Chapter 3

April 16

She walked into the kitchen just as a ripple of pain crossed Lisa's face. It was early, and normally she had the apartment to herself at this hour. But Lisa looked like she'd been occupying the carved bentwood chair at the small kitchen table for hours.

"What is it?" she asked solicitously. While she disapproved of Lisa, she had nothing against her unborn child.

Lisa rubbed her stomach gingerly and grimaced. "I'm not sure. I've been cramping all night."

"All night? If that happens again, please wake me. We should get you to the doctor right away."

Lisa shrugged. "Why? If I lose the baby...well, I won't be shedding any tears."

Catherine was shocked. Grimly, she responded, "Well, maybe you could live with yourself...but I couldn't. Get dressed."

Peter called Catherine into his office and sat her down. "She’s fine, Cathy," he told her. "She admitted she’s been doing some fairly strenuous exercises. I advised her that being four months along, she needed to cut back."

Catherine glanced over her shoulder, then leaned forward and whispered to Peter, "Where is she?"

"Getting dressed," he replied. "She’ll be out soon, but Marsha will buzz me when she’s ready to leave."

Catherine nodded, relieved, and asked, "Do you think she’s trying to lose the baby?"

Peter sighed, then shook his head. "I can’t be sure. It may be that she’s just used to keeping in top dancing form. But that’s too athletic an endeavor at this point in her pregnancy." He took note of Catherine’s worried face and added, "I’m watching her, don’t worry. And Mary and Father know what to look for when she’s Below."

"So...you’ve suspected...?"

He grimaced and nodded. "Mary’s not blind to Lisa’s faults...or her games. She may choose to overlook a lot, but she’s no fool." He patted Catherine’s hand. "Don’t worry, sweetheart."

There was no repeat of the incident. Catherine decided that either Lisa had truly not meant to harm her unborn child...or, having tried, realized it would cause herself physical pain, and thus was not worth pursuing.

April 30

Vincent sighed inwardly. It was getting to be regular as clockwork - as soon as his last class of the day departed his chamber, there Lisa was, standing expectantly in the entryway. Each day this week she’d appeared just at 3:00, that same bright look on her face. And each day, she’d imposed on him until he’d had to remind her it was time to return Above. The sentry had just chimed 3:00...and here she was.

"Lisa, come in, please," he murmured, overtly polite no matter how dismayed he felt over her endless intrusions.

Lisa turned on her most dazzling smile for him. "You’re sure this is all right? I know I must be a pest, so you just shoo me away when you’ve had enough of me," she purred, in a tone that gave him to understand that not only did she not believe she was a pest, but that she’d not allow herself to be "shooed" easily. Settling into a chair, she arranged her shawl dramatically over her shoulders, then leaned forward and begged, "Tell me everything that happened today - I want to know simply everything."

He sat and obediently recounted his day, then responded politely but without enthusiasm to all her inquiries - what had Father’s reaction been to William’s outburst over the breakfast muffins being burnt by his latest kitchen helper, how was Geoffrey coming along with his math, did he remember to remind Rebecca she wanted more of her special vanilla-scented candles to take back Above.... The conversation ground on and on over such matters. He allowed it because he sensed a hint of desperation underlying Lisa’s visits.

She came to him so often, he suspected, because she’d worn out her welcome with nearly everyone else Below; even the usually polite-to-a-fault Mary these days often invented sudden excuses for leaving a chamber which Lisa had just entered. He wondered how Catherine coped when she and Lisa were alone together - he imagined that Lisa peppered Catherine with endless questions as she did him, to relieve what was undoubtedly a lonely life for her Above, with no one to speak to all day. Well, perhaps it was understandable why she came Below so often - she craved human interaction, that was all.

He resolved to be kinder to her, more forthcoming in his responses to her questions. She needed the comfort of conversation, the feeling that she was welcome and accepted during this difficult time in her life. And as her friend, he would see to it she had what she needed.

"...and then, of course, Vincent saw me and invited me back to his chamber. We spent the most wonderful two hours together! The time just flew by. He made me herb tea and insisted I try some cookies William had made especially for him."

"Ginger snaps, his favorites," Catherine murmured. But Lisa, as usual, ignored her, plunging without pausing for breath into a nearly word-for-word account of their conversation.

