The plane ride from Los Angles to Virginia takes approximately five hours. The drive from the air port to my new home of Fells Church takes an additional two hours. Seven hours in total. Seven hours. That is how long it takes for my life to change. Thirty seconds is how long it takes for a part of a persons soul to die. That was how long it took the bullet to rip through my mothers heart; killing her instantly. That was how long it took to change the old neurotic, insecure, and naive Caroline. A group of spoiled brats robbing the homes of celebrities changed my life forever. They became, what they've wanted, famous and my mother became dead. For one fleeting moment in history we were important. She's flying with me on the plane now; in cargo, no longer considered a person. Can you imagine? This women once filled with so much life, and who truely made a difference in the world is now treated like a piece of luggage. At least the FBI was nice enough to fly my mother and I on their private jet.
My father is Bill Forbes, and did I mention that he was gay. Yup my father left my mother for another man when I was six years old. I use to spend every summer with him and his partner Steven in Fells Church. That hasn't happened in years. Beside the occasional Christmas and birthday card I might as well have been sent to live with a pair of strangers.
My mother's response to the dissolution of her marriage was to move out to bright and sunny California. How could she resist? The FBI hand picking a small town sheriff to join their field office was too tempting an offer for her to pass up. Not that I minded much mind you. I loved my life in L.A. I loved everything about it. The sun, afternoons on the beach, and never knowing what was going to happen next was a rush. The celebrities, the paparazzi, and the glamour made growing up in L.A. truly exciting.
My new home will be different. Instead of a beach it will have a lake, instead of near consistent sunshine there will be ever changing season, and the only celebrity that this town has ever seen is the Miss Mystic that is crowned every year. I spot my father and his partner Steven at the baggege pick up. They are both standing there, each holding a sign that reads Caroline, and both trying to wear warm and inviting smiles. They failed. I put on one of my fakes smiles and make my way over. The first meeting is tense to say the least.
"Carebear!" I haven't been called that in years. My father throws his arms around me as we quickly hug.
"Hey dad," That was my brilliant greeting. Nice one Caroline.
"My God you have grown, and you are so beautiful." The last time I saw my father puberty had not hit me yet. I still had missing teeth, my baby fat, and had never heard of a growth spurt.
Steven offers me a quick hug and the three of us ride in a peaceful silence. We ride through what I can only assume is the heart of the town. It several blocks littered with business, the town hall, a library, and the school. The high point of this little tour is the Grill. There house is a far cry from the beach house that I shared with my mother. To call it big would be an understand. It holds five bedroom, three bathrooms, a full functional kitchen and a butlers pantry. Not to mention a formal sitting room and dinning room, and sets on about 15 achers of land. My back yard went from being a small patch of grass with a grill and a beach chair to being the woods.
My mother and I never used our kitchen, and the only thing that was ever in our fridge was bottled water, coffee, and left overs. I learn quickly that Steven loves to cook, and it is mandatory that the family eat together for at least one meal a day. Good by T.V dinners.
Their daughter Anna quickly runs out of the house to greet me. She is nine, and for a long time I hated her thinking that my father wanted her as a daughter rather then me. I met her once or twice. They adopted her after their commitment ceremony. I was invited, but did not attend. In pursuit of her is Elena her babysitter. I think we were friends a life time ago.
"I tried to stop her." Elena giggled as she wrapped her arms around her. Elena is a petite girl with straight long brown hair, and light brown eyes.
"But I wanted to meet Caroline." Anna pouts out. She is an attractive little girl with sleek black hair and brown eyes.
"It's alright Elena we know how this one can be." Steven picks the laughing girl up and puts her on his shoulders making her laugh even more.
"Hi, I'm Elena. We use to play together." She offers this a greeting.
"No, I remember." We stand there looking awkwardly at each other. Neither of knowing what to say.
"Carebear don't you remember how close the two of you were?" The pride is showing through my dads eyes at remembering a part of his daughters life.
Elena quickly departs, but not before promising to show me around school. My first night in my new home is strange. Anna is a ball of energy, and I am certain that had it been not for her dinner would have been eaten in silence. The only sound would have been the silver wear scratching the plates. My new room is at least double the size of my old room, and is complete with its own firer place. My single bed is now replaced with a full canopy, and my father promises that I can change it to however that I see fit. He's trying. My things have already been shipped from L.A. and my father and Steven must of have set it up. I cry myself to sleep that night. I cry for the unfamiliarity of my new life, but most of all I cry for my mom.
My mother's funeral is held the next day. Her final wishes were to be buried along side her family. She has a ceremony of a fallen officer, and her whole unit has flown in for it. Their presence offers me some comfort, as if the whole town shows up I realize that I am surrounded by strangers. I also learn that my mother had a life I never knew about. I sit greeting one person after the next each offering their deepest condolences, and offering words of encouragement promising that I am going to love Fells Church. It is in those moments that I decided that Fells Church Caroline is going to be perky, and strong even if she has to fake it.