After a restless night where she was none the wiser by morning than she had been on going to bed, Catherine decided she had to see Vincent.

Things had changed now, and no matter how much she liked Joe, she did not love him would probably never love him, not in the same way she loved Vincent.

She selected her clothing wisely, though up top it was blistering hot, below ground it would be cooler, though not as cold as it often was. She put on flat pumps and denim jeans and accompanied it with a bottle green hooded sweatshirt with the words New Yorker emblazoned across the front in gold. Satisfied, she slipped her apartment keys into her jeans pocket and left her home, taking the stairs rather than wait for the elevator and after passing through the building’s large swing doors made her way toward the park.

Though she’d looked out across the park from her apartment on many occasions, it felt somewhat alien to her to be striding across the damp grass after not doing so for so many months. Once it had been an every day occurrence and she hadn’t realised just how much she’d missed it. There was a spring in her step as she walked jauntily along and she looked forward to entering the tunnels and seeing all her friends that she had missed terribly. Vincent the most, she longed to see him, wrap her arms around him she and anticipated his reaction when he saw her.

Maybe he might be a little difficult, but once he knew about the baby he couldn’t fail to stop this stupid idea and welcome her home with open arms.

As she reached the storm drain, she made a show of bending to tie her untied laces in order to listen and gaze all around her. When she was certain no one was looking she entered the dim interior of the storm drain and while her eyes adjusted to the light walked forward with arm outstretched to reach for the mechanism that would open the door to the tunnels below. Therefore when her hand touched material and a warm body Catherine stiffened and gasped, blinking rapidly to see who blocked her entry, a little relieved and perturbed to find it was Vincent, standing much the same as he had weeks ago, like he had never left at all. His arms were folded and he stood gruffly barring her entry.

“Vincent!” Catherine cooed, “How good it is to see you.” She decided to ignore the way he was standing, and the disturbing look in his eyes. She didn’t like that one bit.

“Catherine…” he acknowledged curtly.

“Can I come in? There’s something I have to tell you!” Catherine cried joyfully, sure that when he knew he’d be different entirely.

“I have no wish to hear what you have to say…”

“Oh but Vincent, you don’t understand…!” He held up a hand to silence her, and as if she hadn’t spoken went on; “I know all about it Catherine. I know you are with child.” Catherine felt as though someone had thrown a bucket of icy water over her. “You know…but how?”

“Doesn’t matter how. Suffices that I do know, and I think that well and truly decides our fate does it not?”

His voice contained not a trace of tenderness and prevented her from saying another thing. He appeared angry, furious and it frightened her. This was so unlike Vincent. She was carrying his child for God’s sake! Surely he wouldn’t turn aside from her now, not at a time like this, surely not!

“How so?” Catherine felt compelled to ask.

“You ask that?” He laughed derisively. Catherine quaked she didn’t like this side of Vincent one bit.

“Yes, you said it decides our fate, I want to know how?”

Vincent turned away from her reaching for the door mechanism, “Figure it out Catherine! You come here expecting me to be overjoyed to see you, when you’ve… you’ve…” he roared angrily frustrated by what had happened and told her angrily, “Its over Catherine…you and I are over…finished…do not come here again…another time I won’t even grant you my presence here. I do not want to see your face ever again!”

Before Catherine had time to recover from his outburst he had flung open the gate stepped through and slammed it shut again. By that time Catherine was reaching for and banging on the closed door screaming his name. On the other side Vincent leaned against the wall and covered his ears, tears fell relentlessly down his cheeks. That she’d had the audacity to believe he’d be happy about the fact she carried another man’s child beat him. Certainly she was not the person he thought her to be. Yet though he reasoned on these things and though he deemed it lucky to have found all this out before he’d married her, none of it made him any happier. He loved her, would always love her and he would die if he had to live without her. He had to admit that things had gone from bad to worse since he sent her away, and he had only himself to blame.

Slowly he walked away from the door, Catherine continued to thump on the other side and maybe she would have tried to gain entry if he hadn’t locked it on his way back. He’d return when she’d gone to unlock it for any other tunnel dwellers returning home that way. In the meantime he’d move out of earshot and try very hard to clamp down on the bond that joined them, so they’d never be connected again.

It was best that way.

