Castle of Sand
Part Seven
Castle of Sand
Part Seven
Elliott was as happy to see Catherine as Vincent was not. Seven weeks away from her, had not lessened his devotion any. Had in fact increased it. He virtually gushed over her. Even before her bags were unpacked he was calling her, inviting her to join him to this function, and that function, telling her he had missed her, and had planned so much for her return.
A little disconcerted at his attention Catherine shrugged it off nonetheless. Only she knew that in a few months from now, whether Vincent was willing or not, she would move from her apartment to the house next door to Peter with its easy access to the tunnel community. Which was something she had realised from the moment Peter had mentioned the sale of the house, that it would be the perfect opportunity for Vincent and herself.
With access via the basement to the tunnels, they could have their ‘life’. Both of them could be happy. She could continue working, and he could mind the baby. Catherine smiled at that thought. At first when she had planned this, the baby had not been a part of her dreams, now it seemed that it had never been anything else. Simply she could hardly think passed the time when the child did not exist. Already a fierce possessiveness surrounded her, a mother’s link to her unborn, unlike no other emotion, a cherished bond that existed between the two alone. Every day, Catherine grew to know her son, her happiness knew no bounds.
So she agreed to seeing Elliot, and she agreed to seeing Joe, just as before, just as Vincent had insisted upon. Daniel had gone now, left while she was away, leaving her his regards with Joe, hoping they would meet again sometime, wishing her well. Catherine silently thanked him for his humour at a time when she had needed it most, it had been his unfailing wit that had kept her sane, at the most despairing time in her life. And still she should despair, still there was no Vincent, but Catherine could not despair, for she had his child growing within her, and nothing could rob her of the joy that brought.
As the weeks turned into months, Catherine continued to make her preparations, knowing that although Vincent still stayed away, whether she was Above or Below, she simply could not linger any more from moving out of her apartment, and employed Peter’s help to undertake this.
Saying goodbye to her apartment was one of the hardest things she had had to do. There were so many memories there for her, not least the night, the only night she had shared making love with Vincent, be it ever so short, it stood out in her mind as the beginning of her future. She would not have traded it for the world, even though the event had lost Vincent to her. She would have him back, she knew that, and she could wait. The wait would be worth it in the end.
However, she could not leave without first letting him know. That was only courteous, no less protective. If he should come to her balcony when someone else lived there, it would be dangerous for him, and so for the first time in many months, Catherine wrote him a letter.
Dearest Vincent,
I have to let you know that I am moving. Not far.
I have bought the house next door to Peter, and shall be living there as from Saturday.
You are more than welcome to visit. In fact, it will be less of a risk for you to do so. There is access via the basement of the house to the tunnels.
This is not something I have undertaken lightly, the contract has taken many months.
Six to be exact to complete and exchange.
I know you will miss our window to the world, but the new house has a garden with a high wall, and no overlooking neighbours. It would be perfect for catching the sunshine, ad you are more than welcome to try it out. I hope I shall be seeing you soon,
yours forever, Catherine.
When Vincent read the note, his mind was filled with doubts and questions. Why had she moved? Why had she planned this so many months ago, long before their first separation? Obviously she’d had him in mind. It was easier to the tunnels, no risk for him, the sunshine, yes the sunshine, it was all done for him, that much was obvious, but why now. Why continue with it, now that things between them had changed?
Vincent read the papers, avidly, they told him that the wealthy daughter of the late Charles Chandler was a regular date for the equally wealthy Elliott Burch. Some had even speculated on a wedding announcement soon between the pair. And he was happy for her, wasn’t he? He’d always known that Elliot and Catherine were meant for one another, this was where her destiny lay, this was where her happy life existed. Yet deep down Vincent could not let it rest. Though the papers told him one thing, her note told him the opposite. Though the photographs in the papers showed him Catherine, laughing alongside Elliot Burch, her arm slipped through his, her plans to move house told him something else. None of it made any sense to him. Catherine appeared to be moving on, appeared to have done all he had expected of her, but she still could not let go. Still the fight was on, for him, for her, for the both of them. He almost hoped there would be a wedding announcement soon, then perhaps he could begin to forget, begin to acknowledge that Catherine really was no longer his, and they could both start to forget and get on with their lives.
