Master of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Eight ____________________________________
Meanwhile, Jacob and Peter both stood, tragically looking at Vincent waiting for an explanation, wondering what had happened, between he and Catherine.
But with Vincent clearly delving deeper in thought, with concern and urgency, Jacob finally asked, "Vincent?"
And so, knowing they deserved an explanation, Vincent looked up at the two, and humbly offered, "I allowed my insecurities to rise above all I knew to be true between Catherine and I."
Vincent then searchingly paced and sorrowfully continued, "Earlier today, I turned away from her, thinking she would be better served by a man who could offer her a life with monetary comforts."
To which Peter, in an assuming tone asked, "But you have since come to your senses?"
In reply, Vincent nodded and said, "I now know our bond to be true and absolute, and the children, have helped remind me, that nothing is to be treasured more, than what two hearts share, no matter how difficult the journey."
As Jacob nodded, and in an optimistic tone offered, "Perhaps all is not lost...I imagine Catherine could be contacted at the hospital."
Turning to Peter, Jacob hopefully asked, "Is this possible for you to send word to her? Letting Catherine know how Vincent feels?"
Thinking this was a viable solution, Peter raised his brow, and nodded at Jacob, thinking "Yes, I can do that!"
Peter then assuredly smiled at Vincent and as he took out his pad and pen, he handed it to Vincent, and said "Write down what you want me to tell her."
As Vincent stood thoughtful, he formalized his thoughts, and wrote,
Dearest Catherine, I have had time to see things clearer now and know you were definitively right and I was wrong. Please send my best to your Father, and tell him I wish him well. SincerelyVincent
As Peter put his pad, back in his breast pocket, he with optimistic certainty, said, "Consider it done. I will send you word, right after I speak with her."
With a sense of relief, Vincent heaved a sigh, and gave Peter an embrace, born from his immense gratitude, and said, "I will be waiting."
Realizing he should be going, Peter looked to his watch and said, "I arranged an emergency meeting with the Doctors on Petey's case, so I better head out. I intend to get to the bottom of what ever it is that is causing his relapses!"
Peter then gave Jacob some instructions, more or less in the form of a warning, and sternly said, "Oh yes, and Jacob, I want you to know just because you are out of my sight, that doesn't mean you are out of the woods! Watch what you eat, and stick to that diet I drew up for you. And put your feet up now and then."
Compliantly, Jacob waved his hand at Peter in a pooh-poohing manner, and said, "Yes, yes, I will Peter. Now don't worry about me, I just want you to tend to your own affairs right now. And do give my best to Pauline, and give Little Peter the seashell I found for him. Oh and do keep us informed about Charles as well."
To which Peter then turned, and waved as he walked away, promising he would be in contact later.
Continuing onward, Vincent quietly assisted his Father to his chamber, and as they started to empty his satchel, Jacob could not help but to ask, what had spurred the darkness, causing him to feel as he had earlier that day.
And so Vincent explained the incident at Pai's, and his overhearing Catherine's old suitor, offering her the world at her feet.
Upon which, Vincent shamefully revealed, "Degradation came over my heart, and suddenly I felt like nothing...with nothing but a complicated life to offer Catherine."
Wearily, Jacob sat down, and with a loving kindness, he motioned for Vincent to come to him.
And so as Vincent knelt beside him, he looked up at his Father, ready to listen to what he wanted to say to him.
And so Jacob thoughtfully began, "Vincent...do you remember when you were a boy, and when the idea first settled upon you that you were different...looked different?"
Humbly, Vincent nodded, and reminiscently said, "I...I remember I asked you why my hands did not look like yours, or like Devin's."
Jacob softly said, "Yes." He then mindfully recalled, "And I told you my hands were not like Devin's either, or like yours. I told you we were all different on the outside."
As Vincent listened, he tipped his head, as he reminded his Father, "And...I then told you I knew my differences were more involved than that..."
To which Jacob mindfully squinted as he recollected, "And I didn't lie to you...I told you, yes you were right. But then I remember telling you too, that you were a beautiful boy, with a loving heart. A loving heart, which even a blind person could see..."
With a bit of a smile in his eyes, Vincent recalled, "And I asked if you thought even Narcissa could see my heart..."
With a bit of a chuckle, Jacob nodded and replied, "And I said yes...even Narcissa, and then told you...in the end, what is in our hearts, is all that shall actually matter..."
Meekly, Vincent told his Father, "Those words you spoke to me on that day, resonate with me still...however I have been guilty of forgetting them of late."
As Jacob lovingly smiled down at Vincent, he said, "Ah we all are Vincent, we all forget that wisdom, until a reaffirming life experience brings it all back into focus for us."
