Mary was cleaning the berries that she and Father picked. Catherine smiled to herself, it seemed they really had picked a few. Pascal, Jamie and Mouse were swimming off of the floating raft. It was a little ways out on the lake, located in front of the cabin's beach front. All appeared to be having a wonderful time.
"Hello, Mary" called Catherine.
Mary looked up and asked if they were having a nice day.
"Mary," said Vincent, "it's been a wonderful day. Seeing things for myself that Catherine has described to me has been . . . beyond words."
Mary returned his smile. "Where did you two go?"
"Catherine took me to a meadow where the grasses are so tall, that when they blow in the wind, they look like waves rolling on the sea."
Catherine chimed in excitedly, and without thinking, "And Mary, we actually saw a deer! Vincent and I were able to watch a deer eating. . ."
"Deer! Why Father and I saw a . . . no, it couldn't have been the same...." stammered Mary, her cheeks reddening.
Catherine quickly added, "Oh, probably not. . .I mean there are so many deer up here Mary. . ."
"Dozens!" said Vincent.
Catherine nodded her head in agreement. "Yes dozens! What are the odds of us seeing the same deer?" Then, changing the subject, "Black raspberries, Mary?"
"Yes, I believe so Catherine. I'm really not up on my berries!"
Catherine snitched one, saying, "Oh Mary, these are so sweet. Here, try one Vincent." She fed Vincent a berry.
"Yes, delicious!" Vincent liked it so much that he snitched one himself!
"Now run along you two, or there won't be any left for Father! He's looking forward to snacking on them," said Mary, slapping at Vincent's hand.
Catherine turned to Vincent and in a suggestive tone asked him, "Well Vincent, ready for a swim? And tell me. . .is it true?"
"Is what true, Catherine?"
"That you're a magnificent swimmer?"
"I guess you'll have to judge for yourself, Catherine."
"Show me! To the raft!" Catherine called over her shoulder, as she peeled off her cut-offs and flipped away her sandals, heading for the water. Vincent ran after her, pulling his shirt over his head, and kicking off his sandals, he took a flying leap into the lake. They shouted hellos as they splashed past Father and Peter.
Jacob looked at his dear old friend, "Peter, if you hadn't spoken to me the way you did, I shutter to think what state we all would have been in this weekend. Vincent is having a wonderful time, isn't he? To think I have been depriving . . ." His quivering chin gave way to the emotions that he wanted to express but couldn't.
"Jacob, don't be too hard on yourself. You have proven to us all that changes come hard, but can happen. Speaking of which, what about Mary? Are things changing there too?"
"I will admit she has turned my head. But I don't know. . .can an old fool like me really romance someone as fine as Mary?"
"Jacob, I will admit, she is fine. Unfortunately it seems she only has eyes for you old friend."
"This morning, my friend, she seemed quite enamored with you! Don't think I didn't notice were you bragging about that emergency appendectomy again?"
"What do you mean again?"
"I've heard that old story one too many times."
Peter chuckled sheepishly. "Why yes, I suppose I was! You caught me." The two men shared a laugh and decided they had enough sun and went to find a little shade.
Vincent beat Catherine by a mile. By the time she was three quarters of the way to the raft, he was already standing up on it! She stopped in the water just in front of the raft and was awe struck by his physique! The water was dripping off of his rippling muscles, and he was shaking the excess water from his long golden hair. He was a vision. Catherine had never even seen him without a shirt on before. She knew that Vincent had huge arm muscles, because she could feel them within his embrace, but she had no idea that his abs were so chiseled! Talk about a six pack!
Vincent smiled down at her and bent to help her up on the raft. He pulled her up with such ease.
"Thank you Vincent, I see that chivalry is not dead after all!"
He held a dripping Catherine in his arms and said, "You don't think that I'm a cad for beating you just now?"
She tried to resist the urge to run her hands across his chest. It was hard not to ogle him. "Oh Vincent, Never!"
"I guess you just can't win today, uh Cathy?" Jamie teased.
Catherine replied, "Oh I wouldn't
say that Jamie!"
