As they strolled along, Brigit stayed quiet, knowing Vincent needed to sort out his thoughts and feelings, but because they needed to step over an obstacle, Vincent was forced to speak, saying, "Watch your step Brigit..."
To which Brigit replied, "Aye, I will."
In an attempt to climb outside his grief, Vincent mentioned, "William has asked about you, and Father too has asked."
Happy to hear she had made a few friends there, Brigit in turn fondly asked how they both were, and also asked about all those wee precocious children!
In response, Vincent filled Brigit in on his Father, saying he is doing well after a bit of R&R, but must take on life a little more slowly, as per his doctors orders. Vincent then said, William was also well, and as far as the children, they were as delightful as ever in his eyes.
To which Brigit raised a brow, as she said, "Ye know Vincent, I've never been around children much, and I will admit, relatin' to them is difficult for me...I may be able to write fer them, but one on one..."
With understanding, Vincent replied, "Once you get to know them...and relax around them...that will change."
Doubtful, Brigit with a sigh said, "I dinny know 'bout that! And relatin' to the females here, has been difficult as well! Oh my, I doubt Mary and I could ever become pals!"
With a smile in his eyes, Vincent remained silent, as he highly doubted that too!
But then Brigit mentioned, "Aye, but ye know who I could be pals with, is Lin! I think of her, and feel badly I dinny git to say goodbye to her."
To which Vincent happily informed Brigit, "Lin and her family will be attending Winterfest tonight. So perhaps you will be able to renew your newly formed alliance. Lin spoke fondly of you as well."
Happy to know she will have at least one female friend there tonight, Brigit said, "Tis good to hear. I kinny wait!"
And then a dreaded thought crossed Brigit's mind, and she worriedly mentioned, "I be hopin' there'll be no late night opossum visits!"
And then proposingly asked, "Perhaps ye could ask that pixilated person, "Rat" to keep better track of his pets?"
Vincent could not help be humored by all of Brigit's erroneous monikers, but because he needed to correct her, he said Arthur was a raccoon not a opossum, and he was the pet of his good friend, who went by the name of Mouse, not Rat.
To which Brigit waved her hand, and said, "Opossum/Raccoon, Rat/Mouse," tis not much difference to me Vincent!"
Meantime, as they were approaching the Guest Chamber, Vincent said, "Here we are."
With a contented sigh, Brigit said, "Vincent, I do thank ye fer trustin' me here once more...and ye know, I feel as if I am comin' home..."
And because he felt Brigit has put their friendship in the proper perspective now, Vincent replied, "It pleases me you feel this way."
And so as Vincent stood at the threshold, he tragically said, "With this news you have brought me about Catherine, I have much to think about, and much to reconcile. Forgive me if I say goodnight."
To which Brigit with compassion, said, "Of course Vincent, I understand. I will see ye tomorrow then."
As Vincent left, he then turned the corner, and walked onward toward his chamber, where he crossed paths with a very eager Pascal.
To which Pascal excitedly asked, "Is it true what Mac said? Is Brigit really here already?"
In reply, Vincent nodded, and said, "Yes, she is my friend. And is spending the night as our guest in the Guest chamber."
Upon hearing this good news, Pascal then anxiously said, "I am just going to say hello to welcome her, and make sure she is comfortable."
And because Vincent knowing Brigit has no interest in a relationship with his dear friend, he cautiously said, "Pascal, I, well I just hope you are not expecting too much from Brigit. Because of some things she has shared with me, I don't think she wants to start any kind of a relationship with anyone."
To which Pascal thoughtfully said, "I know Vincent, and I'm not expecting nothin'! I just want to look at her, and say hello. I will shield my heart the best I can."
As Vincent put his arm around his friend, he commiserated with Pascal, by saying, "Yes, I understand, for that is how I too feel about Catherine."
Kindly, Vincent then added, "For now, things do not look too promising for either of us my friend."
Pascal and Vincent then parted company, and Vincent found himself being pulled to Catherine's apartment, for what he determined to be for the last time tonight. And even though he heard Catherine was staying at Charle's home, he had to go, the need was too great to deny, as he could not stay away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Catherine and Jennifer, walked toward the exit door of the Exhibit Hall.
And as they did, Jennifer mentioned, "Sorry the painting you liked was already sold Cath."
To which Catherine mentioned, "Me too! I just fell in love with it...it reminded me of a book Grandma Chandler used to read to me...oh well, C'est la vie..."
Then Jennifer thoughtfully said, "I wonder who bought it, and when! Must have been when I was dealing with the caterers, of whom I will not be hiring again! I believe the hors d'oeuvres were from Gordon's Food Service. I recognized the Spinach and Artichoke Bites!"
