Dinner had been a busy and somewhat noisy affair on Sunday night in the large community dining room. At last, Vincent and Catherine had adjoined to his chamber with a steaming pot of tea and a faded china plate of William's fresh sugar cookies. Vincent had set aside a volume of poetry he wished to share with Catherine and now he settled into his large battered chair, with Catherine at his feet, nestled into a mound of floor cushions.

After reading several poems, he reached down and smoothed her fair hair and asked, "Where are you tonight, my love?" Startled for a moment, she looked up into his azure eyes and answered, "There is little I can hide from you, is there?" in a voice that slightly trembled.

"all day," he said, "I have known that something lay heavily on your mind and I have a great concern." The carefully he lifted her into his arms as though she were a child. "I'm afraid I've been indulging in a dose of self pity," she said as she curled up in the haven of his embrace. "But then I remembered a lovely memory from long ago and I realized how fortunate I was," she said as she slipped her arms about his neck.

"My mother always said that instead of feeling sorry for yourself, you should make a plan… and so I have," she said with a smile. "But I have a favor to ask." Realizing that now what lay behind her gentle sadness, he answered, "You know you have but to ask, Catherine. What may I do?"

I remembered a very special day that spent with my mother," she said, "just for the two of us, doing things together. Do you think Mary would join me for lunch Above, on Saturday, Vincent? She has been so kind to me and I have come to feel very close to her… almost like…" she broke off.

"Almost like a mother, Catherine?" Vincent asked. She smiled a happier smile, though once again a tear slipped down one cheek. This time he kissed it away and tightened his hold about her soft warm body. "Yes, almost like a mother, Vincent," she said with a sigh.

"I think that Mary would be pleased beyond words that you feel so close to her and I would imagine that she would be delighted to join you for an afternoon Above, Catherine," he said softly. "Would you like for me to ask her?" he said.

Though hating to leave the warmth of his arms, she slipped from his embrace and pulled a dainty envelope with Mary's name from the pocket of her coat. "If you would deliver this to her chamber, Vincent…" she said . "And if she'd rather not, please tell her that I will understand," she said wistfully. Taking the envelope from her fingertips, he kissed each one ad said, "I cannot imagine anyone refusing an invitation from you, my love!" as he once again pulled her into the circle of his arms.

Sometime later, after walking her to the safety of her threshold, he made his way to Mary's chamber. Calling her name softly, he waited until she answered and invited him to join her. An ever present tea pot, still warm beneath its knitted tea cozy, sat on a small table by her side. She motioned him to sit in an old rocker, across from her as she poured them each a cup of tea and then sat waiting for him to speak.

"I have a message for you from Catherine," he said as he hander her the envelope with her name. "Is something wrong, Vincent?" she asked with a look of concern. "No Mary," he said. "I think her note will explain all."

Carefully she slit open the envelope with an old pair of sewing scissors that lay in her battered work basked. Perching a pair of reading glasses on her nose, she read Catherine's invitation by the light of the candles that lit her chamber.

"Oh my…Catherine wishes me to go Above on Saturday for lunch, Vincent!" she said with mixed emotions of both pleasure and panic. "Vincent… I've not gone Above for quite some time… I've not even considered it," she said with a slight tone of awe.

"I think it would mean a great deal to Catherine, should you decide to join her, Mary… I've come to learn that even though she lost her mother some time ago, she still misses her considerably and with Mother's Day approaching, she feels the loss even more. You have become very special to Catherine and that is why she would like to share this time with you," Vincent said.

"Oh, the poor child," Mary said, her eyes misting slightly. "It was selfish of me not to realize what a difficult time this must be for her. Of course I'll join her on Saturday. You must know that she is as dear to me as any daughter I could ever have, Vincent!"

Vincent smiled as he drank his tea. "Mary, your heart is as big as the world Above! And of course I know that you care for Catherine," he said his eyes mirroring his own feelings. "Then I tell her that you'll join her?"

"Better still," she said, rising from the chair. "I'll write her a note now, if you'll see that it's delivered." From a small wooden chest in the corner, she pulled a box of odds and ends of paper and pens. Carefully she selected a piece of paper that was only slightly creased, and was silent for a moment as she wrote several lines. The folding it in half, she slipped it into an envelope that almost matched the paper.

Addressing it to Catherine, she handed it to Vincent and returned to her chair. "She's touched all our lives, you know," she said as they finished their tea. "But her love for you is perhaps the greatest gift of all!" Vincent returned his cup to the table and smiled… "She has brought me greater happiness than I ever dreamed possible, Mary. And your kindness in sharing this time with her means a great deal to me," he said as he prepared to leave.

