"A World to Believe In" by Judith Nolan

Fourth Part

(Story Index Page)

‘You were once my one companion…

You were all that mattered…

You were once my friend and father —

Then my world was shattered…

Wishing you were somehow here again…

Wishing you were somehow near…

Sometimes it just seemed,

If I just dreamed,

Somehow you would be here…’

                                                                          Phantom of the Opera

Charles Chandler stood irresolute in the middle of the very expensive Persian carpet. Facing the living room’s closed door, he knew a restless need to pace. He wanted to move, to do something — anything — to assuage the anxiety of this endless waiting. Instead he stood rooted to the spot, staring at the door. Finally he glanced back at his hostess, a diminutive old woman sitting ramrod straight before the fire flickering in the ornate marble fireplace, watching his agitation with calm blue eyes.

He knew her well enough from his previous life in New York. Over the years he’d attended several fine social events and some of the lavish parties she’d held at her home. But back then they’d been on the same social level. Now it seemed as if they were poles apart. He had no idea she had any links with his beloved daughter. It was all a very frustrating puzzle, but he was far too tired to speculate right now.

Charles ran an agitated hand over his short-cropped hair and swore softly. He prayed his daughter would recognise him after all this time. He knew he didn’t recognise himself, not the old Charles anyway. In the shaving mirror this morning he’d looked as if he was a hundred years old with every care in the world heaped upon his slumped shoulders. It had been too long since —

“It will be all right,” Lady May offered. “Catherine will be here soon. You must be patient.”

“My dear lady…” Charles passed a weary hand over his face. “I have been patient for a good few years now. I don’t wish to wait a moment longer. To see her again…” His voice broke on a stifled cry. “I do not deserve her…”

Now so much had happened and come to pass, so many things had changed that he was completely unaware of...he remembered fragments, snatches of conversation that were like elusive dreams. Catherine seated beside his hospital bed, holding his limp hand and crying. He’d desperately wanted to reach for his beloved, darling girl, wipe away her tears and comfort her. Tell her he would be all right. But his catatonic body had betrayed him. He found he couldn’t move or speak. He could only watch and battle an ever-deepening spiral of despair. What had he done…?

And then, that last night…Catherine brought the man she said she loved with all her heart and soul. She’d wanted him to finally meet her dying father… Charles frowned… But was he a man? He sighed with frustration. What was the truth and what had been the product of the stupefying medication they had filled his system with? He had no clear idea of anything anymore.

But he remembered staring up at a face, an awesome, unique face framed with a wild cascade of tawny hair…and hearing a voice…the soft rasp, the deep, warm timbre that enhanced the intensity of the deep love that had underscored every word. The owner of that voice had promised to love and protect Catherine with every fibre of his being to the end of his days and beyond… A lover’s role and a father’s...

The memory of that voice had haunted Charles’ dreams to this day, or had it all been only a product of his nightmares? But beyond the danger and confusion and everything that had happened as a consequence, he did remember that Catherine had said the man she loved was named Vincent...

“Forgive yourself…” Lady May stood slowly from her chair to limp over to stand beside him. “You did the right thing, even though the price has been unbearable.” She threaded her thin fingers through his, clasping his hand tightly. “You’ll give yourself a heart attack, worrying so about things that cannot be changed. Look to the future, not the past. It does you no good.”

“But if I hadn’t gone snooping into things I didn’t understand, if I’d just kept my nose out of Gabriel’s dark empire, I would have still had my life. I would still have Catherine and I —” Charles froze when the door suddenly opened and a beautiful young woman walked in. She halted on the threshold, her shoulders braced, as if expecting a heavy blow. Her eyes met his immediately and tears welled up in her green eyes, spilling down her cheeks.

“Dad…?” she questioned. “Is it really you after all this time?”

“Oh, Cathy, my girl…” Charles breathed raggedly, taking several halting steps forward, his own eyes filling with tears. “I’m just so glad to see you again. I never dreamed it could be possible. I can’t believe this is real…” He held out his arms.

“Oh, Dad…” Catherine stumbled forward into his close embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist as if she feared he would vanish if she released her hold.

“My beautiful, darling girl, I do so love you.” Charles buried his face in the warm fragrance of his daughter’s hair and clung to her like a drowning man. “I’m just so sorry it had to be this way. I never intended to lie to you. If I hadn’t been such a fool to think I could make a difference. That I could beat that awful man…”

“It’s all right, Dad. I understand. But I have so much I need to tell you.” Catherine pulled back to look up into his face. She smoothed gently at the lines creasing his forehead and worried he looked so thin and care-worn. “And there is so much to show you. So many things have changed in my life since you…since you were taken away from me. After the night you…died, I felt you all around me. Once I dreamed you came to see me, to talk to me. I talked to you, about everything. It all seemed so real. I have always wanted to see you again, to tell you I am all right. That I am loved.”

Lady May approached them and took Catherine’s hand. “I’ll be in the next room if you need me,” she said quietly. She glanced at Charles. “What Catherine has to tell you will seem quite fantastic and impossible. Believe her and know it is the truth, and that there is nothing greater in this life than the power of love. It conquers everything, even the past.” She hugged Catherine and kissed her cheek before leaving the room and shutting the door quietly behind her.

“Come and sit down.” Catherine linked arms with her father, taking him with her to a couch before the fire. She sank down beside him.

Charles looked her over with loving curiosity. She was dressed in a loosely- belted, yellow silk blouse over a calf-length black skirt which gave her the air of a more mature and confident woman than the young, hard-working lawyer he had last seen. His gaze fastened on the ring finger of her left hand, and his brows drew together in confusion.

“What’s this?” He touched a questioning fingertip to the plaited gold band. “You are married?”

“For almost a year now,” Catherine replied steadily. “I love him so much. He is my life. There are so many things I need to tell you.”

Charles threaded his fingers through hers. “There’s something about you, a look and a serenity that wasn’t there before…before I went away. You look so much like your mother. You look…happy. I only ever wanted your happiness, Cathy. I tried so hard to do the right thing. I didn’t think I could fail myself and you.”

