“I can go better than that, “Jenny giggled remembering her friend’s recent visit to Brazil, “I’d call them blue as topaz. It’s the sparkle you see…” she added as both her friends looked at her with eyes wide. “Well it is…” she added indignantly.

“Actually, I’m inclined to agree.” A voice beyond Nancy’s shoulder had all three ladies turning to the source as one, to find a suave good looking man hovering behind and looking at the baby in Nancy’s arms. “Might I permitted to hold my son?” He asked, shocking them further.

“Your son?” Nancy looked from Catherine to Jenny to the baby and then back to him. Those eyes said it all. Nancy gasped, looking directly at Catherine, “But I thought Vincent was the father?”

“He is!” Catherine flared, “Get out of here Elliot! This child is not yours!”

“I’ll call security.” Jenny lunged for the bell, but Elliot beat her to it, covering the bell with one hand, “That won’t be necessary. And whatever you might believe, or whatever Cathy has led you to believe, I am this baby’s father!” He looked to Catherine his gaze running appreciatively over the silken gown that she wore, exposing the swell of her creamy white breasts to his hungry eyes. “You know he’s mine Cathy. You can’t deny it. Your friend’s quip is quite right in the circumstances and because his eyes are the same colour as mine, so try as you might you can’t deny it Cathy, he is my son!”

“Vincent has blue eyes too!”

“Arh yes, lapis lazuli, wasn’t that not how you once described his eyes to me? Well now he has competition doesn’t he? My son’s eyes are blue topaz…just like mine!”

“That may be, but it doesn’t make him your child Elliot.” Catherine seethed.

“Does it not? We’ll see about that. But really the facts speak for themselves.” Even as he spoke he was checking the baby’s records, “It doesn’t speak here of any abnormalities and it would have if there were any. Let me see…” he drawled taking one of the child’s hand’s in his, “Oh how delightful, no claws.” Staring at Catherine, he staked his claim once more, “The child is mine Cathy and so are you....”

No one spoke as he made to leave and with a parting shot he told the stunned group of ladies, “and remember Cathy, I always get what belongs to me.” Before he departed closing the door quietly behind him.

Silence gathered and fell among the group each with her own deadly thoughts, until Jenny found her voice first, “Well! The nerve of the man! Cathy, you’ve got to do something about that.”

“Jen’s right, Cath, if you don’t he might take your son. No matter what is the truth, he is a very influential man… he can pull strings…”

Catherine stared at her, “What do you mean, no matter the truth?” Her voice was low with disbelief.

“Not that Cathy, I didn’t mean that. I’ve seen Vincent, Jen and I both have, but the rest of the world hasn’t. Honey, face it if that man wants to do, he’ll get this child from you and you haven’t got a leg to stand on.”

“Then I’ll tell them he raped me.” Catherine snapped tears falling from her eyes.

“Gee that’ll really help.” Jenny spoke up tartly, “You just admitted that he and you had sex together.”

Catherine knew her sarcasm wasn’t really directed at her, just that it expressed the facts, and how the rest of the world would view it.

“What can I do?” Catherine sobbed adding “Ordinarily the tunnels would be the best place to hide, but Elliot knows of them and I think he would even stoop so low as revealing their nature to the authorities if it meant he’d get this child from me that way. Oh Jen, Nanc, what am I to do?”

Both Vincent and Father stopped whatever it was they had been doing unable to remember what it had been even moments later, and fairly snatched the newspaper out of Devin’s hands the moment he were close enough.

“Oh dear Lord.” Father exclaimed, “Burch is bringing out a law suit for custody.”

Vincent’s heart hammered wildly in his chest. It was one thing to insist that Catherine made her life above, it was one thing to believe that the child was in fact his after all. It was one thing to believe that Elliot could provide a home for both Catherine and their son the likes of which he could never hope to give them… it was quite another to see that Elliot Burch was insisting that their child was his!
Agitated, Vincent threw the paper away from him, well aware that his father and brother stared at him fearfully anticipating his next move.
It came.
Sudden and swift just as they had known, a tremendous roar whereupon they held their hands to their ears in an instant reaction. But before Vincent could make his exit, Devin moved to bar his way. “That’s not the answer Vincent, and you know it! Haven’t you run away from this for far long enough?”

