Catherine had taken one of his hands in her own. With their fingers intertwined she didn't realize how tightly she was holding it. He looked down at her small, delicate hand in his and felt the strength that his dear Catherine possessed. He found it so moving that she would respond to him in this way. It was as if she was afraid to let go. She sure has quite a grip! he thought. I'll let her hold on until she feels secure enough to relax. He smiled to himself, thinking how loved and needed this response of Catherine's made him feel. Then bending his head ever so slightly, he inhaled that sweet, sweet scent of her. Oh, how he loved her.
"Catherine it has been a day, hasn't it?"
"Yes Vincent...it has." Her hold became even tighter as she spoke. "Vincent?"
"Yes, Catherine?"
"I was afraid that you might have decided not to see me again after today. . . that it would be for the best." Her chin quivered as she tried to stifle her ebbing emotions. With tears were still hovering so close to the surface, she didn't want to lose control again.
Vincent shook his head in awe. It was hard for him to imagine that Catherine feared he would be the one to ever walk away. "Dearest Catherine, you are all things to me. I don't see how I could exist without you. How could you ever think such a thing?"
"Because I wonder if the emotional turmoil that our differences cause you is worth the few moments we are given. You do have a metabolic balance that you must maintain, Vincent. I overheard Father remind you of that today when he was so upset. I don't ever want you to become ill because of your love for me."
Vincent was so sorry that Catherine over heard that. "Then sweet Catherine," he smiled to ease her distress, "we must make the most of the moments when we are together, so that we can savor them when we are apart."
Vincent and Catherine were always careful not to be too affectionate when they were around others, but just this once Catherine's sweetness was too much for Vincent to resist. He bent his head to give Catherine a kiss - a kiss that transcended passion - a kiss of love, care, and tenderness. As their lips parted it seemed as if Vincent could feel a relaxation come over Catherine, he felt her grip on his hand loosen. Hmmm, I guess that did the trick! he thought. This made Vincent feel so wonderful to know that he is capable of making Catherine feel better, and that he could have such an affect on her.
"That was sweet Vincent, what did I do to deserve that?"
"Everything Catherine...everything."
She reached up to push a stray hair out of Vincent's face, and smiled at him, wondering what spurred the compliment. "Why do you say that?"
"Catherine, don't you think that I know what you have been through today? I felt the pain from within your heart, inside mine. I was so worried about you, and still I couldn't come to you. I felt such frustration knowing that I had to wait for nightfall to come and comfort you. I too wonder if all these limited moments..." Vincent delicately continues, "and controlled affections, can be enough for you to remain with in this fantasy of ours."
"Oh, dear Vincent, if we never progress past what we have right now...if this is my fate, I except it gladly. When I am with you I possess such an overwhelming sense of happiness, like nothing I have ever known. You give me so much Vincent!"
Vincent whispered, "But Catherine, I hate feeling that at times I have let you down. I never should have denied you our trip to the cabin. You didn't deserve that disappointment, Catherine."
"Vincent I hated to see Father upset too. You made the right decision to honor his wishes today. We wouldn't have had any fun if we had gone leaving Father in such a state."
Vincent sighed. "Catherine, you have such compassion for Father, even after all that you heard him say today?"
She looked him, a surprised expression on her face. "Of course Vincent! He's the man who raised, loved and protected you. I could never have anything but respect and affection for Father. If he comes off a little gruff, well, it's only because he loves you so. Catherine snuggled in a little closer and continued, "Vincent, tell me, how could I possibly blame him? I understand completely! I love you too!"
He smiled down shyly and said, "I love you Catherine." If ever there was a time when Vincent was happier than he was at this moment...he couldn't remember when it could have been. Together, they quietly sat and happiness washed over them dissolving the days anguish.
All of a sudden they heard a slight commotion from the front of the van between Father and Mouse. Leaning forward in their seats, they realized they were missing some of the fun.
Father was arguing, "No Mouse...I cannot stand to listen to that Rock 'N Roll the whole way up there... Peter, can't you find a classical station or perhaps an Operatic one? Yes! An opera ... that would be very nice I should think."
Peter looked at Father through the rear view mirror replied, "Jacob what do you want me to do? Fall asleep while I'm driving...let's see if we can't find a compromise."
Mary suggested, "Oh Peter, could you find a station that carries the weather? That way we can plan our activities for tomorrow."
Mouse pouted. "Weather will be weather...hearing it won't change it. Sounds boring to me!"
"Oh ,now Mouse" scolded Father. "You must be willing to compromise. Now listen to Mary's suggestion, quite good I think. Good idea Mary! Yes, we should be aware of any weather squalls that might descend upon us."
