The Choice: The Pocket Watch Chronicles

by Ceci Giltenan

  When they reached the Talbot & Company corporate headquarters, Sara started to drive into the parking garage but an attendant stopped her.

  “I’m sorry you have to have a permit to park here.” The attendant looked past Sara and his eyes went wide. “I’m sorry, Mr. Talbot, I didn’t see you in the car. Of course, your space is open.”

  Ben nodded, looking a bit imperious to Sara, but that was exactly what Benjamin would have done. Unless of course he also berated the attendant for daring to stop the car he was in.

  She drove around until she found several reserved spaces near the elevator lobby, one of which bore the sign, Reserved for Mr. Benjamin Talbot. “Here we are.”

  Ben nodded, a look of consternation on his face.

  Sara frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. This is just…well now that we’re here, it feels even more like I’m doing something wrong.”

  “Ben, if you hadn’t accepted the pocket watch, Benjamin would be dead now. His father and friends would be grieving his loss. What’s more, Mark and Daphne might be dead too. And, just to make matters worse, Benjamin’s father would be dealing with an embarrassing scandal surrounding his son’s death. None of that happened because of you. You are Benjamin Talbot. A rather drastically changed Benjamin Talbot, but him all the same.”

  “I know you’re right but the closer we get to this meeting, the feeling that this isn’t the way to handle things with Benjamin’s father only grows stronger.”

  This gave Sara pause. She firmly believed in listening to those inner voices. “Then what do you think we should do?”

  “Maybe…maybe we should tell him about the pocket watch?”

  “The truth always sits better with me, but this is just so hard to believe. What if he doesn’t believe? What if he thinks you’ve lost your mind or I’ve done something to manipulate you? Telling the truth, in this situation, scares me a little.”

  “I know. Honestly, it scares me too. I can’t ignore my reservations but things could go terribly wrong if Samuel Talbot thinks I’ve lost my mind.” He put his head in his hands. “God, I don’t know what to do.”

  She put a hand on his arm. “Ben, you are a good man and you’re right not to ignore your reservations. But I think…I think when the time comes, you’ll know which direction to go. And if you decide be forthright about the pocket watch, Dr. Rose will be with us. He is a highly-respected psychiatrist—the chief of psychiatry at New York University Hospital Center. And he’s familiar with the pocket watch. He will be able to give some credence to the tale.”

  “You’re right. I need to follow my instinct at the time. But what if Mr. Talbot disowns me or something?”

  “That doesn’t matter to me. We’ll be okay. I don’t need Benjamin Talbot’s money. Frankly, I don’t even want it.”

  He nodded resolutely. “Okay. Then let’s go meet my father.”

  The elevator from the parking garage only went to the lobby. Sara had done enough internet searching to learn the executive offices were on the top floor of the building. When they stepped into the lobby, they walked together towards the main elevators. An attendant at the lobby desk came hurrying after them. “Pardon me, you can’t just go up. You have to sign in.”

  Ben turned and frowned at her, in very Benjamin-like fashion.

  “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Talbot. I didn’t recognize you at first. Of course, you don’t need to sign in. But your companion…”

  Her voice trailed off at his continued glare.

  “…uh…your companion can certainly go with you.”

  “Thank you,” said Ben with a nod.

  Clearly, something Benjamin wouldn’t have done because the young receptionist looked shocked.

  As they continued across the lobby, a few people greeted Ben with “Good morning, Mr. Talbot,” but most just hurried out of their way.

  When they reached the top floor, the young woman behind the receptionist’s desk looked slightly surprised but recovered well. “Good morning, Mr. Talbot. I believe Dona stepped away from her desk for a moment. Shall I get you coffee?”

  “No, thank you. I’m expecting a visitor, Dr. Gerald Rose. Please see that he has no trouble with the lobby security and send him in as soon as he arrives. We have a meeting with my father later this morning.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll see to it.”

  Ben took Sara’s hand and walked past the receptionist and down the hall. They had hoped the offices would be clearly marked and were not disappointed. The sign on the door of a huge corner office said ‘Benjamin Talbot’ but unlike all the other doors they passed, there was no other title.