To which Catherine kindly said, "Those were quite tasty...everything was delicious Jen."
In response, Jennifer said, "True, but I could have saved the Gallery a few hundred, and just bought and baked them myself!"
The girls shared a laugh, and then Catherine once more promised to call about Noodles, as soon as she heard from Peter.
As Jennifer rolled her eyes, she pleaded, "Yes please do, or my Mom is going to drive me crazy!"
To which Catherine kindly said, "I will...and please know even though I love Noodles, your Mother's offer is really a God Send. It's a bit of a question mark how many hours I will be putting in a the D. A. and Noodles deserves better."
And because Jennifer knew the heart ache Catherine was also going through over Vincent, with concern she asked, "Are you sure you really want to do a job change right now, on top of everything else that is going on?"
To which Catherine warmly, but sadly smiled at Jennifer, as she emphatically said, "Yes Jen, learning a new job, helping people, well, it will help keep my mind off of myself."
And so Jennifer nodded indicating she understood, and looking around, she asked, "Hey, where's Mutton-head?"
To which Catherine gave her friend one of those looks, and with a chuckle said, "I take it you are referring to Steven..."
And then Catherine glanced over to where Steven stood saying goodbye to his old college friends, noting, "...here he comes, try to be nice."
As Steven walked up, Jennifer did try to be nice, and so she said, "Thanks for coming, and dragging Cathy along with you."
In reply, Steven continued to look around, as he coolly said, "Sure."
And because Jennifer felt she made an effort, and Steven had not, she discreetly gave Catherine an irritated look, and silently mouthed, "I tried!"
Catherine gave her friend a commiserating smile, and with a hug, said, "I'll talk to you soon Jenny. Goodnight."
And without a look back at Jennifer, Steven escorted Catherine to his car.
As they drove pass Catherine's apartment building on the way to her Dad's, Catherine suddenly felt a pull, a feeling that lured her, and was beckoning her.
And so because of this intense feeling, Catherine asked Steven, if he could stop at her apartment for a moment.
To which Steven apologetically declined, explaining he wasn't feeling well, and he was very tired.
And so as they drove past her address, Catherine felt an aching, and an inexplicable woeful sorrow.
And as she turned her head, Catherine kept her eyes in the direction of her balcony, and because Steven noticed her looking, he weakly offered, "If it is really important, I suppose we could stop..."
And because Catherine didn't really have a good reason to say why she needed to stop, she disappointedly replied, "No it's all right, it is getting late, just take me to Dad's."
As Steven seemed to accept this answer, he sensed there was really another reason for Catherine acting preoccupied with him. And so in wanting to get a little attention for himself, he began coughing.
With concern Catherine noted, "I think we stayed out too late, you need to get some rest."
As Steven wiped his eyes with his handkerchief, he weakly agreed, saying, "What ever you say nurse, guess I am tired."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meantime, Vincent had entered Catherine's balcony, and seeing the darkened apartment, he knew she was not there. He then stepped to the balcony to overlook the city. Watching all the activity, and cars buzzing down the city streets, he new his Catherine was out there somewhere with Steven.
Vincent then sadly looked back at the darkened windows of Catherine's apartment one last time, before he descended over her snow covered wall.
As Vincent solely walked the desolate back alleys, of the snow covered city, he looked up and thought how beautiful the new falling snowflakes were, and he thought of how the sounds of the city were muffled and dulled, creating an almost deafening silence, because of this insulating heavy new snow that had fallen.
And sadly, it reminded him of the type of snowfall on the night he had came upon Catherine so unexpectedly in the park sitting on the bench. And because of the carolers and a group of boys approaching, he could not stay!
As Vincent's thoughts carried him through the city, he re-entered his world and his chamber.
Wearily he sat down exhausted at his writing table, he lit the candle, and sat watching the flame.
As Vincent thought about Catherine, and all he had lost, he contemplated what to do now.
And Vincent wondered how he would ever again find that resigned contentment he used to have, before he fell in love with Catherine.
And it was then Vincent was startled from his thoughts, as Rebecca appeared at his threshold. And as she came forward, in her hands, she held a Winterfest candle.
And so Rebecca carefully said, "Vincent, this was to be Catherine's. It is the only candle left, all the others have been delivered. I thought maybe you might want to still give it to her, maybe, it would..."
As Rebecca tried to say what was in her heart, she continued, "...maybe if you delivered it to her, it would help Catherine see how sorry you were."
With compassion, Vincent comforted his sweet friend, and said, "Thank you for saving Catherine's candle."
To which Rebecca then hopefully asked, "Do you think you will give it to her?"