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| Destiny of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Ten ________________________________________________ As the children began their trek to their chambers, Joseph broke away, causing Jamie to shout, “Where do you think you’re going?” To which Joseph replied, “I want to say goodbye to Catherine! I’ll just be a minute!” His idea spurred a gyration through the gaggle of kids, and the next thing you know they all wanted to do the same thing! So keeping with uniformity, Jamie, Laura and Brook decided to allow the entire entourage to bid a fond goodnight to Lady Catherine! As Catherine and Vincent stood with her Dad, Peter, Jacob, and Mary, the children came running up to them, all excitedly shouting their goodnights in one form or another. Upon being besieged by the short mob, Jacob surprisingly asked, “Oh my! What is going on? Why such a thunderous approach?!” The tunnel nannies came quickly running up behind them, explaining, “The children wanted to say goodnight to Catherine before they went to bed.” Delightfully turning to the sound of the maddening crowd, Catherine smiled at the children, feeling warmed not only by their gesture, but by the sweetness of the site as well. Mary stood watching, and with emotion, brought her hand to her heart, because she felt so very proud of the children’s thoughtfulness. However as she realized she needed to bring a little order to the situation, she kindly suggested, “Perhaps it would be better if you each spoke one at a time.” Well, of course since it was his idea, Joseph made sure he was the first to individually address her, saying, “See ya later Catherine!” And so it went one by one, the children approached with their own distinct farewells. Catherine said goodnight to each of the children and added, “Thank you for inviting me and my Dad tonight.” To which, Charles piped in, “Yes! It was a terrific night. Good job kids.” Peter too complimented them by saying, “It may have been the best concert you have given yet!” After the children thanked the grown ups for the compliments, Jamie, feeling satisfied the children’s request had been executed; she then assertively issued the order, “All right, time for BED! If we go now there will be time for a story!” And so with that said, they escorted the children to their chambers. Vincent stood with his hands behind his back, he addressed Catherine and humbly observed, “It is clear you and your father are very special to the children. Your presence truly enhanced the vivacity of the night.” To which Peter had to ask, “Hey what am I? Chopped liver?” Mary laughed and with a swat told him, “Oh Peter your presence is expected! You know you would be missed if you weren’t here!” Vincent thought he better add his assurances as well, said, “Mary is right…in fact, the children asked me several times throughout the day if you were coming.” In response, Peter said, “They did? Well sometimes a guy has to hear it you know!” Laughing, Jacob then mockingly added, “We will make sure next time you receive a gilded thank you note saying…Thank you for attending Peter!” After the laughter died away, Catherine asked about Lin, Henry, and Dr. Wong, wondering why they weren’t there. With concern Mary answered, “Evidently they were planning on it, but word was sent Lin had fallen ill with the flu this morning, and though she was feeling better, Dr. Wong thought they better not attend. They didn’t want to take the chance of bringing the bug down below to us. Its that time of year you know.” As Jacob stood amongst this old friends and new, listening to the conversation, his mind wondered. He began thinking about the connection between Charles and himself, via the past legal history with Charles’ father. And so upon recalling the memorabilia he had, thoughtfully he said, “If you would accompany me to my chamber, I have something to show Charles and Catherine.” Just then Mouse approached saying, “We need you Vincent! William says we have to get the rigmarole out of his dining area before tomorrow, or we can’t eat breakfast!” With William’s gruff quote hanging in the air, amusedly Jacob told his guests, “I assure you William’s bark is much worse than his bite.” Saying he would help Mouse, Vincent then told Catherine he would meet up with her at his Father’s Chamber as soon as he could. And so they headed for Jacob’s chamber, and as they entered, Jacob explained to Charles in particular, “What I wanted to share, are some notations about your father from my journals when he had helped represent my case. And, I thought you and Catherine may want to have these photos.” Jacob handed them the album containing the photos to look at, while he then leafed through his journal, stopping to read a passage pertaining to the trial. “Let’s see here, I wrote, Jacob took off his reading glasses, and then with emotion in his voice shared, “Your Father treated me with much respect in those days…He was a man who never looked down on me or on anyone as far as I had seen. Oh yes, I observed him for months as we prepared…He had many clients coming and going, and he truly cared about each and every one. I shall never forget Alan cautioning him, not to take work home, or to get too emotionally involved.” Adding a personal insight, Charles said, “I remember Dad would bring some of his indigent clients home to share dinner or a Holiday with us. I will never forget one Christmas; we shared our Christmas Goose with a woman who was out on bail…along with her two children. Mother said she never knew who would be sitting around our dinner table when Dad worked at the D.A.” With amazement, Catherine asked, “Really Dad? Granddaddy would bring clients home?” Nodding, Charles said, “Oh yes…your Grandfather always reminded Uncle Douglas and I, there were so many unfortunate people out there in need of not only his legal help, but of kindness as well.” Thinking