A Night to Remember
©Kimber - 2002
Catherine snuggled down in her bed. It was warm and soft. She felt a little guilty for calling in sick when she wasn't -- but it couldn't be helped. Last night had been so special. A part of her really wanted to *share* the experience with somebody. It had been so sweet... She reached over and took the rose from her nightstand and *remembered.*
It had taken her three days to talk him into it but she finally succeeded. She smiled as she recalled the walk they had taken last Halloween and was determined to make the most of that opportunity again this year. A client of her father's firm had rented out the ballroom and banquet hall at the Ritz Carleton for a company party and the firm had been given two tickets. Catherine had planned to attend with her father and meet Vincent later but the partners had called an emergency strategy session and suddenly she was left with a free ticket. They had spent a long evening on the balcony discussing the risks involved and Catherine assured him that it would be a very casual get together with some people she knew and some she didn't and no one would be checking anything but tickets. A little dinner, a little dancing and they would leave. It wasn't until she mentioned the collection of impressionist canvasses that would be on loan and displayed in the ballroom that she finally managed to clinch the deal.
As the night approached she scoured the city for the perfect costume. The hoop skirt had indeed been lovely but quite impractical for a walking tour so this year she was aiming for something more...versatile. She had pulled up to the last costume store on the list expecting little and planning her search for a seamstress who could design and create something wonderful on such short notice. There was nothing remarkable about the small hole in the wall shop. The same posters and ads she had seen in the last 15 shops she had been in. The same variety of costumes...Grecian togas, French maids, gorillas... The sight made her want to cry. But as she turned to head back out the door she noticed a sign in the back of the store for discontinued/irregulars. 'Well, it won't hurt anything to look. And if I did find something useful it would take less time to have it altered than to have something made from scratch.'
Catherine approached the circular rack from which protruded endless varieties of feathers, fringes and bangles. Picking a spot at random she began to push through the hangers. 'Nope, nope, nope, oh goodness no...' on around the rack until she came to the opposite side from where she started and her hand touched the fabric on the next hanger. It felt exquisite. She pulled the costumes apart further to get a better look. It was creamy ivory silk that draped across her hand like smoke. Catherine lifted the clear bag which contained the mask and photo of the costume being worn. 'Perfect!!'
They were to meet in front of the Ritz at 9:30 to be sure that the majority of the guests had already arrived and had a round by the time they walked in. Vincent stood in the shadows by the wall waiting. Still not completely comfortable in the open even after the success of last Halloween. There was a nip in the air, reminding everyone that New York City wasn't that far away from New England. The exhaust from the taxis swirled together forming a drape of mist in front of the sidewalk. He leaned forward a bit as he sensed Catherine approaching trying to see her car as it pulled to the curb. But it wasn't her car, it was a long black limousine. The mist began to swirl more quickly as the doorman reached the back door to open it for her. He felt his heart beating against his ribcage and forced himself to breathe normally. He took two steps forward and stopped...
The vision that flowed out of the mist may well have crossed the boundaries from Avalon. The exquisite mask, covered in downy tan feathers held a single crescent-shaped jewel in the center of the forehead. The high-bodiced silken gown had no sewn seams but was joined with equally fine silk cords that followed the flared skirt to where it ended just above her ankles. Vincent reached up and pulled his hood back, the thought of any other person in the entire world whisked away with the mists. Catherine reached to take his outstretched hand and looked up into his adoring eyes. 'Perfect' she thought again. She noticed he had worn her favorite ruffled shirt and doe skin pants with the knee high brown boots. The leather vest was new, she thought admiringly. 'Mary does wonderful work.'
They entered the lobby of the hotel and checked their cloaks. Vincent glanced around the room quickly, mapping out escape routes without even thinking about it. He briefly took in the other costumes milling about as he felt Catherine taking his arm and leading him to the banquet hall. All the guests were hovering around tables waiting for the announcements from the hosts, the ending of which would signal the servers to enter. Catherine indicated a table toward the back near enough to the door but not in the lane of traffic and thrilled at the touch of Vincent's hand on the small of her back as he escorted her. 'There is no denying that this is real silk' she chuckled to herself. As Vincent seated her she heard her name being called.
"Cathy? My god, is that you?!"
Looking around she found the source of the voice. A dashing, becloaked Zoro strode casually up to the table. She searched the facial features she could see trying to place the man...
"Oh, sorry. It's Brad...Jenkins...."
"Oh no!" Catherine laughed. "I didn't know you worked for Kensington!"
"Well, work is a strong term but I have a really great office there."
"How did you know it was me?" Catherine gazed curiously out through her mask. He looked rather embarrassed and told her he had checked the guest register after he saw her enter. Brad glanced up at Vincent and reached out his hand. "Brad Jenkins. I was a senior associate at Charles' firm when Cathy left."
Vincent took a steeling breath and returned the gesture with his gloved hand. "Vincent Wells. Pleased to meet you."
