Chapter 5

In route to Lookout Pointe

Along Highway 1

The night was nearly perfect; from the moment Barnabas placed the necklace around her neck to escorting her to the town car and sitting holding her hand during the drive to Lookout Pointe. She would catch him looking at her with a total look of adoration and pride. Picking her hand up to occasionally feather kisses over her knuckles to nibbling lightly on her neck and earlobe, which caused her to blush. When he would do this she would silently thank the darkness that surrounded them so that Barnabas could not see the desire and near lustful looks she returned to him. "I love you my sweet, sweet Victoria. I am the proudest man in the world to be at your side this night and soon every night from this day forward."

He had been so sincere that for a moment she felt a prick of tears as her heart swelled with her own emotions. "Barnabas, you don't regret that I am not Josette?" She had to be reassured as she caught his gaze and held it with her own insecurities dancing over her features and reflected in her gaze.

"Not in the least," he leaned down and spoke softly in her ear, "I only regret that I even thought to do so in the beginning. That would have changed you completely my love and never would I want to change one single solitary thing about you. You are perfect the way you are." He placed a light kiss on her lips and felt her mouth open to deepen the kiss and he was only to happy to oblige.

Roger glanced into the rearview mirror and smiled then glanced over to Elizabeth sitting next to him. "It would seem our love birds are nesting my dear sister, makes me wonder if we will ever find love again."

Liz flushed she knew she had found the completion in her life with George, they both had agreed to allow the proper time for the mourning period for his dear wife to elapse before they formally announced their intentions to marry. It had been a flurry of emotions between the two of them when Elizabeth discovered he still loved her and had never stopped. She had to confess that she too loved him and only married Paul on the rebound.

She had discussed divorcing Paul but was unsure how they would go about notifying him of her intentions. That was when George said to let the Attorney's figure it out. So, she called Richard Garner and explained what she needed and he reassured her that the courts would be sympathetic to her and would allow the formal notice to be published in three newspapers, in Boston, Collinsport, and New York. He did explain they would have to run the notice three weeks in a row to make sure that it gave Paul enough time to respond. With that little bit of reassurance in place, Elizabeth was relieved that nothing would prevent George and her getting married.

She glanced at the two in the backseat locked in a passionate embrace and smiled then turned back in her seat. "I just wish that Carolyn and Gregory would announce their wedding date and soon, Carolyn is not really going to be able to hide her pregnancy much longer." She had been fretting over Carolyn and her handling this pregnancy so poorly. The fact that she was still in her first trimester she was not sure she should be at this function tonight but she had been so insistent that it was hard for Liz to tell her no. So, she allowed it under conditions.

Those conditions had been minutely laid out to Gregory before he collected her for the drive to Lookout Pointe. He had arrived at the mansion looking dashing in his black tie and tails. She could easily see what had attracted Carolyn to him from the beginning. He exuded power and was handsome. What with his Humphrey Bogart good looks how could Carolyn not be drawn into his smile and the twinkle in his eyes. She had waited for him in the foyer.

Collinwood Foyer

Mrs. Johnson was dressed in her long dark blue gown of satin when the knock came. Elizabeth had chosen a gown of the deepest green velvet which complimented her dark stylishly coiffed hair now done in an upsweep of rolled curls, the sapphire blue necklace that had been Naomi's rested in the deep cut V of her dress that was cinched with a darker Kelly green satin ribbon under her breasts. She watched as Mrs. Johnson opened the door to admit Gregory. She gave him a tight smile as she stood framed perfectly in the center of the entrance to the drawing room.

"Ahh, Gregory, do come in and may I get you a drink while we wait for the others?" She watched him remove his finely tailored black wool coat to reveal his dashing figure in a tuxedo and black tie that was slight skewed. Turning she went to fix him a drink and turned as he approached her from the rear. Handing him his drink she undid the tie and retied it. "Paul never could get his tie straight either and I would always fix his tie like this." He held the drink and looked down at the beautiful aging woman that would some day be his mother in law.

"Tonight is important to Victoria and Barnabas, but it will also be a very important night for Carolyn. It will be the first time she will be allowed out of bed in two weeks, Julia assures me as long as she does not get excited or is upset she will be fine and might even be able to tolerate food." She finished the tie looked up to see he was studying her intently.

"I take it this is the cautionary warning that I am expected to heed to keep the woman I love and carries my child safe?" He stepped back and took a light sip of the scotch she had poured him. He grimaced he really did not like scotch but figured she knew that and that was why she had given him a drink he would not consume and impair his judgment or driving.

