by Rikki Dyson
Stacey and family stayed two days in Cincinnati and flew back to Texas the next day. Before they left, the St. John families agreed to get together at least every two years. Jessie said, “We will meet with ya’ll wherever is most convenient for everyone, however, we live in a big ole ranch house with lots of bedrooms. Your entire families are most welcome anytime. Jessie and Sam Scott invited. Stacey and Shane invited them to London, also.
On Friday morning, they packed the SUV and along with Stacey’s mom and dad headed for Houston. They had said their good byes to Stacey’s grandparents and family as well as the double SS people. Stacey turned for one last look as they left the long driveway, turned on the black top and headed for the interstate.
Stacey took Shane’s hand and said, “You know my love, the next time we see that driveway we’ll have our son with us.”
Shane took her hand and kissed it. He marveled at how she always knew the right thing to say to him to ease his mind. Shane couldn’t phantom why he had this gut feeling that this place would pull her back someday. Stacey had given him no reason to think this and yet this cold dread ate at his very soul.
The drive to Houston was pleasant and uneventful. As they drove to the side entrance, Gram and Grandad met them at the door. Tracey and Alan arrived in the afternoon. At the supper table, the talk was about the new relatives and the war in Iraq.
David and Daniel were back in the Middle East again. They took the precautions to hire their own bodyguards to protect their men when they were fighting oil fires.
The next morning after breakfast, Stacey phoned Aunt Lora. When Wilkes answered, Stacey asked how he and Mavis were doing. Wilkes replied, “Very well madam. What can I do for you?”
“You can pull up on being such a snot for one thing,” Stacey said. Then asked, “May I speak to my aunt or Sir Richard?” Wilkes informed her that Sir Richard and Lady Heath were not available.
“Are they on their way to Texas? Stacey asked.
“I really couldn’t say madam. I can only say, “They are out of town,” Wilkes reiterated.
As Stacey hung up the phone quite exasperated, she said, “Boy, would I love to shove this phone right up his pompous ass.”
Grandad said, “Hip, hip, now there’s our Stacey we know and love. Don’t you ever change darling, you’re still my favorite.” That eased the tension and set everyone to laughing.
After supper, Stacey saw Shane and Alan talking in the library. She didn’t know what it was about, but she was glad Shane and Alan were friends. Before long she heard Shane’s husky baritone laugh. Hearing his sexy voice always gave her a thrill. She loved the nights laying in his arms with him talking to her.
Sunday morning came way too soon. As they said their ‘goodbyes’ there was laughter, tears and hugs. Finally, they were seated on the plane and held hands as it taxied down the runway then lifted off and climbed high into the morning sky on its long flight to England.
Chapter-43
The Inheritance
The clock was chiming midnight, as Shane and Stacey stepped into the flat. They left their luggage at the foot of the stairs and headed to bed. Neither of them had slept on the plane and they both were dead tired. Stacey found herself going to the lavatory every few minutes, it seemed. The flight attendant inquired if she was alright. “Yes, I’m fine,” Stacey said. “Just pregnant.”
The doorbell, woke Stacey at nine the next morning. As she got out of bed, Shane opened one eye and asked her where she was going. “To answer the door,” she said. “Go back to sleep, I’ll be right back.”
Stacey was surprised to see the doorman when she looked through the spy hole. “Sorry to bother you Mrs. McLeod, but these packages came yesterday. The lady said they were important and that I should get them to you as soon as you returned.”
Stacey thanked him, as he set the packages into the room. She examined the packages for the return address, but there was none. “That’s strange,” she said. “Did the lady who brought these leave her name?”
“No ma’am, she didn’t,” Alfred said.
“Was the lady my aunt, Mrs. Heath?”
“No ma’am,” he said. “I know your aunt but I never laid eyes on this lady before.”
Stacey thanked him again and closed the door. She sat wondering who had sent the packages, then she took the one marked fragile and carefully opened it. Stacey was sitting on the floor looking at the contents of the package with tears running down her cheeks when Shane came down the stairs.
“What’s wrong sweetheart?”
