As Vincent and Lisa walked back to Jacob's chamber, Lisa looked over at him, feeling happy to have this easiness, being together once more. She had hoped, that in time, they would be friends as they had been so very long ago. The kinship she shared with Vincent could not be denied, as they were both a part of this hidden tunnel community, and very special family.
Reminiscing, Lisa asked, “Do you remember how we used to run wild through these tunnels? The elders would always warn us to slow down, not to run too fast. But we could never run fast enough could we? They didn’t understand because they didn’t grow up here. They couldn’t know the restlessness that came along with the protective sheltering they showered upon us.”
Vincent smiled at the sweet memory, and he knew just what Lisa meant. Warmly, he confirmed her thought, by saying, “Yes, a child growing up here, knowing there was a wide open world above to explore, well, such knowledge did create a restlessness of sorts within us. But it was a wonderful childhood we had. At least we had each other.”
Thoughtfully, Lisa said, “Oh Vincent, I wouldn’t trade our childhood, not for the world!”
Feeling nostalgic, Lisa smiled to herself, and with a friskiness, she demanded, “Tell me you remember how we used to play catch me if you can!”
Smiling as he bent his head, Vincent told her, “Yes I remember.”
She then recalled, “You were always the fastest. Oh Vincent, I swear you could run like the wind.”
Looking at him, she wondered if he still had it in him. So without a second thought, Lisa tagged Vincent, and as she began to run, she yelled, “Catch me if you can!”
She then ran as fast as she could! And of course, in a blink of an eye, Vincent tagged her back, and for the moment, they were as children, laughing freely and openly together again.
Catching her breath, she leaned against the tunnel wall, and confessed, “You were always the most special to me Vincent, above everyone else, the most special. You still are.”
In reply, Vincent said, “You are to me as well.”
As they continued on with their walk, Lisa told Vincent about Jacob’s talk with her today. Softly she spoke, as she told him all it meant to her, saying, “You know Vincent, all the years in between my life
here, had been filled with a searching, a wanting, I tried to dismiss it, but it was always there. I never thought I would ever have Father’s love, or approval again. But his words today, have fulfilled a need, that had been buried so deep inside my heart, I feel as if I may start my life anew. Oh Vincent, it is a wondrous feeling!”
Vincent nodded in agreement, knowing how Lisa felt. And so he said, “Don’t you realize, this is what you have done for me as well?”
Lisa stopped walking for a moment, as these words Vincent spoke seemed to paralyze her. She touched Vincent’s arm, and she told him how sincerely sorry she was that he had been burdened with this childhood guilt, all this time.
Sorrowfully, she then asked, “What can I ever tell you, to make up for all those wasted years?”
Shaking his head, he tried to find the words. He wanted to tell her, that now it is over, and the past, no longer had the strength it did just a day ago. And so he said with care, “It no longer matters. I can now put that part of my life away. I no longer need to examine it, or fear it any more. Lisa, your words have helped to make me feel whole. I now feel, I may be all Catherine deserves.”
Lisa once again, wondered about the relationship Vincent, and Catherine shared. She knew it would embarrass Vincent if she asked anything too personal, and so she generically asked, “What does Catherine deserve Vincent?”
Vincent bent his head, contemplating Lisa’s question. Softly he told her, “Everything, she deserves everything.”
Lisa softly replied, “That's lovely. She is a very lucky girl to have someone care for her as you do."
She then playfully jumped in front of him, and proceeded to walk backwards as she spoke, saying, "You know, after everything we have been through together, and all we have meant to one another, you could confide, or tell, or ask me anything! Anything at all.”
Knowing Lisa's nature, of loving to be a confidant, along with a prying sleuthing component as well, Vincent simply replied, "I know, and appreciate knowing you are there for me, if I should need to talk to someone.”
Feeling a bit let down that she didn't get any scoops, Lisa put her arm through his, and found contentment again with their new found easiness, and with a smile said, "I hope it will always be this way. My being there for you, and you for me. Please say we won't stray from each other again."
With a confirming nod, Vincent assured her, "I promise Lisa."
Arriving at Jacob’s chamber, Vincent stepped aside, to allow Lisa to enter before him, and announcing their return, Vincent said, “We are back Father. Has Lou departed?”
Jacob stood to welcome them, and explained, “Yes, Lou had to leave, he has the city of Manhattan to keep well-coiffed you know."
