Chapter 22

In their chamber Catherine tucked Vincent into bed with only the slightest protest on his part. She told herself that she was only going to lay down next to him until he fell asleep and then she was planning a quick trip to her apartment to make a couple of phone calls. She needed to let Joe know that she was taking tomorrow off as well as call Jenny to let her know what had happened to Devin.

It seemed like days ago she had found out about Joe and Gina rather than just hours. But so much had happened since she had made that discovery at work. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago she was worried about revealing what she knew to Jenny, but now Catherine had much more serious news to impart to her friend. She knew that Jenny cared deeply for both Devin and Joe, but with what had happened to Devin that was certainly of more immediate concern.

However, when she looked down at her watch, she realized that it was about three in the morning, so she allowed herself to give into the level of exhaustion both she and Vincent had been experiencing. They both slept right through the night, until the call of nature woke them in the morning.

Mary had coaxed a grumbling Father into his night clothes. He was almost asleep before his head hit the pillow, but she knew that if he woke during the night, he would feel the need to check on both of his sons. So, she lay down on top of the covers next to him to insure that if he did wake, he would stay put. They were both rather surprised to wake almost nose to nose in the morning!

She hadn't meant to stay all night, but ultimately she must have been as tired as he had been. Mary wished there had been another reason they had been in bed together, but since they weren't married that would never have happened, and the burgeoning romance that had been building slowly between them was no where near that point! So she just serenely greeted him with a mild, "Good morning Jacob."

Catherine and Vincent were also surprised on waking that morning. It wasn't the fact that they were in bed together because in the months since their wedding both of them had gotten used to that. They were surprised that they hadn't been awakened during the night with an update on Devin.

Peter had also slept through the night without the interruption of a call from the hospital chamber. However, he was confused when he first woke because he rarely stayed the night when he came Below and he had been so weary when he fell into bed last night that he was just slightly disconcerted when he awoke.

In the hospital chamber Rebecca was glad of the time alone with Devin. She had been in love with him since they were children. She knew there were those in the community that wondered why she had never married. She was an attractive young woman and could have had her pick of the single men Below. But the only one she had ever wanted for as long as she could remember was Devin. It had silently torn her apart when he had run away from the tunnels all those years ago and no one had rejoiced more than she when he came back. That had been the case at least until she found out he was dating Catherine's friend Jenny.

But sitting there in the stillness of the hospital chamber he was hers alone. No one came in to check on them, they were all sleeping. She had him all to herself. Most of the time she sat there, holding his hand, and staring at his dear face. This was something she would never have been able to do if he were awake. There were moments when she would allow herself to doze lightly. She would rest her head on their joined hands so if there was any movement from him at all she would wake instantly. There was none. Devin didn't stir at all through the night and Rebecca didn't know if that was good or bad. She would have to wait until Father or Peter arrived in the morning to find out.

To be continued…..