Brooklyn, Baby | Spot Conlon ²

Chp. 11: the Knock on the Door

"Aunt Anne, please do not worry about me. I will be perfectly fine on my own," Kendall assured. 

"I know, dear, I just feel poorly for leaving you alone," 

"Please! Go! You will all have a marvelous time in Georgia." She smiles. "I need to start thinking about the wedding anyways. It's nearly February," 

"Eric will be in town soon enough, and I will be able to relax knowing you aren't alone." Aunt Anne sighs. "Might I leave just one servant with you? How will you eat?" 

"Aunt Anne, there are enough leftovers from Christmas to feed the nation!" 

"I suppose so," She hugs Kendall tightly. "Farewell," 

"Goodbye, Kendall. I'm sorry you cannot join us," Rosaline smiles.

"You and Anthony will have a great vacation together," 

Every year, the whole Vanderbilt family of the manor, including the servants, when on a getaway as a Christmas present from William. 

"I know, now we can publicly display our affection," 

"As if no one suspected it before," Kendall grinned. "Please, go, you'll hold up the cars!" 

"Goodbye!" 

Kendall shut the large front door, and looked at the empty foyer in front of her. The house was extra clean, the servants made sure of it. 

Taking time to walk towards the parlor, Kendall never noticed how truly spacious the house was. 

"What to do," She sighs. 

"I could outline the wedding, maybe call the tailor to find a dress--No, Rosaline would never forgive me for finding one without her." 

She sat, talking to herself still, wondering what to do. 

"Maybe tea will help me," 

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On her third cup of tea, it was now late afternoon. She was disturbed by the rapping on the door. 

"A couple letters for the Vanderbilts," The mailman said. 

"Thank you," 

She sorted through the envelopes, mostly addressed to Uncle William. Her name caught her eye, and she recognized the fancy penmanship. 

Kendall Sullivan

Tearing the top open, she pulled out a letter and another folded paper. 

It read: 

My dear lady, 

How I have longed to see you since the moment I left you. I count down the days until I see you once more. Business in Pennsylvania is very successful, and father is most pleased. 

I have been thinking about our wedding, and I thought, why not have it at the manor? The gardens are beautiful, and the house is no less. Nice space for guests. Although, where I proposed to you on your eighteenth birthday would be no less perfect. 

Whatever you favor is what I favor. 

Attached you will fine the piece I have been working on during business meetings. I kid humorously, but I did create it. Enjoy it, I know I enjoyed drawing the beauty it is. 

Love, 

Eric 

She opened up the folded paper, revealing a drawing of her. It was wonderful, well drawn, and surprising that Eric had a talent for sketching. 

She placed it on her desk, open, and put the letter back inside the envelope. She decided to go downstairs, to the study, to write her reply. 

She sat in the chair, quill in hand, wondering what even to say. 

Eric, 

That is art! Truly beautiful. Where did you learn to draw like that? 

I cannot wait for you to come home. I have many ideas for the wedding to share with you. The whole family is very excited as well. I think we've kept them waiting long enough. 

When you get here, it will be just us. Everyone has gone to Georgia, but I stayed behind to get a start on some things, so just a heads up. 

Rosaline and Anthony have finally confessed their undying love for one another, as everyone has waited for. 

See you soon, 

Kendall 

She sealed the letter and left it on the desk. Standing up, she smoothed her dress and walked to the bookshelf. 

She skimmed her fingers until she found what she was looking for. 

Romeo and Juliet. 

It was her all time favorite book to read, she had finished it probably twenty times. It was her first challenging play in her English lessons, and she had fell in love with it. Of the many books she read, it was the one that gave her the most excitement. 

Pouring her fourth cup of tea, and sat on the couch, more like laid on it (very unladylike if you ask her), and opened the book. 

She would never admit it to anyone, but she loved to read it out loud. Being alone in the house granted her this pleasure. 

She had the prologue almost memorized, but she read it anyways. 

Hours later, she was still on act one. She couldn't help but just bask in Shakespeare's talent and dreamy literature.

"My only love, sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me--" 

She was interrupted from her reading by a noise. It was now dark, but the lights in the house kept her from being swallowed by the darkness. 

She sat up, drowsy from all the tea and poetry, and listened carefully. 

Then, came a knock. 

"Tessie, who is there?" She spoke, directed to the house dog, but more so to herself. 

The front door had no windows, so she cautiously walked toward the door. 

Her hands shakily reached for the lock, unlocking it with a click! 

She opened the door slowly, and once she saw the shoes of the other person, she fully opened it. Inside her chest an explosion occurred as she looked at the visitor. 

Her voice faintly spoke, 

"Spot?" 

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DUN DUN DUNNNNN 

I'm reading Romeo and Juliet in English right now and IM SO OBSESSED WITH IT 

Enjoy the big things that have arrived and that are still to come ;))))

You didn't think he was gone that easily, did you?