The alarm woke Alex up and he got up and got ready. He packed a few things in case he had to stay a few days and took his bag down with him for breakfast.

The cook was surprised when she saw the bag but didn’t say anything and set out his plate on the table.

“Mary, please have the butler come out here. I need to talk to you two.”

She just nodded and hurried off while he sat down and started to eat.

She came back a few moments later with the butler, Craig. Alex turned to look at them as they stood to the side of the table. He wiped his mouth.

“I’m taking a short trip and might be gone for a day or two. It’s for a school assignment. So I wanted to inform you.”

“We understand young master. Will you need someone to accompany you?” Craig asked.

Alex shook his head. “No, father wouldn’t like either of you leaving the house.”

They both looked uncomfortable an Alex gave a wan smile. “I’ts fine. I am old enough to be able to handle such a short trip alone. Ah,” he looked at Craig. “Can you please call a taxi for me?”

Craig simply nodded, and the two left Alex to his meal. Alex took his time eating since it would take a few minutes for the taxi to get there. He was making good time and he had already booked his tickets for the train online to save trouble at the station.

It wasn’t long before the doorbell rang and Craig opened it, revealing the cab driver. Craig carried Alex’s luggage to the taxi. Alex followed behind with a smaller bag that had his laptop and a few small things in it.

Craig put his luggage in the trunk and Alex slid into the taxi and Craig shut the door for him. He waved briefly as Alex pulled away. The taxi driver didn’t talk much, just asked the destination and then started driving. It was a quiet, boring drive. Alex was relieved when he finally reached the train station. The taxi driver scanned his card to pay for the trip and helped him get his luggage out of the trunk. Alex barely got to the curb, before another customer rushed past to claim the taxi he had just left.

Alex kept his ticket in his left hand and the handle to his wheeled luggage in his right hand. His laptop bag was slung over one shoulder and out of the way. The train wasn’t the favorite mode of transport but even then it was rather busy, probably because it was a Saturday.

Zeltis had been quiet all morning and Alex wasn’t sure if he was grateful for his silence or not. Alex made his way through the bustling crowd to the train platform and onto the waiting train. He made his way to his seat. Happily, he got a seat by the window. With a short struggle he managed to shove his luggage up on the rack above the window.

He sat down and pulled out his laptop and headphones. The train had wifi so he was able to connect to the internet. There was even a plug in the wall so he wouldn’t have to use up his battery.

Not long before the train was ready to go a couple train personnel walked down the aisle checking tickets. Alex showed his and was surprised that no one had taken the seat next to him. With a whistle and groan, the train slowly started to pull out of the station. The steady clank clank was clear even through his headphones. Though the constant vibration wasn’t that bad. A snack cart soon made its way through, and he bought a couple things. Then, turned his attention to the landscape sliding by his window.

He quickly grew bored of the view and went back to his laptop. The hours passed by as he watched a movie and checked his stocks, or just wandered the internet. Finally the train slowed down, crawling into the station at their destination. He took off his headphones. An announcement asked the passengers to stay seated until the train came to a complete stop, and to not forget their belongings. He packed up his computer and was somehow managed to get his luggage back down before it was time to get off.

As he stepped off amid the jostling crowds he looked around to try and see his aunt. He had seen an online picture, so had a good idea of what she looked like. Pushing through, he finally got a glimpse of her, off to the side, waving a sign that had his name on it above her head. He made his way over to her and when he finally got close she gasped.

“Amazing, you look so much like your mother. It’s so nice to finally meet you, Alex. I’m your aunt, Sara.” Her soft blue-grays eyes were a little teary as she looked at him. She was in her forties and a little shorter than Alex. Her light brown hair was tied up in a practical bun and she wore a conservatively casual pants and blouse.

He smiled back at her. “Good to meet you too, Aunt Sara.”

She stuck the sign under one arm and put her other arm through his free elbow. “Come on, my car is in the parking lot outside. She stuck the sign in the trash as they made their way out the door and they were soon walking into the parking lot to the side of the station.

They made their way through the rows of cars until they got to a small blue Beamer. With a beep as she pressed the key chain the doors unlocked and trunk popped open. Alex hefted his luggage into it and went ahead and dropped his laptop bag in as well. He shut the trunk, got in, shut the door, and pulled on his seat belt. They were soon pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road. Alex looked at his aunt and she glanced back at him. It was a little awkward and he wasn’t sure what to say.

“You know, I barely knew I had a nephew. I only heard a little news about your family. I learned through newspapers that mentioned you, in relation to your father’s company. Your father didn’t bother keeping in contact with me, and I was pretty angry when he didn’t even inform me of your mother’s funeral.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t really talk to me much either. We don’t even have any pictures of my mother in the house.”

