Chapter 12

The realization that he was looking at his daughter he never knew anything about allowed him to run a full set of emotions from anger, to amazement, to forgiveness and then shame.

Holding his hat in his hand he moved forward, "Vicki, you look so beautiful. May I ask who is the groom?" He felt it important to know whom his eldest daughter would be marrying.

Vicki smiled at George, "Barnabas Collins has asked for my hand Sheriff Patterson."

Liz shifted uncomfortably as George came to stand next to her. "She reminds me of you on your wedding day to Paul Stoddard."

Liz smiled a bittersweet smile. "I think it's the dark hair and the style of the dress."

Carolyn giggled and nodded, "You know you are right Sheriff Patterson. But mother is right; she wore a dress kind of similar to that one. Oh Vicki you have to get that dress, it's so dreamy and Barnabas will go gaga over it."

Vicki shook her head, "I can't Carolyn its over a thousand dollars."

Elizabeth held up her hand and shook her head. "No, Penny we will take it. Does it need any alterations?"

Penny sighed and shook her head, "No this one is a perfect fit. The other one needs only minor alterations which we can do here and then have it shipped to you or I could bring it to Collinwood myself."

"Mrs. Stoddard that is a lot of money." Vicki was turning to view the back of the dress and had to admit it was as beautiful as the front of the dress.

"No matter, you will be married in this one and you can wear the other one at the reception." Vicki attempted to protest some more but Elizabeth Stoddard had made up her mind.

George looked at Penny and smiled, "Hey pumpkin, ready for lunch?" Penny laughed, "Well I need to help Miss Winters out of her dress. I asked Carolyn, Mrs. Stoddard, Dr. Hoffman and Miss Winters to join us. How is mother?"

Liz turned to face George and could see the hurt in his gaze as he looked back at her. "She is resting comfortably but does not want any company."

Liz put her hand on his arm. "George I am so sorry. If there is anything I can do. . ."

George Patterson looked down at her hand on his arm and he covered her hand with his. "Thank you Elizabeth." His words were soft but spoke volumes as she took her hand away.

At that moment she knew he knew about Vicki and she dropped her gaze to her pocket-book on the seat she had occupied earlier.

"If you would prefer to have lunch with your daughter alone, George we can head on back to Collinsport."

George sighed and looked at Penny as she helped Vicki move back to the dressing rooms. "No, I would love the company."

Carolyn moved over to George and her mother. "So, when do we choose bridesmaids dresses? I found several over there that would be perfect for Julia's and Vicki's wedding."

Julia accepted her gown in its zippered bag and turned to Carolyn, "Oh, come show me." Julia followed Carolyn and moved to the bridesmaid's dresses.

Carolyn pulled the red one she had looked at earlier and held it up to her. While they were alone for a moment George looked at Elizabeth. "You know we have to talk about it."

He said it more as a statement than a question. "You should have told me Liz. I had a right to know."

Liz looked up at George and tears brimmed her beautiful blue eyes. George offered her his hankie and she dabbed at her eyes. "I have not even told her, how could I tell you. We will talk but not now not here."

Vicki came out with gown in a zipper bag and looked at the one Penny was writing up for alterations. It had taken only a few moments for Penny to get her measurements. Then she was back in her street clothing.

Moving to the bridesmaid's dresses, Vicki looked at them as Carolyn pulled out two, one that would work for Julia's wedding and one that would work for her wedding. They were similar but in different colors. Vicki looked at them and nodded, "Sure I like the deep blue ones, and we just need to get you and Julia and Maggie in to be fitted. "

Julia nodded, "And you Carolyn, and Maggie to be fitted in the red ones."

Vicki looked at Carolyn, "I am sure we can come back, get fitted and then head back to Collinsport."

Carolyn laughed, "Perfect idea. Come on let's go, I am famished."

The afternoon was productive and soon the happy bridal party had picked out invitations, dresses and food for the receptions. As the happy group loaded up the estate car, Julia looked at Vicki, "Now all that remains are the rings for the grooms and the music for the wedding and the reception."

