Chapter 14: A Time to Remember
"My name is Victoria Winters. Memory is a double-edged sword; one that can either comfort with happiness or destroy with guilt. Some know this all too well, as memory brings untold tensions and the fear of an unknown future. But one small boy lives in ignorance of the strain of those around him, unaware of the strange forces that will soon affect him."
SCENE 1
The atmosphere during breakfast at Collinwood was strained. Even Mrs. Johnson noticed as she served. Roger and Elizabeth were trying to act normal, but it was obviously forced. Something was bothering them. Carolyn hadn't spoken a word during the entire meal, though she rarely spoke to anyone these days - and when she did, it was usually to say something belligerant. The housekeeper had been wondering for a while what was wrong with her, but it wasn't her place to interfere with family matters.
Only David seemed his usual self - which wasn't always a good thing. At least he was eating, not just pushing his food around like the others were. He seemed excited about something, probably the fact that he was going riding with Miss Winters today. It wasn't difficult to guess: it was all he could talk about since she had told him yesterday that she would take him.
However, Miss Winters was noticably absent at breakfast today. That was odd. She was usually one of the first ones down in the morning. She hoped the governess was all right. Miss Winters had been through enough lately.
As if in answer to her thought, Vicki walked into the kitchen. Or perhaps 'stumbled' was the better word. And she certainly did not look well. Everyone noticed. Elizabeth was the first to speak. "Vicki, are you all right? You look awfully pale."
Vicki looked around distractedly, fiddling with the bright blue scarf tied around her neck. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Stoddard. What did you say?"
"Are you feeling well?" Elizabeth's face grew concerned as Vicki swayed slightly, putting her hand on the table to steady herself.
Roger quickly stood and took her arm. She felt like a limp rag in his hand. She answered Liz's question a little nervously. "Actually, I do feel a little dizzy. I must be coming down with something."
Mrs. Stoddard became quite worried. "Look at yourself, Vicki. You can't function like this. Go back to bed this instant."
Roger was also grim-faced. "Perhaps you should see a doctor. I can send Julia in to see you."
"No," Vicki said quickly. "I'll be fine. I probably just need some rest. I'm sure I'll be okay later."
Carolyn's eyes narrowed, focusing on Vicki's scarf as she rose from the table. "I would bet you are right," she said, the venom dripping from her voice. "By nightfall, I'm sure you'll feel like a new woman." She drifted out of the room.
Elizabeth watched Carolyn depart, puzzled by her behavior. If she didn't know better, she would swear Carolyn was jealous of Vicki for some reason. David's voice distracted her from her daughter. "But Vicki, you were supposed to take me riding today!"
Vicki turned to the boy. "I'm sorry, David. I'm afraid I wouldn't be much fun today anyway."
The boy became distressed. "But you promised!"
"Now, David, you can't expect Vicki to take you when she's ill," Liz said. "Mrs. Johnson, please help Vicki to her room." The housekeeper took Vicki's arm from Roger, and led her toward the upstairs. "I know you're disappointed, David. And I'm sorry. But maybe you could still go riding."
"Who's going to take me?"
"Maybe your father could take you." Roger raised his eyebrows in surprise at the suggestion. "The office can survive without you for today, Roger. Why don't you take the day off and spend it with your son?"
Before Roger could recover enough to answer, David exploded. "No! I don't want to, and you can't make me!" He got up and ran from the kitchen.
Elizabeth became flustered, not having expected such a violent reaction. Roger's eyes followed his son as he ran from the room, the anguish showing on his face. When David was well out of sight, he turned to his sister. "What was that about, Liz? 'Take the day off and spend some time with your son'? That was a bit heavy-handed, don't you think?"
"I don't know what you mean. I just thought it would be nice. You said you wanted to get closer to David. It would help if you were together like a family should be."
"Well, that certainly backfired gloriously, didn't it? You saw what his reaction was. We are as far apart as ever." He sat down to finish his breakfast. "And don't think I don't know what you are really after." Liz looked at her brother quizically. He answered her unspoken question. "You just want to present a united front, so that if Laura comes back, you can drive her away. You never did like her, did you? Even when we were dating, you disapproved of Laura."
"You're right, I didn't like her. I never thought she was particularly trustworthy or stable. And I was proven right, too."
Roger grimaced. "I can't argue that point. But her return is no reason to circle the wagons." Having finished his food, he rose from the table. "If Laura is truly coming back, we'll just have to wait and see what she wants."
SCENE 2
David approached the abandoned swimming pool with trepidation, as he always did now. His experience with Daphne had made him wary of the place, and he rarely played there any more. But ever since Barnabas had taken over the Old House, there weren't too many places to go away from Collinwood. And he didn't want to be there now. Aunt Elizabeth would want to know why he ran away like he did - and he honestly didn't know. It was just that when she suggested he spend time with his father, he was filled with an unexplainable anger.
Not that he and his father had ever been close. But he wanted to be, he really did. David kicked a stone across the floor as he entered the building. It seemed as if something was keeping him from getting close to his father. Every time there was a chance, something made him pull away. He wished he understood it.
David gazed around the old swimming pool, trying to come up with a game to take his mind off things, but he couldn't think of anything. He wished Miss Winters hadn't gotten sick. He had really looked forward to going riding today. That thought just made him feel worse. At least if he had been with Miss Winters, he wouldn't have felt so alone. He hadn't liked the governess when she first arrived, but she had taken everything he had dished out, and was still nice to him. He respected her for that. Also, Sarah had appeared to her, so she must be all right.
That made him think of his ghostly playmate. He hadn't seen her since Vicki came back, and he missed her. Maybe if he called her, she would come play with him, then he wouldn't be alone anymore. "Sarah! Sarah! Are you here?" He stood watching and listening intently for any sign of his friend. Suddenly a chill ran down his spine. He didn't want to be here by himself. "Sarah! Sarah!"
A sound came from the dark shadows in the far corner of the building. David spun around. "Sarah?" He took a hesitant step toward where he had heard the noise. "Is that you?"
There was no reply, but soon he could make out a figure in the shadows. It was too tall to be the ten-year-old ghost he was looking for. This was an adult. He began to make out that it was a woman, and his fear grew. When he caught a flash of blonde hair, his terror became overpowering, and he turned and ran.
