Chapter 8

Father and the House

Work was waiting for her much as she left it plus a whole new stack of files. She stared at them gloomily, ‘Joe’s in early’ she thought. She went to his office; she needed to ask for the week of her wedding and the week following it off. She was not looking forward to his reaction and just as she predicted he exploded

"What are you trying to do to me Radcliff!?" He bellowed. "You know we’re short handed as it is."

"Joe I’ve told you well in advance and I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t really need it. I’m buying a house today and I want the time to move in."

A house? Joe was surprised, what would a girl like Cathy want a house for? Then a thought struck him.

"Hey you’re not pulling a fast one on me are you, like getting married and having kids and leaving here?"

"No Joe don’t worry." She laughed, although he had hit close to the mark. ‘I won’t leave yet,’ she thought. That out of the way she got to work, she had recently switched from investigation to trail trial work, mostly for Vincent’s sake, but she was tired of putting her life on the line. Three years was enough. L let somebody else get shot at and beat up for a change.

Just about lunch time Nell showed up with the papers for her signature, she called her bank to wire the money to Nell’s and the house was theirs.

She rushed home after work to get the wedding dress Below so Mary could begin the alterations needed. Jaime was waiting for her at the threshold, she explained that Vincent was getting cleaned up and would meet her in his chamber when she was done with Mary.

She and Jaime walked along chatting excitedly about the wedding when they practically walked right into the Bishop.

"Catherine," Jaime began, "this is Bish…," but was quickly cut off.

"My name is Bishop, Bish for short, it’s nice to meet you Catherine," he extended his hand. She shook it, "it’s nice to meet you," she smiled, "welcome to the community."

"Thank you my dear I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again soon." He gave her a wink and continued on his way.

Jaime had nearly blown Vincent’s surprise, she could have kicked herself, but the Bishop had saved her very neatly. As she got her composure back she heard Catherine say, "He seems like a nice man."

"Oh yeah he’s real nice. Come on Mary’s waiting we better get going."

Mary was indeed waiting, she had her pins and tape measurer all set. She and Jaime helped Catherine get the dress on then Mary had her step up onto her ottoman. She pinned and measured all the while exclaiming what beautiful material the dress was made off and clucked appreciatively at the skillful craftsmanship that had gone into it.

"Will it be much trouble to alter?" Catherine asked worriedly.

"No dear it’ll be just fine," Mary patted her on the shoulder.

Jaime was in awe as she sat on Mary’s bed watching, it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. Not that she was one for dresses or frills, but she could appreciate it on someone else.

Samantha had walked in as Catherine was being fitted and took a seat beside Jaime, admiring the gown as well. Unlike Jaime, Samantha loved dresses and frills and above all else romance. She couldn’t think of a more romantic couple than Vincent and Catherine. She wanted to be part of the wedding in the worst way, to do something important. Her attention came back as Catherine was describing the ring she wanted to have made for Vincent. Jaime suggested that perhaps Cullen could draw what Catherine wanted to show to a jeweler.

"Does anyone know what Vincent’s ring size is?" Catherine asked hopefully.

"Now there’s a question," Jaime replied. "How the heck are we going to find that out?"

Samantha jumped off the bed excitedly, "I can find out but I’ll need some supplies."

The older women were intrigued, how was this little slip of a girl going to manage it. Samantha explained that Vincent sometimes helped the younger children with their arts and crafts; if Catherine could get them some construction paper and tape they could make garlands for the Great Hall to be used as wedding decorations.

"But how does that get us Vincent’s ring size?" Jaime asked mystified.

"We’ll just start goofing around making small rings for our fingers and we’ll get one of the kids to do Vincent’s fingers. Then I’ll make sure I slip them off his fingers very carefully and keep the one we need. I can run it up to Catherine as soon as I get it and she can take it with her to the jewelers."

Everyone agreed it was a brilliant idea and Catherine said she would bring the needed supplies down as soon as possible so there would be enough time to have the ring made. Samantha ran off to let the children know that they had an important task for the wedding.

Mary and Jaime helped Catherine out of the gown and after giving Mary a hug she and Jaime left. They went to Cullen’s workshop where they found him polishing up an old sideboard. When Catherine explained what she needed he took out a piece of paper and pencil and under her direction the ring began to take shape.

She wanted a plain silver band engraved with two fully bloomed roses nestled together with leaves going around the circumference connecting them. She planned on having a ruby in the center of one rose and a diamond in the other. Cullen drew it perfectly and she carefully folded the paper and tucked it away in her pocket.

The girls left the workshop and parted at the entrance of Vincent’s chamber. He wasn’t back yet so Catherine took a book of poems from the shelf and made herself comfortable in his big chair. She hadn’t gotten far into the book when she felt him nearing; she rose to greet him. After a kiss that left them both breathless he pushed her back to arms length

"How did your fitting go?" He was attempting to regain his composure and control over his body’s reaction to her.

