Do I ever cross your mind - anytime?
Do you ever wake up reaching out for me?
Do I ever cross your mind - anytime?
I miss you.

Brian McKnight, Anytime

FRIDAY

As she watched Barnabas in his recliner, reading a book, the witch reached her hand towards the mirror, causing the image to ripple slightly. {I could do it,} she thought, {I could just step through this mirror, and be there, in Maine, in his arms, in no time at all.)

She closed her eyes and sighed, trying to decide if she wanted to resist this temptation. Barnabas had married 26 years ago, and he had children. He had built a whole life that she wasn't part of.

As she reached out toward the mirror again, she heard a knock at the door of her apartment. {Damn! It's my mother!} She hastily dispelled the image from the mirror. As she turned to move toward the door, she realized that her hair had turned blonde again. {Mami would never approve of that,} she thought with a wry grin toward her reflection.

Just as she directed her efforts toward changing her hair to its natural dark brown color, her mother called out, "Rosario!"

"¡Momentito, Mami!" She quickly recited the spell that would turn her hair back to its original color and hurried to the door.

"Honestly, Rosie," the small Mexican woman said as she hugged her daughter. "What could you be doing in here that would take you so long to answer the door?"

"Sorry, Mami. I was watching . . . TV, and I guess I lost track of the time."

Her mother cast a skeptical glance at the dark television set. Rosario hadn't watched TV all day. In fact, it had been several days since she had last had the television on at all. Fortunately, Juanita de la Cruz didn't know that.

Juanita saw her daughter fiddling with the ring that she always wore on the third finger of her left hand. "Are you thinking about him again?"

"Who?" Rosario said, wondering if her mother had somehow figured out about her long-ago love affair.

"What's-his-name, the man who owns that movie theater across town. The one who gave you that ring."

Sometimes, Rosario forgot about the cover story that she and her old friend had used to explain where a secretary for the phone company had gotten the antique gold, diamond and ruby band she wore. "No, Mami, I'm not thinking about Neil."

"Hmmph. Well, at least you're starting to show some sense about that man. Any man who'd give a young woman gifts that are so expensive is up to no good, I tell you."

"I know, Mami. You've told me that before."

"And you still don't believe me. There's no sense lying to me, mi hija, I can tell when you're lying to me."

"Mami, his intentions toward me are completely honorable."

Juanita brightened up at Rosario's words, but Rosario hastened to correct her mother's misconception. "No, Mami, he doesn't want to marry me."

"Well, then his intentions. . . ."

She interrupted her mother. "I'm not his type, Mami."

"What? Not rich enough for him?"

"Neil has plenty of money, Mami. I'm not, well, male enough for him. He's gay."

"Hmmmph." Juanita sounded unconvinced by this argument. "You know that I always hoped that you'd marry and give me grandchildren. Such beautiful grandchildren you'd give me, too," Juanita added wistfully, placing her palm against Rosario's cheek.

Rosario sighed, "Don't try suggesting that I become a nun, Mami. Even if I wanted to, I hardly think they'd let a fallen Catholic like me join. I'll get married someday. I just have to find the right man," she said, knowing full well who the right man for her was.

"I hope you're still planning to come over for dinner tomorrow. It's Javier's last day."

{Don't remind me. I tried, unsuccessfully to convince him not to go to Collinsport, but he insisted that he couldn't afford to pass this opportunity up . . .} With what she hoped wasn't a resentful expression, she said, "Of course I'm coming to dinner, Mami. It'll be the last time I get to see Javier until who knows when."

"I'm sure that Javier will have you up to visit him, just like your other brothers do."

"Speaking of my other brothers, Mami, I'm going to visit Emilio in Dallas next weekend."

"That's good. Maybe he has a nice friend that he can introduce you to."

"I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now."

"Then how do you intend to meet the man that you've been looking for?"

Rosario couldn't resist. "The Goddess will provide, Mami." Juanita hated it when Rosario reminded her of her Wiccan beliefs.

Just as her mother was about to launch into one of her tirades, probably the one that began, {I don't know where I went wrong,} someone knocked at the door.

{Saved by the bell,} Rosario thought, giving thanks to the Goddess for the intervention, as she went to the door.

"Neil!" she exclaimed when she saw the tall, dark-haired man wearing his trademark fedora. "I completely forgot you were picking me up for dinner!"

"Mrs. de la Cruz," Neil said, greeting Rosario's mother.

"Neil," she responded. barely restraining the contempt in her voice.

"You're welcome to come with us, Mami," Rosario offered, knowing that her mother would decline. "We're on our way to pick Javier up for dinner."