“I know. As I said, Dad, so many things have changed in my life. For a start you need to know that you’re now a grandfather. I have three beautiful children.”

“Three…?” Charles looked startled and then he smiled wistfully. “I always knew you would make an excellent mother, just like Cathleen.” He touched her cheek. “I just wish your mother could see you now. And the father — your husband — is he here too? Will I get to meet him?”

“In a little while, after we talk. Dad…” Catherine drew a deep breath and expelled it slowly. “Do you remember anything of that night…that night I came to see you. I brought someone to meet you. Someone very special to me. Someone I could not tell you about before that night.”

“Ah…yes…” Charles grimaced sadly before inhaling deeply. “Catherine, I understood so much more about you after that night. What you have with Vincent is a rare thing indeed. I was such a fool to put it all at risk. I can’t say how sorry I am. If only you had told me sooner.”

“Oh, Dad, I’m so sorry, but you were never to blame. I just wish I could have told you sooner…I wish you could have met him years ago. It would have saved us both a lot of heartache. But we needed to be so careful. Where he comes from, where he lives, is so very fragile.”

“You had to be patient until I was ready to let you leave me. You needed to wait until I was old enough to understand. You were my whole world, and I worried about you so much. I wanted to keep you with me always. But I could not put your life in danger. I knew you would be safe if I went far away.”

Catherine’s breathing hitched on a sob. “Did you understand what we said that night…?”

“I understood everything he said and I understood everything you said. It made it easier for me to leave you behind. I knew he would take care of you. That he would love you as you deserve to be loved. He could protect you where I could not.”

“And I just wanted you to know how much I love him. And how much I loved you.”

“You know if I could have stayed I would have done so. But here were circumstances, forces beyond my control. For you to have the life your mother always wished for you, a safe and happy life, I had to leave. Your love made it easier for me to let go.”

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Honouring Mum’s memory?”

“What you have found is so special, it is a true miracle. A lot of people have worked such miracles on our behalf. I never dreamed I would see you again. So do you…” He looked squarely into her eyes. “Do you think I am old enough to finally meet him properly?”

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure, Dad.” Catherine wiped the tears from her cheeks and stood. “Wait here.”

She hurried to the door and opened it, looking into the passage beyond. She beckoned to someone, and as Charles rose slowly to his feet, he found he was holding his breath. He released it slowly on a grateful sigh as a tall, powerfully built man walked silently into the room.   

And once again, Charles stared up into that unique and awesome face and felt humbled. And then he looked into sapphire blue eyes that considered him with a calm serenity which warmed him and made him so very proud of his little girl who was now all grown up and a mother.

He held out his hand. “Hello, Vincent. It is wonderful to finally meet you. I never forgot you, or that night. But I never thought this day would ever come. I owe you all so much more that I cannot ever hope to repay. I knew you would take good care of my girl.”

“The debt has already been paid.” Vincent took his hand and the two men assessed each other closely, each knowing that in their own way, they both loved a truly remarkable woman. “Welcome home, Charles.”

“We gonna be home soon, Dev?” Concealed beneath a black wig with dark glasses covering a large part of his face, and wearing a long, loose shirt over easy-riding jeans, Charles excited very few comments, except about his size.

He blended well into the chaotic airport scene.

Devin shrugged. “Soon, Charles. After customs, I just need to hire a van, and we’ll be on our way.”

“Fly in big plane all the way from New Zealand. Lots of water and then lots of land. But good to be back in New York. Good to come home and see the folks again, eh, Dev?”

“It is indeed. We’ve been away too long.”

“Can’t do much with grape vines in winter.” Charles shrugged. “It’ll all be right there when we get back.”

Devin smiled. “Just as well. When Father wrote and said we had to come home for Summerfest or he’d write me out of his will, I knew he meant it this time.”

“Father wouldn’t do that, Dev?” Charles looked anxious. “Would he?”

Devin shrugged. “The old boy’s got a really big hole in the ground and a whole pile of old books to leave me. Oh, and his chess set. That I might be able to sell if I ever get really short of cash.”

“Not the chess set, Dev.” Charles reared back in horror. “Can’t sell that. Father’s best one. He loves it.”

“I was kidding, Charles.” Devin sighed. “The old boy probably hasn’t even got a will. And Vincent and I would go halves in everything anyway. Can’t sell half a chess set.”

“Oh...” Charles looked confused then his expression cleared. “Very funny, Dev. Maybe Catherine could make one for him. A will, I mean. She’s a good lawyer.”

“Maybe, indeed. Yes, my little brother did well there. He certainly married a classy lady. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.” Devin took his companion’s arm. “Right, come on, now we just got to clear customs and we’ll hire that van. I think Lady May had better be our first port of call, or she might cancel her order for those first ten cases of next year’s vintage.”

“Good idea then, Dev. Gotta keep the old ladies sweet. Good for business.”

“Charles…” Devin tugged at the older man’s sleeve as they approached the customs hall. “Just exactly what have you been doing behind my back?”

“Nothing…” Charles blinked in honest surprise. “Just talking to people. Making customers for us.” He grinned. “Looking to the future, Dev. It’s important. Gotta make connections, do network and stuff. We gonna be rich, Dev.”

“Well, don’t go looking too far ahead or you might not see where you’re going.” Devin punched him lightly in the arm as a customs officer beckoned them over to his station.

“So that’s everything you have? Everything you can remember?” Diana frowned at Catherine’s father. “There’s nothing else?”

“That is all of it. And I am glad to be rid of it.” Charles looked at Catherine and Vincent who had both been watching him write out page after page of facts and figures for the last five hours under Diana’s direction. “That man hid himself so well that sometimes I used to wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if I’d only dreamed it all. What a fool I was then. Such a stupid, arrogant idiot to think I could make a difference.”