In the storm drain Catherine wept. She didn’t really know what had happened. And how had Vincent known she was pregnant? And why did he not care for her any longer because she was?
None of it made any sense.
Vincent loved children, so why was he being so awful about one of his own? Didn’t he believe he was the fa…th…er… Even as she said it she realised the truth. He didn’t. He didn’t believe he’d fathered their child…and he must be thinking then that the child was Joe’s…oh God! Catherine started hammering on the doors even harder, “Vincent, its not what you think! Vincent, I know you’re still there…let me in…let me in, Vincent please!”

She knew he wouldn’t. When Vincent had a bee in his bonnet he was very adamant and impossible to deal with…there was only one thing for it…she’d have to get word to Father, and he would have to act as mediator between them before Vincent would even agree to see her.

Turning on her heel, Catherine brushed away her tears with the backs of her hands and marched out of the storm drain into the sunshine beyond. Striding across the grass moments later, Catherine became more and more indignant with the whole affair…”Damn you Vincent! You didn’t give me a chance to explain…it would serve your right if you never saw me again…damn you! Think what you like, believe of me what you will, I know the truth. And Joe…he’s prepared to take on another man’s child as his own. Yet you! You believe this child is Joe’s and you say that you love me…why then would you not do likewise…huh so much for your undying love…” she panted as she strode across the grass. By the time she reached her apartment building her mind was made up, “I won’t marry Joe, that would be stupid, but I’ll let him take care of me…I need someone after all…someone that cares…and I’ll have this baby…and then…then…” Catherine brushed away hot angry tears unable to think that far ahead, it was too difficult to comprehend a life without Vincent and a life bringing up Vincent’s child alone. “Well if there’s one thing, at least the baby won’t look like Vincent. That sort of thing skips a generation. So I don’t have that to worry about, and that’s a blessing in disguise at the very least. No, I’ll go home, call Joe and ask for his support and nothing else. Of course Daddy will help, and Jen. I have some good friends who will never let me down, not like Vincent! Damn him!”

Yet though she convinced herself of these things they did not make her feel any better. She wanted Vincent. She wanted to be married to Vincent and bringing up their child together. Catherine was extremely distraught and unhappy and without Vincent her future looked bleak.

“Vincent the sentries inform me that some kind of rumpus took place at the park entrance. Who was it do you know?”

“Yes Father, it was Catherine.” Vincent replied as he settled into his favoured armchair inside his father’s chamber.

“Catherine?”

“Yes don’t look so shocked.” Vincent reached for a cookie set on a plate before him, took a bite, brushed the crumbs from his jerkin and looked around for a mug of tea to wash it down with. Seeing the dregs of his father’s mug he picked it up and used that.

“Why were you arguing?”

“Who said we were?”

Father sighed, “Vincent you may say this is none of my business, but I’ve seen you these past few months, and this sending Catherine away has not been good for you. You’ve changed, and if Catherine came to visit with you that’s good, isn’t it? You ought to have been overjoyed to see her?”

“Ordinarily…but on this occasion the news she was bringing I found no pleasure in.”

“Which was?”

“Catherine is pregnant.”

“PREGNANT!”

“Yes Father, don’t look so stunned, it happens.”

“Being cynical doesn’t become you Vincent. And I am shocked that you would argue with a pregnant woman, no matter who she is, but most certainly not with Catherine in that condition. How could you?”

“Catherine wanted to be allowed down here. I presume she expected me to have her back when she is pregnant with another man’s child.”

“Ah, that’s the reason. Then I’m sorry Vincent, you were perfectly at liberty to be angry in the circumstances. Oh dear, that means Catherine will never be a part of your life. But then what of the soul mates?”

“That theory has to pass us, just as it passed others. Obviously the world is not yet ready to acknowledge the presence of one such as me. And don’t even go expecting that someone else will come along. If it’s not Catherine, I want no one. She seemed so right for me, Father. Why did it have to go so wrong?”

“I know you don’t want to hear this Vincent, but I did tell you at the onset of this ridiculous idea of yours, that you were leaving yourself wide open to all sorts of grievous things. That no one suspected Catherine becoming pregnant in the grand theme of things was an oversight we will all rue forever, but mainly you Vincent, and my heart goes out to you and how you must be feeling right now.”

“I was stupid. You can say so. But had I of had that time over again, even in hindsight I wouldn’t have done it any different. These things had to happen, Father. I’m more angry with Catherine, she should have been more careful.”

