Chapter 9
"Max, wake up!" David shouted as he shook Max's shoulder. Max opened her eyes and looked at David standing over her. She looked around and saw she was sitting in a chair in the drawing of the Old House.
Standing up, she asked, "What happen?" Of course, she did not expect David to know.
"You have been sleeping so soundly I have been trying to wake you for five minutes. Are you ok?"
"Yes, but I'm a bit confused. I had the most unusual day."
"Sit, tell me about it," David said and sat down on the adjacent chair.
"Well," Max sat down and started her story, "when I came in here earlier today, I saw this portrait of Barnabas Collins and remembered your story about the two similar portraits. Then I saw a ghost." She noticed he was not surprised. He urged her to continue. "I followed the ghost upstairs and it guided me into one room. It is a beautiful, Victorian room."
"Huh, yes Josette's room. Go ahead, continue," David said interested.
"While I was in that room, I heard a noise and went to investigate. It was coming from the room at the end of the hall, on the left."
"Oh, that was Julia's old room," David added.
"I thought Julia had a room in Collinwood," Max said confused.
"She did, but she also had one here too. She stayed here most of the time," David said, "especially after she married my cousin Barnabas." That news surprised and interested Max, which explained a lot.
"I looked in the room but I could not enter it," Max continued her story. "I saw a little girl and a woman in that room. They could not see or hear me. It was so strange, David. The little girl was playing while her mother was watching her. Then when they were about to leave the room, everything disappeared. I could only enter the room after they were gone. Do you know what this all means?"
David sat quietly for a few moments, digesting Max's story. "Could it be happening again?" he asked himself.
"What, David, could what be happening again?" Max asked excitedly.
"It was a long time ago and the adults in my family did not share information with me very readily. I had to eavesdrop and put fragments of what I heard together to get any idea of what was happening. I remember overhearing Barnabas and Julia talking about a room in the east wing in Collinwood. They used strange terms like parallel time, time warp, and once I heard someone say that Barnabas disappeared in that room only to come back a short time later with a wild story about a disaster."
"Could this be the same thing, David? It seemed like the two people were dressed in older style clothes from the 70's."
"Maybe, I'd like to go to that room and see for myself," David replied, standing up and turning towards the stairs.
"Wait, David," Max grabbed his arm and held him back. "I just remembered something else. After the people disappeared in that room, I heard noises coming from down here. I thought it might be you. I walked downstairs and saw," Max stopped abruptly, not certain if she should tell him anymore. Her memory became foggy on the details, and she did not know why. Everything else was crystal clear.
"What, Max, what did you see?" At that moment, they heard the front doors open and close. They looked at each other inquisitively. Looking back towards the foyer, two people walked into the drawing room.
"Them, David, I saw them," Max said pointing her figure at the two strangers standing before them.
David looks at the man and then the woman. "I don't believe it," he said shocked, "It can't be."
"You're right, it isn't what you think," the man replied extending his hand and walking up to David. They shook hands as the man said, "I look like my father, but I'm not him. Who might you be, sir? The master of Collinwood, I hope."
"Yes," David hesitated, "yes I am, David Collins and your name is?" David asked politely but knowing the answer already, as obvious as it was just looking at him.
"Barnabas Collins, the son of the man who lived here in the 60's and 70's and the descendent of the original Barnabas from the 18th century," Barnabas said not having any other story to tell. "My ancestors believed in carrying forth the same name, I'm afraid," he replied trying to make a joke out of this awkward moment.
"There is no mistake about that," David said and pointed to the portrait above the mantel. "You all look exactly alike." Barnabas looked at his portrait and nodded.
"Yes, I am my father's son. This is my dear friend, Maeve Smyth," Barnabas introduced his companion. They all looked at her as she stood by his side.
"My friend here," David motioned to Max, "says she saw the two of you in this house earlier." David looked back and forth between Maeve and Max, raising one eyebrow.
"Yes, we were here earlier looking at the house. My father told me so much about it." Barnabas looked at Max and smiled. Looking back at David, he said, "I apology for not going to Collinwood first and introducing myself. We were just looking around when this young lady came in and fainted." Barnabas looked first at Max and then back to David. "We were very worried about her. Since we were unsuccessful in awaking her up, we drove to a drugstore for some smelling salts." Barnabas held up a small bottle. "We were just coming back to try again. I am glad to see you are ok now, miss," he faced Max and bowed. Then he walked up to Max and asked, "What is you name, dear?" then he took her hand into his. As they held hands for a brief moment, Barnabas felt a sensation. He looked into Max's eyes and noticed a familiar look. Feeling it too, Max quickly released his hand as she folded her hands together.
