Beauty and the Beast (51 page)

Then Catherine looked at Charles with surprised joy. “Charles, is that really you?” Charles grinned and nodded as she exclaimed, “Tell me how!”

Charles came and hugged Catherine very gently, and then he said, “Dev found a research hospital in Sweden where they were doing experimental surgeries on people with neurofibromatosis. They fixed me!”

Catherine held Charles’ hand as she said, “They certainly did! You are such an handsome man, Charles. Lots of women are going to be fighting over you!” Charles

chuckled with pleasure at the compliment.

Mary, Susan, Laura, Jerry, Mouse, Brooke, Rebecca, and Sarah all took turns getting hugs from Catherine as Vincent explained all of the things each of them had done to help take care of her and Little Jacob as well as distract Vincent in the tunnels, while his empathic connection with Catherine was healing.

The last of Father’s people to come and hug Catherine was Jamie. As she left the shadow of a giant Tandin man, Catherine noticed that his eyes followed Jamie with unabashed adoration, and she smiled. When Catherine hugged Jamie, she asked her, “Who is your very large bodyguard, Jamie?”

Jamie looked back at Dresden and giggled, “Who? You mean that big teasing Brute over there?” Dresden’s eyes twinkled at the genuine affection in Jamie’s voice. Jamie motioned for him to come to her, and she introduced him to Catherine. “Catherine, this is Vincent’s and Elisia’s cousin, Dresden, Tanimus’ son.”

Dresden bent over and kissed Catherine on the cheek, and she giggled as she put Jamie’s little hand into his enormous one. “Here, big guy, you can have her back now!”

Dresden chuckled, bowed, and said, “Thank you, Catherine; this little Princess is just what I have always wanted!” Jamie shook her head and giggled as she let Dresden lead her away from the bed.

Tanimus then introduced Catherine to the rest of

Vincent’s biological family who had helped to wake her up. “Catherine, this is Chrystal’s father, my nephew, Tucker.” Tucker hugged a still smiling Catherine. “This is my sister, Marina, and her husband, Michael, who are Tucker’s parents and Chrystal’s grandparents.” They, too, embraced Catherine.

When Tanimus brought Letha to Catherine, she sat on the edge of the bed with Catherine and hugged her tightly. Tanimus said, “This is my wife, Letha. She is the identical twin sister of Vincent’s and Elisia’s mother, Loren.”

Catherine had tears running down her cheeks again as she said, “You are beautiful, Aunt Letha! It must have been hard for you to lose your twin to such violence from the world above.”

Letha answered her. “It was then, but I am ecstatically happy now to see Vincent so happy, loved, and well. You have helped to keep him safe, and I adore you for what you have done for him!”

Catherine smiled happily. “Vincent has done far more for me! Words alone can’t express what he means to me and how much I love him.”

Then Letha introduced Catherine to Vincent’s four grandparents, her parents, Porter and Doreen, and Tanimus’ parents, Vernal and Kaitlin, and she was overjoyed to get hugs from them. Last of all, she met and hugged Tanimus’ and Letha’s son-in-law, Nolan.

After meeting everyone, while they were still waiting for Nina to arrive with Little Jacob, Catherine looked around

with curiosity at the chamber they were in. She exclaimed, “This is such a lovely and relaxing chamber! It smells so wonderful in here. What is that scent?”

Elisia answered her. “That is an aromatherapy blend we use specifically for the healing ceremonies. It is a combination of vanilla and lavender.”

Then Catherine asked about the ceremony. “So, all of you helped me to wake up?”

Vincent explained, “Yes, they formed a circle in the outer corridor of this room, and then my people used their telepathic abilities to link everyone’s minds, so that their combined mental powers, together with their faith and love, would support me as I went into your mind to wake you up. It was an amazing experience!”

Peter then added, “Catherine, Tanimus told us when he and Elisia came to your room at my home, that the procedure couldn’t be adequately explained. He said that we would have to experience it before we could really understand it. He was right! Words just can’t properly describe what we felt. It was like a warm blanket of healing love enveloping us. It was too wonderful for words! I don’t think there was any doubt in anyone’s mind, once we were all linked, that Vincent would be able to wake you up. Our faith received a powerful boost with that link. With our combined minds, we were even able to repair the damage to Vincent’s heart when he had his heart attack.”

