Back to the Glen

Fantasy Island Fan Fiction

I do not own the copyrights to Fantasy Island

Ch. 8

The wind blew over the island as Roark waited behind his desk for Janet to come to the appointment which had been requested, no demanded, by the island magistrate. Megan now dancing on Broadway and having the time of her life could not be messed with that he knew, James being buried under the name of Matthew was clearly a done deal, as to Lizzy? The man sighed. Of course, no questions had come from his mouth as to how the gal had felt about staying extra time; it had been written all over her face.

"I should have insisted she come back with me." Roark tapped his pencil on the desk as he looked at the paper in front of him. "There was something pulling to keep her there permanently; I could feel it." The man spoke to a gray cat lounging lazily on the window sill. "But, she had every right to insist on finishing out the week." Just then a knock came on the door and Janet was shown into the room.

"What's up?" Janet was confused as to why Lizzy wasn't with Roark and asked about her.

"She's fine, but the week is not up and I could not force her to come back now could I?" Roark waited for the girl to sit down and then demanded to know what words had been exchanged between herself and Megan.

"Switching recipes mostly, and a small bit about dancing," Janet answered, "she talked about all the disappointments of not getting a really good dancing contract and said she assumed it had been unrealistic and unattainable." Janet was then asked by Roark what her response had been. "Told her what Lizzy is always telling me,"

"And that is?" Roark leaned forward slightly in his seat.

"I told her Lizzy's reply would have been 'Do you know how assumed is spelled?' And then we talked about the latest offer Lizzy was crazy enough to turn down."

"And that was?" Roark's gut instinct told him what it was, but the man wanted to hear it out of Janet's own mouth.

"You know that part her friend offered her in…" Janet's eyes flew open when she realized it was the part Megan now had and said as much.

"Since when does Lizzy dance?" Roark didn't like what he was hearing.

"She doesn't. Her friend saw her goofing off one day and, well…." Janet shrugged her shoulders, "…the gal insisted Janet could easily learn, but you know Lizzy. She hates big cities and never has been interested in visiting, or working in them…no matter the size of paycheck."

Mr. Roark chewed Janet out royal saying, among other things, hadn't she stopped to think? Megan was a dancer, loved dancing to the hilt and had always wanted to make it somewhere big. Surely, the idea had crossed Janet's mind that the Scottish woman would jump when she saw a chance to grab a spot another had left open.

"I didn't think the woman would get off the bus and run to Broadway." Janet would have been in major trouble only Roark had, before the fantasy even began, realized as far as the gal knew… the Glen was simply a recreation of two children's youth game. She had no idea any of it was real. No, to her Megan was simply a dancer who happened to be on the bus first. "Is it that big of a deal? I mean this Megan is on Broadway. It's not like she's preventing Lizzy from coming back here."

"Janet, I think it's best if you go home now. I'll take care of things concerning Lizzy." Roark would have gotten an argument only Janet coward under his stern glare.

"Okay, but you will tell her to contact me when she gets home, right?" Janet was promised she'd get contacted one way or another.

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"You didn't!" Lexie gasps as I tell about gluing a frog on the bottom of my father's coffee mug.

"I was a fourteen year old brat, what can I say?" I cracked up laughing as Gully, who had his own mug in midair; paused and assured him no frogs had been killed by my hand as of late.

"Surprised your father let you live." He says as I tell of a few more pranks I'd pulled.

"Na, he was gone most of the time working. It's more surprising my mother and siblings let me live." I went on to tell of using my mother's brand new silk sheet for a ghost using a basketball for its head. "My cousin, Jackson, let it fly down a wire when I gave the signal and my sister let out a scream which would have impressed a Banshee." My eyes danced yet again as I said my mother wasn't impressed.

"I bet not. My father would have skinned me alive." Archie looked at Molly.

"That or I would have." Molly grinned wide. The dinner party was joined by Duncan and Jesse; any fool could see the rumor of the other gal leaving and Duncan asking Jesse out was true.

