| Sweet Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty-Six |
To which William grumpily replied, "I am in the pantry."
And so after finding him, Mary pleasantly said, "Ah, Dear William."
Upon hearing Mary's sweet tone, William suspiciously asked, "All right
Mary...what do you need?"
As Mary brought her hand to her heart, she innocently asked, "William, what
are you implying?"
With a raised brow, William replied, "Come on...I know the drill, when ever
you call me Dear, you usually are about to ask me to do something!"
To which Mary guiltily admitted, "Oh dear me, am I that transparent? Well if
truth be known, tomorrow night is Catherine's Tunnel Bridal shower, now I
don't want to put you out, so I will do the baking. May I have the use of your
kitchen tomorrow? Say around 2? I would like to make some tea cookies for
our refreshment."
As William shook his head, he said, "You are not going to mess up my kitchen!
If there is any baking to be done, I will be doing it! And I ain't gonna make
some puny little tea cookies either! Leave everything to me!"
Meanwhile, Mary smiled to herself, knowing it's not that he was worried about
her messing up his kitchen, but rather, William actually wanted to be the one to
do this for Catherine, and he used a grouchy guise to throw her off the
mark.
So acting like she had fallen for his rouse, she lamented, "All right, if you insist,
we will do it your way! And if I know you, you will come up with something
light and delicious! You may need to know there will be about 12 of us
attending. Is there anything I can do?"
In response, William nodded and gruffly said, "Yes, just stay out of my way
tomorrow while I go to work on the food for Catherine's shindig!"
Kindly, Mary thanked him and said, "What ever you say William."
And then Mary surprised the tunnel chef with a kiss on his cheek, to which
William blushed and asked, "What the heck was that for?"
To which Mary then sweetly replied, "For just being you William...for just being
you."
No sooner had Mary left him, did William get busy scouring through his recipe
books, deciding on the menu for Catherine's Shower. Since Mary wanted
something light, he decided he would serve the ladies, Chicken Salad
Sandwiches, Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs, Cheddar Broccoli Salad, along with
some Popovers, and for dessert, White Cake with Raspberry sauce.
Meanwhile, in another part of the tunnels, after the other ladies completed their
gift projects, they then eagerly joined Mary, to help decorate the Reading Room
Chamber for tomorrow's event.
The youngest girls had fun cutting wedding bells out of some pretty white paper,
to place around the chamber. And Brooke and Olivia were put in charge of the
flowers.
They put the many dried Cornflowers and Baby's Breath Rosa gave them, in
vases all about. Giving the dimly lit chamber a brightened ambiance.
Rebecca, Jamie and Laura helped arrange the seating, so they would be circled
around, and facing Catherine...the guest of honor.
They then unloaded the special candles Rebecca had poured for this occasion,
and set the many beautiful white votive and tapered candles all over the
chamber!
As Mary remarked about the number of candles Rebecca had poured, Rebecca
sighed and said, "Mary, this is such a romantic and happy occasion...one can
never have too many candles!"
Nodding in agreement, Mary then scoped out the chamber, feeling very pleased
the decorating turned out just right, it was very lovely and extremely festive.
She then happily expelled a contented sigh, because so far, things were going
right to plan!
Meanwhile, Catherine and Vincent returned from their day trip in time for the
supper announcement.
As they entered the tunnel main, Catherine told Vincent he should go on ahead
because she just wanted to speak with Pascal for a moment about her Code's
training lessons.
With a nod of compliance, Vincent said he would do so, because he needed to
speak with Jacob informing him of his visit with Narcissa.
He gently embraced her, and told her how much he loved having her with him
on this journey to see Narcissa. He also added, he thought she had done a very
good job climbing some of the cliffs, and crags saying, "It can be quite
harrowing in places."
Hearing compliments such as this, made Catherine feel like she was really
beginning to belong there. Softening her voice, she lovingly told him, "Where
ever you go Vincent I want to go...with you I am not afraid."
