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Truth
Vincent and Catherine,
along with their oldest son, were enjoying the tranquility in their
sunny brownstone kitchen. The three were reading the morning papers and
having a leisurely breakfast. Jacob, not having class until the
afternoon, was enjoying the quiet time with his parents. His teen-age
siblings were at school, and the house was pleasantly quiet.
The
college senior was now headed for
The quiet atmosphere was broken with the ringing of the phone; both
Catherine and Jacob looked up, but Vincent continued reading the paper.
She always smiled at his complete disregard for its presence.
“Some day, my love, you may have to acknowledge its existence,” she said
ever so softly as Jacob reached for and picked up the phone. “
“Hi Jen. Sure. No problem. Around
“Vincent, Jenny needs someone to meet her at the park entrance tonight
around
He continued reading the paper, seeming not to have heard her.
She grinned at her son and said, “And when you’re done reading will you
hang out the laundry for…”
“Catherine, I will be happy to meet Jenny myself; and we don’t hang out
the laundry,” he said smiling, never lifting his head from the paper.
“Jacob I don’t know how your father does that. He consistently intrigues
me; I guess that’s why I love him so much. Just when I think he is
ignoring me…”
“Catherine please, I could never ignore you …you’d probably sue me. I
certainly hope that isn’t the only reason you love me.”
He looked up, smiled at her, and winked at his son.
“Ok, folks…I’m off to the library and then to class. See you both
tonight.” He kissed both of them on the top of their heads before going
out the door, grinning, and shaking his head at his special parents.
Vincent neatly folded his newspaper before dropping it in the recycle
bin. He came around the table, took her face in his hands, and kissed
the top of her head. He continued down and tenderly kissed her sweet
lips, lingering for a moment before pulling back.
“Before we lose track of time, my love, we need to be Below for classes.
We can continue these…thoughts tonight after the council meeting,” he
said, seductively running his tongue slowly across her bottom lip and
then lifting her out of her chair.
“Have I ever broken a promise to you?” He said feigning shock toward her
with his hands over his heart.
“No, my love, you haven’t. I guess I can wait. Let’s hope it’s a short
meeting,” as they left hand in hand to go Below.
Catherine was teaching an ethics class for the older students in the
morning and history to a younger group in the afternoon. She loved the
challenges of teaching, and the tunnel children were eager to learn.
Vincent had two literature classes to teach this morning before he
started his tunnel duties. Usually these included speaking with Jamie
about any security issues, Pascal or Kipper about new codes or problems
with any pipes, and William about kitchen issues or supplies.
Their normal routine was to lunch with Father
in his study. Father was older and slower now, but with a spirit that
never seemed to dim. He still tended to his community’s medical needs
most of the time, with Jacob’s help.
“Father will you be attending the meeting tonight with Jenny?” Vincent
asked as he poured their tea?
“I believe I will, with your help of course. She has some thoughts on
mentoring the students who have a flair for writing.
Cathy, Jenny is a marvelous helper, supplying us with books, and
assisting the children who go Above to live and work.”
Vincent handed him his tea. “Good. I’ll come for you then at the
appointed time. I promised Catherine I would meet Jenny and bring her to
the meeting.”
“And I believe you never break a promise…especially to your beautiful
wife,” Father said, grinning at Vincent and patting Catherine’s hand.
“Never,” he said with a chuckle deep in his chest. The words so normal,
your beautiful wife, a dream
that he never thought could be his.
Jenny’s meeting ran a little over, it was dusk as she started through
the park. She didn’t have far to go and the evening was pleasant. The
walk to the tunnel entrance would let her unwind from her hectic day,
she thought to herself.
“Hey lady!” A deep voice called out to her.
Startled, she turned to see Jacob striding across the park waving
at her. She slowly started to breathe again and waved back at him.
“Young man, you gave me quite a scare,” she said as she reached out to
loop her arm through his.
“Sorry, I thought you would have already been there by now. But since
you’re not, it will be my honor to escort you.” He said, putting his
hand on her arm and proceeding forward along the path.
