Charlotte

The storms outside were getting worse and worse by the minute. The cabin where Edmund was staying wasn’t just a cabin. It was a second home. It turned out that like the rest of the family, Edmund had rich grandparents that happened to live in the mansion next door. Edmund let Alice and me stay in the second bedroom of the cabin. It was a win-lose. The win: Alice let me sleep on the bed while she slept on a mattress. The loss: Alice was a snorer. A loud one at that!

The three of us were in the mansion with Edmund’s grandmother, eating supper. I already loved the woman. She provided warm blankets for us and even said she already felt like I was her granddaughter! 

“You know, Edmund was an adorable baby! We have paintings if you would like to see Charlotte?” Edmund’s grandmother said in a sly tone.  

“Grammy!” Edmund elbowed the woman in the arm. 

“What?!” She elbowed him in return. Alice started giggling. “I have some of Alice here too! In fact, I think I have one of them together! It's too adorable!” Now Alice was near elbowing her clearly much harder but a young girl dressed in a uniform came in the room, ringing a bell. 

“Miss Elizabeth, there is someone at your door.” The girl said. Alice jumped up and ran to the door. Me and Edmund followed. Alice had a giant smile on her face. Alice opened the door. A gust of wind entered the house. I peeked over Alice’s Shoulder to see a tall man in a top hat and coat. 

“Oh, thank gods! Alice you little brat!” The man said but instantly hugged the girl. “You are too fast for your own good!” Alice started to giggle. I realized this was the man that Alice had arrived at New Haven with.  

“Or maybe you’re just too slow?” Alice pulled away from the hug with a gleeful smile. She closed the door behind the man. 

“Matthew?” Edmund questioned. The man bowed his head, taking off his hat. 

“The one and only!” 

“Who is Matthew?” I questioned. The week was getting weirder and weirder. 

“This is my Father. To you he is Matthew,” Alice said, pointing to Mathew. 

“Why is he here? I thought that no one followed you, Alice.” Alice giggled and shrugged her shoulders. 

“We raced!” 

“What?!” Edmund shouted. 

“My father gave me a five-hour head start! I would be walking while he would be using modern transportation!” Alice explained. 

“But the storms got in the way and held me back a bit.” The man said waving his hand around. 

“But you lost! And by a long shot, too! Two full days! Or three? I lost count.” Alice ran off with Matthew ready to show him to his Mother.  

“But how—" I started before Edmund cut me off. 

“Just don’t ask, Charlotte. I’ve learned to just nod along and act like I understand her.” I heard a squeal of delight from the other room. It must have been Edmund’s grandmother. I walked into the other room expecting the elder to be hugging her son. I just saw her smacking his head yelling words and rude comments his way. 

“Where have you been, Matthew?! You just left your poor old mother behind! I raised you! You are skinny and unfed. Look at your daughter; for crying out loud she's so skinny, I can see her bones!” The tone of her voice changed within seconds. “Now come here my baby give your mother a hug!” 

“She's like that with everyone,” Edmund said in a not-so-reassuring tone.