"Max Calhoun, it's nice to meet you Mr. Collins," Max addressed Barnabas formally. She made eye contact with Maeve. Max thought, I know her. She looked so familiar. Maeve looked at Max, knowing what had to be done soon.
"Please call me Barnabas. I really prefer informalities." Barnabas turned his attention to a shocked David. "Would it be ok with you, David, if we spend the night here in this house?"
"Of course, Barnabas, I wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, this house is still the property of the heirs of the original Barnabas Collins. That means this house is yours. I have to get back to Collinwood but I would like to invite the two of you to Sunday brunch tomorrow. I will not take no for an answer," David smiled. Before Barnabas could make an excuse, he heard a familiar voice respond.
"We gladly accept your invitation, Mr. Collins," Maeve said quickly.
"Call me David, please." David smiled and then said, "Maeve, that is a beautiful name. Am I pronouncing it correctly?"
"It's Ma-Eve, instead of Mauve, but I'll answer to just about anything," Maeve joked. "It's a Latin name with the accent on the last syllable."
"Are you ready to go back to Collinwood, Max?" David asked. He was surprised to hear her answer.
"If you don't mind, David, I would love to visit with your cousin for a little while," Max said anxiously but gave David a sweet smile. She gave him a warm kiss on the lips, as he held her for more than a moment before letting go.
Barnabas and Maeve looked at each other, and then at David. "We will walk Max back to Collinwood when she is ready," Maeve offered. Barnabas dumbfounded by these circumstances, walked David to the door.
When Barnabas returned to the drawing room, he saw Maeve and Max sitting on the sofa near the bay windows. He walked to his favorite chair and sat down to watch the two women. As he observed both of them sitting next to each other, he recognized a similarity between them. Maeve watched Barnabas sit down and then directed her attention to Max.
"So Max, tell us something about yourself," Maeve opened up the conversation. "Where are you from?"
"I can't believe it," Max said fixated on Maeve and ignoring the question. "You look just the way I remember you. You haven't aged a bit," Max said in a soft gentle voice. Barnabas shot a look at Maeve.
"Excuse me?" Maeve looked briefly at Barnabas and then back at Max.
Max took Maeve's hand into hers. Looking deeply into Maeve's eyes, she recognized the woman who raised her for the first five years of her life. "Yes, I can see it. But I don't understand how it's possible."
"I think you have me confused with someone else, dear," Maeve said nervously, glancing at Barnabas again.
Just then, they heard a loud shout coming from the foyer. "I'll race you to the door." It was a little girl's voice.
Barnabas, Maeve and Max raced to the drawing room/foyer entrance and stop. They couldn't go any farther. They were shocked to see two adults and a child walking towards the first door from the back of the house.
"Bree, don't run in the house, you could fall and hurt yourself," Julia said alarmed.
"But Mommy, I want to be the first one to the door," Bree laughed in protest.
"I will not be long, Barnabas. The doctor just wants to give me the last treatment. Then we can put this all behind us," Julia said giving her husband a kiss.
"I'm ok, Julia. I know the treatments are experimental but they are the best we have for now. I'm just thankful you are still with us." Barnabas hugged Julia tightly, standing right in front of Maeve, Barnabas and Max. "I'll watch Bree until you get home. I love you."
Julia walked up to Bree and bent down to hug her daughter. "Mommy has to go on an errand for a few hours, sweetheart. You be good for Daddy. I love you." She stood up and walked out the first doors.
"Bree, let's go upstairs and write a book," Barnabas suggested and they went upstairs, out of sight.
Max gasped. The pieces are starting to come together, she thought staring at Barnabas. Barnabas looked down at his hands and cane while Maeve suggested they go sit down again. "What do you make of that?" Max asked Barnabas as they sat down.
"I have no idea what just happened. It's a mystery to me," Barnabas said honestly. Max stared at him for a moment and then decided to drop it, for now. However, she was determined to find out who this man really was and his connection with her.