The Road Not Taken
(An Alternate Universe Story)
By Thomas Mc
Part 14 : Reunion
Spring 1983
Catherine's emotions were in as much turmoil as they had been yesterday. She knew what she wanted to do but she needed to talk to Vincent and her father first. She headed home knowing that Vincent would be there waiting for her. She could feel Vincent's concerned presence inside the brownstone as she exited the taxi and raced up the front steps. Pausing just long enough to verify that Vincent was not in the front parlor she quickly opened and passed through the door. As soon as she closed and locked the front door, Vincent was standing before her. The next instant she was in his arms, holding him tight, soaking up the comfort of his arms around her.
After a few seconds Vincent spoke in response to the strong emotions he felt in her. "Tell me." He inquired simply. Catherine continued to hold tightly onto Vincent and bask in his love and comfort as she tried to regain control of her churning emotions. Vincent's words, requesting enlightenment, continued to hang in the quiet that surrounded them as she kept thinking of how devastated she and Vincent both would be if her father were to take her far away from Vincent.
Finally Catherine eased up on her hold and looked up into Vincent's face. "It was Margaret Chase that was looking for Father. She did not leave him willingly and she said that she is still in love with him. I believe her." She paused as her emotions threatened to well up again. "Margaret believes that Father is probably dead by now. She is simply looking for some kind of closure." She lay her head against Vincent's chest and again was holding him tight.
Vincent could feel the emotions that were ebbing and flowing through her and he suspected that he knew what she was thinking about. He felt the same way. He held her tight for a while. When he felt her emotions ease up he eased up his hold on her but still held her reassuringly close. He kissed the top of her head as it lay against his chest. "What are you planning to do?" He asked her, though he thought he had a pretty good idea what she wanted to do.
"I have invited her over this evening. I told her that I would have some information for her by then." She responded.
"And?" He felt her uncertainty riding just below al the other emotions and knew she was holding back. She was working herself up to suggesting what she desired but she wasn't sure about his reaction to it.
After a few moments she finally responded, her head still pressed against his chest. "I was hoping to be able to take Margaret 'Below' to Father . . . but I want to talk to you and Daddy about it first." She paused again hesitant to bring up her most serious concern. She finally brought that problem out. "And I suspect that her lawyer will show up with her when she comes over this evening. He said that Jacob was more than his client. Jacob was his friend."
Vincent nodded his head. The presence of the lawyer was a surprise but the rest of it was more or less what he had expected once he heard that Margaret was the detective's client. "I think we should call your father immediately and see if he can come over this afternoon. He knows Father as well as anyone, except possibly Peter, and I trust his judgment. He could tell us if Father would welcome Margaret's appearance.
Catherine nodded her head and, after releasing her, they got on the phone to call Charles.
"Hello, Daddy? I, um, I need some advice and I was hoping you could come over this afternoon to talk."
Vincent added from the extension. "We both need your advice on a very personal matter involving Father." . . .
Catherine responded. "Yes. Vincent and I will both be home." . . .
Catherine smiled as she nodded her head. "That would be wonderful, Daddy." . . .
Vincent spoke. "Thank-you, Sir. We both appreciate that very much." . . .
Catherine finished. "We'll see you then. Love you, Daddy."
~ o ~
It was around three and Charles was brimming with curiosity and just a touch of uncertainty and worry as he approached Cathy's front door. The unusual and uninformative call had left him with the impression that she wanted his advice on something fairly monumental. The fact that she wouldn't give him details meant that whatever she wanted to talk to him about would involve the tunnels or Vincent or both. He already knew Jacob was somehow involved. He reached the front door and it was opened before he could press the doorbell. The look on his daughter's face was enough to confirm his guess.
"Come in, Daddy, I so glad to see you." Catherine took his hand and led him over to the sofa where Vincent was waiting for them. He noticed two folders on the coffee table as she indicated that he should have a seat. "Something has come up in my job that I really need your advice on."
Charles was now a bit worried. If something at the DA's office was related to the tunnels, this could spell disaster. "Just tell me what your problem is and I will do all I can to help."