Mary smiled as Vincent kissed her gently on the forehead and then became alarmed as a look of pure panic crossed her face!" "Oh dear, " she smiled. "I have nothing to wear!" Chuckling under his breath, he left quickly, leaving Mary to ponder this grave situation!

Balancing briefcase, purse and a small sack of groceries, Catherine unlocked her front door and relieved her aching arms of their burden. Locking the door behind her, she noticed the ivory colored envelope on the floor, addressed to her in a fine spider web script. Carefully she slit open one end with a pearl handled letter opener from her desk. She smiled as she read Mary's acceptance note for Saturday… "I would be honored to lunch with you Catherine, and I will meet you at the park tunnel entrance at half past ten. I look forward to the lovely outing you have planned… Mary.

Mary's simple note lifted her spirits and made her look forward to a weekend she had approached with a certain amount of dread. Humming a little tune, she decided to make a cup of tea before she called for lunch reservations… maybe she could even reserve a table by the window!

Saturday morning was sunny and warm… a perfect spring day. Catherine awoke early and once again had coffee on her balcony as she contemplated her plans for the day. An hour or so at the art museum for a special showing of some lovely watercolors she thought Mary would enjoy… there was even to be a collection of antique thimbles that might be fun to see! Finishing her coffee she decided she had time for a bubble bath before meeting Mary.

A short time later, she was dressed in a pastel pink suit with matching silk shall and medium healed pink leather pumps, perfect for walking. Then she was on her way to the park!

Mary waited at the park tunnel entrance, enjoying the warm spring air. It felt very strange to be "topside" again and the sunlight seemed overly bright. But the earth smelled so green and fresh and the wind whispering thru the trees was a comforting sound. As Catherine hurried across the damp grass, she could see Mary at the tunnel entrance. It gave her a happy feeling, knowing they had this day Above to spend together. As Catherine came into sight, Mary waved shyly and smoothed her best outfit, put together with Jamie and Rebecca's help.

"Mary… I'm so glad you could come," Catherine called, as her swift steps closed the gap between them. "How lovely you look!" she said as she noticed the old fashioned lacy blouse, pinned with a cameo at the throat and the blue print skirt that Mary wore.

"Do you think it's alright, Catherine?" Mary asked anxiously, as she patted her hair, pinned smoothly into a bun. "I think you look perfect to go anywhere!" Catherine replied. "Now if we walk just across the park, we'll be able to get a cab to the Museum of Fine Art. I thought you might enjoy a watercolor showing they're having today," she said as they turned their steps in that direction.

Soon they were riding in a bright yellow taxi down Fifth Avenue. Mary sat a little fearfully, in a far corner of the cab, but she couldn't resist taking quick look out the side window, staring in awe at the busy New York streets. They stopped abruptly at the museum entrance and after paying the fare, were soon inside. Mary gazed in wonder at the high-ceilinged grey stone building while Catherine selected several pamphlets and brochures of exhibits they would be seeing.

Catherine soon learned that Mary was quite familiar with many of the paintings in the exhibit. And each one that she recognized was like an old friend. It wasn't long before she overcame her shyness and was describing them to Catherine. She even made notes in her brochure with the stub of an old pencil she took from her purse. "To share with Father," she explained with a sweet smile!

The antique thimble display proved to be an excellent choice for Mary was enchanted with the tiny bits of ceramic and precious metal. She stared intently at each one and gasped in surprise at one in particular. She whispered to Catherine that it reminded her of one her mother had when she was a child.

Though reluctant to leave the museum, Catherine sensed that Mary was becoming more confident above and they decided to walk to the St. Regis so that Mary might window shop on the way. An orange haired punk rocker sent them both into stifled fits of laughter and Catherine promised to explain (as best she could) over lunch.

Soon they were ushered thru the polished brass doors of the luxurious hotel and directed to the dining room where lunch was being served. Mary was very quiet but glowed with delight when they each received a rose corsage at the door, which she insisted on wearing immediately.

To Catherine's delight, they wee seated in a very familiar spot and were soon enjoying the view, thru a sparkling glass window, of an old fountain, where snowy pigeons preened and cooed. "You've been here before, haven't you child?" Mary asked, noting her expression.

"Yes I have, Mary… and I'm very glad to be here again, with you!" she said, patting Mary's hand. "Your mother must have been a wonderful woman, Catherine and I know she'd be very proud of you today," Mary said softly. "Somehow I feel very close to her, sitting here with you," Catherine said. "Perhaps that's because we both love you very much," Mary said fondly, touching Catherine's cheek.

"Now," Mary said, with an impish grin, "Please tell me about the young made with the orange hair!" Catherine began to laugh merrily, causing those around them to smile at the obvious pleasure of this mother/daughter duo! It was going to be a perfect day!