Yet try as he might to instil this belief into Father, the one whom was once was so against a relationship between himself and Catherine, he could not make the older man see that Catherine and himself did have no future. Everything he explained, Father listened to, but when he had finished Father would adamantly disagree. There seemed to be no way out of the vicious circle, and Vincent could not see the way ahead.
Then one evening every thing came full circle.
Vincent had been reading the papers as usually. It was a kind of bitter sweet torture that he put him through every day, hungry for news of Catherine, eager to know of her plans, when suddenly the news jumped out at him.
BURCH AND CHANDLER TO WED?
The city today awaits the announcement of New York’s most eligible bachelor and his partner, the daughter of the late Charles Chandler, following speculations that Miss Chandler is pregnant. Confronted with the issue, Miss. Chandler denies the pregnancy, but do not the below pictures speak for themselves.
Vincent looked down his heart in his mouth, to two photographs of Catherine. He saw one taken just a few months ago, showing her form, slim and beautiful in a stunning evening gown, Elliot Burch at her side, to another more recent photograph, showing Catherine from a side view, the unmistakable bump, signifying the truth.
Vincent couldn’t find his breath. He’d lost it some way between the words and the photographs, and he gasped, clutching at his heart, as the room span around and around. Catherine pregnant! With Elliot Burch’s child. No!
The tunnels were buzzing with the news, and Father found himself in a predicament. Sending a message to Catherine at once, he hoped that she would soon advise him on how he should act. In the meantime there was Vincent to deal with.
As the subject of his concern wandered in to dinner finally, a hushed silence settled over the tunnel people who had lingered to see if Vincent might make an appearance. Now that he had, they wished they had got away earlier. He was obviously distressed, but it was more than that. They had seen him many times like a coiled spring about to snap, and this was one of those such times. Only hunger had drawn him there, yet when the food was positioned in front of him by a more than jovial William trying to ease the situation, Vincent just stared down at his plate refusing to eat.
What little chatter had begun following William, soon died again, as Vincent scraped back his chair, and made a hasty retreat.
Father looked from one to the other of them, their startled faces hiding nothing. They were fearful for their friend and protector. These last few months hadn’t been easy on him, and those that were especially close to Vincent had carried the loss of Catherine in his life with him.
Nonetheless nothing could have prepared them for this, they had always hoped that Catherine and Vincent would get back together, now their future couldn’t have looked more bleak.
Father looked at them, from face to face, he desperately wanted to tell them, but could not. Vincent was the one who needed to know first and he could only do that with Catherine’s permission, or could he? Did he have to sit by and watch his son suffer when the ability to cheer him lay in his hands. Scraping back his chair also, his meal unfinished, Father hobbled after Vincent as fast as his legs would carry him.
Leaving the dining room, Vincent had no idea where he was heading. He just had to escape. He needed air, fresh air, and tugging on his cloak, he left his chamber, heading for Above. His first thought was to go to Catherine’s apartment his second halted him. Catherine no longer lived there. She had said she was living next door to Peter now, but would he find her there. Wouldn’t she more likely be with Burch? Vincent could not even bring himself to utter the man’s Christian name.
Reaching the park at last, Vincent stood gulping in a lung-full of much needed air. His home had stifled him this evening. The sadness and the sorrow displayed by his friends more than he could bear.
He only had himself to blame. He had set Catherine up on this road, and now he had lost her. Lost her to the one man he despised above all else, yet not for the man he was, but for the woman he had taken.
Vincent had never felt so alone.
His heart tried to rejoice, that Catherine now had everything she had ever dreamed, she would marry, and be a mother, and she had her career, above all she had life above, the sunshine, all the things that below she would have been deprived of. Yet somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind, a voice whispered, yes, but is she happy?
Walking through the shadows of the night, Vincent let his feet take him, wherever they might lead. Now he knew why Catherine’s heart echoed. He was picking up on the child’s heartbeat. That in itself unnerved him. To think he could feel Catherine alongside his own heart was something he had always cherished, but to be reminded daily by the beat of the baby’s heart that she carried another man’s child was more than Vincent could bear.
