| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Thirteen |
Peter looked at his watch, and then said, "Well I better go, I have to make
rounds yet."
Jacob argued, "You work too hard Peter! It seems the interns have it easy these
days. I recall the endless shifts we would pull, like a league of the walking dead!
However we did it, because it was all a part of becoming a doctor, a GOOD
dedicated Doctor!"
Peter arguably offered, "The interns work just as hard today Jacob, its just I
have a few patients who do not feel confident in their care unless I am the one
to check on them. But hey, you needn't worry about me...I'm used to the
routine by now."
He then looked, around the chamber, and said, "Well, where is Jenny, I wonder
if she is ready to go, if so, I can see her safely home since it is on my way."
Catherine smiled as she relayed, "She said good-bye a little while ago. Ronald
escorted her back above."
Peter and Jacob both commented this was an interesting development, and were
happy to hear Ronald was finally reaching out, after all of these years of
grieving. And then Jacob added, he had a hunch something was brewing
between those two, and he could think of no finer girl than Jennifer to pair
Ronald with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Jennifer and Ronald settled in on the couch to watch the movie
Ronald ultimately chose from Jennifer's collection, called, "Dances with
Wolves".
As the beautifully haunting music played, they critiqued and enjoyed the epic
length movie together, easing further into a more comfortable relationship with
each other.
As a queasy portion of the movie came on, showing some leg wounds, Jennifer
decided
this would be the perfect moment to pop them some Popcorn!
As Ronald smiled at her tenderheartedness, he assured her he would tell her
when the scene was over, and it was safe to come back in.
After receiving an "All-clear", Jennifer re-entered the living room, with a couple
of Beers and a big bowl of popcorn to share.
As she excitedly smiled at this gorgeous man waiting for her on her couch, out
of the corner of her eye, she noticed the light was flashing on her answering
machine.
Asking Ronald to hit pause on the movie, she handed off the beers and popcorn
to him, saying she better check her messages.
One of the messages was from her Mom, reminding her about the Family
Reunion on Sunday, and the other message, was from an attorney at the D.A.'s
office.
The attorney left instructions for Jennifer, and Catherine to come into the office
next Tuesday, to go over some facts for the case. After hearing this message,
Jennifer confessed to Ronald, she will be so glad to get this whole deal over
with, and knew Catherine will be too!
As she settled back in beside Ronald they then enjoyed the rest of the movie.
After the movie ended, they then talked about its significance, and Ronald said it
was one of the most authentic feeling depictions he had ever seen. Both feeling
overcome with emotion from the movies ending, knowing the end of an era
was imminent, and the hopelessness of a people was implied.
Feeling closer for having shared this film, they stayed in their embrace long after
the movie ended, just talking and enjoying being together.
As it was getting late, they then firmed up plans for the Friday night celebration
in honor of Catherine and Vincent, and with a sweet kiss, Ronald then said
goodnight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, as a pensive Vincent walked Catherine back to her chamber, she
looked up at him, wondering if his visit with Lisa was the cause of his
thoughtfulness.
So gingerly, she asked, "Would I be prying if I asked, how your visit went with
Lisa?"
Stopping, to look down at Catherine, and with a softened assurance, he said,
"No Catherine, you would not be prying. As you suspected, she did tell me
about this new man in her life."
Looking back, she replied, "I see..."
Vincent then offered, "Lisa told me though they had only just met, she feels he
just may be the one she had been searching to share her life with."
Catherine hugged Vincent around his waist, and as she felt his strong arms
surround and lovingly enclose her within, she knew she didn't need Vincent to
say anything more concerning Lisa.
She then froze, as she heard Vincent say, "If I am quiet Catherine, it is only
because I am wondering how to broach the subject of you, and I having
children..."
Catherine increased the strength of her embrace, and as she held her eyes tightly
closed, she stayed silent, hoping Vincent would not force a discussion of this
volatile subject.
Softly he then spoke her name, to which she did not reply, and as he held her
tightly, he could tell she was crying.
As he looked to the Heavens, he wondered how there could be a resolve to this
issue. It was true, he silently had dreams of having a child, but he had never
mentioned this to Catherine, not wanting to give her any false hope.
He continued to wonder, how in all good consciousness, he could willingly
inflict the uncertainties he had himself faced, concerning his origin, on an
innocent unsuspecting child.
As Vincent sat down in the passage, he tenderly brought Catherine onto his lap,
and held her until she could talk about this very sensitive issue.
As Vincent cradled her head, in his huge hand, he looked down at her and
gently said, "Catherine we really must talk about this. Father may have been
right, when he advised us to do so."