Catherine smiled, “Well, I am really grateful to all of

you for saving Vincent and helping him to get me out of that terrible nightmare!”

Catherine’s face suddenly lit up with pure joy as she looked toward the door, and everyone turned around to see what she was looking at. Nina had just walked in with Donner strapped to her in a baby pack and Little Jacob in his stroller. Nolan went quickly to his wife and took Donner out of the baby pack, and Nina took the pack off. Then, Nina bent over to get Little Jacob out of his stroller.

Vincent climbed off the bed and walked around it to go and get Little Jacob from Nina. He was halfway to Nina when he heard everyone gasp, and a couple of them cry out, “Catherine!” Vincent whirled around to see that Catherine had climbed off the bed, and her legs were crumpling under her. Everyone rushed toward her, but Vincent got there first. He caught her before she hit the floor, and he swept her up into his arms.

Vincent lay Catherine gently back on the bed, and she looked at her legs in consternation as she exclaimed, “Those aren’t my legs! They won’t do what I want them to!”

Vincent couldn’t help but smile, but then he said in a soothing tone, “Don’t worry Catherine, 111 help you teach them to behave again. Just be patient. Remember, you haven’t had any physical activity for months now.”

Catherine totally forgot about her weakened legs when Nina brought Little Jacob to her and placed him on her lap in her arms. Tears of joy streamed down Catherine’s cheeks, and that started everyone crying with joy over the poignant scene. This was the first time Catherine had ever held her baby, and she just gazed in silent wonder into his smiling alert little face. She finally whispered,

“Oh, Vincent, he is so beautiful, isn’t he?”

Vincent had climbed back on the bed with Catherine, and he had his arms wrapped around both of them as he enjoyed Catherine’s peaceful look of motherly love for her infant. “Yes, Catherine, he is truly a beautiful baby boy!” Catherine looked up at Nina with an expression of profound gratitude, and Nina bent over and kissed Catherine’s cheek. Vincent introduced her. “Catherine, this is my cousin, Tanimus’ daughter, Nina. She took care of Little Jacob for us while we were all here waking you up.”

Catherine said softly, “Thank you so much, Nina!”

Nina replied, “It was my pleasure, Catherine. Little Jacob is a joy to care for!” Catherine looked back into Little Jacob’s eyes with the adoring gaze every child wants to see on a mother’s face.

At that point, everyone quietly slipped out of the chamber to give the happy little family some privacy.

Little Jacob started to fuss, and then he nuzzled Catherine’s breast through her nightgown. Catherine looked at Vincent with worry and asked, “Does he need a bottle?”

Vincent chuckled softly. “No, Catherine, he just needs you!”

Catherine looked confused. “He does?”

Vincent explained to her, “Even though you have been asleep, you have been nursing Little Jacob. He still gets all of his nourishment from you.”

Catherine was overjoyed. “Oh, Vincent, how wonderful, but I don’t know how to nurse him.”

Vincent smiled at her. “Ill teach you.”

Catherine giggled at him. “You will?”

Vincent chuckled. “Yes, I had read about breastfeeding when Father was teaching our health courses while I was growing up. Then, when I found you at Peter’s home, Mary taught me the correct technique, so I could help you to nurse Little Jacob until you awakened.”

Catherine smiled happily. “Teach me, Vincent!” Vincent unbuttoned Catherine’s nightgown and gently supported one of her breasts with his hand. Then, he showed Catherine the right technique for helping Little Jacob to latch on and begin suckling. When Little Jacob was properly attached to her breast and hungrily nursing, Catherine was elated by the experience, and she giggled softly. Vincent kept his strong arm under her weakened arm to help her support Little Jacob as he nursed. She settled comfortably in Vincent’s arms and watched Little Jacob nurse with such a look of joyous satisfaction that it brought tears to Vincent’s eyes.

When Little Jacob decided that the first breast was empty, he popped off and looked up at his mother with a

smile. Catherine giggled, and Vincent said, “Now, he needs to be burped before he nurses from your other breast.”

She kept looking into Little Jacob’s eyes as she said, “Show me how to burp him, Vincent.” Vincent lifted the baby up onto Catherine’s shoulder and showed her where to pat him on his back. She patted him a few times, but she couldn’t keep her arm up long enough to get a burp out of him.