Vicki lovingly laid her gown in the trunk of car. "Oh I was thinking about letting Barnabas help me with our music. I also want him to decide on who we will have to do the wedding." The conversation was about the weddings and honeymoons. Vicki had slipped away to order flowers for Gretchen.

The ride back to Collinwood ended on a happy note and both brides moved to put their dresses up and come down for one of Mrs. Johnson's famous New England boiled dinners.

After dinner Vicki dashed off to her room and got ready for her date with Barnabas, she was going to meet him at the old house. She so wanted his opinion on her bridesmaid dresses and the invitations. A deep part of her wanted to see his reaction to her dresses.

However, being an old-fashioned bride, she knew he could not see the dress until the wedding day. He could however look at the scripted invitations she had picked a long with the color swatches of her brides maids dresses.

Checking her hair one more time, she paused and felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. A voice was calling out to her from a great distance and it was a familiar voice. It was as if were born from subconscious thoughts that were being filtered through cheese cloth and implanting itself in her mind.

Putting two fingertips to her forehead she rubbed and backed up until she sat on the edge of her bed. "Elizabeta, I have not forgotten you my love, I am coming for you." Vicki felt a rise of panic as she recognized the voice of the insane Vlad Tepes.

Pushing those thoughts deeper into her mind, she shook her head and grabbed her scarf and moved down the hallway to the stairs and out the front door. Nightfall was not far away and she looked to the setting sun would soon be obliterated by the heavy cloudbank that was rolling in from the north.

Making her way along the pathway to the old house she was excited about showing Barnabas the invitations.. Moving with lighter footsteps she was soon as her destination unaware that two sets of eyes followed her every move. Going up to the door it opened before she had a chance to knock.

Willie held the door for her, "Hello Willie, how are you this evening?"

Willie smiled at Vicki, "Oh, I am fine thank you for askin'. So, um Barnabas says you want to make some changes before the wedding? "

He let her in the door and helped her off with her coat. She slid her headscarf off and tucked it in the pocket. Vicki held a thick packet under her arm as she straightened her hair and clothing.

Willie led her in and over to the original drawings of the house and its interior. "I've been goin over the house prints and well, I marked placed for the phones and electricity and well Barnabas said you wanted bathrooms."

Vicki looked at the drawings and cocked her head. "I was thinking we could go over the area and pick out places for bathrooms and I was hoping you would figure out where the electrical outlets should be."

Vicki looked around and pointed to the sconces on the wall. "I thought we could transform them into the kind of lighting that Collinwood has."

He glanced at the sconces and smiled, "I had the same idea and I think Barnabas would like it better if they still held that old world charm."

"Did I hear my name mentioned?" Barnabas moved into the drawing-room and moved to place a chaste kiss on Vicki's forehead.

"Hello my love, come sit by the fire you feel chilled." From the outside the wind was beginning to pick up and Vicki suppressed a shiver.

"Oh and insulation might be nice to cut down on that chill, and central heating and air conditioning."

Willie turned to look at Vicki and then remembered, "Oh, I got an estimate on the work that will be needed."

Willie moved to go to the kitchen where he had left the estimate and Vicki turned to put a more passionate kiss on Barnabas' lips.

"Oh and I have something for you to look at as well. I ordered the invitations today and brought you a sample of my bridesmaids dresses so you can pick out the tuxedos shirts to match the dresses or the ties?."

Moving back to the secretary desk she lifted the packet and pulled out an envelope.

Opening the envelope she withdrew the slender card and handed it over for him to study.

Barnabas took the card and noted the stylized scripted print. He read the card's details reading them aloud.

"Roger Collins and Elizabeth Collins Stoddard requests the honor of your presence of the nuptials of Victoria Winters to Barnabas Collins at Collinwood on October 31, 1967, at 7:00 p.m. with a reception to follow."

In small print in the left hand corner was the R.S.V.P. request. Barnabas looked at the invitation and then at Victoria, "Do you like them?"

He moved to sit in one of the matching chairs by the fireplace. She sat on the arm of the chair and looked down at the invitation. "I think it's charming with its scripted stylized writing. But do you like it?"

