Cassandra Goth stared into the mirror as she pulled her dark hair into a bun. When was the last time I didn't wear my hair in pigtails? she wondered. Her fiancé Don had recently told her she should try "something different" with her hair. His comment stung at first, but she realised it was time to move on. As a young girl, her mother had always brushed Cassandra's hair into pigtails. After Bella mysteriously disappeared ten years ago, Cassandra found herself automatically recreating her mother's favoured do each morning. Any other style didn't look quite right.
Cassandra took a few seconds to contemplate the final product. As expected, it didn't look perfect. The bun wasn't placed quite in the centre of her head. A few strands were loose at the front. Cassandra deliberately tore her gaze from the mirror. It's been a long time since I've worn a different hairstyle, she declared. Practise will make perfect.
Mortimer Goth looked up from his coffee and newspaper when he heard his daughter walking down the stairs. What is that on her head? Mortimer wondered.
"Good morning, Cassie…." Mortimer sounded confused.
"What's the matter?" Cassandra asked hesitantly, guessing it had something to do with her hair.
After a moment's pause, Mortimer replied, 'Nothing! Your hair looks… different.'
Cassandra frowned.
Realising his comment had hurt her, Mortimer added, 'Not in a bad way!'
Mortimer put down his newspaper, moved towards his daughter, held her shoulders and planted a firm kiss on her cheek.
'You look beautiful as always,' he said, his eyes twinkling, 'We just haven't seen you without pigtails since you were in school!'
'I know it's not perfect,' Cassandra replied as she moved towards the fridge, 'But I feel like trying something new.'
Noticing Cassandra was avoiding his eyes, Mortimer grew suspicious.
'Did Don tell you to try a new hairstyle?'
Cassandra paused as she pulled the ingredients to make a sandwich from the refrigerator.
'Yes,' she sighed, 'But he's right. It's time to -'
'He has no business telling you how to dress.' Mortimer's normally cheerful voice was now serious.
'Yes Dad, but do you see any other 25-year-old women wearing - '
'Don had no right! If he's ready for marriage, he wouldn't be asking!'
Cassandra shot her father a cold, icy stare. The same one Bella used to give him when he stayed up all night conducting scientific experiments in the attic.
'Dina Caliente never wears her hair in pigtails.'
Mortimer had no reply to that. The daggers in her eyes told Mortimer that his daughter knew about his date last week.
'Oh, Cassie. I meant to tell you.'
'You didn't need to. You didn't even call to say you weren't coming home til late.'
Mortimer softened his voice, and ran his hand over his neatly combed, grey hair.
'I'm sorry, Cass. It was one date. I wasn't going to tell you or Alexander until our relationship became more serious.'
Cassandra slammed a knife covered in butter onto the kitchen bench.
'More serious?' her voice was raised. 'You haven't been with anyone since Mom disappeared. You did the Woohoo with Dina on your first date!'
'Cass, keep your voice down. Alexander might hear-' Mortimer whispered exasperatedly.
'Can't you see Dina only wants your money?" Cassandra interrupted. "You were smart with all those other ladies."
"I know what it looks like, Cassie, but she's different from the rest.' Mortimer reasoned, trying to calm Cassandra by speaking gently. "She's smart, funny, and kind. Did you know she wants to build an orphanage in Strangetown one day?" Mortimer replied, trying to win over his daughter.
"She's also got fake breasts," Cassandra replied quickly. "How much do you think they cost Uncle Mike?"
Both Mortimer and Cassandra paused in memory of Michael, Bella's older brother and Dina's former husband. A couple of years ago, he had taken his own life in a cheap motel room downtown. In his final note, Michael wrote that Bella's disappearance and Dina's miscarriage had pushed him over the edge.
"Good morning, family!" Alexander's cheerful voice from the top of the stairs snapped Mortimer and Cassandra back to reality.
Alexander skipped into the kitchen and poured himself a juice.
"Why does everyone look so sad this morning? Was Grandma haunting the house again last night?"
"Nothing for you to worry about, Alex." Cassandra murmured as she finished preparing her lunch for the day. "And for the last time, ghosts aren't real."
"Yeah, they are!" yelled Alexander hyper-actively. "If Grandpa haunted you, you'd be happy, not sad. He always tells funny jokes. Grandma says nasty things."
Mortimer rolled his eyes. Hopefully this was just a phase that his son would grow out of. Though he couldn't help but wonder if it was best to discontinue the tradition of burying deceased family members on the estate.
"Nice hair, Cassie! Really suits you!" Alexander sang, as he danced around the kitchen.
"Thanks, Alex." Cassandra couldn't help but smile as she replied.
"Cass, would you mind dropping Alexander to school today?" Mortimer enquired. "I've got an important meeting on the other side of town."
"You better not be seeing you-know-who." Cassandra retorted.
"Who is you-know-who?" Alexander questioned as he crawled underneath the table to for no apparent reason.
Mortimer raised his eyebrow towards Cassandra.
"You-know-who is a lawyer who is helping me write my will."
"If you say so," responded Cassie. She packed her lunch into her backpack, and put on her lab coat. "Let's go, Alex. I don't want to be late for work."
Alexander ran into the garage, making spaceship noises the whole way. Cassandra pulled her backpack onto her shoulder.
"Stay away from those Caliente's. You know they had something to do with Mom disappearing." she said. With that, she turned and walked towards the garage.
Mortimer wisely chose not to reply, knowing his daughter was in a terrible mood now.