Willie quickly scurried off to let David and the other members of the Collins family know that they had a visitor.. that Barnabas was back. Barnabas stood in the great hall and looked at the portraits that still hung on the wall and filled the room. His father, Joshua Collins. His sister, Sarah. The love of his life, Josette. Even a portrait of Angelique now hung in the great hall. And right in the center of them all, was the portrait of himself, from 1797, the original Barnabas Collins.
Barnabas stood there lost in memories as he gazed at the old portrait when a voice from behind him came and broke his trance.
"Cousin Barnabas?"
Barnabas turned and there stood a strapping, handsome man in his mid-forties, but who could easily pass for ten or fifteen years younger. With brown hair and piercing eyes, Barnabas recognized him immediately.
"David?"
"Yes, Barnabas. It's me. David. We've been expecting you. Welcome home!"
"Expecting me? I don't understand.. ", Barnabas questioned.
"Let's go to the library and sit. Aunt Elizabeth will be down shortly and she'll explain everything. She's been wanting to see you again and talk to you again for so long".
"Elizabeth? How is she?", Barnabas asked.
"Fiesty and stubborn as ever", David laughed.
"And my hearing is still excellent too, David", a voice came from the stairwell. There, looking far older, but as dignified and statuesque as ever, stood the matron of the Collins family and the Mistress of Collinwood, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard.
"Hello Barnabas". Elizabeth said. "Welcome home."
Barnabas felt his heart leap at the sight of Elizabeth as she moved across the room towards them. Though easily in her nineties, Elizabeth still had her health and moved with the vibrance and energy of a person thirty years younger.
"You look fantastic", Barnabas said.
"Still the charmer, I see", Elizabeth smiled. "Come. Let's go talk in private."
Elizabeth turned to David.
"Barnabas is home and will be staying at the old house, I presume."
She looked towards Barnabas, who nodded in agreement.
"And I suspect that WIllie will be moving over there and rejoining him as well, so let Willie know that if he wants to do so, then he's more than welcome with my blessing."
David nodded in affirmation.
"Now, go get your wife and children. I suspect they'll be wanting to meet this mysterious cousin they've heard so often about over the years. But give us some time to chat first. About thirty minutes or so and then bring your family in to meet their relative. I suspect Sarah will love him."
"Sarah", Barnabas asked?
"That's David's oldest daughter. She's seventeen now and was named after the other Sarah Collins, your sister. And she'll remind you so much of Carolyn and Vickie at that age."
"Vickie?", Barnabas asked. "Do you know where... "
Elizabeth silenced him with a finger to her mouth.
"We'll get to that in a moment. David, please go do as I asked."
"Yes, Aunt Elizabeth", David Collins said, and he quickly left the room.
"He's grown into quite a fine young man", Barnabas said.
"He has", Elizabeth agreed. "I'm so proud of him. He was such a difficult child and an impetious young man. But after his father died, he did a complete turnaround and has become very much a fine person. And a very intelligent businessman as well".
"Roger?", Barnabas asked. "If you don't mind my asking, what happened?"
Elizabeth looked sad for a moment, but quickly composed herself.
"Well, you remember how high strung Roger could be at times. And the heavy drinking that he quite often did."
"Very well", Barnabas thought.
"Well, on a summer day in 1987, it all finally caught up with him. He was drunk and argumentive as always and he just collapsed."
"Was it a heart attack?", Barnabas asked?
"Yes", said Elizabeth. "He had been having dizzy spells for quite some time and refused to see a doctor. That stubborn old mule. And it seems that he was a heart attack or stroke just waiting to happen."
"I'm so sorry", Barnabas said.
"Don't be. It was his time, and as we've all learned time and time again in this family, you have to play the cards dealt you."
"And what of Carolyn? And Victoria?"
"Well, Carolyn is married now and lives out in Los Angeles of all places. She married an actor and seems very happy. No children as of yet though."
"And Victoria?"
"Well, as you might well remember, Victoria was always determined to discover who her family was and where she came from."
"I remember very well", said Barnabas.
"Well, not long after you were forced to leave the last time...."
"Forgive me for interupting, but about that last time. I have to explain."
"No Barnabas, you don't", Elizabeth said. "Angelique erased our memories of what happened, but either she didn't do a strong enough spell or else she intended that eventually we'd remember, but we all remember how you were cured of your dark curse, but were forced to reclaim the shadow of darkness in order to preserve our family... and the world."
"So you remember everything?", Barnabas asked.
"I remember most of it. And so does David and Carolyn. Plus, we've had another who has kept us informed."
"Who?", Barnabas asked.
"Why Sarah, of course", said Elizabeth.
"Sarah? My sister?"
"Yes. You remember how close she was to David as they were children. Well, she's still very close to David and regularly appears to talk to him. And to me as well."
"So that's how you knew I'd be back tonight. Why David wasn't surprised to see me?"
"Yes.", Elizabeth said. "Sarah told us when to expect you. And she said to tell you that she's looking forward to seeing you again very soon."
"When", asked Barnabas?
"When she's ready", smiled Elizabeth.
"Of course", smiled Barnabas. His sister was never one to rush things and act impetiously. Not as a human and not now as a ghost.
"And by the way, you'll find the old house cleaned and well stocked for your occupancy", Elizabeth said.
"I had gone by there and wondered why it appeared so well kept.", Barnabas said.
"Oh yes, and one more thing", Elizabeth said. "Before David and the others come in here, I have to give you this."
Elizabeth reached into her pocket and pulled out a letter in an envelope. Barnabas recognized the writing immediately. It was from Dr. Julia Hoffman.
"Julia?", Barnabas asked. "How is she....?"
"Dead", Elizabeth answered sadly. "She passed away about five years ago from cancer. But she never stopped loving you. You know that, right?"
"Julia was an amazing woman, but there was no love between us", Barnabas said.
"You're wrong", smiled Elizabeth. "A woman knows these things."
"Possibly!", Barnabas agreed. "But what is this?"
"Just a few weeks before she died, she made the trip out here and made me promise to give this to you when you returned. She knew you'd be back. I never read it, since it was intended for your eyes only, but with her words, I'm assuming it has something to do with the curse that you fought together for so long and now, still hangs over you."
"Yes", said Barnabas sadly. "I'll read it later when I return to the old house. But for now, it seems we're about to have company."
And with that exclamation, the doors to the library opened and David Collins re-entered the room. In tow, David had a lovely and very energetic, confident young woman, who he quickly introduced as his wife, Lisa. And three children - his oldest daughter, Sarah, who was 17. His son, Robert, age 16, and his youngest daughter, Lizzy, who was 12. All three children were excited and thrilled to meet their mysterious "cousin" that they've all heard so much about over the course of their lifetimes. And their energy and enthusiasm was addictive as Barnabas quickly became entralled and caught up in their excitement.
TBC....
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