Chapter Eleven

Father put on his best suit and tie. He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the tie as his reflection stared back at him. His eyes were tired and swollen. Today he would say his goodbyes to Catherine, Vincent's love, a young woman he had cared about as though she had been his own daughter.

It wasn't fair. Catherine was gone and Vincent was grieving as though his heart had been taken... and it had.

As Father prepared for Catherine's funeral, Vincent joined him in Father's chambers. Vincent too looked haggard. He hadn't slept since he had found her and said his goodbyes. "I don't know if I can do this, Vincent," said Father as his voice broke. "Say goodbye to someone so full of life and grace. It isn't fair that she's gone. She had so much more to give to this world."

"You have to go for me, Father... in my place," Vincent stated. "You must say goodbye for me as I cannot."

Father turned and hugged Vincent close, squeezing him in his arms. As they broke the embrace, Vincent looked into his father's loving eyes. "Father... Catherine has left me - a child... and I must find him," Vincent revealed.

"A child?" Father repeated with shock. Catherine had given birth to Vincent's child?

"Yes, Father. He's mine and I will stop at nothing until I bring him home... until I bring him here, to our sanctuary."

"Yes, we must find him," Father agreed, once again hugging his son.

~*~o~*~

As he very rarely did, Father left the sanctuary Below and ventured Above to a grand church where he would attend Catherine Chandler's funeral. As many spoke of her greatness with sorrowed tears, Father sat in a pew alone, listening as her friends and co-workers told of Catherine's selflessness. "She was a great woman... and I'll will miss her," Jenny spoke at the altar before dissolving into tears.

Jenny went into Joe's arms as he did his best to console her. "All is not lost," he tried to reassure her, but to Jenny the death of her best and dearest friend was devastating and despite Joe's comfort, she remained in a deep state of grief and agitation.

Joe felt terrible, but he knew he must keep up with the facade. Catherine's very life depended on it... and then there was the child - a little boy that Joe had promised to return to his mother, yet he had no clue how to find Catherine's infant son. Many who loved Catherine had said their goodbyes that day. Joe felt bad about lying as he was bombarded with Jenny's quiet weeping at his side.

After the memorial, the group of mourners met at the gravesite, where a gleaming black coffin was set into the earth. There wasn't a dry eye in the cemetery as colorful, gorgeous flowers were placed upon the mound of dirt. The gravestone said - Here lies Catherine Chandler. Beloved in life; Forever Missed in Death. Other than that, there was just the dates of Catherine's birth and the date that was her death. As Joe stared at the stone, he knew it was all a lie - a terrible, but necessary one. He had to keep Catherine safe at any cost, even if he must fool her beloved friends and all who loved her that she was forever gone.

As Father stood at Catherine's grave, he dropped a single red rose upon the earth. It fell silently upon the mound of dirt that signified the loss of one so tender. *Vincent should be here,* thought Father. *Saying his goodbyes.*

In his head, he spoke to Catherine, telling her all he never had the chance to say before her untimely demise. *Catherine, you were like a daughter to me. You brought Vincent so much happiness... and the two of you were destined to be together. I am so sorry you were taken from us far too soon... and like Vincent, I vow to do everything in my power to rescue your son, your precious boy. Don't worry. I'll take care of Vincent. His heart is broken and I know there is no greater love. I too lost the love of my life, my soulmate far too soon. But he'll have the baby... and he'll be okay. I promise that to you.*

As he stood at the gravesite, lingering in his grief, his eyes caught those of a man named Joe, Catherine's boss and a dear friend.

For a moment, Joe wondered, *Could this mysterious man have something to do with Vincent? Why isn't he here at Catherine's funeral?* But before Joe could confront the man, Father had walked away, down the path as he swiftly left the cemetery. He must return to Vincent who needed him far more than Catherine could at that moment. Vincent was all that mattered as Jacob Wells walked away.

~*~o~*~

Day gave way to night and now the cemetery was silent. Hours had passed since the casket had been lowered into the earth. All that remained were still shadows and tree limbs which softly swaying in the breeze. A lone man came to the gravestone of Catherine Chander, gazing with so much sadness and longing at the words upon the stone.

Long after all the mourners had gone, Vincent showed up to pay his respects to his beloved. He collapsed on the mound of fresh dirt as he began to sob. "Ohhh Catherine... nooooo," he lamented. "You can't be gone."

But as he spoke of her with tears and longing, the sound of the wind whispered back. It seemed to be trying to tell him something... something so critical. It was a mystery he didn't have the emotional strength to unravel.

Catherine WAS gone... and so was their son. Where had Catherine's captors taken the boy? How would he ever find him?

He could only hope and pray there'd be a way; some sort of clue that would lead him to his son. "Catherine, you have to help me," Vincent deplored. "I can't do this without you... I can't."