Fur Cara

Chapter one

Caroline Benson stepped out of the burgundy BMW and watched for a minute as it sped away before turning to stare at the large white mansion that held most of her childhood memories. She had just been ten years of age, young and uncertain before she was shipped off to boarding school and now, ten years later, she stood in front of that same mansion feeling once again like the ten year old who had been forced to leave her comfort zone.
The leaves made crunchy sounds as she took hesitant steps to the front door that loomed ahead welcoming yet unfriendly. She lifted her hand to knock when the door suddenly swung inward and she found herself enveloped in beefy arms that were so familiar that she didn't have to see the face of the person before knowing who it was.
"Cara! My beautiful child!"
Agnes released her from the spine breaking hug and stared into her face.
Cara remembered the face of Agnes, her nanny so well- Round chubby cheeks, warm kind eyes, broad nose and full lips that were always set in a smile. It was just as it was ten years ago except for the lines of age that had begun to appear around her wide mouth and eyes.
"Aggy... " Caroline found herself choked with emotion. She felt how much she had missed this dark woman with a light enveloping aura, this woman who was so much like a mother as she was a caretaker to her.
"God Cara! How much you've grown!" Agnes' eyes watered as she stared at the young lady who was now so tall that she had to tilt her head to see her face.
"And you haven't aged." Caroline said with a smile.
"What are you standing there for?! Come on in!"
Caroline found herself being pulled into the sitting room of the mansion. It was just as she remembered- sophisticated, large and lonely.
"I've been waiting so long for you that my nerves were popping. I couldn't believe it when your father said you were coming home! I made all your favorites... That is if they are still your favorite. There's a lot to feast on for weeks!.." Agnes babbled as she led her to the large kitchen.
The kitchen had been the only place in the house where Caroline felt most comfortable mostly because it was Agnes' own territory and it was transformed to a place of life and activity. Back when she was little, Agnes always had something cooking or baking. She would feed Caroline with so much pastries, an act that Miss Vera despised. Both women never got along.
Caroline stepped into the kitchen and the amazing aromas assaulted her nostrils. It had been years since she'd seen so much food in one place and everything had been made for her.
"Do they feed you anything in school? You look so thin." Agnes commented as she set two large trays on the counter.
Caroline smiled "Of course Aggy."
She had really been served rich food three times a day but most of it had ended in the trash either because she was too tired or too high to eat. She took a seat and picked a cookie.
"What has been going on?" Caroline asked creating the perfect opening for Agnes who launched into a detailed explanation of events that took place in her absence. Caroline smiled and laughed genuinely for the first time in a long time and would have loved to remain in that state if her mother's cold voice had not broken it. "Caroline."
Caroline tensed, stood and turned to stare at the willowy woman whose presence was overwhelming. Both women possessed similar features- high cheek bones, pert noses and full mouths set into a pretty face. Both were tall and slender but despite their physical similarities, both women were opposites. Where her mother was reserved and polished, Caroline was wild and uncultured, both however were proud and arrogant and shared an intimate dislike for the other's character.
"Mother." Caroline replied just as coldly.
"You didn't tell us you were back."
"I didn't think you'd care." Caroline replied. Her mother raised a perfectly arched brow.
Caroline took in her mother's looks. Though well into her forties, Charlotte Benson didn't look older than twenty five.
"We thought you never wanted to return."
It was true. Caroline had consciously decided to stay back to get away from the suffocation and tension at home so she had gotten into so much trouble that she had to repeat classes-twice. Her mother had been furious but too far away. She had felt somewhat homesick and finally conceded to her father's wishes of returning home but she was there only ten minutes and felt like running back the way she came.
"I don't think I should have." Caroline said.
Agnes cleared her throat loudly.
"Why don't you go up dear. Your bags are in your room." Agnes said.
Caroline moved past her mother and out of the kitchen. She took the long winding steps that led to the room remembering how she used to love sliding down the railing to the loud protest of her mother and Miss Vera who thought all her actions to be unladylike.
Her room was almost the way she'd left it. The large canopied bed was to one side, the walls were still painted with baby pink and dotted curtains were drawn. Most of her childhood toys and belongings had been cleared. Just as Agnes said, her luggage was in her room.It included five large suitcases and one violin. The sight of the violin brought back memories of the going boy she had seen playing the piano a day before she left for boarding school. She had tried taking piano lessons but had been so awful at it before she picked up the violin which she was no better at. She shrugged and went into the bathroom.
An hour later, bathed and restless, she decided to go for a walk. She had no appetite for the feast Agnes had prepared for her but hungered for something else.
She stuffed a pack of cigarette, a lighter and a wrap of a white powdered substance into her pocket and left the house.
Her footsteps were hurried as she made her way to a spot she remembered from childhood. It was a secluded spot meters away from the mansion. A large tree stood in its middle, its branches stretched out forming a canopy where she always escaped to. The tree was still there its branches just as long and shedding its leaves.
She inhaled and shivered as the chilly evening breeze danced on her skin. She pulled out a cigarette and after many attempts, succeeded in lighting one. She took a long drag and exhaled a billow of smoke, nearly choking in the process. When she calmed a bit, she pulled out the small white nylon and gently unwrapped it revealing the powdered substance. She was just about to sniff when she heard the crumbling of leaves indicating the presence of someone else. Shocked, she let go of the nylon and its contents fell to the ground. She whirled around thinking it was Agnes but stopped short when she realized who it was.
He was a tall, over a head taller than she was. The jeans and hoodie he wore fit snugly on his lanky frame. His dark hair was short and stylish, his eyes were dark intense pools that caught and held attention, eyes that were now fixed on her. He had changed but she still recognized him- the prince charming who had sat by the old grand piano ten years ago and played Fur Elise.