| Having It All
Chapter 4- As time went on Catherine and Vincent settled into a happy life in their brownstone. Catherine changed jobs shortly after Vincent moved in. She had decided even before they became lovers that coming out of investigations and moving into the Crime Victims Unit was the best thing for both of them. She would not be working directly with Joe any longer but she knew that it was safer. Vincent was extremely happy with the way his life had turned out. He was living above the tunnels with the woman of his dreams. The only thing that grieved both him and Catherine was that Father still refused to come around in his opinions. Vincent went below daily as he had promised to take care of his duties. But neither he or Father had spoken a word to each other since the night Catherine had run from Father�s chamber in tears. The tunnel patriarch had expected the tunnel residents to be angry about the discord between him and Vincent. And he thought that they would blame it on Catherine but he had soon discovered after Vincent moved to the brownstone that they in fact laid all the blame squarely on his shoulders. They were very angry with him for the way he had treated Catherine. In fact, after Vincent left the tunnels very few of the tunnel residents were even speaking to him. They were saddened that the only time that Vincent came below was to work in the lower tunnels or teach his classes and that Catherine did not come below at all. One afternoon while he was reading a book to some of his younger students little Cathy stood and moved over to his side. He looked up from the book and looked at the little girl who was his Catherine�s namesake. �Are you all right? She shook her head as her tears started to fall. Vincent closed the book and pulled her onto his lap. He rocked her tenderly as she cried. �Shh now tell me what�s wrong.� One of the other children, Jeremy spoke up. �Are you and Catherine mad at us?� Vincent looked at the young boy then moved back and looked at the tear-stained face of the little girl in his arms. �Is that what you all think?� All the children bobbed their heads. Vincent sighed and shook his head. �Neither Catherine or I are angry at any of you.� Little Cathy sat up and looked up at him. �Then why don�t you come to see us anymore?� Vincent was not sure how to explain everything to them so he decided to approach it in a different way. �Why do you think we don�t come below much?� Rachel, who was about little Cathy�s age stood. �My mommy told me that you and Catherine don�t come to the tunnels because Father doesn�t want you together.� Vincent smiled. �Your mother always tells you the truth, doesn�t she?� Rachel nodded. �Yes, she said that telling the truth is better than lying.� Vincent looked at all the children. �Rachel�s mother is telling the truth, Father is upset that I have a new life with Catherine, but I don�t want any of you to worry we will settle everything very soon.� Little Cathy smiled. �Then you will be coming to visit more?� Vincent hugged her tightly. �Yes, we will be coming to visit more. At that moment Jamie entered the chamber with Mary. �Okay everyone it�s time for you to take your naps.� All the children moaned as they rose. Vincent chuckled and shook his head. �Go on do as Mary tells you.� The older woman smiled. �Jamie is going to make sure you all get to your chambers.� Jamie moved aside and let them pass. �Come on let�s go.� As she started to turn to the chamber entrance she looked at Vincent again. �Tell Catherine I will come visit her soon.� Vincent stood. �She will love that.� Jamie turned and followed the children from the chamber. When they were gone Vincent sat down on his bed again. �I had no idea that mine and Catherine�s absence was affecting the children as much as it is.� Mary walked over and sat down beside him. �They love you both as much as the rest of us and they miss you.� Vincent looked up at her again. �We would come visit but after what Father said to Catherine the last time we were here we just can�t.� Mary took his hand. �We all know that Vincent and we aren�t angry with you or Catherine.� Vincent released her hand and stood. �I don�t want everyone angry with Father.� Mary stood and moved up beside him. �We have a right to be upset with him, after all he�s the one whose stubbornness caused this mess.� Vincent looked at her again. �You�re a wonderful woman.� She blushed. �I love you and Catherine both.� Vincent reached out and pulled her gently into his arms. �And we love you.� At that moment there was a message on the pipes. Mary moved back. �What�s wrong?� Vincent listened then shook his head. �I promised some of the men that I would help with some table repairs in the great hall this afternoon.� Mary smiled. �Catherine�s at work?� Vincent nodded. �She is working on a big case that Joe is prosecuting.� Mary smiled. �She loves her new position.� Vincent moved over and picked up his cloak. �Yes she�s very happy preparing the cases for court and trying them instead of investigating.� Mary moved over beside him. �We were all relieved that she changed jobs.� Vincent looked at her again. �How did Father react?� Mary smiled. �He was happy about it even though he would never admit it to any of us.� Another message came over the pipes at that moment. Vincent chuckled. �I should be going or they will continue to bother everyone with those messages.� Mary giggled. �Yes and we don�t need that.� She kissed his cheek then they both left the chamber heading in different directions. Later that night Vincent was sitting on the sofa in the library of the brownstone. He looked outside and noticed that it was very dark. Looking at the mantle clock he saw that it was almost 11:45. Marking his page he closed the book and rose and placed it on the table beside his favorite chair, the one that had been in his chamber at his writing table. The table itself was in the corner of his and Catherine�s bedroom. They both used it as a desk now. He used it for writing in his journals and Catherine used it when she brought her work home. NEXT |