She chewed her bottom lip and when he did not answer right away she reached for it. "We don't have to get this one, if you don't like it. We can always go together and pick out something else."

Barnabas took the invitation back and smiled, "My dearest Victoria, do not be silly my dear, if you like them, then I like them. I was just reveling in the wording on the card. It seals my most fervent dream of finally having you as my beautiful bride."

Vicki smiled and leaned over to kiss him. "I picked out my wedding dress today. I hope you will be as enchanted with it as I was when I put it on. Mrs. Stoddard insisted on getting two dresses, one for the wedding and then one to change into for the reception. I felt it was very extravagant but she was most persuasive that I should have them both."

Barnabas chuckled, "My dear if I have learned one thing, that is when Elizabeth has made up her mind there will be no changing it."

Vicki sighed and moved to sit next to Barnabas. "I know, I was going to find a gown and pay for it myself. But, when we got to the Department store in Bangor, I saw how expensive things were and I knew I was not going to be able to afford a gown there."

Julia had no problem and found her a gown right away."

Barnabas watched her and smiled, "She did? Did Julia like her gown?"

Vicki smiled, "Oh yes, and it is very lovely, and suits her. I think Professor Stokes will find it very becoming on her. She also picked out her invitations."

Barnabas laughed, "It sounds like you all had a very successful trip to Bangor."

Vicki laid the invitation on the table between them and sat back getting comfortable in the chair. "I think so, I did want to discuss the music for the wedding and our wedding announcement and the music for our reception."

Barnabas stood and moved to the window peering out as lightning lit up the night sky.

"Vicki, did you realize you were going to be trapped here with us tonight? There is a storm brewing and it seems to be a rather substantial one."

Vicki stood and moved next to Barnabas. "I saw clouds moving in but did not think it would be here until later."

As if in answer to his question, the house vibrated with the sound of thunder and another bright bolt of lightning lit up the sky. "Well, my dear it appears you are going to be stuck here tonight. I shall have Willie prepare Josette's room and see if we can find a gown for you to wear."

She snuggled in close to him and laid her head on his shoulder, "Thank you Barnabas. This will allow us more time to discuss the wedding." He draped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "I was hoping to use the melody from Josette's music box as my entrance music. You know the music they play when the bride comes down the aisle."

He turned her to face him. "You don't want the traditional wedding march?"

Vicki leaned into him and put her arms around his neck. "No, I think I would like to enter with Josette's music box melody. I am sure that the pianist can duplicate the tune and it can be played and heard by the guests."

He watched that familiar pursing of the lips when she was in deep thought "I somehow think it proper to honor her at my wedding. She was so beneficial in bringing us together."

Barnabas could not hide his joy at her request and held her close to him. "Then my dear, you shall have the music from Josette's music box played when you come to join me in holy matrimony." Sighing contentedly she closed her eyes.

"The music I think I want played for our first dance is a song called, 'The closer I get to you.' I think it suits us."

He held her close to him and smiled, "Sounds appropriate." She pushed back from him and smiled, "Have you heard the song? I was hoping to get Mrs. Allen's daughter to sing Defying Gravity and Joes' nephew Glenn to sing The Closer I Get to You. There is another song I really liked too; I hope that Mrs. Allen's daughter will sing it for us, it's called The Only Girl in the World. It is kind of fast paced but it states how I feel about you."

Vicki shifted then continued with her plans and thoughts, "As for our wedding bands, do you think they should be matching?"

He looked intently into her eyes and found himself drowning in the love he saw there. "Is that what you wish?"

She nodded, "I think it appropriate that we have matching bands. So, do you wish to plan a date for us to go and pick them out?"

Barnabas pulled her back into his arms and sighed softly, "I will have Mr. Braithwaite come by with a choice and we can pick them out here. If we do not see anything we like, we can have him make them for us." Again, there was the sound of the storm growing closer to land fall, which was a not so subtle reminder to them of its presence.

