‘It is an old but delicate ring and has been in our family for generations. I will be the happiest man alive knowing that you are wearing it’ Gregor said as he placed it on Rebecca’s finger and then kissed it. Then he kissed her.
‘This ring is a symbol of my love for you, of our binding, of my past with our future life together.’
Rebecca looked down at the ring and considered herself so fortunate. She not only found love at last but she was going to be family with one of her best friends. They became lost in their passionate kiss.
‘Love, when are you going to tell Cassandra that she is your sister?’
‘I think that due to the situation, I should tell her as soon as possible although, I don’t know as to how she will handle it.’
‘We can tell her together if you’d like’ said Rebecca.
‘Let’s tell her about our engagement first and see where it goes from there.’
‘Yes, I agree’ She answered.
Chapter Five
It had become dark out and it was almost time for dinner. Everyone was preparing to dine. Cassandra, who had been reviewing the day’s photos, noticed that time had passed quickly and yet, Rebecca had not come in at all since they returned. Then it occurred to her that perhaps she had stayed with Sarah and Sam for a game of cards. That was usual for them and did it quite often in Fobbing.
Cassandra got dressed and as she slipped into her shoes Rebecca walked into the room.
‘Hello love! Sorry I’m late but I was involved in a couple of things. I’ll dress quickly and be out in no time!’ she said.
Cassandra sat on the bed and finished cleaning her camera parts. She kept thinking to herself “I can’t believe everything that happened today. And why aren’t I scared out of my wits?” As she continued asking herself about the day’s surprises, out came Rebecca dressed in a gorgeous black dress. One bare shoulder and a lovely string of beads on the other adorned the dress with finesse. Rebecca had set her hair in a loose bun with shimmering beads placed throughout her hairdo.
‘Becca, you look stunning, what’s the occasion?’ asked Cassandra.
‘I don’t need to dress for any occasion or for anyone for that matter but to be honest, there is a reason that in a short time I will let you in on. Be patient, love. You do know I like Gregor, right?’
‘I’ve known that since the first time I saw you drooling over him just a few minutes after we met him’ Cassandra reminded.
‘Well then, good! Because I did get a little jealous that spectacular role of his fiancé!’
‘Ah, yes! Wasn’t I great? I haven’t lost it yet! My acting can still persuade the audience. Not that Gregor isn’t a very handsome man but for some reason I can’t picture him for me. So, you can put your guard down, Becca. Besides I think you two make a perfect match! I need to find someone less serious and not so protective. Someone who can be goofy at times.’
‘Now, that that’s out of the way let’s get dinner!’ said Rebecca.
As the girls walked through the reception hall, they came across Mrs. Marina. Rebecca tried not to be nervous.
‘Girls, you both look beautiful tonight! Come, I have prepared a meal you never will forget!’ She led them into the dining room and grabbed Rebecca by the arm stalling her while letting Cassandra walk ahead of her to their table. She looked at her with affection.
‘Welcome to the family my dear, and congratulations! My grandson has made the best choice. You both have my blessing. Now go, surprise the others!’
Cassandra was at the table already and turned to Rebecca.
‘Wow, a candle lit dinner. It must be some festive occasion or else they don’t want us to notice what we will be eating!’ She laughed at her own remark. ‘No but really, why candlelight? Do you think Sarah and Sam have their anniversary and we have forgotten it?’
‘I don’t think so, love. Let’s just sit down and enjoy ourselves. I’m sure we will know soon enough’ Rebecca answered.
The table had been arranged at Gregor’s orders. It was very elegantly embellished with beautiful wild flowers fixed into a center piece, two table chandeliers that held lovely cream candles and in the corner of the room there was an old gramophone that surprisingly played an old seventy eight album of a soft classic masterpiece.
The girls sat down and noticed that there were name tags on the table. Sam was placed next to Gregor then Sarah and Cassandra then Rebecca who closed the circle sitting next to Gregor. Cassandra was inquiring about everything silently but she just had to ask Rebecca.
