The Choice: The Pocket Watch Chronicles

by Ceci Giltenan

  “Will he be all right?” she asked.

  “It’s too soon to tell. The bleeding has stopped and he is sedated, on a ventilator. He’s being transferred to the surgical intensive care unit now. We’ll see how the next twenty-four hours go.

  “Can we see him?” Samuel asked.

  “As soon as they have him settled, you can. I’ll tell them to send for you.”

  That had been three days ago. Sara hadn’t gone home and neither had Samuel during those first twenty-four hours.

  “He seems to be stable. His blood work and vitals are good. But the two of you need rest. We are going to keep him sedated and on the ventilator for another day. Go home for a little while.”

  When the doctor had gone, Sara said, “Samuel, go home for a little while and rest.”

  “Sara, you have been through a much worse ordeal than me. You need the rest more.”

  “Samuel, I can’t go home. It would be pointless, I couldn’t sleep anyway. You go. I’ll sleep here in the chair for a while.”

  He shook his head. “I believe you, thousands wouldn’t.”

  She chuckled and kissed his cheek. “I swear, as long as I’m here, beside him, I’ll sleep a little.

  And so it went for two more days.

  ~ * ~

  Ben blinked. The lights were bright but it took a few moments for the room to come into focus. He was in a modern hospital room. He tried to speak but couldn’t. A tube went down his throat.

  “Oh, Ben, you’re awake.” It was Sara’s sweet voice. “Don’t try to speak, my love. You’re in the hospital and the tube down your throat has been helping you breathe. Do you remember what happened?”

  He nodded. He’d never forget that horrible moment. He expected the scene was burned into his brain forever. He also remembered his conversation with Gertrude in the operating room. He had chosen to stay on the slim chance that he would be given more time with the beautiful woman who held his hand.

  “Well, my love, you’ve given us all cause to worry and pray over the last few days.”

  He furrowed his brow. Days? It felt as if he’d only just spoken to Gertrude.

  Sara caressed his cheek. “You’ve been on the ventilator, sedated for three days.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “A ventilator is a modern machine that can breathe for an injured person.”

  He nodded. He hated the way it felt, but if it is what kept him alive, kept him with her, he’d tolerate it.

  “They’ve been reducing the sedation and you’re breathing better. They are going to try to take the tube out soon. Then you’ll be able to talk.”

  He nodded and squeezed her hand, holding onto her as if she were a lifeline until he drifted back into oblivion.

  ~ * ~

  To Sara’s great relief, the doctors did remove the tube later that day. The entire time Ben was sedated, they had told her he was doing as well as could be expected, but watching his still body in the bed, his chest rising and falling only because a machine forced air into his lungs, didn’t give her much confidence.

  The first words out of his mouth when he could speak again were, “I love you, Sara.”

  “Oh Ben, I love you too. I was so afraid I was going to lose you.”

  “I couldn’t leave you,” he croaked.

  “Don’t talk sweetheart. You need to rest your voice for a while.”

  He nodded, but whispered, “What happened?”

  “You and Mark found where Daphne had taken me and Daphne shot you both.”

  He smiled. “After that.”

  “Well thank God, Mark called for help before he jumped into the mess. As soon as he’d freed me, he called again to tell them to send a helicopter. We were pretty far out in the country, but the police arrived not long after you lost consciousness and minutes later the helicopter landed with the trauma team. They flew you here to the University of Maryland trauma center. The bullet broke a rib and tore through your spleen. You lost so much blood.”

  Ben wasn’t sure what one’s spleen did. “They fixed it?”

  “They had to remove part of it, but don’t worry, it’ll be okay. You can live without a spleen.”

  Relieved, he nodded. Then he remembered that Mark to had been shot. “Mark okay?”

  She smiled. “Yes. The bullet went in his shoulder, but it missed major vessels. They took him to Hagerstown, but he was only in for a couple of days. He’s home recuperating now.”

