LOVE REMEMBERED

Alin Wong

Chapter 1

Elizabeth stood on the sidewalk looking up at the picture sharp quilts hanging in the display window of her brownstone. She had been preparing for this day for six months, the grand opening of her quilt shop Stitches to Remember. Leaving the comfortable security of Carmel for the unknown terrors of New York City had been a big step for her. She hadn't wanted to move but the dreams, the nightmares, the pull of the city had been too much to ignore. Maybe she'd finally find the answers to her past; those so many unremembered years.

When Nancy York visited the Seaside Gallery, where Elizabeth had a quilt show five years earlier, the two had struck up a close friendship. Last summer Nancy had become very ill. Rather than sell her building, which housed her quilt shop and where she lived, she offered to lease it to Elizabeth. Elizabeth knew the time had come to face her fears.

Nancy moved to Arizona to stay with her daughter. In September Elizabeth took over the shop and by the New Year had moved most of her things from California. She had taken almost three months to organize the shop to her liking. Today was the Open House. She took a final look at the quilts, pleased with her work. One was a sunset over the ocean near Carmel and one the New York City skyline viewed from Central Park. She also had a quilted jacket and a baby quilt in the window. She climbed the stone steps and opened the oak front door to welcome anyone stopping by.

An elderly woman sat on the hand carved wooden rocking chair sewing a button on the young boy's shirt. Scraps of many kinds of fabric, wool and leather filled baskets around her. "I must tell Mouse I need more light down here. These old eyes are not as good as they used to be. Young man, you pop more buttons than any boy down here," she laughed.

"I don't mean to Ruth Ann. I love to explore and they just come off."

"You're just like your father. I think I'll change your shirts so they have no buttons, just the ties and pullovers we use for him." She handed the boy his shirt.

"JV, I'm going above to an Open House at the quilt shop. The woman who made your quilt, Sunshine Found, has leased it. Would you like to come with me to meet her?"

"I thought she lived in California?"

"She did. She moved to New York and now leases the quilt shop. She changed the name to Stitches to Remember."

"I can tell her how much I love the colors, the sun, the ocean."

"Okay, let's go."

JV pulled a N.Y. Yankees baseball cap over his tawny untamed hair following Ruth Ann as she walked briskly from the room.

Ruth Ann admired the quilts on display in the window facing the sidewalk as she mounted the stone steps of the three storied brownstone. Through the open door the shop was a kaleidoscope of color and textures from floor to ceiling. Many quilts hung on the walls and lined the stairway up to the second level. One of snow and ice covered evergreens and leafless trees along a sparkling river drew JV close. Ruth Ann gasped at a Baltimore Album quilt that looked like an original.

A thin attractive woman of about forty with glossy warm brown hair cut above her shoulders walked over to Ruth Ann. The smile on her fine featured face didn't quite erase the sadness hidden deep in her green eyes.

"Hello, I'm Elizabeth Collins. Welcome to Stitches To Remember. Please, help yourself to refreshments and a class list and sign the guest book. The second floor is also part of the shop. Louise and Helen, who have taught and worked for Nancy, have remained with me and are here to meet everyone."

"Hello, my name is Ruth Ann. I was a frequent customer and friend of Nancy's. I've brought a young friend who would love to meet you. He was given one of your quilts, Sunshine Found, five years ago that he treasures. He's glued to your winter quilt. JV," she called.

The nine year old reluctantly left the quilt.

Elizabeth noticed he was not dressed as other boys his age. He was neat and clean but his clothes had an odd assortment of patches. Ruth Ann was not dressed as the average New Yorker either but more in country homespun and a shawl. "Hello JV, I see you like Winter in the Woods."

"I can almost feel the snow and the cold. Do you name all your quilts?"

"Yes, I put so much work into each one they feel like friends. I think they deserve names. Ruth Ann tells me you have Sunshine Found. I almost couldn't part with it. I'm glad it has brought you so much joy."

"I've never been to the beach. To see the sun shine on the water makes me happy. My father says he can feel the sun dance on his face."

