Wondering into the kitchen the next morning, Vincent and Catherine headed over to William, who was busily working away at the large service stove. Seeing biscuits cooling on a near by counter, Vincent dutifully snagged two, wolfing down one of handing the other to Catherine.
William's hand darted out and smacked Vincent's as he reached for another one. "You two vultures, coming in all late then stealing food. The two of you need to set a better example."
The couple only grinned. Their good news would soon be announced and the excitement was almost unbearably. Catherine had long since been accepted as a member of the community, but thus would be permanent. Forever.
"William, we have guest today who will be eating with us. Two teenagers." Vincent spoke up.
"Boys or girls? Boys always eat more than girls do. Its like they can't listen to their bodies tell them when they're full!" William explained.
"They're a couple, a boy and a girl. They boy came looking for Taja."
William eyed Catherine. "He's not lookin' to start trouble, is he? Taja lives here now and we won't let any harm come to that girl."
"No, he doesn't want to hurt her at all. In fact, he might be her brother. They were separated from birth and now he's searching for her."
"The two of them have already spoken with Father and will be meeting her after breakfast." Vincent broke in.
"Well, all right. When will they be in to eat? I'll have to make more food."
"I believe Mary has left to travel to the to the lower tunnels to awaken them. We should be hearing from them soon..."
"Well speak of the devil…" William breathed.
Mary strode around the corner, her pace quick and her heart thundering in an effort to drag oxygen into her lungs. Her face was flushed scarlet and she immediately beckoned for a glass of water. When she had regained some of her composure and her coloring returned to normal, the group dared to speak again.
Catherine's words were the first to be heard. "I take it the trip was eventful."
"Did anything happen, Mary?" Vincent loved the woman was the only mother he had ever know and was willing to face any battle for her.
"They, they were sleeping together!!"
"Excuse me?" was Vincent's reply.
"You heard me. I walked into the boy's room and she was no where to be found. The clothes I had left for him were gone so I could only assume she was in the baths. When I got to the young woman's room, they were together on her bed. I couldn't even tell if they had any clothes on!"
Catherine petted the older woman's arm. "W don't need to worry about them…"
Vincent broke in. "Yes, the two of them count on each other for support. They've been through a lot together."
"They are just so young. That is terribly sad." She shook her head.
"Will they be coming to breakfast, Mary?"
"The two of them are right behind me."
William got his first look at their guests as they breezed in behind Vincent. Holding hands, they had similar expressions on their faces. While their mouths were smiling, their eyes were anxious. Michael looked over into Maria's eyes and she smiled instantly.
The hidden connection was obvious to someone used to Vincent and Catherine. William began to wonder about his guests. Could there be a deeper meaning to their visit other than finding a twin?
Contemplating for a moment, he shrugged it off. Whatever their story was, the truth would soon be revealed if it was important enough.
*****
They heard the conversation half way down the hall.
It's nice to know they actually support us, Michael"
"They don't have a reason to be suspicious of us. We've told tem everything, even more than we probably should have. Damn, they should know kinda what we're going through."
"I think maybe a lot o them do. I'm so glad. At least now we'll have something to tell Max before he starts screaming at us."
"Good morning. Hey Vincent, Catherine." Michael looked around the room and nodded greetings to the familiar faces.
"Hi! I'm Maria, that's Michael. We're visiting."
She waved to William in the carefree way only children should have been allowed to do. Somehow she pulled it off.
"I'm William, the cook. Care for any breakfast?"