She resumed her seat pulling him down to sit next to her. "Mary said there wouldn’t be any problems. Vincent, Nell came by today with the papers, the house is ours!" She was so excited he couldn’t help but smile at her.

"Catherine it’s so unbelievable isn’t it? We’ll be married soon and live in a house of our own, it’s like a miracle, like a dream!" He cupped her cheek with a hand, looking deeply into her eyes. "You becoming my wife is a miracle," he whispered.

He savored the word wife, something he never thought he would be able to say. She beamed up at him, "I know Vincent after all we’ve been through we deserve to be happy. I spoke to Joe today and he grudgingly let me have the time off, two whole weeks together with no work, no worries, it’ll be like heaven."

"Catherine anywhere with you is heaven."

"You keep talking like that and you’ll never get me to leave."

"I don’t want you to go."

"I know my love but we’ll be together soon. Did you ask Father for Devin’s phone number?"

"Yes I have it here." He reached into a pocket bringing out a slip of paper.

"Did you want me to call or do you think you should?"

"I should probably be the one to tell him; after all he is my brother."

"Good I’ll take the number with me and the next time you come up we’ll call him." She put it in the same pocket as Cullen’s drawing. "Have you told Father about the house yet?"

He hesitated, "no not yet, I don’t think I have the courage." He smiled at her.

She stood up holding out her hand to him. "Come on there’s no time like the present," sounding braver than she felt.

He took her hand and stood reluctantly, "I suppose we better get it over with."

They walked to Father’s chamber together finding him at his desk reading.

Vincent cleared his throat, "Father may we speak to you?"

Father put down his book, taking off his glasses he gestured to them to sit "certainly Vincent, hello my dear."

"Hello Father."

They took seats in front of the desk, still holding hands and Vincent began "Father we’ve decided that Catherine will continue working Above and in order for her to do that and not attract undo undue attention to the tunnels we’ve bought a house."

At first Father was stunned, when he was able to find his voice it thundered forth, "and are you going to live in this house?" He asked his son.

"Of course Father, we’ll be married."

"Are you both out of your minds," he looked from one to the other finally fixing his eye on Vincent. "You can’t live Above! What if you’re seen? What if you’re caught? It’s already happened a number of times and the next time you may not be so lucky."

"Catherine has always found me and brought me home," he said quietly.

"It’s because of Catherine that you were caught up there in the first place." His tone was accusatory.

Vincent bristled, but before he could reply Catherine interjected.

"Please, please," she pleaded. "Both of you calm down, Father I’ve switched my job to the trial division so no more investigations, I won’t be putting Vincent or myself in danger. The house is a brownstone in the village with a tunnel entrance so Vincent will no longer be climbing up and down the side of my apartment building. The latest security system has been installed and the windows have mini-blinds to which I’ll be adding heavy drapes. I would never do anything to harm Vincent, I love him, please Father be happy for us."

"Father please at least come and see it before you pass judgment," Vincent implored.

Hearing the tone of Vincent’s voice Father relented. "Well never let it be said that I wasn’t fair." Getting to his feet and grabbing his cane he headed for the stairs. "Let’s go see this house of yours".

Catherine jumped up, "I’ll go back to my apartment and get the key and meet you there."

She gave Vincent a quick kiss and ran out before Father could change his mind.

"Thank you Father this means a lot to Catherine and to me as well."

"I’m not saying I agree with this Vincent, but I’m willing to keep an open mind." He pointed his cane at him. "As long as you are too, if I make you see that this is too dangerous will you reconsider?"

"Yes," he dropped his head and whispered, "I’ll reconsider."

After alerting Pascal that they would be going down to the village tunnels, they were on their way. By the time they reached the house Catherine was already there and had removed the objects blocking the plywood board. Vincent relayed to Catherine and Father that he had already spoken to Mouse about constructing a concealed door to the tunnel and the boy was hard at work drafting ideas.

They showed Father the house from top to bottom and their enthusiasm was infectious even so his voice still held a serious note.

"I see you’ve both thought this out, but the fact remains that there are still unforeseen risks."

"Father in order to live life as fully as possible one must take risks; at least here they are minimized."

"But if Catherine were to live Below there would be no risks at all," he argued.

"Father if that’s the way it had to be than I would, but it doesn’t have to be that way and I’m just not ready to give up my work, it’s important to me and I’m helping a lot of people. Maybe at some future date we will live fulltime Below and I could do something useful, but right now I feel more useful Above."

Seeing the look of determination in both their eyes he acquiesced. "I am happy for both of you, it’s a lovely house, much like the one Margaret and I had." He lost himself for a moment in a memory, shaking it off he added, "I wish you both much happiness in it."

Catherine gave him a hug and Vincent draped an arm around his shoulders squeezing him gently. Back in the basement Father stepped through the opening to afford the couple some privacy and after a deeply satisfying kiss they parted.