Forever in My Heart: The Pocket Watch Chronicles, page 14
“But I’ll still want to hear you read it.”
So with her cuddled at his side, he opened the book.
“Is that the copy you bought for your father years ago?”
“The very same. Just like the one Mr. Grant gave to ye.”
For the next hour and a half, Gerald read the beloved story. He recaptured warm memories of his parents and his brother and sister. He also remembered Katie’s little face, as she listened so intently that Christmas Eve and the vision of Mary rocking a sleeping Robbie. Although the memories of Mary’s children, and his brother and sister were tinged with sadness because he wasn’t able to watch them grow up, they no longer caused the searing pain they once had. He had impacted their lives in a very substantial way. They had grown to adulthood with parents who cherished them. He knew they were all well wherever they were, and now the heart of his heart was at his side at last.
When he finished the story, she sighed. “I have loved that story from the first time you read it to me.”
“I fell in love with it again that night.”
“Did your father like his present?”
“He did. Very much. He wasn’t a man given to emotional displays, but I could see tears standing in his eyes, and he hugged me—” Gerald chuckled, adding, “—long and hard. He read it aloud every Christmas after that until he passed away. I always went home for Christmas.” He looked at her pointedly. “And when I did, I always took a walk through Govan on Christmas Eve.”
She kissed him. “I love you so.” She kissed him again. “But now we need to go to bed or Father Christmas won’t come.”
“Funny ye should mention Father Christmas. I ran into him at Tiffany’s earlier this week. He suggested I get this for ye.” He pulled the pale blue box from his pocket. “I’d get down on one knee, but my joints are old enough, I might not get back up.” He opened the box, revealing the diamond ring within it. “Marilyn Maxwell…Mary Lynn Coffee…my beloved Mary…will ye do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Oh Gerald! Of course I will. I thought you’d never ask.”
He removed the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger. “Perhaps it was selfish of me, but I wanted to hear ye say yes and know ye truly wished to marry me.”
“Not selfish at all. I understand. But how about we don’t wait long for the wedding?”
“How does New Year’s Eve sound?”
“It sounds like a whole week away.”
He laughed. “We’ll start the process for a marriage license the day after tomorrow.
~ * ~
Gerald woke Mary with a kiss. “Good morning, my love.”
She yawned and stretched. “Good morning. Merry Christmas.”
He kissed her again. “Merry Christmas.”
“How would ye like eggs and bacon for breakfast?”
“On a plate, with a steaming mug of tea beside it.”
He laughed. “I think I can manage that. Breakfast and then presents or presents and then breakfast?”
“I think breakfast first. I’m not sure I’ve had breakfast before presents in years.”
“Yer wish is my command.”
After breakfast they unwrapped the presents from each other.
The first present Mary opened was a cozy red cashmere cardigan. “I love it!”
“I remembered ye couldn’t imagine how it was that Marilyn didn’t have a cardigan. I suspect it wasn’t her style, but it’s definitely yers.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. And I guess great minds think alike. Open this one.”
He laughed. “A cashmere sweater. And such a great color. Thank you.”
He opened a small box containing a handsome pair of leather gloves and he gave her another little blue box that contained pearl earrings.
Then she brought him a beautifully wrapped clothing box. “I wanted to give you something that came from my heart and not a store.”
He opened the box, not sure of what to expect. In it lay two beautiful, handmade shirts. “Mary, just like ye gave me that first Christmas.”
“They aren’t the modern style with collars attached.”
“I love them. They call these grandfather shirts now and they’re becoming very popular. They are perfect. And I love that you made them.”
“I bought an electric sewing machine. I love it so much. You might end up with quite a few handmade things.”
“And I’ll love them and wear them proudly. I have two more things for ye. I bought one yesterday while we were at the store and I didn’t have time to wrap it.” He went to the bedroom and retrieved the glycerin and rosewater soap he’d purchased yesterday and a small box he’d had for years. He gave her the bar of soap.
“Oh, Gerald.” Her hand flew to her mouth.
“It’s perfectly fine if you don’t care for it anymore.”
“What are you talking about? I love it. That’s the only soap I ever used after you left. It reminded me of you every day. James knew I loved the scent. He didn’t know it held any other meaning for me.”
“Funny. For years every time I caught a whiff of rose fragrance, I turned to look for ye. I’m looking forward to being surrounded by it for the rest of my life. And I have one other thing I want ye to have.” He gave her the box.
She gasped when she saw the brooch. “It’s just like the one ye gave me. I gave it to Katie on her wedding day.”
“I’m not sure it’s just like that one. Ye remember I bought it for ye because it reminded me of one my grandmother had?”
“I remember.”
“Well, that one was my grandmother’s. My father’s mother. He was their only child and my grandmother gave it to my mother the day she married Da. I intended to give it to ye on our wedding day, until I learned who ye were. Then this seemed most appropriate.”
“My love, it’s wonderful.” She kissed him. Then she kissed him again, slowly and sensually. “I think I’d like to give you another wee gift.” She stood up, took his hands in hers and led him to the bedroom.
“Oh sweetling, I think I have an inkling of what this gift might be and I’m absolutely certain it’s a perfect fit.”
~ * ~
After they were both well-sated, they worked together to prepare Christmas dinner—roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and baby peas. They were just preparing to sit down when someone knocked on the door.