aloud, Peter asked, “Hmmm. I wonder what the lady with the two kids your Dad brought home, had been accused of.” Informatively correcting Peter, Charles said, “Convicted not accused…and the crime was larceny.” Seeing her Father try to stifle a laugh, Catherine asked, “What’ s so funny about larceny?” “Well I suppose nothing really, but it was her MO that was a little out of the ordinary. You see she was spotted by a fellow shopper at Marty’s Meat Market concealing a couple of rib roasts on her person, along with a Honey Baked Ham!” Processing the thought of such large pieces of meat being hidden on a person, Mary asked, “How in the world did she manage that?” “Apparently…” began Charles, “...on the surveillance tapes, she left the store looking about 9 months pregnant and was more fully endowed at the end of her shopping trip, than she was when she began it!” Everyone began to laugh and Charles ended his story with, “Hey, I told you Dad was a kind and good man, I never said he was always right.” Jacob laughed too, and turned serious when he next shared, “You know…I do recall hearing your father and Alan having many a heated conversation over such a matter as that. You know, taking people home, or setting bails for clients and such. Alan told him he would burn out giving so much of himself.” With a slight grin Jacob then continued, “Ah but you could tell he loved the good fight. I remember as things were winding down, and veering toward a verdict in my case…and mind you, it was not looking as if things were going in my favor, well, your father only seemed to rev up and gain momentum as he reminded me to have faith we would win. He told me although the system may have flaws, more often than not…truth shall prevail…” With a knowing nod, Jacob raised a brow and said, “He was right…we did win…” Noticing Jacob looked downcast, Mary asked, “You won! So why do you look sad about that?” Thoughtfully, Jacob explained, “It’s because I have regrets… I regret I never properly thanked James for all he had done for me.” Looking kindly at Charles and Catherine, Jacob asked, “Please, accept my sincerest gratitude on your Father's behalf.” “Of course I will Jacob…” And with that, Charles and Catherine fondly closed the album containing the photographs, and gratefully accepted what Jacob wanted to give them. Just then they were rejoined by Vincent, along with Mouse, and curiously, Mouse stood beaming, and seemed to be hiding something behind his back! Noticing his pixilated look, Mary asked, “What’s going on?” Looking at Catherine, he excitedly answered, “Vincent thought your Dad would like to see…” He then presented the snow globe. Thinking that was thoughtful of Vincent, Catherine smiled at him, and then answered Mouse, “Oh yes Mouse.” She then addressed firstly her Father, and then Mary, Jacob and Peter too, realizing they may not know the story. And so she asked, “Do you recognize this snow globe Dad?” “Well sure I do…it is like the one you have…the one your Great-Grandmother gave you.” Catherine then asked, “Do you remember she was getting forgetful, and gave me two of them that one Christmas?” Scratching his chin, Charles recollected, “Why yes…and you ended up giving one to Toys for Tots I believe.” Catherine then reminded, “And do you remember Great- Grandma had written the same inscription on the bottom of each globe?” Laughing a bit, Charles admitted, “Well now you got me there kiddo…I am afraid I don’t remember anything about an inscription.” Catherine laughed softly, and looking around her captive audience she then explained, “Well she did, she wrote the exact same thing on the bottom of both snow globes. Now on mine at home it says, “Don’t ever forget to dream…” and on this one here, which is Vincent’s snow globe, it says…” Reading the verse aloud, Charles read, “Don’t ever forget to dream…..Hey I don’t get it.” Jacob filling in some of the blanks, explained, “Apparently my prodigal son Devin, stood in line that year, along with the children from the orphanage, and he was gifted this snow globe from the charity…” Vincent then added, “Since it was rare when I could go up to the world above, he gave it to me…” Mary knowing the story too, informed Charles, “Devin knew Vincent loved the snow…oh my, he so loved the snow as a young boy…” To which Mouse inserted shyly, “Still does!” Nodding with approval, Mary said, “Yes…you are right Mouse, Vincent still does…but anyway, Devin felt this snow globe would bring Vincent a piece of the world above by turning and shaking the globe, he could capture a snow fall right there in his hands.” Vincent warmed by the memory of Devin giving him this gift, smiled to himself, and then shared, “All the years past up till this Christmas it had been fine…” Then Mouse added, “Crack in it now…no way to hold the water. But music still plays.” Charles stunned by the incident, said, “It appears our paths keep crossing and are intertwined in ways we did not know. What an astounding story Cathy…” Peter too added, “Holy Cow! That is pretty freaky!” Jacob felt annoyed by the term freaky, and corrected, “Freaky isn’t the word for this wondrous coincidence Peter! More like the word kismet or perhaps providence would be a better suited word to use.” Shaking his head, Peter returned, “What ever Jacob, all I am saying is I think it is one heck of a coincidence!” Looking at his watch, Peter then said, “Hey I have rounds in the morning, and then I have got to be back here for the annuals. We better get going uh?” Charles and Catherine agreed, and as they said goodnight to Jacob and Mary, Vincent walked with them to the threshold. To be continued Chapter Eleven : } |
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| Day 30, Will this nonsense never end? Sitting here day after day, listening to lies I cannot respond to or defend. If it were not for Alan and James… well their encouragement and kindness is the only thing keeping me sane.” |