Everyone finally agreeing with Mary and Peter flipped the radio to the weather.
All felt settled in and relaxed. The talk within the van turned into a comfortable chatter with observations of the scenery, and things that they planned and wanted to do that weekend. Catherine and Vincent smiled at each other thinking, oh what is in store for us this weekend with this bunch?
Peter suddenly made an announcement. "Hey, there's a McDonald's. Who's hungry? My treat."
"Oh yes, Peter," said Catherine. " I'm starving! What a wonderful idea!"
"A MacWhoooo?" Father asked.
"It is a fast food restaurant, Father. You can get burgers and fries, and shakes . . . you will love it," responded Catherine. "It will be a far cry from William's cooking though."
"Well, I don't know ... fries you say?"
"Yes. French Fried potatoes, come on Jacob, live a little!" Peter chided his old friend.
"Vincent, what about you? Are you going to live dangerously?" teased Catherine.
"Why, yes I will, Catherine ... but, will you do me the honors of ordering for me?"
"My pleasure!" Suddenly the thought of Vincent tying into a Big Mac was so endearingly cute to Catherine. "Mary, Jamie, Mouse and Pascal, what about you...do you want a hamburger, fish or chicken sandwich?"
Mary, and Father both decided on the fish, and it was Big Mac's all the way around for everyone else.
"What is everyone's favorite flavors? The shakes come in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry." Catherine asked.
Father spoke up first. "You had better get me a strawberry, that sounds nutritious...doesn't it? Yes, a strawberry milkshake I do believe."
Peter was getting a silent kick out of Jacob. He leaned over to Pascal and quietly said, "I believe only Father could equate making a milkshake flavor choice to that of being a critical decision!"
Pascal nodded his head in complete agreement!
Vincent decided on vanilla, along with Pascal. Catherine, Mouse and Jamie and Mary all chose Chocolate.
"What about you, Peter?" asked Mary.
"Well Mary, I think I am going to get a huge coffee. That is what we doctors live on you know! Mary, would you write all this down for me?"
"Of course, Peter." Mary said pragmatically. "I have been keeping track right along. Here's the order."
Father turned to Mary. "Oh my, you are a woman with many talents aren't you!"
Mary blushed and said, "Why, I just like to be efficient, Jacob."
Suddenly Father realized how flirtatious he must have sounded! Trying to backtrack a bit he added, "I merely meant that you are always...what I mean to say is...."
Jamie piped in, "Oh Father, I don't believe I have ever heard you at a loss for words before"
Mouse agreed. "Yes, Father always so serious...not so serious now!"
Peter and Pascal were beside themselves. They truly enjoyed seeing Father unnerved for a change.
***
The food ordered, Peter began handing it out. "Here is Vincent's vanilla shake, 3 Big Macs, large fry, and a hot apple pie. Jacob, a vitamin enriched healthy strawberry milkshake!" Peter smiled as he added in the vitamin comment. The rest of the food was passed around to everyone. "It looks like they got our order correct. How about that!" Peter exclaimed.
Catherine, eager to help Vincent said, "Here Vincent, let me unwrap your Big Mac for you."
"Of course Catherine, if you insist."
"I love doing things for you Vincent!" she handed him his burger.
He took a huge bite. "This Big Mac is a delicious sandwich Catherine! The condiments are different from anything I have ever tasted. Is this a special sauce on it?"
"Yes, it is Vincent. In fact way back when the Big Mac was first introduced, they advertised that it was the special sauce used on the Big Mac that made it so different. Let's see if I can remember the jingle. It has two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles onions on a sesame seed bun! There, I said it." Then she told Vincent about the contest that Macdonald's had, when they gave a free Big Mac to anyone who could say that really fast under so many seconds.
"My friends and I were always trying to win one, but I would screw up under the pressure. So now twenty years later...I got it down."
"Couldn't handle the pressure, Catherine?" asked Vincent smiling at her.
"You try it! Let's see how you do?"
"Very well..." Vincent recited the jingle as if he were reading Shakespeare! This really tickled Catherine, and his memory impressed her.
"Vincent, I am amazed! You remembered all that just hearing it once?"
"Well, Catherine ... no. Devin taught it to me years ago."
Catherine acted very perturbed and said, "Vincent, why didn't you tell me you knew all about it? I think you set me up!"
"Don't be angry Catherine. I enjoyed hearing you tell me about it."
She instantly forgave him. She loved that he was teasing her and felt that it must mean that he was happy. "Vincent, let me feed you your french fries," She inserted a fry in between his bite of a burger, saying, "There is a science to the perfect combination of burger and fry!"
