As long as Catherine had the photos in her possession, she contemplated the idea of asking Elizabeth to sketch them, because Catherine remembered Vincent had told her, Elizabeth only briefly looked at the portrait of John Keats, and was able to, so beautifully, and accurately replicate it.
So...she was hoping, Elizabeth would not need to keep these pictures either...should she agree, to this commission that is!
Upon entering the Painted Tunnels, Catherine could see Elizabeth was busy working away on the mural of the new expansion chambers, that she had started a few days ago.
As Elizabeth heard footsteps approaching, she called out, "Who's there?"
In response, Catherine quickly answered, "It s me, Catherine."
And because Elizabeth liked Catherine so very much, she happily greeted her and said, "Catherine, my dear girl, how nice to see you."
To which Catherine replied, "Thank you Elizabeth, nice to see you too."
With great concern Elizabeth then said, "I have been listening to the updates, that Pascal has been sending out over the pipes about Vincent's condition. But there has not been any for awhile now. So tell me child...is Vincent still improving?"
To which Catherine assuredly answered, "Yes he is. He is very tired, and is still a little groggy from the affects of the drugs Paracelsus had given him. But...both Peter and Father feel he will be just fine. It will just take time for the soreness in his ribs to go away...so we have to be patient..."
Catherine then smiled as she exasperatingly added, "...which is the hardest part for Vincent!"
With a nod, Elizabeth gratefully said, "That is good news. Very good news, and you are right, it was always difficult for Vincent to be patient!"
Elizabeth then nodded toward the images on the tunnel wall of Jacob, holding a very young Vincent, who was at the time perhaps about 6-7 years of age.
Elizabeth then went on to tell Catherine, "When I had painted Jacob and Vincent there together, oh Vincent was so excited! I had painted Jacob first, and when I began to paint his outline, he would come here to check on me hourly to see if I had completed his image yet."
Elizabeth smiled as she reminisced, "He would come dashing in and if I was still painting, he would then dash back out! All I would catch would be just a glimpse of him, with all of that wild hair flying about..."
Intensely Elizabeth added, "Oh, but he wouldn't say anything to me because he knew he shouldn't disturb me, or it would only take me longer to finish!"
Elizabeth with misted eyes then said, "Ah, but when I was finished...I will never forget the moment when he first stepped up to the wall to inspect my work. He looked up at me, with all the brilliance and wonder swimming around in those beautiful eyes of his, and he tipped his head to the side, as he quizzically asked, "That is how you see me Elizabeth? This is how everyone sees me?" I looked down at that child, and assuredly I told him, "Why yes Vincent...it is as we see your Father too...so happy that he has you for his son." He nodded thoughtfully, and he looked once more to the wall, and softly he thanked me, and then slowly he turned, and walked right out of that tunnel over there, and he left without saying anything more...I never knew exactly what he was thinking."
Catherine with tears in her eyes said, "Perhaps to him, it was like looking into a mirror for the first time. Maybe that was the first time he became really aware of his differences."
Elizabeth nodded and thoughtfully said, "I believe it was..."
Catherine then carefully said, "He told me once he had no mirrors in his chamber for a reason. I don't think Vincent has ever come to terms with his physical nature."
Elizabeth smiled and said, "Ah but since he has met you...I have seen a difference in his eyes..."
Catherine shyly looked downward as she appreciated Elizabeth's perspective, and softly said, "I hope so."
Catherine then heaved a tremulous sigh, as she looked at Paracelsus on the wall, and noted, "Hopefully, Paracelsus' retaliation days are over. The things Father said to him, explaining their past and reasons for doing what needed to be done, I believe Paracelsus understood."
As Elizabeth herself, stepped before the depiction of Paracelsus on the tunnel wall, she said, "Let us pray that is so. It is too bad Vincent has had to suffer so because of him!"
Elizabeth stared at Paracelsus's image for a moment longer, and added, "To think he was once a good man."
She then, she took in a deep breath to cleanse her thoughts of this evil, hateful man, and she turned to Catherine, and asked, "So tell me what was so important, that tore you away from Vincent's side tonight. It must be very important."
Catherine cautiously smiled as she approached Elizabeth and petitioned, "Well, I wondered if you would have time for a project...hopefully in time for Mother's day?"
Elizabeth surprisingly expounded, "Mother's Day...Gracious, that is only three days away! What do you have in mind?"
Enthusiastically Catherine said, "I have a photograph Peter took of Anna holding Vincent when he was newly born, just days after she had brought him down to the tunnels. This other photograph is of Vincent, at around 2-3 months old. I thought...well I hoped, you could add them to the Painted Tunnels before Sunday. I believe it would mean so much to Vincent, if these images were included here with the rest of the tunnel's history on such an appropriate day."
