Chapter 5

Catherine giggled and admitted it was. "I don't think I have ever seen anyone turn that deep color of red before!"

It was her turn to open the next gift. She read the card and announced to everyone that it was from Jenny. Catherine opened the box and pulled out a nearly transparent baby doll nightgown in the softest pink color. She looked at Vincent to see his reaction and had to retract her comment of just moments before.

Much to all the guests delight Vincent's face had turned a deep crimson. Catherine quickly put the gown back in the box and she sent a mild glare at Jenny. "Vincent I am sorry! I had no idea!"

Vincent was trying to hide his face by letting his long hair fall forward. He told her it was okay, however he wasted no time in reaching for another gift to open so it would take everyone's attention off of the sexy nightgown. The gift was from Dr. Peter Alcott. It was a set of Irish linen sheets still an intimate gift, but not nearly as blush inducing as the previous one. Although Catherine was pretty sure Vincent would have been almost as shocked if he had any idea how expensive the imported sheets were.

When all of the gifts had been opened Jenny closed the book in front of her and practically demanded that Vincent dance with her. She claimed it was his duty to dance with the maid of honor. Since Devin had been close enough to hear that, he decided that the best man should also have a dance with the bride.

He approached Catherine, took her hand, and led her onto the dance floor before she had a chance to protest.

They were not alone out there, Vincent and Jenny had joined them and there were several other couples out there as well. Maybe the most surprising was Father and Mary.

She had seen him standing alone so took her courage by the hand and went over to him. "Jacob, I should like to dance," she told him.

"I think that is a fine idea Mary. You should do that! Maybe with Peter? He is over there at the buffet table," Father advised.

For just a moment Mary stood there in opened mouth shock! Her answer came with just a bit of bite in the tone, "I meant with you!"

This time it was Father's turn to look surprised. He gestured to the cane he had been leaning on and said, "I would be pretty slow on the dance floor Mary."

"I don't care! The musicians are playing a waltz and that is as slow as it gets. Now are you going to turn down a lady's request?"

Knowing he couldn't do that he offered his free arm to her and led Mary onto the dance floor.

Devin had caught sight of this and maneuvered Catherine and himself over near where Vincent and Jenny were dancing. He leaned in close to Vincent and asked, "Did you see that?!" nodding his head in Father and Mary's direction.

"Yes I did," Vincent answered, "What of it?"

"Well…ummm…I've never known the old man to dance! Had that changed while I was away?"

It was Catherine that gave Devin a perturbed look and said, "Leave it to you to think that nothing would change in the…what was it…twenty years that you were gone?!"

"Hey! I admit that a lot has changed while I was gone, not the least of which was the size of my little brother! But come on! Father dancing?! Not only is he a stick in the mud, but his hip has gotten so bad that he's using a cane now…does that really go together with dancing?!"

Catherine could tell that Vincent was actually considering Devin's words by the way he cocked his head, so she said nothing while allowing Vincent time to think. Jenny, however, had no such qualms. "Oh come on! Give him a break Devin! Clearly love is in the air at a wedding, or maybe he just wanted to dance on his son's special day! I mean it's pretty clear you haven't been in any hurry to get married so he has to celebrate the one that has!"

"Hey, you have it all wrong Jenny! The old man is no more my dad than he is Vincent's! He is 'Father' to everyone here Below and the only reason he is more to Vincent and I, is that he raised us. My mom was single and died in childbirth, and Vincent was brought to him to raise a few years later."

Jenny was shaking her head as Devin finished, "So that makes you both his sons! Wow are you dense or what?!"

To be continued…..