They looked up from the letter, tears glistening
in their eyes. "Thank you, my friend," said Vincent, offering his
hand to Kanin.
"Hey buddy, it's how we feel," said the stonemason.
"It's how we all feel," said his wife, giving Catherine a big hug, then turning with open arms to Vincent. "We love you both," she whispered in his ear.
Next in line was Zach, with a goofy grin on his blushing face. He thrust his letter in Catherine's direction. It was a well known fact in the tunnels that Zach thought of Catherine as 'one hot mama'.
"Why, thank you, Zach," said Catherine, almost coquettishly, playing to his schoolboy crush. "Do you want to read it aloud to us?"
"No, no way! You guys read it -- to . . . to yourselves!" he stammered.
"Okay, if you're sure. . . "
"Yeah, yeah I'm sure," Zach replied hastily, all but shooing her on her way. He was well aware of the snickers coming from Kipper, who was standing next to him.
Catherine held the letter out for Vincent to see and together they read . . .