Catherine sighed, then abandoned the brief she’d been working on - it did no good to try to work when Lisa was in the mood to chatter at her. The fact that the brief was crucially important and that she had to finish it tonight no matter how late she had to stay up would not be viewed by Lisa as a reason to put off this conversation.

And so Lisa continued, and Catherine, resigned, listened in silence...listened to Lisa tell her things about Vincent’s life that she would never have known otherwise. Listened...and wondered.

May 9

Lisa slipped into the darkened chamber. Mary had mentioned that Catherine was going Above earlier, so Lisa had determined to remain Below for a while longer. She had missed Vincent at dinner tonight, but seeing the figure lying on the bed, wrapped in comforters, she realized he had just retired early. She considered this: it was perfect. Here he was...alone, vulnerable...and there would be no one to disturb them here, in his own chamber.

The one candle still lit in the chamber guttered as it burned its last. She wondered why Vincent hadn't lit the large 24-hour candle which most residents left burning as they slept. He must have been very tired. All the better - his resistance would be low.

She thought back over the past few weeks. She'd spent every possible moment Below. Once Catherine left for work, she'd gone to the threshold and tapped out a request for a guide. Even though Vincent had duties - classes to teach, sentry duty, work details - she managed to get him alone for several hours every day. And she'd made sure that Catherine knew it, too. The silly thing. She seemed like such a together person, all seriousness and determination, the perfect lawyer - but she was really a quivering mass of insecurities where Vincent was concerned, try as she might to hide it. She had put a lot of second thoughts in Catherine's susceptible brain, of that she was sure. Well, now was the time to work her own considerable magic on Vincent as well.

She padded over to the bed and lay upon it, snuggling up behind the huddled figure, spooning against it. There was a shifting under the covers - apparently he was waking. Before he could say anything, however, she laid a restraining hand on his shoulder and whispered in what she presumed was the vicinity of his ear, "Hush, Vincent. Don't say a word. Let me do the talking right now. I have something very important to say to you."

The swathed figure no longer moved. Lisa smiled to herself. There was no resistance in him - this was getting better and better. It might actually be fairly easy to do what she'd been planning to do. In her sweetest, most beguiling voice, she began.

"We've gotten so close these past few weeks, and it's been...wonderful. I've come to love you...very much. And - perhaps I flatter myself - but...I believe you care very deeply for me, too." There. She'd laid the groundwork. And he hadn't objected. She smiled smugly and continued.

"There's something you need to know...about Catherine. She...oh, Vincent, I'm so sorry to be the one to tell you this - she's been...seeing someone. I confronted her about it. I told her she wasn't being fair to you. She admitted that was true, but she didn't know how to talk with you about. She’s...well, she’s embarrassed. I would be, too, so I can't blame her. She's so ashamed of herself that she asked me to break the news to you. She said she doesn't have the courage to face you about it. She also asked that you not discuss it with her. She wants to just...pretend that things are still alright between the two of you. She'd prefer that you not mention the situation. Just...stop seeing her. She thinks that will be for the best."

Lisa bit her lip. Now came the most difficult part. "I know this will be hard for you at first, Vincent. But it should help, knowing she never...really...loved you. And...don't forget...you'll have me...and the baby. We'll be...a little family, all our own. We'll just...never mention her name again, OK? So don't worry, my love, it's all working out for the best. I love you."

She lifted herself on one elbow and was about to lean over to kiss him when the comforter beside her suddenly shifted upright. She heard a match flare, and in the flickering light, what she beheld nearly caused her heart to fail: it was...Catherine! She choked out in surprise, "What on earth are you doing in Vincent's bed?"

Catherine lit a candle before answering her, then regarded her coolly, levelly. "I might ask you the same thing. Except that you revealed your intentions...in rather dramatic fashion."

Lisa shifted uncomfortably. She tried desperately to think of some way out of the situation, but she was painfully aware that she'd just laid out her entire plot to her rival for Vincent's affections. All Catherine had to do was tell Vincent what she'd said...and things would be completely over between them.