They all had fun horsing around for what seemed liked hours. Swimming like children, with a reckless abandon. Pascal was a good swimmer too. He seemed to be enjoying himself in his quiet unassuming way. Mouse too. But Vincent . . . Vincent most of all was having the time of his life.
They all had a spot on the raft and stretched out to let the sun warm them. Vincent was certainly not a conceited man, but he had hoped that his muscles might impress Catherine a little bit. He tried not to be too obvious about flexing in front of her, but he could see her watching him, and that made him feel so wonderful.
"Vincent?" asked Pascal, "do you remember when we were boys, and we would swim at the mirror pool? We would have contests on who could stay under the longest, and I swear man, you would stay under forever! You gave Devin and me a scare many a time."
"Ah yes, I loved swimming under water. I felt weightless, and so carefree. I imagined that I was "Poseidon...God of the Sea." Oh. . . the fantasies of a young boy."
Catherine was caught up in a daydream, trying to envision Vincent as a young boy says. "I wish I had known you then Vincent!"
Pascal smiled. "Catherine, if you would had known Vincent back then, you would have had to stand in line with all his other female admirers."
"Pascal. . .please," said Vincent.
Catherine smiled at Vincent and encouraged Pascal to continue. "What do you mean? Tell more! "
Pascal was having fun at his friends expense. "Vincent, you must have noticed how all the girls came to you when ever they needed help. Either with their studies, or with anything that may have required some muscle. Why they passed up all of us scrawny guys."
Catherine smiled as Pascal finished his story. "So Pascal, what you're telling me is that I would've had some competition on getting any of Vincent's attention?"
Vincent was thankful to Pascal for the flattering story, but embarrassed as well. "Ahh Catherine, Pascal's stories are exaggerations, meant to impress you for me."
"Oh Vincent, Pascal's stories weren't needed. You do a fine job of that all by yourself!"
From the shore they heard Peter shouting, "The grills getting hot...Dinner time."
"Ok Good, OK Fine. Mouse is starving and must check on Rocky."
Jamie constantly up for a challenge, shouted, "I'll beat you guys back!"
Pascal and Mouse took the bait and dove in after her. But there were two people who could have cared less about beating Jamie, at the moment they had eyes only for each other.
"Vincent," cooed Catherine, "I could sit and stare at you all day!"
Catherine, in her bikini looked pretty fetching herself, and Vincent told her so. "Catherine, I look at you, and each new day that dawns, I marvel at the beauty that is within you, the beauty that allows us this dream that we share. But now to see you like this, so spirited and carefree, and so outwardly beautiful! I am in such awe of your beauty. I can't help but wonder how this can all be so!"
"It can be because it is! Our life together is all I ever dreamed of. Vincent until our paths crossed, I was merely existing. You have given me so much Vincent. I wish there was a way that I could make you understand that we stand on equal ground. I am just as much in awe of your beauty. Vincent you are so beautiful! You must be aware, you must know how exquisite you are, look at those muscles!"
"Why Catherine, you flatter me!"
Peter yelled once again at the two!
"Catherine, we should go join the others and this time I'll let you beat me back to shore." Vincent stood up, offering Catherine a hand.
She took it and said, "Oh no mercy wins Vincent, I want to win fair and square! But I wish that we didn't have to go back yet. I wish that I could just sit out here and look at you the rest of the day!"
Vincent felt very loved. "Now that wouldn't be very productive Catherine. . . Look, there's Father waving us in."
Father noticed the empty seat next to Mary, and just he started to make his way to sit by her, Peter sat down next to her. Father cleared his throat, and tried to act content sitting in an alternate seat next to Pascal and Mouse. Vincent and Catherine caught this little glitch in Father's plans and shared a smile at each other.
"Mary, dear," Father said in his most charming tone, "The potatoes are delicious."
"why thank you, Father," Mary replied as she shyly lowered her eyes. "I'm so glad you like them."
"I do, the texture is very tender. You baked them for just the right amount of time, at just the right temperature and you must have put a special seasoning on the skins . . . what is that flavor . . . I think it is . . . no . . . I can't quite pinpoint . . . could it be . . ."
Peter couldn't take it any longer. "Salt!"
"Salt?" queried Father.
"Yes. . . salt . . . plain old table salt!"
