As Catherine told the police what she could remember about the man who threatened her, she then went on to tell them, the main thing which stood out, was the patch sewn onto his sleeve. A sort of an inverted peace sign, but other than that, she could not tell too much more, because he had worn a full faced stocking hat, masking much of his face.
And then she said, if it had not been for a brave passerby, who had chased the mugger down, she was sure, she would have been harmed, and never would have seen her pet dog again.
The detective thanked Catherine for coming forward, and said they may be getting back in touch with her later on.
As Catherine rode down in the elevator, she knew with this task behind her now, she just wanted to go home. Maybe there would be some word from Vincent...maybe something showing he had a change of heart...
As she exited the elevator, Catherine went over the days events for the hundredth time, thinking if only this, or, if only that...but then ultimately knew, Vincent would have to deal with his issues he still owned...and hoped maybe today...he had.
Meanwhile, Joe had waited for Catherine, and tried to look nonchalant, as he stood at the front desk, talking to some friends he knew there at the precinct.
And so, when Catherine, who was still deep in thought, walked by, without noticing him, Joe did a double take, and looked at her in disbelief, and asked, "Chandler?"
As Catherine realized she did not notice Joe, she apologetically, said, "Sorry Joe."
Seeing Catherine looked heavy hearted, with concern Joe asked, "So what's the deal? Were they rough on you in there? Cuz as you well know, even a voluntary witness, such as yourself, has rights!"
With an ironic smile, Catherine calmed Joe by saying, "No, everyone was very nice...its, well it's a personal matter. Suffice it to say, it has not been a very good day."
With a nod, Joe said he understood, and then thought he would try to cheer Catherine up, by repeating his offer. And so with a hopeful grin, he said, "Hey, my offer for a burger still stands. I have two ears, I can at least listen."
Catherine smiled at this sweet side of Joe which has emerged, and in truth, had taken her quite by surprise!
And so, she teasingly looked at both sides of his head, and said, "So I see..."
But then she continued, saying, "I do appreciate your kindness, but I need to tend to my pet dog Noodles. Well, have a good night Joe."
And so in reply, Joe in a reflective manner, replied, "Yeah you too...be safe!"
Saying she would, Joe continued to watch Catherine as she walked away, and when she was too far away to hear, he softly said, "Good night Cathy."
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Meanwhile, as Charles and Peter got ready for their dinner dates, which was with the two nice ladies they met at Jessica's party, they urged Jacob to come along with them.
To which Jacob spouted, "Ah I don't wish to be as they say, "A 5th Wheel", I will be fine. I plan to finish this book, and then, watch the moving picture you have of "Camelot", IF...I can figure out that machine to roll it on."
For the second time, Peter walked over to the VCR, and instructed, "All you have to do is push the play button! That's all there is to it, hit play, and then you can drool over Vanessa Redgrave, as Lady Guenevere all night!"
Jacob sighed as he said, "Ah, she is lovely, is she not?"
It was then, Jacob hesitated a moment, before he asked, what he considered to be an extravagant request. And as he cleared his throat, he then asked, "Is it alright for me to place a long distance call to Catherine? I just want to check on things back home."
To which Peter told his frugal friend, "Feel free Jacob. Mom has a...err had a long distance plan, so calling Catherine is not a problem."
It was then Charles started to write Catherine's number down for him, and said, "Here is her phone number Jacob, and when you call, please tell her hello for me."
To which Jacob happily said, "I shall, I shall. Jolly good, my whole evening is planned and laid out before me. Not a dull moment in sight! Now you two run along, and have a good time."
Acting as the fusspot, Peter reminded Jacob, "Remember, there is some clam chowder from Lucille's Diner in the fridge, and the rolls, or crackers are in the bread box right there. So just help yourself to whatever you want."
To which in reply, Jacob nodded, and mockingly said, "Yes, yes Mother Hen. Now run along you two."
In concurrence, Charles looked at his watch, and said, "Jacob is right, we are going to be late, if we don't leave now."
As Peter looked around one last time, he firmly said, "Well lock up after we leave, and well, I guess we will see you later."
Knowing his dear friend was worried about leaving him alone, Jacob exasperatingly said, "Don't worry Peter, I am quite comfortable here, now good night, and have a good time!"
And so the two Casanova's finally left for their dates, and were not gone even a half minute, when Jacob received a visitor at the back patio door, and it was the over anxious widow-lady, he met at Jessica's party, Blanche!
As Jacob opened the door to say hello, Blanche, who had some wine and glasses with her, giddily invited, "Jacob, won't you come and enjoy some wine with me? It is such a beautiful sunset, t'would be a shame not to share it with someone."
As Jacob looked down at the book he was holding, he pushed his glasses up from the required reading angle, put his book down, and told Blanche, "Just give me a moment will you? I would like to put on my Beach Shoes."
to which Blanche anxiously said, "Of course Jacob, but hurry! I don't want you to miss this radiant sight!"
And yes...the sunset was beautiful, and to Jacob's surprise, he enjoyed spending time with this eccentric lady.
Blanche was giddily light-hearted, bright, and pretty in an over tanned sort of way, and she did like Jacob! Yes, she was quite obvious about that!