"Of course, you aren't going to cook, are you, Neil?" Juanita asked.

"Neil doesn't cook, Mami." Truthfully, Neil didn't eat, either, but through long centuries of practice, he had mastered the art of pushing his food around on his plate to make it appear as though he were eating.

"Rosie, we've got to get moving, if we're going to pick Javier up and make it in time for our reservations."

"You're sure you don't want to come with us?" Rosario offered again.

Again, Juanita, refused. "No, thank you, I've got to go home and cook dinner for my {husband}."

Juanita and Rosario hugged, and Juanita left. "See you tomorrow night, Mami!" Rosario called after her mother.

Rosario closed the door, and leaned back against it.

Neil laughed, "don't tell me your mother is after you to get married again."

"When isn't she after me to get married? Some day I'm going to just come out and tell her the truth. {You know, Mami, I'm really a centuries-old witch and the only reason I'm your daughter is because in 1971, I allowed myself be murdered by a sorcerer to save the man that I loved, and I was reincarnated as your daughter.}"

"If you ever do decide to tell her that, let me know, so that I can hang around and catch her reaction!" He sobered up, "we really do have to get going to pick up Javier." Plopping his fedora back onto his head, he offered Rosario his arm. "Shall we?"

* * * * *

{I need a credit card.}

Sally wrinkled her brow. "You mean you need a credit card number right now, or you need a credit card of your own?"

{Both, actually. But I'll settle for a number for right now.}

"I hesitate to ask, but I will anyhow. Why?"

There was a long pause, and then the cursor moved to the task bar and brought Netscape to the front. Jeb selected something from the bookmarks and waited until the page loaded. It was the page of one of the better restaurants in downtown Collinsport, advertising free delivery for orders placed from their web-site. When Sally read the fine print, she saw that all purchases made on the web-site needed to be paid by credit card, she said, "OK, who's going to eat this dinner?"

Jeb switched back to Notepad. {Carolyn. Beth is going to Portland to see Devin this weekend, and Carolyn never eats very well when Beth's out of town. Plus, it's just been a very, very long time since I was able to do something nice for her.}

"I'll go get my purse. We'll figure out how to work out your payments later. Maybe I can get you to type some letters for me or something."

Sally went to get her purse and pulled her credit card out. When she brought the card back to the drawing room, she saw that Jeb had written, {How about I continue keeping watch for you at night and we'll call this my security service fee?}

Sally laughed and said, "I guess we can do that. By the way, do you like cats?"

{I didn't get along with them at all when I was alive. They hated me, in fact. I haven't had that much exposure to them lately, though. Why?}

"Because my brother is at home picking up some things for me. My desktop computer, most of my clothes. . . . He's going to be spending the summer with me here at Collinwood, and I've asked him to bring my cat, Bubbles."

{You have a cat named Bubbles?} Sally could almost hear the laughter in this question.

"Actually, it's a nickname. Short for Beelzebubbles."

{?}

"Obviously, you've never watched {Black Adder}. Never mind. It's a long story. I just thought you should know that Bubbles will be staying here from now on. He's a really great mouser, and while you're a good guard, and a good friend. I just think that someone should do something about the wildlife around here."

* * * * *

Barnabas opened the top drawer of his bureau and pulled out a velvet-covered jewelry box. He knew that today, of all days, his thoughts should be only on Julia, but the reason he married Julia had so much to do with his feelings for Angelique, it was inevitable that he think about her this day, as well. He lifted the lid, looked at the gold, diamond and ruby earrings that lay inside, and remembered. . .

Collinsport -- Part 10
Date: 8/11/98
From: DSRules

And we're not alone, no, not anymore
To remember and cherish the things
Recollect and reflect all our dreams
Spend a lifetime, if needed, to see
Everything that we know we can be

Jon Secada, Take Me*

7:30 p.m. April 3, 1971

"You came! Thank you!" Barnabas greeted Angelique with a smile as she stepped up into the gazebo.

"Last night, you said that it was important that I meet you here tonight." The night air was chilly; she shivered as she sat down on the bench.

"You must be cold." The tender concern in Barnabas' voice caught Angelique's attention. "Would you like to go into the house?"

"No," she snapped. She wasn't sure what game Barnabas was playing, but she just wanted to get this meeting over and go back to her hotel room. "I'm fine. What do you want, Barnabas?"

"At least let me give you my jacket." He slipped his suitcoat off and draped it over her shoulders with what Angelique could almost convince herself was affection.

He sat down next to her on the bench. Then he stood up again and walked over to the edge of the gazebo, staring out into the darkness. Then he returned to her side and sat down again.