Elizabeth turned and walked to the French windows by the fireplace. "Partly, she will not be able to hide her pregnancy much longer and I know she is dragging her feet on setting a date, so perhaps for tonight you will not pressure her about the wedding date and allow this night be totally for Vicki and Barnabas." She had stated it as a request but he got her meaning as more of a demand. At least she was not giving him the boot for the door or an ultimatum to not be a member of this family.

"Well of course I will do whatever is necessary to make sure that she is safe and we will set our date but the topic will be taboo tonight unless she brings it up herself and then I will know she means for us to set that date." He had put his conditions into the mix and saw her stiffen slightly. "I will be the epitome of decorum tonight for her sake and the sake of my unborn child, you may rest easy on that Mrs. Stoddard." He sipped and hid his grimace then set the glass down.

"As we are to be related through marriage, Gregory, I think it would be appropriate for you to call me Elizabeth. After the marriage It would be appropriate for you to call me Mother Elizabeth or Mother I will leave the decision between you and Carolyn how you should address me." Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Carolyn in a wheelchair being pushed by Daphne.

"I really don't see why this is necessary, I am perfectly capable of walking on my own and besides I am beginning to feel like a beached whale in this contraption." She had put a hint of a petulant whine to her tone then brightened when she saw Gregory. Daphne stepped back to allow Greg the control of the wheelchair.

"Aunt Julia thinks it would be necessary for you to rest and not exert yourself thereby risking you or your child Carolyn, so for now just tolerate it." She turned at the arrival of Quentin looking extremely handsome in his tuxedo and black tie. He bent to place a light kiss on her lips then walked to the bar.

"So, kitten you listen to my future wife or we might have to give Greg permission to spank you for being a brat." He chuckled softly and poured Daphne and him a drink. Walking back to hand Daphne the drink he looked around. "Where are the rest of the parties?"

Elizabeth had sighed softly, "David should be down, Vicki was just finishing dressing, Barnabas called and said that Adam, Eve, Beth and Willie would be driving over in Eve's car. Barnabas was on his way with a surprise for Vicki and I can't wait for him to see her in her new dress." She smiled proudly looking to the door opening and Barnabas walking in dressed as the other men had dressed, black tie and tails. He removed his Inverness Cape lying it over the table, with the muffled sound of a soft clunk was heard and he smiled.

That was the moment that Duke Henri and Josephine made their appearance on the top landing. Escorting his wife down the stairs, Barnabas was reminded that despite her hateful ways, the Duchess was a strikingly beautiful woman and decorated aged version of Quentin very nicely. Tonight she chose a shantung red dress with diamond accents. Henri like the other men chose to arrive in black tie and tails the difference for him was a red sash that held several decorative pins across the sash.

They joined the party in the drawing room when Barnabas heard the door open again and he turned to look up at the vision in black chiffon, the dress was empire waist and draped down to flow around her legs and feet appearing to dance softly around her body with each movement she made. The bodice was sweetheart style with bell sleeves caught at the wrists with diamond styled buttons that caught the light and sparkled. He stepped to the bottom step to wait for her to join him. There he took both hands into his, catching her clutch and setting it to the table, lifting both hands he kissed one then the other and spoke softly.

"There is only one thing that would make that dress and you more beautiful." He had turned to his coat and pulled form it a jewelers box. Opening the box he took out the diamonds and sapphire necklace that was a match to Elizabeth's necklace that belonged to Naomi. "Naomi Collins had three necklaces that were very much alike because she liked diamonds but her husband thought the sapphires matched her eyes so he had them make three necklaces knowing that one day one would be passed down to his daughter."

For a moment he was sadden at the thought of his poor departed sister not being allowed to inherit one of her mother's necklaces. He had received one, and knew his father had kept the other two in the collection of family jewels. "Tonight you honor this family and you honor me by wearing these stones in memory of Naomi and what she meant to this family." He snapped the necklace in place and had turned her to the mirror so she could look at the perfect way the necklace accented her slender neck and the dress she wore.

Elizabeth had watched Barnabas present the necklace and then noted that Cousin Henri and Josephine had been witness as well. She was puzzled at the quick reaction of Henri turning away from the loving scene being played out in the foyer but brushed it off to what she figured was a hint of jealousy over the newly found love between two people, when his own time worn marriage was suffering. At least that is what she perceived from what Roger had described to her earlier.

Settled into the car, Quentin had offered to drive David, Daphne and The Duke and Duchess to Lookout Pointe, they had put David up front between him and Daphne and gave cousin Henri and Josephine the comfort of the backseat. Gregory had taken Carolyn out in his large more comfortable Cadillac. Making her comfortable they set off. Julia and Eric arrived and they took Sarah Johnson in their car.

