REMEMBER to send feedback to the author, Frickette

» CHAPTER FOUR: JEALOUSY AND CURIOUSITY «

“Oh mother! You’re always comparing me to Geri! I’m so sick of having to compete with my own sister, I’m every bit as wonderful as she is!”

“I’m not saying Geri is better than you in any way, Melanie. I’m just saying I wish you’d settle down and find yourself a husband...” Ms. Halliwell said, patting Melanie’s head.

“Oh please! I’m not stupid, I can plainly see that Geri is everyone’s favorite... Geri gets all the courters, Geri has all the friends, for god’s sake Dad actually was fond of Geri!”

“Melanie... Melanie... please...” Ms. Halliwell sat down in a chair, and put her head in her hand. Melanie saw how her mother had become very frustrated and she sat down next to her and put her arm around her.

“I’m sorry mother... I know this really has nothing to do with you.”

“I love you every bit as much as I love Geri, you’re both so special to me...” Ms. Halliwell said, hugging her daughter as a tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it away when Brian appeared in the doorway of the sitting room.

“Yes, Brian?” Melanie asked.

“Ms. Halliwell, you have a telephone call... your neice is back from France,” Brian said.

“Oh, splendid, thank you dear,” Ms. Halliwell said as she walked out of the room, hiding her red tear-stained face. Brian began to follow, but heard Melanie’s voice behind him.

“Brian... do you... do you favor Geri more... more than me?”

“I... I don’t know what to say to that...” Brian said after a long pause.

“I know it’s a silly question...”

“No, I think...” Brian pondered the perfect answer for awhile. “I’m being totally honest when I say that you are both very... dear to me. You each have your own qualities that make you so different from each other. Geri’s the bold and outgoing one. And you’re the sweet and quiet one... some people like those kind of girls. Trust me.”

Melanie smiled and reached out to Brian, “Thank you... thank you so much Bri... that made me feel much, much better.”

    “Melanie... where’d Geri go?” Kevin asked as he saw Melanie sitting in the library reading.

“She went out with Mum, I’m not sure, something about Mum spending some more time with Geri since she’ll be gone soon.”

Kevin nodded and walked into the library and sat next to Melanie, “You do have a large selection in this library don’t you?”

“Yes, but I’m afraid all the books are extemely old, all the pages have turned brown over the years they’ve been here!”

“What’s that book you’re reading?”

“Rebecca... so far it’s very enjoyable.”

“Oh! Rebecca! That was a splendid book... you’ll love it, surely. I’m really a sucker for those type of books. What part are you at?”

“They’re about to have the ball and Mrs. De Winter is just getting into her dress...”

“Oooohh, my favorite part... I shall not tell you what happens.”

Melanie smiled, “You’re welcome to pick up a book here whenever you like.”

“Thank you dear, I’m going to take a walk. You wouldn’t mind showing me around right now?”

“No, I’d be pleased,” Melanie said with a smile.

    “Where is that Brian when you need him?” Ms. Halliwell asked. It was late that night and Geri and Ms. Halliwell had just returned. Geri lay on a sofa in the living room, a hot cloth on her forehead. She was ghastly pale and her temperature was high.

“I’m afraid she’s come down with something... nothing serious, the doctor said. She’ll just need rest, probably just a bad cold.”

Kevin nodded. “Poor darling,” he said taking Geri’s hand, “I’ll fetch Brian to get her some tea, that should help.”

“Yes, please dear,” Ms. Halliwell agreed.

    Brian’s bedroom was at the very end of the west wing, Kevin finally found it and knocked softly on the door. There was no answer, so he opened the door slowly. Brian lay on his bed asleep, his back to Kevin. He looked so young, sleeping peacefully. The fire crackled and the room felt toasty, unlike the east wing, every bit of that stood out in Kevin’s mind. His room was very much smaller than his or any of the girls’. Kevin did not really want to wake Brian, he needed his rest as much as anybody else.

The room was very quaint though, nicely furnished. He brushed his hand over the oak desk that stood against the wall. Then something whimsical caught his eye. Mounted on the wall was another portrait of a beautiful maiden. And Brian said he wasn’t good with the ladies, Kevin thought. She was simply radiant. She had wavy blonde hair, just like woven gold. Her blue eyes were the most ravishing of all her features. Her skin was pinkish and looked perfectly smooth. Kevin continued to study the picture in awe.

“That’s my mother...” a voice said from behind him.

Kevin spun around and saw Brian sitting up, “Oh, Brian I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to wake you... well actually I did... nevermind. The girls need you, Geri’s not feeling too well... oh, but nothing serious...”

“Oh, alright. You... you were looking at that portrait, that’s my mother. She used to be a servant here too.”

“Oh, she’s... lovely...” Kevin stammered.

“Yes... it’s just...”

“Just what, Brian?”

“My mother, Sarah, she is dead now...”

¤ Chapter 5: Journey To The Beach ¤
REMEMBER to send feedback to the author, Frickette