Day 1 - Evening - Around the table

[Cassandra O'Neill]

(I transfert this part wrote by Hel/Sisdel from the mailing list to the board!)

At home, Cassandra was sat at the table, tried to figure how she could manage the news received this afternoon. Her little brother was in his bedroom and Marcus was trying to prepare something for the supper, like it was the habits for Sunday late supper each week.

"Something wrong?" Marcus asked to his sister.

Cassandra nodded. "I calculed, with our both salary, the payment on the house will end in 3 months. This months are short in our spending money, but I calcul it, we could arrive to do it by do logical
spend." the woman explained, while looked her budget sheet.

"Sound good to me! So what's wrong?" he asked again.

"You remember Aunt Caitlín?"

Marcus blood icy when he heard the name. Sure he remembered her. The time they passed with her in his childhood, when their mother was sick, was worse than to be in a military camp. Marcus looked his sister, not sure about what was the problem with their aunt.

"Well, she sent us a telegraph. She will return in Ireland next
spring." Cassandra explained.

"That's a good news! Far away she will be of me, better I will felt!" Marcus exclaimed.

Cassandra didn't nodded this time. "No, this is not. She want to bring Oliver with her, claiming that would be better for him."

"What? How can she told this? No way Oliver will left with this
witch!" Marcus shouted.

"Shtt..." Cassandra said. "We don't have to worried Oliver with that now. We will oppose to this, it is sure... not sure how will could do it, but we will do everything we could do." She glanced to the room, not sure if he heard Marcus or not.

Oliver, who had tried listening to the conversation, noticed that Cassandra looked upon him from across the room. Out of concern, Oliver went towards them slowly with a concerned face.

"What's going on? I heard my name mentioned. If it's something about me, I have a right to know. Cassandra, you told me once that in our family we don't keep secrets from each other, so c'mon what's all this about?"

Oliver looked at his sister with a demanding look as if he had a right to now everything and his eye became intense.

Cassandra smiled to his little brother. "You have reason Oli. Well, for tell the true, aunt Caitlin want to bring you in Ireland next spring. I' sure it could be a nice experience to travel there..."

The smile in her face fade out. "But it's not for a travel only, it's for move back there..."

"Aunt Caitlin?" asked Oliver. "I hardly remember her. But I don't want to leave Colorado Springs! I have my friends and my job at the bank, and, and……I have you two. I don't want to leave you,...never. Please make me stay, I won't go live with that lady, and I don't care about traveling I just want to stay here."

[Cassandra O'Neill]

Cassandra stand up and put her arms around Oliver. "I'm happy that you want to stay with us." she guve him a huge before put a knee on the floor and look in Oliver eyes.

"We will do everything for that, I promise." Cassandra knew that she can't guaranted nothing to Oli. She knew that Caitlin was always jaleous of their mother for having five children, and now she seem to want to take the opportunities of their parents's death.

"Oh!" Marcus said for change the subject. "You know which day we are tomorow? That is the new school year!" Marcus said, while pick-up something left near the main door. "This is for you lil' brother." He gave him a leather bag - its wasn't a fancy or expensive model, but it was new.

Cassandra smiled - her and Marcus didn't had the chance to completly the main school study by playing an adult role in the house since few years now. She only hoped that Oliver would always go to school for be able to reach his dream.

"Thank you, wow this is great!" Oliver said. "But you didn't have to go spend your money on this, it must have been expensive? I could have bought one myself as I earn my own money."

Cassandra and Marcus looked upon Oliver with a face – "Oh we know that".

"You don't have to spend for the school now, you must keep your money for your college, you already know it."

"Yes, it will be enought expensive when the time will come don't miss this chance. Finally someone who wil be able to go to the college in the familly, it would be so wonderful for you to do anything you want to do later."

"Well anyway, can't wait to start school soon." Olived continued. "I'll show them that I am the best student and I will make my sister and brother proud, that I promise!"


Cassandra smiled to his youngest brother while thought - At least if Oliver can reach his goal it would be the best achievement that this familly will made.

She rose an eyesbrow and smelling. Marcus noticed it and do the same.

"The potatoes!" exclaimed Marcus.

He ran to the cauldron which the water was boil too much. Marcus desesperatly save it without burn his hands, while heard Cassandra laughting at the table. It wasn't the first time, since Marcus prepare the food often due of his sister work schedule and they were accustomed of this kind of incident.

[Marcus O'Neill]

The supper was ending and Oliver gone ot his bed. While cleaning the washes, Marcus could notice how worries was his sister.

"Don't be to rought with yourself Cass, eevrything will be fine. It was since father death and this because of you."

She try to smile back, but wasn't able. "Sure, you have reason, but I had to lies to everyone on my age for people think I could be able to take care of you when father died. I'm sure that Dr. Mike wouldn't doubt of me, but if I had told the true, it wouldn't happen like this. And Caitlin will probably use this agaisnt me."

"Maybe you have right, but now, the age is not more a problem today and you proove that you can take care of Oliver better than any other mother he could have." Marcus replied for try to quiet his sister.

"Aunt Caitlin was always jealous of mother. She sould probably bring only troubles here. Look." Cassandra pointed the supper dishes. "Do you think she will agreed that the mai food in this house are potatoes due of the restricted budget that we have?"

Marcus laughed at this last sentence. "But Cass! We are Irish after all! That save our own people, the potatoes deserve to be at the honor!"

Cassandra didn't knew if she had to be discouraged or amusing by her brother.

Marcus took a plate, a serious face and took a waiter position. "And how many time we had the chance to eat same food as the high society does?"

"I could lost my job if Mr. Lodge learn about it. And Mr. Gormley too." Cassandra said nervously. She remembered the last winter when Oliver and Marcus was sick, she was pick-up some wasted food at the end of the evening at the hotel. Gormley catched her and she was so scare about be fired - which never happened. She didn't knew exactly why he didn't denounced her, but since, time to time, when she ending late, she bring back sometime some food which can be keeped for the next day.

"This food would go to the dishes anyway, Mr. Lodge lost no money." Marcus said, while continue to wash the dishes.

** Continue to "Day 2 - Morning - Train arrival" **