Blanche was fascinated by Jacob, and his ways, as he seemed to have stepped into the future with his old fashioned manners, and type of dress. And Blanche told him so too.
To which Jacob merely explained, that where he was from, current trends were not a priority, and he didn't concern him self with such things.
Jacob continued on, as he told his captive audience of one, that he liked simple, and natural ways, and as a rule, that was how he lived his life.
Thinking they seemed to be like minded, Blanche nodded, and said, "That is how I view life too, simple and unencumbered."
As Blanche turned her head to the sound of her dog barking at her beach front home, she irritatingly said, she would be right back, after she tended to "Jacko"!
To which Jacob, then subtly said, in all actuality, he should call it a night anyway, because he had some things to tend to himself.
As Blanche reluctantly let Jacob off the hook, before she left, she gave Jacob an address, and with a charming smile, said, "Please come to a picnic at this beach tomorrow Jacob. And bring your two friends too! The more the merrier!"
To which Jacob silently stood, wondering if his two cohorts would want to go.
And so seeing Jacob pondering, Blanche added, "Do say you will come Jacob. It is Pot Luck, so bring along your favorite dish to pass!"
With that sideways smile in which Jacob owns, he replied, "I cannot promise..."
And so as Blanche gave him a kiss to his cheek, she turned to head for home, saying, "Don't disappoint me Jacob. Ta Ta for now!"
And so gaily, Jacob found himself, in turn, repeating, "Ta Ta...ahem!"
And as Jacob walked back to Peter's, he thought to himself that it just may be fun to go to this Pot Luck, Blanche had invited him to.
And so, as Jacob went inside, he thought it may be a good time to give Catherine a call. And with any luck, talk to Vincent too. And so, as he shifted his glasses to read Catherine's number, the phone rang. And on the other end, was Peter, who had been trying to get a hold of him for over 20 minutes!
To which Jacob asked, "Why is something amiss?"
With a worried tone, Peter repeated, "Is something amiss? No, nothing is amiss with us, but we were just calling to ask if we should get you a carry out! But then when there wasn't an answer, well we were getting worried!"
Assuredly, Jacob replied, "Couldn't be better Peter! You were so wise to prescribe this little sabbatical for me! The ocean air is doing wonders for me!"
To which Peter said, "Ahh, then you were just outside!"
Explaining in more detail, Jacob answered, "Yes...yes...enjoying the sunset on the beach with...ahem, with Blanche. She came calling on me right after you and Charles left."
Jacob then proceeded to boast a bit, telling Peter he had wrangled another invitation for the three of them tomorrow. The party was at Stark Beach, and it was a Pot Luck.
Jacob then added, "So run this past Charles, and put on your thinking caps, we must figure out what to take as our dish."
As Peter hung up the phone, he then walked back to the table, to which Charles anxiously asked, "Is everything all right with Jacob?"
With much relief, Peter replied, "Yes...yes Jacob is fine, a neighbor named Blanche came calling on him, and they were just out on the beach, enjoying the sunset together."
Upon hearing Blanche's name, Peter's date Sylvia, hesitantly asked, "Blanche? Do you mean Blanche Lauren?"
With a question, Peter replied, "Not sure...Jacob never mentioned a last name."
To which Evelyn, who was as equally concerned as Sylvia, raised a brow as she stated, "It has to be her! Blanche was at Jessica's party last night, and Jessica noticed she had her eye on Jacob! Oh this Blanche is quite a character!"
With a little more information, Peter turned to Charles, and then over to include their dinner companions, as he explained, "Well, I may as well tell you, you gals are spot on! Because Blanche invited Jacob, me and Charles, to go to a beach side pot luck picnic tomorrow. And Jacob said, for us to put on our thinking caps, because we must come up with a dish to share."
And so with concern, Peter's date Sylvia suspiciously asked, "What beach is this picnic going to be at?"
To which Peter squinted, as he repeated, "At Stark Beach...do you know of it?"
Upon hearing the name of the beach hosting the picnic, the two ladies looked at one another, and started to laugh!
To which, this caused Peter, and Charles to anxiously question, what was so funny?
As Evelyn collected herself, she finally said, "I don't believe, not even a thinking cap would be allowed at Stark Beach!"
And as Charles and Peter, sat puzzled, Sylvia then explained, that Stark Beach was owned by a nudist colony, of which Blanche was a member!
As the four of them shared a laugh, Peter then chided, "Leave it to Jacob to get an invitation to a Nude Beach, in less than 24 hours of arriving here in Florida!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, as Catherine returned home, after a long, long day, she entered her apartment, and saw Noodles had left a few puddles on her kitchen tiled floor.
And so, as she wiped up the piddles, the guilty look on Noodles face made Catherine feel so bad, and very guilty as well, knowing she should have hurried home!
And so Catherine promised Noodles, starting tomorrow, she would begin a new routine, and start coming home at lunch time, to give him a mid-day walk.
As Catherine put her coat back on, she put the leash onto Noodles collar and said, "In fact, let's get a little exercise right now Noodles, and this time I will take a whistle and my mace!"
Seeing the loving look in Noodle's eyes, took Catherine's mind off of her heart ache, and felt thankful she had little Noodles to care for.
But just as she was ready to go, there was a knock on her door, and Catherine could see through the peep hole, that it was Steven!