With a melancholy manner, Jacob then said, "On that day, when you asked about your being different, I wanted you to know how I saw you, how we all saw you. As a beautiful giving boy...I believe I knew then, life may not be easy for you as you grew older, and wiser."
Jacob then emphatically, yet lovingly, continued, "But, I have been so proud of how you have handled it all...so proud. You have far exceeded all of my expectations. So...don't ever doubt the life you have to offer Catherine is inferior. A love so great could never be considered so."
After receiving the affirmation he needed from his father, Vincent rose to his feet, and with much adoration, he embraced him, and said, "Thank you Father."
To which Jacob urged his son, to get some sleep...and rest his weary mind, that all will be better tomorrow.
After saying goodnight, Jacob then watched his son as he laboriously pulled himself up the stairway's railing, knowing his heart was heavy laden, and would remain so, as he awaited word from his Catherine.
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Meanwhile, Peter and his sister, met with the Doctors, and they all agreed on a logical path of treatment for Petey, and tomorrow they would begin the new regime, which he will hopefully respond to.
As the meeting broke up, Peter told Pauline he needed to place a call to check on Charles, and to hopefully speak with Catherine.
The Floridian nurse told Peter, Charles was sleeping, and resting comfortably, and that Miss Chandler had not arrived yet, but as soon as she checked in, she would be happy to pass a message onto her. And so she grabbed a pen and paper, and told Peter she was ready to take down the message.
Upon slipping his readers back on, Peter then opened his pad, so he could read Vincent's message verbatim. And so he read:
Dear Cathy, I have an urgent message from Vincent. He wrote: Dearest Catherine, I have had time to see things clearer now and know you were definitively right and I was wrong. Please send my best to your Father, and tell him I wish him well. Sincerely Vincent Call me kiddo as soon as you get in, no matter how late. Love Peter
And so, to the multi-tasking, over-worked nurse, Peter recited Vincent's message, and after she assuredly said she got it, Peter, with a sense of relief, flipped his note pad shut, and gratefully, thanked the nurse for her help.
So upon hanging up the phone, Peter looked over at his tired sister, and said, "Come on Pauline...I'm taking you home to get some rest."
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Meantime, down in Florida, the nurse in the middle of her busy routine, unfortunately scrambled the message!
The nurse mistake-ably interpreted, and wrote down,
Dear Cathy, I have an urgent message from Vincent. He wrote:
Dearest Catherine, I have had time to see things clearer now and know I was definitively right and you were wrong. Please send my best to your Father and tell him I wish him well. Sincerely Vincent
Call me kiddo, as soon as you get in no matter how late. Love Peter
And so, this erroneous, destructive message sat, at the nurses station, awaiting Catherine's arrival.
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And so as word spread throughout the tunnels, that Jacob had returned home, both Mary and Rebecca rushed to Jacob's chamber to see him.
Excitedly Mary descended the steps, with Rebecca right behind her, expounding, "Father, you are back!"
To which Jacob warmly smiled at them, and said, "Mary, Rebecca, no lovelier welcoming committee could be found to be sure! Do fill me in on the happenings here below."
And so in reply, Rebecca unknowingly cut Mary off, as she excitedly told Jacob, "Well let's see, where to begin, oh, I know, the children have prepared some decorations for Winterfest, and they have also been working on another song to welcome you home..."
And because Rebecca was so happy Jacob was back, she continued on and on, informatively adding, "Oh, and the Winterfest Candles are also ready to deliver to our helpers, and Lin, Oh Father, you just cannot measure Lin's generosity! She sent down all these beautiful bolts of material for us to sew Winterfest dresses with. And so we have been sewing our little hearts out! And you should have seen Olivia's D.D.D., which Mary, with a master's touch, simplified, Oh and I have to mention Lin once again, because she sent down this new tea blend...well actually, I suppose you would say Dr. Wong sent down the blend for us to sample, but Lin was the one who had brought it. But, as it turned out, she had actually came down to the tunnels, for a couple of reasons, one of which was to bring the tea, but also...she had so kindly, arranged a lunch date for..."
And because Rebecca didn't seem to have an off button, Mary held her hand up, in an effort to silence her, and said, "Rebecca, please. Something more pressing is at hand! We must tell Father about Vincent and Catherine."
To which Rebecca hurtfully replied, "I was just getting to Vincent, Mary! But you go ahead! You tell Father!"