"Ah yes, that must be the flavor that I am detecting."
Mary lowered her head and smiled to herself.
Father realized that perhaps he was over complementing Mary, but did not appreciate however that Peter seemed to enjoy embarrassing him so much.
Vincent and Catherine discreetly took in the exchanges between Father and Peter. Deciding that the two sorely needed a diversion, Catherine said, "Peter, you did an excellent job grilling the steaks! Mine is just perfect!"
Everyone started chiming in their compliments to Peter as well. Everyone that is except for Father! Cutting into his steak, he grimaced and said, "Peter, mine is a bit rare, do you think that you could continue cooking it for a few minutes?"
Peter shot Father an annoyed look as he got up and grabbed his steak with the tongs, dangling it in front of Father's face he huffed, "Of course, old friend." Peter was most certain that he detected a little glint in Father's eye.
Mary glanced over at Father and caught his attention with a smile. Father, smiled back at Mary and though there was chatter all around, for them...the rest was silence.
Pascal and Jamie decided to get a fire going in the fireplace as the evening chill set in.
Mouse noticed a machine that he was not familiar with. "What's this gizmo Catherine?"
"That's a VCR Mouse. You can put a videotape in, and that wire there leads to the TV. You're then able to view what is on the tape. Here, let me show you, Mouse. Let's see, what movies are in here? I really can't remember the last time I watched a movie up here. Oh my, we have "Moby Dick", "The Wizard of Oz", and my personal fave, Franco Zefferelli's "Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare, anyone?"
"Yes Catherine, that would be lovely," said Mary. Mary no sooner sat down on the other facing couch when suddenly Father dove in next to her, before anyone else had the chance. Peter, noticed Jacob's big effort to sit by Mary, silently got a kick out of this obvious move! Then remembering a repair he has been putting off over at his place excused himself.
Pascal and Jamie offered to go along and help.
Mouse was far too interested in this new machine to go, and he had Rocky to look after.
Vincent and Father loved watching this beautifully done movie version - seeing all the words that they knew and loved so much, come to life. Mary and Catherine loved it too. Catherine shared with them that as a teenager she must have seen this movie a dozen times. By the end of the movie, everyone had a tear to wipe away, saddened by the loss of these two tragic lovers.
Father saw the parallels to Vincent and Catherine's love story - the tragedy that can ensue when other people meddle. It made him very ashamed. He excused himself and went out on the porch.
"I think Father is upset. I should..." said Mary.
"Mary, I'll go to him." Vincent replied.
"Yes. . ." Father answered, his head bowed.
"Mary is concerned about you. She's afraid that you're upset."
"Oh Vincent, how is it that I could not see what I was doing - interfering with you and Catherine like I have. What right did I have to disapprove. . .? I'm glad Peter made me see the error of my ways before any real harm was done."
"Father, you only had concern for me. I know that, and Catherine does too. What you did was out of love."
Father looked up, relieved. "She does Vincent?"
Vincent nodded yes, with his eyes on Father's hand as he stood clenching his cane. Vincent's heart went out to him. He seemed to be struggling so with all these realizations. "Yes Father, she does."
"I'm so glad for that, Vincent." He looked out at the scenery around him. "Vincent, seeing you above, enjoying all the pleasures of God's green earth, I have to tell you that I must re-evaluate. I have to wonder if I have been wrong all these years. Living in the tunnels, depriving you of certain things!"
"Father, the tunnels are my home. We have beauties below that are not found above. I, along with many others, love our life in the tunnels. They seem to have an unspoken acceptance to so many. To the people who have felt lost at some point in their lives. Others, who have a choice to go above, but still remain below with us. They choose to, because it is their home. Father, the world that you envisioned, and then created has been a safe refuge for so many. Mouse, Pascal, Mary, and many that are still with us, and the many more who have decided to go back above. But even they, who left us, have remained helpers and true to our cause. And lastly Father. . .me. Especially me. Don't you know that I realize that there is no place here for me above? Father, without you caring for me I would have died. And without the tunnels to embrace me, I wouldn't have had any place to live. Father, you along with the tunnels have given me everything! I love you for all that you done for me."
