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» CHAPTER ONE: MEETING HIME «

“Oh Brian dear... we’ll take our afternoon tea in the garden today please!” Geri yelled, patting their trustful servant on the back as she ran quickly through the hall. Brian nodded with a smile as he watched Geri dash off. She was in a hurry for some reason which was unknown to Brian. The doorbells chimed and Brian went to go see who it was. He looked out and a young man stood, formally dressed and very good and proper looking. Brian opened the door slowly and shyly.

“Is this the Halliwell residence?” the man asked. He had a deep and powerful voice, greatly expected by the way he looked.

“Yes it is sir... please come in,” Brian said meekly, but welcoming. Just then Geri came rushing to the door and came to a sliding stop. Brian smiled at her enthusiasm as she jumped up and wrapped her arms around the man.

“Brian, this is Kevin, my fiancee, he’s finally come to meet all of us!” Geri said happily, her face lit up. Brian just nodded, with the usual polite smile. Geri sensed his tension and dismissed him.

“Brian we’ll be in the garden, do please bring the tea like I said before,” Geri reminded and then Brian shuffled off into the kitchen.

“Alright then, darling, shall we head to the garden?” Geri smiled taking Kevin’s strong hand.

Soon Geri’s mother who was accompanied by her other daughter came out to find Geri. When Geri saw her family, she rose from her chair quickly.

“Mum, Melanie... this is Kevin Richardson, my fiancee,” Geri introduced her loved one as Kevin stood up, kissing each one of their hands. Melanie, Geri’s sister, giggled at the whole scene. They all sat down, the sun shining brightly over them, and soon Brian came out, carefully balancing a tray, four teacups and a large kettle.

“Oh thank you much Brian,” Geri beamed as Brian poured the tea with careful skill, but he was distracted and the tea cup toppled over and spilled all over Geri’s dress.

“Oh, dear, ohhhh...” Geri complained frantically.

“Oh, oh! I’m so so sorry Geri, oh, I’m so sorry, please forgive me!” Brian pleaded with shame.

“Oh it’s quite alright, let me just go upstairs and change, please excuse me... and don’t fret over it Brian, it’s fine,” Geri said.

“Oh thank you, um, let me help you...” Brian said. Geri looked back at him strangely.

“I mean, uhhhh... I need to go back to the kitchen anyways, sorry again,” Brian said, blushing and then rushing off.

“What a character he his!” roared Kevin, as the group waited for Geri’s arrival.

“Yes, he is, quite, he’s ever so sweet though,” Ms. Halliwell nodded.

“He’s been with us for, let’s see, well since he was eight... that’s sixteen years!” Melanie exclaimed. “He was the son of one of our former servants.”

“How dashing, you must know him well then?” Kevin asked.

“Yes, very, just like part of the family, I remember, when everyone was much younger, he was so so close with the girls, very good friends. He’s been acting a bit skittish lately, I don’t know what’s gotten into him,” Ms. Halliwell informed.

“Well your whole house is lovely Ms. Halliwell, including all the residents,” Kevin said, gazing a bit at Melanie.

“Thank you, dear,”

“So what did you find to gossip about while I was gone?” Geri asked as she sat down in her chair.

“We had a very nice conversation didn’t we ladies?”

“Very,” Melanie agreed.

“How sporting, you’ve already got quite acquainted then! I knew you’d love him, mum!”

“Yes, I do, he’s very charming...” Ms. Halliwell said taking her daughter’s hand and smiling satisfied.

“Oh please do stay Kevin, it’s not like we’re short on space! The whole west wing is practically free!” Geri begged as Kevin headed toward the door that evening.

“Please Geri, dear, don’t beg me or I’m afraid I’ll have to give in...” Kevin smiled as he gathered his coat and hat.

“Okay, but you will stop by tomorrow, right?”

“Of course, I’d love to see your family again and I think we should go look for our house,” Kevin said seriously, he kissed Geri on the forehead and then walked out.

“He was very nice, Geri...” Brian commented meekly as he came out of the kitchen.

Geri nodded, “Yes, but what is wrong with you lately? What happened to the old, happy Brian?” Brian shrugged and then scampered up the stairs into his room until he would be needed.

The family of girls and Kevin sat in the library sipping on their steaming tea. Kevin sat on a single chair, Geri, her hand on his knee as she sat on the floor beside him. Geri was such a young and carefree spirit. She never quite grew out of some of her school-girlish ways. It was damp and wet outside after a mid-day shower. Geri and Kevin had been out gazing at houses that would be suitable for their lifestyle. Kevin striked up a more exciting subject, besides the weather that day.

“I’ve been infected with a bit of curiosity, Ms. Halliwell...” Kevin said.

“Yes dear, what is it?” she answered.

“Well Geri never really touched on the subject and I was a bit afraid to directly ask her, so please do not be offended by my pondering...” Kevin said rubbing his mustache slightly.

“I’m sure your question will be properly answered, darling,”

“Was there ever... a Mr. Halliwell?” Kevin finally questioned as he looked away from everyone else in the room. By then Brian was standing shyly at the doorway waiting to be ordered to take the dishes away. No one said a thing for awhile.

“I’m sorry... there is no reason for you to answer, I’m dreadfully sorry...” Kevin apologized realizing he had touched on a difficult subject.

“No, no, it’s alright... I don’t blame you for asking,” Ms. Halliwell finally said. “Yes, dear there was a Mr. Halliwell...”

Kevin nodded, wanting to hear more, “Oh...”

“But, you see the thing is, he died about a year and a half ago... found at the bottom of the ocean nearby here,” Ms. Halliwell informed, a distant look in her eye.

“I’m so sorry, it must have been very painful for you,”

“Well actually, Mr. Halliwell was not exactly a good man, you see...” Ms. Halliwell confessed as though no one would drag another word from her.

Melanie filled in, “He did have a problem with drinking. Quite hooked on whiskey... bottles after bottles. He would hit mum and me, quite terrible, you won’t tell anyone would you?”

“Of course not, would not dream of it!” Kevin swore, a bit shocked.

“But he adored Geri, absolutely loved her. He wouldn’t let anyone, not a soul lay a finger on her. As far as he was concerned she was a perfect angel,” Melanie said, looking at her sister.

“Yes, but I always had that feeling of guilt, knowing what the drink would make him do to you two... of course I had unconditional love for my own father, but I did not like him one bit...”

Ms. Halliwell spoke again, “True, but he never cared for us, even if he was completely sober...”

Brian sensed the tenseness as he still stood, distant from the others. Knowing his mistresses would love for the conversation to end he came over and asked to collect the dishes.

“Yes, please do, Brian, “ Melanie stated, a thankful gleam in her eye. And with that the conversation ended. Kevin was convinced to stay at the house for the night and Geri showed him to an unused room in the west wing. Kevin sat up thinking about the mystery behind Mr. Halliwell. There was still a lot he had to learn about this prim and proper family, the one he had already began to adore.

¤ Chapter 2: The East Wing ¤
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