THOUGH IT WERE TEN THOUSAND MILES
By Joan Stephens

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Chapter 12

 

Several days later Vincent entered an empty chamber.   No Catherine.  Searching for her, he met Father in the corridor.  “Have you seen Catherine, Father?”

 

“Not since lunch.  Why?”

 

“She wasn’t in our chamber and she’s so close to her time that I worry about her.  I know she is somewhere having fun.”

 

Her throaty chuckle floated out of the kitchen, enticing the two men into the room.  Catherine and William were standing over a table rhythmically rocking back and forth.  Father and son watched in silence for several minutes, intrigued by the unintentional ballet being performed before them.

 

“Catherine?”  It was obvious to Vincent that she was enjoying herself, as she would add a little shimmy and a little shake now and then.

 

She turned to smile at them.  “Hello, love,” she said laughingly.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“William is teaching me to make bread.”

 

“And she’s doing a damn fine job, too,” William asserted.

 

“Is he teaching you to dance as well?” Father wondered, a teasing grin lighting his typically solemn countenance.

 

“Well, no,” she answered with a sheepish grin, “that’s my own invention.  Sorry, William,” she glanced up at the portly man, “but kneading bread can be a little boring.”

 

Shrugging his wide, beefy shoulders, William nodded in agreement.

 

Reaching over, Vincent wiped a smidgen of flour off the end of her nose.  “My love, this should go into the bread,” he said, teasing her gently.

 

“I know that.”  She glared at him in exasperation.

 

“You should be resting,” Father interjected, ever the physician and even more so now that he had her as a patient.

“Oh pooh.  I feel fine.  In fact, I haven’t felt this good in a long time.  Oof,” she grabbed her stomach.  “That was a different kick.  I’m tired of resting.  I want to do something.  Is bread making dangerous for a pregnant lady?”

 

Father answered, “No, but you’ve been under considerable stress . . .”

 

She gasped as her eyes went wide, “My water just broke.”  Vincent sprang to her side.  Catherine glanced at Father, a look of astonished wonder on her face.  “I’m having a baby,” she said unnecessarily.  “I’ve had slight contractions all day but I thought they were . . .”

 

Father cut her off as he issued orders, “Vincent, take her to your chamber.  William, please tell Mary to meet us there.  And get a message to Peter.  I know he would like to be here.”

 

Vincent had scooped Catherine into his arms and was racing to their chamber, a worried look on his face.

 

                                                           ****************

 

“Lay her down gently, Vincent,” Mary said after she had prepared the bed.  “Good.  Now we need to get her into a gown.  There now that’s better.  Now lie back, make yourself as comfortable as possible.”  Mary prattled on as she readied Catherine for the single most important event of her and Vincent’s life.

 

Hovering around the bed, getting in the way, Vincent felt as useless as a wart on a toad until Catherine said, “Hold my hand, Vincent, I need you.”  Taking her hand, he sat beside her.  He raised her hand to his lips.  “I’ll be here as long as you need me.”

 

“I’ll need you forever, my love.”

 

“Then I’ll be here forever.”

 

Another wave of pain swept over Catherine as a new contraction began.  Vincent wondered at his complete lack of fear.  True, something could yet go wrong, but Catherine had taught him that none of the fears that Paracelsus had fostered in him was possible.  No human child--and that included his--was capable of tearing it’s way out of the womb.  They would simply not be strong enough.  And as for the child looking like him, she had convinced him that she would love it even more.

 

Her labor was exceedingly short for a first birth, possibly due to Vincent’s unknown genetic makeup.  For the next six hours, Vincent wiped her forehead with a damp cloth, encouraging her to breathe with the pain, and holding her hand as her fingernails dug into the palm of his hand.  He had never known her to have such strength as to cut his hand with her nails.  As the last of her strength began to fail, she gave one last push on Father’s barked command.  The sound of her son’s first cries filled  the chamber, and she relaxed with a satisfied grunt.  The end of her pain was almost physical and Vincent rocked with the sudden release of their shared tension.

 

 

Transfixed, he watched Mary and Father cut the umbilical cord and clean his son.  “How is he, Father?” he asked, afraid of the answer.

 

“He’s beautiful.  He’s small but then so were you.  Otherwise, perfect in every way.”

 

After Father wrapped the child in a blanket, he placed him in his mother’s waiting arms.  She studied his face and like all mothers checked for ten fingers and ten toes.  “He’s so beautiful,” she murmured.

 

Vincent was entranced with the vision before him: the woman he loved more than life holding their son in her arms, smiling up at him.  She held the child out to him.  “My gift to you, love, the proof of our love.”

