Barnabas and Vickie sit in the living room of the home Vickie shared
with her husband T.Elliott Stokes and their children... Vickie had
received a note hours before and had gone into hysterics. Barnabas sat
with her on the large sofa, holding the note in his hand, pouring her a
cup of herbal tea. Vickie was under a heavy strain. "Barnabas I can't
just sit here and do nothing about it! I must go to Rockport! I need to
see my children! Barnabas reads the note aloud. "Victoria, it is clear
to me now that although I do love you and know you love me, we can not
remain married, the gap in our ages is greater than I first realized...
I know that as a husband I've been mediocre at best. We both know you
deserve better, so I hope you will forgive me. I am with someone I've
know almost all of my life, she and I plan to live the rest of our lives
together. The children are at my families home in Rockport. I expect you
to go and take them home with you. By the time you read this I will have
gone.
Vickie searches Barnabas' eyes. "My children need me now Barnabas."
Barnabas takes her hand. "Yes, they will, but not like this, you must
first calm down, will they be alright with Elliott's family?" Vickie
nods her head. "Yes, we've gone there many times when ever we could,
they should be fine, the older boys are in boarding school, so the
younger one's are there." Barnabas stands up, walking to the door he
puts on his coat and takes his cane. "Before you do anything, you must
first resolve the mystery of who your father is, lets go to Collinwood."
Vickie rises, puts on her coat and follows Barnabas, they drive together
in his car.
The lights of Collinwood were shinning brightly in the night.
Barnabas parks his car, getting out he goes to the passenger side and
opens the door for Vickie, taking her hand he helps her out. As they
reach the the front doors they open, there is Roger, he is dressed in a
tuxedo. Barnabas and Vickie are taken aback when they see him. "Ah
Barnabas, how nice to see you." Barnabas nods his head and inquires.
"Roger, you do look so very dashing, are you attending a special
occasion?" Roger, not looking to pleased, replies. "Yes, the
Collinsport chapter of the DAR are having a banquet dinner in memory of
Elizabeth, she was a member as you know." Barnabas did not know but
acknowledges it. "I hope it is all right that I bring Vickie with me to
view the photo albums?" Looking at Vickie Roger nods. "Of course."
then walks out to his car. As Barnabas closes the doors they hear
Roger's car leaving.
Taking of his coat, Barnabas helps Vickie remove hers as well, the
hags the up by the door. Although he takes along his cane.
Barnabas leads the way. He and Vickie look at all the photo albums,
but do not see very much, except pictures taken while Roger was home for
the holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. Barnabas felt as if he had
failed Vickie. "I'm sorry Vickie. He said. Vickie smiled warmly. "Its
all right, I would like to look in my old room and see is maybe I can
find something there." Barnabas agrees. "I will keep Carolyn company
while you search the room." Barnabas, picks up the albums. "I'll put
them away, you go and stay with Carolyn." Barnabas leaves. Entering
the foyer Barnabas comes to a sudden stop.
Looking into the drawing room at an angle where he could not be seen,
Barnabas sees that Carolyn is not alone, Maggie Evans is sitting with
her, they are laughing and chatting, what made Barnabas stop in his
steps was seeing Maggie lean forward and gently kiss Carolyn on the
lips, this seems odd because her kiss did not appear to be a friendly
kiss as with two friends but one of more affection. Barnabas walks in,
the two girls turn and greet him. "Good evening Carolyn." Maggie
whispers in Carolyn's ear. Carolyn responds. "OK, I'll see you
tomorrow." Maggie gets up and walks to Barnabas. "Good night
Barnabas." He watches as she strolls out the door.
Holding his cane before him Barnabas observes. "I'm so glad that
Maggie is here for you Carolyn." Smiling broadly Carolyn agrees. "Yes,
I am too." Barnabas sits across from Carolyn. "Barnabas did you
happen to see what Maggie and I did before you came in?"
Barnabas' first impulse is to lie, but decides to be honest. "Yes, I
believe I did, but its really none of my business." Carolyn laughs.
"Its just us being silly... I hope you don't think anything of it."
Barnabas shakes his head. "Of course not."
Meanwhile, up in her old room Vickie searched everywhere she could
think of but finds nothing. She stands still when hearing someone
running by her door, holding her breath hoping they do not enter to find
her there. When they pass, Vickie breaths a sigh of relief. Vickie
than looks at the bed, she looks at the secret panel that held the
picture she found earlier. In frustration Vickie kicks the side of the
bed. "Darn! she says in a low voice." but then hears something fall to
the floor. Getting down on her hands and knees Vickie brings up the bed
skirt, there on the floor is a little book, she picks it up. Out of
curiosity Vickie feels under the bed, she brings out small trinkets that
were hidden away. She puts them in her purse along with the small book.
Vickie then goes down to meet Barnabas in the drawing room.
Before going into the drawing room Vickie hears Barnabas. "May I
borrow this?" Carolyn agrees. "Yes, but please bring it back tomorrow?"
"Yes I will bring it right back, thank you Carolyn." Barnabas walks
out of the drawing room, he takes their coats, then takes Vickie's hand
and leads her out the door.
Once outside and in the car Barnabas tells Vickie that Carolyn was the
one who may have had what hey were looking for all the time. "Let's go
to the Old House." They drive off.
TO BE CONTINUED
The Ghost of Sarah Collins (1784-1795)
Sister to Barnabas Collins
"That evil is wicked is well understood,
the wicked are punished so you must be good." (Sarah to Barnabas)
(All Characters are property of Dan Curtis)
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