He reached for Catherine’s hand, looking deep into her eyes that reminded him so much of his late wife’s he felt like crying. “But even then I didn’t realise the scope of it. Though I knew I couldn’t involve you in any of it, Cathy. It was far too dangerous. I found such an incredible maze of third-party lease-backs and a veritable minefield of holding companies and shell corporations that it would have taken a whole team of lawyers years to uncover the truth. But even then Gabriel didn’t want me to discover anything about him. He moved in the shadows and he liked it there, safe from discovery; the ultimate puppet-master pulling all our strings. But that’s when the nightmare really began. He tried more than once to have me killed. I wish now…”

He sighed, shaking his head wearily. “I wish now I’d had the good sense to have left it all alone. Not tried to be such a hero, a crusader for the greater good. Look where it got me.” His shoulders sagged. “I’m so very tired of constantly having it on my mind and always looking over my shoulder. Now I am finally free to begin again.”

They were all seated at one end of the huge oak table in Lady May’s dining room. Charles slumped back in his chair, releasing Catherine’s hand and allowing his to fall down and hang at his sides. He looked utterly exhausted.

Catherine reached for him. “You can’t blame yourself. You tried to do what was right, Dad. And I love you for that. Even if it took you so far away from me, we’re here now, together at last. And nothing will part us again. Nothing, I swear.” She glanced at Diana. “I think we will leave it there.” Catherine turned to watch her father anxiously. “It’s getting late and we’re all exhausted.”

“Well, I think I have enough now to finally close the investigation.” Diana nodded, collecting everything on the table in front of them and pushing it into her large hold-all. “I’ll admit I am tired of it all as well. I think I need a long holiday. Somewhere warm and sunny. I might even take a friend. Show him a few of the things he’s been missing for some time.” She smiled slowly.

The door to the room opened, and a maid walked in carrying a heavily laden tea tray followed closely by Lady May. She surveyed the group at the table. “You’ve been cooped up in here for hours. I thought you could all do with a refreshment break.”  

“Thank you.” Vincent got to his feet to take the tray. “But we are finally done here.”

“Excellent. Then I am just in time.” May dismissed the maid with a smile and closed the door behind her. “I have a surprise waiting for you in the other room. But I didn’t wish to disturb you until you were ready.”

“As long as it doesn’t require more paperwork,” Charles begged, passing a weary hand over his face. “I’m sick to death of all that.”

“Oh, I think you’re going to like this one.” Lady May smiled as she poured the tea, passing the filled cups around the group. When she had finished she picked up the small silver bell on the tray and rang it with brisk authority.

“I feel like the butler being summoned in a Hitchcock movie,” a man’s voice complained as the door opened again to admit Devin, closely followed by Charles. “Geeze, I see the gang’s all here already then. Well, that saves me a trip down Below.”

“Devin, you pirate, when did you get in?” Vincent was on his feet and only took three strides before enfolding his big brother in a crushing bear hug.

“Hey, easy, little brother, mind the ribs…” Devin complained as he hugged him back just as heartily. He drew back to look past Vincent’s shoulder. “And Catherine too. And she’s just as gorgeous as ever. Things are certainly looking up.” Devin moved to hug her as well, planting a warm kiss on her cheek. “Now, who’s this?” His frowning gaze took in both Diana and Catherine’s father.
 

He swung back to Catherine. “What gives, Radcliffe? Have I missed something really big here? I mean, that’s your Dad, isn’t it? I thought, I mean… And I have no idea who she is…” He pointed to Diana. “But I get the feeling she’s dangerous. Interesting company you keep when I’m not around, little brother. Care to fill me in?”

“You have missed an awful lot by your tardiness, boy,” Lady May told him briskly. “So sit down, be quiet, and we will tell you all the details.”

“Gee, it’s so good to be home again.” Devin laughed, drawing out two chairs, one of him and the other for Charles, who sat down quickly and tried to look small beneath Lady May’s imperious stare. “Okay, guys, tell me everything. And make it good. This has got to last me until the next time I come home.”

“Which had better be next year and with my ten cases of wine, or you’ll have me to answer to,” Lady May reminded him stoutly before she took a chair at the table and poured a fresh round of tea. “All right, who’s going to speak first?” 

“Well, here’s to new beginnings.” Elliot raised his glass of wine to toast his fellow diners. “And to the very best of friends.”

“And here’s to a wedding I know we are all going to enjoy.” Catherine raised her glass of orange juice with a smile. “It’s about time you made an honest woman of Shannon.”

“He had to wait until I was ready.” Shannon laughed softly.

“I am sure Elliot will make an excellent husband,” Vincent commented, as he raised his own glass. “Of course, if he needs any advice...”

“Give it a rest, guys.” Elliot held up his free hand in surrender. “I think I can figure it out. I’ll let you know.”

“There is an art to taking good care of your lady,” Henry Pei assured him as he pushed his way backwards through the door leading into the private room he and Lin had created at the back of their restaurant for certain, very special visitors. He placed the heavily laden tray he was carrying on the revolving platform in the middle of the table.

Fragrant steam rose from the many dishes it held. In the next moment Lin appeared with a tray carrying individual dishes for each of the four diners. As she shared them out she asked, “Is my husband giving out free advice again?”

“Elliot has asked Shannon to marry him. Isn’t that wonderful?” Catherine shared the good news.

“Oh, it’s about time.” Lin nodded. “Let me see the ring. When’s the wedding going to be?”

“We haven’t decided yet.” Shannon held out her hand for her to admire, and the three women spent several companionable minutes discussing various plans. The men sat back, talking among themselves, knowing full well their input was neither needed nor desired.

It was only later, after they had finished an exquisite meal and Henry had cleared the dishes cleared away, that Elliot broached the true reason for the evening’s get-together. He reached beneath the table and brought out a large portfolio case. He laid it in the middle of the table.

“I have something here that I think will interest you,” he began, opening the case to display its contents of blueprints and real estate print-outs. “I have discussed my plans with Shannon and she approves of my ideas.”

“What is this?” Vincent leaned forward to shuffle through the plans. “A property on the Upper East Side.” He identified the location immediately. “On the river.” He looked impressed. “An impressive address, too. Your new house, perhaps?”

“Yes, it overlooks the river,” Elliot agreed, watching Vincent closely. “It’s one of the last of its kind. A seven bedroom home with four bathrooms — main ensuite — and set in its own extensive gardens. It’s all very private and secluded, and it’s not overlooked by anyone. It was destined to be a major part of a package I was intending to sell, but when I saw the name of a previous owner, I told my real estate broker to cancel the sale for this one.”