She then reached up to place the sweetest of kisses on his cheek, causing
Vincent to wantonly watch her as she parted from him. As she turned one last
time she smiled a smile so lovely, it caused a tugging within his heart, missing
her already.
Vincent entered the Dining Hall, and sat down with Jacob at his table, and
informed his father Narcissa had been notified about the changes that would be
implemented.
Happy to hear this was so, Jacob thanked his son for taking on this task. He
then happily told him that while he was gone, his and Catherine's new bed
chamber with the little kitchenette had been completed, and ready to show his
new bride-to-be.
Vincent thanked his Father and said that right after they supped, he would
indeed show her.
Suddenly a loud and urgent message was being clumsily sent through the pipes!
It was Catherine asking for Vincent's help!
Vincent sprang to his feet, and ran through the tunnels in answer to Catherine's
plea, which said, "Something had happened to Pascal"!
As he entered the Pipe chamber, he found Catherine cradling Pascal in her lap.
He had a head wound and was unconscious. By then several of the other
Tunnel community had arrived. They immediately notified Jacob, and took
Pascal to the hospital chamber where he and Mary were waiting.
After some initial first aid, Pascal began to come around, and asked what had
happened!
Jacob worriedly told him, "We were hoping you could tell us! You have a
gaping wound here on your head, and luckily Catherine had found you before
you had lost too much blood. It looks as if you had either fallen, or were struck
from behind. Do you recall anything Pascal? Anything at all?"
Wincing from the pain, he searchingly said, "No Father...nothing."
Instinctively he reached for the medal he always wore around his neck, and as
he discovered it was missing, he tried to sit up and asked, "Where is my Thor's
Hammer medallion? I must go find it."
In an attempt to calm him, Jacob promised to send a sentry to the pipe chamber
to see if it was lying about.
And then he also told Pascal, not to get any ideas of taking off any time soon!
Reason being, because of the slight concussion he suffered, Jacob told him, he
needed to keep a close eye on him. In fact, he might as well figure on dining
with them this night.
Because Pascal started to argue about getting back to his post, Jacob quickly
assured him the Pipe Chamber would be monitored by a very responsible sentry
in his absence.
It was then, Mary chimed in as well, with the information, William will be
serving his favorites, which was Four Pasta Beef Bake, along with some Chive
Pinwheel Rolls, and Blueberry Pound Cake for dessert!
Finally, as others piped up, and due to a group effort, they were able to talk
Pascal into joining them in the Dining Hall.
As they all settled in to eat, Vincent looked around for his little buddy, and
asked, "Where is Mouse?"
Everyone then began to realize, he had not been around during the Pascal
rescue!
Urgently, Vincent got up and stated, "Father, we better begin searching! Perhaps
something has happened to him as well!"
And just as Jacob agreed, it was then Mouse came running into the Hall,
excitedly saying, "Father...Father, I followed a drone, but had to stop!"
Both Jacob and Vincent approached Mouse, to get more details. Mouse calmed
himself and told them he had seen one of Paracelsus's drones near the Pipe
Chamber, and so he followed him as far as he could to Paracelsus's lair. But
stopped, because he didn't want to get captured by all the drones milling about.
It was clear now to everyone, Pascal must have been hit from behind by the
drone Mouse followed!
Expediently, the sentry that was sent to look for Pascal's medallion, came back
saying it was no where to be found.
Given this information, they further deducted the drone must have stolen it,
causing Mouse to concur, because he had seen the drone showing Paracelsus
something shiny on a chain.
To which Mouse added, "And Paracelsus told the big oaf, GOOD JOB!"
The usually calm Pascal, loudly queried, "Why would Paracelsus want my
medallion? My father gave that to me! Father...I really want to get it back!"
Jacob nodded and said, "Of course...I understand your wanting it back Pascal.
However nothing short of a confrontation would have to take place to make that
happen. I don't think Paracelsus will give it up so easily...this time."
