Finding Elizabeth (17 page)

I pray you have a safe trip and know that
you are always in my heart and prayers.

Eternally Yours,

Thomas

March 1, 1886

My Dearest Elizabeth,

I hope this letter finds you well, and your
travels to Arkansas were safe. I can not think of anything other
than the life we shall have and the beautiful redheaded children
you shall surely give me.

I continue to work as a hand by day and play
cards in the gambling house at night. I have had a bit of a
setback, but please do not worry. Even if it takes a hundred years,
I will come for you as soon as I have a large enough dowry. I have
earned enough for the trip to Arkansas, and saved a small amount in
addition to that, but fear I will need much more to please your
father.

I often ask after you in hopes that someone
has word, but sadly all I ever get is the answer no. For now, I
just have to continue on, but please Dear Elizabeth know, that I
love you.

I know I should not think of it, or even
write it, but I love to think back of our day in the carriage
house. I hope you do not think less of me, for you are a beautiful
flower that deserves so much more than a roll in the hay. As soon
as we are together as man and wife, know that you will be cherished
for the rest of your life.

I will be there as soon as I can, please do
not give up on me, because I shall never give up on you.

Forever Yours,

Thomas

Claire folded the letters and put them back
into the envelope, "Wow, he really did love her. I had begun to
wonder until I read he had come for her and that Phillip killed
him. But after reading his letters, I got the sense she was all he
ever thought of and everything he did was so they could be
together."

"I think you are right. I wish things would
have been different for them, but just knowing they are together
now, with Emma will have to be enough," Daniel said.

As they carried the trunk into Elizabeth's
bedroom, they carefully set it down in the far corner of the room.
After all the contents had been pulled out, Claire began carefully
arranging them. With the white blanket lining the inside of the
bassinet, she positioned it near the bed. She lovingly laid the
handmade doll and the tiny silver rattle on top of the blanket.

In the other corner was the beautiful
rocking chair, and she gently placed the blanket Elizabeth made,
over the back. Claire found a small antique hanger and hung Emma's
beautiful dress from the picture rail as Daniel hung Elizabeth's
painting over the bed.

Retrieving the item's from Elizabeth's pink
room she laid the beautiful bottles and the brush and comb set on
the vanity next to the gold heart shaped locket. Laying the
beautiful Garnet gown on the bed before sitting the journal and the
letters from Thomas on top.

Stepping back to look at their work Claire
felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that Elizabeth was
pleased, "As soon as I can grow them, I plan to fill this room with
pink peonies."

Feeling Daniel beside her, she looked up and
saw a look of pure love on his face, just before he leaned down to
kiss her.

As Daniel pulled away he said, "I'm sorry
Claire, I shouldn't have done that. I just couldn't help myself. I
am falling in love with you, and I think you feel the same. If I am
wrong, just tell me and I will leave."

But he didn't have to worry long as Claire
reached up and returned his kiss.

***

Over the coming weeks and months as Claire
and Daniels love grew, winter gave way to spring and then to
summer. Orchard House was returned to it's original twentieth
century condition. The gardens were more lovely than Claire could
have envisioned. Her favorite part of the garden was the various
shades of peonies that lined the gracious curves along the patio
and walkway. The same paths she knew William helped build when he
was a young boy.

Claire and Daniel stayed busy with the
opening of the antique store, that Claire lovingly named
Elizabeth's Attic. The store was a huge success. Customers flocked
to the old building and many commented, saying they loved the look
of the old and the new.

As promised, Jen was by her side for much of
the preparation and for the grand opening. Claire remained hopeful
that some day Jen would move to Eureka, and make it her home, but
for now her visits would have to be enough.

Claire brought most of the items from the
basement to the store but she was not ready to part with her
treasures from the attic, or with Adam's things.

She still hadn't learned much about William
and was hopeful that someday she would discover what had become of
him after he left Orchard House. She often wondered about the grove
of pines at the rear of the property, and if she would ever find
out where Thomas had been buried.

After the store was opened Daniel turned his
attention to the carriage house. He worked for weeks on end as he
turned the lovely old building into a beautiful new home. When the
carriage house was complete, he quickly began work on the changes
that Claire wanted to make to the home. She decided to keep her
bedroom on the ground floor and Daniel turned the large room into a
master suite built for a Queen.

They spent hours in the evening and on
weekends scouring antique stores, estate sales and auctions. Always
looking for antique light fixtures, doors, sinks and tubs and
anything that looked like it belonged in her Victorian mansion.
Claire could not believe how beautiful the home had become, with
the rooms lovingly restored to the style and elegance of the
1880's.

Looking playfully at Claire, "I have
something for you," Daniel said as he handed Claire a thick bundle
of old envelopes.

Shocked, Claire looked at the stack of
unopened letters from Thomas, "Where did you find these? I thought
we covered every inch of the house."

Daniel smiled at the excitement on Claire's
face, "I found them tucked inside the wall in one of the bathrooms.
Are you going to read them?"

Thinking for a moment Claire said, "No, She
is at peace now. I haven't heard her sobs or the baby cry since we
discovered the truth. And I no longer feel the sensation of deja
vu. I think we should leave them for Elizabeth. She shared her
journal and everything we discovered as we read it. I think the
letters should remain sealed. They will be Elizabeth's secret."

"I wonder what other secrets that old house
is hiding. I have often wondered if there are other secret passages
or hidden rooms," Claire said.

"I have wondered the same thing. Maybe we
will find out more in the years to come," Daniel said as he looked
at his watch. "Oh, it's almost time, are you ready?"

"I'm ready. It's time to lay Elizabeth and
Emma to rest in their rightful place in the family plot," Claire
said as they walked toward the cemetery.

As they reached the graves they looked on as
the two wooden boxes were pulled from the ground and gently laid to
rest inside of the gate. The headstone that Claire had chosen for
Emma was a beautiful cross with a cherub resting on top. The
epitaph simply read, Emma Olivia Campbell, beloved infant daughter
of Elizabeth Van White and Thomas Campbell 1886-1887.

For Elizabeth, Claire chose the most
beautiful headstone she had ever seen. It was a large angel that
stood over five feet tall and it was holding a heart. The heart
read, Elizabeth Van White, Beloved Mother, Daughter, Sister and
Friend 1869-1887. On the back of the stone were the words, Too
Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten.

"I think Elizabeth would be pleased. She is
finally resting next to her beloved mother and brother," Claire
said as she tried not to think of Elizabeth's murderous father
lying just a few feet away.

Daniel squeezed her hand, "Are you ready to
say goodbye? I can go to the house and give you privacy if you want
me to."

With tears in her eyes Claire said, "I'm as
ready as I will ever be, but I need you here with me."

They walked into the cemetery to the two
small graves as she gently placed the wooden boxes that held the
ashes of Adam and her baby into the ground.

As they walked toward the house Claire
paused in her favorite spot, Olivia's English garden. As Claire
heard her name she turned to find Daniel on one knee.

"Miss Claire Van White, I have never felt
this way about another person. You are the first thing I think of
in the morning and the last thing I think of at night. I can not
imagine spending the rest of my life without you."

Taking a deep breath Daniel continued, "If
not for Adam, we would never have met, I truly feel he led you to
me. Adam has your past, and I hope to have your future." As Daniel
slipped the ring on Claire's finger he said, "I would be honored if
you would become my wife."

Without even a thought Claire simply cried,
"Yes, Yes, Yes, I would love to be your wife."

***