Chapter 70
"Because they love each other," Mary answered Father's outraged question.
"It cannot be!" he insisted.
"Why not Father?" Vincent questioned.
"Vincent we have had this talk many times…"
"Yes, Father," Vincent interrupted, something he had never done before. "However, this weekend demonstrated to me that your certainties about those matters were incorrect." He turned to Mary and said, "Please pardon me Mary, I do not mean to offend you, but…" he turned back to look at Father, "Catherine and I became lovers without any problems. Tonight I am going to meet her father, and we are going to marry. I guess the only question now is, will you allow us to have the ceremony here Below, or will we need to try and get everyone into Catherine's apartment?"
"Of course you will have your wedding here Below!" Mary exclaimed. "And as for the other, you did not offend me at all! If Father is going to be an old stick in the mud, you could just not invite him!" she advised, only half teasing.
"Father?" Vincent questioned softly, noticing the baffled far-away look on his face.
Shaking his head to bring himself back so he could respond to Vincent, he questioned, "You became lovers?"
"Really Father! Did you think they read poetry to each other all weekend?" Mary huffed.
"But the risk?"
"That I would hurt her? We were careful Father and everything was fine. That she could become pregnant with a child that is like me? Since Catherine is already with child, that was a moot point. However, she and I have talked about having more children and each one will be loved and cherished no matter which parent they look like."
"Of course they will!" Mary agreed.
"This is all just such a shock."
"It was for me as well Father, but I am sure that given time you will be able to adjust."
"Ah good, so you are planning on a long engagement!" the elder man looked relieved.
"Actually no, Father. Catherine and I would like to be married within the next two weeks."
"WHAT?" both Mary and Father gasped in unison.
However, their next comments were not…
"That is hardly time to adjust!" Father protested.
"How in the world can we be ready that quickly?" Mary protested.
"Catherine is planning to wear her mother's dress, and her friend Jenny Aaronson will stand up with her. We are hoping that if tonight's meeting goes well, her father will walk her down the aisle…"
"Bring him Below?" Father demanded.
"How wonderful!" Mary cheered. "It will be so nice to meet him. And you Vincent? Who will you have as your best man?"
"I would love to have had Devin, but since that is not possible, I guess I will have to try and choose between Winslow, Pascal, or Mouse."
Since Vincent had been answering Mary, he had been looking at her as he spoke, otherwise he might have missed her subtle head tilt and eye gestures. Understanding her meaning, he turned to his father and said, "That is, of course, unless you might be willing to stand up with me Father?"
"Me?" he exclaimed in amazement.
"I know it is not a common thing to do, but we are a very uncommon couple," Vincent offered.
"I think it's a wonderful idea!" Mary assured them.
"You do?" Father asked.
"Yes I do!"
"Would you consider it Father?"
"Well if you want me to, of course I will," he consented.
"Good! Then that's settled!" Mary enthused. "Vincent, why don't you get off to your classes before you are late? I will start making lists. You should tell everyone at lunch time so I can start getting things in motion!"
"Alright Mary," Vincent grinned and gave her an unexpected hug. "Thank you Father," he added patting him on the shoulder before leaving the study.
To say that Catherine Chandler's appearance at the office before 10am that morning caused some surprise would have been the understatement of the year! Shock was the expression on every face except the morning mail boy, and that was only because he didn't know who she was, having never seen her before!
To be continued….