 

He cradled the baby in his strong arms.  “You have made all my dreams come true.  Thank you, Catherine.”  Gently he touched the cheek of his son and played with his tiny hands.  The child grabbed his finger with an amazingly strong grip for one so small.  Startled, Vincent looked at Father.

 

“He is different,” Father acquiesced.  “He is more aware than most newborns.  That comes from you, I think, my son.”

 

Catherine was watching all this with the most intense happiness she had ever known.  Nothing could ever equal the way she felt now.  Vincent smiled at her over the head of their son.  Their eyes met and locked and once again they were in that private universe all their own.  “We did it, Vincent, we are a family,” she whispered.

 

The baby began to fuss and search for her breast, bringing them back to earth.  “I think he’s hungry,” the new father said, as he handed the baby to her, watching as she put the child to her breast.  After a few hesitant tries, he was nursing energetically.  “Oo, he’s so strong,” she pronounced as he continued to pull on her breast.

 

Breathless, Peter came rushing into the chamber.  “Am I too late?” he asked.

 

“Her labor went much faster than I thought,” Father commented, “possibly because Vincent is the father.”  He was aware of his friend’s keen disappointment at not being there to see his goddaughter’s son enter the world.  After her father’s death, she had become even more the child of his heart and like a daughter to him.  He felt like a new grandfather.

 

Hurrying over to the bed, Catherine’s surrogate father and dear friend apologized, “I’m sorry, honey, but I had a delivery to make before I could get here.  Let me see the son and heir.”

 

Catherine took the baby from her breast and gave him to Peter.  Smiling down into stormy, blue eyes, he said, “He looks just like you did when you were born except for the golden colored hair.  He’s beautiful, honey.  You two have a lot to be proud of.” 

 

Angry that his meal had been interrupted, the baby’s face scrunched up ready to let out a howl of indignation.  Peter quickly handed him back to his mother, averting a noisy confrontation.

 

Peter aided Father with the final touches, while Mary finished with the cleaning.  Now she approached the happy couple, “Congratulations, you two, you have a beautiful baby boy.”  Skewering Vincent with a level look, she said, “I’d like to see a little baby girl soon.”  Embarrassed, he dropped his eyes.  Mary chuckled as she said, “Well, I’ve got to go.  It’s almost time for the children’s evening baths.”

 

“Thank you, Mary,” the proud new mother said.

 

Recovering his poise, Vincent added, “Yes, thank you.”

 

A beaming Father stood beside Vincent watching his son’s son busily nursing.  “You’re a lucky man, Vincent, and I have been wrong all along.  Forgive me for all the pain I have caused you.”

 

“Nothing you did was to cause me pain, only to protect me.  By doing what you did, you made all this possible.  Thank you.”

 

Tears sprang into Father’s eyes.  He turned to Catherine when she said, “Yes, thank you for keeping him for me.”

 

He gulped a few times, smiled wordlessly at the new parents and said to cover his embarrassment, “Wait, Mary, I’ll go with you.”  Hurriedly he said, “I’ll see you two later,” and briskly stepped toward the entrance.  Mary had lingered there, waiting to congratulate the new grandfather.  Tucking her arm in his, she left with her dear friend to announce the good news to the rest of the community.

 

“Congratulations, Vincent.  Enjoy being a father,” Peter offered as he vigorously shook Vincent’s hand and then sprinted after his longtime friend.

 

                                                                ************

 

The birth of Vincent and Catherine’s son was the happiest occasion that had happened in the tunnels for a very long time, sparking a steady flow of people to croon and cluck over the newly arrived citizen of the community.  The new father walked around in a happy daze, still finding it hard to believe that Catherine had given him a son, and he spent many hours just watching him.  Catherine found him there one day, his finger in his child’s strong grasp.

 

“He gets stronger by the day,” he said, as she glided up behind him.

 

“Oh darn, I can never sneak up on you.”

 

“No,” he chuckled happily.  He loved playing this game with her.

 

 

She snaked her arms around him, leaning her head against his back.  “Vincent, are you happy?”

 

“Happy does not even approach the way I feel.”  He disengaged his finger from his son’s fist then turned to face her.  Gently, he took her by the shoulders and pulled her close.  “To have you safely back and to have a son is more than enough to make me deliriously happy.”

 

“May I ask you a question?”

 

“Of course,” he answered, lightly.

 

“This is serious, Vincent.”

 

“I can tell that.  You know you can ask me anything,” he said contritely.

 

“Will you stand with me before our friends and family and exchange vows?” she asked quietly, looking intently at him.

 

“Are you speaking of marriage vows?” he asked in wonder.