"You know, I really need to get the name of your make-up guy! The things they can do nowadays is just amazing. I have been Zoro for the last 3 years and it really is time for a change."
A bell rang at the front of the room and Brad turned to glance forward quickly. "Sorry, Cathy, I have to be at the dais for this."
Catherine waved as he rushed off and Vincent sank quietly into his chair. She reached out and took his hand and with the other found the table cards to indicate which dish they had requested on their RSVPs. Thankfully the rest of the dinner went equally well. There were two other couples seated at their table and after the awkward introduction period, conversation flowed well. Catherine was reasonably well acquainted with one of the couples which helped, but Vincent and the man from the other couple were soon deep into a dissection of Lady MacBeth and Iago as foil characters. When the last of the Crème Broulet and Cafe au Lait were finished and the dishes taken away the three couples retired to the ballroom.
The orchestra was playing "Moonlight Serenade" and the dance floor was filled with besequined princesses and bewrapped mummies. "Shall we take the tour of the paintings now?" Catherine asked Vincent. Hawkins, the man Vincent had been talking with during dinner overheard and leaned in.
"Would you mind if we tagged along? I promise we'll hang back if you'd like but so far this evening we have seen no one else we know and you are our best friends in the world right now." he laughed.
Catherine glanced at Vincent letting him make the decision. Vincent joined in the laughter. "Of course, Hawkins, please join us."
In the end it was Catherine and Virginia, Hawkins' wife, who hung back as the men stopped at each painting to share observations and bits of artistic insight and trivia. Virginia put a hand on Catherine's arm..."Those two were just MEANT for each other." Catherine covered her hand with her own and smiled.
"Isn't it wonderful? Vincent really doesn't get out as much as I'd like so he doesn't often meet new people to share his passions with."
"Hawkins is the same way. He is locked up in an office sometimes 14 hours a day and he so rarely makes time for the simple pleasures in life."
When at last the small group found themselves back at the painting from which they had started Virginia spoke up. "Who wants a drink?" Hawkins offered to get the first round and took their orders over to the cash bar. Vincent looked over at Catherine and saw the lovely smile that lit up her face and realized he had been neglecting her shamefully. But as he felt her through the bond, he realized she wasn't feeling neglected at all. She was full of joy. He went to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. Leaning in he brushed her ear with his lips,
"You look breathtaking this evening, my Catherine." She smiled as the goosebumps raised on her arms and the shiver ran down her spine. "As do you." The orchestra was playing the opening strains of "Someone to Watch Over Me" and Vincent looked down into her eyes. "Could I have this dance?"
"Of course." She smiled as he led her out to the floor. As if by magic a small circle cleared around them as they began to dance. Vincent led her confidently around the floor, never taking his eyes from hers. She marveled at the absolute absence of insecurity or self-consciousness from her usually restrained partner. He commanded the floor, even the room with his very presence. Catherine's heart fluttered as she felt him pull her closer. She barely noticed when the music ended and Vincent led her back to the small table where their drinks were waiting for them. He seated her and then pulled his own chair closer to hers as he sat. The conversation swirled around her as she tried to collect herself.
As the hours ticked by, Vincent and Catherine lost track of the world beyond the dance floor and their table until Hawkins looked at his watch and spoke: "Well, folks, it's 2 am. If we don't get going we will have to pay the babysitter time and a half." The couples rose with hugs and handshakes all around and Vincent and Catherine walked them to the coat check. As they passed a cart in the lobby, Vincent pulled a bill from his vest and exchanged it for a single rose. When they reached the desk, Vincent embraced her from behind, pulling her close, and placed the rose in her hand.
Hawkins looked at Vincent. "So, we should do this again sometime. When we're not all done up like this. You two should come over to the house for dinner. We have two kids so jeans and t-shirts are highly recommended." he said smiling as he helped Virginia on with her coat.
Vincent glanced down for a moment and then looked up again "Nothing would make me happier..." he stopped.
Virginia turned to Hawkins "Honey, go get us a cab while I get Cathy's number, huh?"
"Oh, sure, hun." He trotted out to the curb.
"Sorry about that. Sometimes he just lives so far inside his own little world..." She reached out and placed her hand on Vincent's arm. "Thank you for pulling him out of it for a while." She caught his gaze. "I hope that wherever you live the other 364 days of the year, they know how special you really are." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek and turned to leave. Catherine touched her arm to stop her and Virginia turned back. Catherine hugged her tight..."Thank you so much." When she pulled back there were tears in her eyes. Reaching into her evening bag, Catherine pulled out her business card. "Call me. Anytime."
**************************************************
Catherine snuggled in closer to Vincent as they sat on his cloak in the grass in the park. He leaned against a tree and she leaned against him, braced comfortably between his long, strong legs. She sniffed the rose again and flushed slightly as her mind went back over the limousine ride. The first rays of the sunrise were breaking over the horizon but she was too distracted by Vincent's fingers toying with the laces of her gown to notice. "I really like this dress." he said into her hair. She smiled. "I thought you might."