Chapter 14
He could feel the salt from her tears sting the deepest of the cuts that had not healed over yet. Falling to his knees, Vincent took her in his arms and let her cry out her hurt.
Somewhere in the back of Catherine's mind she had the clarity to be aware that Vincent was reacting to her tears like no other man in her experience had. He didn't offer her platitudes that things weren't as bad as they seem, or tell her that everything would be alright. He wasn't asking or telling her not to cry. He simply held her. Offering her his quiet unyielding strength and support all the while letting her come to terms with what she had seen in her own way.
It took a while for her tears to subside, but Vincent didn't rush her in anyway. When she finally lifted her tear-streaked face he simply reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a napkin.
As Vincent carefully dried her cheeks, he told her, "Your injuries look bad now because they are still healing, but soon they will fade to thin pink lines that will hardly be noticeable Catherine."
She tried to give him a smile as she said, "That might be true here in your candle-lit world, but where I'm from the sunshine and florescent light bulbs will highlight every line."
Not knowing what to say to that, other than to plead with her to stay Below, Vincent instead decided to play it safe and offer to make some tea to go with their dinner.
Catherine said she would like that and began to unpack the food while he made the tea.
William's food was as delicious and plentiful as always. Both of them were more than full long before the food was gone. They packed the left overs in the basket as Vincent offered her a choice of after dinner activities. In one hand he held "Great Expectations" and in the other a travel-sized chess set.
Shaking her head ruefully Catherine admitted, "I like to play, but I'm afraid I'm not very accomplished at it."
He grinned at her beginning to set up the game, "Why don't we try a game to see and if it doesn't work out we can always turn to our book."
"Alright," she agreed and after choosing to play white, the game was on.
Before long it was clear that Catherine was not in Vincent's league when it came to chess. After the first game he offered to spot her a piece and then two and so on. By the time they had finished five games and Vincent was going to sacrifice another piece, Catherine laughed and said, "Vincent, I concede that the only way I could ever beat you in chess is for you to spot me your king!"
"But Catherine you need the king to win the game!" he protested, concerned that her knowledge of the game was that inadequate.
"Exactly!" she exclaimed with a laugh.
Realizing that she had been joking Vincent began to laugh along with her. Finally he suggested, "Maybe we should read for a while instead."
Since she loved the sound of his voice and could happily listen to him for hours, Catherine eagerly put the chess set away.
Vincent had just reached the last chapter in the book when he realized how late it was getting. Reluctantly he said that they should start back. He knew how Catherine felt when she sighed and said she supposed he was right.
The return trip was made mostly in silence both of them thinking about the next day. Since Catherine had held up to the longer walk it was clear that she was ready to go home. Neither of them wanted to voice that fact that this might be their last night together so instead simply parted with a hug at Vincent's chamber door. Tomorrow would be soon enough to face saying good-bye.
To be continued….