 

“Yes, I want to be your wife.”  She leaned back to look into his eyes.

 

Softly he said, “You know we need no words between us.”

 

“I know, but I want to use your name.  And it’s for the baby.  I have a considerable fortune, and I was going to leave it in a trust with Father and Peter to be used for you and the community, but with the baby here, I want to leave some of it to him. I can get a birth certificate for him through Peter, and Joe can file my will so no one will know of us.”

 

“You’ve given this much thought,” he said.

 

“I had six months in which to think it through.”

 

“I see.”  He thought of all the time they had been separated and how she had been the one to face alone all the indignities that Gabriel had forced on her.  She must have used anything she could to get through day after day of miserable loneliness.  He looked down into her expectant emerald eyes.  What had he ever done to deserve the love of a woman like this?  He would never know, could never figure it out, but he was eternally grateful that he had her love and loyalty.  “Catherine, once again you have given of yourself to make a dream come true.  A dream I didn’t know I possessed.”  She grinned at him, knowing his answer.  “To marry?  At one time it was enough just to hold your hand.  No longer.  I need you beside me.  I need your love and trust.  I will be proud to stand with you before the community and friends.”

 

 

With a glad cry, she threw her arms around his neck then joyously kissed him.  “One other thing,” she said.  “A name for the baby.”

 

“I have been thinking of that myself,” he replied.

 

“Do you have any preferences?”

 

“Yes, do you?”

 

“What do you want to name him?”

 

“Jacob.  In honor of Father.”

 

“That’s the very name I had picked.  We think alike.”

 

“Of course.  Jacob it is then.”

 

“For his middle name I would like it to be Chandler.  I think they sound good together.”

 

“Jacob Chandler.  Yes, they fit.”

 

“Let’s keep this our secret until his naming.”

 

Happily, Vincent nodded.

 

                                                          ************

 

They were up to something; he just knew it.  It wasn’t only the air of suppressed excitement about them either.  He would catch them whispering like two old conspirators, or their heads together pouring through book after book, and then there were the quickly hidden notes whenever he entered their chamber.  But he didn’t worry too much about it; he was more involved in the plans for Jacob’s Naming Day.

 

One day, a scant week after the birth, they stood before his desk, hand in hand, like two eager teenagers, asking for the use of the car.  Excitement glittered in two sets of eyes; one set the color of cornflowers and the other as green as emeralds. 

 

Leaning back in his chair, he folded his hands across his stomach.  Peering at them over the top of his glasses, he rumbled, “Well?”

 

Releasing her hand, Vincent began with no preamble, “Father, will you join us together on Jacob’s Naming Day?”

 

 

He sat forward with a thump.  “I was wondering when you would get around to making an honest woman of Catherine, Vincent,” he said with a gleam of amusement in his eyes.  “Of course, I would be proud to.”  Pushing to his feet, he rounded the desk and gathered the lovers in his arms.

 

“We thought you’d like that,” Catherine grinned.

 

“You have my blessings, children, although I’m sure you don’t need them.  So that is what you’ve been up to with all this sneaking around.”

 

Chuckling, Vincent asked, “Was it that obvious?”

 

“Oh, not to everyone else, but to someone who knows you as well as I do, my son, it was like a flashing red light.”

 

“Please, don’t tell anyone else.  We don’t want any fuss, and we have the whole thing planned.”  Catherine moved several books from a chair and sat down beside him as he reseated himself. 

 

On the other side of the older man, Vincent eased his large frame into a chair that he had brought from the council table.  Now the tunnel patriarch had become a part of the conspiracy.  “What are your plans?” he asked.

 

Vincent deferred to his lovely lady who said, “Before the naming ceremony you will announce that there will be another small ceremony preceding the Naming.  You’ll read the ceremony--we really found some lovely sentiment--and we’ll read our vows after.”  With a wide smile, she commented, “It’s almost like eloping.  As simple as we can make it and still include the community.”

 

“Do you think we can pull it off, Father?”

 

“Well, my son, you’ll have to be much more circumspect than you have been.”

 

“We are all finished with the plans.”

 

“We’ll just have to contain our excitement,” Catherine interjected.

 

Father looked at the two glowing faces, wondering how anyone could not figure out that they were excited about something.  Maybe the others will think it is excitement over Jacob’s Naming Day.

 

                                                                  ************

 

Diana couldn’t seem to stay away from tunnels for any length of time.  As soon as she learned of the birth, she came down to meet the newest tunnel resident.  She dutifully fussed and crooned over the child as Catherine looked on with interest.  To her, the young woman seemed a little uncomfortable holding the baby, and she concluded that Diana had had little experience with infants.