  “You?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “What happened? How did she—”

  Sara put a finger on his lips. “Don’t strain your voice.”

  “But—”

  “How did she kidnap me? Apparently, she’d planned to do it several days earlier when I went to the gym, but I’d been too busy on the book to go to the gym. So instead, she followed me to the mall, then pretended to ‘run into me’ by chance. We had a snack together and she put a drug in my coffee. I only remember bits of what happened after that.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It isn’t your fault. It isn’t even Benjamin’s fault.”

  “Is.”

  Sara wasn’t sure how much to tell him, but decided the whole truth was best. “No, it isn’t. It goes way deeper than all of that. It turns out, Cordelia DeWitt, the girl who was driving the car that caused my family’s accident, was Daphne’s cousin. The reason she was speeding was that she was late picking Daphne up to go to some party. And to make matters worse, she was the person Cordelia was texting. Daphne’s aunt and uncle thought Daphne was a bad influence on their daughter and were estranged from her. Of course, Daphne couldn’t see her role in it and thought it was because they had to pay so much to avoid the lawsuit—so it was my fault. Then she had an affair with Mark behind Benjamin’s back, which was my fault. You broke up with her—also my fault—and when Mark wouldn’t be part of some crazy scheme to get you to turn on me, that was my fault too. She decided getting rid of me would fix everything.”

  Ben simply shook his head.

  “If she hadn’t tried to kill me and very nearly succeeded in killing you, I’d feel sorry for her. She had a rough start to life. She was ill and no one paid enough attention to her to realize just how ill she was until it was too late.”

  “Too late?”

  Sara nodded. “When Mark tackled her, her head hit the floor. It caused a bleed in her brain. She died before the helicopter arrived. Mark’s pretty shook up about it, but there was nothing else he could do.”

  “Now what?”

  “Now, you stop talking and get some rest. Your dad should be here soon. Until you woke this morning, he’s only left the hospital for a few hours at a time since you arrived. I convinced him to go home a few hours ago for a rest, but I’m sure he won’t be gone long.”

  Ben nodded and closed his eyes.

  Sara sat just holding his hand. He was going to be all right. She knew that now with all confidence. They had a full life waiting ahead. He was her soulmate. Her destiny. She would not let go of him. Ever.

  Epilogue – What if I Fall in Love?

  Sara stepped out of the limo and stood for a moment smiling up at the beautiful gothic church. It was a clear cold day. A brisk breeze caused her veil to swirl around her. Her friend, Elizabeth Soldani, who had alighted from the car just before her, stood by holding the bridal bouquet. “Sara, you are stunning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful bride.”

  Sara grinned. “Other than your own, how many weddings have you attended?”

  Elizabeth laughed and in a low voice said, “Well, that’s the only modern wedding I’ve attended so far, but I’ve seen lots of weddings. And I assure you, the thing that makes a bride beautiful is not a breathtaking gown or gorgeous flowers—of which you have both by the way. Her real beauty is in her radiant smile and the glow of happiness in her eyes.”

  “Well, I am happy to finally be able to celebrate our marriage.”

  “I can tell.”

  “It’s hard to believe it’s bee
n scarcely four months since I met…uh…I mean really got to know Ben. I had no idea that trip to Venice and the Greek Islands would so profoundly change my life.” She added under her breath, “And I refused the pocket watch. I am so glad that I did though. I wouldn’t have met him otherwise.”

  Elizabeth whispered back, “I suppose not. Still, Gertrude is fond of saying, the ‘universe unfolds as it should.’ So I reckon one way or another, you and Ben were meant for each other.”

  Mrs. Sinclair, a good friend of both the Soldanis, and Ben’s father waited for them on the steps to the church. “Ladies, are you ready? It’s time.”

  “We’ll be right there,” answered Elizabeth.

  Sara smoothed the front of her gown one last time and rubbed her lips together to evenly disperse the light layer of gloss on them.

