In Search of the Past (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #2)

by Rikki Dyson

  They only had one week left. Stacey told herself, she sure as heck wasn’t gonna’ mess up their time together. She would talk to Uncle Alan again when she got home. Stacey made herself get up and stand on her own two feet. She said, “I hate to leave your warm arms, but I gotta’ go to the loo.”

  When she got there her legs almost buckled under her. She made it to the bathroom and sat down on the toilet until she felt steady again. Stacey turned on the cold water and washed her face. She looked in the mirror and told herself: Just cut it out, you already knew those people had existed when you went searching for them, for Christ sake. Now you’ve found them and you’re acting like a fool. True, you didn’t expect to find them here in your husband’s family, but what is, is, so deal with it.

  Stacey stood looking at herself in the mirror, then turned around real fast. She could have sworn there was someone behind her with her image in the mirror too. When she turned back to the mirror the image was gone, but Stacey felt like a presence was still with her. Stacey chide herself; Use your head dimwit, you’re part of this family too, in more ways than one. How did these memories get in my head? Who is maneuvering my life? Stacey saw the slightest shimmering reflection in the mirror again. This time she didn’t turn around. She told the reflection, “Let me tell you something. That was you that fell apart today, not me. I don’t fall apart like that. Yes, you make me nervous, but I’m not afraid of you. If there’s someplace you need me to take you, then dang it, leave me in control. I’m sure I know this space in time better than you do lady, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.

  Shane knocked on the door and asked, “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

  “Yes, yes of course, I’m coming out right now.”

  Stacey seemed to be back to her normal self. She apologized to Shane and everyone for acting such a baby.

  “Stacey darling, you’re so strong and brave but it doesn’t hurt to let people who love you, take care of you for awhile,” Shane’s mother said.

  “Thank you Mother McLeod. That’s so sweet of you,” Stacey said, rather surprised.

  Chapter 47

  Church

  Shane was a little mystified by this abrupt change in Stacey. He rather liked her leaning on him, especially after yesterday in Paris. He had asked to use the phone to call his wife, but had not been firm with them or insisted when they told him, and the surgical team, that for the time being, they were incommunicado. Now he knew he should have insisted.

  Stacey had no qualms about upsetting higher ups, or so called, diplomats. They were throwing their weight around and she found it unacceptable. Stacey had the guts and audacity to do something about it, while I was being polite and British, she was, ‘taking the bull by the horns,’ as she would say. So yes, it felt very good today to know she needed me.

  Shane’s dad came back and they had the evening meal. “Well, my dear, you certainly have bounced back. I didn’t think you’d let it keep you down for long,” Andrew said.

  “Yes, I feel much better,” Stacey said. “I do apologize for that display of weakness. I don’t usually fall apart like that.”

  “My dear, it doesn’t hurt to let us men feel useful, once in a while.”

  Shane’s mother took him aside and said, “Darling I feel you should keep Stacey with you tonight. I don’t think she should be alone.”

  “Those are my thoughts too Mother,” Shane said, and kissed her cheek.

  Shane and Stacey were the last to go upstairs. They’d been going through the two, family histories. Stacey said, “I need to make copies of this page and this one. I wanna’ take them back to show Gram and Mom.”

  In their bedroom, Stacey felt in control of herself again. She and Shane held on to each other and talked late into the night, discussing the improbability of Stacey’s illusions.

  Sunday morning, Stacey came down dressed in a print silk dress and heels. She said to Elizabeth McLeod, “I hope you don’t mind if Shane and I go to church with ya’ll?”

  “Not at all darling,” she said. “we would be delighted.” Elizabeth took her husband’s hand and smiled at him. Elizabeth is a believer, so naturally she believes god has a hand in what is happening.

  Reverend Boggs, was cool. After services, when he was introduced to Stacey, “So nice to meet you, my dear,” he said with a sly smile, “Wish I could officiate in your nuptials, but America is a world away.”

  Stacey shook his hand and said, “We would be honored to have you officiate, if it were possible.”