 

“Do you have any nieces or nephews, Diana?”

 

“Only one and I never get to see her very often,” Diana replied, knowing that Catherine had sensed her uneasiness with holding a newborn.  She smiled ruefully, realizing that maybe she needed to keep in contact with her family more often than she did.

 

“You’re lucky.  I’m an only child.”  The new mother suddenly grinned, “But then you know that, don’t you?”

 

Nodding her head, Diana agreed, “Yeah, I guess I know about as much about you as you do.  Does that bother you?”  Thoughtfully, she tickled the child’s velvet soft cheek.

 

“No, not really since it is you.  I trust you, Diana, not to reveal anything of my life.  I’ve never heard that you have done that with any of your cases.”

 

“No, it’s a sacred trust to me to keep what I learn secret unless it contributes to the solution of the case.”

 

“I thought as much.”  Catherine toyed with the ragged edge of the bed covering.  She was about to broach a subject that could cause Diana pain.  The woman’s feelings for Vincent were plain to anyone who took the time to look.  “Diana, I’m going to tell you a secret that only you and Father will know.”

 

“Oh, something that I didn’t learn about you?” the young detective asked facetiously.

 

“No, something that’s going to happen.”  Catherine decided to just plunge ahead and tell her, “Vincent and I are exchanging vows on Jacob’s Naming Day.”

 

Diana stiffened then lowered her head into the blanket surrounding the baby.  “Oh,” she breathed under her breath as the final blow rained down on her.  Holding tightly onto her emotions, she lifted a composed face to Catherine, congratulating her, “I know you will be very happy.”

 

“Diana,” Catherine said softly, “don’t.”  Reaching a soothing hand to the other woman, she continued, “I know how you feel; I knew the first time I met you.  He’s difficult not to love.”

 

“I’m sorry, Catherine,” Diana said. 

 

“Don’t be.  You can’t help it.  I know how easy it is to love him.”

 

“I didn’t set out to fall in love with him.  I met him in my dreams where he was searching for you, and he turned to me for help.  I didn’t even know he was real.  I thought he was someone I had made up to fit the name Vincent, and then there were Nancy and Jenny and their descriptions of their feelings about him, especially Jenny.”

 

“I know.  Jenny has come so close sometimes to describing him that she scares me.  I think that some day she will have to meet Vincent.”

 

Diana nodded, “I think you’re right.  Anyway, you can imagine my shock and dismay when I saw the painting of the two of you.  I’m sure Father must have thought I had lost my mind.  I don’t think I made much sense after that.  I’ve been fighting my feelings ever since.”  Diana laid the baby back in Catherine’s arms.  Everything that had and was happening served to lessen the love she had developed for Vincent.  She was beginning to see Catherine and Vincent as one being, and the love for the man was metamorphosing into a deep friendship for the couple.

      

Before she could return to her seat, Catherine took her hand.  “I’m going to tell you what I told Elliot but for different reasons.  Be my friend, Diana.  Be Vincent’s friend.  We need friends like you, and I think you need friends like us.  In the end, we all win.  Don’t you agree?”

 

Diana smiled down at her newest friend, “Yes, I do.”

 

“Will you still come for the baby’s Naming Day?” the young mother asked.

 

“I’ll be there.”  In an attempt at levity, Diana quipped, “Don’t scold me if there are a few tears during the ceremony.”

 

Catherine squeezed her hand.  “I won’t.  I’m afraid I might be in tears myself.”

 

A rare friendship had been struck this day: one based on the love of one man and neither woman ever regretted their friendship.  Diana leaned over to kiss the baby and on impulse kissed Catherine on the cheek.  “See you later,” she waved as she left the chamber.  With tears in her eyes, Catherine watched her leave and heaved a sigh of relief.  Everything would be all right.

 

                                                                ************

 

Finally, the day arrived.  The number of people who said that they would be there had become so large that it was decided to hold the Naming Ceremony in the Great Hall.  Catherine, with the child in her arms, Vincent, and Father stood in the midst of their family and friends.  Clearing his throat, Father called for silence.  “Before we commence with the Naming Ceremony, there is another rite I have the distinct honor and pleasure of performing.”  Mary’s eyes sparkled with joy as she immediately understood what was happening.  Joe and Elliot, who had both found the time to come for the Naming, wondered what new event they were going to witness.  Neither one even thought of a wedding.   Diana found to her amazement that she was genuinely happy for them and realized that their friendship was as important to her as she once thought Vincent’s love was.  She smiled; there would be no tears for what might have been, rather for what was truly a love made in heaven.

 

“Catherine and Vincent wish to exchange vows before their family and friends and have selected this day for the Joining.”