Vincent was leaning against the wall at the park entrance, reading and
patiently waiting. He shook his shaggy head and smiled.
It seems I’m always waiting for
Catherine, Jennifer or Jenny at one time or another. I can’t complain
though, they are always worth the wait, he thought to himself
contentedly. He assumed Jenny would be
running late, as was her way. He felt a rush in his Bond with Jacob,
then it relaxed; he son was on
his way home too. Good.
The two walked together chatting about classes, books, and everyday
matters. They were not too far from the tunnel entrance when a shift in
the wind alerted Jacob. They were
not alone! He noticed the slight scent of marijuana in the air and
immediately looked around for the user. Jenny was unaware of his
apprehension, and he didn’t want to frighten her.
“Aunt Jenny, we should hurry. You don’t want to be late meeting with
Grandfather. You know how he dislikes tardiness,” he said, tugging her a
little quicker along the path.
“Really Jacob…” she said, trying to keep in step with him.
Vincent felt the anxiety in his son; he immediately left the tunnel
entrance and started through the trees cautiously.
Out
of the shadows they heard, “Hey, Billy, look what I found. People…with
money, I bet!” His speech was choppy from the drugs.
With that, two disheveled looking individuals stepped out from the
bushes and started walking toward them, smirking.
“Sorry guys. I’m just a poor college student. No money here. See… just
books,” he said moving in front of Jenny to shield her while holding out
his backpack.
Jenny clutched his arm in terror and started pulling him in the other
direction. Jacob was as big as his father, but not a good match for the
knife one of the men had pulled out. Had he been alone, he would have
been more likely to attempt to disarm the thug, but not with Jenny at
risk.
“Get her purse!” one of the yelled menacingly!
Jacob kept trying to shield her from the man with the knife. The other
thief started circling closer and quickly pulled out a gun.
Jacob felt the rush in their Bond; his father was coming!
Got to keep them talking a few
more minutes, he thought.
“Dad’s coming,” he whispered to Jenny.
“Hey what you tellin’ her kid?” The thief slurred.
“Here take my purse. There’s money in there,” she said, tossing it out
in front of them, hoping to distract the thieves.
The one with the knife ran and picked up the purse, ripped it open and
grabbed the money out.
“Hey, only 30 bucks. We need more than that
lady, a lot more!” He yelled maniacally at the top of his lungs.
He started toward Jenny, waving his knife wildly. Jacob pushed Jenny
back and the drug infused man slashed him across his arm.
“Jacob no!” she screamed, trying to pull him away!
A roar exploded as Vincent came out of the trees, grabbing and hurling
the knife wielder hard against a tree with a sickening thud. He turned
toward the second man, who was staring glassy eyed at him. The man fired
his gun just as Vincent struck him, sending the aggressor to a much
darker, colder place.
He turned; his son and friend were trying to comprehend what they had
just witnessed in front of them. Shame and guilt began to overwhelm him.
He quickly closed his Bond with his son.
“Come. We need to get Below. Jenny are you all right… you’re not
injured?” he asked, softly taking her hand.
“Vincent, I fine. Let’s get out of here. I’m sorry. This wouldn’t have
happened if I was on time,” she said looking at both of them.
He looked at his son’s arm; it needed stitches. Jenny was wrapping her
scarf around his arm to stop the bleeding.
Jacob had felt his father closing their Bond. He knew he was shielding
him, and it frighten him; Vincent had never closed their Bond before.
Catherine met them half way to the hospital chamber; she knew there had
been trouble. Her heart sank when she saw Jacob holding his arm, and
blood on his jacket.
“Jacob, you’re hurt! Tell
me what happened?” she asked quickly looking from one to the other, and
hugging her son.
“Mom…Dad saved us.” he said quietly as they proceeded to the hospital
chamber where they knew Father would be waiting for them.
“Cathy, I’m so sorry. Jacob met me to walk me here, two drug high thugs
wanted to rob us, and he tried to protect me,” she said, starting to
cry.