  Once in the office, they both breathed a sigh of relief, followed by a nervous laugh.

  He looked at Sara. “Now what?”

  “I guess we sit and wait for Dr. Rose. He should be here soon.”

  In less than a minute, a harried-looking, very pregnant young woman poked her head in the door. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Talbot. I just stepped out to the restroom. Is there anything I can get you or your guest?”

  This had to be his assistant, Dona, and Ben had clearly made that assumption too.

  “Good morning, Dona. This is a very good friend of mine, Miss Sara Wells.”

  “The Sara Wells you went on vacation with?” As soon as the question was asked her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.”

  Ben shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Yes, this is the Sara Wells I went on vacation with. Sara, do you need anything? Coffee? Water?”

  “No, I’m fine thank you.”

  “Then, no thank you, Dona. Just send Dr. Rose in when he arrives. He drove down from New York this morning and I expect he would welcome some refreshment. I believe he’s a tea drinker.”

  “Yes, sir, I’ll take care of it.” The puzzled look on her face suggested that Benjamin’s behavior was unusual.

  When she shut the door, he asked, “Did I overdo that?”

  “Maybe, but you’ve said it yourself, the reality is you’ve changed. You can’t be rude and unkind for the rest of your life just to keep up appearances. That’s the reason Gabe thought a mild frontal lobe injury might be best as it can be accompanied by personality changes.”

  Dr. Rose arrived minutes later. He hugged Sara and shook Ben’s hand. “It’s good to see ye both. Are ye ready for this?” Sara loved the sound of his light Scottish burr. It reminded her of their wonderful trip to Scotland.

  Ben shook his head. “Actually, I’m beginning to have second thoughts about what to tell Mr. Talbot. I know the rest of the world will need to believe that I have partial amnesia, but I feel as if he should know the truth.”

  Dr. Rose nodded. “I believe in listening to instinct. I don’t know Samuel Talbot, so I don’t know how he’ll react. But part of Benjamin lives in ye and yer sense that it’s better to level with him is quite possibly Benjamin’s intuition affecting yers.”

  “So what should I do?”

  “After ye meet the man, go with yer gut. I will support either direction ye choose to go. Sara, are ye comfortable with that? This will ultimately effect ye too.”

  “Yes. I think it’s the best plan.”

  Dona poked her head in the office again. “Mr. Talbot, your father is off his call and would like you all to join him in his office.”

  “Very well.” He gave a curt nod and holding the door, motioned for Sara and Dr. Rose to precede him. “After you.”

  Samuel Talbot’s office was on the opposite corner of the same floor. When they reached it, an efficient older woman with steel-colored hair and sensible shoes greeted them. “Good morning, Ben. Go on in.” She had been the first person they’d met so far who’d addressed him as “Ben.” But by the looks of her, she had probably been his father’s assistant for years and had been acquainted with the boy, Ben Talbot. The name plate on her desk read ‘Jeanne Marshall’ and clearly Benedict took note of that. “Thank you, Mrs. Marshall.”

  Her brows drew togeth
er as Ben walked past. Sara wasn’t sure if it was out of irritation or confusion.

  Samuel Talbot looked up from his desk as they entered. “Ben.” He stood, rounded the desk and gave his son a hug. “I’ve been so worried about you since I heard about the accident. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Well not exactly fine, but I’m okay. Let me introduce you to my friend, Sara Wells, and to Dr. Gerald Rose.”

  Samuel frowned, but shook hands with each of them.

  “Dr. Rose is one of the specialists I saw in New York when I returned from Scotland. He is the chief of Psychiatry at New York University Hospital Center and has a lot of experience with my condition.”

  “Your condition?” He appeared worried.

  “Can we sit down? It’s a long story.”

  Chapter 12 – What if I Fall in Love?

  The concern in Samuel Talbot’s voice tore at Benedict’s heart. For all intents and purposes, Samuel’s son was not “okay.” He was, in fact, dead. And the moment Mr. Talbot had hugged him, Benedict knew he had to tell the man the truth. He’d felt an overwhelming rush of emotion and images flashed through his mind like a rapid montage of movie clips. In seconds he understood, without any doubt, the nature of Samuel and Benjamin’s relationship.

