Chapter 44

"Yes Catherine, I do love their names and I'm sure everyone else will as well. Their naming day will be very special."

"Since it will also be our wedding day I'm sure it will be a day no one Below will ever forget. Have you given any thought to who you want to stand up with you?"

"I always thought that if I ever did get married, I would have Devin as my best man, but I don't know if he would come back…"

"For your wedding?! Of course he'll come back, Vincent! I'm sure he wouldn't miss it for the world!" Catherine assured him.

"But will we be able to reach him in time? Since he's in the mountains with Charles I don't know if…"

She stopped him by placing a hand on his arm, "Vincent we'll try, that's all we can do. Just in case we can't reach him, who else would you select?"

"Pascal has always been like a brother to me," he replied. "You haven't said who you would choose."

"Well if you think the Council would approve it, I'd really like to have Jenny Aaronson. She's my best friend in the world after you!"

"Catherine, I'm sure that if you trust her, then the Council will approve her."

"Good, because as you already know, she knows about you and the tunnels," Catherine answered a bit defensively. "I had to tell her why I couldn't have the babies in a hospital and when I thought I would never see you again. I needed someone to talk to about you."

"Oh Catherine! I'm so sorry! I wasn't upset about you telling her if that's what you thought. I was wondering what she thought about all you told her."

"Well, honestly she's mad at you for letting me get away."

Vincent gave her a sad smile and told her, "And she has every right to be! Catherine, I will swear to her that she will never have to worry about that ever again. I'll talk to Father maybe we can get special permission from him to bring her down."

"Do you really think he might allow that?" she asked eagerly.

"Catherine after the beautiful grandchildren you have just given him, I don't think he could deny you the moon if you asked for it!"

"Oh well in that case, I should make a list of my demands!" she giggled.

Vincent gave her a toothy grin and asked, "How much paper do you think you'll need?"

"Oh reams!" she assured him.

"Why don't you close your eyes for a while? I will find Father and if agrees he could bring her down today."

"That would be wonderful! Thank you Vincent!"

Leaning over he boldly gave her a quick kiss on the forehead as she settled back on the pillows. Catherine sighed as he left the room, as a kiss it had been all too brief, but it was the first one he had ever instigated. It had come out of the blue, but had seemed very natural. She wished it would have been on her lips, but since he had done it on his own she was very pleased…maybe later she could get one on the lips.

Vincent could feel her pleasure at the kiss he had given her as he moved down the passageway towards Father's study. If only he had known how something so simple could please her so much! Who was he kidding? He had known all along that she wanted more than hugs from him. It had been his fear that had held him back, not his lack of knowledge of her feelings. But no more, he resolved, from now on they would continue to move forward until that blessed day in six weeks when they would be husband and wife and could finally make love! Maybe tonight he could get up the courage to kiss her lips!

To be continued….