“Why, Elliot?” Catherine stood to see the plans better, drawing them around so she could study the views of the house. “Dunrowan House…” she said slowly, leaning closer, running a finger across the legend. “But this…this is… It can’t be…”

“It’s your childhood home.” Shannon took her hand and held it. “We discovered the truth on that long weekend away we took. Elliot found your father’s name on the list of previous owners. We just knew it would be perfect.”

“Perfect for what…?” Catherine sat down hard.

“As a place where you and Vincent can be together out of sight of any prying eyes. It will be a lovely second home for you and your children. And your father. He could live there too. There’s a ton of room as you know.”

“But the cost, Elliot…” Vincent shook his head. “It would considerable.”

“Oh, there is work to be done,” Elliot assured him with a dismissing wave of his hand. “It’s in a bit of a sorry state at present, so it needs a complete renovation for a start. The roof will need looking at, and the ivy will have to be taken right back. But first we need to know exactly what lies beneath it. If there are any usable tunnels beneath the cellars of the place, or it we have to cut new ones. For that we will need Mouse and some strong backs. That’s where you guys come in. That will be your contribution to the project.”

“I meant the cost to you, my friend.” Vincent held up a hand. “We cannot allow you to do this. It is too much.”

“I disagree. It is not enough, Vincent,” Elliot assured him, his grey eyes locking with his. “This is what I do. This is what I am good at. I know of your hopes and dreams for you and your family. Shannon has told me some of it. I understand you better than you think I do.” He grinned crookedly. “You have given me more than I ever believed possible. But most of all you gave me back my self-respect. You reminded me of my beginnings and how far I have come. I can be who I am now because of your trust and friendship. That is a debt I can never hope to repay. Not in a thousand lifetimes. So you will allow me to do this for you…for all of you. I guess you could call it a belated wedding present. Sorry I couldn’t gift-wrap it for you.”

“It seems as if your mind has already been made up,” Vincent replied, after considering him for a long time. “Then we must accept your most generous offer. But it is more than I ever dreamed possible.” He thought of his promise to the white face of the uncaring moon, and shrugged.

“Good!” Elliot beamed. “Great! You had me worried there for a moment. I thought I was going to have to arm-wrestle you into agreeing.” 

“Now, that would have been interesting…” Vincent shook his head and laughed.

“That’s my old room…” Catherine touched a fingertip lightly to an upper window looking out onto the garden below. “That would be the perfect room for the girls to grow up in.” She moved around the table to throw her arms around Elliot neck and hug him tightly. “Thank you, Elliot. This is a truly wonderful gift.”

Elliot smiled as he cupped her cheek in his palm. “Anything for the Wells family. It will be my pleasure.”

“Ah, at last, child, you have come back to me. I knew you would eventually.” Elizabeth put aside her brushes to pat Catherine’s cheek with her care-worn hand. “It has been too long since the last time, when I painted the Up Top story of your life. What do you have for me now?”

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth.” Catherine smiled in apology. “There have been so many things that have happened since the last time I came here. I have wanted to come back before now, but my father…”

“Ah, yes, your father…” Elizabeth indicated a section of the Painted Tunnels. “He’s here too. Now that he’s a part of us. I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Mouse, and he fetched that photograph you keep of your father beside your bed. He returned it immediately when I was done with it, of course. Please, come and look.”

She drew Catherine to a painting of her father as he once had been. His hair was thick and a soft, dark blond; his open face unlined. Proud and upright, he was smiling as he was gazed up at a much younger Catherine seated high up in a tree in Central Park. She was laughing and waving, but the older Catherine could see, even though her father was waving back, there was visible tension in every line of his body and upraised arm. As if he was intending to catch her if she ever lost her grip and fell from the tree. He had always been there for her, just like that.

“Don’t fall…please, don’t fall…” Catherine whispered, touching a fingertip to her father’s laughing face. Her eyes burning with unshed tears, she looked back at Elizabeth. “He was so worried about me. But he still allowed me to climb trees, every Saturday, in the park. He couldn’t deny me anything, you see.”

“Yes, Vincent told me.” Elizabeth nodded. “Bring your father to me one day soon and he can tell me his story. I have so much more room now. Come and look at this. I only finished it last week. I had to wait for some new supplies of paint and brushes and some expert help. Mouse has been very busy on my behalf, bless him. He takes good care of me.”

She led her farther along the painted tunnels towards a new area Catherine hadn’t noticed before. It had been screened off with an old, ragged sheet. Elizabeth swept it back and led Catherine beyond into a whole new section of tunnel that looked like it had been freshly cleaned and swept. Everything was illuminated by stands of spotlights that appeared to be electrically powered.

“Do you like them?” Elizabeth reached to tap one. “Mouse found them and rigged them up only last week. They run off all that power generated from the new garden. They are so good for my old eyes, better than candles. They make the colours sing. Now I have to force myself go to bed at night. There is so much still to do…”

She clapped her hands together with happiness. “Mouse and Devin’s Charles, they insisted I needed more room to paint my stories. Mouse brought Winslow, Cullen, and Kanin, and a whole host of other men, including Charles, and they spent days clearing out the rocks and debris that had been blocking the end of the tunnel for as long as I’ve been here. They uncovered another whole section of concrete tunnel that had been left unfinished and abandoned. Mouse said it must have been blocked by a flash flood years ago and no one had bothered to clear it, until now. He was brilliant. He figured everything out and made it all work, so now I have three times the area I started with all those years ago and new lights to paint by. Mouse said I better make sure I’m around for a few years to paint it all.”

Her grey eyes twinkled with delight. “I had to promise him I would be. He’s such a good boy.” She took Catherine’s hand again. “Now come and see this…I painted it all just for you, child. Azrael helped me with some of the higher things. I’ve been waiting for you to come and see it before showing it to anyone else.”

She led Catherine farther down the tunnel to where a large mural ran from floor to just above her head-height and covered a wide area of the newly-cleaned tunnel wall. “A long time ago Vincent told me of your dreams of sharing the sunshine with him. How you longed to walk in the sunlight together. I think all this works just fine. Don’t you, child?”

