Chapter III
Immediately after lunch, the two women decided to call it a day. Both were anxious to see how a certain physician was going to react to the changes in Mary. Deciding that they were too well dressed to walk to their destination, Catherine hailed a cab.
The driver was an older man roughly Father’s age, who looked at the two ladies, decided that they were "paying fares" and then did a double take at Mary. His smile was broad and beaming as he not only parked his cab, but also got out, opened the door for them, and then proceeded to store their purchases in the trunk of the car.
"Your chariot awaits fair ladies," he said gallantly.
"Thank you very much kind sir," Mary answered with a smile.
Catherine gave the driver the address and she and Mary settled themselves for the short drive home. Leaning over in the seat Catherine whispered to Mary, "You look like a movie star."
"Oh please. I must admit I look pretty good, but a movie star? I don’t think so. Catherine, thank you for everything."
"Think nothing of it. Besides, I had a great time too. A massage, a…,dare I say it… mud bath. Maybe next time we’ll try the sauna."
"Oh no my girl! Saunas remind me too much of hot flashes! I’d rather take the mud!" Mary said emphatically.
Catherine laughed quietly at that. She knew several ladies of a ‘certain age’ who worked at the District Attorney’s office who complained of the heat when everybody else was cool.
Catherine asked the driver to stop at a couple of shops along the way, because, as she so sensibly reasoned, he was so smitten with the lovely Mary, he’d probably do anything to keep enjoying her company! Including acting as a personal chauffeur.
When they pulled up in front of the brownstone, Catherine paid the driver, while Mary walked around to the rear of the vehicle to retrieve their purchases. In one of those bags were Mary’s tunnel clothes, some purchases Catherine had made for herself, and several presents for Vincent.
"Oh no. No beautiful lady! Please allow me!" The driver skidded around to the back of the cab to get the several bags and deposited them on the porch.
"Why, thank you very much. You’ve been very kind." Mary was clearly getting a little uncomfortable with the attention and was grateful when Catherine stepped in with, "Mom, do you think dad’s gonna like his gifts?"
"Um, yes dear, especially the slippers." Mary played along easily. The small subterfuge had the desired effect, the overly attentive driver tipped his cap, gave Mary a long look and got back into his cab and pulled off; but not before he blew a kiss in Mary’s direction.
"Did you see that?!? The nerve of that man! Why…Wow. It’s been a long time since a man actually flirted with me like that Catherine. You know what? I think I like it." Then she added, "It was getting a bit out of hand though, that was quick thinking on your part dear."
"Hope you don’t mind, it was all I could think of at the moment." Catherine had been very touched by Mary’s earlier admission and did feel protective and very much like a daughter toward her.
Entering the brownstone the women flopped down on the couch to catch their breath, and to separate their purchases.
"This is yours, this is mine, and this is for Vincent." Catherine began.
"What did you get Catherine? I don’t remember, everything’s been such a whirlwind."
Catherine pulled out a pair of black silk men’s pajamas with a matching robe, which was obviously for Vincent, and a very sheer white baby doll for herself.
"Think Vincent will like this?" she asked innocently
"Oh yes…For the two minutes you’ll be wearing it before he takes it off", Mary replied mildly.
"Mary!" Catherine was startled
"Oh please dear, any blind person can see that you and Vincent have a very active and very healthy private life. In fact, I’d wonder if you didn’t."
"Mary, you are too much." Catherine laughed, shaking her head.
***************************
Ziggy was the last child to leave, and Vincent found himself not only relieved but he couldn’t remember when he’d last felt so fatigued. ‘Mary must be, what’s the phrase… superwoman!’ to do this every day.’ He hoped that if and when he and Catherine had a child, he or she would be docile and quiet, not like the hyper little Ziggy! He was a good little boy, just full of questions, boundless energy, and a need to take things apart to find out what made them go. Rather like an extremely young Mouse. Vincent surveyed the empty classroom, and then began tidying up, putting things away, throwing away papers, and picking up crayons from the floor. He felt Catherine’s gentle presence through the Bond, and felt her happiness. She was on her way down. Stretching his long limbs and yawning lazily, Vincent began to walk toward the passage that would lead him to the threshold of home and Catherine.
Suddenly the pipes blared to life! Intruder! Intruder! G4 Section!
G4! Catherine! The fatigue fell away instantly as Vincent raced through the tunnels. He didn’t know what to expect, he only knew that there was an intruder, and that Catherine could be in danger!
His hair flying wildly behind him, Vincent rounded a bend in the tunnel that led to the threshold of G4, and he stopped stock-still. There was Catherine, and a woman he’d never seen before! Catherine would never bring a stranger to the tunnels without letting him and Father know. What was going on? The two ladies seemed to be walking along and talking peacefully, when the tall redheaded woman stopped and said, "Catherine, they think I’m an intruder! Did you hear the pipes go crazy just now?"
"Is that what all the fuss was about?" asked Catherine; for all her time Below, she still had trouble understanding the language of the pipes.
Vincent had been standing in the shadows, now he stepped forward as he recognized Mary’s voice.
"Mary!?! Is that you? You look so different." He said surprised.
"Yes dear, it’s me. Believe me, I feel like a different person." Mary practically glowed with pride.
"Hello Vincent," Catherine said as she stepped forward. Using her index finger, she assisted her spouse in closing his mouth, then she gently kissed his cheek.
"Sweetheart, would you help us with these bags?" She asked.
Just then the trio heard voices coming towards them, "Here! This is it--G4", Jaimie, with her crossbow, flanked by Mouse and Kanin, stood at the ready. They were surprised to see Vincent calmly escorting Catherine and some other lady into their tunnel home.
"Hello Jaimie," Mary looked up and smiled at the young woman.
"Mary! Oh my God! Look at you! You look great!" Jaimie squealed in delight as she rushed forward to give Mary a tight hug.
Mouse and Kanin looked on, not sure what to do; finally Mouse spoke.
"Everything okay. Vincent okay. Mary okay. Vincent’s Catherine okay. Mouse go. Lots of things to do." Mouse, living up to his name, scurried away. Kanin followed suit, and disappeared also down the tunnel corridor.