Willie came back with the estimate in hand and handed it over to Barnabas who glanced at the cost and handed it back to Willie, "Be sure to get them started on this project tomorrow. Also Vicki will be spending the night in Josette's room, I will need you to find her a gown and make sure the room is prepared for her."

Willie looked at Vicki, "Then I guess we can get started on where you want the bathrooms in the mornin'?"

Vicki felt a chill travel up her spine as once again she could hear Vlad's voice calling out to her through time and space.

"Elizabeta, you belong to me your Prince. I am coming for you!"

Barnabas frowned feeling her tremble. "Vicki? Is there a problem?"

She laughed uncomfortably. "No, no, I just got chilled. I guess I am more tired than I thought." She hugged him tighter.

"Then perhaps you should go on and retire for the night."

Vicki laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. "I still needed to talk to you about our announcement in the paper, Mrs. Stoddard, said she would contact the editor about coming to our engagement party."

She snuggled closer to his body hoping to share body heat with him and found it lacking. Pushing that thought aside she spoke softly, " That is the other thing; we need a date before Julia and Professor Stokes' wedding to have an engagement party.

Feeling him shift she adjusted her stance next him and spoke into his chest. "We thought it might be nice to have a theme engagement party and it would give Mrs. Stoddard a chance to open up the Ballroom."

She felt Barnabas shift to make her more comfortable against his chest and found he was stroking her hair back so he could peer down at her profile. "A theme party? What kind of theme?"

Vicki smiled, "Well we were thinking of recreating another date out of the past and everyone dress in 18th century clothing. I was hoping I could wear the gown you loaned me once before that belonged to Josette."

Barnabas was more pleased than he could express. "That would be a lovely idea my dear. We could recreate one of the many balls that were held in the ballroom at Collinwood."

Tipping up her chin he smiled, "Of course, you may use the dress, anything you wish to use shall be at your disposal." He could tell she was happy that he agreed with her idea.

"I was thinking as Julia and Professor Stokes will be married in 3 weeks, we could have the party next Saturday. I was also thinking that would be enough time because we would be married the weekend after Julia and Professor Stokes."

Willie moved into the room. "I have everything laid out in Josette's room for you Vicki. "

She slid from Barnabas' lap waiting for him to stand. "Thank you Willie. Oh, while I am thinking of it, would you consider being one of the groomsmen, and Barnabas have you thought of whom you might ask to be your best man?"

Barnabas stood "Well my dear as Roger will be giving you away, and cousin David will be a ring bearer, I was thinking that Professor Stokes would be my choice to stand up with me."

Vicki sighed and then looked at Willie, "You will escort Carolyn, and Joe could escort Maggie and Julia will be my matron of honor. I have asked Chris Jennings sister Amy to be a flower girl, so she can be paired with David. Mrs. Stoddard and Roger will both escort me to you and give me away to you." She grew quiet and moved to peer out at the building storm.

Barnabas could sense where her heart lay at this moment, she was missing the fact she had no true father to give her away and mother to stand with her. Deep down, Barnabas wished he could tell Victoria about her mother, little realizing at that moment George Patterson had arrived at Collinwood.

The wind was whipping up white caps on the ocean and the weatherman had not been promising about this Nor'easter that was coming on shore with a vengeance. They had until November 30 until hurricane season was over. Pulling under the Porte-cochere, George was glad for the protection from the covering.

His heart was heavy for two reasons, Gretchen had just died and he found out he had a daughter and was never told. Not only was he not told, she was raised in a fondling home away from him.

Moving to the front doors, he knocked and waited. Turning he peered over at the roiling ocean and shivered. This house had been a happier house at one time.

He remembered the daughter of the master of this house as a beautiful happy young lady that held the stars, moon and sun-kissed days in her heart and eyes. It had been on a night much like this, in the middle of summer when they got trapped in the old fishing shack. One thing had led to another and soon they were locked in a passionate embrace.

It took little time for the passion to flare and they became one with one another. It was an enchanted summer and when fall came and he was going to leave for college, he had kissed her goodbye and promised he would be back and they could talk about a future together.