The tears silently falling, Vincent walked the deserted streets, the areas he knew to be less populated, the areas he found solitude in, but could find no peace. Lost and alone, he stumbled blindly through the near deserted streets and his tears, until he began to notice where his feet had taken him. Stopping and looking up at Elliot Burch’s office building, Vincent felt a sudden rising panic that filled him to the core, and made him gasp for breath. Reaching out to steady himself, he slunk back into the shadows, as doors from vehicles he had only now noticed, started opening and closing, and voices rung out, as the big double doors leading into the building slid aside. Cameras started clicking, flashes flared, and Vincent edged back deeper into the shadows, his heart in his mouth.
“Mr. Burch, Mr. Burch, do you have a statement for us, regarding your relationship with Catherine Chandler?” “Are you going to marry?” “When is the baby due?” “Are you hoping for a son to carry on the Burch dream?” Elliot looked decidedly uncomfortable, he waved their questions aside, knowing he must say something, if only to get them off his back. They had hounded him all day. “I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong guy.” He told them, “Catherine Chandler and I are just good friends nothing more.”
“Are you saying you’re not the baby’s father Sir?”
“What do you think?” Elliot asked.
“You’ve been seen together so often.”
“As I said Catherine and I are just good friends. Why don’t you speak to the lady herself.”
“She’s here?”
Elliot nodded, “Inside.”
“Will she make a statement?”
“If she will, you’ll know more than I do.” Elliot signalled to his men to bring his car up front, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment.”
“Are you going without Miss. Chandler Sir?”
“Contrary to popular opinion we aren’t joined at the hip.”
“Not tonight no” Someone quipped. “Been there done that though, eh Mr. Burch.” The reporter winked, and then blinked as one of Elliot’s body guards gave him a black eye. The flashes flared again, this was news, more exciting than before and it gave the reporters something more to work with.
The doors behind them were opening again however, and Elliot leaned back, extending his arm, as Catherine came through them, looking nervous and irritable, “Why don’t you all mind you’re own damn business!” She cried at them as the cameras started flashing again, “My life is not up for debate!”
“Touchy, touchy, Miss Chandler, are we to assume that your condition has made you irritable, or is it that you and Mr. Burch had hoped to keep the news to yourselves a while longer?”
Catherine glared at the bunch of reporters, eager to tell them to go to hell, only what would that accomplish. Elliot was clearly disturbed though, and this was doing little for his image, Catherine was well aware of that. Though it would heap speculation on her, she nonetheless, set him free. “Mr. Burch is not the father of my child.” She told them, as Elliot took her aside to whisper, ”I told them that Cathy they didn’t believe me, perhaps you should have said nothing. I could have handled them, now they will hound you relentlessly. There will not be a moments peace, and there will be nowhere you can go where they will not follow.”
“Don’t worry about me Elliot, I do know of somewhere.”
“Well I wish you’d tell me your secret Cathy, I often need an escape like that.”
The reporters were crowding in again, shoving for the best picture of Elliot whispering into Catherine’s ear, “You make a handsome couple, are you certain the baby isn’t yours Mr. Burch?”
“Positive. Miss Chandler and I are just good friends.”
Immediately as his words gained impact, the reporters dismissed Elliot, bearing down now upon Catherine, as Elliot’s body-guards ushered her to a waiting limousine, parked behind Elliot’s own. “So who’s the lucky guy?” “Does he know yet?” “Is it Joe Maxwell?” Catherine hurried to the car, slipping into the passenger seat, cradling her unborn baby with her hands held to her stomach in a protective manner that was not lost to the reporters. Thrilled at getting some of the best shots for their editors, each competed with the other, and Elliot watched with sadness.
All day he had bombarded Catherine with those very same questions. Who was the father? Knowing for a fact it wasn’t him. She’d never let him near her. And he felt pretty sure it wasn’t either Joe, or that Daniel fellow she had once been seeing. He’d heard a rumour of course, well not so much a rumour. Something Joe Maxwell had delighted in telling him, months ago, okay the guy was a little worse for drink at the time, but Elliot couldn’t help thinking that Joe had told him just for the spite of it. “Cathy is using you Burch, just as she used me, and Dan. There’s this guy see, someone she is in love with, he doesn’t want her, and she is trying to make him jealous by dating us. You’ll see Burch, you are just another pawn in her game of love.” Elliot hadn’t believed Maxwell then. He believed him now.
