A Watch In Time – Chapter 3, Part 2

A WATCH IN TIME

A Full Length Short Story by Golden Keyes Parsons

Chapter Three – Part 2

Click here to start with Chapter One

“Sit down. Although I didn’t want this to reoccur, I’ve been doing some thinking.” Lily replaced the album on the desk, and they sat on the bed. “I believe there is a purpose in all of this. We can’t fight it. I think we need to find out what the reason is, work through it and then perhaps these episodes will cease.”

“What are you talking about? Are you addled? Addled? I’ve never used that word in my life. Crazy! That’s what I meant to say—are you crazy?”

“What if we could find out about our ancestors? What if we found a key that would unlock the secrets of our past? What if we need that information to … oh, I don’t know … to clear something up in our century?”

“With who? Nobody’s left. Are you talking about altering the past?”

“No, nothing like that. I’m just talking about information that might lead to a discovery in our day and time that would heal the past.”

“What needs to be healed about our past?”

“Why do you think Mother never told us anything about our relatives? Why didn’t we have extended family like everyone else? What if there are forgiveness and reconciliation issues that need to be dealt with that we don’t know about?”

David looked in the mirror of a nearby vanity, and smoothed down his mustache. “Never thought about it.” He straightened up and took a deep breath. “I rather like the moustache.”

Loud banging interrupted their conversation. Easing out of the bedroom into the hallway and peering down the stairs, they watched a much older Tildy answer the front door.

“I must speak with Miss Lillian immediately.”

“Yes, sir, Dr. Kaufman. Come in, please. Weather’s mighty cold out there tonight.”

“Thank you, Tildy.” A middle-aged man, with a pointed goatee entered carrying a large basket.

Lily and David started down the curved staircase.

“Oh, good. You’re here too, David. I suppose your family has gone on to the Cotton Palace. Big opening night.”

David extended his hand to the doctor. “Uh … hmmmm … yes, of course.” He looked at his sister with a quirk of his eyebrows.

Lily’s mind raced. Opening of the Texas Cotton Palace – 1894.

Dr. Kaufman set the basket on the hall tree as the sound of a baby’s soft whimper filtered into the air. “I just delivered this little girl. The mother is … well, unable to keep it. She asked that it be brought to you, Miss Lillian, seeing as how you don’t have any children, and you’re a kind Christian woman.”

“Why I couldn’t possibly … I … .”

“I don’t have time to debate with you. I’m late already. You must take this little girl.” He paused as he opened the door.

“It’s your destiny.” And he was gone.

Lily gathered the baby in her arms. “Poor thing.” As she pulled the note from the blanket, something hit the wooden floor with a clank.

David picked up the pocket watch with its long braided fob and gave his sister a knowing glance.

Unfolding the note, Lily held it up to the gaslight to read:

I am not worthy to take care of my baby. The father does not know about her, nor do I want him to know. He is a good man, a prominent citizen, whose family would disown him if they knew that he had fathered a child with a woman from the Reservation. He has been out of town on business for the last six months and is due back in Waco this week. I must make arrangements quickly. I have heard that you are good people. Use the watch to help pay for my baby’s care. Please, please love my baby.

The Reservation … this baby was the illegitimate child of a prostitute.

Watch … watch! Was this what her mother was talking about? A timepiece? She turned it over in her hand. It didn’t look like an 1861 timepiece to her, more like the turn of the century. Clicking it open, she read the engraved message on the inside. “I wait for thee.”

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Join us next Friday for part 1 of chapter 4.

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