George had come from a long line of law enforcement officers dating back to his Great Grandfather. Hearing the door open he turned to smile seeing Carolyn.

"Sheriff Patterson, come in before you drown." She laughed lightly and stepped aside that so he could enter.

Taking his hat off he looked at Carolyn. "I was hoping I could speak to your mother, is she home?"

Carolyn led him into the drawing-room and entreated him to make himself comfortable.

'She is working on the cannery books in the den. Would you care for some coffee or tea?"

George smiled at her and moved to sit in a chair. "Thank you that would be nice." She started to leave and stopped pivoting on the balls of her feet she turned.

"Oh, I meant to ask. How is Mrs. Patterson?"

George looked down at his feet and held his emotions in check. "She died tonight. We will be having her showing and funeral here in Collinsport Wednesday and Thursday with Burial Friday morning."

Carolyn showed her compassion for his loss and moved to put a hand on his arm. "I am so sorry. Please if there is anything we can do, let us know."

He smiled his appreciation and thought in this light she looked very much like Elizabeth at the age she must have had Vicki. "Thank you, Carolyn, that is very kind of you."

"George, what brings you out here on a night like tonight?" Liz Stoddard moved into the room, dressed elegantly in her velvet house dress that trailed to the floor.

The cut of the neckline displayed the double strand of pearls against her white skin. Carolyn turned to her mother.

"Mother, I am going to go and make a pot of coffee."

She smiled then nodded watching Carolyn kiss her cheek as she went by, then turning she closed the door. She had expected this visit just not this soon.

Moving to sit on the sofa, she looked at George standing with his hat in hand twirling it by its brim as he looked down at the floor.

"Gretchen passed tonight Liz. I was not going to have this conversation with you until she was gone. The odd thing was, tonight her last words were about Vicki and you."

Liz looked at the fire and sighed, "What did she say?"

George moved to the comfort of the chair by the fireplace. "She must have seen Vicki in town and she saw the resemblances she had to you and to Penny." Liz sat silent as she listened to George.

He took a deep breath and began to explain why he was there. "She saw her with Maggie Evans and when Penny went over to stand by Maggie she saw what I did. That in profile, Vicki and Penny could be sisters. So tonight as she lay in bed, she knew she was not going to last the night. She said;

'George, you need to tell that child who she is and make it right with Mrs. Stoddard.' She then reached for my hand and weakly squeezed it, smiled at me, closed her eyes, took her last breath, and died. So, I am here Liz to make it right."

There was a soft knock at the door and Liz used the distraction to collect herself, she felt herself becoming very emotional. Opening the door, she let Mrs. Johnson in with a tray filled with coffee and coffee cups.

"Mrs. Johnson, where is Carolyn?"

Mrs. Johnson nodded to the sheriff and set the tray o the table. "She said to tell you she was going on up to her room and when Vicki came in to tell her to join her." Liz cringed as the lightning outside lit up the night and announced another rumble of thunder that shook the house.

"Where is Vicki?" Liz poured a cup of coffee for George and then herself.

"Oh she went over to the old house to talk about the engagement party."

Liz set her cup down and moved to look out the French windows. "I suppose she will more than likely spend the night there if this does not blow over. You may want to tell Carolyn."

George set his cup down and moved to the fireplace. "Which is more than likely the smart thing to do. According to the weather service, things are not going to get better tonight. This is setting in for a few hours, one of the reasons I was out so soon after . . . "

Liz turned and her feelings were laid bare on her features. "I am so sorry George, you must know if there is anything we can do . . ."

Mrs. Johnson turned to look at George. "What? Has Mrs. Patterson died?"

George nodded and Sarah was now more sympathetic to the sheriff. "Oh, I am sorry. My condolences to you and your family."

George thanked her and waited for her to leave closing the door behind her.

Liz moved to sit back down and crossed her leg over her other leg. "I found out about 3 months after you left, I was going to go on off to college, but I was pregnant. I decided I could not bring shame to my family or ruin your life, so I went to New York to an unwed mother's home."