“Yes that goes without saying. So she wanted to see you, did she intend to return to stay here? I have to say that seems a little unusual. If she loved Joe enough to sleep with him, why does she want to be here with her child and not with him?”

“You should know, Father. When a woman is pregnant her hormones are all over the place, she is seldom thinking clearly. Perhaps Catherine feels safer with us, though she has no one to be afraid of in her world. I’m certain her father will be delighted about the child, once the shock has worn off. He’ll support her. What grieves me is that she thought I’d be happy for her. I cannot believe that she would flaunt her pregnancy like that, to me, of all people. What did she hope to achieve?”

“I told you so, perhaps?”

“No, Catherine wouldn’t do that.”

“In your own words Vincent, pregnant women do the strangest of things.”

“But still…”

“Well I’m sorry Vincent, about the whole affair. I trust you won’t do anything stupid?”

“Such as killing myself? I thought of that. But it’s not the answer is it?”

Gravely, Father shook his head.

“I just have to learn to accept it. Catherine is no longer a part of my life and after all we shared mere friendship is not an option. It’s best that I never see her again. It’s going to take a long time, Father, and I apologise in advance if I appear to be a bear with a sore head.”

“In the circumstances Vincent, you can be excused. Would you like me to send word that Catherine is not to be allowed down here?”

“I don’t know. I can’t go that far, there are others that love her.”

“Yes, but they’d understand and be loyal to your feelings Vincent. You come first after all.”

“Then do as you see fit.”

Vincent rose from his seat. He looked older than his thirty odd years. He appeared old, haggard, lost and alone. His future stretched endlessly before him, a lonely future with nothing to savour or look forward to. His dreams had diminished when he’d first sent Catherine away, now they disappeared altogether.

Father watched him go, there was nothing he could add to make the passage of time any more bearable for his son, but he wished, oh how he wished that with one click of his fingers he could wipe away everything that had happened. For now he doubted that he would ever see his son smile again.

The weeks went by. Catherine grew bigger and unhappier every day. Looking at her refection in the mirror each morning, she hated the image she saw there.
Nothing fit. All her clothes adorned only hangers in her wardrobe. She had to go out and buy some proper maternity clothes, and that grated on her nerves even more.
Joe though, bless him, adored her. Lovingly he would lay his hands on her belly and at times even kiss it. Catherine knew she would go a long way before she found a man as good as Joe. But she didn’t love him, not in the way she loved Vincent. With Vincent she was connected. It went deep, a tangible thread that was unbreakable, no matter how much she tried to put thoughts of him behind her.

The nights were the worst. When she fell into bed tired and depressed and thought of the tunnels deep beneath the city and the warmth and bliss of being wrapped in Vincent’s arms. She missed him unbearably and she hated him too for what he was putting her through. Feeling alone and desolate and the pregnancy thus took its toll, and Catherine soon began to feel very unwell.

Charles noticed, was naturally concerned and asked repeatedly what he could do to help. His daughter didn’t have to tell him whose child she carried her misery was enough to inform him.

Speaking to Peter one day he spoke of his concern, “I have to see Vincent, Peter. This isn’t right. She should be down there with him. Its his baby after all.”

Peter was startled, “Vincent’s child? Are you sure?” He’d heard differently from the man himself.

“She hasn’t said so, but I can tell. I think she’d know I’d interfere if she told me the child is Vincent’s.”

“Mm, well she’d be right there. But Charles, you have to be sure about this. She’s still with Joe isn’t she?”

“Yes, he’s very supportive of the situation.”

“Then that should tell you everything for it takes a very special kind of man to take on another man’s child.”

“Joe is that kind of man. And he loves Catherine very much.”

“I don’t know Charles. Unless we know for sure that Joe isn’t the father…or rather that Vincent is, then we shouldn’t interfere. Maybe you could ask Joe, if Cathy won’t tell you.”

“I couldn’t do that.”

“No, I understand how difficult that would be. But really Charles, we have to keep out of this. Why hasn’t Catherine been to see Vincent?”

“I believe she tried, she is very evasive about the whole thing. I don’t know what she went to tell him, that he wasn’t very nice to her was all I could glean.”

