peacefully again.”
Diana smiled, “I’m glad I could help.”
“You’ve helped more than you can possibly know. Ill go watch over them, so the baby won’t wake Vincent.” Diana watched Mary disappear around the corner headed for Vincent’s chamber. Then she resumed her trek back to Father’s chamber.
When Diana finally arrived in Father’s chamber, she found him sitting at his table, just thinking. It was easy for Diana to think of Jacob Wells as “Father.” With his cultured demeanor and his carefully trimmed brown beard and mustache, with just a distinguished touch of silver, he looked very patriarchal. His confidence made people forget his disabling limp, and hardly notice the cane he needed to get around the tunnels. He was the community’s physician, and a brilliant surgeon, as well as the original founder of their world. Between his skill and Mary’s attentive nursing, these people had the very best in medical care.
He looked up and said, “Do you know that today is January 12 th ? This is the 35 th anniversary of the day that Vincent came into our lives.”
Diana smiled, “You were blessed that he did.”
Father went on, “We should be preparing for our Winter Fest celebration about now. We usually have it the first week in February, and it takes some time to get ready for it. No one is in the mood to celebrate, though, with Vincent in mourning, and without Catherine with us.” Diana was intrigued. “Winter Fest?”
Father explained, “We celebrate all of the holidays you do in the world above down here, but Winter Fest is our own. It is a special holiday we created to celebrate the beginning of our world here, bringing light into this labyrinth of dark tunnels, and making it our home. Our newest candle maker, who has been Rebecca for a couple of years now, makes lovely long yellow-orange tapered candles with white tips. We then send the children above with these candles, to give one to each of our Helpers.
This celebration is as much to honor them for the light they bring to our world, as it is to celebrate the creation of our world. They are then led down here, and we all travel to one of our lower caverns, which we call the Great Hall.
It is hung with beautiful tapestries, and is furnished with candle chandeliers, very large banquet tables, and smaller tables around the outer walls, along with plenty of chairs. We then have a ceremony which begins in total darkness to symbolize the way the tunnels were once dark. I light my candle and then light the candles of those on either side of me. Then everyone lights each other’s candles as well as the chandeliers, and the whole room is then full of light. After that, we enjoy the feast that William loves preparing for us, and there is dancing to music played by our talented musicians. We finish by playing games and just having a lot of fun socializing with one another.”
Diana was fascinated. “What a lovely holiday! Ill help you pray it is only postponed, not completely missed this year.” She then changed the subject. “I wish Vincent had been my big brother too, as he is to all of the children here. I can’t help but love him like they do.”
Father studied her thoughtfully for a moment, “If you really feel that way about my son, then there is something I think you need to know in order to assist us in helping him. It is a secret about Catherine, and he mustn’t know yet.”
Diana was filled with concern. “Tell me, Father!”
Father got up from the table and walked toward his sleeping chamber. “Let me show you something which Vincent still doesn’t remember.” He walked to a drawer in his bedroom chamber and took out a piece of paper and a gold ring, studded all around with tiny heart shaped crystals, and showed them to Diana.
Diana took the paper from him and examined it.
“They were married! This is a legal document. How is this possible?”
Father explained, “We have Helpers in many places, including the
Diana smiled, “I’m glad I could help.”
“You’ve helped more than you can possibly know. Ill go watch over them, so the baby won’t wake Vincent.” Diana watched Mary disappear around the corner headed for Vincent’s chamber. Then she resumed her trek back to Father’s chamber.
When Diana finally arrived in Father’s chamber, she found him sitting at his table, just thinking. It was easy for Diana to think of Jacob Wells as “Father.” With his cultured demeanor and his carefully trimmed brown beard and mustache, with just a distinguished touch of silver, he looked very patriarchal. His confidence made people forget his disabling limp, and hardly notice the cane he needed to get around the tunnels. He was the community’s physician, and a brilliant surgeon, as well as the original founder of their world. Between his skill and Mary’s attentive nursing, these people had the very best in medical care.
He looked up and said, “Do you know that today is January 12 th ? This is the 35 th anniversary of the day that Vincent came into our lives.”
Diana smiled, “You were blessed that he did.”
Father went on, “We should be preparing for our Winter Fest celebration about now. We usually have it the first week in February, and it takes some time to get ready for it. No one is in the mood to celebrate, though, with Vincent in mourning, and without Catherine with us.” Diana was intrigued. “Winter Fest?”
Father explained, “We celebrate all of the holidays you do in the world above down here, but Winter Fest is our own. It is a special holiday we created to celebrate the beginning of our world here, bringing light into this labyrinth of dark tunnels, and making it our home. Our newest candle maker, who has been Rebecca for a couple of years now, makes lovely long yellow-orange tapered candles with white tips. We then send the children above with these candles, to give one to each of our Helpers.
This celebration is as much to honor them for the light they bring to our world, as it is to celebrate the creation of our world. They are then led down here, and we all travel to one of our lower caverns, which we call the Great Hall.
It is hung with beautiful tapestries, and is furnished with candle chandeliers, very large banquet tables, and smaller tables around the outer walls, along with plenty of chairs. We then have a ceremony which begins in total darkness to symbolize the way the tunnels were once dark. I light my candle and then light the candles of those on either side of me. Then everyone lights each other’s candles as well as the chandeliers, and the whole room is then full of light. After that, we enjoy the feast that William loves preparing for us, and there is dancing to music played by our talented musicians. We finish by playing games and just having a lot of fun socializing with one another.”
Diana was fascinated. “What a lovely holiday! Ill help you pray it is only postponed, not completely missed this year.” She then changed the subject. “I wish Vincent had been my big brother too, as he is to all of the children here. I can’t help but love him like they do.”
Father studied her thoughtfully for a moment, “If you really feel that way about my son, then there is something I think you need to know in order to assist us in helping him. It is a secret about Catherine, and he mustn’t know yet.”
Diana was filled with concern. “Tell me, Father!”
Father got up from the table and walked toward his sleeping chamber. “Let me show you something which Vincent still doesn’t remember.” He walked to a drawer in his bedroom chamber and took out a piece of paper and a gold ring, studded all around with tiny heart shaped crystals, and showed them to Diana.
Diana took the paper from him and examined it.
“They were married! This is a legal document. How is this possible?”
Father explained, “We have Helpers in many places, including the
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