At his words, Vincent slumped against his brother all fight draining out of him, “What am I to do?” His question was ragged hopeless.

“I’ll tell you shall I?” Devin told him “You march straight up to her home and you bring her and the baby down here, where they belong!”

“No!” Both were stunned as Father forcibly voiced a very unusual opinion in the circumstances.

His eyes fearful Father repeated himself, “No. It’s impossible. Elliot knows these tunnels, he will be aware of where Catherine has gone. The papers would have a field day speculating Catherine’s whereabouts, and Elliot in his anger would tell them of his suspicions. It’s a risk we cannot afford to make. I’m sorry, but I cannot allow it.” His eyes were haunted.

“Father’s right,” Vincent agreed albeit reluctantly. “I’ve lost her…” His voice caught on a sob.

“No you haven’t Vincent, you haven’t lost her, its just that for a while we cannot become involved in this. I’m afraid we just have to let it go and wait. Several factors would prove that Elliot is not the father.” Devin told his brother.

“A blood test you mean?” Vincent stared at his brother amazed he would suggest such a thing.

“Yes, but not necessarily. It says here that the child has inherited the colour of his father’s eyes. Well true he has, but its unfortunate that Elliot too has blue eyes. It also says that the child favours his mother’s features, that is something Elliot could not use. But it also says that unfortunately the child has not yet grown any hair… and that… hopefully could be the over riding factor… unless of course…”

“Unless he favours Catherine for that too. So we are back to the blood test.” Vincent sighed.

“No. Have you noticed that Catherine refuses custody to Elliot? But at no point has she said that he is not the father. A few weeks ago that would have given us rise for speculation, but we know differently now. I believe she has omitted these facts purely because she knows what a blood test would mean, publicly speaking, for Vincent and for their child. If Catherine is thinking clearly about this then we should too.” Devin looked hopefully at his father and brother.

“What is it you have in mind Devin?” Father asked, his interest flaring along with a sudden hope that Devin might know the solution.

“Simply this. Peter takes the blood test and shows the results only to Elliot. Does Elliot know Peter?”

Both father and son shook their heads, “Not that I am aware of Devin.” Father told him.

“Then Elliot would accept the result without question. He would not question the possibility that Peter had tampered with the test to go in our favour would he? He would just see that a test had been performed and proven who the father was…and I do have another idea…just thought of it actually, but it might seem abhorrent to you Vincent.”

“What is that?” Vincent asked swallowing convulsively.

“I’m sorry don’t take this in the wrong way. But if for any reason Elliot still continued to make waves, even after the test we could ask him how he feels about it becoming public knowledge that he slept with a woman who is married to…” Devin shook his head, “Can’t do it…forgive me…I should never have brought that up.”

“No,” Father agreed, “You shouldn’t have. Though I understand where you are coming from. But it would not make a happeth of difference. Elliot would not care about that since he obviously would not care about making Vincent’s existence public knowledge. Though of course all this is wild speculation on our part. Having said that, I know if I thought I was the father of a child, I would move heaven and high water to prove it was so.”

“And that’s just what I should do.” Vincent who had been listening to the debate, at last spoke up. “And in light of the fact that I cannot bring Catherine down here, I will go to see Elliot Burch myself.”

“Vincent, no you can’t!” Father begged him.

“Why not? He knows me, has met me, there is nothing detrimental that seeing me would do for Elliot, but perhaps I can speak to him, make him understand that he is wrong. That I am the baby’s father.”

“Mmm, it’s possible of course, but I don’t fancy your chances, bro. One of the reasons Elliot tried it on with Catherine is probably because he hoped to make her pregnant. The papers say that ever since their break up he has held a torch for her, and hoped to be reunited with Catherine one day. It also mentioned that he had imagined them married with a family, and hoped that would still be a possibility even though at the moment she wished nothing to do with him. A lover’s tiff the papers are calling it.”

“Well I must try. It is all I can see that might help. And it certainly wouldn’t do any harm, unless you both think differently?” Vincent raised eyes to his father and brother in turn, watching them both shake their heads, though Father commented, “Just so long as you make certain there are no reporters about. Promise me, Vincent, no heroics. “

“I promise Father. Devin, would you like to come with me?”

