Read Online A Family Affair: A Novel of Horror by V. J. Banis - Free Book Online

members of a cult of some sort. There were cults of all sorts, she knew from the Sunday supplements: nudists, for one, but there were others too, religious and all. Aunt Christine and the others were merely part of a cult that required the women to dress in this peculiar fashion.
    â€œThis is Jennifer Rand, Elenora’s daughter,” Aunt Christine was saying, laying a hand upon Jennifer’s shoulder. To Jennifer she said, “You know Abbie, of course. Next to her is Irene, your mother’s sister, and Marge, and Helen. And that is Marcella over there.”
    Jennifer gave each of them a smile and a murmured “How do you do.” The names meant nothing to her; she had thought perhaps one of them would recall some memory, some mention by her mother that had heretofore eluded her. But they were all new to her. She tried to commit each name to memory.
    â€œWe had hoped Lydia would be with us, but she was delayed. She’ll join us soon, I’m sure,” Aunt Christine said, finishing the introductions.
    Lydia. Aunt Lydia. It was the first name that meant anything to Jennifer; but what? There was a familiar ring, but whatever it was that almost popped to the surface of her mind disappeared again. No doubt she had heard her mother mention the name at some time or another.
    â€œAnd that is your mother’s seat,” Aunt Christine said finally, indicating the first of two empty chairs before them. “Right next to yours, dear.”
    It was another peculiar habit, not to say a morbid one, saving an empty seat for a member of the family who has passed away. But then, the family was a strange one. Nothing seemed impossible for them.
    Her first thought as she seated herself was that Aunt Christine had neglected to introduce the old gentleman seated at the end of the table beside her. Nor had he expected it apparently, because he had not looked up during the introductions. His frail old shoulders were bent over the table, his dull eyes stared absentmindedly at the plate before him. He was unbelievably old, she realized, a faded shell of a man, scarcely aware of anything about him.
    She realized now that he was the only male at the table. The others seated with her were all women. In fact, except for the hired man who had found her on the road and led her to the house, this was the only man she had seen since her arrival.
    â€œIs the whole family here?” she asked on an impulse, directing the question to Aunt Christine.
    â€œNo, I’m afraid not,” Aunt Christine answered, seating herself at the opposite end, at the head of the table. “Most of those who went naturally never returned, unless they simply wanted to be here with us, like—like one or two have done over the years.”
    Naturally they never returned, Jennifer repeated the phrase silently to herself. And I can’t say I blame them, I don’t think I shall either, when I have gone. Which, she amended quickly, will be soon. She turned toward the old gentleman.
    â€œI’m afraid I missed your name,” she addressed him, little caring whether anyone caught the inference.
    â€œOh, that’s Morgan, Mr. Kelsey,” Aunt Christine answered for him. “My husband.”
    Jennifer remembered then, with a start, her meeting on the road the night before, and the hired man’s comment. She laughed aloud.
    â€œMr. Kelsey. Well, I’m glad to see you.” She continued to address her remarks to him, although he made no response to her attention but only stared silently down at the table before him. “I didn’t expect to see you, I’m afraid. Your man, the one who brought me up from the road last night, told me you had been done in.”
    She looked significantly up the table toward her Aunt Christine. “He said Mrs. Kelsey had done him in a long time ago.”
    Aunt Christine seemed unperturbed by the remark. She laughed and said, “Oh, Wilfred has never forgiven me.”