  Samuel loved his son without reservation, but was sorely disappointed in him. Samuel treasured Talbot & Company and was proud of its history and reputation, while Benjamin had no sense of commitment to the business at all and thought his father sentimental and foolish. Over the last few weeks, Sara had shared her assessment of Benjamin and his skewed values. But as Benedict embraced Samuel, he realized Sara had been kind. Not only did Benjamin love wealth and power above all else, he held contempt for those who didn’t share his values, his father included. Benedict was also profoundly certain that even as disappointed as Samuel was in his son, he blamed himself.

  However, Benedict’s strongest impression was that Benjamin knew Samuel cherished a hope his son would someday pick up the reins of leadership and embrace his role in the family business, but Benjamin felt only disdain for his father’s old-fashioned notions. This tore at Benedict’s heart more than anything else.

  Samuel ushered them to a large sitting area. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.” His concern for his son was evident.

  Benedict and Sara sat together on the leather sofa while Samuel and Dr. Rose took the wing chairs. After they were all seated, Benedict took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Sir, what I’m about to tell you will be hard to believe. And if, when I’m finished, you wish to disown me, I will accept that. I only ask that you listen to the whole story first.”

  “Benjamin, what’s the matter with you?”

  “I’ll explain it all, but will you please agree to hear me out?”

  “Of course, I’ll hear you out.”

  Benedict sighed heavily and launched into his story. Looks of disbelief, fear, and pain crossed Samuel’s countenance as Benedict told him everything. He temporarily left Gabe and Elsie out of the story. He wouldn’t expose Elsie unless Benjamin’s father believed the truth about the pocket watch.

  “Initially, I was intrigued by the opportunity to see modern methods of shipbuilding. I intended to learn enough about Benjamin to be him for a limited time.”

  “What changed?” Samuel held the pocket watch in his hand. His expression gave no hint as to whether he believed Benedict or not.

  “I fell in love with Sara. I don’t want to leave her. I have no one in the eighteenth century. My parents are deceased and I have no siblings. I help run the modest shipbuilding business my father started, but my partner can take over.”

  “And you really expect me to believe all of this? I don’t know what to say. I was frankly shocked to learn you were doing something as pedestrian as going on a cruise, with Daphne.” Samuel’s tone dripped with contempt for the woman. “I am not shocked in the least that she cheated on you. I guess I expected more from Mark Holland, and yet I’m not sure why. But you want me to believe you are not actually my son anymore? That you and he traded souls?”

  Samuel rounded on Sara. “Young lady, are you behind this? Have you done something to my son? Given him some drug or hypnotized him? Are you just another gold-digger with a unique approach?”

  Clearly Samuel’s words stung Sara. Benedict reached for her hand. “Please don’t throw around accusations like that. Sara is an innocent caught up in this.”

  She shook her head. “It’s all right, Ben. I would think the same thing in Mr. Talbot’s shoes.” She looked directly at Samuel with no malice in her expression. “But sir, I am not behind this. I’m nobody, Mr. Talbot.”

  “Sara, don’t say that,” said Benedict.

  “No, I mean it. I’m not the daughter or granddaughter or second-cousin twice removed of anyone you would consider important. In fact, I’m an orphan. My parents and my sixteen-year-old brother were killed in an accident when I was in graduate school. But I am not poor. I am an author of paranormal and historical romance. I’ve been rather successful at it, I might add. I make an extremely good living writing novels. And to be perfectly honest with you, I despised Benjamin. He treated people with disdain to the point of being downright mean sometimes. And his temper was atrocious. The slightest thing could set him off. I don’t need or want that in my life. I cringed every time Mark said we were going to do something with him. And I very nearly cancelled a vacation I had dreamed of for years when I found out he and Daphne were coming with us.” Sara gave Mr. Talbot a sad smile. “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.”