 

There was a murmur of surprise and Sarah spoke up, “But don’t you want a big wedding?  We would gladly give it to you.”  Joe grinned widely at the thought that Catherine’s dreams were about to come true.  One night as they worked late at the office, they were relaxing over a cup of vendor coffee, and he had forgotten how but they had started to talk about their dreams of having a family.   Oh yeah, his sister had just made him an uncle for the fourth time, and he had noticed a wistful look cross over Cathy’s face that she quickly masked with a joke about Joe being always an uncle but never a father.  That had started them talking and she eventually broke down and told him of her dreams of a husband and children.  After he had, of course, unburdened himself of his dreams.  That late night’s talk endeared her to him all the more.

 

The words Father spoke shocked the breath out of Elliot and he choked on the words ‘exchange vows.’  He would have rushed from the chamber but for Joe’s restraining hand and murmured words, “You should have known this was coming.  You can’t disappoint Cathy by running away.”  Elliot subsided into his chair and never raised his head until the Joining was over.  When he did, Joe could see traces of the tears that Elliot had tried to wipe away.

 

A look of understanding passed between the two lovers and Vincent said, “We have had enough excitement to last us for a lifetime.  We had thought of exchanging vows between ourselves alone in our chamber, but we want to include all our loved ones.”

 

“Very well, since that is taken care of let us proceed.  Will everyone who isn’t sitting please find a chair?”  He waited until all was seated and then, with his usual authoritative manner, Father had Catherine and Vincent stand in front of him.  Looking out over the assembly, he began, “We have come together here that this man and this woman might bear witness before you of the oneness that has grown up between them; that they might affirm this oneness and dedication here, as they have affirmed it to each other.  As they now exist as one in their own eyes, so may they exist as one in your eyes.  The mysterious union of two persons has already occurred in them in the giving and receiving of their love.

 

“These are two individual souls, who none-the-less embody certain universal and enduring truths: that we need each other, that we can achieve unity only through tenderness, and that the protection of one human being by another is a solemn responsibility.”  Father paused allowing everyone to consider the words he had read.

 

Addressing Catherine and Vincent, he continued, “The hand offered by each of you is an extension of self, just as is your mutual love.  Cherish the touch, for you touch not only your own, but another life.  Be ever sensitive to its pulse.  Seek always to understand and to respect its rhythm.”

 

Turning to Vincent, he asked, “Vincent, do you take Catherine, in all her gentleness and sensitivity for her warm heart and her understanding of you and your philosophy, for her search for truth and goodness and her recognition of falseness and evil, and for her courage to embark along new and untried paths as conscience and necessity demand?”

 

 

Inhaling deeply, he turned to her, still holding her hand, and began, “Yes, I take her not only for these, but, also, in laughter and tears, in health and illness, in success and failure, in conflict and tranquility, in doubt and trust as my wife and equal.  Let this ring be a symbol of my vow.”  He produced Margaret’s ring that Father had given to him just this morning, sliding it on her finger.

 

Turning then to Catherine, Father asked, “Catherine, do you take Vincent for his discernment of truth in the face of discouragement, his pursuit of the simple life amid worldly distractions, his strength to follow the course his heart and judgment dictates, and his deep love of his fellow man?”

 

She took both of Vincent’s hands in hers and, gazing up at him with loving eyes, replied, “Yes, I take him not only for these but, also, in laughter and tears, in health and illness, in success and failure, in conflict and tranquility, in doubt and trust as my husband and equal.”  Taking her father’s ring that she had had enlarged to fit her man, she placed it on his finger.  “Let this ring be a symbol of my vow.”  He fingered the ring in amazement, and when he glanced at Catherine, she saw the wonder in his eyes.  “I had a jeweler enlarge my father’s ring for you,” she whispered.

 

Father spoke up, “Catherine and Vincent have something they wish to say to each other.”  At this time the baby began to fuss and cry.  “And it sounds like someone else has something to say,” he chuckled.

 

Attempting to silence the child, Catherine jiggled him up and down on her hip.  When that failed, she laughingly said, “He’s a little jealous, I guess.  He didn’t know he was going to be upstaged by his parents.”  Vincent caught his son’s eye and the fussing stopped.

 

“What did you do?” she whispered.

 

“I told him to behave himself,” he answered softly.

 

“As I was saying, Catherine and Vincent have something to say,” Father broke in.  “Catherine.”