“It’s truly beautiful…” Catherine breathed after a long time of simply looking. She moved her hand carefully, her palm hovering just above the concrete surface of Elizabeth’s painted tunnel wall. “The colours are amazing. How did you do it?”

“Oh, I have a lot of help, child. Azrael brings me such gifts whenever he comes Below. He came back to see me after Diana’s first visit, to see what I needed. Azrael’s such a sweet, sweet boy. He understands a lot more than he lets on, I think, and he knows exactly what I like. He helps me paint in the backgrounds sometimes too. He likes to put in the hidden things, tiny doors and windows. Who knows where they may lead. That’s part of the magic of what he does. He says it relaxes him to be with me, seeing what I see.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “And that nice Joe brought me a whole palette of fresh paints just the other day. He said he’d been meaning to do it for a while. Such a lovely man, but I think he’s very lonely. It’s a shame he doesn’t have a lady in his life. Then I could paint them both. I would like to do that.”

Catherine glanced at her and smiled. “I think you’ll find Joe is married to his work. But I know what you mean. He needs to get out more. I’ll see what I can do.” She looked back at the painting beneath her hand. “But this…this is special.” She began at the closest edge, walking slowly from one side to the other to take it all in.

The scene the tunnel’s artist had painted looked like an enormous Gainsborough pastoral landscape, except it was filled with people. On the nearest edge there were Jamie and Mouse setting up strings of coloured lights through the lower branches of the trees. A whole host of the tunnel’s younger children were splashing and laughing in a shallow pool in the foreground. Catherine looked closer. In the bottom corner she could see Father and Devin playing chess beneath a wide umbrella keeping the sun from the board, Charles leaning over Devin’s shoulder, watching the game intently.  

Next to them there was a large barbeque being expertly supervised by William, while Winslow turned what looked like an entire sheep on a roasting spit, with Cullen applying layers of gleaming marinade. She could even detect the beads of sweat on Winslow’s wide brow as he laboured to turn the spitted beast. Mary, seated comfortably in an old deckchair next to them, was expertly peeling vegetables, while Olivia and some of the other tunnel women were making large bowls of salads, assisted by some of the older boys and girls. Beside them, Lady May, sitting prim and erect in a folding chair with her back to the women, was supervising the younger children’s shrieking water play with a satisfied smile as she leaned on her cane. Seated cross-legged at the old lady’s feet, Ellie was shelling green peas into a large wooden bowl.

Beyond Father’s shoulder, Catherine could see Elliot and Shannon setting out games, marking off the wide expanse of green grass with ribbons and stakes driven into the ground with the hammer Elliot was expertly wielding, assisted by Pascal, who was wearing a very worried frown as the hammer headed towards where his thumb was wrapped around the peg he was holding. Zach and Geoffrey were stringing the ribbons along the neat lines of stakes.

Further along the lakeshore there were tunnel men and women setting out tables and chairs for the feast to come, and Alex was helping by putting up umbrellas. Beyond them Sebastien was using his hands to weave stories for Rebecca and Peter as they covered the tables with cloths before laying out the cutlery. Wearing an enormous grin, Lou was placing heaped bowls of gaily wrapped chocolates on a side table.

Elizabeth had added a charming piece of whimsy by painting Kanin trying to catch a fish in the other end of the pool. Beside him, Joe stood in the shallow water, fishing net in hand and trousers rolled to the knee, looking every inch the fisherman Catherine knew he was not. She smiled as she touched lightly on her friend’s harried expression as he watched for any sign of a fish. She made him a silent promise right then.

Farther along there was Elizabeth herself wearing a wide brimmed sun hat, painting a miniature scene of the whole affair. She appeared to be in competition with Azrael who was also standing at a much larger easel creating an incredible landscape of tunnels and half-opened doors leading into quirky little chambers filled with magical things that gleamed in the faint candlelight leaking around the doors, while Diana stood beside him with her arm around his waist, laughing at something he had just said.

“Playing in the sunlight and no one looked twice…” Catherine shook her head with wonderment.

Elizabeth took her hand. “Vincent came here the other day to tell me of your home up there. The one that Elliot has just given you both as a wedding present. I thought that was such a lovely idea. Vincent showed me some pictures and said it was very special to you. That it was where you were born, and the place where you could all be together in the sunshine. I was wondering how to paint you and Vincent…” She carefully pushed aside another old paint-stained sheet and drew Catherine forward. “So I created this for all of you.”

Beneath the sheet Catherine’s old home was revealed in all its former splendour, filling almost the entire second half of the mural. Newly painted and reroofed with red tiles, and all the overgrowth of ivy and weeds stripped away, the old house shone in the sunshine, its open windows and doors appearing to smile benevolently on the scene before it.

“You have made it all look so real…” Catherine caught her breath as she leaned closer.

In the foreground, she and Vincent were seated together on the grass reading from a book of poetry — her husband behind her — cradling her against his chest between his spread knees, one arm slung over casually his upraised leg as she had so often seen him sit. In the bright sunlight his tumbled mane shone like spun gold tipped with fire as he inclined his head to smile down at her. Catherine had her head thrown back against his shoulder, laughing up at him.

Before them their three children played. The babies kicking out on blankets in the sunshine while a laughing Jacob raced along after a high-flying kite, ably assisted by Kipper, Eric, and Angelo. And there was Samantha, in her usual place as chief babysitter, seated cross-legged beside the blanket, keeping a close watch over her charges as she read to them from a picture book.

Behind the girl, Catherine’s father sat in a lawn chair, watching over them all and smiling with approval. Everywhere Catherine looked there was love and acceptance. “Thank you, Elizabeth.” She hugged the old woman close. “It is a lovely story.”

“Ah, but there are still so many chapters to come…” Elizabeth inclined her head. “This wonderful story is by no means told.” She waved her hands at the fresh, unpainted expanse of tunnel walls. “And I have so much more room now…” She smiled happily. “You must come and see me again, very soon. And bring Vincent and your children next time.”

