| Catherine and Vincent's Christmas in Connecticut! By Sharon Holtz This Christmas story is an extension of my story "Holiday Anyone?" in which Catherine and Vincent went to the cabin for a summer Holiday. They crossed many bridges with Father to go, but in the end, he went along too! So half the battle had been fought when Catherine came up with the idea to go up to the cabin again in the days before Christmas, so that Vincent could see the lake in all of its winter splendor! Catherine and Vincent were whiling away the Saturday afternoon sitting together on his chamber floor, going through an old trunk that Vincent had kept important keepsakes and childhood memories in. Catherine breathlessly said, "Vincent...I love this picture! It is a Currier and Ives isn't it?" Vincent stopped reading for a moment to look and see what picture it was that Catherine was asking about. With a bittersweet smile, he gingerly put down his old childhood journal, to better peer over Catherine's shoulder. Dreamily Vincent answered, "Yes..." Catherine smiled as she admired the winter scene and sighed as she told Vincent, "Oh this picture makes me home sick for our cabin in Connecticut! It is so beautiful there during the winter. A snowfall there Vincent... is so enchanting! The huge billowy flakes fall so silently, seemingly soundproofing the world around you. The icicles that hang suspended from the frozen dormant limbs of the trees look like diamonds and jewels glistening on a sunny cold winters day." As Catherine was swept up in another sweet childhood memory, she excitedly said, "Oh Vincent, when I was young, we would spend a lot of weekends there. The lake would be all frozen and iced over, and as the community would all gather together we would have these wonderful ice-skating parties. Dad hooked up a speaker system outside the cabin, so that we would be able to skate to music. During the Holidays of course we would play Christmas songs...and Dad would always dazzle us by his fancy skating. Oh Vincent, in his younger days, he skated so beautifully. Dad could skate backwards, and do some fancy spins...he would really put on a show, maybe showing off a bit as he knew that Mom would be watching!" Thoughtfully, Catherine continued, "One time I can remember...standing on the shore watching Dad skate from afar. I saw him ever so discreetly look Mom's way to make certain that he had the audience that he hoped that he had. As I then looked toward Mom, I wanted to see if she was watching him, I saw that she was! I don't think that I will ever forget that look of love, pride and admiration that she had on her face Vincent. She had stars in her eyes as she watched, never taking her eyes off of him the whole time because she didn't want to miss a thing that he did." Catherine smiled as she reminisced, "Dad would build a campfire on the shore, and after hours of skating, we would sit on logs around the fire with our aching twisted ankles, and our frozen scarlet red noses." Catherine took a deep breath and smiled as she added, "We would usually have a big pot of chili cooking over the fire, or make mountain pies, roast hot dogs, and toast some marshmallows..." Sweetly, Catherine looked up at her Vincent as she said, "I have so many beautiful memories of those days up at the cabin Vincent..." Catherine stopped short as she noticed the tears that had gathered in Vincent's eyes. Catherine touched Vincent arm and with great concern asked, "Vincent what is it?" Vincent tipped his head as if he were listening to a far off voice, and said, "Catherine your description...it is just as I imagined it would be. Through the years, I have looked at that Lithograph and dreamt that I was one of the skaters, holding onto my partner with my scarf flowing in the wind." Vincent with deep emotion continued, "As a boy I always stayed behind as the others went above to have a slide. Some of the children even had skates. At least I could dream of it Catherine...I imagine it still." Catherine hugged Vincent tenderly and she softly said, "I'm sorry if I made you sad Vincent." Vincent shook his head and said, "No Catherine...your words took me there, and for a moment I ... I was one of the skaters around that fire on the shore." Catherine asked, "Vincent wasn't there ever a time that you sneakily went up above and skated with the others?" Vincent shook his head, as he explained, "Every year Pascal, Devin, or some of the other children would bring me skates to try on so that I may join them skating. The skates that they would find were from the trash or from a donation bin, but they would never fit me. Catherine...my feet...were always too large." Catherine hugged her Vincent once more and laid her head against his saddened heart, thinking on the many sad disappointments that Vincent has had to endure during his lifetime. Then it occurred to Catherine, that maybe it was time for another trip to the cabin! Catherine beamed at Vincent as she schemed, "Vincent why don't we go to the cabin for Christmas?" Vincent looked downward and said, "Catherine we have many rich traditions here below for the Christmas Celebration...I don't believe that I should be gone during such a Blessed time." Catherine then suggested, "Vincent, what about going for a few days before Christmas?" Vincent nods thinking, "Winterfest is now behind us Catherine...perhaps..." Vincent stopped himself as he thought of the challenge of getting Jacob to agree to this one! Catherine spurred Vincent on by saying pleadingly, "Let's go Vincent, let's at least try!" Jacob overheard the last comment as he was entering Vincent's chamber. "Go where Catherine, forgive me you two for over-hearing." Vincent stood to welcome his Father, and looked downward searching for the words to present this to Jacob. Catherine stepped up and excitedly told him, "Father I was just saying to Vincent that it would be so wonderful to go to the cabin again, and see the lake during the winter season. I was hoping that we could all go." Jacob brought his hand to his chin and pondered the excursion, "When would we go?" Catherine smiled at Vincent thinking that this sounded