Elizabeth put her easel down, and as she wiped her hands on her apron, she asked, "Hmm, let me see those photographs Catherine."
As Elizabeth looked at the pictures, she said, "Stunning...what an absolutely stunning baby Vincent was!"
Catherine looked at the photo along with Elizabeth, and lovingly said, "Yes I think so too. I think he was a beautiful baby..."
Elizabeth, in an astonished voice asked, "Where did you get these?"
Catherine explained the whole story of finding them in Anna's old desk, and of what an unexpected gift they were for Vincent at this time in his life.
Elizabeth with her artistic eye, squinted as she went into a trance like mode. As she inspected the photographs and memorized the details of each one, she then came back into focus, and handed the photos back to Catherine.
Efficiently she said, "Catherine bring Vincent back on Sunday, in the late afternoon. The mural will be finished for him then."
In response, Catherine happily said, "Thank you Elizabeth. So you don't need the photographs?"
To which Elizabeth concisely said, "No Dear...just bring Vincent back on Sunday."
Feeling so excited, Catherine gratefully said, "I will. Thank you so much! By the way, could we keep this between us? If possible I would like this to be a surprise for Vincent."
Meantime, Elizabeth who had already begun to study the tunnel wall for the perfect spot to add Vincent's baby pictures, simply said, "Of course Catherine, no one will hear it from me! I will be so busy working, I will not have time to tell anyone!"
With much gratefulness, Catherine smiled and said, "Thank you Elizabeth!"
Catherine then excitedly walked through the tunnels, harboring the secret of this wonderful surprise she planned for Vincent. And she anticipated the moment when he would first see the images of he and Anna, on the walls of the Painted Tunnels.
So feeling energized, Catherine entered Vincent's chamber and because he was sitting up in his chair, visiting with Mary, Rebecca, Jacob and Lisa, Catherine happily exclaimed, "Sitting up! Well now this is an improvement!"
But instead of a pleasant greeting, Vincent struggled to stand, and in a distressed manner said, "Catherine! You are here! We have been concerned, in fact Mouse and a few others are retracing your steps right now!"
Meantime, in an effort to calm his son, Jacob nervously chuckled and said, "Well there you see Vincent, Catherine is fine. There was no need for us to worry after all."
And because of Vincent's reaction, Catherine wondered why he was upset! And then a light bulb went off in Catherine's head! Catherine realized that because of the days events, her simple detour to the Painted Tunnels...caused everyone undo concern, fearing she had been abducted again!
And so Catherine apologetically said, "I am sorry! I had made an impromptu stop along the way. I feel horrible I made you all worry!"
To which Jacob took blame as he said, "I am afraid it was my fault, you see I had the impression you were heading directly here."
And then Mary chimed in, "I suppose we are all a little jittery right now. We had a difficult time urging Vincent to stay put! He so wanted to look for you himself, and then several of the others volunteered so he agreed to remain here. However the important factor is you are back safely."
In an attempt to neutralize the situation, Rebecca motioned to the seat between Vincent and herself and tried to sound cheerful as she said, "Yes Mary is right! The important thing is you are safe! Please join us Catherine...here's a seat for you."
Then Lisa, in an attempt to change the subject, suggested, "The tea is done steeping, shall I pour?"
As Vincent pulled Catherine's chair out for her, he had what he thought would be the last word, saying, "Please make sure in the future Catherine, I am informed of any impromptu stops you will be making!"
With a tip of her head, Catherine accepted the seat, and because she felt Vincent was over-reacting, she raised a brow as she curtly replied, "Well Vincent, then it wouldn't be impromptu, now would it?!"
When she and Vincent locked eyes, Catherine widened and exaggerated her gaze, wanting to enforce her point, that she was not too happy with his comment or demeanor!
Catherine then looked around the table, and tried to smile in an attempt to appear she had been teasing Vincent, because the last thing she wanted to do, was to make everyone else feel uncomfortable in the company of an arguing couple!
And Vincent too knew he may be haranguing as well, but still, he couldn't resist adding, "It is only under today's circumstances, I would naturally be concerned, should you not arrive to a destination of which you were expected to arrive in a timely fashion..."
And because Catherine "GOT IT" and didn't appreciate being scolded for the third time, was about to respond heatedly, when Vincent reached for her hand under the table, and continued, "...if something would have happened to you...and I wasn't there to..."
Catherine couldn't help but soften up a little as she recognized the worry hovering in his eyes, and so sweetly, she squeezed his hand, and then said, "I understand...I really am sorry."