Catherine gave Vincent a distressed look when she had to lay her arm down. He said softly, “Don’t worry Catherine.” Then he took over patting Little Jacob’s back on her shoulder until the baby bubbled up an huge burp that made Catherine giggle again. Vincent then helped Catherine switch Little Jacob to her other breast, and while he was happily emptying that one, Nina came back into the chamber.

Catherine was so focused on Little Jacob that she didn’t even notice Nina. Nina smiled at the pretty scene, and then she looked at Vincent. “I thought I would come back and take Little Jacob in his stroller for you when he is done nursing. That way, you can help Catherine to get back to Mom’s and Dad’s guest house chambers. We have moved a crib and a playpen with toys down there for Little Jacob.”

Vincent smiled at his cousin. “Thank you, Nina. That was very thoughtful of you. Those chambers will be lovely and comfortable for Catherine while she is recovering.”

Nina smiled, “Everyone is thrilled that the two of you are now reunited and safe.” Little Jacob popped off Catherine’s breast, looked at Nina, and smiled. Nina asked Catherine, “Can you bear to part with him for a little while, so Vincent can help you get back to my parents’ home, Catherine?”

Catherine giggled, “I think so, Nina, thank you.” Nina picked up Little Jacob and burped him. Then she put him in the stroller and left the healing chamber with him.

Vincent got off the bed, went around to Catherine’s side, and asked her, “Are you ready to go to Uncle Tanimus’ and Aunt Letha’s home, Catherine?”

Catherine lit up as she was buttoning her nightgown. “That sounds wonderful, Vincent!”

Vincent gently picked Catherine up, and then he kept a supporting arm around her waist as he set her feet on the floor of the chamber. “You are going to love the chambers that Uncle Tanimus and Aunt Letha gave us! They are very beautiful and comfortable. It is the perfect place for you to recover in.”

Vincent kept most of Catherine’s weight on his right arm, and held her left hand in his left hand, as she tried to walk with him. She managed to walk with his support to the doorway, but then she was exhausted. Catherine was discouraged. “Oh, Vincent, I’m so sorry! I’m totally useless!”

Vincent swept her up into his arms and began

carrying her back to Tanimus’ and Letha’s home chambers. He shook his head. “Please don’t fret, Catherine. You will regain your strength. It will just take a little time. Besides, I love having you in my arms!” Catherine giggled happily. Vincent continued, “The chambers that Uncle Tanimus and Aunt Letha gave us have a spa-pool in them. You will be able to practice walking in it, where the water will help to support your weight.”

Catherine smiled at him. “That sounds delightful.” Then, she noticed all of the lovely artwork in the corridors Vincent was carrying her through. “Oh, Vincent, there are some magnificent pieces of art here! These corridors are absolutely beautiful.”

Vincent told her, “All of the artwork in these tunnels has been created here. It is the work of both human and Tandin community members, and some of the pieces have even been crafted by the children.”

Catherine was amazed. “How long have the Tandins occupied these tunnels? Accumulating all of these treasures took some time.”

Vincent answered her. “The Tandins were brought here by human friends from Romania two-hundred years ago. Adrian’s and Gabriel’s adoptive father was a Romanian geneticist who was working with and studying my people. His ancestors were among the human friends who smuggled them aboard ships and brought them here to these tunnels where they would be safer. His name was

Dr. Dominik Vlas, and he was completely devastated by what his sons did to my people. When Gabriel was fifteen, he killed Dr. Vlas while he slept by strangling him. Dr. Vlas had rescued the boys from their abusive father in Romania on one of his trips there to visit relatives. They just never did overcome their terrible upbringing, and it broke Dr. Vlas’ heart when they caused such tragedy among my people.”

Catherine looked at Vincent. “Didn’t Uncle Tanimus say that they now have Adrian in custody?” Vincent nodded, and she asked, “What are they going to do with him?”

Vincent looked at her and smiled. “Would you believe that they are actually going to try to help him? Even if they can’t help him, they will take care of him and his mercenary army for the rest of their lives. Uncle Tanimus says that the Tandins have had considerable success rehabilitating hardened criminals they have had to incarcerate here over the years. Many of them are now productive members of their community. With the Tandins’ mental abilities, it is impossible for the prisoners to deceive them, and he says that they have never lost a prisoner yet.”