“I will. I promise,” Catherine vowed, before walking back to the edge of the mural and starting again…

“So, what do you think, Vincent? Can it be done?” Elliot stood anxiously at Vincent’s shoulder several days later; beside where he crouched over the plans spread out on the tunnel floor.

“It is possible.” Vincent looked up at the stone wall before him. “But we will have to break through into the cellar beyond. There are no usable tunnels near enough.”

“Take a lot of work,” Mouse commented, going slowly over the tunnel wall with his hands spread wide. “Solid bedrock is harder than bricks or concrete. Don’t think anyone’s been this way before. Virgin stone. Good stuff. Maybe we have to use plastic explosive…” He swung back to frown at Vincent, the flashlights strapped to either side of his old football helmet clanking and rattling.

“What’ya say, Vincent? Time for some more, big boom?”

“Plastic explosive…?” Elliot’s tanned face paled. “I thought you used it all to rescue Vincent and Father from that rock-fall some years ago. After the wedding, Joe did tell me you had more. But I thought he must have been mistaken. I’m not at all sure about this. Where did it come from?”

“Found it.” Mouse shrugged nonchalantly. “Plenty more there. Won’t miss it. Mouse knows what he’s doing. Got new eyebrows.” He swept a hand across above his eyes. “Not planning to lose them again anytime soon.”

“Someday, boy you are going to get so deep in trouble, even we won’t be able to dig you out.” Elliot threw up his hands in disgust.

Winslow appeared from his investigation of the furthest reaches of the tunnel. “This is still the best place to tunnel upwards to the basement level,” he said, dropping to one knee beside Vincent and his map. He frowned up at Mouse. “And you’ll leave any blasting to Elliot. At least he knows what he’s doing. You’re way too slap-happy with that stuff.”

“Mouse can learn.” The tinker looked offended. “Gotta make it right for Catherine and the babies. Gotta last for all time.”

“It’s you who won’t last if you go off half-cocked again, boy,” Winslow opined darkly. “Be glad it was only your eyebrows that went missing last time. You’ll check with any one of us before you do anything more. We don’t want to bring Vincent’s new place down on top of us before they’ve even moved in.”

“Okay good, okay fine,” Mouse muttered. “But all this talk sure ain’t shiftin’ no damn rock.” He imitated Winslow’s speech patterns exactly, and the blacksmith couldn’t help but laugh.

He shook his large fist. “One day, Mouse…one day you are gonna to go too far.”

Vincent eased to his feet and rolled up the maps. “This is all we can do for now. It will be Summerfest in three days. We will make a start on the cutting after that. For now I think it is time we sampled some of William’s best brew and helped with the preparations. And yes, that includes you, Mouse. You can’t escape this year.”

“Always other things to do. Never time for Mouse to do stuff,” the tinker grumbled in honest complaint, as he followed the others on the long walk back towards the home tunnels.

And he was right to feel aggrieved. He had Vincent’s special project to finish and then there was Father’s bookcase to figure out. He’d finally decided to ask for Winslow’s help, since he was the strongest man in the tunnels. Stronger even than Vincent. Mouse sighed. So many things to do and so little time left now… 

‘All I want is freedom, a world with no more night…and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me…’ Shannon gazed deep into Tony’s eyes.

Tony took her hands. ‘Then say you’ll share with me one love, one lifetime…let me lead you from your solitude…Say you need me with you here, beside you…anywhere you go, let me go too — Christine, that’s all I ask of you…’

Shannon leaned closer. “Say you’ll share with me one love, one lifetime…say the word and I will follow you…say you love me…’

‘You know I do…’

‘Love me, that’s all I ask of you…’ They sang together before they moved closer to kiss and whisper to each other before a second, longer kiss.

Once again an intensely reverent silence descended in the Great Hall, as the last strains of the soaring music died away into the shadows. This time playing the role of Raoul, Tony took Shannon’s hand. “Thank you once again, my Christine.” He smiled as he bent to press an appreciative kiss to the back of her hand. “You were brilliant as usual.”

“That was just like old times.” Shannon inclined her head in tribute, as they both turned to the spellbound audience. “I really enjoyed myself.”

“Now remember the last time, guys…” Tony warned, as he raised Shannon’s hand in his, sweeping wide his free hand in his broad theatrical gesture, indicating his keen expectations of the crowd. “You gotta return the love.”

Immediately chaos and shouts of encore erupted. Previously entranced audience members jumped to their feet, shouting and clapping as they came rushing forward, trying to be the first to shake Tony’s hand, or kiss Shannon’s cheek.

“I thought I was moved enough last time…” Father clasped Tony’s hand tightly. “I truly did forget where I was for a moment there. Your singing really transported me into another time.”

“I can see another night on Broadway looming for all of us.” Elliot came up behind Shannon and drew her back against him, leaning down to kiss her mouth with lingering thoroughness. “Once again you were both wonderful. That was a very special performance. We can’t wait until you get back on the stage, Tony.”

“Just a couple more weeks.” Tony ruffled his hair, which had grown out. “And a few more of William’s meals. But I’d better be careful. They might decide I’m too fat for Raoul, and they may need me to play Piangi instead.” He laughed, patting his trim waist.

“Shall we begin?” Father looked around the gathering, studying each face in turn.

Lady May, sitting upright in her chair, her expression intent, smiled at him and nodded. Elliot and Shannon stood next to her chair while beyond them Azrael stood with Diana close to his side, with Devin and Charles beside them.

Father looked to his left where Charles Chandler waited silently, his thin face pensive and wondering. It was still a very new experience for him, and Father inclined his head in silent question.

“Please go on. I’m fine,” Charles encouraged quietly. “I still think I might be dreaming.” He smiled wistfully. “But it’s such a wonderful dream.”

“Very well.” Father looked out over the crowd. “It has often been said that the child is the meaning of life, a gift of pure joy. The truth of that was never more apparent to me than on that day when we came to name Jacob.”

He smiled at his namesake, held securely in Samantha’s arms. “Now, once again, we gather to celebrate the child. These precious new lives which have been brought into our world with grace and joy. We welcome Vincent and Catherine’s children with love that they may be able to love. We welcome them with gifts that they may learn generosity. And finally we welcome them with their own names.”

