Chapter 17

Collinsport General Hospital

Collinsport Maine

Victoria heard voices from a long way off; she was feeling disoriented and confused. Her body ached and her head hurt, her vision was affected because she could not focus. At the foot of her bed she laid in was a man she thought she should know. She wondered if it was because she was not able to focus. "Hello?" She said weakly. Squinting her eyes she tried to make out the features.

"Oh thank god Victoria!" The man's voice was echoed by another softer voice filled with tenderness.

"Oh Vicki, you are awake." She could see the blurred outline of another figure that stood beside the male figure.

Putting her hand to her forehead she realized that something was stuck on the back of her hand and she tried to focus on it and knew it was an intravenous needle attached to a plastic bag filled with fluid. "Where am I? What happened and who are you?" She tried to focus on the features of the man. He looked anxiously to the woman at his side. "Wait you called me Vicki? Victoria? Is that my name?" She was so confused she felt sick to her stomach and her head was throbbing.

"Oh no, the doctor said she might have some problems Maggie, how am I going to tell Elizabeth about this? They have been through so much." The one he had called Maggie was holding onto the man and was speaking softly, but not softly enough that Vicki could not hear them.

"We may not need to, she just woke up. Roger, we just stay with her until she is more herself. We could arrange to take her home and have Melanie take care of her and Mrs. Johnson and I could come to the house and help until the others get home." Vicki knew they were discussing her.

"Excuse me how do I know you?" She was truly upset and confused. She must have been injured because she was in the hospital. She also must know these people because they were worried about her and by her bedside. "I don't mean to be rude, but I just can't remember anything and this is very frightening to me." She looked from one blurred figure to another and wondered if she had always had this vision problem.

"I can't see you clearly, it also appears my eye sight has been affected unless I was always this way?" she hoped they could shed some light on her confusion. Apparently this new symptom was a concern. The one called Roger left the woman at his side exiting the room to find a doctor. The woman then stepped closer and took Vicki's unencumbered hand in hers and spoke softly.

"Just relax Vicki, the bump on your head has caused you to have blurred vision. The doctor said to expect that for a few days and I know its annoying. I also understand your confusion. Your name is Victoria Winters; you were hired by Elizabeth Stoddard to be a governess to her nephew David Collins. You have been living at a place called Collinwood for the past year and you are now a member of the Collins family."

Vicki felt a blinding flash of pain cut through her mind and behind her eyes and for a moment the room was filled with soft lighting then there was darkness. Vicki's hand convulsed on Maggie's hand and she gasped. "I can't see! I can't see what is happening!" The girl was in a panic and there was nothing Maggie could do to help her through this panic attack. Holding tightly to her hand she tried to calm her.

"Calm down Vicki! Calm down, Roger has gone to get Hiram the family doctor. He will be here shortly. I need you to calm down and tell me what is happening to you?" Maggie's voice was beginning to penetrate Victoria's fright filled mind.

"Everything went black, why is this happening?" She was so upset she had begun to cry holding onto Maggie's hand searching for something more, searching beyond her need for comfort, she needed reassurance that this blindness was just temporary. More voices joined in with Maggie's voice and Victoria felt herself slipping into a state of unconsciousness as she gave in to her fright and her fear.

Going blissfully into unconsciousness Vicki felt her body drift away on a sea of confusion and fear. From the distance she heard the soft child like voice of a little girl with long golden curls, bright blue eyes and a sweet smile. "Oh Miss Winters you just need to relax. You will be well soon enough. You just had a nasty fall. I need you to relax so we can get you through this trying and upsetting times. Soon you will be facing a lot more danger than any of us thought could be imaged. There is a war coming to Collinwood and you are the center of that storm."

The child's voice drifted away with the singsong sound of an old nursery rhyme of London Bridges Falling Down. Vicki heard the soft seductive tones of another voice, one that should have filled her with fear. "Wake up my dear, it is time to go back to Collinwood. I will use a more conventional means of getting you there this time." She felt soft fingertips stroking her forehead and caressing her face. "Open your eyes Victoria, open your eyes and look at me."

Vicki's eyes fluttered softly then opened to peer into the daringly handsome features of man she thought she should know. "Do I know you?" Her voice did not sound like her own, but then again she was not sure she knew what her voice should like. Clearing her throat she watched as he leaned over her to capture her lips and kiss her. Vicki was not sure what she should do so thinking he was someone important to her, she half heartedly returned the kiss only to feel him moan and deepen the kiss.

With the clearing of a throat, the kiss was broken and Victoria shifted her gaze to two people standing in the doorway. "Excuse us we don't mean to interrupt but it would seem that the Doctor is here and he wants to examine Victoria. So, Ramon if you could just leave Vicki for a moment we might be able to take her home and make her more comfortable in her own bed." Roger had emphasized her meaning he felt the scene that he and Maggie had interrupted was far too personal for a hospital room.

