Chapter 36

Jacob threw himself at her to offer a neck strangling hug while Vincent was left holding onto only his son's legs rather than the whole child. "Love Rara!" he insisted.

"We know you do Jacob, but we should let her get back to the other children now," Vincent told the youngster pulling him back into his own arms.

"Okay…" Jacob sighed deeply, letting them both know that this wasn't his first choice of options.

"Vincent, before you go, I was wondering if you and Jacob would like to have dinner with me before the concert?"

"Actually, Father has asked us to eat with him and Mary tonight in his study. However, I am sure that you would be welcome to join us."

Mary walked by them trying to round up little Cathy for Lena and she heard Vincent's comment. "Oh yes, please do, Clara! It would be no trouble at all to tell William there will be one more for dinner."

"Well, if you're sure Father wouldn't mind, I would like that," Clara answered.

"You leave him to me, my dear! Although I'm sure he wouldn't protest at all. I have my ways of getting around him," Mary assured her.

"Thank you, Mary. I will be there then."

"Allow me to come for you, Clara. With Father's study being so near the central hub there will be a lot of…traffic," he was concerned about her fear of men.

"Thank you, Vincent, but I have been getting used to meeting men in the passageways. Everyone here Below has been very considerate. They don't speak and usually lower their heads in a non threatening manner to help reassure me. I'm sure I can make it there on my own just fine."

"All right, Clara, but if you do need me, know that I will come as quickly as I can."

"I do," she told him with a smile, maybe not completely sure that she did, but trusting him at his word.

Vincent left as several mother's arrived to pick up their children at the same time and he knew Clara would want to have a word with them, just as she always did with him about Jacob.

Wanting to look her best even if this hadn't been officially classified as a date, Clara still took a long soak in the bathing chamber nearest her room and then did her hair before choosing a dress to wear. Her final decision was a muted coral skirt and sweater that she had been told went well with her chestnut hair.

She arrived safely at Father's study just moments after Vincent and Jacob had gotten there. Mary was already there setting up the table for them. Father looked up as Clara entered and greeted her, "Good evening, Clara. I am glad that Vincent and Mary convinced you to join us. Won't you come in and have a seat? Can I get you some tea while we wait for Mary to finish?"

"I'm done, and the tea is already poured. You can all come to the table now. Vincent, I put Jacob's high chair between Father and I so we can enjoy him for a while."

"His table manners are still a bit lacking, Mary," Vincent warned as he popped Jacob into his high chair, and then held out the seat next to his for Clara.

"I am well aware of that, my dear boy, but Clara and I have been working on them, haven't we dear?" she questioned with a smile directed at Clara.

"We try, but as yet, he has still only managed a spoon. He still needs some practice with a fork."

"Yes, well, I dare say I remember many challenges getting Vincent to use a fork as well. He seemed to think his claws were a perfectly suitable substitute," Father informed them.

Vincent lowered his head, blushing furiously at Father's comment. He was always uncomfortable when his differences were mentioned.

Clara couldn't help but giggle both at the mental picture of little Vincent doing that and a bit at his current embarrassment. "Well, I guess Mary and I can be glad we don't have that problem to deal with, with Jacob," she teased lightly.

"For which I thank heaven everyday!" Vincent answered. "Catherine always told me that I was beautiful and although I never really believed her, when she told me that our son was beautiful my fear was that when I found him, he would look like me."

"Vincent, Catherine was right. You are beautiful, and I am sure that her greatest wish was that Jacob had looked like you!"

To be continued….