Chapter 57
Vincent had gathered up all of the items he needed for his evening with Catherine and was more than pleased with every one of them. The aroma of the meal William had made was heavenly coming from the basket he carried on his arm. Even he didn't know what it was. William had told him to wait to find out until he was at Catherine's.
The other item that had taken his breath away was the two candles Rebecca had given him. She told him that they had started out mostly rectangular although they were narrower at the top. Vincent remembered from his math classes that shape was called frustum. But they were no longer that shape! Rebecca had taken a hot knife to the wax and cut delicate loops and swirls into them. Because she had dipped them in multi layers of pink, green, and white the end effect appeared as if each loop had been hand painted they were breath taking and Vincent had told her so.
Rebecca thanked him, but said they would have to remain special occasion candles because individually they took too much time for the quantity they needed for Winterfest.
Vincent had left the impression with her that this evening's dinner was to be very special so Catherine had set the scene well. She had turned off all the electrical lights, but one which was dimmable and it was on one of its lowest settings. Then she had lit many of her candles and placed them around the room. On the table was her mother's special occasion china and her sterling silver tableware service. On the stereo soft music was also playing.
Catherine herself was wearing a peach colored wrap around dress that so closely matched the color of her skin that you had to look twice to be sure that she was wearing anything. She had the French doors to her living room standing open. Everything was ready at least a half and hour before sunset. When she finally got tired of fidgeting with the placement of every little thing, she sighed and went out on the balcony to watch the sun set and wait for Vincent.
He'd had to be a little more careful than usual on his climb to her balcony that night because of the basket he carried. Even so, he wasn't even out of breath when he arrived at the area he usually jumped down from onto the floor of her balcony. At least he hadn't been out of breath until he had paused to gage his jump and noticed Catherine standing at the rail with her back to him. He could see that she did have a dress on because the skirt of it was fluttering in the breeze. But the color of it clearly invited him to believe otherwise!
"Catherine," he whispered as he made the decent to her balcony. She turned to greet him with a smile that left him utterly speechless.
"You're a little early. There is still some sunset left to see. Will our meal be ruined if you take the time to share it with me?" she questioned.
"No," he responded slowly. "But we might have to heat it up in that wondrous contraption you have in your kitchen."
With a grin she held out her hand and after he took it with his free hand, she drew him to the rail. "This has always been one of my favorite times of the day, and has recently made it to the top of the list."
"Why is that Catherine?" he asked softly.
"Because it always seems so full of possibilities I guess. Something about the sky turning all these wonderful colors. Of course that was how I felt before meeting you, and now it is because this is the time of day that you can arrive."
"It is the same for me, Catherine."
"However, I do need to complain at you about last night! Vincent, it just wasn't right of you to leave so abruptly as you did. There was nothing to be ashamed of in what was happening between us."
"I know that Catherine and I am sorry for the way that I left, but I am hoping that tonight will in some way help you to understand why I did that."
"Care to give me a hint?" she asked with a quirky smile, not expecting that she was going to get one.
To be continued….