Vincent raised his eyebrows in agreement, "You're right Catherine - delicious combination!"
Catherine took a bite of her Big Mac in between feeding Vincent his fries. Vincent noticed that Catherine had sauce on her lips. Reaching for a napkin he said, "Here Catherine...look at me, you have a little of that special sauce on your lips." Then he softly wiped it away.
She looked into Vincent's eyes was held spell bound by the gentleness she saw there. "Why thank you, Vincent." Finding herself entranced by his baby blues.
Taking another bite, he said, "Catherine..."
"Yes, Vincent?"
"I am waiting..."
Catherine snapped out of it. "Waiting for what Vincent?"
"You know, Catherine!" said Vincent looking right into her eyes.
"Vincent...a kiss, perhaps?"
"No..." he said, acting impatient.
Catherine wondered what she could've forgotten. "What Vincent? What?"
"Well Catherine, I have taken a bite of my hamburger, so now I need... ...another fry!" He smugly smiled at her. He'd caught her off-guard, again.
In an attempt to get even, she stuck five fries in to his mouth at once. "There Vincent, that should make up for the wait!"
Up front, Jamie asked, "Father, do you think that William could whip up some milk shakes back home? The kids would love it!"
Mary added, "Oh yes, and what a wonderful way to make sure that they get all their required calcium"
"Not to mention their vitamin D" added Father. "Oh yes, I believe I shall look into this first thing on our return to the tunnels. Yes indeed."
"OK Good, OK Fine!" Mouse cried.
"Pascal, I do believe we are nearing our destination. That's our exit!"
Pascal looked up from his food and said, "Great!" to Peter.
"So Pascal ,have you ever been to the country?"
"No Peter, I haven't. This will be just as new to me as it will be for Vincent. I'm trying to hold down my excitement. Between you and me Peter, I can't wait!"
Peter cast an understanding smile in Pascal's direction.
Peter had been thinking about the sleeping arrangements. "Cathy, will there be enough sleeping quarters for all of us up at your cabin? I was thinking that if we needed to, half of us could go over to my place. After all they're a stones throw away from each other."
"I don't know, Peter. I think it will be more fun for us all to stay together. There are four bedrooms upstairs, and they each have two single beds, and two more bedrooms downstairs. Also, one of the couches turns into a bed. So there should be plenty of room. We'll just have to put the bedding on and start a fire in the fireplace. I have enough food here to feed everyone."
Peter agreed, "Yep, sounds great." And pulling into the driveway of the Chandler cabin, he announced, "We're here everyone! Let's unpack!"
Catherine had packed three huge coolers. They were full of beverages, things for sandwiches, and all the breakfast fixings. She was right, there was plenty of food. Sadly, she remembered she'd only brought 2 steaks.
"No problem, Cathy," said Peter, with a smile. "I know of a nearby cabin with a full freezer we can raid and get about 8 T-bones. I left them there after the last Golf Banquet that I held up here."
Everyone grabbed a bag of gear, and before they knew it, they were building a fire and getting all dug in.
"Come quick, come see what Mouse found!" Mouse yelled down from upstairs to Pascal and Vincent.
"Leave it to Mouse to be exploring already, come on Pascal, we must go see."
Catherine watched as Vincent climbed the wide cedar staircase to the second floor. She thought to herself, he looks quite at home in this rustic setting. He seems so relaxed and happy. Yes, Vincent seems very happy.
Once upstairs, Pascal and Vincent found Mouse holding a raccoon who must have made his way down the chimney.
"Only Mouse," marvelled Pascal to Vincent.
Mouse beamed at his two friends and said, "Racoon below for Mouse, and now Racoon above!"
Pascal put his arm over Vincent's shoulder, and the two men laughed at the irony of it all. "Be careful Mouse, he isn't used to people like Arthur is."
"I will ,Vincent."
"Vincent is right Mouse. He might be very wild."
The Racoon snuggled up in Mouse's arms, as if he wanted to prove these two wrong and Mouse beamed at his two friends, "Doesn't look so wild to me!"
Vincent approvingly nodded his head at Mouse, "I stand corrected." He and Pascal turned and headed back downstairs.
Catherine meanwhile, in the middle of helping Mary set up the kitchen, stopped in her tracks to marvel at the site of Vincent coming down the stairs. Vincent, Vincent here! She still could not believe it. He looked so handsome, his hair was moving about his shoulders in rhythm with his slow and relaxed movements as he descended the steps. He was dressed in dark brown pants and a loose fitted shirt that was belted at his waist and those wonderful boots Catherine adored, which came up slightly over his knees. He was a sight to behold! What a treat for her to be able to watch him from afar and really take in the full affect of his majestic muscular physique!