“That should tell you everything. I can’t imagine Vincent sending her away, if she told him the child was his, no matter how her felt about the relationship with Joe. If you ask me, he ought not have allowed her to pursue that in the first place. Catherine is a very beautiful young woman, there are always going to be other men attracted to her. She may even feel something for them, the problem is not that she does, but rather that Vincent can feel that she does. He has to remember that there are times when all of us find ourselves attracted to other people but that doesn’t necessarily mean we want to actively pursue a relationship with them.”

“I’ve never thought of it like that before. Of course with Vincent feeling everything Catherine feels, he would assume she wanted a relationship with Joe. It could be very difficult all through her life. Vincent might well become possessive.”

“I believe he has a tendency to be that way as it is. We have to remember how it is for him. There will always be people attracted to Cathy unfortunately it won’t be the same for him. There is always going to be that bit of resentment there.”

“Perhaps you’re right, Peter. And perhaps I shouldn’t interfere, but I’m worried about her. Joe is attentive and I know he’d jump at the chance to be closer to her, but she won’t entertain it. His support is all she will take from him.”

Peter’s eyebrows rose, “Well that tells me something. Has he never spent the night?”

“If you’re asking has he slept with her, well then, I really believe he never has. That’s one of the reasons I’m so sure this baby is Vincent’s. There’s been no one else.”

“No one else as in…”

“Having a relationship with Catherine. She went straight from Vincent to Joe. She sees Joe almost every day, but I know for a fact he never stays the night. I also know that when he attempts to kiss her, whether she knows I can see or not, she very discreetly turns her head to avoid him. I wish…you know what I wish…”

“What?”

“As much as I admire Joe, would like no other man from above to be my son in law, I wish Catherine would not keep him hanging on like she is. I wish she would just tell him to get lost…its almost pitiful to watch him hope and dream and make plans, but even a fool can see that the relationship will never be more than friendship.”

“We need to speak to Vincent.”

Charles was taken aback, “But you just said…”

“I know what I said, but that’s what Catherine needs. Vincent has been there for her for so long, and in whatever capacity he can offer her now she needs him. Its as simple as that.”

“When then?”

“There’s no time like the present. Come on, we can use the secret passageway in the basement.”

Charles checked his watch, he did have meetings scheduled, but this was more important. “Just let me use the phone and rearrange some appointments, and I’ll be right behind you.”

“Okay meet me in the basement, I have a few supplies to take down there as it happens, I’ll go get them sorted.”

The two men parted company briefly, Charles to make his calls, Peter to collect together some medical supplies he had obtained for Father. When the two met up again ready to go, they entered the tunnels and walked along in silence.

Sentries announced their arrival and Father deep in concentration of a game of chess with one of the children, had to be prompted three times by the child before he heard the call.

“Charles Chandler and Peter are coming down.” Father told the child, “Where’s Vincent?”

“I’m here Father. I heard the announcement too. I can understand Peter being here. Its what Charles wants that concerns me.”

“Perhaps it’s a social visit?” Father suggested hopefully. Both knew that wasn’t the case, and as Vincent settled into his armchair to await their visitors, Father noticed the grim look that set about his son’s mouth. Whatever Charles had come for, it looked very much like Vincent would ensure that he went away without it.

Greetings were made all round as Peter and Charles stepped into the chamber. Usual pleasantries exchanged between them then as things do silence enveloped the small group and Charles and Vincent grew agitated, each expecting the other to say something. Finally Peter cleared his throat, “I have something to say.” He aimed the statement at Vincent, who looked up surprised. “You Peter?” Vincent looked from Peter to Charles in turn.

“Yes me. Because I can see that the moment Charles starts to tell you his concerns you are going to leap down his throat. You’ve already made up your mind whatever Charles has come down here to impart you don’t want to hear it. Is that true or is that true?”

A look of anger crossed Vincent’s face, “Whatever Catherine has done, is doing, expects to do or doesn’t expect to do, is of no concern of mine! And I have no wish to hear anything you have to say on the matter!”

“Not even when she’s carrying your baby!” Charles flared before Vincent had time to cover his ears.

With his hands half way to his ears Vincent faltered, “My baby?”

“Yes yours! Who the hell do you think made her pregnant, Joe?”

“Actually yes. What proof do you have that the child is mine?” Vincent’s heart raced. He had never even contemplated the chance of it.