Elizabeth looked around at the few men in the shop to see if any matched the fine boned good looks of the green eyed young boy with the wild gold hair. "Is your father here?"

"No, he can't come into the sun."

She put her hand on his shoulder somehow drawn to the boy. " I'm sorry," she said softly. "Why?"

He shook his head and shrugged a shoulder.

Elizabeth looked to Ruth Ann for an answer but the woman had none to give.

They were separated by the push of new arrivals eagerly looking around

the shop. Elizabeth didn't see them over the next hour. She spotted them just as they waved on their way out.

"Come back soon," she called. JV gave her a big smile and tried to push his baseball cap back onto his unruly hair. For some reason she felt drawn to the boy. Why? Was it because she knew somewhere in the world was a child she never knew.....her child?

After the last visitor headed down the stairs Elizabeth put the closed sign in the window and locked the door. The Open House had been a huge success. Only time would tell if a quilt shop in the middle of New York City could survive. Nancy York had succeeded and Elizabeth hoped her own new and different ideas and talents would do the same.

"Elizabeth, are you daydreaming already?" called Louise from inside the shop. Her long braid hung over her shoulder in dark contrast to the bright colors of her quilted jacket. "I have two women signed up for my jacket class and another trying to decide if she wants to take the class now or in the fall."

"I've got three people signed up for my baby quilt class," Helen said as she finished lining up bolts of fabric on the shelves in front of her. even an elderly man, Thomas." The plump grandmother of two loved to make anything for children. "I saw Ruth Ann earlier, she’s a good friend of Nancy’s. She doesn’t have much money, Nancy used to giver her all the fabric scraps and fabrics that didn’t sell."

"I’m sure I can continue to help out a good friend of Nancy’s."

"Elizabeth, we're all finished. I've left the last tray of cookies by the sink. The boys have already cleaned up and taken out the trash."

"Susan, you did a beautiful job for my Open House. I especially loved the quilt cookies you made." Elizabeth thanked the young caterer. "I'll get back to you about the summer Open House I want to have in my garden in July and finalize the luncheon we planned for May."

"I'll be waiting to hear from you," Susan said, leaving the shop by the back door.

"Louise, Helen you should head home. I'm sure you are as tired as I am. Tomorrow is our first official day of business and I know you'll both want to be here. I can't thank you both enough for staying on with me after I leased the shop from Nancy. You've been invaluable to me."

"We know how much Nancy treasured your friendship. We trust in her decisions. We hope her health will improve now that she is in Arizona with her daughter," Helen said.

"We're excited to get started, Elizabeth. With classes starting next week I know we'll be busy. Oh there's Michael, I'm out of here. See you tomorrow." Louise ran out to meet her husband waiting on the sidewalk.

"Helen, will you be all right going home alone now that it's dark?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes dear, I'm fine. It's early yet. The sidewalks are full of people going home from work. I'm only a few blocks away. I'll see you in the morning."

Elizabeth locked the door behind Helen and turned off the first floor lights. The next floor was all set for classes with long tables and comfortable chairs. A few sewing machines would be available if someone did not own a machine or didn't want to carry it to the shop. More of her quilts hung on the walls, each with a story of it's own as she'd fought her way to recovery over the past nine years.

She remembered Sunshine Found vividly; the quilt young JV now owned. She hated to part with any of her quilts, but, when Nancy told her she knew the perfect owner for it, she'd let it go. Some she would never part with. Their stories were too poignant to lose. And one in the trunk upstairs she was too afraid to finish.

She continued up the stairs to the third floor. This was her apartment. Nancy had used it for storage, preferring the basement rooms so she wouldn't have to climb all the stairs. It had been an apartment at one time so Elizabeth didn't have to do much to fit it to her needs. A good cleaning, a fresh coat of paint, a few area rugs, some of her things from California and her favorite quilts on the walls and it felt like home.

