Pascal patiently waited his turn to present
his gift to Vincent and Catherine. He cradled the letter loosely
between his hands as though it were a living thing. In a way, it
was alive. The heartfelt words were a part of him, after all.
He’d stayed up way into the wee hours of the morning, making certain he
had it just right. The pipemaster truly wanted his friends to know
how much he treasured their happiness. To him, Vincent and Catherine had
become a symbol of Hope; and an example of how love should be and
rarely is.
“I think you’re next,” Jamie whispered, jostling his arm.
Startled, Pascal dropped the envelope and had to scramble to retrieve it. Everybody laughed. When he looked up, Vincent and Catherine were both smiling at him. He felt a little foolish, but he smiled back.
Finally, it was his turn. The little pipemaster reached across the table and handed his gift to Vincent.
“It’s what I feel,” Pascal told him, quietly.
Catherine didn’t even wait to read the letter.
“How like you, Pascal,” she said, her warm smile lighting the room. “To
give us a piece of your heart.”