"Angelique, do you remember the ring I gave to you in 1796?"

"On Martinique?" she casually brushed her fingers down the front of the bodice of her dress. "I think I remember it, yes. Wasn't that the ring that you told me you didn't want me to wear?"

"I had a reason for asking you not to wear it."

She rose and walked to the edge of the gazebo, staring out into the night. She whirled to face him. "Of course you did. You didn't want Joshua," she put as much scorn as she could muster into the name, "to know that you'd given a priceless family heirloom to a contemptible, insignificant . . ."

He interrupted her. "That wasn't it at all. That ring was mine to do with as I wished."

"Unless your father wished otherwise."

"My father had nothing to do with that ring! He didn't even know it existed!"

"What?"

"I --" he broke off, and then tried again, his eyes downcast. "I had that ring especially made for you. I had intended for it to be your wedding ring."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a plain gold band. Sinking to one knee next to her, he gazed up at her, all of the love he had for her shining in his eyes. "In the morning, I'd like to hire a private investigator to locate it, but in the meantime, I hope you'll accept this as a substitute."

Angelique was speechless for a long moment. Finally, she said, "why are you doing this?"

"What? Proposing?"

"Yes."

"Because I want to marry you."

"But why the sudden change of heart? You hated me up until now!"

"That's not true --"

She interrupted him. "You've played with my affections long enough, Barnabas Collins. In 1796, on Martinique, you want me, then in Collinsport, you change your mind. Then, in 1840, you started to soften toward me, but in 1897 you were just as cold to me as ever. You want me now. When will you change your mind next?"

"Never!" he vowed. "I will never stop loving you!"

"Hmmph." Angelique was unimpressed. "You've professed undying devotion to me before, Barnabas."

"You said that I wanted you in 1840 and then changed my mind in 1897?"

"Yes."

He chuckled ruefully, "I guess it didn't occur to me that 1840 was 130 years ago for you."

"Of course it was 130 years ago."

"Well, for me it was just yesterday." He realized that she might think he was exaggerating, so he added, "literally."

She chortled at that. "You honestly expect me to believe that?"

"It's the truth. And I can prove it."

"How?"

"My sister, Julia. . . ."

Her eyes went wide at this, "I completely forgot about her! She was Julia Hoffman!" Angelique sat down on the bench again. "How?"

"Quentin Collins, the first Quentin Collins, discovered a way to travel through time by traveling through space. He built a stairway that connected 1970 to 1840, and Julia took it into the past, to keep Judah Zachery from destroying Collinwood in 1970. I followed later, using Elliot Stokes's I Ching wands"

"That makes absolutely no sense." She paused, "I'll probably regret this, but I believe you."

Barnabas smiled and got back down on one knee. "So, will you marry me?"

"Yes." When Barnabas' face broke out in a grin, she added, "on one condition."

"Anything. Just name it."

"Close your eyes."

When he did as she bade him, she slipped a long chain off over her head and undid the clasp.

"Now hold out your hand." When he complied, she spilled the ruby, gold and diamond ring into his outstretched hand.

"Is that what I think it is?" he asked.

"Why don't you open your eyes and see?"

He opened his eyes and saw the ring there. "You had this all the time?"

"Did you think I'd get rid of it?" she said, inexpressible sadness in her eyes, "it's the only thing I had left of you. I've worn it on this chain ever since the day you gave it to me."

Barnabas stood up, pulling Angelique into a standing position as he did so. "I do love you, you know. I always have." He gazed deeply into her eyes, and then lowered his mouth onto hers.

They stood this way for several minutes, kissing in the moonlight. When they came up for air, she asked, "are you sure you want to marry me?"

"More than anything," he vowed. "And I'm willing to show you right now, if you'll have me."

"Now? It's nearly 8:00 at night!"

"I took the liberty of making an 8:00 appointment for us at the wedding chapel in the village."

"That was presumptuous of you." Barnabas wasn't sure if she was serious or kidding.

"I dared to hope that you'd say 'yes,' and if you refused, well," he shrugged, "I'd be more upset about losing you again than losing my deposit."

"What are we waiting for?" she asked as she took his arm, "we have a wedding to go to."

"Rosie?"

A moment later, "Rosario?"

Eventually, the faraway expression on her face passed. Rosario released her hold on her wedding ring and focused her eyes on her friend.

"Are you OK?" he asked.

She glanced around the table, and noticed that her younger brother had left. He had probably gone to the restroom. "Today is Barnabas and Julia's anniversary . . . ."