“That’s pretty strange. I could tell he was practically obsessed with your mother when they started dating, and at the wedding. Even then, though I didn’t see or hear much since your mother stopped keeping contact with me not long before meeting your father. I only got a few messages every now and then from her before they stopped and then I found out she died giving birth to a son.”

He dropped his head. “Yeah, I’m sorry.”

She looked over at him in surprise. “Why say sorry, it wasn’t your fault.”

“That’s not what my father thinks.”

“That’s too bad.” She bit her lip and gave him a soft sidelong glance full of pity.

It became quiet and Alex wasn’t sure what to say. “Um so do I have an uncle?” He knew it was a lame question especially since he hadn’t noticed it on her online profile.

Her eyebrows rose as she looked over at him, looking a little sad for a moment. “I’m divorced, actually.”

“Ah, sorry.” He said lamely, running a hand through his hair, as he often did when he was nervous or stressed.

She sighed and shrugged. “No, it’s fine. It was two years ago that we went our separate ways. You are my only blood relative now. So I hope even after you go home, we can keep in touch.” She smiled at him as the car was turning into a residential area.

“Of course.” He answered back, as they pulled up in front of a cute little white house.

He got his luggage out and after she locked the car, he followed her up to the door. She unlocked it and motioned him to go in first, shutting it behind them.

“I have a small guest room you can put your things in, for now.” She said, and led him through the living area and kitchen to where there were two bedrooms and a bathroom. She opened the door to a small bedroom that just had one window, a single bed, nightstand and a computer desk set up on one wall. “I use this as my home office and computer room when I don’t have guests. Anyway, I told you to bring proof of who you are. Based on your looks I don’t really have doubts, but to be sure…” She trailed off, looking slightly uncomfortable.

He just smiled and pulled out his certificate and id to show her. When he had gotten it, he had felt a little sad that it was his only connection to his mother. Sara read them and handed them back. “If you come to the living room we can talk, and I can show you some pictures of your mother.”

Alex smiled, leaving his luggage and following her back to the living area, to join her on the couch.

“Oh my, do you want anything to drink or eat? You have been traveling for a few hours and I should have realized you might be hungry.”

“I ate a little on the train but I wouldn’t mind a cup of tea and a sandwhich.” It was about noon after all and he wouldn’t mind a little something.

“Of course!” She got back up and swooped into the kitchen, efficiently getting it ready. It wasn’t long before she brought back two mugs of tea and a plate of sandwiches for them both on a tray. She set the tray on the coffee table and grabbed a sandwich and her cup before sitting down.

He picked up the cup and sipped it slowly, letting the warmth calm his nerves. He also grabbed a sandwich and took a bite. He swallowed before speaking. “There is so much I want to know about mother, it’s hard to know even where to start.”

Sara laughed a little. “Well we could always start at the beginning. I even set out our family album when I knew you were coming.” She set down her cup on the coffee table and picked up the large album that was lying next to the tray. She hefted it onto her lap and opened it up.

The first picture was an old one, of a couple in front of a chapel. It was yellowed with age and the clothing was old fashioned.

“These two are our parents who died when I was about eighteen. They were kind but strict, and conservative. Their names are Amelia Garrett and Samuel Warren.” She turned the page that had several pictures of the couple with a new baby.

“The baby is me, since I was the oldest. I ended up getting a little spoiled since Angela didn’t even show up until almost five years later.”

He enjoyed seeing pictures of his aunt and mother as they grew up. And hearing stories of how they got along and the trouble they would get into. The two girls were very different. Sara was outgoing and friendly and had a lot of friends. Though she was a bit plain, she seemed to have been popular because of her lively personality. Angela, even though she was a lot prettier, was a quiet, shy girl. She loved to read and wasn’t good at interacting with others.

Seeing the older pictures, Angela looked like any librarian you might find. She was lean with conservative clothing. Her long blond hair often tied back in sedate hairstyles. Though she often had a small smile, looking embarrassed when having her picture taken. Then he saw a picture of his aunt with someone, and at first he didn’t recognize her. Her outfit was racey to say the least, form fitting and sexy. Her long wavy blonde hair was loose and she looked confident and sensual as her bright blue eyes gazed out of the picture.

“It can’t be, mother? She looks so different.” He said, but since he hadn’t known her personally, he couldn’t be sure.

Sara frowned. “It’s Angela all right. Even I was shocked when she showed up one day, looking like a completely different person.”

“Ah, ha! I should have known. It all makes sense now.” Zeltis burst out inside Alex’s head.

Alex jumped a little at the interruption and couldn’t help wondering what Zeltis meant. “Zeltis? Do you know something?” He asked mentally but there was no answer.

“Is something the matter?” Sara asked her brows crinkled a little in worry.

“Ah, sorry, I was just distracted somehow. It’s nothing. Still, it is strange that she changed so much, so suddenly.” What could it mean?

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Author's note

=== I added a bit about them eating sandwiches and edited the chapter a bit. It didn't change much.

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