Chapter 23
Vincent stood there in open mouthed shock at this assumption, while Catherine looked from him to Olivia who seemed very pleased at the prospect of her friend Vincent becoming a father.
"Hey!" she said before either of the other two could reply, "If you have a little girl, then maybe one day she and Luke could end up together!"
Catherine spoke quietly, "I am sure Luke will grow up to be the kind of man anyone would be glad to have as a son-in-law. However, Vincent isn't this baby's father. I don't know who the father is…I was…raped."
Olivia was quiet a moment as she dealt with the shock of Catherine's revelation and then stepped forward to give her a hug. "No matter the circumstances of your baby's conception, Vincent will still be a great 'daddy'."
This time it was Vincent who answered, "Olivia, Catherine and I are not a couple, we are only friends."
"Oh, I see," she said, but the twinkle in Olivia's eye and the smile on her face told both of the others that she didn't believe him.
Needing to change the subject Vincent reminded Catherine that they had a concert to attend. They quickly said their good byes and left the nursery.
"I am sorry, Catherine, that Olivia seemed to have a very mistaken impression of our relationship."
"It's alright Vincent. How could it be your fault what she was thinking?"
"I just didn't want you to think that I might have been telling people that you were my…ummm…girl friend!"
Catherine was silent for a moment and then said, "I do understand Vincent, why you wouldn't want me as a girl friend. With the scars…well, I was really awful looking…" she trailed off sadly.
He felt the hurt his words had caused her through the Bond and was shocked down to his toes! How could she even THINK that! "Catherine! My statement had nothing to do with your scars! I meant that no one would want someone like me for a boy friend! If I were to tell the unvarnished truth, my thought was… never mind…it was to disgusting too voice."
"Vincent you don't need to keep any secrets from me! You should feel free to tell me anything. And as for no one wanting you for a boy friend, all the girls here Below must be crazy! You are magnificent! Kind, gentle, and tender! Any woman would be glad to have you in her life. Now please tell me what you were going to say."
"After what you just said, I am ashamed to tell you!" he said hanging his head.
"Vincent please! I know it was about you and I…I'd really like to know."
"Alright Catherine, I just hope that you won't hate me when you hear it."
"That could never happen!" she insisted.
"I hope so Catherine," he said, then taking a deep breath, he continued, "My thought was that with your face scarred the way it was that maybe you just might not mind…well exploring a relationship."
"Ah, I understand," she replied while nodding. "A sort of reverse Beauty and the Beast story."
Vincent's head dropped even farther. He knew what he was, but to have Catherine refer to him as a 'beast' cut deep. "Yes, Catherine, even with your scars you were a beauty," he told her.
"Wait a minute Vincent! That's NOT what I meant at all! To me you are beautiful! What I meant about the 'reversal' was that in the traditional story, the girl was the beauty, but in our case I was the beastly looking one!"
He stared at her in shocked speechlessness. He simply had no idea what to say to such a ludicrous statement. Before he could verbalize any kind of answer a little girl of about eight came running down the passage towards them.
"Vincent, if you don't come now the concert won't be able to start on time! I have two seats in the front row saved for you and your girl friend."
Vincent looked down at the eager child then up at a smiling Catherine and finally spoke, "We were on our way, Samantha. Why don't we follow you now?"
"Okay!" she exclaimed and skipped ahead of them the entire way to Father's study. This precluded any further talk on the conversation that had been interrupted, but Catherine vowed to herself that she would find a way to convince Vincent she meant what she said.
To be continued….