Catherine handed him the original private detective's report and, while he looked through it, she described the background that led to her getting this particular investigation. Charles was immediately concurred at the thought of Jacob being involved in any way with a murder investigation. This could certainly put the tunnel community in jeopardy not to mention what having to tangle with the legal system might do to Jacob.
Charles looked up from the file. "I can certainly understand your concern."
Vincent spoke up at this point. "Actually that is only a minor problem. The whole situation took on a radically different direction when Catherine found out who that lawyer, Alan Taft, was representing." Vincent had Charles' complete attention now. "It was Margaret Chase."
A shock of recognition had shot through Charles at the mention of that name and it showed in his face. Catherine hurried to fill in the rest of the situation. Charles had learned most of Margaret and Jacob's history from Peter, and his many late night chess game discussions with Jacob had convinced him that Jacob still had strong feelings for Margaret even after all this time. After Catherine had finished laying out her dilemma, Charles sat there for a long time going over everything in his mind. There were so many different aspects to this situation and none of them contained any certainties.
"Do you mind if I use your phone for a moment?" Charles asked. "This is something that Peter might have a better perspective on." He explained.
"Sure, Daddy, go ahead."
Charles picked up her phone and dialed Peter's private number.
"Hello, Peter. It's Charles." . . .
"I have a question for you." . . .
"You've known Jacob longer than I have. How do you think Jacob would react if Margaret Chase suddenly showed up in the tunnels trying to get back together with him?" . . .
Charles nodded after several seconds. "That's more or less what I thought but I wanted your opinion on it." . . .
"Now the second question. How would he react if she was accompanied by his old lawyer Alan Taft?" . . .
"You really think so?" . . .
"In that case it might be a good idea for you to be down there to keep your eye on him, because one of those scenarios is likely to happen sometime after eight tonight." . . .
"Cathy is expecting those two to come over at seven-thirty tonight. They will be hoping to get some information about what happened to Jacob after he disappeared thirty years ago and Cathy says that Margaret is still in love with Jacob." . . .
"That's fine. I'll probably be seeing you 'Below' this evening, depending on how things go when we meet Margaret." . . .
"OK, Bye." He hung up the phone.
"What did he say?" Catherine asked.
"He mostly confirmed my own opinions." Charles returned to the sofa before continuing. "The first thing we must do is make sure that they will be able to handle everything that they will be exposed to if we take them 'Below'." He glanced over at Vincent. "I'm leaning toward introducing them to Vincent first. Vincent will be better able to judge their reliability as well as their ability to handle the tunnels."
"Are you sure that would be a good idea?" Catherine asked. "And what about Alan Taft?"
"I've dealt with Alan several times over the years and I believe he is a good man that can be trusted. If he gives his word on something, he will keep it. As far as Vincent is concerned, they will have to meet him eventually and it will probably be better if they meet him up front since Vincent is a major part of what happened to Jacob."
"What about Father?" Vincent asked.
"Jacob may fuss . . . a lot . . . but he will understand and forgive." Charles chuckled. "Especially for Margaret." He paused a moment in thought. "As for Alan, Peter said that he and Jacob were good friends and Jacob never blamed him for the way things turned out. On a couple of occasions he even considered the possibility of contacting him but never did."
The next few hours were spent discussing how to handle the upcoming encounter. Catherine called into work and reported the she was still investigating the missing person case but hoped to have it wrapped up soon. She told Joe that it shouldn't affect the murder trial.
~ o ~
As Alan and Margaret ascended the steps to the brownstone, Margaret was glad that Alan had insisted on accompanying her. Right now she needed his emotional support. Deep inside she was afraid of what she might learn. She had always felt responsible for the way Jacob's life had fallen apart. If only she had had the courage to stand by him, then, maybe, things might have turned out differently. Together they could eventually have weathered the storm and recovered. She smiled half-heartedly at Alan as he rang the doorbell.