Turning to speak directly to Lisa, Jacob asked with interest, "How did your first instruction go with the
children?”
Lisa still feeling a bit guarded, not wanting to push too hard, politely answered, "It went very well. I see real promise in Samantha and a few of the others. Eric on the other hand is another story. Oh but he tries so desperately, if he would only keep his eyes forward, and not try to watch me so closely, I try to tell him to follow his own inner rhythm. I believe he is trying to mirror my movements too precisely.”
Jacob and Vincent exchanged a look, and it was Jacob, who broke out in a low ebbing chuckle.
Lisa suspiciously looked at the two, and could see they were sharing a joke, and so with her hands on her hips, she smiled as she asked, “What is so humorous?”
Stepping to her side, Vincent told her, “Lisa, perhaps Eric is watching you closely for another reason!”
Chuckling a bit louder, Jacob added, “It would seem young Eric fancies you my Dear!”
Looking first at Jacob, then to Vincent, in a disbelieving manner, Lisa said, "That couldn’t be so!”
Enthusiastically, Jacob said, "Of course it could be so! It is not uncommon for a young lad to fancy his
instructor."
Dreamily, Jacob added, "I, myself had grandiose ideas of a romance with a beautiful young novice when I was about Eric's age. Dare I ask if I am blushing?"
Vincent and Lisa shared a smile, and as Jacob cleared his throat, he suggested, “Perhaps you better teach him all you can, while you have his undivided attention, if his crush wears off, you will have as much success teaching him the tango, as I am having with his English lessons!”
The three of them then shared a laugh, as they needed a lighthearted moment, after all they had faced and resolved between them this day.
Suddenly remembering why Vincent brought Lisa back to his chamber, Jacob hurriedly said, “Lisa, the reason Vincent sent for you, was because your lawyer gave this letter to Lou, to pass on to you.”
Jacob couldn’t help but read the return address, as he handed it to Lisa, and he saw it was from the “The School of American Ballet”.
Accepting the letter, Lisa read the address herself, and suddenly her face fell. As she turned to leave, with a preoccupied manner, she told Jacob, “Thank you Father.”
Wanting to know why the letter would warrant such a reaction from Lisa, Jacob suggested, "You seem concerned! What is wrong? Perhaps you should open this letter, here with us.”
To be continued
Chapter Thirteen
Reminiscing, Lisa asked, “Do you remember how we used to run wild through these tunnels? The elders would always warn us to slow down, not to run too fast. But we could never run fast enough could we? They didn’t understand because they didn’t grow up here. They couldn’t know the restlessness that came along with the protective sheltering they showered upon us.”
Vincent smiled at the sweet memory, and he knew just what Lisa meant. Warmly, he confirmed her thought, by saying, “Yes, a child growing up here, knowing there was a wide open world above to explore, well, such knowledge did create a restlessness of sorts within us. But it was a wonderful childhood we had. At least we had each other.”
Thoughtfully, Lisa said, “Oh Vincent, I wouldn’t trade our childhood, not for the world!”
Feeling nostalgic, Lisa smiled to herself, and with a friskiness, she demanded, “Tell me you remember how we used to play catch me if you can!”
Smiling as he bent his head, Vincent told her, “Yes I remember.”
She then recalled, “You were always the fastest. Oh Vincent, I swear you could run like the wind.”
Looking at him, she wondered if he still had it in him. So without a second thought, Lisa tagged Vincent, and as she began to run, she yelled, “Catch me if you can!”
She then ran as fast as she could! And of course, in a blink of an eye, Vincent tagged her back, and for the moment, they were as children, laughing freely and openly together again.
Catching her breath, she leaned against the tunnel wall, and confessed, “You were always the most special to me Vincent, above everyone else, the most special. You still are.”
In reply, Vincent said, “You are to me as well.”
As they continued on with their walk, Lisa told Vincent about Jacob’s talk with her today. Softly she spoke, as she told him all it meant to her, saying, “You know Vincent, all the years in between my life
here, had been filled with a searching, a wanting, I tried to dismiss it, but it was always there. I never thought I would ever have Father’s love, or approval again. But his words today, have fulfilled a need, that had been buried so deep inside my heart, I feel as if I may start my life anew. Oh Vincent, it is a wondrous feeling!”
Vincent nodded in agreement, knowing how Lisa felt. And so he said, “Don’t you realize, this is what you have done for me as well?”