The blue eyes of her lion quilt greeted her entrance, sending her his constant strength. She gently touched his face as she walked by. She opened the French doors onto her balcony, the main reason for moving up here. The March air was still cold but Elizabeth knew soon the flowers in her postage stamp size garden below would be blooming. Lattice work covered with climbing roses protected much of the balcony from outside viewing. When the weather warmed she hoped to spend many quiet evenings here. The far corner of her balcony was totally private. She'd set it up as a secret garden. Wrapping a quilt around her she stepped out in to the cold evening air and sat back against the soft cushions on the teak bench tucked into the secret garden corner .She closed her eyes and let her mind drift.

It was over nine years ago she'd awakened in a hospital in San Francisco not knowing who or where she was. Even after a year of intensive therapy she and the doctors were no closer to an answer. All anyone could tell her was that she was found unconscious on the beach and had recently given birth to a child. No child was ever found. Someone gave her the name Elizabeth Collins and she'd kept it not knowing what other name to use.

Except for her memory she was in good health and released from the hospital. As part of her therapy she learned how to quilt. She found some relief when she started doing landscape quilts especially those portraying the

sun on the Pacific ocean. Her quilts became popular in the communities near Carmel where she lived. She was able to make more than a modest living from the sales of her quilts. She had made few friends except those in the quilting industry. Something very important was missing from her life and she knew she would never find it in California. But where to look?

The dreams started..... a baby's cry, a child's call. Did she have a son, a daughter, a husband? Five years before, the nightmares had started. She was alone in a big city. New York City? Screams, blood, no matter how fast she ran she could not outrun the fear. After she'd agreed to lease the shop the nightmares changed. She no longer ran from the mindless fear. She'd hear a lion's roar and before she could run strong arms enfolded her, a deep voice whispered "I'm here Catherine, always." Was that her name? Who held her? No matter how hard she tried she never saw his face. It was always in shadow but she felt safe at last. That was when she made the lion quilt. He had to have blue eyes. She'd look into those blue eyes and felt safe and strong.

The nighttime cold had seeped through the thick quilt long ago. The warmth and light of her new home drew Elizabeth inside. She pulled the door closed and shut out the night.

Chapter 2

Vincent sat reading in his chamber. He never tired of books. He looked up hearing his son call.

"Father, father, Ruth Ann and I met the lady who made Sunshine Found. We went to her new shop."

"What wonderful things did you see?"

"Father, the quilts are just as beautiful as Sunshine Found. Elizabeth put the world on her walls. Pictures of snow and sun, water and mountains. You must see them."

"Maybe, someday," Vincent sighed.

"Grandfather told me that soon the flowers would be returning and Alisa would take small groups to see them in the park. Father do you ever get to see the flowers?"

"You see them for me, Jacob."

"I wish you could come with us Father. Everyone down here accepts you. Can't people Above?"

"They don't know me. Those who are different frighten them."

JV looked closely at his father's golden face, the kind blue eyes, the long hair the color of his own. "I love you Father just the way you are."

"I love you too Jacob." Vincent hugged his son and kissed the top of his head. His heart leapt with joy every time he looked at him. He had almost lost Jacob when the boy was born. He did lose his beloved Catherine. Almost ten years had passed and the sorrow in his soul was as deep as if he'd lost her yesterday.

He took a deep breath. "Let's join your grandfather for dinner. I'm sure he'd like to hear about your trip to the quilt shop."

The next day, his lessons finished, JV went back to the quilt shop on his own. He had to see Winter in the Woods again. He slipped in quietly behind some women fussing over fabric choices. He didn't know why the quilt fascinated him so much. He'd seen plenty of snow in Central Park this winter.

"You really love my quilt, JV." Elizabeth said behind him.

"I feel like I'm right there and could reach out my hand to touch the snow."

"Where's Ruth Ann?"

JV hung his head, "She doesn't know I'm here. I came on my own."

"Won't she worry? What about your father?"

"Father always knows where I am. We're connected. I can never hide or

ever be alone," he whispered.