Catherine turned and put her arm around her friend to comfort her while
they continued to the hospital chamber.
“It’s not bad enough I have had to stitch your
father up many times, now I have his son. Come my boy and let me look at
that,” Father said trying to ease the tension he felt hanging in the
air.
Catherine looked over at Vincent, who had been staying behind them and
totally silent. She knew that look of pain in his eyes.
He had
to kill again!
She could feel the flood of emotions from him; guilt, shame, despair.
She needed to sort them out to be able help him.
“Vincent, why don’t we take Jenny to our chamber; I’m sure she would
like to sit down and catch her breath,” she said softly.
She could feel the tension in him when she reached out and took
his hand in hers.
When they arrived at their chamber, she guided Jenny over to the side of
their bed. Jenny sat on the edge; Catherine sat next to her rubbing her
back to ease her feelings of fear and guilt at what had transpired.
“Jenny, it’s not your fault, please don’t think that,” Catherine
whispered to her distraught friend.
“But, Cathy, he could have been badly hurt; or worse, he could have
been…”
“Stop it Jenny, don’t say that! He’ll be fine and will have a thin scar,
and a great story to tell all his friends,” she said giving a new twist
in the conversation to deflect the fear in her best friend.
“Cathy, Vincent saved us; he came out of nowhere. They had a gun and a
knife, and I was terrified they’d kill him and us! I can never thank him
enough…” she said sobbing into Catherine’s shoulder.
He quietly stood leaning against the entrance of their chamber. He
hadn’t moved or said anything. Catherine could feel his pain at having
to kill again, completely flooding their Bond.
A few minutes passed before Jenny completely calmed down, took some deep
breaths, and tried to smile at both of them.
“I’m sorry I’m such a baby. I have never been so frightened in my whole
life,” she said as Catherine gave her an extra hug.
“Jenny, I need you to do me a favor and check on Jacob, please. I need
to talk to Vincent for a few minutes.”
“Sure, Cath, I need to tell that boy he’s my hero!” She rose, and as she
passed Vincent, she squeezed his arm and kissed his cheek. “Thank you
Vincent.”
He silently stood there, his head hanging down, not able to look at
either of them. Jenny continued down the tunnel to find Jacob.
Catherine looked up at him “Vincent, tell me what you’re thinking, what
you’re feeling…please?”
He only stood there looking down, she knew he was tearing himself up
inside. She got up and put her arms around his waist to surround him
physically with her love.
Quickly she pulled her hand back and looked at it; there was blood on
her sleeve!
”You’re hurt! Vincent…let me see.” She guided him toward their bed.
“Stay here, keep pressure on that, I’m going for Father!”
They were back quickly, followed by Jacob and Jenny. Father removed the
towel and opened his shirt to get a better look at the wound.
“Dear God, Vincent, you’ve been shot! Fortunately it passed straight
through, thank goodness. Catherine, get him a clean shirt; and Jacob,
come here and help me, please. We’ll get this cleaned up and stitched,
you’ll be good as new in a few days, barring infection of course,” he
said, noticing the lost look in his son’s eyes.
When he was finished stitching and dressing the wound, Father suggested
Jacob and Jenny join him for tea in the library. “Doctor’s orders,” he
insisted, leaving Catherine
alone with Vincent.
He hadn’t said a word, he couldn’t look at her. She sat beside him on
the bed, gathering her thoughts, and took his hands in hers, kissing
them tenderly.
“Vincent, talk to me…look at me…please. Tell me what you’re thinking.
She waited, knowing how difficult this was for him.
“Catherine…my son…has seen me kill…he has seen how I kill.” He spoke so
softly that she almost didn’t hear him.
There were tears running down the sides of his face, and he still hadn’t
looked at her. She could feel shame and despair filling their Bond. He
was in such agony. She sent love and strength to him, hoping to ease it
somehow; she had never felt his pain this strong before.
Finally she took his face in her hands and kissed his eyes, his cheeks,
and then his lips. He slowly raised his eyes to look at her. He saw only
her love looking back at him, and it made him release the breath he was
holding. Then she held him sending love and gratitude for what he had to
do.