Father turned to smile at Catherine. She looked around the chamber, her eyes settling on Mary for a long moment. “Vincent and I have decided to name our first daughter, Mary.”

“Oh, my…” Mary gasped as she raised a hand to press her fingers to her trembling lips. “I never expected…thank you.” She began to cry. Shannon put her arms around her, hugging the older woman close.

“Excellent choice.” Lady May clapped her hands.

Stepping forward Vincent smiled as he looked around the gathering before he said, “And to honour Catherine’s mother, we have chosen to name our second daughter, Cathleen. May she live to be as generous and giving as her own mother…”

Catherine turned to her father, reaching for his hand. “You don’t mind?”

“How could I possibly mind?” Charles cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. “This is everything I ever wanted for you, my darling girl. A home, a husband who loves you deeply, and children of your own. I just wish your mother could see you now. She would be so proud.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Catherine hugged him close and kissed his cheek. “I love you so much. I am so glad you are finally home where you belong.”

“Mouse, what have you been doing now?” Father demanded suspiciously as the tinker led him by the hand towards Father’s chamber.

“You’ll see.” Mouse nodded. “Got to be a big surprise.”

“Is this the surprise you were working on down in the Mousehole?” Vincent inquired as he followed them. “When you told me there was nothing to worry Father?”

“Well, it is a surprise...” Mouse skipped blithely over the question. “You’ll see. Not long now.” He led the way around the corner of the tunnel. “Father got to close his eyes now. Not open until Mouse says so.”

“Mouse…” Father intoned warningly. But the pathetic look of pleading in the tinker’s eyes mollified him. “Very well. But this had better be something I can live with. Nothing too loud and not something that goes off like a rocket every hour, on the hour, like your last great idea. I still wake up in a cold sweat.”

“Okay good, okay great!” Mouse led him carefully forward until they were just inside the entrance to Father’s chamber.

Coming up behind them, Vincent peered over their shoulders. Down in the lower chamber Winslow and Cullen were standing side by side grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats. All around them every one of Father’s many precious books had been neatly tidied into stacks before a truly beautiful wooden bookcase that stood proudly where the jumbled stacks of books had once threatened to cascade down on the old man’s head.

“Vincent…?” Father begged on a moan. “Tell me please. What do you see?”

“Something truly beautiful…” Vincent clapped his hand solidly on Mouse’s shoulder, making the boy stagger a little. “Mouse, you are a true genius.”

“Had help…” Mouse rubbed his shoulder absently. “Winslow and Cullen. Good at keeping secrets. But needed their help to move it here. Had to take it to bits and put back together again. Too big to get out of the Mousehole.”

“Too big…? May I look now, please…?” Father begged, still standing with his hand over his eyes. “The suspense is killing me…”

“Look and see what Mouse created. It is magnificent.”

“At least your word, Vincent, I can trust.” Father lowered his hand slowly, blinking in the candlelight. “Oh, my…”

“Father like?” Mouse’s face crumpled into deep concern. “Not too much?”

“I like it Mouse, very much.” Father advanced slowly down the steps. “But how did you get it in here?”

“That was the easy part,” Cullen admitted wryly. “Getting it out of that rubbish heap Mouse lives in was the hard part. We almost had to carve him a new door to get it out of there.”

“Mouse will know better next time.” The tinker scowled. “Always learn from your mistakes, eh, Vincent?”

“Yes, Mouse.” Vincent suppressed a smile. “But this is some of your best work.”

“It certainly is…” Father advanced down the short flight of steps, walking towards his new bookcase with a calculating look in his eyes. “Think of how many more books I can have now. I have so much more room…” He ran his gloved hands reverently over the polished wood of the bookcase. “This is better than good, better than anything.”

“More books…” Cullen complained with alarm. “Haven’t you got enough now? What’ya need with more?”

“You can never have enough books!” Father told him roundly.

Behind his back the rest of his family and friends exchanged harried looks. Cullen shook his head. “I guess those shelves Father asked me about making for him are going to come in handy after all…”

“What’ya think, Vincent?”

“It is incredible, Mouse. You have excelled yourself.” Vincent bent over the table, shaking his head in disbelief at what his good friend had created. “I never dreamed my simple idea could become something so perfect and breathtaking.”

“Everything’s as you asked, Vincent.” Mouse nodded. “Glad it’s good. Mouse worked hard. Day and night. Had to go far down for the best rocks. The ones that have pretty sparkles in the light. Needed to make them all different. Know all their names. Now I got power, got a neat machine for cutting and polishing stones. Azrael bought it for me. Works really great. Did a real good job. Well, Cullen helped some nights with the carving. Made all their faces look right for you.”

“I’m almost afraid to touch it.” Vincent stood back. “It’s amazing.”

“Oh, they won’t break.” Mouse snatched up a carved chess piece and knocked it firmly against the side of the table. “See…good stone. Solid. Will last.”

“Don’t do that…please…” Vincent leapt forward to pluck the pawn from his friend’s hand, replacing on the board. “But the faces, they look so real...so lifelike…”

“See, Father…” Mouse held up the black bishop. “Cullen said make it black for Below and white for Up Top.” He replaced the bishop and snatched up the white king, showing it to Vincent. It was a faithful rendition of Elliot’s face, bearded and smiling. “And see here…” He held aloft the black king. “And this is you, Vincent. You and there’s Catherine too. She’s your queen.”

They were all there. The most important members of Above and Below all faithfully replicated in the many different polished stones. The beautiful dragon box Cullen and Winslow had created for Vincent’s birthday three years ago had inspired his new idea. Now there was a similar box sitting beside the chess set. The two craftsmen had created their part of the surprise brilliantly. But this time each of the box’s hinges and the lock had been cast in the shape of a cluster of delicately furled roses and buds.

“I don’t know what to say, Mouse. How to thank you.” Vincent shook his head.

“For Catherine and all your babies.” Mouse grinned. “See, Jacob and the girls here too. All pawns, but right in front of you. In the best place. Now you can play with them any time you want.”

“You are a very special friend, Mouse.” Vincent put his arm around the boy’s shoulders.

