Josette moved into the drawing room and stood in the doorway and watched her mother sitting at the secretary over open books and Mrs. Hart stood next to her. "Thank you Mrs. Hart you are very much appreciated."
Josette moved into the room, "And I thank you too Mrs. Hart. When Mr. Hart has a chance would you please have him bring up my luggage?"
Mrs. Hart smiled brightly and nodded. "Be more than happy to Miss Josette. It is good to have you home."
Josette moved to the housekeeper and hugged her. "Thank you Mrs. Hart, it is wonderful to be home with family and loving friends."
Mrs. Hart hugged her back and then moved to Victoria's chair. "Will there be anything else Mrs. Collins?"
Vickie smiled up at the woman and Josette noticed how the smile just made her mother lovelier than ever. "No, thank you Mrs. Hart. That will be all. Miss Josette and I will be going to the big house to visit her grandmother and will be back around 3. If Mr. Collins comes home, please ask him to join us."
"Yes, Mrs. Collins I will be happy to do so."
She nodded to Victoria and then turned to Josette and gave her a parting hug and moved to the back part of the house. "Darling, your Grandmother wants to see you. Do you mind or are you too tired to go over to the big house?"
Josette loved how they differentiated the two houses. Their house was the "old house" and Collinwood was the "big house". Josette moved to one of the fireside chairs and flopped into its cushion comfort. "Mother, I am tired and it was a long drive, but I can go see Grandma and Grandpa George."
Victoria frowned slightly and moved to her daughter's side. Putting cool fingertips that smelled of lilacs and roses, she looked into her daughter's tired eyes. "Are you sure?"
Josette smiled up at her mother and kissed her fingertips. "I love you too, and yes I am sure. I would like to refresh myself and change into some clean clothing and then will be happy to go up to the big house. Do you want to walk over or do you want me to drive us?"
Victoria loved the affection her child displayed and moved to the window to look at the sky. "I think the walk will do me good. But . . ."
Josette pushed herself up and moved to her mother and hugged her. "I am fine really. It has been a hard month but the minute I came through the gates I was refreshed and happy to be home."
Mother and daughter hugged each other, the moment precious and tender for mother and child. "I am so glad to be home mom, really I am. Just give me 20 minutes for a quick shower and a change of clothing."
"Do you need your bags?" Josette shook her head. "I left some of my things behind. I will throw those on and we can go over and see Grandma and Grandpa George and be home in time to see Sarah and Daniel."
Josette moved to the steps preparing to go up them. "Sarah will be late tonight she has clinical and usually does not get in until 6 or a little later. Daniel has practice and then afterwards the team is planning a party at one of the team members' home. So, he won't be home until after midnight."
"Well all the more time I selfishly get to keep you and father to myself."
With a light chuckle from her mother she dashed up the stairs to her room. Josette opened the door to her room and was immediately at ease. Walking into the room she paused in the center and looked around. Nothing about this room had changed. The two bay windows were open and a light sea breeze blew threw them sending the curtains into a graceful dance. The fireplace that accented the wall between the two windows was covered. She knew later that night it would be lit. The warmth of the fire would cheer the room and warm it.
Josette moved to peer up at the portrait that hung over the fireplace mantel. The brass nameplate held the name 'Josette duPres Collins', her namesake and the woman her father had loved through time until he came to know her mother. Her mother had used this room until she married her father. Then she moved into her father's room and this room remained empty until Josette's 12th birthday.
So much began to happen on her 12th birthday. It was as if at the age of 12 Josette had come of age and power. She had discovered she was different than most children and her parents gave her more privacy by saying this room would be hers from this day on. Moving to the louvered doors she opened them and moved into the hallway and down to the bathroom.
A hot shower would feel good but so would a long hot soapy soak. She did not have time for the soak and at best she would barely have time for a quick shower. Moving to the shower she turned the taps and let the water run and warm, moving back to her room, she grabbed a close cable knit sweater in the softest shades of aquamarine, it brought out the color in her eyes and complimented the color of her hair. Grabbing a pair of jeans and socks, she turned to go back to the shower.