A sympathetic expression crossed Neil's face. "I forgot that today's their anniversary. That's always a bad day for you, isn't it?"

When she nodded, he responded, "I just don't understand why you don't go back to him," Neil said.

"Maybe it won't happen until we're both on the other side, but I am certain that Barnabas and I will be together again. I just have to wait until the right time comes."

Neil whistled. "You really aren't Angelique anymore, are you? I can remember when you would have wanted Barnabas back, and you would have wanted him back {now.}"

She thought for a moment before responding, with a smile, "Oh, I want him back, all right. But when I found him this time, he already had a family, and so {I} chose to walk away from {him}, for Julia, Ben and Tori's sake." She sighed when she saw her brother coming back to the table. "Here comes Javier. Thanks for letting me vent."

Javier returned to the table, "you guys talk about anything interesting while I was gone?"

"Nope," Rosario shook her head. "Just idle gossip. You ready for dessert?"

* * * * *

Sally had purchased a CD player on her way home from work, and was singing along to the music as she worked on adding the shower to the bathtub in the downstairs bathroom.

"Stealing little glances at the table, don't you know this is theater in the round, far away, chasing vixens in the meadow . . ."* She stopped singing when a movement in the hallway caught her attention.

She went out to see what it was. There, next to the grandfather clock under the stairs {Grandfather clock? There's no grandfather clock in the foyer!}, a form was dangling from the stairs. As it twisted in the nonexistent wind, it slowly turned to face her and lifted its head, its eyes popping out of their sockets from the pressure of the noose.

Her palms became sweaty and her respiration increased. Just as she was about to let out the biggest scream of her life, suddenly, Jeb was there, guiding her around the apparition and sitting her down on the edge of her mattress on the floor of the drawing room.

She felt Jeb leave her side momentarily, and when he returned, she asked, "what was that?"

Jeb crossed to her laptop, {It wasn't a "what" exactly. It was a "who." That was Roger Collins.}

"Roger?" Sally remembered Ted (or was it Tom?) saying that Roger's spirit haunted Collinwood, but until now, she hadn't believed it. "What about the grandfather clock that I saw?"

{I saw it too. A clock that looked like that used to stand there, but why we could see it just now is beyond me. I also asked Roger what he was doing, and he said something interesting.}

"What?"

{He said that he was "waiting."}

"Waiting? For what?"

Sally 'felt' Jeb shrug, {I guess we'll find out when whatever he's waiting for happens, won't we?}

SATURDAY

Sally stepped out of her new car in front of Barnabas Collins' house. She had been expecting to have trouble claiming it, but the people at the dealership had been nothing but friendly and helpful. They handed her her keys and sent her on her way with nothing but good wishes, and a reminder that her first payment would be due in two weeks.

The previous night, Jeb had stayed to keep watch over her, but Roger had never returned. Evidently, he just wanted to deliver the message about waiting for something. The memory gave her chills, despite the warmth of the late-spring sunshine.

Pushing the thought aside, she walked up to the front door of the beautiful Greek Revival home and, after looking in vain for a doorbell, knocked.

A striking woman of about Sally's mother's age opened the door and stepped aside to admit Sally. "You must be Sally Bradford. I'm Barnabas' wife, Julia."

"I'm very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Collins," Sally said as she entered the house.

"Actually, my last name is Hoffman. I'm a psychiatrist, and I had been using my maiden name professionally for so many years, that I kept my maiden name when Barnabas and I married."

"Oh. Sorry." Sally smiled contritely at Julia, and Julia gave Sally what she felt was a forced smile in return.

Just then, a cultured male voice said, "Ah! Sally Bradford, I presume?"

Sally spun around toward the doorway to the next room, and came face to face with a man, apparently in his 70's, with silver hair and piercing hazel eyes.

"Yes," she responded, extending her hand towards him.

"I am Barnabas Collins," he said as he gently grasped her hand.

"You have a lovely house, Mr. Collins."

"Please, Miss Bradford, call me Barnabas. I have a feeling that we'll become very good friends."

"Well, then you must call me Sally."

"Would you care to come into the living room and have a seat, Sally?"

Barnabas directed Sally to an old-fashioned sofa in the living room, "May I get you anything? Sherry? Brandy? Water?"

{What a selection!} Sally thought, saying aloud, "No, thank you, Barnabas."

Barnabas sat down next to Sally on the sofa and lifted a book from the top of a stack of about 10 books next to the sofa. "I took the liberty of bringing out a few volumes of the family history. I thought that it would help you in your research if you could see pictures of our ancestors, as well as of Collinwood."

*{Guinevere}, by Edwin McCain