Stacey looked up at him with tear-filled eyes and said, “Miss Leona is dead.”
Shane sat down on the floor beside her and took her in his arms. On the floor in front of Stacey was the delicate bone china tea set Miss Leona had served them and Professor Ethan Howard tea in that first meeting. The note inside read, Miss Leona wanted you to have these, the portraits and the journals. She said, you’ll know what to do with them when the time is right.
“What does she mean by that?” Shane asked.
“I don’t know,” Stacey said. “I can’t think straight right now anyway.”
“Why don’t you call your aunt and see if she knows.”
“Yes, I’ll do that, while you put on the coffee.”
Stacey called Aunt Lora on her cell phone. She didn’t want another encounter with Wilkes, not today anyway. When Lora answered the phone, she knew Stacey knew Miss Leona was dead.
“I’m so sorry, Stacey darling, I didn’t want you to find out that way. We were coming over today to tell you and Shane. We went to her funeral and so did Ethan Howard and his family. I’ll tell you all about it when we get there.”
By the time, Aunt Lora and Richard arrived Shane had opened the other two packages. The larger one was the portrait of the earl and countess of Dun-Raven and the small one was a box containing five leather bound journals. Stacey was still sitting on the floor thumbing through the journals when they arrived. As Stacey stood up to hug her aunt and Richard. She asked, “When did Miss Leona die?”
“The fifth of January,” Aunt Lora said. “We didn’t call you darling, because there was nothing you could do and we didn’t want to spoil your trip.”
“We could’ve sent flowers,” Stacey said.
“How did she die?” Shane asked.
“Very peacefully,” Richard said. “Flora told us she died in her sleep.”
“Did you know she was one hundred and three years old?” Aunt Lora asked.
“No, we didn’t,” Stacey said.
Aunt Lora looked at the tea set on the floor and said, “Flora told us, Miss Leona wanted you to have her tea set. On our last visit up there, she told us about how reluctant you were to touch her fine china. She was very amused when I confirmed your quantity of breakage when you were a youngster.”
Stacey smiled and said, “Most times, I think I’ve out grown those years, then when I least expect it I drop something and it all comes flooding back to me.”
Shane was standing by the sofa with the portrait leaning against it. He said, “Look at what we’ve inherited.”
Stacey could tell by the sound of his voice he wasn’t all that pleased. She knew Shane had ambivalent feelings about the earl of Dun-Raven, because of her dream and the odd circumstances surrounding it. Stacey was aware of his feelings and knew if the shoe was on the other foot, she wouldn’t be as placid and understanding as Shane.
As Shane stood looking at the portrait, he chided himself for being so resentful of a man who had long been dead and his own progenitor as well as Stacey’s. It was hard to explain his neurotic feelings. He had talked with Alan about his feelings of jealousy about this man who looked so very much like himself. Shane knew Stacey loved him, and he was the only man she had ever been with, but she did carry the memories, of Eric Fitz-Morgan and a life and children with him. So many times, he wanted to ask her if she still thought of him and the past, but he wasn’t sure he could handle the answer if it was, yes.
Alan had advised him to leave the past where it belonged unless Stacey initiated the conversation herself. Granted; Stacey’s memories seemed to be diminishing, and the joy of being pregnant was foremost in her mind. Shane had wondered if Stacey being so sure the child she was carrying was a boy, was because in her dream life she and the earl’s first child was a son. Now here was this man with his eerie presents staring back at him in his own home.
Stacey stood and examined the painting. She turned to Richard and said, “I can’t imagine why Miss Leona wanted us to have this portrait. It would have a better home in a museum.”
Shane couldn’t believe his ears. He wanted to shout, Yes but that wasn’t his style, so he calmly asked, “Are you sure you don’t want it sweetheart?”
Aunt Lora spoke up and said, “That’s a wonderful idea. I’m sure a museum would give their eye teeth for it.”
Stacey laughed and said, “We don’t want anything for it, especially someone’s teeth. We just want it to have a good home.”
Richard said, “Well, in that case, why don’t we take it with us. Tomorrow I will contact a few people and arrange to donate it from the Heath collection. I had wondered what to do someday with all my paintings. Now I know. I shall donate them to a museum also, where they can be admired by all. I think that’s a fitting testimonial for such an illustrious family.”