Now Charles balked, he had no proof, but he knew the child wasn’t Joe’s, he was ninety nine percent sure of that. His silence replied for him and Vincent’s hopes fell. “You have none.” His voice was flat expressionless. It pained Father to watch the agony pass over his son’s face. For a moment there he had seen such hope in Vincent’s beautiful blue eyes.

“It’s not what I know. Its what I see, what I feel and I know the child isn’t Joe’s.”

“Then that’s contradictory to what I know.” Vincent sighed heavily, and Father took up the narrative, “Vincent overheard Catherine speaking to Joe about the baby. Joe said the child was his.”

Charles and Peter gasped but Vincent cried, “No, he insinuated the child was his.”

“But you said yesterday…”

“I know what I said, but that was because I was so certain of the facts…” Vincent felt his heart lift again, was there the slightest chance the child was his?

“All I know is that Catherine has never had any kind of intimate relationship with Joe…at least she hasn’t since she fell pregnant…if ever she did before…and she keeps him at arms length. He wants to be a part of her life, he talks all the time about the baby, but Catherine…she…well you can see it in her eyes that he irritates her…even though she welcomes his support.”

“If he was the father and the act of conception had been a mistake that she regrets that would bring about such a reaction to Joe now.” Father told them.

“Yes, you’re right and I’ve thought of that.” Charles replied, “But it doesn’t weigh up. My daughter isn’t one to rub salt in another’s wounds yet even to Joe’s face she talks about Vincent all the time. That isn’t like Catherine, she isn’t callous, if Joe were the baby’s father, she wouldn’t speak about another man all the time, that would be hurtful.”

“I was horrible to her.” Vincent mumbled and all three men turned to look at him.

“As I understand.” Charles told him, “and it hurt Catherine deeply. Why do you think that was? She came to see you didn’t she, to tell you about the baby?”

“Yes.”

“And did you let her speak?”

“No, I’d already overheard the conversation she had with Joe. I wasn’t prepared to hear anything she had to say.”

“And so she never told you. I can understand that. If you were ready to assume the worst, why should she enlighten you to the truth? Far better for you to suffer as you were making her suffer, and…while we are on the subject… you’ve made her suffer since you set her on this foolhardy path to begin with!”

“If the child is mine, she should be here.”

“Yes she should!” Charles reiterated forcefully.

“But what if the child isn’t mine?”

“And what if it is?” Father asked. “Vincent, you owe it to Catherine to let her speak, only she can enlighten us all to what is so. How is she by the way?” He turned the question to Charles.

“Emotional, weary, doesn’t eat enough, depressed, is that enough to go on?”

Vincent felt terrible, he’d started all of this it was time to end it. “I’ll go see her.”

“She’s not at the apartment. Hasn’t been there in weeks. She’s at my house. That’s why I know so much about her relationship with Joe.”

“Oh. Then can you have her come down here? Or meet me in the park?”

Charles shook his head, “And admit I’ve been to see you? No way!” They all laughed.

“Then what can we do? I can’t come to your home it’s too exposed.”

“I have an idea.” Father responded, “We can have one of the girls invite Catherine down. Whether she’ll come or not remains to be seen, but it’s worth a try.”

Everyone nodded and responded favourably.

“Then that’s what we shall do. Just a minute, I’ll call Jamie.” He went to reach for his cane to tap out a message when Vincent stilled his hand. “No, I have another idea. Peter had to come here with the supplies, so there is absolutely no reason why I should not have given him a note to give to Catherine. I think its best the invite comes from me.”

“Yes Vincent, your right. Peter?” Father looked toward his old time friend.

“Yes, I can do that. I’ll take it straight round there after leaving here. Is she home Charles?”

“She was when I left. She hardly goes anywhere these days. Mooches around the house agitated most of the time, not knowing what to do with her time. That’s why I think Joe’s visits are a welcome distraction, but she soon tires of him being there.”

“She needs me.” Vincent stated flatly.

“Can you feel that?” Charles asked.

Vincent shook his head. “I have been unable to feel anything since Catherine fell pregnant, it’s as though our connection has been severed. Look I’ll go to my chamber and write her a note. This is going to take some thinking out.” Vincent rose and the three watched him go in silence. All hoped this plan would work. All felt that it wouldn’t.

To be continued in chapter four.