Chapter 75
"No, Dad. I am the daughter of a great corporate lawyer."
"I thought you found the work stimulating!"
"When I think of corporate law stimulating is not what comes to mind. But before long I will need to take time off for maternity leave."
"When are you due?" her father asked.
"It should be about the middle of January. Around the twelfth I think."
"January 12th is my birthday Catherine," Vincent said with an odd little smile.
"Do your parents look like you Vincent?" Charles asked.
"I do not know, Sir. I was found abandoned in the trash behind St. Vincent's hospital, which was how I got my name. I was brought to the man that became my father, he took me in and raised me."
"Just where is this place that you were raised? Cathy only said it was safe and wonderful."
"It is all that and more Sir. Catherine and I would be glad to show you around any time you would like to see it. Our world is a secret one, kept that way by the careful selection of people that know about it. Each one is asked to promise to keep that secret," Vincent paused, looking at Charles expectantly.
"You are asking me for my word?"
"Yes Daddy! I was an exception to their rule in the fact that I was unconscious when Vincent took me there. As soon as I was well enough to be told about where I was, I was also asked for my promise. It was gladly given because I had come to know some of the people there and why they needed to remain apart from this world."
"Like your Vincent," Charles nodded towards him.
"Yes, but not just him, there are many others there. They go there to heal and learn, it is not a place to hide, but rather a respite for the soul. Some stay there, but others leave when they are once again ready to come back to this world. Please Daddy understand how important this is! Not just to Vincent, but to me as well!" Catherine pleaded.
"Alright," Charles stated, "You have my word to keep this world of yours a secret."
"Thank you Daddy!" Catherine exclaimed.
While at the same time Vincent was saying, "Thank you Mr. Chandler. Our world is under the city. There are tunnels that run for miles and chambers that we call home."
"Tunnels and chambers? You expect Cathy to live in a hole in the ground? She would never survive without running water, electricity, and shops!"
"Daddy! You really are wrong! Vincent's world has all the comforts that anyone could want! You shouldn't judge until you see it."
"Cathy I am not judging his world, but I know you! You have credit cards to half the stores in New York!"
"People change Daddy," was all she would say to that, but Vincent could sense that she had been hurt by her father's assessment of her.
Any conversation that happened through dinner was at either Catherine or Vincent's instigation. For the most part Charles was silent unless answering direct questions put to him. During a discussion of the wedding plans when Jenny was mentioned he did however come up with a question of his own, "What is Jenny going to think of all this when she finds out?"
"Jenny already knows Daddy. In fact she has met Vincent and visited Below. Her only regret in this is that Vincent's brother doesn't look like him," Catherine laughed.
"You have a brother?" Charles demanded of Vincent.
"Devin's mother lived Below, and when she died in childbirth Father took in Devin as he did me. But this was all before I was born. Father raised us both even though we were never related in any way."
"I see," was Charles' only response to that.
When they had finished eating he did ask, "So when would this tour of your world happen?"
"We could go right now, Sir, if Catherine doesn't have something else planned for the evening," Vincent turned to her with a questioning gaze.
"Now is fine with me if you want to Daddy."
"No time like the present I always say," Charles replied.
"I'll get us both jackets. It tends to be a bit cooler Below," Catherine told her father, then as she watched Vincent swing his cloak on, added, "I'll see you at my threshold," and offered her lips up to be kissed.
To be continued….