The Nightam Family

Chapter 13: William Nightam 4

Certain things from the outside world would never cease to amaze William. One of those was the many kinds of coffee. Another one was the accepting nature of humans.

He looked at the woman in front of him. He’d met her a week ago. She was kind, much like his wife, but very different in other ways. She wasn’t as quiet, she didn’t seem to have secrets, and she seemed to be very loyal. She’d told him about her family, how her parents had moved here from Japan, and in return he’d told her about his, which had lived here for centuries. She did not seem amazed by his heritage, but instead asked about him more. It was the first time William had met a woman who was truly interested in him. Not even his wife seemed to care for him the way this woman did. She’d told him her name was Sakiko. He’d told her his name.

William was hopeful. He would not say this to his family, but Sakiko seemed to be the perfect wife. He would have to divorce his current wife quietly, but surely Mortimer would understand. There was no place for disloyalty in the Nightam family. Mortimer himself had said those exact words so often lately. He believed that his words alone could compel the culprit to come forth. William didn’t know who’d killed Rachel, but he knew his family well enough to know nobody would willingly admit they’d killed her.

And his mind had once again wandered to Rachel. It was a shame she had been killed. A real pity. Not in the least because William and the other members of the family now had to take care of Anna. How had Rachel coped with it, he would always wonder that when he came back from a visit to Anna.

‘You’re thinking about someone else,’ Sakiko’s mouth had formed a little pout. William smiled.

‘Not at all,’ he answered. Sakiko did not yet know about his current wife. She had no need to know either, William had decided. He would divorce his current wife and it would never have happened. He would be able to continue his life, possibly marry Sakiko, and what would happen to his current wife had nothing to do with him. The things that were happening nowadays were her own fault, after all. Useless people have no place in the Nightam family, those were Mortimer’s words. If his current wife had nothing to bring to the family, she should leave. There were enough other people who could take her place.

‘That’s a lie,’ Sakiko said after some more silence. William sighed.

‘It’s some problems in the family,’ he said, ‘nothing too important, really.’

Of course, the recent occurrences in his family were a minor problem, but William knew all of it would get sorted out before too long. Mortimer was surely putting a lot of effort in finding whoever killed Rachel, William would ensure he could get the divorce he deserved, and everyone would be happy. If he’d just let it in Mortimer’s hands, everything would be fine.

So, William concluded his train of thought, he should just focus on the here and now. Being here with Sakiko, talking to her, and discovering if she would truly make a good addition to the family.

Still, he couldn’t stop his mind from wandering to Anna, who now ended up alone. William knew no other members from his family cared much for Anna, apart from Mortimer, but he could not blame them. The woman wasn’t completely sane anymore, he had known that since he was a child. Everyone could tell, and it made talking to her quite awkward and hesitant. And Anna probably could feel the same. She’d ended up alone, with only Mortimer next to her. But Mortimer was too busy regulating the family’s matters to take care of his niece at all times. Rachel had been the best person to take care of Anna, but she was gone. Indeed, even if the culprit was found, the damage had been done. Anna would most likely never get past this shock.

Yet all William could do at this time was simply taking care of his own life.