Surprised, Elizabeth said, "I'm sure he doesn't know everything you do. He'll be upset that you came here alone without telling anyone."

"I'm not alone. I'm with you," he said earnestly.

Elizabeth laughed, "Your father doesn't know me. He might not want you here. You better head home before he sends out the hounds." She turned him towards the door and gave him a gentle push.

JV looked back, "I'll ask him to meet you Elizabeth," he said running down the steps.

Elizabeth smiled to herself. This boy touched her heart. He would bear watching before he stole it.

She spent the rest of the afternoon busily working with Louise and Helen assisting customers with fabric choices and class sign ups. Just before closing she saw JV come back in the store and edge towards Winter in the Woods.

"I see you're back. Did you speak to your father?"

JV looked worried. "My father said I can return but you have to meet with him tonight."

"I'd love to meet your dad."

"Father."

"You don't call him dad?" Elizabeth questioned.

"No, I never have. He has always been father."

"JV, I'd love to meet your father but you can see I'm closing up now."

"Oh please Elizabeth. He's not far from here. It won't take long," he cried desperately.

"Okay, okay. Let me get my coat. Helen, Louise could you lock up tonight while I go with this young man?"

"Sure Elizabeth. Everyone has gone. We can lock up as soon as you leave," Helen said.

Once on the sidewalk JV took her arm. "This way, Elizabeth. It's not far." He led her toward Central Park.

"We're meeting your father in the park?"

"Yes, no, kind of." He led her through a thick stand of trees toward a drainage tunnel.

"JV it's getting dark, this can't be safe. Let's go back."

"I come this way all the time. Don't worry Elizabeth. My father is near." JV brought her to the tunnel entrance which was barred and sealed.

"Uh, Elizabeth."

"Now what JV?"

He held out a white satin bag he had been clutching since he met her at the shop. "Open it."

Inside was a beautiful white feather owl mask, only the eye holes were not cut out.

"Spill it JV. If this is some kind of April Fools Day joke it isn't funny April isn't until next month."

JV took a deep breath, his voice trembled a little as he tried to explain. "Elizabeth, my father lives in a secret place. No one unknown to him can see it or him. Sometimes people can be frightened of him. He's wonderful but he's different. That's why he suggested the mask. You have to put it on. It's the only way I can ever come to your shop alone. Please Elizabeth, please," he pleaded.

She didn't know what to do. All this was so strange to her. Tunnels, masks, the unknown.

"It was my mother's," JV whispered, " before she died."

Tears sprang to Elizabeth’s eyes. Why did this boy affect her so? Why did she feel so compelled to do as he asked? She fingered the soft feathers of the mask and noticed at one time the eye holes must have been open. Now they were covered with soft wool. She sighed, "I know I'm going to regret this JV. I'll do as you ask." She tied the silken ribbons of the mask behind her head and reached out blindly. "I can no longer see," she said in a timid voice.

JV took her hand in his smaller one. "Don't be afraid Elizabeth. My father is here."

Elizabeth heard the panel slide and the gate open.

"Father?" JV called.

"I'm here JV."

The voice was soft, deep, reassuring. Slightly familiar?

"I've brought Elizabeth. This way, Elizabeth."

JV guided her toward the voice. She stumbled in the darkness. Strong arms caught her as she fell. This man was big, tall, broad, strong. She trembled slightly.

"I'm sorry for all this Elizabeth. Too many lives depend on the secrecy. We don't mean to make you afraid."

"I'm already afraid of the darkness."

"You're safe. Please don't be afraid."

Somehow she believed him. "Who are you? JV calls you father."

"Vincent," he whispered. "My name is Vincent." He walked slowly, her arm pressed against his side. "We can talk here," he said, helping her sit on a stone outcropping.

She sensed they had moved beyond the tunnel and deeper into the earth. Her heart had been racing since she heard his voice. He wore some kind of open sided cloak, she could feel it brush against her legs as they walked. Her arm was pressed against soft leather and suede.

"JV tells me you own a quilt shop full of wondrous things."