Just then he lifted his eyes in her direction, catching her gaze with his own. It made Catherine's heart leap. The effect that Vincent's simplest actions had on her was so amazing!
"Catherine... Catherine," said Mary, " where does this go dear?"
"Oh, I am sorry Mary, let's put that in this cupboard." Catherine had to regroup, and she hoped that she didn't look too flushed, but she was sure that Vincent had read her mind!
While Jamie stoked the fire, Peter took the liberty of showing Father around, being as much at home at the Chandler cabin as his own. They looked at plaques, and awards that Catherine's father had accumulated through the years for his fly fishing abilities.
Catherine found herself feeling a little self conscious at what must seem so extravagant in this country cabin, to everyone here who had so little in the way of life's luxuries. She put this thought out of her mind. She didn't want it to over shadow her mood. She wanted everyone to have a good time, and share these pleasures with her. Catherine was just like everyone else here, she knew where the true treasures lie, and those treasures could not be bought.
Everything put away, and bedding put on, Catherine announced that it was time for the Midnight Walk ... a stargazer's delight. Hearing a few moans and groans, mostly from Father, Peter and Mary, Catherine chided, "Oh, come on everybody ... it's only 12:30, and it's gorgeous out. So don't wimp out on me now!"
Vincent took Catherine's hand and saying she could count him in.
Mary, looking at Catherine apologetically said, "Oh Catherine dear... if you don't mind, I would love to make a cup of tea, and just enjoy the fire."
Father added, "Why Mary, that does sound wonderful. Oh my yes, some other time perhaps, Catherine. Go ahead and enjoy yourselves. I will stay with Mary."
Peter, starting to get the vibes that Jacob was a little smitten with Mary, decided to have a little fun. "Mary, once again a great suggestion. I think that I'll stay behind too. I'll keep Mary and Jacob company."
Father looked at his old friend and said, "Peter, it is a lovely night. You've been talking about how you wanted to get back to nature this weekend...go ahead we'll be fine. I insist!"
"Well, if you insist..." said Peter.
"I DO! I mean I do."
So Peter, Jamie, Pascal and Mouse and, of course his new friend the racoon, all agree to join Vincent and Catherine on their adventure.
"Catherine, any fruit for Mouse's friend?" asked Mouse.
"Why yes, here Mouse, I brought some apples, bananas, strawberries, pears and grapes. Just help yourself to what you want. But Mouse, don't you think that you should give your new friend a name?"
Mouse thought about it for a minute and said, "I would like Catherine to name him!" "
"I would love to Mouse. Let's see...I was always fond of an old Beatles song called, Rocky Racoon. Could we call him Rocky?"
"Yes, Mouse likes that, Catherine."
Smiling back at Mouse, she said, "Mouse, then Rocky it is."
Catherine prepared a couple of containers with hot chocolate, they grabbed some blankets and flashlights, and headed for the clearing in the back of the cabin. "Here it is. Peter do you think this is the best spot?"
"Perfect Catherine."
"Why Catherine," said Vincent, "I don't think you exaggerated in you tales about the beauty of the night sky up here. In fact, it's even more spectacular."
"Oh Vincent, I hoped it would be a clear night so that you could get the full affect."
They all spread out the blankets. Steaming mugs of hot chocolate were passed around, and everyone began to relax and take in the beauty of it all. "Leo, Bootes, Ursa Minor, Draco...they are all here, I can see them so clearly," marvelled Vincent. He was in Heaven!
"Mouse!" yelled Pascal! "Your buddy here is spraying apple bits all over me!"
"Me too," cried Jamie "he's messy Mouse!"
"OK good OK fine! Mouse move over here by Peter. Peter likes my friend Rocky. Peter doesn't mind!" Mouse settled in by Peter and smiled up at him.
Peter looked at Mouse and then down at his racoon and back up at Mouse again. He tried not to act as annoyed as everyone else was with the racoon and reluctantly smiled back at Mouse, thinking to himself, How did I get so lucky?
Directing his attention to Vincent, Peter said, "Uh...Vincent, did Catherine ever tell you that she is an expert turkey caller?"
"What? Oh Peter..." giggled Catherine, "Don't you dare..."
"Please, tell me more Peter," Vincent chimed in.