“My love, you had no choice. Our son and Jenny were in great danger.
Their lives are worth what you
had to do. I’m sorry. I know we have never talked to Jacob about the
things that happened before he was born. I believe now he is old enough
to know and understand. I think we should speak to him together.
Vincent, you’re not alone in this.” She smiled and laid her head on his
chest listening to his heart beating a little slower now.
A short time later, Jacob came to check on his parents, and brought a
pot of tea for them.
He could see the tears in his father’s eyes, even though his father
hadn’t looked at him when he came in the room. He turned to leave, still
feeling his father shielding him.
“Jacob… please…I need to speak to you if you’re not too tired after your
ordeal. Your arm, son… much pain?” he asked softly.
“No, Dad… its ok. Grandfather gave me a shot, and stitched it up. It
took 12 stitches, and he said I’ll have a thin scar to sport about.
I’m
really glad Aunt Jenny is ok and didn’t get hurt. Dad, I didn’t realize
you were hurt. I thought he missed you. I‘m sorry,” he said softly.
“Jacob, I’m sorry you…had to see what I did to those men. It shames me,”
he slowly said with tears filling his eyes again.
“Your father did what was necessary to save you and Jenny, but it makes
it no easier for him. He has always been the protector and guardian of
his world and all of us. This has caused him great pain…” she said
almost in a whisper.
Jacob turned his back to them and took a deep breath. “Dad…I know about
what you had to do before I was born. Grandfather told me a few years
ago. I had noticed two of your scars when we were swimming; they looked
like the pictures I had seen of bullet wounds. I approached Grandfather,
he told me about the outsiders and the two other killers. He made me
promise not to ask you because of how it made you feel. Through our Bond
I think I understand that feeling now. You have been shielding me
tonight, but something still came through.”
Now Jacob turned to face his father. “Dad…you
did no more or no less than any soldier or police officer would do in
that situation. You must never feel ashamed for protecting your world,
or mother or any of us. I recall you telling me once, after a nightmare
I had, that you would never let anything or anyone hurt me or any of us.
Just because you didn’t use a gun or knife doesn’t make it wrong. You
have only courage and yourself to depend on. I’m proud of you for saving
us. But I’m more proud that you are my father. I love you Dad,” he said
kneeling beside the bed, kissing his father’s cheek and hugging him.
Vincent and Catherine had tears streaming down their faces. Their Bond
was full of love for their son, and it flowed over into his Bond. They
stayed holding on to each other, savoring the warm feeling of love in
their Bonds.
Jenny came back after talking with Father; not about books, about
Vincent and Jacob. She understood him so much better now, and why Cathy
protects him and loves him so much.
“Hey, you two, Father said you should stay here tonight. Jacob, I’ll go
home with you to be with your brothers and sister. We’ll have some
explaining to do and I’m really too tired to go all the way home
anyway,” she said without taking a breath.
“Thank you Jenny, Catherine and I will rest here tonight. Please tell
our children we love them and will see them in the morning,” he said
finally smiling at her.
“Oh Vincent, I’m so happy to see you smile. It makes me all warm
inside.” She bent down, kissed his forehead and winked at him, then
pulled Jacob along with her down the tunnel.
“Night, folks. See you in the morning, the gang will be down for
breakfast, tomorrow is Saturday.” Jacob managed to say.
“Me,
too” Jenny announced.
After
a few minutes of quiet Catherine asked, “Vincent, are you in much pain?”
“Catherine, the pain from the wound is mild; the pain from what I had to
do is slowly subsiding. Our son helped me understand more of what you
were trying to tell me. He gave me the most precious gift; he said he
was proud that I was his father, even after he saw what I did.”
“He was right you know… no more or no less that any protector would do.
“Catherine, I regret I may have to break… no postpone the promise I made
to you this morning. I’ll make it up to you soon, that I do promise,” he
said smiling and showing his canines.
“Promises…promises,” she whispered.
The End |