"He has fallen in love with one of my quilts, Winter in the Woods. It's of a place I visited one winter in Yosemite National Park. It brought me peace during a turbulent period of my life."

"Father, I wish you could see it."

"Jacob."

"I know father, I know."

"Your grandfather is waiting. You better run along. I'll see Elizabeth gets out safely."

"’Bye Elizabeth." JV gave her a quick hug.

"I think your son has stolen a piece of my heart," Elizabeth said. "I don't usually go to strange places to meet unknown people."

"He seems drawn to you more than I've seen him with anyone before. You and your quilt." The mask hid her face from him as completely as he was hidden from her. Yet he felt if he lifted it she would not be a stranger to him. Her voice, her scent were doing strange things to him. He had not felt like this in years. Not since he'd lost Catherine. Was this woman bewitching him like she bewitched his son. He had to keep her talking.

"Tell me about yourself, your shop."

"I started quilting about nine years ago and fell in love with the challenge of making my quilts look like photographs or paintings. I've been doing quilts of special places ever since, usually landscapes, oceans, sun, mountains, trees, that kind of thing. I had a chance to lease Nancy York's quilt shop when she became ill and moved to New York in January. I met JV when Ruth Ann brought him to the Open House yesterday. Today I met you." She felt drawn to tell him everything. Common sense told her this was a stranger no matter how much she felt.....connected. She shivered.

"Are you cold?" Vincent asked.

"A little. I don't like being kept in the dark."

Vincent sighed, "I'm sorry. I'll take you out. Here..." He draped something long and heavy over her shoulders. It was warm from his body. His cloak. She could feel wool, leather, satin. Smell musk, sandalwood, citrus, smoke, candles.

She felt him rise. Long hair brushed her face. He took her hand in his gloved fingers and helped her up.

"Come," he tucked her arm under his. His steps made no sound but she could hear his slow steady breathing.

"Will you let JV come back to the shop Vincent?"

"Yes, I'd hate to deprive him of the sight of your quilts and visiting with you. I hope he won't be a bother to you."

"He won't be a bother."

"We're at the entrance. You should be able to find your way from here. It's still early, you'll be safe. Goodbye Elizabeth," he said, gently taking his cloak from her shoulders.

Before she could get the mask off she heard the gate close. She was alone. What just happened? Did she really meet some stranger blindfolded in a tunnel or was this another one of her dreams? She looked down at the mask in her hands and up at the tunnel gate. She headed home.

Vincent staggered against the tunnel wall breathing hard. The panel closed blocking his view of Elizabeth. His brain reeled in confusion. He'd had to stop himself from ripping the mask from her face; seeing who she was. He held his cloak to his face, inhaled deeply. She smelled like Catherine, she spoke like Catherine, walked like Catherine. Did she look like Catherine? He looked toward the tunnel door, surprised. He could follow her path across the park, sense her own confusion, her thought "I'm glad I didn't tell him everything."

Elizabeth let herself into the dark shop. She mounted the steps slowly to her apartment. "I'm glad I didn't tell him everything about myself. He'd never let JV come back. He'd think I'm crazy. What about him, blindfolds, secrets? What's going on?"

That night her nightmare returned, the blood, the screams as she ran terrified in the dark. She heard the lion's roar, strong arms surrounded her, held her close. A soft whisper, "I'm here Catherine, I'm here."

She woke up crying, "My name is Elizabeth."

Chapter 3

Elizabeth was busy for the rest of the week with new customers buying fabric and signing up for classes. She was too tired to dream at night. JV came every day to look at the quilt but never disturbed her work more than to say hello or goodbye.

On Friday he spoke to her when he saw she was not busy. "Elizabeth, I found it."

"What JV?"

He took her hand, pointed to the quilt. "The lion's head," he said in wonder. "You hid it well but I found it. Then I noticed it's in all your quilts when I looked hard enough."

She looked at him in pleased surprise. "You're the only one who's ever found it JV. Many quilters quilt a special symbol into their quilts as a signature. Some like it to show. I like to hide mine."

