'TIL IT BE MORROW

Catherine sat cross-legged on the floor of her apartment, packingbooks into a box with one hand. With the other, she balanced Charleson her lap, rocking him gently in an attempt to placate him longenough to finish emptying one more shelf. All day she had beenpacking and it was taking longer than she expected. It was past nineo'clock, and she was tired; Charles was hungry. She was sure Vincentwas waiting for her, but the movers were coming first thing tomorrowand she needed to have things ready for them.

She was only half aware of the warm spring breeze on the back ofher neck before Vincent's arms reached around her and lifted Charlesfrom her lap. The baby stopped fussing only until he realized hisfather wasn't going to feed him.

Catherine smiled wearily. "I'm glad you came," she said, lettingVincent help her to her feet. Leaning against him, she turned herface up to receive his kiss.

"Feed Charles," he instructed gently. "I will finish this."

Catherine curled up on the couch and turned sideways to watchVincent while she nursed their son. It seemed strange to see him inher apartment performing such a domestic chore but he finishedfilling the box with quick, efficient motions and began onanother.

It wasn't long before the shelves were empty and the boxescarefully filled. Vincent gave a small sigh of satisfaction as heturned to Catherine. She was slumped down in her corner, eyes closed,with her head resting against the back of the couch and Charles soundasleep in her arms.

She didn't stir as Vincent disengaged Charles from her grasp andlifted the baby to his shoulder. Pressing his cheek against the silkysoftness of Charles's dark hair, Vincent carried him into Catherine'sbedroom and found the makeshift crib she'd been using; a foldedblanket surrounded by boxes. He lowered the baby gently, covering himwith a light quilt and patting his back until Charles settled backinto sleep.

Catherine hadn't yet stripped the bed, so Vincent turned down thecovers before returning to the living room, where he stood overCatherine for a moment, reluctant to wake her. Even though she hadmore than one offer of help, she had been stubbornly adamant aboutpacking her things by herself. Vincent knew she felt guilty about allthe time and energy Jenny had already expended in her behalf andflatly refused when Jenny offered to take a day off. Anyone fromBelow would have been glad to assist in the chore, but again,Catherine knew that she would be taking that person away from othertasks in the tunnels. Besides, Vincent thought, Catherine had wanteda day by herself in her old home to reconcile memories. More thanonce today he had felt a wistfulness as she came across somethingthat brought back pieces of her past.

Finally, he picked her up and she wound her arms around his necksleepily. Carefully, he carried her in and laid her on the bed,bending to remove her shoes. She lifted each foot in turn to helphim.

"Where's Charles?" she mumbled, her voice thick and drowsy.

"Sleeping," Vincent assured her, pulling the blankets up over her."As you should be."

Her eyes drifted closed as fatigue overtook her.

* * * * *

Pale moonlight streamed through the french doors, illuminating thebook-lined shelves and glinting off her crystal paperweightcollection. Catherine stood alone in the center of the flawlesslyappointed room, turning slowly. The room looked the same as it alwayshad, but it felt wrong. But I packed these things... My baby! Where'smy baby?

She gasped, waking herself, and for that brief moment, she felt asurge of panic before she recognized the familiar weight of Vincent'sarm around her waist, the pressure of his body as they laytogether.

Her sudden flash of fear woke Vincent and he lifted his head fromthe pillow. "Catherine?"

Running her palm down his arm to take his hand, she said, "Idreamt it was all a dream. I was alone."

"I'm here." He tightened his hand on hers and pulled her closer.

Catherine closed her eyes and pressed closer. As she lay inVincent's arms, her thoughts began to wander.

In the two months since their wedding, she had grown accustomed tosleeping with Vincent, but it seemed strange to have him here, in thebed where she had spent so many lonely nights. He had been in thisbed before...

"Charles was conceived here," she spoke the thought aloud.

"Yes." Vincent was quiet as they both remembered his abruptdeparture and the intense guilt that followed.

As if to erase the memory, Vincent began to lightly kiss the sideof her face. Catherine turned to face him and he rolled, partiallycovering her body with his as he kissed her eyes, her cheeks, herthroat, and finally, her mouth.

Their loving was slow, almost sleepy in the early morningstillness. Later, as Catherine dozed in the pre-dawn darkness, shefelt Vincent move cautiously away from her. She put out a hand tostop him.

"Don't go."

"I must." He turned from pulling on his clothes, half-reclining onthe bed as he took her hand in his. "`Night's candles are burntout,'" he quoted softly. "`And jocund day...'"

"`...stands tiptoe on the misty skyscraper tops,'" she misquotedthe rest of the line and smiled at him.

He smiled back. "`I must be gone and live...'"

"Don't," she murmured, interrupting the rest of the quote. "Don'teven think it."

While Vincent finished dressing, Catherine found a robe and pulledit on, following him out onto the balcony. The eastern sky wasfaintly tinged with pink.

"How many times have we stood on this spot and said goodbye?"Catherine asked wistfully.

"Too many." Vincent said as she moved into the warm comfort of hisembrace. "This will be the last."

They lingered in each other's arms as long as they dared, savoringmemories. So much of their lives together had taken place in thesefew square feet of brick and cement. The sky was rosy and the city'slights had already lost their brilliance when Vincent sighed andlooked down at Catherine. Her hair was still tousled from sleep andhe brushed it back from her face with loving hands; his fingerstangled in the silky strands as she smiled at him.

"`Farewell, farewell! One kiss and I'll descend.'" A touch ofmirth colored his voice as he repeated Romeo's parting words toJuliet.

Catherine made a small sound of amusement as she complied with hisrequest, kissing him twice before releasing him. After watching himgo, she stood, her eyes fixed on the spot where he had gone over thewall.

A small part of her was sad at leaving this place, but the newlife she and Vincent planned to make together lay before them,beckoning. Never again would they have to part simply because the sunwas rising.

Inside, Charles began to whimper and she went to him, smiling.

THE END