Making a quick job of her shower and dressing, she stood in front of the sink mirror and wiped the steam from the glass. Picking up her brush and drug it through her short-cropped hair. The unruly curls fell into place. Putting a light dusting of powder over her nose and face, she sprayed some of her perfume over body and then dressed hurriedly. Throwing her dirty clothing into the hamper, she quickly cleaned up and moved to find a pair of boots.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she glanced around at the room again. It was very much the same way that it had been when the original Josette possessed this room. Two Louis the 14th chairs a delicate petite point love seat, a Louis the 14th table with silver bowl of fresh cut flowers, a lovely old-fashioned vanity table and chair. Josette had left some of her things behind so it was decorated with her brush and comb and her perfume, jasmine.
The bed she sat on was a 18th century canopy bed covered in Spanish lace. The sheer feminity of the room could be felt the moment she stepped into the room. It hardly reflected her personality. She was a thoroughly modern female that could kick some major tail if needed.
Standing she set her foot to the boot and then moved to her door. She smiled and for once in a very long time felt very happy and secure to be home. She just hoped nothing happened over the next two weeks to interrupt her vacation and her need for some much needed rest. She had been on the edge of insanity for so long she desperately needed some down time.
"Josette? Darling are you ready to go?" Her mothers voice echoed down the hallway from the stairs below and Jo smiled.
"Coming mother, did you cut Grandma some flowers?"
She moved quickly to the top of the stairs. "Yes, dear, and I am taking some of Clara's fudge she made earlier over to your grandmother too."
Josette skipped down the stairs and hopped to a stop. Glancing at the entryway table she saw a dozen long stemmed red roses and a container.
Victoria had picked up the roses and was about to pick up the container, "Here mother let me help." She reached for the container and her mother lightly slapped her hand.
"Oh, no you don't. Here you carry the roses, I will carry the container."
In mocked surprise Josette gleamed a mischievous smile at her mother. "What? You don't trust me?"
Victoria laughed, "You and chocolate? Why there would be nothing left for your grandmother by the time we got there."
Josette kissed her mother's cheek. "Think you know my kind do you?" Both women chuckled moving out the double doors that graced the front of the old Collins manor house.
Moving through the woods, Josette felt every muscle in her body relax. It had been far too long for her and this was needed. It was nice to walk through the woods and not have to worry about tracking a vampire, werewolf, shape shifter, witch, and or other nastiness. Lifting the roses she inhaled their fragrance and smiled and then looked up at the sky. The sunlight filtered through the new growth of leaves and gave the area a surreal feeling.
"It is good to have you home Josette. Your father has missed you. It seemed that Nettie and JB could come home and you were stuck at work."
Josette sighed and looked up at the pathway. "It has been hectic at work and things at work have picked up. It seems business has been good almost too good."
Victoria glanced at the dark look her daughter tried to hide behind a false smile and a downward glance. Not wishing to pry because she knew her daughter's work was sensitive in nature, so she chose instead to be silent.
They broke the woods just as the sun came out from behind the clouds and the sunlight bathed the huge old house with its bright rays. "It always looked so overwhelming to me when I first came here. Everyone kept calling it a mausoleum. It really was the first home I knew."
Josette smiled and hooked her free arm through her mother's free arm. "Guess it became more of a home after Grandmother told you, she was your mother." Vickie nodded and then moved to the front of the house and up to the door.
With a familiarity born of repetition and belonging, Victoria opened the front door and paused in the hallway to set down the container of fudge. She moved to take her sweater off and Josette helped her and hung the coat up in the hallway. Vickie noted the door to the drawing room was closed and moved to knock softly. Smiling to herself, even her mother respected the sanctity of the closed doors. "Come in." The deep voice was that of George Patterson. Her step-grandfather.
The former Sheriff of Collinsport had finally worn down her grandmother and married her. Vickie opened the door and George glanced up from the fireplace. He had obviously fallen asleep over a book he had been enjoying in front of the fireplace. Josette could remember sitting at his feet in that room and listening to his stories of when he was Sheriff. His children were young at the time and they had moved to Collinwood with him and had learned to love his new wife like she were their mother too.