  Elizabeth handed her the bouquet. “Where I come from, brides carry a bouquet of herbs to their weddings. So, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve slipped some in among the flowers. The florist already had sprigs of lavender, it’s for devotion. And orange blossoms are for fruitfulness.” She waggled her eyebrows causing Sara to laugh. “I’ve added a bit of myrtle for everlasting love and marital bliss. That should put you well on the way to fruitfulness,” she teased. “I’ve also added sage for long life, parsley for happiness, and mint for warm thoughts. It’s a chilly day.”

  “Thank you, Elizabeth. We owe you and Gabe so much. Just having friends who understand our special circumstances is wonderful.”

  “I feel the same way.” She hugged Sara. “Now, don’t say anymore or you’ll have me bawling and I’ll ruin my makeup.”

  Sara laughed again. “Okay. Let’s go then.”

  They walked up the steps of the church together. Moments after they entered, the organist began playing “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

  “That’s my cue,” said Elizabeth. “I’ll meet you there.” She turned and started walking sedately down the aisle. When she reached the altar, the organist changed to the wedding march.

  Everyone stood and turned to face Sara where she stood alone. Although she had several dear friends who would have happily escorted her down the aisle, Sara decided not to ask them. She’d always imagined both of her parents walking her down the aisle and somehow, she thought it would be better to have no one, than a substitute who would only remind her of their absence. But now she felt a little nervous. It was a long walk to take alone. She looked down the aisle and saw Ben waiting for her and his profound love buoyed her up. He’d traveled through time to reach her side. Should could make it down the aisle to reach his.

  At that moment, she heard a very familiar voice behind her say. “Never fear, lass. Yer parents are with ye. They wouldn’t miss this. Go on now.” She looked over her shoulder in time to see Gertrude give her a little wave and disappear.

  She smiled and nodded. Gertrude was right. They were with her. She felt them. “Okay, Mom, Dad, let’s do this.”

  She walked down the aisle with the absolute assurance that her parents’ spirits were with her each step of the way. When she reached the front pew, before she went to stand with Ben, she removed two white roses from her bouquet and laid them in the spot reserved for them.

  She looked at Ben and felt encompassed by his love. The past would rest now. The future was theirs.

  A Note from the Author

  I hope you enjoyed the story of Benedict’s experience with the pocket watch.

  If you accepted the pocket watch first and have already read what happens to Sara in eighteenth-century Venice (Nothing to Lose), you know both stories now. Let me know what you think.

  If you declined the pocket watch first, you will want to find out what would have happened if Sara had accepted it. You can go to Chapter 2 - Nothing to Lose and the story will pick up immediately after Gertrude offers the pocket watch to Sara at the end of Chapter 1. But if you would like to start the next story by reading the first chapter again, which I recommend, click on the “link back to Chapter 1” below and it will take you back there. Then, when Sara is offered the pocket watch, simply choose to accept it and that link will bring you to Chapter 2 and the rest of the story.

  Link back to Chapter 1

  About The Author

  Ceci started her career as an oncology nurse at a leading research hospital, and eventually became a successful medical writer. In 1991, she married a young Irish carpenter whom she met when his brother married her dear friend. They raised their family in central New Jersey but now live with their dogs and birds in paradise, also known as southwest Florida. Although still working occasionally as a consultant in the pharmaceutical industry, Ceci spends most of her time now writing “happily ever afters.”

  Her bestselling Duncurra series, Highland Solution, Highland Courage, and Highland Intrigue are available as e-books, audiobooks, and paperbacks. There are also inspirational versions of each of these which close the bedroom door (Highland Solution – Inspirational, Highland Courage – Inspirational, and Highland Intrigue – Inspirational). Ceci will be revisiting the Duncurra world in the Duncurra Legacy series. The first novel, Tomas – A Highland Redemption, will be released in the summer of 2017.

  The Fated Hearts series begins with Ceci’s novella Highland Revenge (originally appearing in Highland Winds, The Scrolls of Cridhe – Volume 1) and continues with Highland Echoes and Highland Angels.

