Chapter 5
Looking out of the huge bay windows, David Collins reminisced about his life in Collinwood. His obligation to the family and businesses still held him within the confines of this mysterious mansion. He remembered exploring all of the corridors and rooms in the great house as a boy and wished that exuberance would return. He was the only child who lived in Collinwood except for the occasional guest like Amy Jennings or Hallie Stokes.
Carolyn, his cousin, remarried in early 1972 and left with her second husband, Carl, to live in Bangor. In 1973, Carl got deathly sick from a contagious flu epidemic that was spreading over the region. He died and Carolyn returned to Collinwood. David's dad, Roger, needed a tutor for David so Carolyn volunteered until he was 18 years old. Unfortunately, Aunt Elizabeth and Dr. Julia Hoffman were also sick the same year and admitted to the Collinsport Hospital. Aunt Elizabeth eventually came home. In 1980, she passed away due to heart failure. David called it old age.
David remembered very little about Julia's condition. He heard from his dad that she had cancer. One day, he visited her at the hospital and remembered she looked terrible. She was so scrawny but her stomach was bloated. Worried about her, David asked her attending nurse and she said it was a complicated situation but nothing to worry about. He had a hard time believing it, however, what did he know? He was only sixteen and she was the nurse.
During that year, his only reprieve was a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl, Laura, who he fancied. She was tall, had auburn hair, green eyes and a smile that made him melt. They spent many hours together and lost their virginity in one the David's favorite places, the Old House. His teen antics drove the family crazy. Since Barnabas, his cousin from England, was grieving over Julia's condition, David was able to sneak into the Old House and impress lovely Laura. Due to their indiscretion, she became pregnant. This news did not please either family and they were quick to hide it from the public.
Secretively, David saw Laura during her pregnancy. He wanted to marry her but both families were against two sixteen-year-olds getting married. During the delivery of the child, Laura developed complications. The cause of death was by hemorrhaging during delivery but the infant survived. Right after the funeral, Laura's family moved unexpectedly. David asked but never found out what happened to the baby.
In 1975, at age 18, David eagerly enrolled in college for four years and then the Air Force for another four years. After his discharge from the Air Force, Roger Collins asked his son to return to Collinwood to help with the family business. Begrudgingly, David returned with the agreement he would have full control over business decisions.
David had been in control for over two decades.
The century-old grandfather clock chimed twelve times. David walked out of the drawing room to look at the grand clock when a knock on the front door echoed within the empty foyer. As David opened the double doors, he faced a beautiful brunette woman with large brownish-green dazzling eyes. Her smile radiated across her milky soft skin. Guessing she was about 30 years old, he smiled back.
"Hello, can I help you?" David asked, thinking about how he would like to touch her check.
"Hello, my name is Max Calhoun," Max replied holding out her hand. David shook her hand and asked her to come in. "Thank you."
"How can I help you, Ms. Calhoun?"
"I'm looking for the master of the house. Is he in?" Max looked at this attractive man, adoring his sandy blonde hair and brown eyes. She examined his well-developed stature with admiration.
"I am master of Collinwood, Ms. Calhoun."
"Please call me Max, Mr. Collins"
"Ok, call me David," he smiled. "Would you like to step into the drawing room and make yourself comfortable? Then you can tell me why you have come to see me." David led Max into the drawing room and offered her a seat. She walked over to the sofa near the fireplace, sat down and stared into the fire. While she was lost in thought, David walked over to the fireplace and used a poker to stir the logs. He looked into Max's face and smiled. "So, Max, what can I do for you?"
Max had a few amorous ideas but she didn't share them. Instead, she said, "I have come to ask for a job, Mr. Collins." Seeing him frown, she apologized, "David, sorry. It is hard for me to call a potential employer by his first name. Please forgive me."
"Not at all, you will get use to it, I assure you." Quickly changing the subject, "What sort of job are you inquiring about, Max?"
"Anything you have, actually. You see, I am a writer." Max took a moment before continuing, while David sighed. He remembered the last person who claimed to be a "writer". In 1967, Julia Hoffman arrived at Collinwood claiming to be a historian requesting permission to do research on the Collins' history. At that time, his Aunt Elizabeth was mistress and she welcomed Julia warmly. He always thought it was strange that Julia stayed as a guest, never produced a book but got very chummy with the family, especially Barnabas. David looked suspiciously at Max. She noticed his change in demeanor immediately.
"I apologize if I have offended you Mr. Collins," Max formally addressed him. "I am not looking for a handout. I've come seeking employment and in my spare time, I plan to write." She stood up and got ready to depart. "I have not come to beg and if my presence offends you, I shall leave." Max started for the drawing room doors when David cleared his throat.
"Please, Max, don't leave." She had spunk and tenacity, qualities he admired. "You have not offended me and if I gave you that impression, I am the one who should apologize." Max looked into David's eyes and inwardly smiled. She didn't want to go but she did not want to appear as a freeloader. "Please, won't you have lunch with me? We can talk about employment and your qualifications. There is a wonderful restaurant near the harbor featuring exquisite seafood lunches. You will be my guest."
"That would be lovely. I must go to my hotel room first and freshen up."
"Oh Ms. Calhoun," David said then corrected himself, "I mean Max, I would be honored if you would stay here, in Collinwood." David offered. Seeing her expression, he added, "We have so many rooms which are unoccupied for a modest fee, of course. It is perfectly safe and you may even get inspired to write." Max acted as if she was considering it, however, in reality she hoped for this opportunity to explore this place. Here was a dashing man and a beautiful mansion that had been in her dreams for years.
"Why, Mr. Collins, I mean David, your offer is truly unexpected. Do you mind if I consider it over lunch?"
"Not at all, Max. If you would wait here, I have to go upstairs for something. Make yourself at home. Help yourself to a drink and I will be right back." David exited the drawing room and ran up the stairs, skipping several steps at a time. As Max watched him go upstairs, she looked around the drawing room and admired the beautiful tapestries, antique furniture and portraits. She wondered if her mother ever entered these rooms or knew the Collins. They were the most wealth family in the area. She found out in town that the Collins' owned the cannery, the publishing house, and a newspaper.
Their name was practically on everything.