Vicki was more confused than before and watched the sly triumphant smile edge Ramon's face. "My pardons Mr. Collins. I was just happy to see she is improved from what you described I was very concerned and of course wanted to be one of the first parties to bring her home where she belongs." A part of her wondered in that practical reasoning mind of hers if she had made a big mistake about this man

"I hardly think it would be appropriate for you a stranger to our lives to come here and try to circumvent our care for Victoria. She barely knows you and here you are trying to seduce her in her hospital bed. That Ramon is bad form on any part, in any way, shape or good breeding." Roger was beginning to sound like a protective father.

"I beg your pardon, but in the short time I have come to know her Victoria has become a very important part of my life. If I have over stepped my decorum, then I apologize to you and to her." He turned slightly and Vicki saw the twinkle in his eye and knew that he was not apologetic at all. Her internal alarms were going off. The one thing she did know is the man in the doorway was attempting to protect her.

Vicki appeared to be confused by all the posturing and defensive posing by these people. More disturbing was she had not recognized any of those present as being an integral part of her life. A middle aged kind faced man entered the room between Roger and Ramon. "Excuse me, may I please get by? I have a patient that needs to be attended to before she is discharged. Roger did not recognize this man and reached out to stop his progress of moving to Vicki.

"Excuse me, I am Roger Collins where is Hiram?" He studied the older man having never seen or met him before. The man paused and turned to Roger.

"Excuse me, I am Dr. White and the resident physician in this hospital. Hiram asked me to exam Miss Winters before her discharge, now if you will excuse me." He pulled his arm from Roger's hold and walked to the bedside. Roger watched him like a hawk. Maggie stepped up to Roger and looked at the stranger sitting on the edge of Vicki's bed speaking with her in soft tones.

"Who is that?" She frowned it was someone she did not recognize either.

"Maggie, I want you to stay here with Vicki while I go phone Hiram." Roger kissed her cheek and she studied the man bent over Vicki doing all the appropriate actions a doctor would do in order to prepare a patient for discharge. Glancing at Ramon she nodded to him.

"I see you are attached to Laura's husband. Why?" Ramon leaned against the doorframe watching the doctor with Vicki. Folding his arms negligently over his chest he causally crossed his ankles bracing his body to the door's edge.

Maggie shifted her gaze away from the two on the bed back to Ramon. "I think it would be obvious, I love him." She shifted her purse to her shoulder folded her arms over her chest in a defensive pose and studied the doctor. Something about him was not right, a part of her special abilities alerted her to the fact he was too perfect as a doctor. It was to Maggie's perception; as if he had rehearsed the part.

Walking towards him, Maggie reached forward and put her hand on his shoulder and in that moment she flashed on him being on a stage doing what he was doing now. "You are not a doctor. You are an actor why are . . . " Again another flash and she saw a fashionably dressed woman wearing a large hat with a heavy veil. She was paying this man to come to the hospital and check on Victoria. "Who sent you?"

The man stepped away from Maggie and Vicki smiled tensely. "I am sorry but you are mistaken, now I will go and discharge this woman to your friend. I have other patients to see." He tried to walk to the door when Ramon stepped in front of him and nailed him with a simple stare. It was enough to lock the man in place making him unable to look away.

"Who sent you?" Ramon's voice was soft with a hint of hidden strength. "You cannot turn away and you will answer me. Who sent you?"

"A woman she told me her name was Josephine Florescue." He said it involuntarily. He watched Ramon smile and look to Maggie.

"I see so now the other player represents in this little drama. Ramon chuckled softly turned to Victoria and smiled, "I think you should really consider my offer my dear, I have a feeling no one will be standing once all the players show up to stake a claim for the little princess."

Vicki frowned, "What are you talking about? I don't even know you people and I for the life of me do not know what offer you are speaking. I . . . " She sighed and shook her head. She waved the pretend doctor on. "Let him leave and as far as I am concerned you all can leave." She closed her eyes and hoped that they would go away.

Collinwood

Drawing room

Roger led Victoria into the drawing room and helped her to the sofa. Turning to Melanie he spoke softly. "She has some problems with her memory the doctor says that it should slowly start coming back." Victoria sat back feeling very awkward and unsettled. Looking at Ramon who stood poised in the doorway watching her like a cat would its prey. Roger hovering over her and telling her to not worry eventually she would remember he was her uncle and she was home.