  If you enjoyed The Choice, look for the other Pocket Watch Chronicles. The Pocket Watch and The Midwife are available on Amazon as e-books, paperbacks, and audiobooks. The Christmas Present is available as an e-book. Once Found is available as an e-book and a paperback. The audio version of Once Found is available for FREE here, on Duncurra’s YouTube channel.

  Don’t miss the Duncurra YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/duncurra!

  You’ll find videos of Scotland, Scottish words of the day explained, free audiobooks, and much more

  Follow Ceci at:

  Website: www.cecigiltenan.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cgiltenan

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/CeciGiltenan

  If you enjoyed The Choice, you might like to read the other

  Pocket Watch Chronicles

  The Pocket Watch

  When Maggie Mitchell is transported to the thirteenth century Highlands, will Laird Logan Carr help mend her broken heart or put it in more danger than before?

  Generous, kind, and loving, Maggie nearly always puts the needs of others first. So when a mysterious elderly woman gives her an extraordinary pocket watch, telling her it’s a conduit to the past, Maggie agrees to give the watch a try, if only to disprove the woman’s delusion.

  But it works.

  Maggie finds herself in the thirteenth-century Scottish Highlands with a handsome warrior who clearly despises her. Her tender soul is caught between her own desire and the disaster she could cause for others. Will she find a way to resolve the trouble and return home within the allotted sixty days? Or will someone worthy earn her heart forever?

  The Midwife

  Can a twenty-first century independent woman find her true destiny in thirteenth-century Scotland?

  At his father’s bidding, Cade MacKenzie begs a favor from Laird Macrae—Lady MacKenzie desperately needs the renowned Macrae midwife. Laird Macrae has no intention of sending his clan’s best, instead he passes off Elsie, a young woman with little experience, as the midwife they seek.

  But fate—in the form of a mysterious older woman and an extraordinary pocket watch—steps in.

  Elizabeth Quinn, a disillusioned obstetrician, is transported to the thirteenth century. She switched souls with Elsie as the old woman said she would, but other things don’t go quite as expected. Perhaps most unexpected was falling in love.

  Once Found

  Elsie thought she had found love.

  The handsome young minstrel awoke her desire and his music fed her soul. But just as love was blossoming, the inconceivable happened—Elsie awoke more than seven hundr
ed years in the future, in the body of Dr. Elizabeth Quinn.

  Gabriel Soldani thought he had found love several times, only to have it slip from his grasp. In medical school, he had fallen hard for Elizabeth Quinn, but their careers led them in different directions. When their paths cross again, he hopes they’ve been given another chance.

  There’s only one problem…the woman he's never forgotten doesn’t remember him.

  Once love is found…and then lost…can it be found again?

  The Christmas Present

  A Pocket Watch Novella

  Faced with an empty nest, and heartbroken, Anita Lewis is given the chance to experience Christmas in another time with the help of a mysterious old woman and a pocket watch.

  The gift she receives is priceless as she rediscovers the magic of Christmas in the past.

  .

  Other Books by Ceci Giltenan

  The Duncurra Series

  Highland Solution

  Laird Niall MacIan needs Lady Katherine Ruthven’s dowry to relieve his clan’s crushing debt, but he has no intention of giving her his heart in the bargain.

  Niall MacIan, a Highland laird, desperately needs funds to save his impoverished clan. Lady Katherine Ruthven, a lowland heiress, is rumored to be “unmarriageable” and her uncle hopes to be granted her title and lands when the king sends her to a convent. King David II, anxious to strengthen his alliances, sees a solution that will give Ruthven the title he wants, and MacIan the money he needs. Laird MacIan will receive Lady Katherine’s hand along with her substantial dowry and her uncle will receive her lands and title.

  Lady Katherine must forfeit everything in exchange for a husband who does not want to be married and believes all women to be self-centered and deceitful. Can the lovely and gentle Katherine mend his heart and build a life with him or will he allow the treachery of others to destroy them?