Chapter 33

"Ms. Aaronson, how is it…"

"Oh gosh! Don't be so formal! Call me Jenny!"

"Ummm, alright, Jenny. How is it that you are able to so easily accept my appearance?"

"Oh that's easy! First, anyone with a voice like yours could never be scary, and second, I have only to look in Cathy's eyes to know what she thinks of you. I can tell you that as long as you manage to keep that look on her face, you are okay in my book!"

"I thank you for that Ms…Jenny, but I am afraid you are incorrect about Catherine's feelings for me. Because I saved her life, what you are probably mistaking as love is gratitude. We have not known each other long enough for love…"

Jenny jumped in, "Oh don't give me that! Can you honestly tell me that you don't love her!"

At the look she saw on his face, Jenny continued, "There! You see! If you have had time to fell in love with her, then why do you think the same couldn't have happened to her?"

"Catherine is a beautiful woman, and I…"

Again Vincent was interrupted, "She may be beautiful, but she also has a heart of gold, not many people get to see that side of her. As for you, well, I think we already established how great you are. But you can trust me on this, that woman in the kitchen loves you. You can take it to the bank Vinnie!"

Catherine entered the room with the tea in time to hear the last part of Jenny's comment. "Jenny his name is Vincent, not Vinnie! What is it that he can take to the bank?" she asked, as Vincent got to his feet to take the tray from her hands.

"It was just an expression Cath. I was telling him he could trust me."

"I had already vouched for you Jenny. You really don't think Vincent goes around meeting just anyone. I told him you were a good friend and once you visit Below maybe you could become a Helper too. I know you are always looking for new places to donate all the free books you get."

"Books?" Vincent questioned, knowing Father's love of books as well as many others in his world, himself included.

"Jenny works in a publishing house as a publisher and lots of their authors will send a case of their newly published books to them. It's a thank you gift, so she is always looking for places to donate these extras. After seeing your father's library, I thought he might like to get some of them."

"That's a great idea Cathy, if you really think they would want them," Jenny agreed. She looked at Vincent for confirmation.

"They would be most appreciated M…Jenny. But Father is very careful about nothing too racy or provocative getting into the hands of the children."

Catherine suggested, "Why don't we have her send them to you through Mr. Lee and you could pass on only the ones that you feel would be suitable?"

"Sounds like a good compromise, but who is Mr. Lee?" Jenny questioned.

Vincent explained as they drank their tea and ate the cookies Catherine had bought. When he finished, Catherine told him about her shopping trip for the readers and the yarn, however, she deliberately left off the meat she had ordered and still he scolded her for doing too much. Jenny rolled her eyes, knowing more about Cathy's finances than he did, quite aware that her friend could have afforded much more than she had admitted to.

They all chatted a bit longer about general topics so Jenny could get to know Vincent better, then she broached the subject of when she might be able to visit his world.

"Usually that requires approval by our Council, but since the biggest concern is always how the visitor would react to meeting me, I can assure them that hurdle has already been taken care of," Vincent replied.

"Well then, how about this weekend?" Jenny asked eagerly.

Vincent told her, "I think that might be doable. I will let Catherine know as soon as I can what the Council says."

To be continued….