Chapter Three


Seven-year-old Caleb Michael Morley's face felt like it was being pricked by a hundred tiny pins as the chilled salt sea breeze hit his face. He was alone on the deck of this huge ocean-going ship, on his way to America, with his mother, Angela. Caleb leaned forward so that his forehead just touched the top of the railing, as he gazed down at the whirling water below. What strange sorts of fish and sea creatures swam just below the surface, he wondered? Were there really sea monsters like he had heard of back home in Transylvania? His musings were suddenly dashed by the sound of his mother's voice, "Caleb Morley, you get over here this instant! I turn my back for one minute and you disappear! What are you doing out here all alone and with no jacket? You'll catch a death of a cold!" Caleb dutifully returned to his mother's side, and hugged her tiny waist. "I'm sorry, Mama! I didn't mean to upset you… I …I just wanted to look at the water…" Caleb's voice trailed off as his mother quickly pulled him through a door and into a warm corridor. "Don't do that to me again, Caleb! I was so scared when I couldn't find you! Are you all right, my dear?" "I'm fine, Mama. Don't be mad at me…" Caleb spoke softly… "I'm not mad at you Caleb, I'm just thankful that you're safe!" and his mother hugged him like she'd never let him go.

"Mama, Mama! Look! I see land!" Caleb looked up expectantly at his mother, all the while pointing to the low slung buildings slowly appearing now on the horizon. They had just spent one fabulous day and night in New York City, having enjoyed the welcome respite of the beautiful, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, after their long, Trans-Atlantic journey. Angela and Caleb stood on the deck of a much smaller ship now, for the one-day trip to their ultimate destination, Port Charles, New York.

"Yes, Caleb, that's it! Aunt Rosalind wrote that she'd be there to greet us, along with Uncle Charles. It certainly will be wonderful to see them both again! It's been over three years since they left home." Secretly, Angela wondered if she would ever really want to return home to Transylvania. But she quickly pushed that thought from her mind with a silent prayer to the Blessed Virgin for strength and patience. Surely Colin would again become the husband she longed for. She just needed to give him more time. And this trip would do both her and little Caleb a world of good! Wouldn't it?

Caleb held the tiny sailing ship in his hands, gratefully looking up to his uncle's chocolate brown eyes, and smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Charles! I love it! It looks just like the ship Mama and I took across the Atlantic Ocean!" His uncle laughed, swooping the child up in his muscular arms, and holding him affectionately. " It's my pleasure, Caleb! I'm glad you like it! I have many model ships in my library at home and I'm going to show them all to you during your visit. We may even build a few together during your stay. Would you enjoy that?" "I certainly would, Uncle!" Caleb exclaimed, as they all stepped into the carriage which would take them to Charles' and Rosalind's estate, five miles out of town, just on the edge of the Port Charles Woods.

End of Chapter Three
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