Chapter Six - Phantom Manor
The trip to Ottawa was long. At first it was exciting to be in a limo but after I had watched a movie and eaten a few snacks I started to get anxious. I pressed the button to remove the window between Gary and I.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"Oh no, I was just getting lonely," I assured him.
"Oh. okay," he said.
It seemed like he wasn't used to the people he was driving wanting to talk to him unless of course they wanted something.
"So, how long have you worked for the Porters?" I asked.
"Almost twenty years," he said, "I was with Ms. Maria's parents before she was married and on her own."
So that meant Gary was there when I was born. I was too anxious to know the details. I couldn't wait two more hours to hear them from my mother.
"Then you must know all about my mother," I said.
"I've known her since she was thirteen," he said.
"Then you know what she did to me?" I asked carefully.
He hesitated a moment before answering, "Well, I know some vague facts, nothing really specific," he said.
"What do you know?" I prodded. I didn't want to let this go. I had been kept in the dark for too long.
"Miss Lucky, I don't think I should be the one to talk to you about this, we'll be at the Manor in a little while," Gary told me.
I sighed, "Wait, a Manor?" I asked. How big was this house?
"Yes," Gary said happy for the change in subject, "it is called Phantom Manor."
"Really? Why Phantom?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Your mother's husband, Randall Porter is a very rich business man. His great grandfather built the house for his wife a long time ago. They decided to call it Phantom because Randall's great grandmother believed it was haunted. She thought it had been built on top of a very old graveyard," he explained, "She used to see ghosts in the halls."
"Wow, creepy," I breathed. Ghost storied always sent a chill through my spine, "Have you ever seen anything?" I asked.
"No, not seen, but the sounds are almost deafening at times," he said.
We stopped talking after that. We had entered Ottawa and the anticipation was becoming unbearable. I watched out the darkly tinted windows as the houses and buildings passed by. After awhile the buildings became more and more sparse until it was just trees. We turned into a private driveway that would have been invisible if you didn't know it was there. Especially in the dark. The limo drove slowly to these dark wrought iron gates. Gary pressed a button and they slowly opened. I scrambled up to the window and stuck my head through to look through the windshield.
There, looming in front of us was the biggest house I had ever seen. It looked to have at least four levels with balconies and terraces on every one. There was a high tower with a couple windows in it. The house was made of red brick. All the windows had fancy shutters on them. There was a four- car garage that looked like it had been a modern addition to the house. The driveway was made of brick, arranged in an elaborate design. There was a porch in front of the door that went across the whole front of the house.
Probably most amazing of all was the garden of roses that snaked around to the side of the house. I couldn't wait to see what the grounds in the back looked like.
The house had only one light on that I could see. It was late but I thought my mother's entire family would be there to greet me.
"Here we are," Gary said. He had already parked the car and come around to open the door for me without me even noticing.
I climbed out of the car and stared up at the house in wonder. I had never seen a mansion as big as this one. It was absolutely monstrous!
The huge wooden double doors were yanked open abruptly and a woman about my height came out. She looked very elegant even at this late hour. She wore casual pinstripe slacks and a sheer black blouse. She was slim with a nice figure. She had the same blond hair as me. Hers was pulled back into a soft looking ponytail. Her cheekbones were very defined and she had a feminine looking jaw line that sloped down into a chin that was a little pointed but not unattractively so. Her eyebrows were perfectly shaped and she wore just a little bit of makeup. Her eyes could be best described as ice blue. They had a hard look to them but when she set eyes on me they softened. She clasped her manicured hands together and smiled showing off her straight white teeth. She was beautiful.
"Lucky?" she asked.
I nodded.
"Oh my goodness, it is so great to have you here!" she squealed and ran to me. She held me at arms length for a moment.
"Spitting image," Gary said in passing. He was already carrying my bags into the house.
"You brought a lot of things, didn't Scott tell you I would buy you everything you would possibly need?" she asked.
"Yes, but I just couldn't leave anything behind," I told her. Even though I had five suitcases I still felt as though I was missing so much.