“Vincent is my friend too.” Mouse ducked his head, his cheeks glowing with embarrassment. “Vincent will help Mouse any time he asks.”

“Anything, Mouse…” Vincent drew back to look down at his friend. “Did you have any particular project in mind? Please don’t tell me it involves anything that needs blasting…”

“Not this time…” Mouse shuffled his feet, the colour deepening in his face. He clasped his hands together. “Mouse might need help. Might need to ask.”

“Then ask, my friend.” Vincent frowned in puzzlement.

“Okay, maybe…” Mouse hitched a long breath and released it in a rush. “It’s Jamie. She makes Mouse feel all funny…in here…” He pressed a hand to his chest. “Mouse, he needs to know…he wants to know how to be a boyfriend…”

Catherine moved slowly around the Wells family retreat chamber, arranging and fussing with the candles on the far side of the pool. She’d changed the linen on the bed and remade it. There was a supper laid out in covered dishes on the side table. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect. Barefoot, her toes sinking into the warm sand, she had taken care to dress in a simple apricot soft-jersey knit dress that clung to every one of her curves above and below the wide leather belt she wore at her hips.

In the twelve weeks since their daughters had been born she had once again worked hard to regain her trim figure, and she glowed with happiness and health. Jacob was spending the night with his namesake grandfather while the twins were being cared for by Mary and Samantha.

She was expecting Vincent any moment now. He was working with Mouse and the others on carving out the new tunnel up to the cellars of their new house. It seemed incredible how everything had come full circle.

From the secure happiness of her childhood she had passed through much, and experienced a great deal of heartache and pain before finally reaching this very moment of blissful peace. Her father would continue to stay as a guest of Lady May for now, regaining his strength and sorting out his life. He divided his time between the two worlds and came Below as often as he could.

Jacob had taken the re-emergence of his other grandfather in his stride. The twins were, of course, too young to notice. And now peace had settled on their hidden world once more, and tonight had been reserved for Catherine and her husband. She had planned it all most carefully.

Of course, it was far too early to make plans for their new life where they would divide their time between the two worlds. But Catherine had spoken with her family about her and her father idea of starting up a small legal practice together. Catherine would still continue to teach those children who wished to learn more of the world Above, and now, with their new home, she and Vincent had the room and the means to create a new reality for everyone.

She knew Vincent was standing in the entrance to the chamber before she turned to smile at him. She felt his love and warmth reaching out to her across the limpid waters of the pool.

He had showered and his hair flowed damp and curling around the impressive width of his shoulders. He’d changed into a loose, open-necked, linen shirt and faded blue jeans. Catherine stood still, just drinking in the picture he made, standing there in the candlelight. As always her heart rate picked up every time she looked at him. She wanted to devour every inch of him. He looked so delicious and so incredible her knees went weak.

“How very special you are…” Vincent walked forward slowly, moving down the slight incline to stand at the water’s edge.

“No, Vincent…” Catherine walked around the pool, putting aside the bag of excess candles as she came towards him. “We are truly special when we are together as we are now. Together we can do anything. Be anything.” She stopped in front of him, looking up into his face. Without her shoes she felt so small and so treasured, bathed in the loving light that shone in her husband’s sapphire eyes.

Vincent extended one hand to run his fingertip down the side of her face, from her temple to the small, determined thrust of her chin. He paused there, lightly stroking her skin, watching intently as Catherine’s lips parted to inhale a tiny intake of breath as they both sensed the slowly tightening spiral of need that reflected endlessly between them.

“Catherine…” Vincent breathed almost inaudibly. “I am truly blessed…”

“Without you I am nothing…” Catherine whispered. “You have given me everything. Sometimes I feel as if I am still only dreaming and then I wake and you are there, beside me…”

“If this is a dream, I do not wish to ever wake up.” Vincent continued his gentle teasing, trailing his fingertip down into the shadowed valley between her breasts where they nestled behind the scooped neckline of her dress.

“Then it’s just as well we weren’t planning on getting any sleep tonight,” Catherine teased as she slid her hands around her husband’s waist, working her way beneath the hem of his shirt before running questing fingers up the corded muscles of his back.

Vincent growled low and deep in his throat as he slid Catherine’s dress off her shoulders, letting it drift down to pool at her waist. Then the only barrier to his continued exploration of her warm body was the cream lace of her bra. That lasted no more than a heartbeat before it fell to the sandy floor. The gentle rake of his claws across her skin and down to her waist brought Catherine to her toes against him. Not to be outdone she soon disposed of his linen shirt, working easily at the buckle of his jeans and drawing down the zipper. The hot length of him spilled into her eager hands, and she smiled as she cupped his heat, pushing the ever contracting spirals of their mutual bond to fever pitch.

“Take me now…” she breathed urgently against Vincent’s ear and he needed no further urging. 

His hands moved swiftly beneath her dress and then there was a soft tearing sound of satin, but Catherine didn’t mind. She hadn’t expected that pair of knickers to last the evening anyway. In the surge of power that never ceased to amaze her, she was lifted into the air in her husband’s strong hands. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he brought her down onto the solid thrust of his body, and she took all of him within her and they became one once more. Cupping her behind, he lifted her into the air and then brought her back again, the movement increasing and intensifying as the moment came in a blinding flash of light. Catherine arched backwards and the cry of longed-for release that was wrung from her echoed around the chamber as Vincent growled low and long as he followed her into that realm of light and beauty where only they dwelled.

And where they would be together…always…  

“Down the winding cavern we groped our tedious way,

till a void boundless as the nether sky appeared beneath us,

and we held by the roots of trees

and hung over this immensity;

but I said: if you please we will commit ourselves to this void

and see whether providence is here also.

If the doors of perception were cleansed everything

would appear to man as it is, Infinite.

For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things

thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.”

William Blake

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

LITERARY REFERENCES

You Gave Me A World To Believe In   Celine Dion

Angel of Music     Phantom of the Opera (paraphrased)

Great Expectations   Charles Dickens

Uncollected Poems   Rainer Maria Rilke

Believe Me   The Irish Tenors

Wishing You Were Here Again…   Phantom of the Opera