‘Do you think anyone knows what the formalities are all about?’
Sarah walked up to the table before an answer was attempted.
‘Well, look at this! I’m not dressed for something this formal! Rebecca you look great! Not to mention the table settings. What is the occasion?’ she asked.
‘We don’t know but I think that our guest of honor likes his dinners a little more formal than we do’ answered Cassandra. Rebecca smiling as she nodded agreeably.
‘Well, I’m not letting this pic go; I brought my pocket camera so smile you two.’ The two friends smiled and the picture was shot.
‘Come sit down, Sarah. I’ll take a picture of Cassie and you now’ said Rebecca.
‘Not a chance, dear sister! I’m not dressed appropriately for it, I’ll ruin the photo!’ Sarah sat down next to Rebecca.
Sorry, love, but you’re not sitting next to me tonight. They have arranged for you to sit across from me over there next to your buddy’ said Rebecca.
‘Okay, seating arrangements too! I’m impressed! Maybe I should go change into something better.’
‘Too late!’ said a voice behind her. It was Sam holding a bottle of English scotch that he had brought with him from home.
‘Sam, what are you doing?’ Sarah asked.
‘I figured that after all we’ve been through today and survived, we should celebrate the fact that we are still alive with a glass good old English scotch! Who can tell me I was wrong to think of this?’ Sam asked smugly. Rebecca hurried to answer.
‘I totally agree, we should be thankful for today’s outcome! Pour me a glass, love!’ she said raising her glass.
Make that two!’ added Cassandra. ‘I was almost slaughtered twice today! What are the odds of being safe within the presence of ghouls twice in one day?’
‘Well dear, would you like to join us with England’s finest?’ Sam asked.
‘I’m in! Let’s celebrate!’
Sam poured the scotch and as they raised their glasses to toast, Gregor walked into the room formally dressed in a sheik suit that bared his family crest. Handsome, was to little a word to describe how he looked, thought Rebecca.
‘Before you toast, would you care to pour me one?’ he asked.
Sam put down his own glass to pour one more for Gregor.
‘My pleasure!’ He gave the glass to him.
‘Good evening to you all.’ said Gregor and was immediately responded to. Sam lifted his glass once more.
‘A toast, to old friends, new friends and surviving everything that the forest revealed today!’
‘Here, here!’ The rest spoke out loudly.
‘May I also make a toast?’ Gregor asked.
‘Of course, we’re all listening!’ answered Sarah.
‘I’d like to toast to courage and loyalty that all of you demonstrated quite well in the worst of circumstances today and to new friendships!’ They all cheered and bumped their glasses.
They seated themselves and went on talking about the day’s experiences. Soon enough dinner was served. A traditional Greek dinner which consisted of roasted rack of lamb with roasted baby lemon potatoes and Greek salad with garlic sauce and goat’s cheese. A red wine was also served with the meal and to top it all off Mrs. Marina brought in her famous pastry baklava to sweeten up her tenants. Everyone of them was filled with guilt after the large dinner went down.
Cassandra had waited patiently but now she was ready to get an
answer.
‘Could we at last talk about what happened out here today? Are we really going to meet with them again?’
‘Before I answer that, there is something I would like to let you all in on. Fanis, come bring it!’ Gregor said.
Fanis brought a bottle of chilled champagne, popped it open and served them all including Mrs. Marina who had joined them at that moment. Gregor pulled Rebecca close to him and put his arm around her as he lifted his glass in the air. Everyone’s eyes bulged out of their heads.
‘Your most beautiful friend Rebecca and I have decided that we would like to share the rest of our lives together. We believe we are a match and that is why I have asked her to marry me. She has accepted and we want you all to be a part of our new life together and our celebration. To new relationships, new friends and family and most of all, to my very beautiful bride to be! May you never be disappointed by me!’ They all lifted their glasses and toasted, as they were left in awe.