All Vincent became aware of as he listened in the shadows was the delight at hearing it wasn’t Elliot’s child. Its parentage still bothered him but he felt so much better that it wasn’t Elliot Burch. The relief flooded through him, until suddenly a thought rose its ugly head. What if the father had been someone in Florida, where Catherine had spent seven weeks on a case. What if, Catherine was never seeing the child’s father again, what if she didn’t know where to find him?
As all Catherine’s happy life crumbled around him, Vincent didn’t know which was worse. The thought of Catherine raising a child alone with all the problems that would bring her, or the thought of Catherine married to Elliot Burch..
Vincent groaned, either way, he’d lost her. For even if they were to re-unite now, the child would be a constant reminder to the mistake he had made in forcing her away. Vincent’s body literally shook, watching as Catherine and Elliot were each driven away in opposite directions, and the reporters got into their vehicles and followed behind the limousine that was carrying Catherine, in the hope of seeing it take her to the home of the child’s father.
Returning to the tunnels in the early hours, Vincent felt both mentally and physically tired. He had also aged ten years in the time he had been away, having undertaken, he felt, the most harrowing experience of his life.
Passing Father’s chamber, he was surprised to see a light flickered there, and entered cautiously, “Father are you well?”
Immediately Jacob Wells, looked up, he’d been dozing, trying to stay awake, waiting up for his son’s return.
“Arh Vincent, there you are.”
“Were you waiting up for me Father?”
“Yes Vincent sit down will you. I have something I must tell you. Have you been Above?”
“Yes Father. Father?”
“Yes Vincent?”
“I saw Elliot and Catherine together, there were reporters everywhere. Don’t worry they didn’t know I was there, I’d have given them a better story though, perhaps taken the heat off of Catherine.” He tried to make light of the situation, tried to smile, but it was forced, his sadness shone through.
“And?” Father questioned.
“I overheard Elliot tell the reporters that the child isn’t his, and then later Catherine confirmed this. I don’t know whether to feel relieved or not. If the child isn’t Elliot’s then Catherine may be left to bring up a child alone, in time her resources will burn out, she will be left to juggle motherhood with a career. We’ve seen it a hundred times Father, someone always loses out.”
“Are you suggesting anything Vincent?”
Vincent’s blue eyes blazed with something, fear, guilt, anger, Father wasn’t sure. “I’m suggesting nothing. Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps the child’s father does know, perhaps Catherine and he plan a life together.”
“That’s a lot of perhaps Vincent.”
Vincent was quiet. Yes it was, but until he knew otherwise it was all he could surmise.
“Vincent?”
“Yes Father?”
“Should Catherine find herself alone in this, and need someone, how would you feel about her being down here and bringing the child down here?”
“I don’t know. It would be a constant reminder. I don’t know if I could bear that.”
“A constant reminder, of what?”
“Of the fact that I forced this upon her. Be that the child were mine, I would want nothing more than to have Catherine live down here with us, but another man’s child?” Vincent shook his head, “Father I don’t know if I could bear it.”
“Vincent?”
Something in the way he said it, made Vincent look up instantly, Father was preparing himself to say something important, he was sure.
“Wasn’t there something you had waited up to tell me Father.” Vincent hoped he could direct his father’s musings away from whatever he was about to suggest, not knowing if he wanted to hear it, whatever it was.
“Yes, that’s what I was leading up to. There is something you should know. Forgive me Vincent. I was told in confidence, and asked to keep the secret. I didn’t like withholding it from you, but I’d made a promise.”
Nervously Vincent waited, “Has this something to do with the father of Catherine’s child, do you know who it is?”
“Yes.”
Vincent drew in a startled breath, his hand held to his heart. He didn’t want to hear this. An unknown man was easier to bear than a name. A name that would go around and around in his head until it sent him mad.
Yet he continued to stare at Father. Immobile, waiting, wanting only to run, but his legs seemed unable to function for their purpose.
“Yes Vincent I do know. I don’t even know if I should be telling you now. You see I made Catherine a promise.”
“Catherine told you!”
“Yes.”
“How long have you known?”
“Ever since Catherine returned from Florida.”
“Yes I know.”
“How could you keep such a secret. From me!”
“I didn’t want to do. As I said I promised.”
“Doctor confidentiality doesn’t come into this Father. We are talking about the woman I love. I had a right to know.”
“Yes you did.”
