The Other Sister

7

The next morning, I had forgotten all about dinner. I had forgotten 'Bumble Bee." I had forgotten Uncle Julian talking to himself, I had forgotten what the soft rolls of bread tasted like. I had forgotten the arguing.

I had fogotten the way Charles looked at me.

I sat at the table reading my book as usual, as Constance declines my help once again. I heard footsteps, and looked up to see Merricat. She looked on the table to see fruit. It was one of Constances 'omlets,' They used to be Uncle Julians favorites. Merricat took a look at it and asked "Uncle Julian doesn't like your omelets anymore?" Constance smiled at her and said "The fruit is for Charles." I stayed quiet, still a new normal we all have to get used to. Quickly changing the subject within my head, I saw Jonas come into the kitchen! He was our cat. Merricat's... well, cat. He Romes around the estate, and occasionally comes in the house to say 'Hello.' He is a nice little guy and gives very warm hugs. He was wandering on the counter. I took nothing of it. Its what he usually does. I didn't notice but only a little after Merricat came in, Charles walked into the kitchen. "Morning."

The cat hissed and I jumped at the sound of dishes being broken. I stood up from my chair and backed up against the counter. I put my hand to my chest, and looked over to Constance. She said quietly, "It's ok." Charles let out an "Oh!" Then looked at what he knocked over. "Uh..." Constance chuckled and said "Oh, it's okay. I've got it, Charles." Jonas meows and stretches up to indicate he wants me to pick him up. He climbs into my arms, and I hold him close, taking in the smell of mountains, and fresh water coming off of him.

Charles acts as if nothing happened and said "Good morning, Beatrice, Cousin Mary." Merricat ignored him, and I looked at him, and then stared at the ground. "Shy?" Constance laughs and says "Don't you remember what I told you last night?" He looked to Constance and back to me, then to my notepad. "Oh, thats right. The quiet one." Merricat steps in and says "We don't see a lot of strangers." He hummed an answer and began to walk towards me. He said "Now that's a handsome cat. What's his name?" Constance quickly said "Jonas."

"Jonas? Is he your special pet?" I shook my head slowly as he pets the cat in my hands. He says looking at me with gentle eyes "Well, we're going to be very good friends, you, Jonas and I.

Jullian came to his desk and noticed Charles. He said "Charles." And went back to his papers. Charles takes my place at the table and looks at my notepad. He turned to me and said "Are these your drawings?" I nod my head and he said "Well, I am impressed." I gave a small smile while still trying to calm my rapid heart rate from the glass breaking. Constance had put down a plate of pancakes in front of Charles as he turns back around to the table. He processes what is in front of him and finally he asks "Are those pancakes?" Constance nodded and smiled once again. "It's been a long time since anyone's made me pancakes." Charles said. He took a bite and looked up at Constance. "Delicious!"

I didn't want to interrupt, so I took my notepad and pen and walked outside with Jonas. I walked to the garden, sat my notepad down, and started to pick at the weeds. Merricat hurried to her spot to burry her fathers old watch. It was on Charles's bedside table. She had a feeling that Charles would wear it if he got his hands on it. Uncle Jullian was the next to come out of the house followed by Constance and Charles. Constance started to garden the daisies by the window wells of the house, while Charles roams the garden. I grab some of the seeds I have off to the side of me, and I start to dig. I feel a presence behind me, so I glance up and I see Charles. He kneels down next to me and says "You're doing great planting these, but you got to get two fingers, and make sure you get all the other roots out, then- here give me the seeds real fast- then, you pour the seeds in and boom!" The loudness in the voice startled me, and I could feel my heart rate go up. He looked to me and said "Oh, Im so sorry I scared you! Can you give me your hand?" I slowly lifted my hand, and he Gently grasped onto it.

He said "I am here Beatrice. You can talk to me." Tears were threatening to spill out of my eyes, but I blinked them away. I gave him a small smile, and squeezed his hand. He smiled he lifted my hand to his lips and gave it a small kiss. I felt my cheeks heat up, and I turned away to hide the rosy red color upon my pale cheeks. He smiled once again and got up. He patted my shoulder, and I went back to work planting the pansy seeds.

Charles noticed the speed at which Merricat was 'planting.' He bent down and showed her that she was doing it wrong. But he gathered quickly that she was burring the watch. He went straight to Constance.
"Constance?" He yelled. No answer. "Constance?" He yelled a little louder. She pops up from her gardening location and says, "Yes, Charles? He give her a confused look and says "What the heck is she doing?" I chuckle a bit because for us, this is normal. Merricat burry's things. It's just what she does. She thinks she is protecting us. I wouldn't blame her. Constance flashes a smile and blatantly says "She's gardening." Charles stutters a little bit while trying to process what is happening. "Connie, th... this thing is made of gold."

My attention is brought away from him to Uncle Jullian. "That's my dead brother's gold watch. I thought he was buried in it." Constance tilts her head slightly, still smiling ear to ear. "It's not important." 

"Not important? Well... The hell of a way to treat a valuable thing." Constance is taking this as if it is surprising information. I do know how valuable that watch is. It is very valuable. And Constance is right. "Nobody wants it." Charles goes to the obvious answer that anyone would think of. I have thought of it before. I think everyone has. "You could've...You could've sold it." Uncle Julian is still thinking about his brother. It looked like the gears were spinning in his head, trying to figure out why Merricat had his brothers watch. "I certainly did think he was buried in it." Charles is still blabbering on about the watches worth. "Connie! It's worth money. It's probably worth a great deal of money. Sensible people don't go burying valuable things." Oh the things he doesn't know. Merricat wasn't going any harm. She was just doing what a sister would do! She was finding ways to protect her sisters.

Constance sighs. "Charles?" Charles stammers "Yes?" Constance, still smiling wide says "You look very flushed." Charles chuckles, still processing why the gold watch was being burried. "I... It's gold." Constance asks "Are you hot?" He puts his hands up and wipes his head with his forearm. "Maybe." Constance puts her hands in front of her, and says "Would you like a bath?" He sighs once again and stands up strait. "You know what? Sure. That will help me think." She nods and looks to me. "Beatrice, would you be so kind to start the bath for Charles?" I looked back at her and nodded, picking up my book and wiping my hands on my dress.

We both walked in the house, and I wash my hands quickly. I walked up the stairs and into Charles room, and into the bathroom. I turn the valves and spin the water around making sure it isn't too hot, nor to cold. I stand up, wiping my hands on a near by towel. I realized Charles would have to use this! Gosh, I am off today. Ever since this morning, I have been extra jumpy. I put the towel over my arm, and went to go get another one for him. Walking out of the washroom, I ran into Charles. He gently put his hands on my arms and said "Bee, are you ok?" I looked up at him and nodded. I held up my index finger, and he nodded. I grabbed my note pad and quickly wrote down 'I have to get you another towel. I'll put it on your desk once I find one.'

I have him the paper, and he smiled and said "Alright." I walked to the door but was stoped by Charles. "Oh, and Bee?" I turned around with a small smile. "The watch. Why was she burying such a valuable item?" I looked at the watch in his hand, and gave a small sigh. I shrugged. I wrote down 'She buries things. She is trying to protect us.' He read it and looked back to me. "What do you mean protect? What is she protecting you from?"
'It will be told soon. Just not today Mr. Blackwood.' I smiled again and turned around to find a towel for Charles.