Vincent looked out at the lake continued. "This weekend has been a dream that turned into a reality for me. Yes, it has been a time, but when we return it will be back to a place that I love."
Vincent put his arm around his Father. "Father, you have not done anything wrong that hasn't been righted. You seem to look upon Catherine differently. Is this so?"
"Yes Vincent. I believe that she truly is worthy of you. I'll no longer stand in your way."
"She's worthy of me. . .Oh Father!" Vincent looked down at this man, his Father, knowing that he is just like any other father. No woman could ever really be good enough for his son. Vincent stifled a smile, and gently shook his head in wonderment.
Father straightened up, and cleared his throat, standing perhaps a few inches taller than before, feeling as if a ton of weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. His chin quivered with emotion, but he managed a smile, a smile born of pride. This wonderful son of his, how powerful the gift of forgiveness is.
Mary and Catherine glance out on the porch, relieved to see that Vincent had his arm around his father in a loving embrace, and both were still deep in conversation. "Mary, let's go have a cup of tea. They could be awhile."
"Catherine, that does sound lovely."
"Oh Mary, there is also some wine that I could offer you. . .shall we?"
"Wine, oh dear, I don't know if I should?"
"I will indulge if you will!" said Catherine coaxingly.
"In that case Catherine, I would like a glass. Oh My! We are indulgent aren't we?"
"Well Mary, there are studies that show a glass of wine daily is beneficial to your heart and circulatory system."
"Really now!" said Mary, then looking toward Mouse and the VCR, "Catherine, I don't know if your tape machine will ever be the same!"
"Yes, it does look as if Mouse discovered the rewind button! But, seeing him enjoy himself so much is worth any possible repairs."
The two women settled down at the kitchen table enjoying each other's company. "Catherine dear, this life that you lead, your job, your relationship with Vincent, it must be difficult to juggle everything."
Catherine thought for a moment and answered Mary's question truthfully. "It is complicated at times, keeping the part of my life with Vincent secret from those that I love - my father, my best friend Jenny. But I know I must keep Vincent's world safe. I love him more than life itself. Before I met Vincent, I felt so. . . incomplete. I longed for something. . .someone. After the attack Mary, and I had to leave the tunnels, and return to my life above, I missed Vincent so much. I realized Vincent was that someone I had been waiting for."
Looking into Mary's eyes with conviction she continued. "I'll do whatever I must to be a part of Vincent's life. Even if I must live with these limitations, I will, because without him Mary, I am merely existing. Oh how do I make you understand?"
"Oh I think that I do dear!"
Catherine squeezed her hand, waiting for Mary to embellish on that subject, knowing that she was thinking of Father too, but she does not. "Certainly you have someone Catherine, to talk and confide in."
"I do, I have Peter, and Mary I love and respect him so much. For him to talk to Father like he did on our behalf - it gave us a renewed hope for the future. Mary. . . I cherish the friendship that I have found with you. It is wonderful to be able to sit and talk with another woman about the man that I love."
Mary returned Catherine's smile, as Catherine continued, "Mary, since I met Vincent, I now know what true happiness is."
"Yes, I can see your happiness when you are together. But Catherine, what about the times when you and Vincent are apart? Don't you get lonely?"
" Yes, but I manage. . . Losing my mother at such a young age, I think that I got use to my aloneness, keeping things inside. A tragedy like that sets you apart from the other children."
"What was your mother like Catherine?"
As Catherine reflected a peaceful smile transformed her face. "She was very sweet and kind, Mary. Everyone loved her! Would you like to see her picture?"
"Oh yes dear, I would."
Catherine went to the bookshelf and found the family photo album and settling back down by Mary she opened the page to the wedding picture of her parents.
"She's lovely Catherine!"
Catherine nodded in agreement. "Yes, she was very beautiful, and she was a very gentle person."
Just then, Father and Vincent came in. "What have we here, Catherine?" asked Father.
"Photos of my family, this is one of my mother that I was just showing Mary."
"Why Catherine, you must have gotten your beauty from your Mother!" exclaimed Father.
Catherine nearly fell off of her chair. To receive a compliment from Father, this was quite a surprise. "Thank you, Father."
Mary and Vincent looked at each other, surprised as well.