Elizabeth was growing concern at Roger's tardiness. When Roger finally arrived Elizabeth had to fix his tie and then the rest of the party loaded into the town car. "I believe Julia said that Elliott and Hallie would be driving over separately. I know that George will be bringing his daughter and his sons are driving separately. Maggie and Joe are suppose to be there early to set up the balloons and center pieces. Something she insisted on doing for you Victoria my dear." Elizabeth smiled over her should to her daughter who guiltily broke her kiss from Barnabas and flushed softly.

"If I know Maggie, she will have done a wonderful job too. I must remember to comment on the settings when we get there." She smiled looked down at the necklace that lay heavily against her neck and breast and then at the ring on her finger. "I heard that Joe asked Maggie to marry him. So, it seems that love is in the air and there will be more weddings soon." She smiled and wondered if it was she and Barnabas that had caused this deluge of confessions and profession of love and a decision to marry?

The drive was a happy one with no problems. Roger pulled into the gaily lit parking lot and from overhead on the neon sign there was a message emblazoned across the front of the restaurant that read. "Congratulations to the Happy Couple of Collinwood, Victoria Winters and Barnabas Collins." Vicki read the sign and blushed, "Did you do this mother?" She asked and looked at Barnabas to Elizabeth who had grown quiet and a bit perturbed.

"No, not my idea. Perhaps it was Maggie asking them to do it as part of the decoration. I just wished she had consulted me first. That seems so brash and unconventional." Elizabeth was conflicted about the tawdry way they had advertised her daughter's engagement by emblazoning it across a neon sigh. Vicki had felt the tension in her mother and then saw her fiancé was not thrilled either but was going to accept the sentiment in which it was presented.

"Don't worry about it mother, I think it is kind of charming in a way. I am sure that the intent was not to present us as flashy or unclothed. We shall accept it for the joyous news that it was intended and let it go." Vicki was being the peacekeeper and trying to smooth out the night to get it back on track as being the most perfect night of her life. Arriving at the front door, Roger let them out and drove to a parking spot. Getting out he glanced up at the nearly full moon and noted it had a red haze over it.

He was reminded of what a blood moon represented and sighed deeply, it meant that they would be having another storm and soon. Shaking off the negative feelings of the moon he walked to join his party that had waited for his arrival. "Well shall we make our entrance? I saw that almost everyone is already here." He had counted the number of cars in the parking lot recognizing most that belonged to their family and friends.

Old House

Willie balanced on his crutches in front of the mirror and tried to tie his tie again. Muttering softly he was beginning to get irritated with trying to tie and not fall down when his door opened and Beth appeared behind him. Willie's eyes brightened up and he smiled, "Hey Babe!" Twisting around he looked at the woman that had become a very important part of his life. She was dressed in navy blue, the dress was a long wasted velvet A that fell gracefully to the floor. Her hair had been gracefully styled on top of her head with two long curls to fall over her right shoulder. Her eyes sparkled seeing Willie in his tux and she chuckled softly.

"Hey babe yourself, let me fix that." She put her arms around his shoulders grabbed the tie and quickly tied it into perfection. "Becky is going to meet us at the restaurant, she was tied up on a legal matter in town and told me to tell you not to wait for her she would slide in quietly once she was done. She picked up her formal earlier and was going to get dressed at the office." Willie sighed when he saw his tie was done to perfection turned to place a light kiss on her cheek.

"Okay, well all we need to do is wait for Adam and Eve to get here." Then he began to chuckle softly. "I can't get over it, that big lug found him a woman and of all names she is Eve." He chuckled again.

Beth chuckled, "Well her name is Evelyn but she likes to be called Eve to Adam. It is something she thought was cute and seemed appropriate. I hear she has been making inquiries to various hospitals about getting his scars worked on and thinks she found a plastic surgeon that can do it and make him look more normal."

Willie had to think about this, "I am not sure I want him to get his scars fixed, I am used to them." He kissed her lightly on the lips and allowed his hand to crawl over her shoulder and inch towards her breast when she laughed a deep sultry laugh and pushed his hand away.

"Not now Romeo, maybe later, we have to get you downstairs and ready for Adam and Evelyn's arrival." She opened the door to his room and waited for him to navigate the crutches awkwardly through the door.

"I will be glad when I don need these any more, then maybe I can chase you down this hallway and we could play slap and tickle giggle." He winked at her with a twinkle in his eye. She chuckled softly.

"I might just let you catch me and then we will see who tickles who and who is the first to giggle." They laughed together and walked with a precarious foothold down the stairs to the front foyer. They arrived as a flash of lights winked across the drawing room windows. "I think our chariot has arrived my lord." She did a mock curtsy to him opened the door and they made their way down the front steps to the car now parked idling in front of the house.