  The fact that Samuel didn’t react to Sara’s negative assessment suggested that he couldn’t argue with it. He turned his attention to Dr. Rose. “Has my son lost his mind? Is that why you’re here, Dr. Rose?”

  “Nay, Mr. Talbot. Yer son has not lost his mind.”

  “You believe him? Have you lost your mind?”

  Dr. Rose chuckled. “Nay, I haven’t. I have, however, met Gertrude and used the pocket watch once, many years ago.”

  “You aren’t serious.”

  “But I am. I have had to learn to accept that there are things in this world I will never be able to understand. I assure ye, the pocket watch is real, and everything Ben has told ye regarding it is true.”

  Samuel slammed a fist down on the arm of his chair. “It can’t be true. You, young lady, you tell me what happened on board in your own words.”

  “Certainly. I was so looking forward to this cruise. I’d never been on one and thought it would be fun. I even thought Mark might be planning to propose to me on board. But as Ben told you, Mark had made spa appointments for me for the first morning. I forgot my bathing suit and when I went back to the cabin to get it, he and Daphne were…”

  “I get the idea, I don’t need details about that.”

  Sara looked down for a moment before continuing. “Well it destroyed me. I really thought Mark loved me. I ran out of the room. I decided at that moment to leave the ship at our first port.”

  She told Samuel about unsuccessfully trying to find another room and then running into Benjamin. “I started to tell him what had happened and he told me to shut up until we had privacy. He didn’t want the publicity. He took me to his suite and when I told him what I’d walked in on, he was furious. He threatened to kill Mark and said he was going to make both of them pay. When I tried to stop him, he threatened me.”

  Samuel nodded. “I’m sorry to say every bit of this sounds exactly like Benjamin. I want to know about when he supposedly changed. When Benedict’s soul, entered his body and more importantly, why you believed him.”

  “He changed right at that moment. His anger was gone in an instant. He told me what had happened and I believed him because I, too, had met Gertrude—only the previous day. She had offered me the pocket watch and I refused it.”

  “So you didn’t use it. You don’t know for certain that it would have worked.”

  “No sir, I didn’t use it. But Gertrude…I can’t explain i
t exactly. When she is with you, there is just no room for doubt. I believed her when she told me about the pocket watch and I believed Benedict when he said he’d used the watch.” Sara gave Samuel an entreating look. “Sir, you know nothing would have soothed Benjamin’s anger. Nothing. So clearly, the calm man who stood in front of me was no longer the old Benjamin.”

  “You said you were so upset by what Mark had done that you were determined to leave the ship at the next port, why didn’t you?”

  “Benedict changed my mind. I had wanted to go on the cruise so badly. He convinced me to stay and make the most of it. Benedict was kind and tried to help me in ways Benjamin never would have.”

  Samuel shook his head, appearing to mull over what she’d said. “Frankly, of everything that I’ve heard so far, I find your story most astounding. I do not believe for one instant that my son Benjamin would have ignored what Mark and Daphne did or stayed on that cruise after discovering it. Young lady, my son doesn’t ‘make the best’ of anything he doesn’t like.”

  Samuel stood up and turned away from them, stopping to stare out the window. “Furthermore, my son was a hot-headed fool when someone crossed him. The fact that it was one of his only friends who did it would have made it exponentially worse. He would never have walked away from that.” His voice was thick with emotion. He bowed his head, pressing two fingers into the bridge of his nose. “I believe, or at least I hope, he wouldn’t actually have killed someone but his temper certainly could have gotten him killed.”

  Benedict didn’t miss the fact that Samuel talked about his son in the past tense. “I’m sorry, sir. If saying the word and returning to the past would bring you back your son, I would, despite how much I love Sara. But it won’t. As we told you, events were set in motion. Benjamin’s death was destined. If I leave, he will die.”

  Samuel turned back to face them. “Benedict, this is the last time you will apologize for the choice you made. In your shoes, I would have done the same thing. And it’s fairly obvious that Benjamin was poised to bring about his own death. Perhaps it was bound to happen someday. I kept hoping things would change, that he would wake up one morning and show some interest in something other than himself, but I fear that was a vain hope.”