"And this Catherine, is this your baby picture?"
"Which one? Oh , yes Father, that's me with my Mom, Dad and my late Grandma Chandler."
"Lovely family," Father stated, "and Catherine this older gentlemen, who is this? He looks familiar."
"Why that is Granddaddy Chandler. He founded my Father's firm way back in 1949."
"Catherine, I believe that I had dealings with this man. Why yes! He helped represent my case. Catherine, he was a good fair man."
"You knew my Grandfather? I guess it really is a small world."
Father nodded his head yes. "Is he still living Catherine?"
"No," Catherine answered sadly. "Granddaddy died six years ago. I had just joined the firm, and we were a three-generation partnership for about four months when he became ill. It was a surprise to us all that his heart was so bad. He died during heart surgery." Father laid his hand on Catherine's and said that he was truly sorry.
"Thank you Father, that means so much to me. I am so glad that you knew Granddaddy and that you liked him."
Vincent was looking at Catherine's baby picture on the next page. With a bit of melancholy in his voice, he said, "Catherine, you were such a beautiful baby."
Smiling down looking at the picture that Vincent was referring to, Catherine replied, "Thank you Vincent, everyone always said that I took after my mother's side of the family."
"Catherine, that smile . . . beautiful. . ."
"Ah yes, I guess that I had my mother's smile! At least that is what Dad always says." Catherine looked up at Vincent expecting to return a smile, but was surprised to see a sadness in Vincent's eyes instead. She decided it was time to put the pictures away. "Well you better watch me or I will be bringing out the home movies next. Would you like to join Mary and I in a glass of wine?"
"Father," announced Mary, "Catherine says that it has medicinal properties."
"Yes 'tis true, 'tis true. . ." said Father. "So for the sake of medicine, shall I pour us a glass Vincent?"
"Of course, Father." He spoke in a quiet thoughtful tone.
Catherine noticed Vincent seemed more pensive. Was it his talk with Father, or the photo album? She noticed how looking at her baby picture seemed to effect him, she was sure it must have been the photos.
The four of them were sitting around the kitchen table, when Peter, Pascal and Jamie returned from Peter's cabin.
Peter seemed elated. "Hello, all. My drain problem is solved, thanks to Pascal and his knowledge of pipes."
Pascal noted that it wasn't so hard, trying to sound modest.
"What no late night walk tonight? I wanted to go on another excursion on our last night," said Jamie.
Everyone looked at each other. "Fine with me," said Catherine. We were just relaxing a bit enjoying some wine and conversation. Anyone else join us?"
"Actually Cathy, a cold beer sounds pretty good to me right now." Peter headed toward the kitchen. "Let me see if Charles has any stashed away here in the fridge. Uh uh! A good old Bud. Pascal, join me, you deserve one after all the hard work you did!"
"Sure, Peter."
Suddenly an irritated Jamie could be heard yelling at Mouse. "Mouse, I am trying to watch this part, stop rewinding!" It was the part in "The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy comes upon the scarecrow. Everyone around the table shared a laugh knowing that Jamie's attempt to watch anything with Mouse holding the remote! Mouse found the Pause button!
Everyone was trying to decide what their last nighttime excursion should be. "Peter do you remember," reminisced Catherine "how we would load up in the Jeep and go spotting for deer? Do you think that would be possible in the van?"
"Cathy, I don't think that we should take any chances with our transportation back to the city. But I have my old pick-up truck up here. We could make a sort of a joy ride out of it. Everyone could hop into the bed of the truck. Except for you Mary, you could sit in the cab with me."
"I hope there is room for three, Peter. These old bones can't take much bouncing!" said Father, wondering what Peter was really up to with Mary. He keeps throwing wrenches into the works. "Who would like to tag along with me to get the truck? Mary you haven't seen my cabin yet. Would you like to go along?"
"Oh my yes I would. Father, will you join us?" asked Mary.
"Only if I am invited." Father looked sideways at Peter.
"Of course old friend, that goes without saying!" Peter looked a bit glib. He was having so much fun tweaking Jacob. "Cathy we won't be long, ok kiddo?"
Catherine, happy to have time alone to talk with Vincent said, "Take your time Peter."