The Matinbury Estate

Chapter Three: Hours

September 14th 1998 5:59 pm

I sat at the dinner table quietly. Dinner was ready and sitting on the table. Kassidy cooked for us, again. I helped her this time and I was happy to do it. It was rare that me and Aunt Kassidy ever bonded. She didn't like me most of the times. I sat at the table and waited. Isa and Grandpa were in the other room. I could hear them screaming at each other. Kassidy was sitting across from me and she looked concerned. They had been fighting. I couldn't tell why. Warren left the estate yesterday. Maybe they were fighting because of that. It was harsh losing a child. They had already lost one. I think Grandpa was looking forward to teaching Warren the family business. Vaccine research was complex and difficult but fascinating, he would say.

"I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD IT!" I heard Grandpa shout. "I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING! WHY ARE YOU DEALING WITH THAT MAN?"

"Mark is our only option. Herman, you need to calm down!" Isa was less vocal but I could hear the anger in her voice.

"JUST TELL ME NOW! I CAN'T BEAR THIS ISA! I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE! ARE YOU SLEEPING WITH HIM?"

"OF COURSE NOT!" Isa sounded disgusted and suddenly rose her voice louder. "I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! AND HE IS FAR TOO YOUNG FOR ME! DO YOU THINK I WOULD EVER DO THAT TO YOU? IS THAT REALLY WHAT YOU THINK?"

"WHAT AM I MEANT TO THINK? YOU'VE BEEN MEETING WITH HIM ALMOST EVERYDAY THIS WEEK! NOT TO MENTION LAST WEEK! WHO THE HELL IS HE, ISA?"

"HE IS A CLIENT, HERMAN! WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A PROJECT. He's Paying well... and his deal will be worth the trouble."

"What trouble are you talking about, Isa? What trouble? You're not telling me anything about this." Herman switched into a quiet voice that seemed more like him.

"I can't tell you." I could hear Isa's voice crack. "I have client confidentiality. It would be morally incorrect. Yes... Morally incorrect."

"Morally incorrect? Since when is it morally incorrect to tell you husband about what you're working on? We're a team, aren't we?"

"I can't talk about this anymore, Herman. I need you to trust me on this. I will tell you when it's over and you can't change my mind."

"Isa..."

"Wheel me into the dinning room. Your granddaughter is waiting. She made dinner for us and I intend to enjoy it."

I had never heard them fight like this before. It sounded like they had calmed down and that was relieving. The doors to the dining room opened and I saw Isa's wheelchair being pushed into the door. Maybe it was over for good. I wondered what they had been arguing about but found it rude to ask. Kassidy began to dish up the food.. She had been cooking ever since Isa's accident. She had been kind and decided to stay with us at the estate to take care of Isa when Grandpa and me couldn't. I admired her for that, even though she looked at me like something small and insignificant. I wasn't sure why but she didn't like me. But at least she did today.

"Hello, Julia. Sorry we're late." Isa smiled warmly as Herman stopped her at the side of the table. "We just had a slight disagreement. Nothing to worry about."

"Here we are," Kassidy said sliding a plate in front of Isa. "Baked quail tonight! Courtesy of me and our rising chef, Julia."

"We hope you like them," I added.

"Thank you, Julia. I'm sure that I will."

I saw Grandpa Herman sit in a chair on the opposite side of the table. His face was shadowed and I could see dark circles under his eyes. He hadn't slept for a long time. I could tell. Isa had been working downstairs in the lab on a large project for a long time. Maybe it was the project they were arguing about. I went downstairs once to ask her for some medicine for a headache I have had for awhile and she was gone. I searched the entire basement. She had gone down there and simply disappeared. Matinbury Estate was a large place but it couldn't of been that large. Maybe she had been working with that man they were speaking of. What was his name?