 

Raising her eyes to waiting blue ones, she began, “Vincent, when I look upon you, I see the man who not only saved my life but taught me how to love, to find my own strengths, and to find the better part of me.  Not only have you done all this, you have fulfilled all my unrealized dreams by loving me, letting me love you, knowing me, standing with me before this company, and giving me this gift of love.”  She kissed the top of the child’s head.  Vincent’s eyes were alight with love when she raised her eyes back to his.  “I shall love you all my days and forever.”

 

“Catherine, my world was dark and gray until I found you.  You brought the light of love to the dark recesses of my soul.  You saw past the outer shell of the man into the inner reaches of my being and found there something worthy of love and acceptance.  You brought me out of the darkness more than once.  You taught me how to accept the dark places in my soul.  You have given me what I thought I would never have: love, family, and a child.  I adore you.  You are the very core of my existence.  ‘My love holds while the earth endures, And the suns stand fast.’”

 

When his soft voice ceased, the Great Hall was silent until there was a general release of breath.  Then people started to move in their chairs, cough, blow their noses, and laugh self-consciously.  The young couple heard none of this: enveloped in their own world they knew only each other.  But their world was soon shattered by Father’s exasperated voice, “Well, kiss the woman, Vincent.  It’s customary, you know.”

 

With a gleam of suppressed mirth in his eyes, Vincent lowered his mouth to his wife’s.  Oh, he would kiss her all right.  Kiss her in a manner that none of his family had ever seen him do before.  He pulled her close against him and bent her over his right arm as he deepened and lengthened the kiss.  There was absolute silence in the Great Hall and then a great roar erupted from the crowd as they shouted their approval.  The crowd surged forward and surrounded the entwined couple.  When Vincent finally released a dazed and gloriously happy Catherine, he was stunned by the number of hands clapping him on the back, followed by embraces from teary-eyed women, and lusty handshakes by the men. 

 

Only Elliot remained glued to his chair.  He found it difficult to believe what he had heard and seen.  Cathy married and to someone he had trouble seeing as a man. 

 

Father had to shout above the din, “Please, everyone move back.  It is time for the Naming Ceremony.”

 

Forming an open space around Father and the parents of the child, everyone moved back.  Catherine gave the child to Vincent.  He was quiet and peaceful in his father’s arms.

 

Smiling fondly at the tow-headed youngster, his first grandson, Father was in his element.  “It has been said that the child is the meaning of this life.”

 

“We welcome the child with love that he may be able to love.

 

“We welcome the child with gifts that he may learn generosity.

 

“And, finally, we welcome the child with a name.”

 

Gazing lovingly at his son, Vincent said, “We name our son Jacob.”  All murmured in agreement.

 

“Yes, Jacob Chandler,” Catherine added.

 

How fitting, Father thought.  Jacob joined together both the world Above and the world Below.  He would be a child of both worlds as his mother is a woman of both worlds. 

 

Jacob was the center of attention and seemed to thrive on it.  As his mother opened the presents, he gleefully played with the wrappings.  He didn’t care if the paper was to be used again; he wanted to play with it now. 

 

Vincent slipped out of the crowd of mostly women and girls around the star of the day to stand beaming beside an equally glowing grandfather.  “A truly wondrous day, Father, one that will live in my memory forever.”

 

“Catherine saw much further than I, Vincent.  Her belief in you and your love for each other has seen you through some very difficult times.  She has always believed that anything was possible with love.”

 

“I know I never thought all of this was possible myself.  It took Catherine to make it happen.”

 

                                                                    *********

 

Little clumps of people were forming: talking, laughing, and waiting.  Father raised his voice, “Everyone, William and his helpers have prepared a magnificent feast for us, even if he didn’t know it would be a wedding feast.  Let’s adjourn to the tables.”

 

The tables were loaded with food and soon everyone was busy feasting.  Father leaned back in his chair and surveyed the inhabitants of his world.  They were happy and lighthearted to have Vincent and Catherine safely back home, and the birth of Jacob only added to their joy.  The two newlyweds were playing with Jacob, Jamie and Mouse were laughing over a private joke, Mary was fondly listening to Samantha chatter about the surprise wedding while Sarah listened in, Cullen was in a serious discussion with Lou, and Olivia was radiant, sitting next to a happy Kanin who had just been released from prison in time for the Naming Ceremony.  Sebastian, of course, was surrounded by a gaggle of children.  Amazed that Mouse wasn’t right under the magician’s feet, Father checked again to make sure that the young fixit genius was still talking with Jamie.  The three new helpers, which they were even if they didn’t realize it right now, had each been escorted to the Father’s table and seated among the members of the community.  This way they were welcomed into the community of helpers and friends.  He turned to Peter, seated beside him, to comment on the happiness and peacefulness of this day.  Peter’s eyes were trained on the two newlyweds, smiling softly as he thought of them as children.  How strange the ways of Fate?

