Chapter 2 - Preparations
My Uncle Bart always insisted that any celebration was to be celebrated at Foxworth Hall. And though my father and Uncle Bart fought insistently over this, every celebration was celebrated at Foxworth Hall. This year would be no different. So until the day of my birth I was not allowed to any where near Foxworth Hall and in a way I was glad it spooked me out a little.
All week though I was curious though for my mother and father would keep sneaking over there and my Uncle Bart kept making mysterious calls. Even when Aunt Cindy, Deidre and Darren came home that week they kept creeping up there too. I just darn curious for I hated when I wasn't included.
That morning of my birthday I just wondered around the house lost in my own thoughts. Everyone was at Foxworth Hall adding final touches. I thought about my Grandmother. It seemed these days my every trial of thought led to her. I kept comparing my life with hers and though they seemed eternities different they also seemed very similar too. I thought about Darren, Deidre and myself. I thought that perhaps if my mother got pregnant, would she have a blonde, blue-eyed fair-skinned boy? Would my parents name it Chris, like my grandfather and would the Dollangangers be born again in reverse, with the youngest the eldest? Would the same tragedies befall us? No I thought, never, never, never. It seemed I was always thinking like this.
I tried to think happier thoughts, about the party and such and then the phone rang, breaking the silence that seemed to grow.
"Catherine"
"Hello Didi"
"Cathy, your party is going to be fantastic. Everything looks absolutely marvelous. It's… Oops Uncle Bart tells me not tell you details. Get everything out, Aunt Cindy and I will be there to get you ready. Take out that pretty new blue dress Mommy bought you it'll match your eyes."
"Okay Didi. Can I speak to Mommy?"
"Sure."
I could hear Deidre call my mother and could hear the exchange. I tapped my foot impatiently.
"Hi honey, everything alright?"
"Yes Mommy I just wanted to speak."
"Well Cindy and Didi are leaving any minute to come and help you get ready so hurry upstairs and get started. I love you darling."
I could tell by her giggly voice that my father was by her side tickling her, for her voice sounded giggly indeed.
"Tell Daddy I said hi"
"I will darling now you get ready."
I cradled the phone and began to run upstairs, on my way I bumped into Maria. She was our cook, maid and nanny.
"Cathy," she said stretching it so it sounded like Carthy, "You get ready for your party now."
"I am" I answered as I hopped up the stairs as lightly as I could. I turned before I reached the top. "Are you going to be there?"
"We'll see, Darling, now go get ready."
I ran into my room with yellow walls and my blue bedspread, like the color of my eyes and hair. Like the color of Darren's and Deidre's hair and my Aunt's hair but not my parents, or my Uncles. But it was the color of my grandmother's hair, the Dollangangers' hair. I let go of that trail of thought and I began to dance as I took out my dress and little accessories. My excitement grew; I was finally going to see what all the fuss was about.
My Aunt Cindy and Deidre came in no time. They made a hassle and bustle getting me ready.
"Aunt Cindy, mommy wouldn't want me wearing make-up."
"Sweetie when I was your age I thrived on wearing make-up. It's a special occasion, I'm sure your mother won't mind. Certainly mine didn't. And it'll show off those big blue eyes you have."
"Strange that we all have blue eyes and blonde hair when Mommy and Daddy don't, isn't it" I asked my aunt.
Perhaps it was my imagination but I thought I saw a change in my Aunt's eyes and I was positive Deidre saw it too.
"Why is that Aunt Cindy?" Deidre asked. We (my brother, sister and I) were always curious about that.
"Well that happens sometimes, doesn't it. It's got something to do with genes. Why if my daddy was alive he'd tell you. He was a doctor you know." Like we didn't.
Deidre and my Aunt made me wear a pretty blue dress and blue sandal like shoes. All of these things were bought new. A turquoise clip was in my hair and my soft curls defined my face. My face was painted delicately with make-up. Though I thought it too much my Aunt and Deidre insisted it was only a little.
Once I was ready, Deidre and my aunt took their time to get all dressed up. Apparently everyone else got ready at Foxworth Hall. Deidre wore a light pink dress that reached down to her ankles, with just a little make-up to make her lips fuller and bring out the blue in her eyes. The dress went well with her fluffy curly blonde hair mostly up, with a few curls falling down her back, and her fair skin. At her feet she wore soft fat shoes that looked a lot like ballet shoes. Aunt Cindy on the other hand wore a white velvet dress. It was tight, with a low neckline and a slit that went up her thigh almost to her waist. Though it was very revealing my Aunt managed to look classy and appropriate.
"Well if were all ready let's get going." She glanced at her pretty heart shaped watch with diamonds, a present from My Uncle Bart. "We're running late. Oh," she wailed "were running late Bat will kill me."
Then we finally took off in a hurry, my Aunt driving us down to Foxworth Hall, driving to my birthday party, finally. Back at our house Maria was waving us off. She had exclaimed how wonderful we looked. I sigh as I glanced out the window watching the trees and mountains rush by.
During that car ride, I felt queasy. My insides were squelching. But I put that down as nervous. Nothing could go wrong. Right?