Secrets Past chp 1
Date: 5/27/98
From: barnster

** This is a follow-on from 'Bonds of Love' **

Secrets Past.

Barnabas Jr stared moodily out at the ocean from Widow's Hill, a slight breeze ruffling his hair. With a heavy sigh, he turned and headed towards the old house.

***

At the old house, his father was pacing the drawing room floor, agitatedly. "Where is he, Julia?" Barnabas asked desperately, wringing his hands.

"I'm sure he hasn't gone far," soothed Julia, placing a hand on his arm. "He's probably just gone for a walk."

"I'm going out to look for him," decided Barnabas, as he headed for the door.

"I'll come with you," suggested Julia, following him.

"No, I want you to stay with the twins. Beside, he may come back while I'm out," said Barnabas, as he headed out the door.

With a sigh, Julia headed back into the drawing room, and waited.

***

The sound of the door opening, aroused Julia, from a light sleep. "Barnabas, is that you?" she asked raising from her chair, and heading towards the door. On seeing that it was the boy, she asked, "Where have you been? Your father's frantic with worry!"

The lad scowled. "Nowhere," he answered moodily. 'Why can't you leave me alone?' he thought to himself.

Since the death of his mother and younger brother, 2 1/2 years ago, she had never been away from the place.

"Nowhere seems to be a rather muddy domain," continued Julia. "Now tell me, where have you been?"

The lad turned to her, and with all the vehemence of a 13 year old, shot angrily back, "You're not my mother! I don't have to tell you anything!" And with that, he ran up the stairs. Leaving a shocked Julia staring after him.

She winced as he slammed the door to his room.

***

Once in his room, he flung himself on the bed, and sobbed into his pillow. Why couldn't she just go back to Collinwood and stay there? Why had she let his mother and younger brother die? She had known what was making them so ill. He'd heard her discussing it, with his father. But had insisted that there was nothing she could do. Oh, how he hated her!

Sleep finally found him. But even there, he was to have no peace....

To be continued..