Lisa stopped walking for a moment, as these words Vincent spoke seemed to paralyze her. She touched Vincent’s arm, and she told him how sincerely sorry she was that he had been burdened with this childhood guilt, all this time.
Sorrowfully, she then asked, “What can I ever tell you, to make up for all those wasted years?”
Shaking his head, he tried to find the words. He wanted to tell her, that now it is over, and the past, no longer had the strength it did just a day ago. And so he said with care, “It no longer matters. I can now put that part of my life away. I no longer need to examine it, or fear it any more. Lisa, your words have helped to make me feel whole. I now feel, I may be all Catherine deserves.”
Lisa once again, wondered about the relationship Vincent, and Catherine shared. She knew it would embarrass Vincent if she asked anything too personal, and so she generically asked, “What does Catherine deserve Vincent?”
Vincent bent his head, contemplating Lisa’s question. Softly he told her, “Everything, she deserves everything.”
Lisa softly replied, “That's lovely. She is a very lucky girl to have someone care for her as you do."
She then playfully jumped in front of him, and proceeded to walk backwards as she spoke, saying, "You know, after everything we have been through together, and all we have meant to one another, you could confide, or tell, or ask me anything! Anything at all.”
Knowing Lisa's nature, of loving to be a confidant, along with a prying sleuthing component as well, Vincent simply replied, "I know, and appreciate knowing you are there for me, if I should need to talk to someone.”
Feeling a bit let down that she didn't get any scoops, Lisa put her arm through his, and found contentment again with their new found easiness, and with a smile said, "I hope it will always be this way. My being there for you, and you for me. Please say we won't stray from each other again."
With a confirming nod, Vincent assured her, "I promise Lisa."
Arriving at Jacob’s chamber, Vincent stepped aside, to allow Lisa to enter before him, and announcing their return, Vincent said, “We are back Father. Has Lou departed?”
Jacob stood to welcome them, and explained, “Yes, Lou had to leave, he has the city of Manhattan to keep well-coiffed you know."
Turning to speak directly to Lisa, Jacob asked with interest, "How did your first instruction go with the
children?”
Lisa still feeling a bit guarded, not wanting to push too hard, politely answered, "It went very well. I see real promise in Samantha and a few of the others. Eric on the other hand is another story. Oh but he tries so desperately, if he would only keep his eyes forward, and not try to watch me so closely, I try to tell him to follow his own inner rhythm. I believe he is trying to mirror my movements too precisely.”
Jacob and Vincent exchanged a look, and it was Jacob, who broke out in a low ebbing chuckle.
Lisa suspiciously looked at the two, and could see they were sharing a joke, and so with her hands on her hips, she smiled as she asked, “What is so humorous?”
Stepping to her side, Vincent told her, “Lisa, perhaps Eric is watching you closely for another reason!”
Chuckling a bit louder, Jacob added, “It would seem young Eric fancies you my Dear!”
Looking first at Jacob, then to Vincent, in a disbelieving manner, Lisa said, "That couldn’t be so!”
Enthusiastically, Jacob said, "Of course it could be so! It is not uncommon for a young lad to fancy his
instructor."
Dreamily, Jacob added, "I, myself had grandiose ideas of a romance with a beautiful young novice when I was about Eric's age. Dare I ask if I am blushing?"
Vincent and Lisa shared a smile, and as Jacob cleared his throat, he suggested, “Perhaps you better teach him all you can, while you have his undivided attention, if his crush wears off, you will have as much success teaching him the tango, as I am having with his English lessons!”
The three of them then shared a laugh, as they needed a lighthearted moment, after all they had faced and resolved between them this day.
Suddenly remembering why Vincent brought Lisa back to his chamber, Jacob hurriedly said, “Lisa, the reason Vincent sent for you, was because your lawyer gave this letter to Lou, to pass on to you.”
Jacob couldn’t help but read the return address, as he handed it to Lisa, and he saw it was from the “The School of American Ballet”.
Accepting the letter, Lisa read the address herself, and suddenly her face fell. As she turned to leave, with a preoccupied manner, she told Jacob, “Thank you Father.”
Wanting to know why the letter would warrant such a reaction from Lisa, Jacob suggested, "You seem concerned! What is wrong? Perhaps you should open this letter, here with us.”
To be continued
Chapter Thirteen
| Where Rainbows End! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twelve |
