationship where a couple is so much in love, that it doesn't matter to either one of you, that you are so different from one another! A love that is so strong, you can look beyond the differences, because they are simply inconsequential. To LOVE each other so much, that you do not care what anyone else thinks! Even though you are keeping it under raps...which I suppose I do understand, since he has so many depending on him...but Oh yes! I do envy you! To be that much in love, that you are willing to throw caution to the wind, and just go-for-it! Even though it is in a private way."
Upon hearing Jennifer's comments, which sounded so spot on, Catherine was absolutely flabbergasted, thinking that maybe somehow, Jenny DOES know about Vincent!
So because of Catherine's speechlessness, Jennifer was sure she was on to something, and was right about who Mr. Mysterious was! And so she inquisitively asked, "I am dying to know, what do you think your Dad would have said about this unconventional relationship? Do you think he would have approved?"
In a stunned manner, Catherine answered, "I...I...I'm not sure! I know he wanted me to be happy..."
Nodding knowingly, Jennifer agreed, and then asked, "I suppose kids are out of the question uh?"
Catherine was sitting quite dazed! She couldn't believe she was talking about any of this with Jennifer!
So in a mechanical fashion, Catherine shrugged her shoulders, as she thought about Jennifer's question and answered, "I...I...I don't know, we never discussed it, but I..."
Butting in, Jennifer quickly fired another question at her, asking, "So what happened between you two tonight anyway? Did you have a quarrel?"
Saddened, as she thought back on the events of the evening, she carefully assessed their conversation, and replied, "No not a quarrel exactly. It was more like we came to a moment-of-truth impasse."
Assuming the impasse must have been about SEX, Jennifer nodded, and surmisingly asked, "Problems in the old sack uh?"
To which a very private Catherine, hesitantly AND embarrassingly began to share with her close friend, "I don't know if you can say we have a problem in that area...you see we haven't..."
As Catherine heard her own words, she realized how uncomfortable she was talking about this topic, and so she relented, saying, "Jenny, I'm not really comfortable talking about things like this!"
In an understanding voice, Jennifer said, "Oh I see, sexual incompatibility! Although, I have read where men can have sex well into their seventies or eighties, I can't imagine you would want sex at that point though! I mean as Seinfeld says, there is Good Naked and Bad Naked. But even though he is a lot older than you, he seems healthy, and I can imagine he..."
In a questioning manner, Catherine looked at her friend and asked, "Into their seventies, or eighties? What are you talking about Jen?"
Heaving a deep romanticized breath, Jennifer replied, "A May-December" romance of course! Like Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn in "Love in the Afternoon! How positively romantic!"
Cautiously Catherine then asked, "Maybe you better just tell me who it is you think I am seeing Jenny?"
Assuredly, Jennifer answered, "I'm talking about Dr. Peter of course. I saw him entering your building earlier this evening on our way to Cosco."
As Catherine heaved a sigh of relief, she still had to shake her head in wonderment!
Not noticing her friend's reaction, Jennifer went on, and conceded, "Yes, I imagine your Dad would have approved of this relationship. I mean Dr. Peter makes the big bucks, and he treats you good, although, it must be kinda weird, since he is like a second Father..."
Suddenly Catherine shouted, "Stop, Jenny stop! It isn't Dr...errr it isn't Peter!"
Just then, Jennifer's Mom, who was stirred from her sleep, shouted out from a dreamlike state, saying, "Clem you rascal!"
Upon hearing Mrs. Aranson's outburst, Catherine and Jennifer exchanged looks of astonishment, and as they exited the Lincoln tunnel heading for Hackensack, Jennifer with a furrowed brow wondered aloud, "Who in the world is Clem? Dad's name was Herman!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Vincent stirred from a restless night, harboring the same thoughts he had all throughout the night...worrisome concern for Catherine...and knowing she was so far from him, so out of reach, made matters worse.
So finally getting up and readying himself to approach the day, he ventured out in to the tunnels, to escort his Father to breakfast. After warmly greeting one another, Jacob asked, "Good morning, how did you sleep my Son?"