‘Congratulations!” said Sam.
‘My goodness, I don’t believe my baby sister is engaged!’ Sarah said and kissing both of them congratulated them as well. Mrs. Marina gave her wishes as she put a lovely pendant that she took out of her pocket around Rebecca’s neck. It was a lovely empty locket that was engraved with the family crest.
‘I wish you nothing but happiness my dear’ she said with a sincere voice and a held back tear in her eye.
Cassandra took her turn congratulating the couple. She hugged Rebecca tight and told her how perfect they were for each other. She was a good friend and Rebecca appreciated her words. Cassandra then turned to hug Gregor and as she did she pulled back shocked by a sudden vision of him that flashed before her. She congratulated him and smiled so as not to ruin the moment but, for the life of her, she couldn’t understand what had just happened. In her vision, Gregor was older and she became concerned. She asked Rebecca.
‘Did you call your mom yet?’
‘I didn’t really get the chance yet. We have only a few hours that we decided it. I’ll call her later on tonight’ she replied. The evening continued with wine, song and dance. They all had such a wonderful time that they forgot all about what had happened that morning and felt threatened no more. In the wee hours of the morning, after a night of crazy celebration, Sarah and Sam got up to retire.
‘Thank you both for a fairy tale evening. We need to turn in before I pass out!’’ Sarah said hugging her friend.
‘Scotch, champagne and wine is a deadly mix sweetie, you’ll feel better after you sleep it off. Thanks again, you two. Congrats! See you tomorrow!’ Sam said.
‘Goodnight, guys!’ Rebecca responded.
Cassandra was ready to say goodnight too but Gregor asked her to stay.
‘Cassandra, please stay with us a little longer, I would like to tell you a story from long ago’ he told her. He looked at his fiancé waiting for her approval. Rebecca nodded affirmatively.
‘Okay, what the hell! I can have one more for the road!’ she said as she picked up her wine glass and refilled it.
‘I hope you don’t mind but I would like to ask my grandmother to join us and fill us and help on the parts of the story that I don’t remember very well. Is that alright with you?’
‘You know I love the woman as if she were family, of course I don’t mind!’
Gregor and Rebecca looked at each other and smiled at the irony. Gregor sent Fanis to call on his grandmother who came and sat next to Cassandra. In her hands she held a small jewelry chest. A wooden chest that had flowers hand carved upon the top of it and the family crest. Gregor poured his grandmother a glass of wine.
He finally sat down himself and started to talk about the history of his family. He introduced three generations of the Dracopoulos family. This included the time up until he was born.
‘My sister Cassandra and I, as I told you last time, are the fourth generation. Remember I said that she had been taken by a nice couple during all the turmoil? After many years when I was old enough to travel alone and take care of myself, I started searching intensely for her. I wanted desperately to find her. She was the only family I had left. My grandmother raised me saying I should never lose hope and that one day I would find her.’
‘Well, did you?’ asked Cassandra.
‘I went to the police many times in search of a way to find her. They sent out information through Interpol to all other countries executing a world wide search. At the time it wasn’t easy but I had a friend in the precinct that told me he would make it happen, if I would be patient and I was. I waited years to wake up one day to the news that he had finally received positive feedback.’ Gregor’s eyes were all excited as if he was living that very moment again.
‘Oh, so you did find her!’ Cassandra exclaimed. Mrs. Marina showed Cassandra a picture of Gregor at his sister’s christening. He was holding the baby girl in his arms and kissing her forehead.
‘You are so cute in this picture with your baby sister.’