A minute later the door opened and Catherine Chandler took in the fact that they were both there, nodded imperceptibly, and invited them in. As they entered the parlor, Alan recognized Charles Chandler standing over by the sofa loveseat group. Catherine spoke up. "Alan, I believe you know my father Charles Chandler. Daddy this is Margaret Chase."
The way Charles had been studying her since they entered made Margaret feel for a moment like she was under a microscope. Then Charles turned his attention to Alan and they shook hands, exchanging greetings. Charles then indicated that they should take a seat. Catherine took her seat next to her father.
Alan was the first to speak. "I believe you told Miss Chase that you would have some information about Jacob Wells for her this evening."
Catherine nodded. "Yes I did." She paused to glance over at her father then continued. "First of all I think a little history is called for." Her gaze fixed on Margaret. "After you went to Paris Jacob Wells felt like his whole world had fallen apart. He had lost everything he had ever cared about. He felt that the whole world had betrayed him." Catherine saw the pain those words caused her clearly showing on Margaret's face, which told her that she genuinely regretted what had happened. She had also felt Vincent's acknowledgement of her assessment. One question answered.
She took a breath and continued. "A slightly older woman named Grace found Jacob wandering in a state of lost hopelessness and took him to live among a small group of other lost people that had banded together for mutual support. Their community was hidden away from the rest of the world." Catherine could see by the shimmer in her eyes how hard this was on Margaret but she had to understand what had happened in order to understand the present. "After about a year, Grace became pregnant and eventually gave Jacob a son named Devin. Unfortunately Grace died in childbirth. This was a terrible blow to an already devastated Jacob. Despite all those devastating losses, Jacob persevered and over the next four years he slowly got his new life under control and achieved a prominent position of leadership among that small group of people." Catherine had watched the look of surprise and the slowly dawning look of hope grow in Margaret's eyes.
"About six years after Jacob had joined that group, Devin was about four, one of the members of that group found an abandoned newborn hidden in the trash behind Saint Vincent Hospital and took him to Jacob. They named him Vincent because of where he was found. The infant was very unusual looking but Jacob took the infant in and raised him as his own son. Because of his unusual appearance, it was not safe for Vincent to be seen. The hidden community where Jacob raised Vincent became more secretive and reclusive, mostly to protect Vincent. The community became a place of refuge taking in homeless children and people like Jacob that had nowhere else to go."
Catherine paused and Alan jumped in. "So what finally became of Jacob and that community?"
Charles stepped in. "When Cathy was ten she stumbled across Vincent and they became friends. About two months later I came across Cathy and Vincent together. I was afraid I was seeing things but I was even more afraid that I wasn't ant that frightening creature was attacking my daughter. Then Jacob appeared calling to Vincent and I discovered that it was only a tickling match between the two of them. Jacob and I became friends. Cathy and Vincent grew up together and three years ago they got married."
Margaret and Alan both looked confused. Alan asked the question that had occurred to both of them. "You called Vincent a frightening creature then seem unconcerned while saying that your daughter married him." Alan shook his head. "That doesn't make sense."
Catherine jumped in. "Well frightening is a relative term but it is part of why he has stayed out of the public eye."
"But what about Jacob?" Margaret asked, her emotions wavering between hope and uncertainty with a little confusion thrown in.
"I'm coming to that but first I want you to meet Vincent. It will help you to better understand what has happened and why it is so important that the secret of that hidden community be protected." She looked over her shoulder. "Vincent, Love, are you ready to meet our guests?"
"Yes, Catherine. I'm ready if you think that they can handle my appearance." The silk over gravel voice that issued from the back of the home was like no voice either of them had ever heard. The voice carried a raw masculine power that practically commanded respect from Alan and touched something very primal deep inside Margaret.
"They're about as prepared as they can be. Come on out." Catherine responded as she stood up.
Both were startled by the apparition that came around the corner from the small kitchen. It was a lion-man, and it was huge, and it was frightening. Catherine moved over next to Vincent and leaned into him as he put his arm around her. As Alan took in Vincent's size and the obvious claws on his hands, he couldn't help noticing how small, fragile and defenseless Catherine looked next to him.