 

Catherine looked up to find Elliot’s eyes trained on her.  She sensed that he needed to talk with her.  Giving Jacob to his father, she leaned over and whispered to him what she was about to do.  Quickly glancing at the other man, he nodded.  When Catherine arose from the table, Elliot followed her to the balcony stairs away from the hubbub of the party.  Many eyes followed them wondering what was going on.  Seating herself on the lower step, she gazed silently at the unhappy man until they both spoke at the same time.  “Elliot.”

 

“Cathy,” his voice trailed off.

 

“No, go on.  What were you going to say?”

 

He settled on the step beside her.  “You’re truly happy, aren’t you?”

 

 

Sighing deeply, trying not to hurt this man who was dear to her, she replied, “I don’t know if I can make you understand, but I have everything I have ever dreamed of here in these tunnels.”

 

He glanced around the huge cavern that was ebony black outside the circle of light that surrounded the celebration.  “But it is so dark and dull, and Vincent can never walk in the sun with you.”

 

“Oh Elliot, there are beauties here you can’t even begin to imagine, and as for walking in the sun, that’s highly overrated.  I prefer to walk under the moon with him.  Be happy for me, Elliot, please.  Too many people never find what I have.  I hope you find it someday.”

 

“I hope so, too, and I am happy for you.  It’s just that I find it so hard to understand.”

 

Laying a consoling hand on his arm, she said, “When you find the one for you, you’ll understand.  For now just trust that I know what I’m doing.”

 

With bowed head, he sat silent for a minute, digesting everything she said, then nodded abruptly and, taking her by the hand, led her back to the man who watched her approach him with such love in his eyes that Elliot felt like he was intruding.  He handed her back to the leonine man with a slight smile.  “You’re a lucky man, Vincent,” he said gruffly and returned to his seat.

 

“I know,” Vincent replied.

 

                                                                ************

 

 

Retrieving Jacob from his father’s loving arms, she said something softly in Vincent’s ear.  He slowly nodded, and his eyes followed his wife and his son as they left the Great Hall.

 

“Where is Catherine going?” Father asked.

 

“She is returning to our chamber to nurse Jacob.”

 

“Come then, let’s play a game of chess.”

 

“Not now, Father.  Maybe later,” Vincent put him off.

 

“Oh, all right.  I’m sure you want to follow Catherine,” the new grandfather said.

 

Vincent smiled at him, but he stopped before he left the Great Hall and whispered something to Sarah then hurried from the chamber.

 

                                                                 ************

 

 

 A short while later Joe and Diana approached the tunnel patriarch.  “It’s time that we left.  Where are Cathy and Vincent?  We’d like to say goodbye to them.”

 

“Catherine left to nurse the baby and Vincent followed shortly after.  I thought that they would be back by now.”  At this moment Sarah came up to the three of them.

 

“Father, Vincent wanted me to explain their absence, but they have had so little time alone together this last year that they wanted to be by themselves for a while.  Vincent said he knows of a place where they could be alone.  They said not to worry that they would be back in a few days.”

 

“Thank you for bringing me the message, Sarah.  Go along now and enjoy yourself.  I’ll get Mouse to take our guests to the threshold.”  Looking around for Elliot, he found him sitting next to an enthralled Rebecca.  Well, I guess she can take him to the nearest threshold, Father thought.  Be careful, my girl, you’ve never dealt with this kind of man before.

 

                                                                   ************

 

The subjects of this discussion had by now entered a large cavern that boasted a magnificent deep, black, almost perfect, oval shaped lake with a bridal veil waterfall tumbling into the nearer end of it.  Vincent led his wife around the shore to the waterfall and behind it into a small, cozy cave that he had long ago equipped with a pallet and cushions.  This last week he had spent many hours fitting it with a small hearth for heat and cooking.  He lit several of the candles scattered about, and by their light Catherine could see two roses, one red, the other white, lying on the pallet.

 

“What a wonderful place,” she exclaimed as she rested Jacob on her right hip.  “When did you find this?”

 

“When I started to explore the tunnels in earnest.  I was about ten or eleven when Devin and I found this cave.  I’ve spent many days here when I wanted to get away.  Now it will be our place when we want to be alone.”

 

“It’s perfect, Vincent.”  She grinned knowingly at him.  “So, this is where you were when I couldn’t find you last week,” she gently teased.

 

He gave her a lopsided grin.  “I didn’t like keeping it from you, but I wanted to surprise you.  You have given me so much that I wanted to give you something that was mine to give in return.”

 

“Thank you, love, it’s a lovely and thoughtful gift.”