Catherine sensed her extreme discomfort and, despite the distaste she felt for Lisa's tactics, she had to admit that she could have announced herself at any time. The fact that she had remained mute when it was clear that Lisa thought she was Vincent made her at least partially responsible for the current situation. So, rather than challenge Lisa further about what she'd said, Catherine decided to explain her own presence in Vincent’s chamber.

"While Vincent and I were visiting with Mary, he was called to sentry duty to replace Nathan, whose wife has gone into labor. I told him I’d return Above...but after we left Mary’s, I mentioned I needed to talk with him. He suggested I rest here until he got off duty at midnight, and we could talk then. But," Catherine finally smiled, albeit ruefully, "it seems you got here first."

Lisa was dumbstruck. She literally couldn't think of a thing to say.

Catherine's mind was spinning. Lisa and Vincent had been spending a lot of time together recently. If it was true what Lisa had said - that they'd become close and...had feelings for each other - then maybe it was best they discussed it alone together. The rest - the silly story about Catherine having found someone else - she knew Vincent would dismiss as an obvious lie. But the core of what she'd said - it could all be true. In fact, that was what she'd wanted to speak to Vincent about tonight, to find out from him...just where she stood with him...since Lisa.

She scooted over to sit on the edge of the bed, determined that Lisa not see how upset she was by what had transpired. As she put her shoes on, she said to the other woman, "I think maybe I should leave. It sounds like you and Vincent have a lot to talk about."

Lisa still had nothing to say. She stood and stared mutely as Catherine grabbed her jacket from the back of Vincent's armchair and strode from the chamber.

Catherine slipped away immediately through the least traveled tunnelways to find her way home. Her mind was awhirl, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. A deep and overwhelming sense of resignation filled her heart. If Lisa was who would make Vincent happiest, she couldn't stand in their way. His happiness was what mattered most to her - he deserved so much...everything. But it hurt to think about it. Her mind had shied away from imagining the future ever since it became clear that Lisa and Vincent were spending so much time alone together, but now the reality of it came crashing down with a force that stole the breath from her body.

The tunnel path grew straighter for a long stretch, and Catherine began to run, trying to outpace her tears.

It was quite late...much later than the promised midnight...when Vincent finally returned to his chamber. After his turn at sentry duty, he'd been called to another site for consultation on a possible water seepage problem. It stole precious minutes which had turned into nearly two hours. But now, finally, he was coming home, back to the woman he loved.

He'd been disturbed by what he'd felt from Catherine over the past several weeks, but tonight the feelings within her had surged, becoming more troubling as the evening progressed. He was glad he had this time to talk to her. She seemed even now to be so...far away. As if she were Above, instead of waiting for him in his chamber as they'd agreed. He approached the bed with some trepidation, trying to discern what the strange sensations he was feeling might be.

The slender figure on the bed rose at the sound of his approach. Dark, tousled hair and a round face were the first features he saw, and he started - the woman lying on his bed was not Catherine. As she turned to greet him, he was startled once more to realize it was Lisa. And she had been crying.

Before he could speak, she spluttered, "Go ahead. Say it. I'm sure your precious Catherine" - she spat the name - "couldn't wait to tell you everything."

Stunned at her words, he said nothing, only took a seat on the velvet-covered armchair by his writing table, facing her.

"And I'm sure she put it in the worst possible light." Lisa shrugged. "Really, though, she was all wrapped up in that quilt and I thought it was you! So...I might have made up the part about her finding another man..."

She didn't notice his breath catch at her statement.

"...but the rest was true. You and I have gotten closer, Vincent! I know I could make you happy - you and me and the baby, we could be a real family, the kind of family neither of us has ever had. She can't give you that - she stays up in her high tower, only coming Below to string you along. She doesn't have the first clue how to please you." Lisa's voice turned suggestive, "I could. And this baby...it could be the child you can never have."

Again she missed the sudden tension in him, the stillness that seemed to drape over him like a shroud.

Bitterly, she continued, "But although she doesn't really want you...she can't leave you alone, can she? So she had to run to you and blab about what I said when I thought it was you in the bed tonight. Well, it was her fault. She should have told me it was her."

Vincent rose suddenly. He was out of the chamber so quickly, she would have sworn he'd flown. She called out to him, but the sound fell unheard in the deep silence of the chamber. She was alone again.