Victoria did not feel at home, she felt trapped. She wanted to claw her way out of this huge house that surely was haunted. Ramon's arrogance was annoying, Roger's over bearing attitude was annoying, the fact she had no memory was annoying. She just wanted to feel normal and not annoyed. The pretty blond nurse who identified herself as Melanie was nice but her hovering was annoying. "Um, would it be all right if someone showed me where my room is so I might be able to lie down for a bit?"

Melanie looked at Roger who nodded, Ramon stepped forward and helped her to stand. "Here my dear allow me to escort you to your room. I am sure that Nurse Melanie would not object?" He glanced at Melanie who could not refuse that flashy toothy smile that held a twinkle of a promise and mischief in his eyes.

Laura walked into the room and huffed softly. "Oh really Ramon why are you wasting your time over this silly girl? We have more important things to concern ourselves with besides your throbbing libido."

Ramon narrowed his gaze at Laura and spoke softly, "I would take care of how you express yourself Laura, and you could find yourself isolated on an island." He helped Vicki to stand and she looked to Melanie silently pleading with her to get rid of the lothario.

Melanie smiled and said softly, "Here allow me to help you Miss Winters. Ramon, I am sure that Mrs. Collins' concern are far more pressing than helping Miss Winters to her room and I am sure that later she would not object to you coming by to check on her. For now the doctor's orders are she should rest." Melanie gently caressed his hand and took Vicki's arm from his turning she smiled and noted he had noticed her subtle flirting.

She led Vicki from the room and instead of taking her up to her room, she leaned into her and spoke softly. "You were staying at the old House Miss Winters and that is where I plan to take you. That way I know you will be able to rest."

Vicki wrinkled her forehead showing her consternation with this information. "Old House?" This was a knew one for her to digest along with all this new family she had inherited. It frustrated her not knowing who they were. "I was staying there?" The sound of it was kind of daunting was it old and run down or what?

"Is it far?" She leaned against the foyer table she was feeling tired.

"No, it would be an easy walk except for the fact we need to drive you over, you stay right here and I will go get my keys." Vicki watched her disappear down a hallway only to hurry back and snag her by the arm. "Come on let's go. I am sure Mr. Loomis is wondering what happened to you."

"Mr. Loomis?" Vicki followed her out to her car and opened the door. She slid into the front seat and buckled up. "Who is Mr. Loomis is he the one that owns the old house?"

Melanie chuckled. "Not hardly, he is the care taker while Mr. Collins is out of the country. He actually was caring for your while you were waiting for Mr. Collins return."

Again another Collins and she were staying at his house. "Is there a Mrs. Collins?" She sighed and hoped that there was so she would have another woman to talk with about her life here.

"You know I think he is eligible like most the male Collins family members. I heard from my other charge Mrs. Johnson that there was possibly a thing between the two of you. He she tells me looks exactly like the picture at the foot of the stairs in the foyer. Very dashing figure his ancestor was."

This caused her to tense there was something about talking about the past that did disturb her. "I see." She spoke so softly that Melanie was not sure she had heard her. "Anyhow you had been staying there until your mother comes home. Something about you felt safe there."

Vicki sighed and watched her take a turn out of the large expansive gate at the front of the estate and drive about a half mile and turn into another roadway that had recently been paved. The house before her was glorious looking with its huge white pillars and white washed cut stone. "It is very lovely isn't it?" Melanie pulled the car to a halt and got out. Waiting for Vicki to follow her up the front steps.

Before they arrived at the double doors they were opened and a disheveled looking male stood there with a wide smile on his face. "Miss Winners! Auntie said you had a bad accident and hurt yourself I am so glad to see you are okay!" He rushed forward and with the same exuberance he showed earlier he hugged her and stepped back doffing his cap and smiling. "I got your room all ready for you. "

She smiled at Melanie and led them into the house. Melanie was doubly impressed with how lovely the interior of the house appeared and it matched the exterior. "This is a lovely home Mr. Loomis!"

"Oh, please call me Willie everyone else does. Come on Miss Winners let me show you how I put fresh cut flowers in your room. He turned to led both women to the stairs and up them. Melanie was taking in the whole of the renovated house and was impressed. The portrait that hung over the fireplace arrested Victoria as she entered Josette's room. She stepped forward and for a moment. Letting her gaze take in the delicate features of the woman. "She . . . "

Melanie finished for her. "Looks just like you! Is she a relative?" She glanced to Willie for confirmation. Willie smiled, "Mr. Barnabas thinks that Miss Winners is he rein . . . rein . . . " He sighed and looked hopefully to Vicki to finish his word.

"Reincarnation? Who is she Willie?" Vicki asked filled with wonder and awe.

Willie laughed, "You know who she is Miss Winners, she is Josette Collins, she was Barnabas' Collins first love but she married his brother Jeremiah. But you knew that since you went back in time and all." Willie's face began to crumpled up in a look of pained confusion as Vicki turned looking at him as if he had lost his mind.