Catherine tearfully whispered, "I already know how you feel about our having a
baby together."
With a hovering, trembling breath, Vincent said, "This relationship we share is
a choice both you and I are making for ourselves. You must accept a life shared
with me, has many sacrifices, and you must enter this marriage with the
understanding it has its limits...it must!"
Once again Catherine told Vincent, "All relationships have limits Vincent...but
they are
limits set by the couple themselves."
Softly, Vincent then asked, "Are we foolish then, to go forward with our
wedding, when we both feel so differently about this?"
To which Catherine tearfully replied, "I can live with whatever your decision
may be about having our own child, but Vincent...I can't live without you..."
Sadly, he then added, "You shouldn't have to deny your desires of carrying a
child."
Catherine then commandingly looked at him, and lovingly explained, "Its not my
desires I am talking about...please understand, I just want to give you
everything."
With a tear-filled fullness to his already huskilated voice, he said, "Because of
you, I already have everything."
She then thoughtfully questioned, "After we found your baby pictures, you
came to understand what I already knew...you were, and are so beautiful. And
it seems since then, I have sensed your need of Fatherhood growing stronger.
Am I wrong?"
Knowing she was right, he had felt the pangs of wanting to father a child, but
not wanting to fully admit to this, Vincent replied, "If you could experience the
life of being one so different, perhaps you would better understand my
hesitancy. And though you try, you can not know what it is to live your life as I
have, as one who is unsure about his lineage, and origins...it has been a painful
passage. I must put the life of an innocent child's above my own."
To which Catherine couldn't deny it. She didn't know the pain of growing up as
Vincent had to, and so she simply said, "You are right...I don't know..."
But then with a message of hope, Vincent expressed, "But my want of being a
father...and yours to be a mother, well this dream can still be fulfilled even if we
don't have children of our own."
To which Catherine thoughtfully sighed, "Yes...we both know...there are other
children already borne who need love..."
In reply, Vincent said, "Yes, we know all too well there are many loss
children...children we could parent and love. When it is time, and we are ready,
we will be parents Catherine. I believe this with all my being. Your way with
children must be, and should be shared."
Loving what Vincent said, Catherine smiled as she replied, "I think we will both
be great parents one day."
Both feeling a relief of sorts, this subject had been broached and resolved, they
stayed silent in one another's embrace, until Catherine felt compelled, in finality
to say, "I only want to say, should having a child be our destiny, I know in my
heart, the love we show them, will conquer any hurdle."
Hearing Catherine say this, left Vincent with a sense, and a realization,
sometimes, we cannot control everything. And sometimes we have to rise to the
occasion fate has in store for us. So, he knew for her, he would willingly let the
one who hath steerage of their course...fulfill their destinies, and accept what
ever that may be.
Vincent then sensually brushed his face against Catherine's silken hair, and
asked, "Come back to my chamber with me Catherine..."
With a wanton tenderness, Catherine softly whispered she would.
Vincent then stood and reached for her hand, and led her to his chamber. As he
pulled the threshold's curtain closed, on his gargantuan bed, he held her in his
arms.
As they spoke about their future, in a serious and thoughtful way, they spoke of
some light hearted topics too. Such as wedding plans! This change of subjects
did lighten the mood, and leaving the heavy subjects behind them now, it
brought back the excitement of being newly engaged.
After discussing this option or that about how their ceremony will go, they both
laughed as they realized, Mary was in charge, and it may just go the way she
thinks is best after all!
Catherine then looked up at Vincent, and out of the blue, playfully asked, "Tell
me something about you I don't know."
Surprised by Catherine's question, he said, "You of all people, know me more
completely than anyone else on this whole earth. I cannot imagine there is
anything more to add...except..."
That one little word "except" piqued Catherine's curiosity, and an excitement
enveloped her, as she was about to learn something new about this man she
loved with all of her being. So with an urging, she prodded, "Except what...go
on Vincent..."
With a raised brow, Vincent mischievously said, "Except, for a secret passion I,
once in a great while indulge myself with."
Excitedly Catherine asked, "Tell me what it is Vincent!"
Hesitantly, he answered, "Painting..."
Catherine questionably repeated, "Painting...I have never seen any paintings you
have done around here."
In reply, he explained, "That's because I have them in a place..."
She then eagerly asked, "Are they here? Could I see?"
Vincent shyly said he never really showed them to anyone, except for Rebecca.
Catherine then excitedly told him, she would love to see them.
To be continued
Chapter Fourteen