Jacob's comment caused many to ponder, but it was Vincent who asked, "What
do you mean this time Father?"
To which Jacob replied, "Because at one time...it was his...when he was known
as John Pater. He had lost it to Pascal's father, Blaise as a wager. In the early
days, we held competitions for sport. Well, John was the developer of our
communication system, and was humiliated when Blaise outsmarted him.
Blaise's hearing was so keen, that he could detect pings John could not! As a
result, an arrogant John lost the cherished medallion he used at a bargaining chip
on a bet."
Pascal then asked, "Why would he want it back now...after all these years?"
Jacob scratched his chin, and answered, "That is something I cannot answer
Pascal."
He then added, "Now you must decide how badly you want your medallion
back, and we shall all support you."
Knowing the whole story now, Pascal shook his head, and answered, "I don't
want to jeopardize anyone's safety just for a keepsake Father! I suppose I am
willing to let it go..."
Thoughtfully Jacob said, "All right, Pascal."
To which Vincent expounded, "If we ignore this attack on Pascal, and let it go
without incident Father...who will Paracelsus harm next?"
Jacob angrily argued, "Who's life are we willing to risk? Mouse's, Kanin's,
Ronald's...or yours Vincent? A man who has a young woman expecting to
marry him in a few days? I think not! In this instance, I agree with Pascal! We
will not put anyone in danger for a keepsake! However I do order...we must
close off those tunnels immediately!"
Catherine was able to let go a relief laden sigh, happy Jacob had made this
decree, and looked up at Vincent recognizing that certain look in his eyes. She
knew he was not happy with his Father's decision!
She then hoped, he would calm down enough to realize Jacob was right.
As the details of the event now registered with Pascal, he turned to Catherine
and asked, "So I have you to thank for saving my life Catherine?"
Humbly she replied, "I was just coming to ask you what time you wanted me to
come this evening for my codes lesson."
Mary anxiously added, "Yes Pascal, what happened was this! We were all
gathered here, when we heard Catherine's message coming through the pipes,
saying she needed help in the Pipe chamber because you had been hurt!"
A slow smile came to Pascal as he told Catherine, "About that lesson Catherine,
it seems you don't need it. I pass you with flying colors."
A very proud Vincent looked at his future bride, and Jacob gleefully
commented, "Passed with flying colors Indeed!"
The evening was spent with the tunnel community dispatched doing specific
tasks geared to closing off the tunnels, to insure their security!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, the Family Reunion had broken up, and Jennifer, Ronald, and Mrs.
Aronson were loaded up in the car and leaving the park.
Jennifer sighed and said, "I am stuffed! The Chicken Aunt Doris made was the
best I had ever eaten."
Mrs. Aronson looked at her daughter in an irritated fashion, and angrily said, "I
have news for you little lady, your Aunt Doris didn't make that Chicken...she
bought it! That was Pudgie's Chicken!"
Jennifer noted how Ronald winced, at the hostility Mrs. Aronson spewed, and
so she eased Ronald by explaining, "This is typical behavior Ronny. Aunt Doris
just seems to rub Mom the wrong way, and every time they get together, Mom
finds something to be mad at her younger sister for."
To which Mrs. Aronson clarified, "Younger only by 9 months!"
Upon hearing how close in age they were, Jennifer laughed and asked, "Only 9
months? What were Grandma and Grandpa? A couple of Jack Rabbits?"
Blushing at first, but then Mrs. Aronson announced, "We Morgenstern's are an
amorous bunch! The only reason you have no siblings Jennifer is because my
uterus is tipped, and Daddy's sperm just could not survive the journey!"
Jennifer gasped, and looked at Ronald as she told her Mother, "MOM! I swear
you will say what ever you think of in front of anybody!"
From the back seat, Mrs. Aronson curtly replied, "Ronald isn't just anybody
Jennifer! He is family!"
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-Seven