"Please come inside so we can chat," my mother said. I followed her into the front foyer. It was huge with marble floors and a giant chandelier hanging overhead. There was a large staircase directly in front of the double doors. A red carpet descended down and continued all the way to the threshold of the door. I felt like I was in the Queen of England's home.
"This is Phantom Manor," my mother said spreading her arms it seemed to demonstrate the grandeur of the estate. As if I hadn't noticed.
"Gary, will you take Lucky's bags up to the room," she said. Gary nodded and started up the stairs. I stared after him in wonder. I couldn't believe this would be my home. Everything was happening so quickly, I didn't know what to say. I had just met my mother and found out she was filthy rich. The anger came flooding back when I remembered how I had loved back in St. Thomas. How Dad and Jesse were still living. All the while my mother had enough money to support everyone who went to my high school three times over. I looked over at her. She was admiring her house as if it were her first time seeing it, not mine.
I yawned, finally feeling the day's events catching up with me.
"Oh, you must be exhausted," mother said.
"I am but I'd like to talk to you for while," I told her, "I thought my mother was dead,"
"Is that what Scott told you?" she asked.
I didn't say anything. It sounded like she was surprised I hadn't known the truth all these years. Like it was my father's fault I had never known my mother.
"You poor dear. Well as you can see I am very much alive," she smiled again.
Was I just imagining it or had she just given herself a compliment?
"Come, we can speak in the living room," she said turning to walk away. It seemed almost like she was on a mission, not like she was on her way to talk to her daughter for the first time. I followed her into a large room with plush beige carpet. The sofas were leather and very comfortable as I found when I sat down. There was a roaring fire in the marble fireplace. It looked like a scene form a movie.
"I want to know everything about you dear," my mother said.
"First I would like to know the story from your side. I have a million questions," I told her. She looked surprised at my assertion and a little uncomfortable for a moment.
"I want you to know first of all that my husband and daughter don't know who you are," she said speaking quieter now, "they think you are the granddaughter of a family friend,"
I stared at her in shock. My presence was being explained through lies? But why?" Did Maria Porter really want me here or was it just an obligation she felt she needed to fulfill?
"I don't understand," I stuttered.
"As you know, I was only your age when you were born. I was afraid. My parents wouldn't let me live with them if I kept you. So with Gary's help, I fled to London and left you in a Wal-Mart," she explained, "I thought I was doing it for your won good. You have to know I really believed that,"
I looked down at my hands. Disappointment was growing in the pit of my stomach. This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
"I cam back without you and moved back home. Then Scott got the police involved. They found me and I was forced to sign you over to him. My parents know everything. Them and Gary are the only ones who do," she continued. She was determined to finish this story. She kept glancing at the door to make sure no one was listening.
"I met my husband, Randall when I was nineteen. We got married, time passed and Julianna was born. Later when I was about twenty-five my parents told me they had hired a private detective to watch you. Where once, they didn't even want to know you existed, they had to be aware of your every move. My father feared that you would be a terrible child that would somehow bring embarrassment to the family,"
Embarrassment to the family. Did they think I would turn out to b a hooker and tell everyone I was a Porter? Rich people were very paranoid and preoccupied with their reputation.
"We spoke awhile ago and decided it would be best if you came to live here for while. I know my Dad is hopeful that you will be a good businessperson so you can take over his company some day. My mother just wants to keep tabs on you," she finished.
I stared at her, "But why do you want me here?" I asked.
The question obviously caught her off guard, "Well.I.I.you are my daughter and I want to get to know you," she said finally. As long as know one knows that, I though sadly. I never should have come to this place. They only wanted to control my and make sure I did what they wanted.
"I'm very tired," I said.
"Oh, okay, I'll show you your room," she said getting up. She seemed relieved the conversation was over.
She showed me up the stairs. I was too busy thinking to notice the house or my room. I just said goodnight to my mother and fell into bed.
"Oh and one more thing," she said before leaving, "you have to call me Maria," she closed the door with a resounding thud.
This night had only been confirmation that not everything turns out how you want it to. I might as well have been a family friend's daughter the way I had been treated. I realized before I fell asleep that nothing had changed. Not really.
I didn't have a mother before and I didn't have one now.