To which Mary did a double take at Rebecca, as she thought to herself, that Rebecca is becoming quite assertive! But so as she kept this opinion to herself, with a nod, turned to a bemused Jacob, and said, "Father, it is Vincent...he and Catherine have had problems once again, and he is currently above, trying to smooth things out with her."
But because Jacob was two steps ahead, of the "Chinwag" committee, Jacob knowingly responded, with the couples latest update, which spiraled both Mary, and Rebecca into despair.
And so worriedly, Mary then said, "Well you are home now Father, somehow everything is righted by your presence. Maybe you can do something."
As Jacob finished unpacking his satchel, he said, "I appreciate your faith in me Mary, however it is Peter who is going to intervene this time. He shall relay a message from Vincent onto Catherine, down in Florida, and things should be cleared up soon."
Jacob then glanced to both of the concerned "Matchmakers" and said, "Don't worry so, they must find their way, on their own...and if we can help, then we shall, however some things are out of our control..."
To which in unison, Mary and Rebecca expressed a belief, in what Jacob said was true. And with an acceptance of sorts, they agreed, some things were out of their hands, and could only petition for a happy outcome for them both.
It was then Rebecca went to assist Jacob with his armload of clothing, and offered, "Allow me Father...I can take this load to the laundry chamber for you."
And because she wanted to help as well, Mary stepped up, when all of a sudden, she noticed a curious, colorful, red garment in the bundle of clothes, and it was a red so vibrant, she knew it was unrecognizable, as anything she had ever seen Jacob wear before!
And as Mary inspected closer, she with confusion asked, "Is that a Heart pattern on that one garment?"
So...as Jacob realized his "Hearted Britches" were visible in the mix of the other clothes, he quickly grabbed them back, and said, "Oh, those are just something silly."
As Jacob tried to look nonchalant, he though, could see the pondering look on Mary's face, and he feared she would have more questions!
However Rebecca meanwhile, organized the laundry, and then efficiently said, "I will take these for you Father. Well goodnight, and welcome home."
In order to take the focus off of the heart covered britches, Jacob, over exuberantly replied, "Thank you Rebecca, and good night..."
Wondering if Mary was coming too, Rebecca asked, "Coming Mary?"
To which Mary replied, "Yes...go on ahead Rebecca...I am right behind you...I just want to finish helping Father..."
Mary then looked back toward Jacob, and though she wanted details about the whimsical mysterious hearted garment, she didn't ask.
And so as Mary continued helping, she noted, "Oh my, so many seashells."
To which Jacob mentioned, "I thought the children would enjoy them."
And as she lifted the bag they were in, Mary with surprise said, "Well, you have enough here for each child to have one, and then one again! You were quite busy."
Knowing he should mention Jessica helping him, Jacob carefully said, "I did have a bit of help, you see Jessica owns a home not far from the home of Peter's late Mother, and we quite accidentally met up there."
To which Mary turned as she said, "I see."
As Mary stood with her back to Jacob, she gathered her nerve and asked, "And how is Jessica?"
In reply, Jacob said, "She is fine...seemed quite well."
Wanting to delve a bit more, Mary asked, "Was it difficult...seeing Jessica I mean?"
And because he was dealing with a melancholy of sorts, Jacob truthfully answered, "Not difficult...but I suppose one might say rather bittersweet."
Talking to Father like this, enabled Mary, to then ask, "So you still think of her that way? You still feel something?"
To which Jacob shook his head, and answered truthfully, "It is more complicated than how I feel Mary. It is more about the paths we ultimately chose, which separated us."
Knowing their history all too well, Mary still wanted to know, and so she asked again, in the form of an insinuation, saying, "Still...you do think of her..."
Thoughtfully, Jacob heaved a sigh, as he truthfully replied, "I suppose there are times, however, I have come to discover, the memories of the past, are more romantic than the reality was...in fact...Jessica and I discussed our past, and the reasons we chose the paths we had...and through the years, though I have thought about her...it is here I remained, where I ultimately chosen to return. It is here I wish to be...its here where I belong... Here is where my family is."
Humbly, Mary nodded, and as her chin quivered, she then turned and said, "Yes...family."
Mary looked into her hands, and shyly revealed, "If ever you were to leave our world Father, I...I don't know what would happen to us..."
In reply, Jacob assuredly promised, "Don't fret about such things."
Mary then tried to smile, as she said, "I will try not to worry...and may I say...it is so good to have you back home."
In reply, Jacob said, "Thank you Mary...it is good to be back."
Mary then regrouped her emotions, and tried to sound more cheerful as she said, "Well, you must be tired..."
To which Jacob admitted he was, and as they both then said goodnight, Jacob stood silent as Mary left, leaving him, with much to think about.