Chapter 77
"Well over thirty years," Peter answered with a smile.
"Why have you never told us about it?" Charles wanted to know.
"Because it wasn't my secret to tell, Charles. This world depends on remaining hidden from the world Above and since you are here I am sure that you were asked to keep the secret as well."
Approaching his friend of many years, Charles looked him in the eye and demanded, "Can you truthfully tell me that you can see Cathy living in this place?"
"I can Charles. In fact, if I hadn't had a practice Above and my daughter to raise I would be living here myself. I have already told Susan that when I retire I'm going to sell the house and move Below."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Charles once again turned his eyes to the room around him. It looked like there had been an explosion at a library!
Vincent stepped into his line of vision with Catherine at his side and said, "Mr. Chandler, I would like to introduce you to my father. Father this is Charles Chandler, Catherine's father."
Holding out his hand to the visitor Father said, "When I lived in your world I was known as Jacob Wells, but down here everyone calls me Father. Welcome to our world. We are pleased to meet Catherine's family."
"Hello," Charles said as they shook hands. "How many people live down here?"
"As with any community, our numbers ebb and flow, but we have been holding steady between eighty and ninety for the last several years," Father replied and then asked, "Would the three of you like some tea? Mary brought in a fresh pot just before you arrived and some of William's oatmeal cookies too."
"Cookies?" Catherine gasped eagerly and was moving towards the plate before anyone else could answer.
Charles was again very quiet as the other three men talked and his daughter was busy inhaling the cookies.
During a lull in the conversation Peter leaned towards Catherine and told her, "I want you to come in and see me at the office as soon as possible young lady. If you and Vincent are going to become parents we are going to need to keep a close eye on your progress."
Three voices corrected Peter's assumption almost in unison:
"Vincent is not the father!" came from Charles and Father.
"Sadly Vincent is not the baby's biological father," Catherine told him.
"The child is only mine in my heart Peter," Vincent said.
"I see," said a stunned Peter, not really seeing at all of course. "I am sure there is a story here, but Cathy can tell me all about it at her appointment. I will set it up for after hours if you would like to be there too Vincent."
"I would, thank you Peter."
"Peter, I have just one condition you must agree to before I will let you be the one to deliver this baby!" Cathy declared.
"And that is?" he questioned.
"That when he or she is old enough, you will torment them with the story of their birth just as you do me," she giggled.
All four men laughed in unison at this. It was the first positive reaction from Charles since meeting Vincent.
The shared laughter seemed to be a unifying factor and the rest of the evening went better. Charles mellowed out enough to actually carry on a conversation and when Mary joined them after putting the nursery children to bed, the groups talk turned to plans for the wedding.
Mary reported that as promised the Great Hall would be ready in time. She added that William assured everyone there would be plenty of food, and she was told to ask Vincent and Catherine what flavor of cake they wanted.
Knowing Vincent's love of chocolate, Catherine quickly and firmly insisted on that and made a mental note to send down a large supply of his favorite treat as soon as he left her apartment in the morning.
When her watch said 10pm Catherine started openly yawning in the hope the gathering would end so she and Vincent could be along together. Her father, however, questioned how she could possibly be tired that early in the evening.
Before Catherine could even try and formulate a lie for him, both the medical men rushed to assure Charles that her pregnancy could easily cause this and that while she was pregnant she should get as much rest as possible.
Mary, having noticed the slightly rosy cheeks on both Catherine and Vincent jumped in to suggest that Catherine return home and go to bed as quickly as possible. Vincent readily agreed and rose to escort Catherine and Charles back to her basement threshold.
When they arrived, Charles assured Vincent they could go the rest of the way alone. Vincent wished them both a good night and as Catherine hugged him, he whispered he would see her soon.
To be continued….