“Bro, I thought you’d never ask.”

Back home again and alone now that Jenny and Nancy had returned to their respective places, Catherine looked down at her sleeping child with wonder in her eyes. He was so beautiful. His little thumb inside his mouth sucking intermittently with a slight hiccup, even as he slept on. His soft lashes resting against rosy cheeks, his little chubby body tucked beneath the tiny blue blanket. He was a marvel.
Over and over Catherine blessed the fates that had given her Vincent’s perfect child, with not even a suggestion of the man that had fathered him. As much as that was a good thing as far as Vincent would be concerned, and though it grieved her that her son did not resemble Vincent in any way, it was also a regret to her that because of this Elliot had staked his claim upon the child. Believing that the child’s blue eyes alone made him his.
Catherine sighed, switching on the bedside lamp before turning off the main light and exiting from the nursery her heart heavy. She couldn’t allow Elliot to stake his claim on her child, but she could neither see a way out of the problem. To hide below would bring trouble to those that lived down there, and she could never risk that. Elliot, she knew would stop at nothing now that he had begun and he would seek her out wherever she went.
Head in hands, Catherine sat at the table. Maybe in the long run she should give in. Vincent didn’t want her, Elliot did. She felt too desperately tired to fight it anymore. Her life felt over before it had even began.
A whimper from the nursery startled her and Catherine rose hurrying back to check on her son. He was sleeping soundly, but even so Catherine picked him up and cuddled him close, his small sound of protesting worth it just to hold him in her arms.
Whatever was she thinking of? How ever could she allow Elliot to win? Never could she give up everything she had fought for and give him the satisfaction of knowing that he had won. Never!
Lowering herself into the rocking chair that had belonged to her mother, Catherine gently rocked back and forth, humming a lullaby though the child had not woken. She would gladly hold him all night if she could. That sweet baby smell filling and delighting her, and more holding part of Vincent in her arms brought her such exquisite joy. Sadness too. Sadness that Vincent did not believe her. Had not even been to see her, even though she had been home for two days.
Her life felt tragic, but even so Catherine felt that she had received the finest prize. Nothing was more precious than holding a child in her arms, and knowing without a doubt whom the father was. Still she had a long way to go, and it appeared she would have to go it alone, but by hook or by crook, she would get to have soul custody of her child, even if she had to fight for that right for the rest of her life.

“What is it?” Vincent asked softly.

“Why don’t we go to visit Catherine first?” His question had a ring of hope to it, causing Vincent to sigh heavily.

“She would not want to see me.”

“On the contrary, right now don’t you think she would welcome us? Who’s on her side of the river now Vincent?”

Surprised Vincent stared at his brother, “Father told you about that?”

“His riverbank talk with you? He must have done, can’t remember when though. Maybe he mentioned it once. Even so don’t you think she needs us? Sure Cathy is well off, and will fight this case tooth and nail, but Elliot is a millionaire Vincent. He can afford to go with it for years, especially now.”

“Why now?”

“The mine. You know the topaz mine.” Devin laughed derisively surprising Vincent that he did. “Funny that. You know when Elliot signed the contract for the land at Ouro Preto he made a good will gesture, nice bloke that he is…I mean was… It stated that whatever was found on the land within one month of the signing of the contract would legally belong to the previous owners. Get that! Had Funari and de Azevedo looked into the small print they would have known that they were entitled to that find and there would have been no need for those senseless killings, or for the torture they put Burch, Catherine and I through. Well since then, the land has become legally Burch’s and as topaz is still being found, and possibly will continue to be found before his resort is completed, then Elliot will be receiving a nice little earner for many years to come. Not to mention the prestige he will gain when in Brazil, at owning one of the finest production mines in Ouro Preto.”

“He’s going to continue with the idea of building the resort?” Vincent was surprised to hear this. Hopeful too, that would mean Elliot being out of the country again.

“That and another. He mentioned at the trial that he is currently negotiating with the Mashantucket Pequot in Connecticut to build a hotel on some land there. He’s not doing very well on that one though, and was quite cagey about it when reporters quizzed him after the trial. Guess he’ll find a way round it though, his sort always do.” Devin drew in a deep breath, “But all this is resolving nothing right now. Do you want to see Cathy or not?”

