Dinner was tense and forced once again. Neither of us knowing how to act around one another. After the obligatory 'how was your day, and how are you' we didn't have much to talk about.
"So Caroline how was your first day? I know that 'fine' is teenage universal answer for everything, but growing up as an army brat I had many first days as the new kid. Tell one thing that happened; one specific thing." This was Steven trying. He's always trying to make us comfortable around each other. He's a good guy, and he doesn't have to try so hard I already like him.
I was about to repeat my early statement of fine when a thought came to me. "Actually now that you mention it there was something that I wanted to ask you dad." I turn to my father.
"Go a head sweat heart." He shrugs his shoulders and offers me a smile. I think that he is happy that I am coming to him; its almost as if we are bonding. Almost.
"Did our family help found this town? I mean were we a founding family? There's a group at school that call themselves 'the council'. They have been very welcoming and I was told it was only because they were made up of the founding families and I happen to come from one. It is true?" I can tell that my question has caught him off guard.
He actually gave a chuckle before responding. "That was not what I was expecting you to ask. Yes we are. One of our ancestors signed the town charter thus making us one of the founding families. In fact if you want to see it you can go to the town hall. Actually your mothers family was a founding family as well. Let's see there was: Forbes, Salvatore, Lockwood, Fell, Gilbert, and Flemming. You would be the last of the Flemming line. I can not believe that they still have that group at school. I was a member when I went to high school. I must say we were a rather entitled bunch. I would go as far as to call us brats." My father is clearly in a moment of nestolga.
"Wait did you say?" I couldn't help but interrupt, and I couldn't believe I didn't make the connection before, but my mothers madian name was Flemming. "Isobel Flemming? Is she related?" My mother never mentioned her before, but then again she didn't talk much about her life back in Fells Church.
"Where did you hear that name?" My father's horrified shock did not go unnoticed.
"Some of the kids were talking about her, and I am sitting in her desk plus I have her old locker. . Also Ric called my Izzy. It was all very strange." I explained and the more I thought the more I realize that it was indeed very strange. I was expecting my father to have a good laugh, and tell me that I was being silly.
I was not, however, expecting anger. "Well Ric would be the one to bring this all back up. I have a half a mind to call that school..."
I cut him before he could continue his rant. "Dad chilax. Whats the big deal."
"The big deal is Ric," he spat the name out, "should be doing his job and not dredging up a past that should be long ago forgotten. Furthermore I am not liking the attention that he is putting on you. By the sound of it its going beyond teacher and student."
"William!" This time it was Steven to snap my father out of his anger induced rant. "Anna is here." He further proved his point by indicating to Anna who was seated to his left. Looking at her she did look a little scared.
"Sorry, you are right this is not something that should be discussed in front of children. Caroline I want you to put that name from your mind. Its unhealthy."
"But dad," he was seriously out of his mind if he thought that I was going to let thing go/
"I'm serious Caroline, this is not something I want you thinking about. It will give you nightmares for weeks. Now you promise me that you are going to let this go?"
"Yeah dad." I barely breath out. I went to bed that night thinking of Isobel Flemming. What happened to her, and how come my mother never mentioned her. "I wish you were here mom. I need you now, and I think you are the only one who can help me." I went to bed crying again that night.
"What the hell was going on at dinner tonight?" Steven ask as he emerged from the bathroom."That stuff about Isobel Flemming, it sure seemed to put you in a mood. How come you never told me about her?"
"Izzy was a girl we went to school with. She was Liz's older sister. She disappeared when we were still in high school. She was last seen in the woods, and then she was just gone. They were never able to find her, or a clue of what might have happen to her for that matter. Parents were afraid to let their children out of their sights for months. It took this town a long time to get over what happened to Izzy"
"That sounds terrible." Steven climb into his side of the bed.
"You know I never gave it much thought until now, but Caroline does look an aweful lot like her. There's more of Izzy in her then Liz. It's fun, but I never notice berore."
"You have to asmit that it's kind of creepy. If what you say is true and she looks like her then Caroline having her locker and sitting in her seat is very strange." Steven added.
"I'm gonna have to pay close attention to how Ric interacts with Caroline." With that Bill turned out his light and went into an uneasy sleep.