Liz looked down at her fingers tightly clasped together as she continued to explain, "After I had her, I really did not want to give her up. I had no choice and so I put her in a fondling home."

Her eyes blurred as she spoke, "My family never knew and I swore Roger would never find out. I finally told Barnabas and Roger the other evening."

George held his temper; he had not been sheriff of this county for this long by reacting with emotion. "When were you going to tell me?"

There were tears in her eyes and she looked down. "I wanted to tell Carolyn, and I was not about to upset your home or cause friction in your marriage George. I had planned to never say who her father was. Barnabas and Roger don't know."

George and Liz were so caught up in their conversation they had not heard the door open. "Barnabas and Uncle Roger don't know what mother?" Carolyn dressed in her raincoat stood on the threshold and looked at George then to Liz. Carolyn moved into the room.

"Where are you going darling?" Carolyn unbuttoned her coat. Moving to sit on the edge of the sofas' arm she shook her head.

"No you are not going to change the subject. The quick answer was, to the old house to see if Vicki wanted to come home. Now, back to what does Barnabas and Uncle Roger don't know."

George looked at Liz and laid his hat on the chair he had sat. "Your mother has kept secrets Carolyn, big secrets and perhaps she needs to tell us both."

Carolyn remembered the last time she had found out about one of her mother's secrets and it involved her father, Paul Stoddard.

Apparently, this was as emotional as the last secret because her mother was in tears. "Mother?"

Liz stood up and moved to the piano in the room. "Carolyn, I wanted to wait to tell you this. I just thought I would have more time to think about how to tell you."

Carolyn looked at George then to her mother. "Mother? You are scaring me."

"Carolyn, what I am about to say, I want you to just listen and not say a word."

She looked at her mother and the panic in her was rising. She could not speak, all she could do was just nod.

"Several years ago, when I was about your age, George and I were friends, we became more during a summer break from high school before College. During that time, we became lovers and well, George went away to college and I found out I was pregnant."

Carolyn stood up, shoved her hands in her coat pockets and looked at George and then her mother. She opened her mouth then closed it and sat back down.

"I was afraid of upsetting my father, your grandfather, and I did not want to ruin George's life so I went away and had the baby. I had a baby girl."

"I have a sister?"

George could see that bit of news had shaken Carolyn to the core.

"I had her for 12 hours and I weighed my options and decided that the family name was more important than my baby girl."

"I gave her up, put her in a fondling home in New York. You see Carolyn," she turned to face her daughter and sighed and looked at her hands clasped together. "Vicki, Victoria Winters is your sister. I brought her home as David's Governess and wanted to tell her and there were many times I wanted her to know who she was."

"But I felt I needed to tell you about her first."

Carolyn was torn, she did not know if she wanted to be happy or mad at her mother for keeping this a secret.

"Did you know?" She looked at George. He shook his head. Seeing him shake his head she turned to her mother, "How could you do this to Vicki and George?"

George quickly jumped to Liz's defense, "Carolyn, your mother was young, scared and I was away at College and then a year later, I was engaged to Gretchen and your mother was involved with your father. "

"So, I am sure she had her reasons and the true wounded party in this whole mess is Vicki."

Carolyn plopped down on the sofa and crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "Vicki is my sister? When do you plan to tell her?"

George moved to Liz and put his arms around her and drew her into his hold. "I think we should tell her together. I think it best to wait after the funeral and before the engagement party."

Liz looked at George and leaned her head forward to rest on his shoulder. "I don't know if I will be able to do this alone."

George looked at Carolyn and then placed a light kiss on Liz's forehead, "We will do it together and pray she does not hate us."

Liz looked up at George and smiled and then another voice came from the doorway, "If I were Miss Winters I would hate you all for being so mean. I had another cousin and did not know it."

Liz and Carolyn gravitated to each other and looked at David.

"David. That is enough young man, you will not speak to your aunt like that."

George moved to look down into David's young face.

"You can't tell me what to do. I am going to tell Vicki and maybe she and I will run off together."

David spun around and ran to the double doors and swung them open and dashed out into the storm filled night."