Regan Capp silently groaned as she looked at herself in her vanity mirror. She noticed that there were wrinkles beginning to take form around her eyes and mouth. Sighing she pushed herself away from the mirror and turned around. Remembering that her husband, Cornwall, had not eaten breakfast in the morning, she started towards his office door.



Walking into his office, she saw that he was still typing away at his computer.

“Do you want to come eat lunch with me, dear?” She quietly asked him



He began slamming his fingers violently against the keys. “Regan, I’m working. Don’t you have anything else to do than bother me?”

She kept from rolling her eyes as she said, “I’ll bring up your lunch then.” With that she turned away and walked out of his office.

Regan believed that her husband and she lived a good life even if he didn’t because he knew they weren’t as rich as the rest of the Capp family. Her marriage to him had been arranged and was done in haste because her mother believed that she had gotten too old. Traditional Capp marriages were arranged at the age of seventeen, and then you were married off a year later. When she had turned twenty two and still had no promising marriages come her way, she was married off to Cornwall Dane, son of a man who only owned three companies. All which had failed a year after their marriage, leaving Cornwall to start up his own. While her mother had still been alive, she had expressed her regret for marrying her beautiful daughter off to a man with no wealth or status, but she had begged Regan to make the best of the marriage, especially since the Capp family did not believe in divorce.



Walking into the kitchen, she decided to make a sandwich for him. Taking out the bread and cold meat cuts, she began the process of making the sandwich when she was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.



She walked over to the front door and opened it slowly, stifling a sigh as she saw her father standing there.

“Papa!” She cried as enthusiastically as she could. She planted a kiss on each of his cheeks and pulled back, smiling at him. “What brings you here? Nevermind, nevermind, come inside!”



Walking into her dining room, she waited until he was seated. Feeling a chill in the air, she turned to him and asked, “Papa, do you want the fire on? It’s a bit chilly in here.”



Without waiting for him to answer, she nervously walked over to the fireplace and lit the logs on fire.

“There,” she said standing up and rubbing the soot off her palms. She walked over to a seat next to him and sat down.



“Regan, why do you do this, my child? You should have a maid or a butler even taking care of these minimal tasks.” He shook his head sadly. “This is not how a daughter of mine should live!”

“Papa, it is okay. I’m happy.” She gave him a weak smile. “Cornwall has been working hard to keep his company going, I am sure it will take off any day now and we will be able to afford all those things.”



He grunted, “I regret the day that I ever allowed your Mama to marry you off to that man. It is not Capp tradition she said for a woman to be twenty two and unmarried. She was dense to have just married you off to any man that walked through that door. And to think, he still has not even given you any children! Your sister, Goneril has four children, Cordelia had three before she passed away, bless her heart.” He let out a sigh. “He cannot even provide you with children.”

Uncomfortable, Regan cleared her throat and asked, “Papa, what brings you here today?” She hoped he would take the bait and change the subject. She was no longer interested in hearing how her marriage to Cornwall had been a complete failure.



“Ah, I have come to discuss Juliet’s marriage. She is coming of age in a few months and I have not still found a suitable suitor for her. Your mother and I used to do this you know, it’s been hard for me since she is not around to help with these matters.”

“I’m sure Goneril and I can help you fine with this matter just fine, Papa. We should have a family dinner to discuss this together. “ She smiled at him. “I’m sure we can find someone that is worthy of Juliet that my sister, Cordelia would have approved of.”



“Cordelia’s death still pains me you know, daughter." He rubbed his chest, "I am sure that the Monty’s had something to do with her and her husband’s death. I am quite sure of it, indeed!” He declared angrily.

“As am I, Papa.” She bit her tongue from adding that she was also sure that there was something going on between her brother, Kent and one of the Monty’s.”

As if reading her mind, he asked “how is Kent? Is he living well with you? I do not understand why he will not just get over his pride and live with me and the grandchildren. I would not force a marriage upon him if he chooses to wait longer and he knows that. Still he acts this way? I do not understand it.”

Kent Capp lived with her and her husband in an adjoining part of the house. Essentially both the houses were separate with only one veranda trail that connected them. Kent had his own complete house essentially except for a kitchen. That was the only time that Regan saw her brother, when he was too tired to go out for food or was not in the mood for take-in.



“He is fine here, Papa. He is always working these days but seems happy.” She assured him. “I am keeping an eye on him to keep him out of any trouble as well.”

“Trouble? What trouble? Is Kent in trouble? Why have I not heard about any of this?” He demanded.

“No, no Papa, I just meant…” She stifled a frustrated sigh and shook her head, “never mind, Kent is in no trouble. Everything is well here.”

“I don’t see how that is,” he muttered as he made a point of looking around. “Anyway,” he returned his eyes to her. “I have to go visit your sister, but we should make arrangements to have this discussion. Maybe over dinner?” Looking around once more in disgust, he murmured, “Maybe either at Goneril’s house or at a restaurant somewhere.”



She got up with him and was quickly pulled into his arms for a comforting hug. “I care about deeply, my Regan. I am sorry this is how you have to live. Maybe things will look up and Cornwall will pass away, then you can re-marry someone with much more money, but until then, I will write you a check for fifty thousand simoleans. It should help you get by well this month.”

Without allowing for her to protest, he quickly exited her house. Watching as he left, she turned sharply on her heel and walked over to the door that led to her brother’s house. Quickly walking the path to his door, she threw his door open without bothering to knock.



Just as she predicted, he was at his computer. Rolling her eyes, she gave a disgusted sigh.

“I wouldn’t actually mind if you knocked once in a while, Sister.” Kent said amused. Without taking his eyes off his computer, he asked “what do you want?”



“Papa was just here.” She placed her hands on her hips. “It was very nice of him to visit, he inquired about you, you know.”

“No, I don’t know. I didn’t know he cared.” He said, sarcasm dripping from every word. “What did Mr. money-bags want?”

“Oh nothing, just to make me more aware of how much my marriage is a failure that he no longer approves of.” She let out a disgusted sigh. “I think I need a drink.”

Walking over to his bar, she took a glass and poured alcohol into it and downed it all in one swift motion. Getting up out of his chair, Kent looked at his sister with a bemused smile.



“I thought you quit?”

“Yep, I usually start up again when Papa visits.” She downed another glass.

“Easy there,” he sighed, “that’s all I need is an alcoholic sister. As if living in Veronaville isn’t bad enough with all of its uptight citizens.” He shook his head and said, “I’m going out. Go easy on the alcohol.” He started towards the door.

“Where are you going?” She cried out, suspicious that he was going over to hang out with the Monty she was sure he was secretly seeing.



“I have a business meeting,” he lied. “I will be home tonight, Mama.” He said sarcastically. He heard her sigh as he walked out his front door and down the front steps.

There was no point of following the Capp rules, he thought. It was doomed to be either a miserable or very lonely life. And to him, neither sounded appealing. He would never admit it out loud to his sister, but he had feelings for a Monty and that he could not deny, no matter how much it would enrage his father or disrupt the Capp way.

~*~

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