Catherine looked back over at Alan and Margaret. "You can see now why we are so secretive about Vincent and Jacob's community." She glanced over at Charles. "If you can give us your word that you will never tell anyone else what you see and hear today, then we will be able to take you to see Jacob."
For several seconds the only sound in that room was the breathing of five people.
Margaret was the first to speak, her voice cracking with emotion. "Jacob is still alive?"
Vincent nodded. "Yes Father is very much alive, Margaret."
Margaret's eyes were brimming with tears, even as they took on a look of steely determination. "Please, I beg of you, I'll keep your secret, anything you ask. Just take me to Jacob. I know that I don't deserve him, but let me see him at least one last time."
Alan looked at Margaret for a moment then faced the three that sat across from him. "I also wish to see Jacob. I just want to assure myself that he is well and I feel I should be there for Margaret." His gaze centered on Vincent. "You have my word that I will keep your secrets. No one would believe me if I did tell anyone."
Catherine and Charles both looked over at Vincent. He gazed at Margaret and Alan for couple of moments then nodded his head. "They are both quite sincere and Margaret still cares very deeply for Father. I believe that they can be trusted."
Vincent took note of the combination of surprise, curiosity and uncertainty that rushed through Alan as well as the surprised look on his face. "How? . . ."
Catherine jumped in at this point. "Vincent can feel the emotions of anyone in the same room as him." She glanced at Vincent. "He cannot be fooled so if he says that you can be trusted then we trust you."
Alan glanced back and forth between Vincent and Catherine. "Are you telling me that He is a true empath?"
Catherine cocked her head in thought for a moment. "Yea, I guess you could say that."
"What about Jacob?" Margaret interrupted. "When can I see him?"
Catherine turned her attention to Margaret. "Is as soon as we get there soon enough?" She looked at Vincent. "Shall we?" She indicated the back of the brownstone.
Vincent nodded to Margaret. "If you will come with us, we will take you to him right now." Together they headed toward the back of the place, followed by Charles and finally Alan and Margaret.
Alan and Margaret glanced around puzzled as they descended the back stairs into the basement. Alan was wondering if this was a trick. They were both very surprised when Catherine swung the wine rack away from the wall to reveal an opening into a long tunnel. Catherine addressed the surprised and confused couple. "We told you that Jacob's community was hidden." She smiled at them then followed Vincent through the opening.
Charles indicated that Alan and Margaret should precede him then pulled the wine rack closed behind them.
Margaret looked around at the old utility tunnel they were traversing and began thinking how terribly sad it was that poor Jacob had ended up in these old dusty tunnels like some penniless, homeless bum. She glanced over at Catherine and that creature Vincent wondering why he couldn't live with them in that nice cozy brownstone. Alan, walking beside her, was thinking along similar lines. They then cut through a half hidden junction into some much older looking steam tunnels.
A couple of minutes later that passage cut across a very old abandoned brick walled tunnel that looked like it must predate the city itself. They turned down that tunnel and only went a sort way before they came to a large round chamber with a fifteen foot diameter circular shaft in the center of the floor. The shaft appeared to be bottomless and it had a spiral stone staircase running around the inside wall. As they started down into that shaft Alan and Margaret both glanced at each other.
Alan glanced downward at Vincent and Catherine in front of them, shrugged and quietly commented. "Curiouser and Curiouser." Then they heard Charles chuckle behind them and glanced back.
"I felt the exact same way the first time Jacob led Cathy and me down here. First I was angry that he was living in those old storm drains, but he led us past those and kept going down until I began to shift from anger to wonder."
~ o ~
Peter had showed up in Jacob's chambers about an hour and a half ago expressing a desire to spend some free time with his old friend and maybe beat him at a game of chess. They had ended up in the library chamber talking about the latest goings on in the tunnel community when the pipes announced that Charles, Vincent and Catherine were on their way down and they had two strangers with them.
Jacob looked very startled by the news. "What could those three be thinking? They should know better than to bring strangers here unannounced."
