Disclaimer: I own nothing except Melissa.
Author's Note: My first fic. Thank you to everyone who R&R'd the first chapter and asked for more.
Journey Towards the Future
Rick and Evelyn O'Connell looked directly at me, waiting patiently for my answer.
What was I to tell them, I had run out of excuses and they had been so kind to me these last six years, I just couldn't say "no" to them any longer.
I took a deep breath and looked out through the open window at Alex and Jonathon playing Cricket on the back lawn. Jonathon was whining that Alex's shot was illegal; he was obviously losing the game to young Alex, which was a normal occurrence when the two of them played. I turn back slowly to the couple, who still waited patiently for my answer. I exhaled slowly and said "Yes, I will go with you to Egypt this summer."
"Smashing" Evie yelled as she clapped her hands together "We will have a wonderful time and I know Alex will be thrilled that you will finally be joining us!" She jumped up from her chair and darted across the room and out the French doors, which led to the gardens. "Alex, Jonathon I have wonderful news!!!!" she yelled to them.
Rick looked at me from across the room, "Are you sure about this?" he asked quietly.
"I need to go, I can't hide any longer, school is over, I am not needed there anymore" I paused, "I have run out of excuses and I would hate to disappoint Evie again!"
"This time it will be different. I will have you and Evie and Alex with me. You have all been so strong for me and given me much love. I need to stop running from the past and look forward to the future. My future, once I've figured it out!"
Rick walked across the room and hugged me, "Melissa you will always be apart of this family no matter what road you choose to travel!"
I smiled up at him and he released me from his bear hug, "Thanks Rick, now you better get out there and settle that argument between the "Children." Alex and Jonathon's voices floated over the large hedge, which surrounded the house. They were having a heated discussion over the interpretation of a ruling in the Cricket Rule Book and Evie was desperately trying to calm them down. Rick headed toward the garden and I walked over to the fireplace and placed my hand on the large mantel.
Thirty or forty framed pictures of family members both past and present cluttered the top. I was in several pictures. I looked into the mirror above the mantle and gazed at my reflection. My golden brown hair had been cut short into the "Bob" as was the current fashion made popular by the "Flapper Girls". I on the other hand never worried about fashion, I just found it much easier to handle - - towel dry and run a brush through it before bed. My eyes were green with flecks of gold and brown, my skin; much to my dismay was the English "Peaches and Cream" complexion. This meant that even the smallest amount of sun exposure usually resulted in a burn, therefore I wore large hats whenever outside.
I looked down on the mantle and spotted the picture of my Mother and Father. They stood happily in front of the Great Pyramids; arms around each other, next to them stood Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan, Evelyn's parents. I turned away as a tear slid down my cheek.
Six years ago my parents had died during one of their many expeditions to Egypt. They had discovered a Temple, small but interesting, and were enjoying the dig. Unfortunately, word got back to Cairo that the Temple was filled with gold and jewels. Bandits attacked the camp in the early morning hours as everyone lay sleeping. They all perished and the Bandits left empty handed.
As long as I could remember I attended boarding school from September until June and then spent my summers in Egypt with my Parents. Once Evie arrived to tell me the dreadful news, I never left the school after that. The teachers were kind to me and the Head Mistress allowed me to stay during the summer, to help those who lagged behind. Once my schooling had finished I stayed on as a Teaching Assistant, but the Head Mistress had decided "enough was enough" it was time for me to return home and stop hiding my head in the sand.
My parents had both left Wills, the bulk of their Estate was mine at age 20, and in the event of their deaths, (before I turned 20) they had wanted Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan to be my guardians. My guess was that once the Wills were completed and signed they never gave another thought to them. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan had died several years before my Parents and they had neglected to change their Wills. Evie had only been married 4 years to Rick, was caring for 3 year old Alex and Jonathon who was child like, and now she had the added responsibility of a 16 year old girl. I was angry with my Parents for not preparing things properly, but Evie assured me that it would all work out. She welcomed me with open arms, she was kind and wonderful to me and I in turn grew to love and admire her and her family. Although a room was prepared in their home for me I only returned each year at Christmas.
Evie, Rick and Alex made several trips a year to visit me at school but the one visit I dreaded the most was usually in the spring. They always arrived in early May in hopes of persuading me to join them in Egypt for the summer, but each year I had another excuse not to. It had been so magical for me when I was young, wandering through the dig site, tools in hand, finding small objects and having Mother or Father tell me what they were used for and making such a fuss over cataloging them and storing them away.
"This one will definitely be put on display in the Museum" my Father exclaimed as he held up a bright piece of pottery I had unearthed earlier in the day.
I returned to the present and shook off the overwhelming feeling of dread. "Don't be silly, you have to face your fears" I said out loud as I looked into the mirror, "At the very least you need to see where they are buried and place flowers on their graves, maybe then you can find peace and be able to get on with your life. You have spend the last 6 years hiding at school, do you intend to spend the rest of your life hiding in the O'Connell home?" I looked at my reflection in the mirror and then brushed a stray hair behind my ear. I was about to continue the conversation with my reflection when Evie came rushing back into the house.
"Melissa, we have so much to do, packing, supplies, travel arrangements, let's go to the Study and begin writing lists, Oh and do go into town and have the tailor make up some pants for you, they are so much easier to run around in then these silly things!" She shook her dress and laughed, "Come along!"
And so the journey towards my future began.