"Why a lion?"

"I went through a bad time in my life many years ago. Lions gave me strength. I even have a collection of them upstairs. Would you like to see?"

JV's face lit up in delight. "Yes!"

"Helen, I'm taking JV upstairs. I'll be right back."

"Take your time."

Elizabeth led JV up past the second floor. "Next week my classes start; these tables will be full of quilters. Tell Ruth Ann I’ll save fabric scraps for her" They continued up to her apartment. "Come see my lions." She opened the door.

JV spotted the lion quilt immediately. The king of the beasts in all his regal splendor. His blue eyes looked out as if he owned the world, fearless, powerful, noble. "Elizabeth, I think I have a new favorite quilt. It reminds me of father," he said in awe.

"Your father?"

JV carefully touched the quilt. "My father's hair is that golden color. He's strong, he protects me....all of us. His eyes are blue."

Elizabeth led him to her lion collection. The shelves of an Early American pie safe were full of lions of every kind. Stuffed toy lions with hair as soft as down, ceramic, porcelain, glass, pewter, a beautifully carved Chinese jade lion sat on top of the safe. She reached into the cabinet and withdrew a pewter lion and handed it to JV. "Here's a lion for you. I only give them to my special friends."

"Thank you. I'll treasure it." He closed his hand tightly over the lion.

"You'd better head home now. I'm going out tonight as soon as I close

up."

He couldn't resist touching the lion quilt once more, softly rubbing the lion's nose. He raced down the stairs and out the door without saying another word.

JV raced through the tunnels, his heart pounding, looking for his father. He burst into his father's chambers breathless." Father, father look what Elizabeth gave me."

"Catch your breath Jacob," Vincent laughed. "What’s the hurry?"

"I had to tell you father, she loves lions. She collects them, she sews them into her quilts. She gave me this one." He handed Vincent the pewter lion no bigger than one of his grandfather's chess pieces.

"Father, the quilted lion she made, it hangs on her wall. I told her it reminds me of you. It has blue eyes. You have to see it. She said she was going out tonight. You can see it from her balcony. Go father, see it."

He took the lion back. "I'm going to show grandfather."

Vincent watched Jacob run out of sight. What was happening? He looked at his hand where the lion had rested expecting to see it branded into his skin. Who was this Elizabeth? He'd been in turmoil since he met her.

Did he dare go to her place as Jacob begged? He knew two tunnels that led near her brownstone, one exited right into her basement. If she hadn't found the door and locked it he could gain access. Jacob said she was out for the evening.

Vincent tried the door into Elizabeth's basement. It was not locked. He moved bolts of fabric piled near the door. He listened to the silence before climbing the stairs to the shop. The street light played across the room, highlighting some of the quilts. There was Winter in the Woods he was sure. He inhaled deeply almost feeling the cold in his lungs. He reached out to touch the snow expecting it to feel cold, surprised to feel the warmth and softness of the fabric.

He went past the second floor glancing quickly at the empty tables and up to Elizabeth's door. It stood ajar. He hesitated, he didn't want to invade her private space.

He heard a cab stop outside, a key in the lock. He ran through her apartment, pushed open her balcony doors, closed them quietly behind him.

Elizabeth climbed the stairs humming the theme to the Lion King. She didn't bother turning on the light. Her apartment was just bright enough from the city lights coming in her windows. She went to her french doors, pushed them open and went right to her favorite corner. She pulled her quilt around her still humming. She snuggled down and drifted off to sleep.

Vincent heard her soft breathing. Should he go back through the apartment or find another way off the balcony. The moon came out from behind a cloud and illuminated part of the lion quilt. He didn't hesitate. He stepped back into the apartment and stood in front of the quilt. He placed his hand upon the lion's mane.

"Who are you?" she shouted angrily behind him, a little frightened.

He moved away from the quilt, pulled the hood of his cloak quickly over his head and face.

