Subj: Collinwod 2001 Year One Part Ten
Date: 4/3/01 4:22:10 AM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Collins

Carolyn and Vicky had settled into a booth in the small cafe of the Collinsport Inn. They were looking over their menus and Carolyn recommended the clam chowder to Vicky. "They do good seafood here in general, but the clam chowder is well known across the State. It's from an old family recipe, but just about every old family in the area claims that it's theirs, including my family."

The girls had a good chuckle over this. Vicky chirped in pleasantly. "It seems that that's the way with small towns and old family's. Everyone lays claim to anything of substance and no one really remembers who is right."

Carolyn agreed and added to it. "And I wouldn't be surprised if none of them were right. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the recipe for this clam chowder came from Texas!"

The girls laughed so loud that they attracted the attention of three women who were sitted in a table nearby. Beverly the town librarian was having lunch with her assistant, Barbara, and they were joined by Roberta Vogel who was getting some tips on her latest book.

Beverly looked at Carolyn and chimed in sweetly. "It's so good to see you in such a good humor, my dear. And how is your poor mother doing? We never see her in town anymore."

Carolyn immediately became defensive in her response. "My mother is far from poor, thank you, and she has so much to do to keep herself busy on the estate that she simply doesn't have time to come to town, Ms. LeCroix."

The three women resumed their private conversation and Vicky could see that the interchange had put Carolyn in a surly mood. She tried to change the subject, but Carolyn was steadfast to stay in the present one. "It's nobody's business whether or not my mother leaves the estate, you know? Everything she wants or needs is there. I mean, what difference does it make to them anyway?"

Vicky saw that there was no way of getting out of the conversation so she gave in and joined in. "How long HAS it been, if you don't mind MY asking?"

Carolyn thought for a moment and then answered. "It's almost been ten years, I think. I'll be seventeen this year and my father left right after my seventh birthday, so yeah, that would make it ten years now. And mother DOES have a lot to keep her busy there. It's not like she sits around and broods all the time. I just wish she would get out, but she hasn't for so long that I'm beginning to think that now she never will."

Liz made her way up the lane to the seaside cottage that they called Seaview. It was so picturesque and had always put her in the mind of an oversized dollhouse. This is the house where Aunt Nora had insisted on dwelling although she would have been better served in a nursing facility the old woman had insisted that she stay on the Collinwood estate. And no one could make her do anything she didn't want to do. And they all played up to the old girl. After all she had quite a healthy financial statement and Liz wanted to make sure that she got a stake in it. So here she was make a dutiful visit to poor sick old Aunt Nora. Roger hardly ever did and Liz was grumbling to herself about that when Nurse Worsinski opened the door to her.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Stoddard. She's been asking for you and she's been in a most agitated mood. I don't know what it's about, but please try and see if you can calm her down. It's so bad on her heart. All this undue stress."

Liz sighed and resigned herself to the troublesome situation. Aunt Nora was often excited about things which usually amounted to overly exaggerated events. "Is she well enough to be moved to the patio? It's such a lovely day and we have them so rarely. I thought the change may do her some good."

The nurse frowned. "I really don't think we should chance it today. I need to go into town and speak with her doctor. I've been trying to reach him all day on the phone and I haven't had much luck. I need to go over some medication changes that he's prescribed, so if it's alright with you I can go while you're here. I'll try not be too long."

Liz told Nurse Worsinski to go ahead and attend to the necessary business. She preferred that the ensuing drama would only be heard by herself. There was no telling what Aunt Nora would have to impart today.

Nora Collins was lounging on her king-sized bed with too many magazines and paperback novels. She had a big box of chocolate stashed behind some pillows. She wasn't supposed to have any as her weight and cholesteral levels were both dangerously high, but she was a stubborn old bird and sneaky to boot. The TV was on low as some soap opera played out with it's scandalous storyline and she didn't even notice when her niece entered the room. She was all wrapped up in some juicy Harlequin novel and Liz had to clear her throat to bring her out of her apparent 'absence.'

Nora eye's shot over the cover of the book and she quickly put it down on the pile of her other books and magazines. "Liz! There you are. I was hoping you would come today because I think it's time we told the girl the truth. The truth is SO important and it ALWAYS comes out anyway. No matter HOW unpleasant it is I think it's better if we just face the facts of the matter and TRY and make of the best of a bad situation."

Liz had no idea what her aunt was talking about. "What girl do you mean? Carolyn?"

Nora shook her head. "No, the new one. The governess that I asked you to employ. Miss Winters. It's time we told her the truth about who she is."

Liz felt a strange sinking feeling, but she cast it off. This was not the time to allow odd flights of fancy to occupy her thoughts. "And pray, Aunt Nora, who is she?"

Nora looked at Liz incredulously. "She's your SISTER."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.