The Wishbornes And The Fallen Star

Chapter 7

Baked bread. Cold meat. Salads. Butternut soup. Pies. Tarts. All of this was placed on top of the family dining room table as we entered and my tummy grumbled as the wave of food aromas hit me. In the right hand corner of the room stood a tall and skinny man, with dark hair and a mustache, wearing chef's clothes.
"Children I would like you to meet our head chef, Furdolph Fournier. Furdolph this is Raynard, Clarabell and Irene", said Theo.
"Bonjour children", said Furdolph with a slight bow of his head, not moving at all from where he was standing, hands behind his back.
"This looks delicious Furdolph", said Helena as she took a seat at the table.
"I tried my best to think of what the children might like, hopefully this will do for now?", he said and looked at us waiting for a reply.
"Yes, this looks amazing. Thank you so much Furdolph", I said and gave him a smile. His face turned soft and he gave me a smile that made me feel like I have known him my whole life. We stared at each other for a few second before I looked at the food in front of me.
"Hopefully we'll get to know each other a bit better no? So that in the future I can prepare your favorite dishes?", asked Furdolph.
"I'm sure once the children get use to the house they'll pop into the kitchen some time", said Theo as he buttered some bread and looked at us. We all nodded. "Very well then. Bone appétit", said Furdolph with a small bow of his head and left the room.
    "I want to ask you something", I said to Helena and Theo as I poured some tea into my cup.
    "What is it Darling?", asked Theo as he took a bite from his bread. Raynard and Irene turned their focus to me.
    "Earlier you mentioned that Clodovea is in a different type of school compared to ours. So I wanted to know if we are to change schools then?", I asked and silence fell as everyone stopped eating. Theo and Helena looked at each other then back at me. Theo put his bread down, took a sip of orange juice and said, "Well, it's been tradition for all Wishborne children to attend, uhm," he then looked at Helena," Saint Marrys Boarding School", she continued," And if you wish to attend it as well we will enroll you but if you wish to stay at the school you are in now then that is also fine", said Helena and took a sip of her tea.
    "But if you do wish to attend Saint Marrys, then you would only start the new grade next year in January as their grades starts in the beginning of the year and end in November. They also work according to four terms and not two semesters. So instead of having one very long holiday, like you do now, they have four holidays through out the year that are shorter, but still vary in length. For example Clodovea will be coming home just for two weeks for her September break, which is the break between the 3rd and 4th term. There longest holiday is the December holidays which are almost 6 weeks", said Theo and continued to eat his bread.
    "But there's no rush in deciding now. You can give us your answer a week before your school starts again. So that gives you plenty of time to think about it", said Helena as she dished up cold meat. Raynard, Irene and I just looked at each other and didn't say anything. Irene just shrugged her shoulders. Raynard and I then gave each other a look that meant we'll talk about it later. In private. We turned our focus back to the food and continued eating.
***
After lunch we all went back to our room as exhaustion all of the sudden hit us. This has been a very overwhelming day and the possibility that we might change schools just pushed me over the edge and all I wanted to do is shower and sleep. I told Theo that he can show me the library later as my head left very heavy.
    I first went to Irenes room to check up on her. Her room's layout was the same as mine but just decorate differently. I don't know how but who ever decorated it new exactly our tastes. Irenes bed cover was a mint green colour with some light yellow pillows scattered over it, and her walls were different colour as well. Her walls were a sage colour where mine were a midnight blue. She was sitting on the couch near the window holding something is her hands. When I got closer I saw it was a violin with a bow tied to it!? Now that was impossible for them to know, because I've read Irenes file and it didn't mention anything about music or her love for a violin. The only time she has ever even mentioned the violin was when they went to watch the school concert and she couldn't shut up about how beautiful the violin sounded to her, but of course she could never learn to play it because we couldn't afford to buy her one, let alone pay for lessons, that's why she never brought it up again.
    "They got you a violin?", I asked curiously as I sat next to her. My head growing ever so heavier.
    "Isn't it beautiful?', said Irene as she just kept on looking at the violin as if it was a baby.
    "Rena you don't even know how to play the violin. Why would they give it to you as a present?".
    "I don't know, but I've always wanted to learn, ever since that night of the concert. Helena said they can get someone to teach me how to play". I looked at my sister then at the violin.
    "Don't you find it strange that they knew that's what you wanted? Even though we have never mentioned it?". Irene just shrugged her shoulders and continued staring at the violin. I just stared at her for a few seconds and wondered how this does not bother her?
"Okay well I'm going to take a quick shower and then maybe take a nap. Don't go following that weird weasel okay?", I said while brushing my fingers through her hair. She laughed and said, "I promise. I'm pretty tired too so I might take a nap as well".
                                                ***
    Helena assured me that the windows are tinted and no one can see into my bathroom. So I just stood under the shower, letting the hot water almost burn my skin, trying to keep my eyes open, as I just looked at the view of the forest stretching wide into the horizon. Damn it's beautiful.
    All of the sudden a red fox appeared in the tree line of the forest across the garden. It looked straight at me. I turned off the water, grabbed a towel and went to the window to take a closer look. It was a bit far, but I could swear it was looking straight at me. After a few seconds it got up and disappeared between the trees.
    Well since it was a forest I shouldn't be that surprised to see wild animals. But the way it looked at the manor, it really felt as if it was looking at me.
    I walked out of the closet to grab my clothes I left on the bed, but there was a pair of neatly folded, dark blue, satin pajams, with sliver trimming sitting next to it. On top of it was a note that read:

I choose dark blue as it looked so beautiful on you the night we took you out for dinner. Hope it fits!
Liefde Helena.

    I looked at the clock and saw it was 3 o'clock. Still too early for bed time but considering how tired I felt I might only wake up tomorrow morning. I then took the new pair of pj's.
    It fits like a dream! Is was so soft against my skin that I almost convinced myself that I would never take it off.
    When I entered my bedroom again Irene was fast asleep in the middle of my bed, dressed in the same pajamas, but they were light green with white trimmings. I kissed her on her forehead, but she was out cold. I climbed underneath the sheets and just as I was falling asleep, Raynard came into the room.
    He climbed into bed, next to Irene. And within a few second we were all fast asleep.