"Vickie! Come in sweetheart and give old Dad a hug." He stood and the book dropped to the floor. Josette darted around her mother to go into the bear like hug of her Grandfather
. "Grandpa. I get first dibs on hugs." She felt those bear like arms grab her up and was surprised at the strength they still held. Even in his bear like hug, he was careful not to crush the flowers Josette held.
"Hey darlin', how's my girl? " He gave her a big kiss on her forehead and still holding her in one arm, waited for Vickie to come into his other arm for a hug.
"How lucky can a man get to have two beautiful women in his arms."
From the open doorway Elizabeth Collins Stoddard Patterson stood resplendent in a long flowing housedress of deepest green velvet. On her left shoulder was her ornate pearl and diamond C pen. Scripted in French cursive. Her dark black hair was done up in curls on the top of her head and she stood looking younger than ever. "Well should I be jealous that my husband is hugging beautiful women behind my back?"
Josette sprung forward and would have bowled her grandmother over had she not stopped short in front of her. "Not behind your back Grandmother, but right here in front of you!" She laughed and hugged her grandmother's neck.
"Josette, you are more beautiful each time I see you. How have you been darling?"
Josette felt her grandmother's arms go around her and give her a frail hug. "Busy Grandma, but better now that I am home."
She released her grandmother and moved to the sofa in front of the huge fireplace and seated herself. She curbed her desire to fold a foot under her remembering the semi formal manners her grandmother expected.
Elizabeth moved to Vickie and hugged her too. Then Josette remembered her flowers. "Oh Grandma, here are some roses for one of the loveliest Grandmothers a Granddaughter could ask for."
She stood and gave the flowers to her grandmother. Elizabeth smiled with a soft tenderness that Josette had come to recognize as her way of being very pleased. Victoria handed George the container. "That is fudge from Clara. She made two extra batches and sent one to you."
George laughed and took the container and opened it. Sniffing it deeply he closed his eyes and smiled. "Now that is something you should be jealous of my dear."
Elizabeth smiled indulgently at the man she had come to love, that now filled her endless loneliness with hours of contentment and love. "Yes dear, I should be jealous of Clara, she found a way to your heart that I could never find."
George Patterson looked over at the beautiful woman that was his wife and thanked his lucky stars over and over for finding her. "You know it would take more than a box of chocolates to steal me away from you. Clara could not compare with your beauty or generosity."
George sat down and smiled mischievously at his wife. Sneaking a piece of fudge he popped it into his mouth with a devilish chuckle. Elizabeth smiled indulgently at her husband and moved to take the chair next to his. "So, my dear how long to you plan on being home this time?"
Josette sat forward and hooked her hands around her left knee lacing her fingers together. "I have 2 weeks off this time Grandma. I was hoping to get you and mother to go with me to Bangor tomorrow to pick up Nettie. She is due in on the 2:00 pm DC flight."
George swallowed and licked his fingertips. "That would be perfect. I have something I need to do tomorrow and I can get George Junior to go with me."
Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow and looked over at her husband. "Really, do I know what this trip entails?"
George gave a pointed look sideways to Josette and then cocked his head towards her. "It's a secret dear, something we have been discussing for sometime remember?"
Elizabeth looked confused. Then looked over at her granddaughter's face that held a look of mock innocent. "Grandma, I think that Grandpa is trying to say he is going to pick up something for someone's upcoming birthday."
Elizabeth smiled. "Oh yes, I had completely forgotten. Yes, do get George to help you my dear. I know you miss talking to him about work." George looked at his wife with such tenderness he smiled and reached for her be ringed hand.
Lifting it to his lips he lightly kissed her hand. "You know me so well. That my dear is another reason you never need to worry about being jealous." Josette wanted a love like this and the one her mother and father had.
George released her hand and stood. "I think I will call George now and we can arrange the times. Will you all excuse me?"
Josette stood and moved to give her grandfather another hug and then moved to sit in the chair he just vacated. Vickie stood and hugged him too and sat down.
"You both are joining us for dinner tonight?"
George paused in the doorway and smiled. "Would not miss Clara's cooking for nothing."