The trip to Ottawa was long. At first it was exciting to be in a limo but after I had watched a movie and eaten a few snacks I started to get anxious. I pressed the button to remove the window between Gary and I.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"Oh no, I was just getting lonely," I assured him.
"Oh. okay," he said.
It seemed like he wasn't used to the people he was driving wanting to talk to him unless of course they wanted something.
"So, how long have you worked for the Porters?" I asked.
"Almost twenty years," he said, "I was with Ms. Maria's parents before she was married and on her own."
So that meant Gary was there when I was born. I was too anxious to know the details. I couldn't wait two more hours to hear them from my mother.
"Then you must know all about my mother," I said.
"I've known her since she was thirteen," he said.
"Then you know what she did to me?" I asked carefully.
He hesitated a moment before answering, "Well, I know some vague facts, nothing really specific," he said.
"What do you know?" I prodded. I didn't want to let this go. I had been kept in the dark for too long.
"Miss Lucky, I don't think I should be the one to talk to you about this, we'll be at the Manor in a little while," Gary told me.
I sighed, "Wait, a Manor?" I asked. How big was this house?
"Yes," Gary said happy for the change in subject, "it is called Phantom Manor."
"Really? Why Phantom?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Your mother's husband, Randall Porter is a very rich business man. His great grandfather built the house for his wife a long time ago. They decided to call it Phantom because Randall's great grandmother believed it was haunted. She thought it had been built on top of a very old graveyard," he explained, "She used to see ghosts in the halls."
"Wow, creepy," I breathed. Ghost storied always sent a chill through my spine, "Have you ever seen anything?" I asked.
"No, not seen, but the sounds are almost deafening at times," he said.
We stopped talking after that. We had entered Ottawa and the anticipation was becoming unbearable. I watched out the darkly tinted windows as the houses and buildings passed by. After awhile the buildings became more and more sparse until it was just trees. We turned into a private driveway that would have been invisible if you didn't know it was there. Especially in the dark. The limo drove slowly to these dark wrought iron gates. Gary pressed a button and they slowly opened. I scrambled up to the window and stuck my head through to look through the windshield.
There, looming in front of us was the biggest house I had ever seen. It looked to have at least four levels with balconies and terraces on every one. There was a high tower with a couple windows in it. The house was made of red brick. All the windows had fancy shutters on them. There was a four- car garage that looked like it had been a modern addition to the house. The driveway was made of brick, arranged in an elaborate design. There was a porch in front of the door that went across the whole front of the house.
Probably most amazing of all was the garden of roses that snaked around to the side of the house. I couldn't wait to see what the grounds in the back looked like.
The house had only one light on that I could see. It was late but I thought my mother's entire family would be there to greet me.
"Here we are," Gary said. He had already parked the car and come around to open the door for me without me even noticing.
I climbed out of the car and stared up at the house in wonder. I had never seen a mansion as big as this one. It was absolutely monstrous!
The huge wooden double doors were yanked open abruptly and a woman about my height came out. She looked very elegant even at this late hour. She wore casual pinstripe slacks and a sheer black blouse. She was slim with a nice figure. She had the same blond hair as me. Hers was pulled back into a soft looking ponytail. Her cheekbones were very defined and she had a feminine looking jaw line that sloped down into a chin that was a little pointed but not unattractively so. Her eyebrows were perfectly shaped and she wore just a little bit of makeup. Her eyes could be best described as ice blue. They had a hard look to them but when she set eyes on me they softened. She clasped her manicured hands together and smiled showing off her straight white teeth. She was beautiful.
"Lucky?" she asked.
I nodded.
"Oh my goodness, it is so great to have you here!" she squealed and ran to me. She held me at arms length for a moment.
"Spitting image," Gary said in passing. He was already carrying my bags into the house.
"You brought a lot of things, didn't Scott tell you I would buy you everything you would possibly need?" she asked.
"Yes, but I just couldn't leave anything behind," I told her. Even though I had five suitcases I still felt as though I was missing so much.