"If you'll please excuse me, I'm going to step outside." I couldn't explain why I'd gotten so antsy all of a sudden, but I had. It didn't seem enough simply to walk near the house, and before I knew it my feet had carried me to my brother's grave.

"You know, James, it would have been easier to find you if you'd gone by your legal name." I curled my lip and stuck my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. "If I'd known what you were up to, I'd have slapped you silly." I sighed as a tear escaped my eye, "No, that's not true…" a sigh escaped my lips, "…I'd have joined you. Why didn't you tell me?" Of course, no answer came and I continued on. "You know Paul and Lexie seem real happy, but I can't say the same thing for Archie and his gal. They've left already and I can't say they were on good terms." Shaking my head I say I'm pretty sure those two will split up. "Duncan's with Jesse now." My mind turned to Gully.

"I don't know what made Megan leave… Roark probably already knows by now." Swallowing I admitted I should be upset, but I wasn't. "I like him, Matthew, I mean really like him just as much as when you were home. It's like I belong here. Is that stupid or what?" Glancing at the river I talked as if my brother were standing right next to me. "This place is something else, nothing like the towns we grew up in." My talk turned to Gully again and the connection I'd felt until I let silence fall around me.

I don't know how long the quiet lasted, but as I took turns glancing from the river to my brother's grave I felt a hand lay itself on my shoulder and a male voice I knew all too well say, "Matthew was something else." His mouth lifted slightly and I hoped man hadn't heard anything I'd said; Him continuing on about my brother gave no clue he'd heard a word I'd been speaking out loud by my brother's grave – Thank heavens. "He was always talking about his parents, grandmother and his sister." Gully's eyes turning on me got me biting my lip again. "Everything out of his mouth in regards to you was given in vivid detail. It got to the point I felt as if I'd known you my whole life." His eyebrows lifted slightly and fell right back down. "I've wondered for almost five years what I would think, or feel, if I ever met you."

"My brother always did talk too much." I tried to laugh, but my throat constricted and Gully let me lean against him as my tears broke loose once again. Another voice I knew well broke through the sound of me sobbing; it was Mr. Roark and he was back sooner than I'd expected.

"We need to talk." He wasn't smiling, and I let out an involuntary ugh. "I'm serious, Lizzy."

"Now?" Again I groan.

"Yes, now, Caci Elizabeth McGray." I wasn't surprised when Gully asked about the name.

"Matthew was my half-brother, legally. In here…" I pointed to my heart, "…he was full." He nodded and I told him to please stay put. I went far enough as to make it so Gully couldn't hear us, but could still see me.

"You have to go with me now, Lizzy; Janet's having a fit and this place will most likely refuse to let you go if we don't leave now. You really shouldn't have spoken to these people first."

"Janet can go take a hike." I stop the urge to growl and plead instead. "Please, I can't go, Roark, not yet. I just can't." I glanced over at Gully who could see my torn feelings all over my face and urged me back to him without saying a word.

"Lizzy." Roark spoke firmly when it looked like I would fly to Gully's side.

"Don't make me go, Roark, I've barely spent any time at this place." I wasn't surprised when Roark ran his hand through his hair.

"Do you know how long it's been since I've let someone stay like this; especially with no one firmly committed to them?" I did and I knew he'd still be able to count on one hand the people he'd let do it even if I did go back to the island. Again I urged him to let me stay a bit longer at least.

"Gully! Roark called out. The man did not drag his feet in getting over to us.

"Yes?" Gully stood straight and looked Roark straight in the eye.

"I'm not arguing with her extending her visit a bit more; see that she's well taken care of," Gully kept his well-known serious face and promised he'd make sure that was the case.

"Give her this note ." I write a jot a short letter and hand it to my cousin. Roark only gave a slight shake of the head as I grinned wide. I'd come back to the glen and my host wasn't demanding I leave; at least not yet. I'm sure he'd have tacked on the stay wasn't necessarily permanent, but with Gully standing right there Roark only said he'd be back to check in on me.