Chapter 82

Pointing to the files on her desk she said, "Because I have a lot of work to do. Now you were going to show me to the library…" She wadded up the paper her sandwich had come in and grabbed a notepad and pencil, then gave him an expectant look.

"Fine!" he grumbled, then with a wink told her, "But don't think I am going to give up on this!"

Catherine spent the afternoon in the library and didn't even realize she had worked through dinner until her stomach growled. Because there were no windows in the library she was surprised to see that night had fallen over the city and that all the other office staff had gone home.

She gathered up her things hoping she had enough left overs in the fridge for a meal because she didn't even feel like stopping anywhere. Wearily pushing her front door open Catherine stopped dead at the sight she beheld. Her keys and briefcase slipped from suddenly lifeless fingers and her mouth dropped open in shock.

Vincent was standing at a beautifully set table, lighting candles and the heavenly aroma coming from the plates almost had her drooling. "Oh Vincent! How did you know this was just what I needed tonight?"

"I felt your hunger and how tired you were, so it was a simple thing to do to ask William to pack up dinner for two and then to bring it to you. I hoped that you wouldn't mind I let myself in?"

"Vincent you never have to worry about that! You are always welcome to come in at any time, even when you aren't bringing food," she teased.

Crossing the room she started at the full plates and wondered how rude he would find her if she just dug right in.

"Catherine, please sit," he invited holding out a chair for her. "I am hungry also, shall we eat?"

"Oh yes please Vincent! This looks and smells marvelous! I will certainly have to do something nice for William and for you too of course!"

"I have a feeling William already feels thanked by the supply of chocolate that arrived Below today."

"Chocolate?" she tried to sound innocent.

With a toothy smile he said, "Do not even try and deny it Catherine. After the talk with Mary about the chocolate wedding cake…there is not one person Below, not even the most naive child, that would believe you were not the one to send it down!"

Grinning sheepishly she said, "How could I resist providing something I know you love? Not only that, but the cocoa was for our wedding cake so in essence that was for me too."

"A little treat now and then is one thing Catherine. But you needn't send so much!" he protested.

"Vincent your world is going to become my world too once we are married and I have more money than I can ever spend. I want to use it to help in any way I can Below."

He had been aware that Catherine was well-to-do. He could tell by her clothes and the lovely things in her apartment, as well as the apartment itself. But her claim that she had more money than she could spend, was incomprehensible to him. "Catherine, I cannot imagine the kind of wealth you are talking about," he told her with a shake of his shaggy head.

She looked at him with a gentle smile and said, "Okay, try this; picture Father's study in your mind," she waited a moment for him to do so before continuing. "Now instead of the piles and piles…and piles of books…picture them as stacks of money…"

His eyes popped open, as did his mouth, and he stared at her in astonishment. Catherine simply nodded that now he had a proper grasp of the situation.

Slowly, he said, "Catherine it might be wise not to let everyone Below know that. I do not think our people are greedy by any means, but we are not used to people with funds like you have. When there is a need Below, we always find a way to make do. I am concerned that if you let it be known that you could supply every need that we have with your wealth, some might come to expect that, rather than working to find a solution."

To be continued….