Vincent’s mouth dropped open. “You’re agreeing with me?”
“Vincent... The child is yours.” Vincent thought he had misheard. He shuddered, his breath coming hard and fast. Terrified for him Father left his bed to hug his son tightly, trying to stop the shaking., as Vincent’s blue eyes looked up at him his eyes full of questions, and something else. Father smiled, yes it was there. Love, definitely love, pride, disbelief, a whole lot of disbelief.
“Its true Vincent. Apparently the night you went to her, you made love to her.”
“Only for a moment, when I thought I was hurting her I stopped.”
“A moment is all it takes Vincent.”
“Yes but....”
“There are no buts Vincent. Catherine is expecting your child. Now what I want to know is, what you are going to do about it?”
Vincent gasped! “I must go to her, at once.”
“It’s almost dawn Vincent, even at her new home that would be most unwise.”
“I cannot wait another day. Father I must see her!”
As he hugged his son tightly, Father became aware of another presence at the chamber entrance, and looking up he was startled, surprised, happy and extremely thankful to see Catherine standing there.
“I got your message Father. I came as quickly as I could. I take it you’ve told him?”
Sharply Vincent looked up, his eyes a blaze of tears, as Catherine came down the steps towards him.
Father coughed, “Its lovely to see you my dear, and may I say that you look radiant?”
“Thank you Father, all compliments regarding my size are gratefully received.” Catherine laughed, watching Vincent’’s movements avidly. He hadn’t moved. He just stared at her, almost as if he were trying to place where he had seen her before. Catherine smiled at him warmly, holding out her hand, “can we go to your chamber Vincent, I think we need to talk?”
Taking her hand without question Vincent rose, following meekly. ‘Just like a lamb,’ Father chuckled, watching him go. ‘Just like a lamb.’ He settled himself back down for the night, feeling so much better and having a good feeling about things. Everything will be well now, he told himself, they’ll patch things up, there will be a happy ever after for them. He smiled happily, and you Jacob Wells, he heard his heart echo, will be a grandfather!
Inside his chamber, Vincent and Catherine faced one another, she smiling encouragingly, as Vincent placed a hand over the bump that signified his child’s growth, “Mine?” He asked her.
Catherine nodded, her eyes never leaving his face, a face filled with wonder and delight.
“Your son,” Catherine informed him happily.
“My son,” Vincent echoed, his eyes looking up to gaze into hers, “Oh Catherine.” He drew her into his arms, “I love you so much.”
“Well you had better do. I haven’t just handed in my notice and moved house for nothing you know. And I expect you to make an honest woman of me. You know how the gossip columns will behave if I don’t get a ring on this finger.”
Vincent gasped, “You saw me? Tonight when the reporters were there, you saw me?”
“No, not saw you. I felt you. Isn’t that strange. For the first time Vincent, I actually felt your presence. It must be having a part of you inside me that made the connection when you were near. I can feel it now. Your son identifies his daddy is close.”
Vincent gasped. Oh the words! Words he never dreamed to hear. Ever!
“Catherine, I don’t know what to say? I never dreamed, nor less hoped that I would ever have a child of my own.”
“Then let me tell you what to say shall I?” Catherine laughed, she felt so happy almost as if she were on something. Her feelings were that exhilarating.
Vincent nodded.
“Repeat after me.” Catherine told him, “I Vincent Wells.”
“I Vincent Wells....” Vincent repeated, wondering what she was going to say next.
“Take thee, Catherine Chandler.” Catherine went on.
Vincent hesitated.
“Go on its easy.” Catherine encouraged him.
“I know what you are driving at.” Vincent smiled, and Catherine’s heart somersaulted. It had been a long time since he had smiled at her like that.
“Catherine, will you marry me?”
Oooh, Catherine felt her knees give way, “Oh yes!” She flung her arms around his neck, “Oh Vincent, yes, yes I will, I will!” She smiled up at him, her joy overflowing, his face just inches from hers, “Vincent?”
“Yes, my Catherine.”
“Now will you kiss me?”
Yes, my Catherine.
And as the grains of love fell into place,
And the sands of time stood still,
Castles in the air were built
And dreams were dreamed until...
…the happy life for which they’d reached,
Became a dream no more,
And the sands of time did bind their love
Like castles on the shore.
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