Adam got out and opened the back door for Beth, he like all the men was dressed in his black tie and tails and looked very commanding if not over powering for his height. Eve sat in a sea foam green chiffon gown with an empire waist circled with a deep green ribbon with tiny daisies stitched into the ribbon. It accented her vibrant red hair and gave a sparkle to her deep green eyes. She wore a faux mink wrap around her shoulders held in place by a heavy pearl broach. Her own hair had been styled up in ringlets that danced around her face when she moved her head.

"Oh Beth you look charming!" She enthused as the couple with Adam's help slid into the back seat.

"So do you Eve, you look like a goddess in that dress." Eve blushed and looked coyly to Adam.

"My boyfriend says I look like an angel sent from heaven and now you say a goddess. Hmmm guess I got to decide tonight which I would prefer to be?" She laughed and as the car doors were closed and secured she put the car into reverse and slammed on her brakes, sitting blocking the entrance to the driveway was the biggest white wolf she had ever seen. Its eyes glowed red then shifted to what she could not swear but appeared to turn blue in the lights of the car. Hitting her horn she waited for the sound to frighten the wolf off.

It set perfectly still and watched the group in the car. "Inch the car forward Eve, if it sees you might run it over it may move." Beth offered she was still scared of wolves with what had happened that night one try to break into the house and attack Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Lang. Eve inched forward and the wolf held its position in the center of the roadway.

"Drive to the right Eve, the drive is extra wide there and you can just drive around it." Willie spoke with a hint of trepidation filling his voice. He did not like this wolf and knew he had seen it before. Eve inched the car to the right and watched amazed as the wolf got up and sat down on the right.

"Well? What now? I don't want to hit it." She was asking the others in the car when the wolf charged the car jumped up on the hood of the car and opened his mouth slavering and growling at them. The eyes shifted from that deep blue color to glow red and it looked like it wanted to break the windshield to get to them. The ladies screamed and Eve had to slam on the breaks.

Adam began to open his door when Eve snagged his hand and spoke softly. "Wait! Look!" She nodded to the wood line and here a figure of a man stood watching the occupants of the car and the wolf. He lifted a whistle and blew it, the wolf looked up lifted his head sniffed the air and jumped from the car's hood and ran towards the dark figure. The man and wolf disappeared from sight.

"What the hell was that all about? Willie breathed out in a hushed whisper. He really had not expected an answer from anyone in the car but he got one from Adam.

"I think it was sent to prevent us from leaving the old house and then when its owner showed up and saw we were not the ones he was seeking he called it off." Willie would have come to that conclusion but was too rattled to think it through.

"You really think that person uses that wild animal as a pet?" Beth was shocked by what they had witnessed. Willie nodded slowly then thought a moment.

"Look we don't talk about this tonight at the party, we tell Barnabas about it later tonight when I know he is going to talk Vicki into coming home with him."

The group in the car agreed to not talk about what happened so that it could be the perfect night that Vicki had hoped to have since she found out about the dinner. "Yes, I agree, we want Vicki and Barnabas to have a wonderful party and not worry about some creepy guy with a big ass wolf wanting to eat us." Beth had tried to lighten the moment but found he humor was being tested.

"I don't agree, I think that they should be told as soon as possible. If it is going to be a problem for Mother and Barnabas they should know."

Willie sighed. "Adam, we ain't not gonna tell them, we will tell them but not during the party, it would ruin their night and they deserve a little time of happiness."

Adam thought about it and then finally agreed but not before he corrected Willie, ""Ain't not is not proper grammar Willie. First of all Ain't is not a proper word its slang and putting it with not makes it a double negative."

Willie rolled his eyes and sighed. "Okay, how is this. We are not going to tell them?" He was being sarcastic but it was lost on Adam.

"Much better." Adam smiled as they made their way on down the road arriving ahead of the others at Lookout Pointe. "Looks like we are one of the first to arrive. Shall we go in and see if we can help with Mother's party?" He turned with a boyish smile on his lips. Eve smiled leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Yes, and in the trunk is a cake I made to help celebrate this event and I brought a gift for Vicki and Barnabas."

This announcement caused a momentary air of embarrassment. "Gift, I didn't know we needed gifts." Beth spoke softly sounding a bit forlorn that she had not thought of bringing a gift.

Eve smiled, "Not to worry, I picked out something from you and Willie for the happy couple and its in the trunk."

Beth smiled and relaxed, "You are the perfect girlfriend." The happy group exited the car emptied the trunk and made their way to the entrance of the restaurant.