  Reverend Boggs, turned to Grandmother McLeod and said, “Now Jacquelyn, when am I to be invited to supper again? Soon I hope.”

  Jacquelyn McLeod shook her finger at Reverend Boggs and said, “You’re still an old blackmailer Timothy.”

  “Yes, I know Jacquelyn, but some of us must resort to unethical tactics to get what we want. So when?”

  On their way to the car, Andrew asked. “What was that all about Mother?”

  “You know Timothy Boggs,” she said. “That’s his way of flirting with me.”

  Her son chortled longer and louder than was necessary: She said, “I don’t believe it was quite that amusing Andrew.” That had everyone else laughing too.

  After lunch, Stacey gathered her copies of grandmother McLeod’s family history to take back to Texas. She could not rid her mind of the image she saw in the mirror. She didn’t understand how this could be possible. She wondered, if this was all in her head or was she obsessing over a dream. No, she told herself, this is more than a mere dream, this had factual people from the past. There was no way she could dismiss the real people from the past, who had documented themselves and their ancestors, in two different family history albums.

  Stacey knew Shane and his family were concerned about her stability. There was no way she wanted them to think she was unstable. She didn’t know how yet, but she would handle this on her own. Shane and Stacey said their, goodbyes, and left at three-thirty to return the rental car and catch their flight back to London.

  Chapter 48

  The Misunderstanding

  As they walked into the flat, Shane dropped their bag and said, “Oh, home sweet home.” He sat down in his chair, put his arms out and said, “Come my love, sit in my lap and tell me how much you love me.” Stacey had just sat down when the phone rang.

  “Annie and I want to see you two,” Hugh said.

  “We’ve just this minute returned from Scotland, can’t this wait?”

  “No,” Hugh said. “You’re on our list for bugging today. To deviate from the list would throw the entire project into turmoil. Now really, you’re not the type of chap to cause a bloody crisis, are you?”

  “Right, but we’ll come to you. That way when we’re bored stiff, we can leave.”

  Stacey was listening and asked, “Have you two always been like this?”

  “Hugh has, but you know me, I’m a very amicable person.”

  “Yes dear, I’m sure you are,” Stacey said, and patted his cheek.

  Annie had supper ready when they arrived. She had prepared Chinese egg rolls, beef and broccoli, rice and spiced pork with noodles. It was delicious. When they had finished eating, Hugh said, “Okay kids, we didn’t invite you over to just eat up our food. We want answers, so tell Mummy and Daddy what really happened Friday? I have a vested interest in this, I want you to know.”

  “How so?” Stacey asked.

  “Tell me your part,” Hugh said, “and I’ll jump in when it’s my turn.”

  “Okay,” Stacey said. “When I hadn’t heard from Shane by Thursday night, I called the hospital and got nowhere. Then I called you, remember? You gave me Doctor Wilkerson’s home number, but he wouldn’t take my call. So Friday morning I was at his office door. To get in, he would have had to walk over me. I told him, I wanted to talk with Shane, just to know he was alright. Doctor Wilkerson was rude and not helpful what so ever, therefore I told him I would go to the BBC, and make trouble. I left his office, but a security person came and stopped
me and asked me to please return to Doctor Wilkerson’s office.”

  “That’s where I came into the equation,” Hugh said. “While you were on your way down to the lobby, Doctor Wilkerson called me. He knows Shane and I have been chums since college. He asked me if Shane was married and if his wife was as unstable as she appeared? I assured him you were. Now it’s your turn again Stacey.”

  Stacey gave Hugh an amused smile and continued her part of the narrative, “When I returned to Doctor Wilkerson’s office, he was on the phone with the hospital in Paris. He didn’t seem to be getting anywhere, so I took the phone and told the person on the other end who I was and that I wanted my husband back. I told them they could reach me at the BBC, where I would be waiting with a copy of a certain middle eastern potentate’s medical chart. After fully understanding what I wanted, they were nice enough to grant me my wish. All I wanted was my husband back. After all, good husbands don’t grow on trees. I’ve broken this one in, so I really didn’t wanna’ have to start all over again.”