Vincent nodded. “Yes. I want to see her. I don’t know where she is living though.”

“Your connection…”

“…would tell me, yes, but I feel that you would guide me far swifter this night. You know where she is don't you?"

”Yes.”

“Is it far?”

“No, not far, but in the opposite direction to Burch. I think Cathy would have liked to have been even further away from him than that, but since her friend Jenny rents her the house, she had no other choice. No doubt she will move somewhere else eventually.”

“Then I hope not to Connecticut. Not if Elliot will be there.”

“Hmm. Poor Cathy, seems wherever she would like to go, he beats her to it. I wish there was something we could do?”

“At least we are trying, even though I feel I could have done something long ago… if only I wasn’t so… so…”

“Pig headed?” Devin offered with a chuckle.

Vincent smiled, “Yes. Pig Headed.”

“So you’ll come to see Cathy?”

“Yes.”

“Now?”

“Yes now.” Devin squeezed his brother’s arm, grateful at least that he had suggested it and had finally made Vincent agree to it. “This way then bro. Just follow me.”

“It would be best all round if that fact were kept from Mr Burch.” Peter agreed.

“Can you call her? Let her know what we are thinking of? Perhaps it would be best to have her come to your surgery. I wouldn’t put it passed Burch to have had her phone tapped while she has been in hospital.” Father wondered even as he said it whether he had been reading too many James Bond books. Still he reasoned, it was always better to be safe than sorry.

Peter agreed, and the two men parted company arranging to contact one another again if anything further should develop.

“Catherine.” Oh and that voice! Like velvet over gravel. That was the one thing that had held firm in her mind…his voice…it would be the one voice she would remember vividly until her dying day…and maybe beyond…

“Vincent.” His name gushed from her, heavy and passionate, causing Devin to check his step, turn and head toward what he hoped was the kitchen, “I’ll make some tea.” He told them as he left them together, though neither of them heard.

“Are you well Vincent?” Catherine spoke, and her voice sounded strange to her ears, hollow, false. An enigmatic look passed over her face as she shook her head, smiling sweetly knowing full well that while her lips uttered polite words her mind screamed, ‘love me Vincent… Oh love me.”

Memories of those few short days following their marriage swept over her, filling her.
Thoughts and emotions that she had long since locked away, lest they depress her in their absence.

“I’ve missed you so much.” She found herself saying.

“As I have missed you. Catherine, will you ever forgive me?”

She didn’t get a chance to reply, because somehow she was in his arms, their bodies close and aware that another life lay before them.
With great effort Vincent tore his gaze from Catherine’s eyes, to look upon the sleeping babe in her arms, a babe oblivious to the momentous event of his parents reunited.
For long moments Vincent stared at his son in stunned disbelief. And then came the feelings… fierce possession, pride, joy, awe and love. Love in its purest sense…deep fulfilling…and very protective.

“He’s beautiful, Catherine.” Vincent whispered, unable to stop looking at the child.

“Yes he is. Thank you Vincent.”

He looked up then amazed that she had thanked him, confusion evident in his eyes.

“For giving me our son.” Catherine explained simply with a deep smile that softened her eyes with tears.

“There is no need to thank me. Catherine, your faith and your love were what brought him into the world. How could I ever hope to thank you for that?”

“I love you, Vincent and if you are saying what I think you are, then anyone would be a fool to have wanted to abort this child. Look at him, he is your son, yet who would know it? All the beauty that you have within you, Vincent created our son. You only have to look upon him to know it.”

Her words were meant to be uplifting so she was troubled when a cloud passed over his eyes. “What is it, Vincent? What’s wrong?”

“Who would know that he is my son? That’s the problem isn’t it? The world knows nothing of my existence, and our son bears no trace of me, it is no wonder that Elliot…”

Catherine silenced him with a finger to his lips, “I will not have that man’s name mentioned between us ever again.” Vincent was surprised at the animosity directed at Elliot Burch. It was almost as if his wife hated the man.