Shane, shook hands with Richard and Stacey hugged him. They both thanked him profusely. Shane wrapped the painting back in the paper and put it back in the crate in which it had arrived.
Over coffee, Aunt Lora and Richard filled them in on the funeral. A vicar at Thornhill preformed the service, and then a train transported Miss Leona to Yorkshire to a cemetery on the outskirts of a beautiful old village called Holmfirth. “There are quite a few Fitz-William’s buried there,” Aunt Lora said, “I suspect when you study those journals you’ll find that village paramount in them.”
“Are we to understand, you accompanied Miss Leona to Yorkshire for the burial?”
“Yes, of course,” Richard said, “but not only us. The young vicar along with Flora, Professor Howard, his sister-in-law Terry and the twins Damon and Deirdre.”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t be there too,” Stacey said, “But I’m glad she didn’t have to go alone.”
Aunt Lora patted Stacey’s hand and said, “Darling you know we would’ve never allowed Miss Leona to make that trip alone.”
Chapter-44
A double surprise
Life had returned to normal in the McLeod household. Shane was busy at the hospital and Stacey had her studies and home to keep her busy. On the morning, of February second, Stacey and Shane were in Doctor Shaw’s examining room. After examining Stacey, she said, “I think it’s about time we do an ultra sound. Do you want to know the gender of your baby?”
Both Stacey and Shane agreed they did, so Doctor Shaw brought in the ultra sound machine. Stacey was laying on the table and Shane was at her side watching along with the doctor. Shane moved up closer to the machine and took Stacey’s hand in his.
“Do you see our son?” Stacey asked.
Shane smiled at her and Doctor Shaw asked, “What name had you chosen for your son, should it be a boy?”
“Patrick,” Stacey said confidently.
Doctor Shaw said, “Perhaps you should consider names more like Petulance and Penelope.” Stacey frowned, but Shane with the biggest grin said, “Its twins, sweetheart. Two little lasses.”
“Are you sure, Doctor Shaw?” Stacey asked.
“Yes, Stacey, very sure,” she said.
Stacey had been so sure it was a boy, it was difficult to let go of the idea. Stacey was quiet as they went to the car. When they got in the car, Shane put his arms around her and held her tight. He took the photo out and looked at it again and said, “Isn’t it wonderful sweetheart, we’re having two little girls.”
“Aren’t you disappointed Shane?”
“Good, god, no,” he said. “You’re looking at the luckiest and happiest man in the world. Just think sweetheart, two bonnie lasses that will look just like their beautiful mother.”
Stacey finally smiled at him and said, “You’re serious, you really don’t mind not having a son first?”
“Absolutely not,” Shane said. “I will love having three women to love and spoil me.”
Shane was happy. Of course, someday he wanted a son, but he was extremely happy, thrilled even that his and Stacey’s first children were twin daughters. That night after making love to his wife, Shane held her close and asked, “Do you remember way back when you asked me to fill you full of babies? Well, I think I’ve done an extremely superb job of it.”
Stacey kissed him and said, “Yes, you have my love. Oh Shane, just think, two little girls. I can hardly wait. Tomorrow we must call Scotland and Texas. Aunt Lora and Richard are gonna be beside themselves. We have to tell them in person. You can tell Hugh and I’ll tell Annie.”
Shane leaned over and kissed Stacey’s tummy, then he kissed her lips and asked, “You are happy about the babies, aren’t you?”
“Yes, of course, Shane,” Stacey said. “I couldn’t be happier. I was so sure it was a boy that I had to refocus. I’m delighted. Don’t you ever doubt it!
Stacey had almost dozed off when Shane said, “Sweetheart, what do you think we should name our girls?”
Stacey snuggled closer to her husband and said, “I don’t think we have to choose names tonight. There are loads of lovely names out there. We have a few months to decide.”
“Right, you are,” Shane said. Before long, they both were sound asleep.