  Hugh and Shane looked at each other. Hugh was never sure, if and when, Stacey was joking or not.

  “I understand perfectly,” Annie said. “Such inconvenience is a bloody nuisance. Come Stacey, I have new drapes in the guest room I want to show you.” In the guest room Annie said, “Now tell me everything.”

  Stacey told her everything, even the bizarre thing that happened in Scotland. “If I didn’t have a strong mind and know such things are impossible, I might think I’m possessed.”

  “Possessed, by who?” Annie asked.

  “The old countess. They seem to be her memories I have inside my head. I know this sounds crazy, but I think it was her reflection I saw in the mirror.”

  “What are you going to do?” Annie asked.

  “I’m not sure, maybe talk to Uncle Alan again when I get home. He has known me most of my life. He knows ordinarily, I have a level head. I’m not the kind of person that jumps off the deep end. I don’t want Shane worrying about me, so don’t tell Hugh, okay.” Stacey sat quietly for a minute or two, then asked Annie, “Do you suppose there’s such a thing as a memory gene? One that could lay dormant for generations and then be activated, somehow.”

  “I don’t know Stacey, I really don’t know. It would sure be an answer for all this, if there were.”

  Stacey and Shane left shortly afterwards. It was late when they arrived at the flat. They both had been quiet with their own thoughts on the way home. Shane went to his office to check his calls and Stacey went upstairs to get ready for bed. She knew something was bothering Shane and she had a feeling she knew what it was. Stacey felt so guilty about falling apart the way she had in Scotland. She was afraid Shane didn’t feel the same about her now that he’d seen her weakness.

  While Stacey was showering and getting ready for bed, Shane was in his office telling himself what a colossal fool he’d been. Why had he not been more forceful with the government type? He should’ve been more insistent when they told him he was incommunicado. Shane felt he’d handled the situation badly. When Hugh told him what Doctor Wilkerson had said, he was so proud of Stacey, but angry with himself.

  When Shane came upstairs, Stacey was already in bed. He showered and went to bed too. He thought, Stacey was asleep as she was laying quietly on her tummy. Shane laid there awake. He wanted to talk to Stacey and hold her in his arms, but knew he had to get to hospital early. He had a surgery scheduled at seven. They both laid there blaming themselves for opposite failures. Finally, Stacey could stand it no longer. She flipped on the lamp, sat up on her knees in bed and said, “Shane, I’m so sorry about the way I acted.”

  “No sweetheart, you have nothing to apologize for. It was I who was wrong.”

  “I know I’ve disappointed you. I swear I’ll never fall apart like that again. I know you didn’t bargain for any of this nonsense when we got married, but I’m gonna’ handle it, I promise. I’ve made up my mind to handle this mental deficiency I have about the past.”

  Shane was lost, “What are you talking about, Stacey?”

  “I’m talking about my falling apart yesterday at your grandmother’s. Isn’t that what you’re upset about?”

  “Good lord, no,” Shane said. “I’m ashamed of my actions, or lack as were, on Friday. I should have been more forcible with those people.”

  Now Stacey was confused and said, “I’m sorry Shane, I don’t know to what, you’re referring.”

  “I’m talking about you having to deal with those ambassador people in Paris. I should have been firm with them. To not have taken, no, for an answer when I told them I needed to call you.”

  Stacey was so relieved. “Shane, those people ride rough shod over whomever gets in their way. They were determined to keep his debaucheries and his drunken injury out of the news. You had nothing to deal with at the time. When I saw his chart, I knew who he was. Thanks to Hugh, I was a wild card they couldn’t control. They had no way of knowing if I was bluffing or not. It was simpler to bring you home. That was all I wanted. You’ve no idea how much I love and admire you. I have no doubts about your courage. You put Rory in his place.”

  “How did you know about that? Oh, of course, Andrea told you.”