“Yet we have to talk of it, Catherine. We must. Devin and I were intending to pay him a visit after leaving here tonight. We have to try to reason with him, make him see sense.”

“Peter rang just before you arrived. It appears that he has just left Father, and they have decided between them that a blood test run by Peter and sent to Elliot would suffice. I don’t think Elliot would listen to you Vincent. Please, forget the idea of going to see him, let’s try Peter’s way first.”

Cocking his head to one side, birdlike, as was dear to Catherine, he asked, ”Is there something that he might tell me that you do not want me to know?”

“No! Vincent, its not that at all. I just believe that in his frame of mind he will act derisively to you, he will belittle and offend you. You will come away from him feeling more wretched than when you arrived. Believe me, Vincent Elliot has changed.”

“She’s right Vin. I’d forgotten about that. I guess what with everything that has happened to me recently, I’ve forgotten about the out workings of an insane mind. Something happened to Burch while he was imprisoned in that stinking pit. I think a lot of it was to do with personal hygiene. Burch has always been a fastidious man and it did something to his head to have to live like that. Remember he had no way of knowing how long he would be down there, and with Pepe giving him handouts, he never tried hard enough to find a way out.
Being at the mercy of another was more than Elliot Burch could take. It did something to his mind, made him bitter and twisted. Reminds me of the story of the genie.”

“The genie? What story is that?” Vincent asked with interest. Devin laughed, “Something and nothing really, but it helps to grasp the reason why Elliot became as he did. Baring in mind how wealthy the man is, and knowing that with all that money he couldn’t buy his freedom. Same as the genie.”

Catherine’s eyes sparkled, “Yes, but what genie?”

Devin shrugged and started to relate the tale; “There was this genie. He was enclosed inside his lamp and for some reason thrown into the sea. Well for a hundred years he remained on the seabed and during that time vowed, whomsoever sets me free I will give him all the wishes of his heart’s desire. But no body rescued him. Another hundred years went by, and then more and as they passed the genie’s reward became less and less as he became more and more bitter. He had everything, but the sea enclosed him so tightly that he didn’t have the one thing wealth could not buy…his freedom. Finally after five hundred years, he vowed, whomsoever rescues me, I will grant three wishes. And then after a thousand years, he vowed whomsoever rescues me now, I will kill the moment he sets me free. Well soon after he made that vow a humble fisherman raised the lamp in a net and brought it to the surface. He was overjoyed! Anticipating the chance of three wishes he rubbed the lamp vigorously only to discover that when the genie appeared he was so angry at having been imprisoned for a thousand years that he granted the fisherman three ways to die. But the fisherman was one step ahead of the genie, and laughed derisively saying, “I don’t believe you are a genie. I don’t believe you could fit inside that little lamp!” Fooled the genie rose to the bait and said, “I’ll show you!” And promptly disappeared back inside the lamp, at which point the fisherman slammed in the cork and threw the lamp back into the sea, where as far as anyone knows it still lies today.”

“That’s a very good story, Devin. You should tell it to the children. It teaches much about the detrimental effect of anger, and the beauty of righteousness. That genie should have been so happy that he was set free, he should have granted the humble fisherman anything his heart desired.” Vincent told his brother.

“Yes,” Catherine said, “He should have given more for the longer he was imprisoned, not the other way around. That shows the sort of heart he had from the beginning.”

“He was proud and arrogant he believed he was better than anyone else, which was why he offered everything to start with. Whether or not he would have given it is another matter. But don’t you see that it fits Elliot Burch to a tee?”

“I feel I should know, but I’d still like to hear your theory, Devin.” Catherine replied. By now she and Vincent had moved from one another’s arms, and were sitting side by side on the sofa. The baby was still fast asleep.

“Well Burch has held a candle for you Catherine, he always hoped that you and he would get back together some day. Can’t blame the guy for that, you are a very beautiful woman, inside and out.” Catherine blushed. “And while he was in that godforsaken pit he dreamed dreams about you and he, about the short time you had spent together.
Apparently for the first few days those memories kept him going. Then as time went on, he began to regret that he hadn’t been more assertive in winning you back, and he began to believe that he had more to give than Vincent. And after more time, he began to see Vincent as an enemy rather than a friend. Until such time as he vowed that he would have you back come what may that if he ever got out of that pit you and he would have the life he had envisaged for you and Vincent could go to hell. Okay, he never said as much, but his body language spoke of it, and from what I gleaned between the lines of what he did say, worried me greatly. He’s a dangerous man Cathy, you shouldn’t underestimate him.”