Peter placed his hand reassuringly on Jacob's shoulder. "Don't worry Jacob. Those three are not fools, I'm sure that they know what they are doing and Vincent would know if they were a danger to the tunnels. I would trust their judgment."
~ o ~
After a seemingly endless descent on the ancient spiral stone stairway, Catherine and Vincent led them into tunnels that had been cut through the natural rock and interconnecting with the occasional natural chamber or passage. They began to notice an almost continuous staccato clanking sound like metal on metal.
"What is that sound?" Margaret asked as she looked around half in wonder at their current environment.
"That is people . . . talking to each other on the pipes." Catherine answered.
"What are they saying?" Asked Alan.
"Right now they're mostly talking about the two strangers that we are bringing below." At that point they passed a small side chamber that looked for all the world like a one room apartment. The couple inside the small apartment like chamber stared curiously out at them as they passed by, staring in. As they continued on they passed more of those apartment chambers and both of them began to get the idea that there was a sizable community down here. They also soon noticed that there seemed to be a disproportionately large number of children running around.
~ o ~
Jacob looked up at the group that was entering his library. It was only a matter of moments before he recognized the woman that was hurrying down the spiral stairs toward him. He would know that face anywhere despite the accumulated years "Margaret?" He asked hesitantly as he tried to convince himself that this was real.
Margaret stopped within arm's reach as though unsure of her reception. "Jacob . . . oh Jacob!
Jacob blinked trying to clear the tears that were beginning to well up in his eyes. "You're too beautiful." He swallowed. "I, I can't believe you're here." The shimmer in his eyes became more pronounced.
Margaret's eyes were developing the same type of shimmer as his. "No words. Just . . . hold me . . . Hold me."
Then they were in each other's arms. Then they were kissing.
At the top of the stairs Alan was looking around the amazing underground library in open wonder. Despite that amazing view though his eyes kept being drawn to the embracing couple standing in the center of the lower level. Then he noticed the tall motionless, and vaguely familiar, figure standing over by the chessboard. The tall man was not dressed like the rest of the inhabitants of this strange place. Then he remembered the doctor friend of Charles. He glanced over at the unusual trio that had escorted him and Margaret down here. "This place is totally incredible." He commented shaking his head. "I never would have guessed that all this existed right below my feet." His gaze centered on Vincent. "I certainly never would have suspected the existence of someone like you." He smiled. "I'll have a tough time convincing myself that it wasn't a dream once I return to the city above."
Vincent responded. "As Margaret's friend and lawyer to both Margaret and Father, I suspect you will be visiting us here quite often." Vincent spotted another un noticed figure standing obscured in one of the lower doorways and started down.
On the lower level, the reunited couple separated just enough to look into each other's eyes their vision was blurred by the tears in their eyes.
Margaret spoke. "You've made a remarkable world here Jacob," She blinked. "I've never felt so at peace as I do now in your arms in this place."
Jacob also blinked, his voice awash with his emotions. "And all these years I've dreamed of showing it to you."
Margaret lowered her head. "If only I hadn't been such a . . . fool . . ." She was to choked-up to continue.
Jacob gently touched her chin and raised her head till she was again looking into his eyes. "Margaret, all is forgiven, I let go of that anger years ago." He kissed her forehead. "Yes there was a time when I gorged myself on bitterness and self-pity. . . But then I met someone who had every reason to curse fate, and yet he accepted all that life had to offer, with gratitude and love."
She blinked twice then responded. "Vincent?" Jacob nodded and she continued. "We must do that too."
Then they were kissing again.
Vincent had noticed Mary standing alone in the lower tunnel opening watching all this and now joined her. He could feel happiness and sadness coming from her in equal measure. He put his arm around her shoulder offering some comfort as Catherine and Peter joined them. Alan and Charles were still at the top of the stairs, taking it all in.
Continued in Part 15
'Beauty and the Beast' and its characters are owned by Witt-Thomas Productions and Republic Pictures. No infringement on copyrights is intended. This story is presented merely for the enjoyment of fans. Original concepts and story elements may be used by other authors as long as appropriate credit is given.