  “Shane, don’t ever doubt yourself, you’re a good man,” Stacey said as she put her arms around him. “Your mother and father raised you to be a good Christian, you know, like turn the other cheek. That’s okay for some people, but I’m a lot like my mother; we’re not, ‘turn the other cheek,’ type people. I’m so glad your mother likes me, in spite of my wicked ways.”

  Shane was holding Stacey’s hand and asked, “Why do you feel guilty about leaning on me at a time like that? I loved it that you needed me. Yes, you’re independent and yes, I love it because it’s a part of you, but I want to be there when you need someone. Remember what you said about when your dog, Scooby died. I told you then, you would never have to face anything alone again.”

  “Yes, I also remember at the castle ruins, when I was remembering the people in my dream. You came over and held me in your arms. I felt so safe and secure in your arms.”

  “This misunderstanding has cost us time,” Shane said as he laid Stacey down and kissed her. “I very much want to make love to you, but I have an early surgery.”

  “I want you too, but there’s always tomorrow,” Stacey said, and kissed him good night.

  The next morning, Stacey had coffee and scones ready by the time Shane was dressed and ready. Mrs. Wyatt was still under the weather, so Stacey had the flat to keep her busy.

  Later in the day, she e-mailed professor Webster: “Hello Mark, please accept my apology for taking so long to write and to thank you for the information on Dun-Raven castle. You’ll never believe the information I found in the combined histories of mine and Shane’s grandmother’s this weekend. You can’t imagine how shocked I was to find my answers to so many questions in the two family history albums. This coming summer if you have time I would love to show you our histories. Thank you again Mark for all your help.”

  Sincerely, Stacey McLeod

  Chapter 49

  Portrait from the Past

  Annie called in the afternoon and asked Stacey to meet her at the Ritz for tea around four. Annie wanted Stacey to know, that Shane had confided in Hugh, that he felt he had failed her in Paris. “Yes I know, Shane and I talked about that last night. He now understands I don’t feel that way. He also said, it made him feel good, my leaning on him in Scotland.”

  “I’m so glad you two talked it out. I would hate for non-communication to come between you two.”

  “Don’t worry, it won’t. This is the closest it will ever come.”

  Stacey and Annie were having a second cup of tea when Sir Richard Heath stopped by their table. He apologized for interrupting.

  “Not at all,” Stacey said. “Please join us.”

  Sir Richard told Annie, how much he enjoyed her party, last November.

  “Thank you, but I didn’t
have much to do with it other than greeting the guests.”

  “Well, it was quite lovely and enjoyable, nevertheless,” he said. He then turned to Stacey and asked, “Mrs. McLeod, could we have a talk about this recognition of ours?”

  “Absolutely, we can talk now, if you want.” When he looked at Annie, Stacey assured him, “It’s perfectly okay, Annie is my friend and confidant.”

  Sir Richard nodded, then asked, “Can you tell me from where or what circumstance we know one another? You said something that intrigued me. Do you remember Mrs. McLeod?”

  “Yes, I do, and please call me Stacey. I told you, “Another place, and another time.”

  What I’m about to tell you will seem bizarre and perhaps unbelievable, but I assure you, it’s very real to me.”

  Stacey preceded to tell him about her fall into the past, and that in her dream he was the, spitting image, of a young man she knew from age eighteen to sixty-nine. His name was Rodric Hampton, and in my dream he was my best friend. Sir Richard Heath politely listened and said, “How very interesting. Could I have the pleasure of yours and Doctor McLeod’s company whatever night you’re free?” He gave Stacey his private number and excused himself without another word.

  Miles Strayhorn and his mother, Molly, were having tea at the Ritz. Molly had just returned from Arizona visiting with her daughter Deborah, and her grandchildren. Molly had been pestering Miles for years to settle down, get married and give her more grandchildren. Miles was only half listening, when his mother abruptly stopped talking...Miles looked to see what or who had captured his mother’s attentions.

  “Isn’t that Richard Heath?” Miles asked. “After Father died, you and he were rather involved, as I recall.”