Vincent stayed silent for a moment, before he turned to him, and said, "Until Catherine returns safely, sleep is out of the question...I will be unsettled until she comes home."
As Jacob struggled along with his cane, Vincent slipped a supportive arm through his, and they continued on their way.
Clarifying Catherine's plans, Jacob asked, "She will be returning tonight Vincent, is that right?"
Vincent nodded, "Yes tonight Father, I promised Catherine, when she returned, I will have dealt with the issues that stand between us."
So thoughtfully, Vincent walked along, wanting to explain to Jacob how Lisa felt all those years ago, when he had sent her away. Of how she felt so alone and abandoned. Yes once again, in her young life she had been abandoned. But he knew Jacob already had guilt feelings on how he handled the situation, but there were some things he needed to know, if he was ever going to make things right with her. Only then can Lisa, hopefully achieve serenity, and have peace of mind. Vincent very much wanted to help Lisa in this matter, just as she had helped him.
Wanting to be careful on how he broached the subject with Jacob, Vincent spoke reflectively, finally saying, "Lisa and I spoke last night. She told me things that have helped me understand the darkness of our past. Her honesty has righted that past with truths, truths in which I was not aware of."
Relieved to hear this news, Jacob happily said, "I am glad to know she was able to do that for you. After all these years, she finally did right by you my boy. It is so important to admit ones shortcomings, and have the courage to apologize! I was beginning to wonder if anything I had tried to instill in her as a child, tarried with her!"
These words from Jacob, fueled Vincent's resolve, and he thought it was time for his Father to also practice what he preached!
And so Vincent firmly said, "Yes, Lisa's words have healed a part of me, and now Father, it is my desire for you to do that for her."
Taken aback by Vincent's comment, Jacob asked, "Whatever do you mean?"
Pensively, Vincent looked downward, not knowing how to make his father understand, without hurting him. So, slowly, he began, "Do you remember when Lisa first came to us as a small girl?"
Upon thinking back, Jacob's look became sullen, as he relied on his memory of that day. So with a smile in his eyes, he said, "Why yes I do. Mary had just come to live below here with us, and she was finding it hard to sever herself from the world above, from her life as a Top-Sider. It seemed she found an excuse nearly every day to run an errand above. And it was Mary who had found Lisa hurt and all alone on one of those errands, so she brought her below to me. It looked as if her little arm had indeed been injured! And as I recall she was, Oh my, she was so frightened...so frightened. It took a while for me to gain her trust so I could even look at her injury. So finally I examined her, soothed her, and as I recollect, besides Mary, I was the only one who could get her to eat, I was the only one Lisa would allow near her, I was the only one...the only one she trusted..."
As Jacob spoke these words, he was taken aback. He had forgotten how fragile Lisa had been both physically, and mentally. And Jacob had also forgotten what he must have meant to her, as a broken abused child. He suddenly found it hard to walk another step. So he made his way to the side of the tunnel wall to stand for a moment.
As Vincent held on to him, he asked, "Father are you all right?"
With a tremble to his lips, and a tear in his eye, he said, "I can see now what a heartless old fool I was to have sent her away like I had back then..."
Vincent looked at his Father, and with concern, he said, "Your memories of Lisa have upset you, I am sorry. I shouldn't have made you talk about it."
Jacob gripped his son's arm, and assuredly said, "It is good you did. I see things now, I couldn't see before. Perhaps, I didn't want to see them...at any rate, I need to talk to Lisa, straight away...can you tell her?"
Calming his Father, Vincent lovingly said, "Of course I will...however for now, let's go back to your chamber to calm yourself..."
As Vincent tried to re-direct his Father back to his chamber, Jacob insistently asked once more, "Vincent please tell Lisa I need to speak with her?"
Seeing how important this was to him, Vincent nodded as he aided his Father back home, and told him, "Of course I will..."
To be continued
Chapter Eleven
| Where Rainbows End! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Ten |