“I don’t. Not anymore. But how can I stop him applying for custody of my son? He truly believes that the baby is his.”

“That’s most unfortunate, and I wonder if that is what he had planned all along. How better to make you his, how better to make you have to go back to him to gain contact with you. Whatever his motives Cathy, his taking advantage of you gave him the very leverage he needed, and he knew it. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he planned it. The one thing in your favour was the fact that you were already pregnant and the other that I came along when I did.”

“Thank God you did.” Tears welled in Catherine’s eyes as Vincent put his arm around her and drew her against him, kissing the top of her head, “Through this whole thing I wish I had listened to you in the first place, and left Elliot to rot in that stinking hole.”

“I’d like to believe you Cathy, but you know as well as I that had you done that, you would never have forgiven yourself. No Cathy, the problem wasn't you, it was Elliot. He has harboured a secret longing for too long, and he let it get the better of him. Think what he has lost…not just you…but his self-esteem. It must gall him to know how bitter he has become, I just hope that in time he recovers and reverts back to the gentle man he once was.”

They were each silent for a while, and in that silence the baby seemed to decide it was time to wake. With a gentle flutter of golden lashes, he opened his eyes, gazing fully up at his mother, a small smile upon his lips as he recognised her, even so soon in his life. He knew her. He knew her scent, her love. But at that moment he also knew his father, and he turned his bonny little head in Vincent’s direction, and the stunning blue of his eyes that held his father’s gaze rocked Vincent. The child knew him and loved him in that instant, and the feeling was mutual.

“Have you chosen a name for him?” Vincent whispered.

“No. I was rather hoping to reserve that right for you.”

Catherine whispered back her eyes never leaving her son’s face. “But it has to be something beautiful. Something worthy of him.”

“Jacob.” Vincent whispered, not knowing why. Catherine and Devin stared at him, it was tunnel custom to keep the child’s name a secret until the naming ceremony.

“Its perfect Vincent.” Catherine nodded enthusiastically.

“It sure is…and the old man is gonna love you. Way to go Vin.” Devin exclaimed with humour. At the sound of his voice the baby turned toward his uncle, and Devin gasped, “Oh boy, but it suits him! See how he looks at me?”

Everybody laughed. It was true, the baby looked at Devin just as they had seen Father look at him, almost expecting the worst. The baby’s mouth trembled and his eyes creased before a hearty wail was uttered from his lungs.

“Yep.” Devin sighed wearily, “Sounds just like Father, too.”

“Till the next time.” Devin laughed.

“Well you just hold me to that then.” Catherine told him seriously, “I mean it, I never want to go Above ever again. There are too many risks up there. Besides I don’t entirely trust Elliot’s motives even now and its best to let sleeping dogs lie. If he should see me again…well you know…he might…” her voice trailed away unhappily.

“Hey, no time for negative thinking today Cath, it’s the day of the naming ceremony, remember, and I can’t wait to see the old man’s face when you announce it. This is gonna be pretty good, me thinks."

Sophia hugged her husband tightly, “I am only just beginning to see that there are a great many stories that your father has to tell me.”

“Hey you leave him out of it…you wanna know some great stories babe, you leave the telling of them to Vincent and me…and that reminds me…did I ever tell you about the time Vincent and I sailed on a raft down the nameless river…”

A burst of laughter filled the chamber, happy contagious laughter… and everyone looked up at the sound with eyes sparkling… It was the first time in a long time that some of them had heard Vincent laugh like that. In his arms, held high in the air his son gazed down at his father, his sweet face wreathed in smiles, a bundle of gurgling delight and eyes so blue they outshone even the brilliance of Imperial topaz…or…of blue…

Blue topaz those eyes…those beautiful, stunning, crystal clear, dazzling, wonderful, radiant, delightful eyes…were blue…like refined topaz…

…and a joy to his father’s heart.

The end…for now…