 

Pulling a tightly covered pan from his pack, he set it over the fire he had kindled on entering.  “Tend to Jacob and I will fix dinner.”

 

“I really hit the jackpot: a husband that cooks,” she laughed happily.

 

“I was forced to learn.  That was one of Father’s rules: that everyone know how to cook.”

 

“Good idea.”  She finished pinning Jacob’s diaper, picked him up, and walked over to her husband who was busily stirring something in the pot.  “Um, that smells good.”

 

“Just a simple stew,” he commented.

 

“Nothing is simple with you, love.  I suspect it has a variety of spices and vegetables.  Like these roses.   How did you get them?  We were seldom apart.”

 

“I have my ways,” he answered with a mysterious look.  He reached into his pack again and brought out a loaf of William’s bread.

 

While Vincent was tending to their dinner, Catherine nursed Jacob and then put him down for the night.  She was handed a bowl of stew, and they sat on the ledge that ran along one side of the cave.  Together, side by side, they ate their first meal as man and wife. 

 

“This is good, love, excellent but where’s the wine?” she quipped.

 

He got two cups and poured them full of a clear liquid.  Giving one to Catherine, he sat beside her, and clinking their cups, together they each took a sip.  “Water!” Catherine exclaimed.

 

“Water, the wine of life,” he answered.

 

                                                         ************

 

This wedding night was not the night Catherine had planned in her girlhood dreams, but it was only two weeks since Jacob’s birth and that was much too soon for any erotic love play.  The lovers settled, albeit grudgingly, for cuddling, kissing, and talking.  While holding her in his arms, he told her in greater detail about Sophie and Alan, James Eagle Claw, and Julia Richards, and how he wished he could help them.

 

“That’s no problem.  What’s mine is yours; you know that.  Tell me what you want and we’ll do it.  We can’t do enough for them since they were so kind to you.”

 

Vincent was silent for a few minutes; he would never take any of her money for himself, but since this was to help those who really needed it, he would.  “James’s tribe needs a new school and medical clinic.”

 

“We can enlist Peter in this project.  Maybe get a young doctor to work at the clinic.”  Grabbing his hand, she enthused, “There is so much we can do for these people.  And we’ll build them the best clinic and school possible.  Oh, this will be such fun.”

 

 

“I would like to bring Julia here to meet you and Father and all the rest.  I told her so much about our world.  I know she would like to see it.”

 

“Well, we’ll make the arrangements as soon as you wish.  We can ask Peter to meet her at the airport and bring her here.  She must have touched your heart very deeply.”

 

Vincent nodded, a fond smile on his lips.  “She is like the mother I always imagined when I was growing up.”

 

Stifling a yawn, Catherine said, “We need to make arrangements about the children, too, but I think we need to go to bed before I fall asleep.  It’s late and Jacob will be up early.”

 

Heaving a great sigh, Vincent grumbled good-naturedly, “No more sleeping in, I see.”

 

“Not anymore, Daddy, for you or for me.”  She snuggled close against him until she was where she wanted to be.  “Good night, love.”

 

After a tender kiss to the crown of her head, he mumbled, “Sleep well, my heart.”  The excitement of the day had caught up with them and they were asleep in seconds.

 

They spent the better part of a week learning to become a family, playing with Jacob, swimming in the unexpected warmth of the lake, and making plans for the Nez Perce, Julia, and the children.

 

                                                              *************

 

“Well, you have finally decided to return,” Father said in exasperation, taking the sting out of his words with a large smile.

 

Catherine had never looked lovelier and Vincent was contentment personified.  Even little Jacob had blossomed under his parent’s love and care.

 

“Now, Father, everyone is entitled to a honeymoon,” she replied soothingly while Vincent smiled smugly at his doting father.

 

“Oh, I know but it’s just so close to all the bad times that I couldn’t help worrying a little.”  He could tell by looking at them that they had something that they considered very important to discuss with him. “Well,” he encouraged them.

 

“Father, Catherine and I have a project we need your help with,” Vincent began.

 

In her excitement Catherine intruded, “Yes, the woman, Julia Richards, who let Vincent stay and recover his strength.”

 

 

“What about her?” Father asked.

 

“We want to bring her here to meet you and the community.  She’s a wonderful woman, Father,” Vincent explained.  He didn’t think that Father would deny his request, but he was the leader of the community and therefore very careful about its safety.

 

Pondering for a few minutes, more for the effect than anything else, Father finally agreed, “If that’s what you want, I’m sure it will be all right with the council.”

 

The young couple burst into radiant smiles and dashed from the Common Room.  That same afternoon Catherine sent the letter to Julia.