"Please come inside so we can chat," my mother said. I followed her into the front foyer. It was huge with marble floors and a giant chandelier hanging overhead. There was a large staircase directly in front of the double doors. A red carpet descended down and continued all the way to the threshold of the door. I felt like I was in the Queen of England's home.
"This is Phantom Manor," my mother said spreading her arms it seemed to demonstrate the grandeur of the estate. As if I hadn't noticed.
"Gary, will you take Lucky's bags up to the room," she said. Gary nodded and started up the stairs. I stared after him in wonder. I couldn't believe this would be my home. Everything was happening so quickly, I didn't know what to say. I had just met my mother and found out she was filthy rich. The anger came flooding back when I remembered how I had loved back in St. Thomas. How Dad and Jesse were still living. All the while my mother had enough money to support everyone who went to my high school three times over. I looked over at her. She was admiring her house as if it were her first time seeing it, not mine.
I yawned, finally feeling the day's events catching up with me.
"Oh, you must be exhausted," mother said.
"I am but I'd like to talk to you for while," I told her, "I thought my mother was dead,"
"Is that what Scott told you?" she asked.
I didn't say anything. It sounded like she was surprised I hadn't known the truth all these years. Like it was my father's fault I had never known my mother.
"You poor dear. Well as you can see I am very much alive," she smiled again.
Was I just imagining it or had she just given herself a compliment?
"Come, we can speak in the living room," she said turning to walk away. It seemed almost like she was on a mission, not like she was on her way to talk to her daughter for the first time. I followed her into a large room with plush beige carpet. The sofas were leather and very comfortable as I found when I sat down. There was a roaring fire in the marble fireplace. It looked like a scene form a movie.
"I want to know everything about you dear," my mother said.
"First I would like to know the story from your side. I have a million questions," I told her. She looked surprised at my assertion and a little uncomfortable for a moment.
"I want you to know first of all that my husband and daughter don't know who you are," she said speaking quieter now, "they think you are the granddaughter of a family friend,"
I stared at her in shock. My presence was being explained through lies? But why?" Did Maria Porter really want me here or was it just an obligation she felt she needed to fulfill?
"I don't understand," I stuttered.
"As you know, I was only your age when you were born. I was afraid. My parents wouldn't let me live with them if I kept you. So with Gary's help, I fled to London and left you in a Wal-Mart," she explained, "I thought I was doing it for your won good. You have to know I really believed that,"
I looked down at my hands. Disappointment was growing in the pit of my stomach. This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
"I cam back without you and moved back home. Then Scott got the police involved. They found me and I was forced to sign you over to him. My parents know everything. Them and Gary are the only ones who do," she continued. She was determined to finish this story. She kept glancing at the door to make sure no one was listening.
"I met my husband, Randall when I was nineteen. We got married, time passed and Julianna was born. Later when I was about twenty-five my parents told me they had hired a private detective to watch you. Where once, they didn't even want to know you existed, they had to be aware of your every move. My father feared that you would be a terrible child that would somehow bring embarrassment to the family,"
Embarrassment to the family. Did they think I would turn out to b a hooker and tell everyone I was a Porter? Rich people were very paranoid and preoccupied with their reputation.
"We spoke awhile ago and decided it would be best if you came to live here for while. I know my Dad is hopeful that you will be a good businessperson so you can take over his company some day. My mother just wants to keep tabs on you," she finished.
I stared at her, "But why do you want me here?" I asked.
The question obviously caught her off guard, "Well.I.I.you are my daughter and I want to get to know you," she said finally. As long as know one knows that, I though sadly. I never should have come to this place. They only wanted to control my and make sure I did what they wanted.
"I'm very tired," I said.
"Oh, okay, I'll show you your room," she said getting up. She seemed relieved the conversation was over.
She showed me up the stairs. I was too busy thinking to notice the house or my room. I just said goodnight to my mother and fell into bed.
"Oh and one more thing," she said before leaving, "you have to call me Maria," she closed the door with a resounding thud.
This night had only been confirmation that not everything turns out how you want it to. I might as well have been a family friend's daughter the way I had been treated. I realized before I fell asleep that nothing had changed. Not really.
I didn't have a mother before and I didn't have one now.