"Traveled back in time? Are you out of your mind?" Vicki "Nobody can travel back in time." She turned to Melanie and sighed deeply. "I think I do need to lie down." She looked at the bed turned down and awaiting her. Walking to the bed she lifted the soft lace gown and smiled. "Is this mine? It is very lovely."

Willie looked from Melanie to Vicki. "What is going on Miss Winners why are you actin this way? I mean this is crazy!" Willie was getting very agitated by all the weirdness. "Its bad enough that Angelique witch is back."

Vicki felt her heart quicken when he mentioned the name Angelique. Turning her eyes widen. "What did you just say?"

Melanie stepped forward now both of them were agitated. "Mr." Melanie paused remembering he asked her to call him Willie. And seeing him about to get upset because she had not she smiled charmingly, " . . . I mean Willie, Miss Winters is having memory problems since she hit her head. There was some minor swelling on her brain and she is having problems remembering. That is why she needs to rest and I suggest we leave her now."

Willie nodded, slumped his shoulders and walked to the door. "This makes no sense, she knows she went back in time and lived in this house with all those people whose pictures are hanging up at that big spook house on the hill." Melanie helped Vicki into bed and smiled at her then turned to follow Willie out of the room into the upstairs hallway.

"Willie, Miss Winters when she fell down the stairs, hit her head hard enough she suffered a hairline fracture to her head, that in turn caused a concussion and a slight swelling to her brain and with that, it created a problem of her remembering things. You have to give her some time until the swelling goes down and allow her to get her memories back slowly. By upsetting her, it will not help."

Willie sighted and slumped his shoulders walking to the top of the stairs. "She just gotta get her memories back Melanie, she just gotta. She and Mr. Barnabas were fallin' in love and he was thinking she was rein – car-nated," He said the word slowly so he would get it right. "Like that Josette and he was re . . . re in –car-nated like that Barnabas from back then. He thought it was really romantic."

She watched him shove his hands into his pockets and slump over walking down the steps. "It ain't fair, she had been through so much and now this." Melanie walked beside him and smiled at how sweet he appeared even if he was a little slow witted he was still sweet.

"Willie it is not a permanent condition, we are lucky she was not also blinded by the fall because the doctor said she had lost vision for a while but that returned so if her vision returns think about it, surely her memory will return too."

Willie popped his head up with a big smile and his eyes brightened. "yeah, I am sure bein here and all she will remember the good times she had with Barnabas and then if she remembers about bein here in the past, she will remember little Sarah and Daniel."

This was a point that Melanie needed to get straight. "You keep saying she went into the past, now Willie time travel has not been invented so I think you would do well not to bring that part of her life up to her so she won't be upset." Melanie's voice had taken on a soothing tone as she spoke to the obviously befuddled young man who probably had alcohol poisoning from the looks of his teeth and his face.

"No, I am tellin ya she did go into the past. They had a séance at the big house and something horrible happened and Vicki went back and some lady came here and was real sick. Dr. Hoffman had to take care of her. Then that witch, she was real mean she is the one that caused all the problems in the past an then she got mad and well she tried to kill Vicki because she did not get hanged."

He was so disjointed with his story that she just felt she should placate him. She nodded and then sighed. "Willie maybe you should not get yourself worked up like that and go visit your Aunt Sarah for a while, she was asking for you earlier. I will stay here with Miss Winters for a while then I will be back to take care of you Aunt."

Willie brightened. "Oh, yeah I need to see Auntie. Thanks a lot Melanie." He scurried off leaving Melanie sitting on the lovely sofa in front of the fire.

"Hello." The small child's voice startled Melanie. She turned and looked at the pretty little girl dressed so quaintly in her white dress with her cap.

"Hello, do you live here?" Melanie smiled and stood looking at the child and thinking she looked familiar.

"I used to a long, long, time ago, now I just live around." She waved her hand around the room. From the head of the stairs Victoria stood watching the two below.

"Sarah, why are you not in bed dear?" She smiled and walked down the stairs looking at the child.

Sarah spun around and smiled at Victoria. "Hello Miss Winters, I heard you fell down the stairs and was worried about you so I wanted to make sure you were well. " she skipped to the stairs and paused and smiled up at the pretty dark haired girl. "I am glad you remembered me. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." She smiled knowing that was a word she had taught her back in the past.

"I am fine now I have seen you." Vicki smiled at the child finding her delightful. "Now off to bed with you, you know your father will be upset if he finds you out of bed."

Melanie watched in horror as the child nodded and then disappeared from view. Vicki turned and went back to her room closing the door softly behind her.

"What the hell just happened?" Melanie spoke out loud and mostly to herself.