"Well, one Thanksgiving our two families merged up here to share the Thanksgiving feast. Catherine's father and I were turkey hunting. We were gone all day, because we didn't want to come back empty-handed. We were in charge of hunting the holiday bird for heaven sake, and we were having no luck at all. Deciding it was hopeless, we headed back to the cabin dragging our guns behind us. We just cleared the woods, when we spotted Catherine! Here comes little Catherine - how old were you, kiddo?"
Catherine laughed at the memory of it all, " I was 8! As if you didn't remember!"
"Ah yes 8, any way here comes little Catherine with three turkeys following behind her. Just like she was the Pied Piper. Dropping kernels of corn behind her. Well, both of our jaws drop to the ground and we asked her how in the world did she get them to follow her, when we hadn't managed to see one turkey all day?"
"Oh yeah, and I told you both that I learned turkey calling from this hunting tape that Dad had! I practised and practised privately, or so I thought. Mom heard me from the kitchen and asked what in the world was I doing. I told her that I was planning on catching a turkey all by myself, since Dad and Peter wouldn't let me go with them!"
"Needless to say..." grinned Peter "we had to run and get a Butterball turkey from the supermarket, because Catherine couldn't bare to part with any of her new corn pecking pals."
Everyone enjoyed the story, but Vincent especially, getting a little more insight to this woman he loved. Catherine as a little girl! What a joy she must have been...
Finally, one by one, everyone excused themselves to go on back to the cabin. Only Vincent, Catherine and Pascal remained behind.
"Catherine, I just want to say thanks for this weekend. I have never been anywhere like this before."
Catherine was surprised to learn that he had never had an opportunity to experience life outside of the tunnels. Looking with wonderment at Pascal and asked him "Never Pascal?"
"My father was one of the originals in the tunnels, so I was raised there right along with Vincent. We just never considered any other way of life. There were the topsiders, and then there was us. Oh sure we would venture up and have our contacts with the helpers, or at night go out and get into a bit of mischief..."
Vincent chuckled and said to Pascal, " Uhhh, you, me and Devin, we used to have some times didn't we Pascal?"
"Yes, we did! Catherine, we especially loved Halloween, when we could sneak out and go up above with Vincent. We could walk around and Vincent wouldn't have to hide. One year we even went trick-or-treating just like everyone else! Do you remember Vincent, we all arrived at this one house together with another group of kids who were dressed up like the "Wizard of Oz" characters. Let's see they had a Dorothy, a scarecrow, and a tin man, but no Lion. Well the lady that was handing out the treats was raving about their costumes, and how great they all looked, and then she saw you, and thinking that you were part of their group declared that you looked the best! For a prize Catherine, she gave Vincent this huge Hershey Chocolate Candy Bar. We were so jealous, all we got was a pretzel stick!"
Vincent looked at Pascal a bit suspiciously, "Yes, and as I recall half of that candy bar came up missing! I ate that chocolate bar so slowly, a bite at a time trying to make it last forever."
Pascal added, "Yes, I do believe that you ate the last bite on Christmas Eve."
Vincent lowered his head feeling a bit melancholy thinking about the old days, and about Devin. "But we only had the nerve to do those things when Devin was with us, once he left the tunnels, and us ...well it was different then."
Pascal felt sad, still feeling the loss of Devin too. "Well, it was also because we were getting older. Our father's started piling on the responsibilities. I became my father's apprentice on the pipes about then and that became my life, from that point on."
Vincent commended his old friend, "Yes Pascal, you really have made a vocation out of your job. Your dedication is astounding."
"Yes, well thank you Vincent. I really do love my job. In fact, I was a bit hesitant about coming here. I didn't expect to feel so relaxed being away from the pipe chamber. But I really am enjoying myself!"
Catherine smiled at Pascal and said, "I just love that you are here too Pascal. The stories of your childhood, and of a young Vincent are so thrilling for me to hear."
Pascal looked at Vincent while answering Catherine, "Yes, it was a wonderful childhood, we had great times. I'm so lucky to have had Vincent to go through it with."
Catherine said, "Hearing your stories makes me feel, a bit homesick. Like I wish that I could've been there too." She thought to herself, In my childhood I had anything that I desired without literally being spoiled. But somehow I feel like the unfortunate one here. Catherine did not have a sweet memory such as savoring a candy bar because it was so special and rare!
Pascal caught up in the throes of reminiscing spoke emotionally, "Vincent has always been more than a friend to me, much more like a brother."
Vincent looked back at Pascal, "Yes."
Then Pascal, with a big yawn, said goodnight, he was heading to bed.
"Good night, and just snoop around if there is anything that you need to find." Catherine called after him.
"Thank you Catherine, and Goodnight Vincent."
And then there were two...