To be continued.
Chapter Fifteen
So...she was hoping, Elizabeth would not need to keep these pictures either...should she agree, to this commission that is!
Upon entering the Painted Tunnels, Catherine could see Elizabeth was busy working away on the mural of the new expansion chambers, that she had started a few days ago.
As Elizabeth heard footsteps approaching, she called out, "Who's there?"
In response, Catherine quickly answered, "It s me, Catherine."
And because Elizabeth liked Catherine so very much, she happily greeted her and said, "Catherine, my dear girl, how nice to see you."
To which Catherine replied, "Thank you Elizabeth, nice to see you too."
With great concern Elizabeth then said, "I have been listening to the updates, that Pascal has been sending out over the pipes about Vincent's condition. But there has not been any for awhile now. So tell me child...is Vincent still improving?"
To which Catherine assuredly answered, "Yes he is. He is very tired, and is still a little groggy from the affects of the drugs Paracelsus had given him. But...both Peter and Father feel he will be just fine. It will just take time for the soreness in his ribs to go away...so we have to be patient..."
Catherine then smiled as she exasperatingly added, "...which is the hardest part for Vincent!"
With a nod, Elizabeth gratefully said, "That is good news. Very good news, and you are right, it was always difficult for Vincent to be patient!"
Elizabeth then nodded toward the images on the tunnel wall of Jacob, holding a very young Vincent, who was at the time perhaps about 6-7 years of age.
Elizabeth then went on to tell Catherine, "When I had painted Jacob and Vincent there together, oh Vincent was so excited! I had painted Jacob first, and when I began to paint his outline, he would come here to check on me hourly to see if I had completed his image yet."
Elizabeth smiled as she reminisced, "He would come dashing in and if I was still painting, he would then dash back out! All I would catch would be just a glimpse of him, with all of that wild hair flying about..."
Intensely Elizabeth added, "Oh, but he wouldn't say anything to me because he knew he shouldn't disturb me, or it would only take me longer to finish!"
Elizabeth with misted eyes then said, "Ah, but when I was finished...I will never forget the moment when he first stepped up to the wall to inspect my work. He looked up at me, with all the brilliance and wonder swimming around in those beautiful eyes of his, and he tipped his head to the side, as he quizzically asked, "That is how you see me Elizabeth? This is how everyone sees me?" I looked down at that child, and assuredly I told him, "Why yes Vincent...it is as we see your Father too...so happy that he has you for his son." He nodded thoughtfully, and he looked once more to the wall, and softly he thanked me, and then slowly he turned, and walked right out of that tunnel over there, and he left without saying anything more...I never knew exactly what he was thinking."
Catherine with tears in her eyes said, "Perhaps to him, it was like looking into a mirror for the first time. Maybe that was the first time he became really aware of his differences."
Elizabeth nodded and thoughtfully said, "I believe it was..."
Catherine then carefully said, "He told me once he had no mirrors in his chamber for a reason. I don't think Vincent has ever come to terms with his physical nature."
Elizabeth smiled and said, "Ah but since he has met you...I have seen a difference in his eyes..."
Catherine shyly looked downward as she appreciated Elizabeth's perspective, and softly said, "I hope so."
Catherine then heaved a tremulous sigh, as she looked at Paracelsus on the wall, and noted, "Hopefully, Paracelsus' retaliation days are over. The things Father said to him, explaining their past and reasons for doing what needed to be done, I believe Paracelsus understood."
As Elizabeth herself, stepped before the depiction of Paracelsus on the tunnel wall, she said, "Let us pray that is so. It is too bad Vincent has had to suffer so because of him!"
Elizabeth stared at Paracelsus's image for a moment longer, and added, "To think he was once a good man."
She then, she took in a deep breath to cleanse her thoughts of this evil, hateful man, and she turned to Catherine, and asked, "So tell me what was so important, that tore you away from Vincent's side tonight. It must be very important."
Catherine cautiously smiled as she approached Elizabeth and petitioned, "Well, I wondered if you would have time for a project...hopefully in time for Mother's day?"
Elizabeth surprisingly expounded, "Mother's Day...Gracious, that is only three days away! What do you have in mind?"
Enthusiastically Catherine said, "I have a photograph Peter took of Anna holding Vincent when he was newly born, just days after she had brought him down to the tunnels. This other photograph is of Vincent, at around 2-3 months old. I thought...well I hoped, you could add them to the Painted Tunnels before Sunday. I believe it would mean so much to Vincent, if these images were included here with the rest of the tunnel's history on such an appropriate day."