"I'm sorry Elizabeth. It's Vincent," he apologized.

"What are you doing in my apartment? How did you get in?" She was still very angry.

He tried to think of a quick answer. "I saw your door was ajar and thought I would check to be sure everything was okay. Jacob said you were out. I saw the quilt," he shrugged his shoulder.

"Jacob?"

"Everyone calls him JV."

"Your son?" She was finding it hard to understand what this man was doing in her apartment.

"My son, Jacob Vincent," he said quietly. "Who told me of your marvelous lion quilt. I thought I might be able to see it from your shop window. The door was open I came in to be sure no one was here. I saw the winter quilt, noticed the door up here was also opened. I thought you were out for the evening so decided to check up here too. I saw the lion.....

Did she dare to believe him? "Turn around. Tell me again to my face. How did you get up here?"

He turned slowly, only his eyes visible above the folds of his hood. The rest of him remained in shadow.

She said nothing, her eyes were lost in pools of blue.

He reached out in disbelief, "Catherine!"

She jumped back at the sight of his clawed, hair covered hand. "Elizabeth, my name is Elizabeth," she insisted.

He turned away quickly, "I should never have come here."

"Vincent, don't leave. Who's Catherine? Why did you call me by her name?"

"You could be her double," he whispered. "She was Jacob’s mother, my beloved. She's dead."

Elizabeth placed her hand on his arm. "Vincent, come out on the balcony. You don't seem comfortable in here." He followed her keeping to the shadows.

"Tell me what happened," she said softly.

He struggled with the shock that this woman looked so much like Catherine. "Soon it will be twelve years since I first found Catherine. We had a bond, a connection. I always knew where she was, if she was in trouble. I became very ill, she saved me but our connection was broken. She worked for the District Attorney's office and had information someone wanted. She was kidnapped. I couldn't find her. The night I finally did find her she died in my arms after telling me we had a child. She was my life and I couldn't save her." His body shook with emotion.

His eyes never left her face. "Elizabeth, you have her scent, her voice, her face."

She raised her hands and gently slipped the hood off his head her eyes locked on his. Her lion.....no, not quite.....almost. His hair was long and golden. She touched it, soft. His deep set blue eyes watched her beneath prominent brows. His nose was broad and had short golden hair across the bridge. The rest of his face was the look of her lion. His cheeks and upper lip had a feline look to them. Also his teeth which were large and sharp. She reached out to touch his face, it was soft. His full lower lip looked sensuous. The back of his hands were hair covered, each fingertip was clawed. He should frighten her, but, he didn’t.

"How.....how did this happen to you?"

"I don't know how.....I was born.....I survived."

She gripped his hands "Jacob.....JV?"

"Jacob, my son, is beautiful. The man who killed Catherine took my son from her. I was able to find them both. Gabriel is dead."

"You killed him," she stated.

"No I would have but Jacob was crying. I picked him up and left. Diana was with Gabriel."

"Diana?"

"Diana Bennett, a policewoman who worked on Catherine's murder investigation." He knew he wasn’t making any sense. He couldn’t put his thoughts past Catherine.

Elizabeth said nothing for awhile. Her eyes searched his. She knew there must be much more to this tragic story but she wouldn't ask tonight. "You think I look like your Catherine?"

He kissed her palm. "You could be her."

"Vincent I'm not your Catherine."

"I know Elizabeth. She died in my arms."

"Can we talk again? I would like to be your friend, yours and JV's. You are both welcome here any time."

"I can only come late at night."

"That's fine."

He hesitated a moment...."Elizabeth...let JV know if you want to come to the tunnels. I'll meet you there if you wish."

"And wear the mask," she smiled.

"You won't need the mask," he said rising. He went through her apartment stopping a moment at her lion quilt. "What do you call it?"

"Remember."

He touched the quilt and was gone.

Elizabeth looked at her lion. His eyes bore into hers. Remember....remember. Who was she? Not Vincent's Catherine. She died...in his arms. She brushed tears from her eyes. Dreams.