Chapter-45
The accident
Shane was home early for the first time in some weeks. He was waiting when Stacey came through the door. In her arms were bags of groceries. Shane jumped from the sofa when he saw her arms full. He asked, “Sweetheart, why didn’t you wait for me to help you shop?”
“Because we needed things now,” Stacey said. “I didn’t know you would be home early.”
As they were putting things away, Shane asked, “How have you been getting to and from school? Hugh told me today that Annie is on maternity leave and has been since Christmas.”
Stacey stopped what she was doing, turned to Shane and said, “I’ve been taking the tube, why?”
“I wish you would agree to let me lease you a car. I’ve ridden the tube and I know how crowded and pushy it can be. You’re pregnant sweetheart, I don’t want anything to happen to my girls.”
Stacey smiled at him and said, “Rest easy my love, nothing is gonna happen. A friend of mine I met riding the tube now has a car. I’ve been riding with her for the past few weeks. So you see there’s nothing to worry about.”
Three weeks later Shane called Stacey’s cell phone to tell her he had an emergency and would be home late. Stacey’s carpool friend Julia, had told Stacey a few days before she wouldn’t be at school on Friday, because she would be driving her grandmother home to Devon.
Stacey called Annie to tell her she had a free evening; that Shane had an emergency at the hospital and could she come by to visit.
“Of course, you can,” she said. “Come have supper with us.”
Stacey had just walked through the door when Hugh said, “Good lord, what a bloody mess.”
“What is it?” Annie asked.
Hugh was watching the news and said, “There has been an accident on the motorway. A lorry hit this young woman and she’s barely alive. Her car is in total shambles.”
As Stacey turned to go to the kitchen with Annie, the reporter said, “The young woman is a student at the university. We don’t have her name as of yet.”
Annie and Stacey both turned back to the news as the reporter said, “The Volvo she was driving is a dreadful mess.”
“Oh my god, it’s Julia!” Stacey said as she grabbed her coat and bag. “I have to go to her. Did they say to which hospital she was taken?”
“Yes,” Hugh said. “Do you want me
to drive you?”
“No, thank you, Hugh, a cab will be faster.”
When Stacey arrived at Charring Cross hospital, she asked information, “Where’s the young woman that was brought in this afternoon? Her name is Julia Morrison.”
“Are you family?” the woman asked.
“No, I’m not, I’ve come to be with her mother. Both her father and brother are in Iraq. Please tell me where I can find her.”
Maybe it was the no nonsense look on Stacey’s face or the determined sound of her voice, that the woman directed her to the fifth floor. Stacey took the elevator and was there in no time. When she entered the waiting room, Mrs. Morrison was sitting alone with her head bowed. Stacey touched her shoulder and sat down beside her.
“My name is Stacey. Julia and I are friends. May I wait with you?”
Mrs. Morrison took Stacey’s hand and said, “Of course, you can. I’m so glad you came. You know she was on her way back from taking her grandmother home.”
“Yes, I know,” Stacey said. “Have they told you anything yet?”
“Not really,” Mrs. Morrison said. “They’ve called in a neurosurgeon who comes highly recommended, but that seems like hours ago.”
Stacey and Julia’s mother sat together talking and praying. Stacey went to get coffee and candy bars, then they sat and held hands until a young physician came to talk to Mrs. Morrison.
“Hello, I’m Doctor Gear, Julia is out of surgery and in recovery. Doctor McLeod feels sure all the bone fragments and other debris has been extracted successfully. We had to remove a piece of her skull to make room for her brain swelling, but that’s no problem. She’ll be good as new in no time.”
“May I see my daughter?” Mrs. Morrison asked.
“Yes, I’ll take you in now. She’s in recovery. Doctor McLeod is still with her.”
Mrs. Morrison held on to Stacey’s hand. Stacey assured her, “Don’t worry, I’ve heard he’s an extraordinary good doctor.”
Mrs. Morrison patted Stacey’s hand, then turned it loose and went with Doctor Gear. Stacey sat back down to wait. She felt much better just knowing Shane was the doctor. So this was his emergency he’d called about. In a little while, Doctor Gear joined her. Stacey asked him how Julia was.