Elizabeth put her easel down, and as she wiped her hands on her apron, she asked, "Hmm, let me see those photographs Catherine."
As Elizabeth looked at the pictures, she said, "Stunning...what an absolutely stunning baby Vincent was!"
Catherine looked at the photo along with Elizabeth, and lovingly said, "Yes I think so too. I think he was a beautiful baby..."
Elizabeth, in an astonished voice asked, "Where did you get these?"
Catherine explained the whole story of finding them in Anna's old desk, and of what an unexpected gift they were for Vincent at this time in his life.
Elizabeth with her artistic eye, squinted as she went into a trance like mode. As she inspected the photographs and memorized the details of each one, she then came back into focus, and handed the photos back to Catherine.
Efficiently she said, "Catherine bring Vincent back on Sunday, in the late afternoon. The mural will be finished for him then."
In response, Catherine happily said, "Thank you Elizabeth. So you don't need the photographs?"
To which Elizabeth concisely said, "No Dear...just bring Vincent back on Sunday."
Feeling so excited, Catherine gratefully said, "I will. Thank you so much! By the way, could we keep this between us? If possible I would like this to be a surprise for Vincent."
Meantime, Elizabeth who had already begun to study the tunnel wall for the perfect spot to add Vincent's baby pictures, simply said, "Of course Catherine, no one will hear it from me! I will be so busy working, I will not have time to tell anyone!"
With much gratefulness, Catherine smiled and said, "Thank you Elizabeth!"
Catherine then excitedly walked through the tunnels, harboring the secret of this wonderful surprise she planned for Vincent. And she anticipated the moment when he would first see the images of he and Anna, on the walls of the Painted Tunnels.
So feeling energized, Catherine entered Vincent's chamber and because he was sitting up in his chair, visiting with Mary, Rebecca, Jacob and Lisa, Catherine happily exclaimed, "Sitting up! Well now this is an improvement!"
But instead of a pleasant greeting, Vincent struggled to stand, and in a distressed manner said, "Catherine! You are here! We have been concerned, in fact Mouse and a few others are retracing your steps right now!"
Meantime, in an effort to calm his son, Jacob nervously chuckled and said, "Well there you see Vincent, Catherine is fine. There was no need for us to worry after all."
And because of Vincent's reaction, Catherine wondered why he was upset! And then a light bulb went off in Catherine's head! Catherine realized that because of the days events, her simple detour to the Painted Tunnels...caused everyone undo concern, fearing she had been abducted again!
And so Catherine apologetically said, "I am sorry! I had made an impromptu stop along the way. I feel horrible I made you all worry!"
To which Jacob took blame as he said, "I am afraid it was my fault, you see I had the impression you were heading directly here."
And then Mary chimed in, "I suppose we are all a little jittery right now. We had a difficult time urging Vincent to stay put! He so wanted to look for you himself, and then several of the others volunteered so he agreed to remain here. However the important factor is you are back safely."
In an attempt to neutralize the situation, Rebecca motioned to the seat between Vincent and herself and tried to sound cheerful as she said, "Yes Mary is right! The important thing is you are safe! Please join us Catherine...here's a seat for you."
Then Lisa, in an attempt to change the subject, suggested, "The tea is done steeping, shall I pour?"
As Vincent pulled Catherine's chair out for her, he had what he thought would be the last word, saying, "Please make sure in the future Catherine, I am informed of any impromptu stops you will be making!"
With a tip of her head, Catherine accepted the seat, and because she felt Vincent was over-reacting, she raised a brow as she curtly replied, "Well Vincent, then it wouldn't be impromptu, now would it?!"
When she and Vincent locked eyes, Catherine widened and exaggerated her gaze, wanting to enforce her point, that she was not too happy with his comment or demeanor!
Catherine then looked around the table, and tried to smile in an attempt to appear she had been teasing Vincent, because the last thing she wanted to do, was to make everyone else feel uncomfortable in the company of an arguing couple!
And Vincent too knew he may be haranguing as well, but still, he couldn't resist adding, "It is only under today's circumstances, I would naturally be concerned, should you not arrive to a destination of which you were expected to arrive in a timely fashion..."
And because Catherine "GOT IT" and didn't appreciate being scolded for the third time, was about to respond heatedly, when Vincent reached for her hand under the table, and continued, "...if something would have happened to you...and I wasn't there to..."
Catherine couldn't help but soften up a little as she recognized the worry hovering in his eyes, and so sweetly, she squeezed his hand, and then said, "I understand...I really am sorry."
To be continued.
Chapter Fifteen
| A Dream Within a Dream! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Fourteen |
