Heart divided

Dinner and a Show

We walked through a big painted oak door into a beautiful garden. There was a stone path leading all around with dozens of different flowers sprouting. The ones that really caught my eyes were these big beautiful red marigolds. When I was little my papa told me that they looked like bunny tails sticking up and who doesn't like bunnies?

"If you would like to pick a couple you may Miss Caroline."

Darn it he must of seen me looking at them.

"Oh no I couldn't! I do not want to ruin your beautiful garden."

He reached down and picked me one and gently put it in my hands.

"There! You know red is really your color darling."

He winked at me and then continued to walk down the stone path.

We eventually saw our parents talking by a giant fountain in the middle of the garden that was absolutely breathtaking.
We rounded the corner to be greeted immediately by my mom and dad running joyously towards me the moment their eyes caught sight of us.

"Wait!"

"Be careful she is still in very much pain."

I smiled sweetly at Daniel and turned towards my now cautious parents walking swiftly towards me.

"Oh my dear child!"

"Mother," I said with a sweet smile and returned the light hug she gave me.

"My sweet Caroline come here child."

I walked as fast as my unsteady legs could carry me to my father and gave him what was close enough to a bear hug.

"Where are my sisters?"

His face automatically turned grim as he remembered that one of his daughters had died.

"Maria and Sophia are in the piano room I believe. My dear do you remember what happened?"

I felt my eyes tear up at the memory at seeing my beloved sister. "Yes papa I remember."

"Why don't we go inside and get you something to eat it's been awhile dearie."

I quietly nodded my head at my mothers words and turned around to continue back to the house.

"Well I believe my cooks have dinner ready why don't we all go inside?"

I forgot that Daniel's parents were there until his mom said those words. I was embarrassed to have ignored them.

"Excuse me Mrs.Whitmer I did not mean to be rude I am Caroline Dosept, It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh darling it is nothing to fret about you have had a long week you deserve to be a little forgetful!"

"Oh and this is my husband Charles Whitmer."

"It's nice to finally meet you Mr. Whitmer. "

I shook his rough hand and he smiled broadly at me.

"Please call me Charles, enough with the formalities! I am quite certain we will become as close as family in no time."

"Oh Charles don't scare the girl! She had only woken up I am sure she has nothing of THAT sort on her mind."

Daniel's face flushed a slight pink which I had no idea why. Why was he embarrassed?

I quickly went over the past conversations in my head and realized Mr. Whitmer had implied marriage between Daniel and I!

I felt my face automatically fall into a frown at the thought. I am not marrying this mans son just because he housed my family. We would of been just as comfortable at the motel in town.

I had the sudden urge to stomp my foot childishly, but instead settled for pushing past Daniel and ignored his helping hand. If he thought for a second his family's kindness would win him me as a wife he could shove a pole up his ass.

Not caring if I was being rude I opened the doors and luckily a maid was passing with a tray of food so I just followed/stalked her to the dining room.

As we entered the dining room I noticed a long oak table had a big white sheet on it with the finest china decorating it.

Daniel and everyone else popped into the room and sat down while chatting. Daniel, instead of sitting next to me, sat across from me giving us a good three feet apart.

Jeesh, do I smell or something?

Prick.

I folded my hands in my lap and smiled at my mom that sat down as close as possible to me when I realized I probably did smell, but who wouldn't after being in a fire and not showering for a couple days? Daniel was starting to look very prudish to me.

The sudden sound of a door opening made me turn around to see Sophia and Maria coming in.

Jumping out of my chair and forgetting my manners in the process ,which my mother will probably scold me on later.

"Sophie! Maria!"

"Caroline! You crawled out of your death bed, FINALLY."

"Sophie!"

"Oh mother it is just a joke she could of probably stayed in that bed all day if her Prince Charming was there!"

I gaped at Sophie, you were considered crude for talking so openly about inappropriate subjects and for goodness sake in front of my "prince charmings" parents!

"I apologize for Sophie's behavior she is never like this!" My mother let out frantically.

"Oh Mrs. Dosept it is quite alright! But it does seem to be that your daughter has found the liquor cabinet and is apparently a lightweight."

No wonder she seemed so goofy! I've never seen Sophie so loose and not well, sober before.

Sophie made her way over behind Daniel's chair and was patting his head saying, "good doggy."

I burst out laughing, when I did everybody else exploded with laughter even Daniel barked a few times making me laugh even harder!