promising, and said, "Well in the days before Christmas, we could be back on Monday, Christmas Eve...if that would be all right Father." Jacob looked to his exquisite son, and could see the excitement within his beautiful blue eyes. Jacob smiled as he asked him, "You would like to do this Vincent?" Vincent felt like a child waiting for a Father's permission, but in truth, he was. Softly he said, "Very much Father." Jacob with an uncustomary carefree demeanor shouted, "What are we waiting for...On to Connecticut!" It took a couple of days for Catherine to make the arrangements but everything fell right into place. Her Father would be visiting his brother Douglas for a week, so Catherine had complete access to the cabin. Peter would be joining them again, along with the same crew as before...Father of course, Pascal, Mary, Jamie and Mouse. As word spread however, a few more were added to the roster too, Rebecca, and Laura would not stay behind this time! As the day drew near for them to leave Catherine sat nervously at her desk, calling the catalog service daily to see if her special gift for Vincent had come in yet. Catherine asked, "Well do you think it will come in today, I was promised that it would arrive 2 days ago?" As the lady on the other end of the phone told her that her orders delivery date was now slated for Saturday, Catherine anxiously said, "Oh no...it is so important that my order comes in sometime today! It is imperative!" Catherine calmed herself and explained, "You see, I am going on vacation and I wanted to take it with me tonight, it is a gift for someone special, someone very special." The lady on the other end of the telephone commiserated with Catherine, but assured her that there was nothing else that she could do! Just as Catherine was about to give up, it dawned on her that maybe she could have her order delivered to her Post Box up at the Post Office near the cabin! Catherine asked, "May I change the delivery address on my order, maybe I can have it delivered to where I am going!" The lady assured Catherine that "Yes, we can do that Miss." Catherine gleefully said, "Wonderful we will do that then. And thank you!" Catherine hung up the telephone after giving her change of address, and was so excited that she WOULD be able to give Vincent his special gift up at the cabin! As Catherine left work, she picked up a couple of last minute items, and hurried home before Peter came for her at seven! Peter arrived promptly and excitedly greeted Catherine, "Well kiddo, are you ready for another expedition to the cabin?" Catherine took a deep breath, and said, "Yes, I believe that I have everything covered Peter. I think that I am actually ready to go!" Catherine then added, "Peter I can't thank you enough for changing your schedule around to join us again. I don't think that we could do it with out your help." Peter scoffed, "Hey, it is my pleasure Cathy. You know, if it wasn't for you, Vincent would never know the joy of traveling and visiting the beautiful countryside. I am happy to do my part to help make it happen for him." Catherine gave Peter a hug, and said, "Well still just the same I know it isn't easy for a busy Doctor like you to free up 3 full days! Well shall we load up?" Peter kissed her on the forehead, and said, "Times a wastin', let's hit the road!" Catherine and Peter loaded all the food, and provisions that would be needed into the van, and Peter couldn't help but notice a beautifully wrapped gift on the pile, and he suspiciously asked, "Is Christmas arriving early Cathy?" Catherine smiled and said, "Yes Peter...it is something for Vincent. It is something that will go along with his main gift, and that is due to arrive while we are at the cabin, so I arranged to have it delivered there at the local Post Office." Peter nodded, and smiled, "Cathy, you are going to spoil Vincent." Catherine latched her seat belt and as she closed the van door, she said sternly, "GOOD Peter...that's the IDEA!" Peter and Catherine pulled the Van into the loading tunnel, where they picked up the rest of the crew. Catherine jumped out of the maxi-van to greet her Vincent. He had an under-current of excitement resonating from him as he returned Catherine's hug. Catherine asked, "Are you ready Vincent?" Vincent with a smile in his eyes nodded and said, "Yes Catherine." Catherine could see the edge of a present peeking out of his satchel and she couldn't help but ask, "Oh Vincent who is the present for?" Vincent answered in such a way that made Catherine's heart skip a beat. His voice...so rich and raspy, yet soothingly smooth. He looked into her eyes as he said, "It is for you Catherine." Excitedly Catherine answered "Oh Vincent, I have a gift for you too. It will be wonderful to do our gift giving at the cabin." Everyone settled in to the van, and with Peter behind the wheel once again, they were ready to head to Connecticut! Mary passed out sandwiches that she had made, and Father spoke up disappointedly, "Oh Mary, I hadn't realized that you had prepared sandwiches for us. I was hoping to stop at that quick-nourishment place again...what is it called, McDoogles?" Peter bellowed back to the seat behind him where Jacob and Mary sat, "Jacob it is called McDonald's, and if you are a very good boy this week-end, we'll stop on the way home!" Jacob scoffed, "Drive Peter...just drive!" Mary looked at Jacob and held back her chuckle. She was so happy to be sitting next to him for the drive to the cabin. As Jacob took a bite of his Cheese and onion sandwich, he raised a brow and said, "Mary this cheese on Pumpernickel is delicious...I do believe that it is my good fortune that we did not stop at McRonald's!" Mouse, who sat between Peter and Pascal, pulled the onion out of his sandwich and tried to hand it to Pascal. Pascal a bit irritated said, "Mouse, I already have onion! You should just eat your sandwich as Mary fixed it!" Mouse pouted and turned to Peter, "Want more onion Peter?" Giving him a sideways glance Peter opened his sandwich and said, "Sure plop it on here kid, I love onions!" Part Two |
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