‘My friend at the precinct asked me what seemed like the hundredth time, what the last name of the couple who took my sister was. I told him and his search showed over ten thousand names all over the world. Then he said that he needed more time to refine his search. In the mean time, I gave him a drawing of the locket that my mother had put around my sister’s neck that day. It was very hard to do because I had never seen it but my grandmother described it in great detail since it had ran through our family for generations and she knew it well. The drawing was posted on many social sites and all other places that the police thought it would be seen. The hope was that someone would see her wearing it, if she wore it at all and send us information as to where the pendant was spotted. It was a long shot. After a long period of time I realized nothing would come by this action. Then a couple of months ago I received a call from the station. My friend had finally gotten in touch with the couple and said that I would be informed soon enough. I was delirious with joy and excitement! Only a few days later my sister’s foster father called me.’ Gregor paused.
‘Go on, this is so exciting!’ Cassandra begged.
‘The man told me that his daughter didn’t know that she was adopted and that he didn’t have the heart to tell her now. He sounded like he was a very fragile man. He went on telling me how much he loved her, that he knew she needed to know the truth about her real family and that she had a brother and a grandmother who were alive.’
‘So, he finally told her.’ Cassie sounded impatient to find out the rest quickly.
‘Actually, he did not. Instead he gave her a destination where she was to go and meet her brother by introducing herself all the time, not knowing that the person she was going to introduce herself to was her brother.’ The old woman gave her another picture. This time it was a woman with a baby.
‘Is this your mother, Gregor? She looks familiar’ said Cassandra. Rebecca took the picture too.
‘Cassie, Gregor looks like her so much.’
‘Yes, you’re right he does.’
‘One day,’ Gregor continued, ‘grandmother told me a young girl was coming to our inn to stay a couple of days. She said that it had been arranged by her foster father that she stay here while working. We prepared ourselves and expected her at any moment. Finally, our anticipation ended. The girl came with some friends. She had made reservations for the accommodations herself not knowing anything about what was about to happen.’
Cassandra was so mesmerized by the story itself; she hadn’t yet put two and two together.
‘Okay, what happened?’ she asked.
‘You. You happened Cassandra. Here, look at the locket on the baby’s neck. It’s the very locket you are wearing on your neck this very moment. You are the same Cassandra I have spoken about all this time. You were given that locket the day our mother gave you to the couple to escape that attacks. You are my lost sister and Marina’s granddaughter, Cassandra!’ Gregor waited for what seemed an eternity for her response. All three of them looked at her
while silence covered the room. Cassandra had become like a statue looking at the picture hearing everything Gregor had said all over again in fast forward in her mind and yet she didn’t even twitch.
‘Cassandra, you are a Dracopoulos. That is why your father told you to come out here. He couldn’t tell you himself.’ Gregor took her hands and continued. ‘We are blood. We have finally found you and we don’t ever want to lose you again.’
Marina picked up the locket Cassandra was wearing on her neck and opened it.
‘My dear, look at the baby in the picture here and the child in your locket. They are both you.’ After another period of silence Cassandra finally spoke.
‘There is no need. I saw the resemblance from the beginning. I always felt different. My colors were different than theirs. In the family photos everyone was white and blonde, some even freckly and I was the only one that was dark. When I came here I felt an immediate attraction that I could not explain. An attraction to the place itself but to both of you as well.’
Then it was like Cassandra was shocked by electricity and was awaken.
‘I can’t for the life of me understand why they would keep it from me after I had become an adult!’ she said aggravated. She stood up and hugged her grandmother a long strong hug and then she turned to Gregor and opened her arms to embrace him. They were all overwhelmed with feelings, especially Cassandra.
‘Now I can die in peace’ said the grandmother.
‘I can’t believe my parents never told me I was adopted! I have had a great life with them and never once did they make me feel that I didn’t belong to them. Although when I came here I felt a very strong attraction and I thought it was because my father had told me such wonderful things about the place, I already knew it. I loved the place even more since daddy had shared his and mom’s memories here so I had a piece of this place in my heart already whether I came here or not. In any case, now we are family and it will take a while for me to take in everything that has happened so fast but here’s to family!’ She lifted her wine glass. They all toasted.
Secret Of The Crest Page 8