“That’s odd,” said Gerald. “It must be a neighbor. Anyone coming in from outside would have to have been buzzed in.”
He opened the door and there stood Gertrude.
“Am I late for dinner?”
Gerald laughed. “Nay, of course not. As ever, yer timing is impeccable. Come in. I believe ye know Mary.”
Mary rushed over to hug Gertrude. “I can finally say more to you that just Elvis.
“Oh, my sweet lass, ye said everything that needed to be said with yer heart.”
“Well then I’ll just say thank you, for giving me the watch—and Gerald.”
The old woman laughed. “I didn’t give him to ye. The watch did. Twice.”
Gerald’s brows drew together. “But Gertrude, if we were meant to be together, why couldn’t I have just stayed in the past.”
“Gerald, ye’re like a broken record. I’ve told ye before, ye are where ye’re meant to be when ye’re meant to be there. I know it was hard to accept and I couldn’t tell ye why it was necessary because I didn’t know the exact reason then. But I do now.”
“Then please tell us,” said Gerald.
“Be patient, lad. Dinner’s getting cold.”
He laughed. “Of course. Please come sit down. An angel is always welcome at our table. I’ll set an extra place for ye.”
Gerald didn’t push for more information. He knew that Gertrude would tell them when she was ready.
When dinner was over, and they were enjoying tea and Christmas cake, Gertrude said, “That was a delightful meal. Thank ye for having me. Mary, that’s a lovely brooch ye’re wearing.”
“Gerald gave it to me. He gave me one like it on that first Christmas together.”
“One like it ye say?”
“Aye, that one was my grandmother’s. When I saw one similar to it in a second-hand shop that Christmas, I bought it for Mary.”
“Very interesting. Tell me, Gerald, what was yer grandmother’s name?”
“Martha Rose.”
Mary’s brow drew together.
“Rose was her married name. Do ye know what her maiden name was?”
“Carr, I think.”
“That’s right. And do ye know her mother’s name?”
“Not off the top of my head. I have a family record somewhere.”
“Yer great-grandmother’s name was Katie Campbell Chattan.”
Mary gasped. “My Katie?”
“The very same.”
“Oh dear God, that means Gerald is my great-great-grandson.”
“It means nothing of the sort. Ye’re Mary Lynn Coffee—or Marilyn Maxwell if ye prefer. Biologically Gerald is Mary Campbell Chattan’s great-great-grandson but souls have nothing to do with biology. They might cross paths over and over again, in different roles. I know two women, Kathryn and Susan they’re called now, whose souls have crossed paths over and over throughout time—often as sisters but not always. Still, they do always manage to find each other. Ye just found each other in a slightly less traditional manner.”
“Then we’re meant to be together,” asked Mary.
“Of course ye’re meant to be together.”
Gerald was still trying to grasp all of the implications of this. “Gertrude, what if I hadn’t accepted the watch and Mary had killed Jock that night?”
“I have no idea because ye did accept the watch. And by doing so, ye saved more than the lives of Mary and her children. As Mary’s already told ye, by teaching her about the causes of illness, she was able to keep all five of her children and her husband James alive. Thus Katie grew to adulthood and had children of her own. Like ye did, Mary, Katie gave that brooch to her oldest daughter, Martha, on her wedding day. And as ye’ve already stated, Gerald, Martha gave it to yer mother. Now ye’ve given it to the woman who’ll be yer wife.”
Both Gerald and Mary sat, staring at Gertrude—stunned.
Gertrude stood and brushed the wrinkles out of her skirt. “Well, now that’s all taken care of, I should be going.” She opened her arms. “Give me a hug.”
As always, a hug from Gertrude filled Gerald with a sense of deep peace and contentment.
The walked with her to the door and said their goodbyes.
“I won’t ask if we’ll see ye again,” said Gerald. “I know the answer.”
“What’s the answer?” asked Mary.
In unison Gertrude and Gerald said, “Only time will tell.”
Then Gertrude laughed merrily. She started to step through the door but turned back. “Oh, there’s one more thing ye should know. The book ye bought yer da is the same one Mr. Grant gave to Mary. It eventually became Robbie’s. I’m not exactly sure how it came to be in the antique book shop the day ye went shopping. But I’m glad it did, Gerald. It meant the world to yer father. Now, I’ll say farewell and Merry Christmas.
As she stepped through the door, she dissolved into mist.
Gerald shook his head. “Ye have to admit, Gertrude does things with an unmistakable flare.”
Mary laughed. “Yes she does. But she made one thing perfectly clear. We are soulmates.”
Gerald gathered her in his arms. “I didn’t need Gertrude to tell me that. I’ve known it for years.” Then he kissed her.
~ * ~
We wish you every happiness in whatever season you find yourself,
Ceci Giltenan and Gertrude
If you enjoyed Gerald and Mary’s story and haven’t read the other Pocket Watch Chronicles, please try the other. The Pocket Watch: The Pocket Watch Chronicles, started it all. Read Elsie and Gabe’s story, and meet Dr. Rose and the Sinclairs for the first time in
Once Found: The Pocket Watch Chronicles. Dr. Rose, Elsie and Gabe also appear in
The Choice: The Pocket Watch Chronicles (What if I Fall).
Other titles in The Pocket Watch Chronicles
The Midwife
The Christmas Present
The Choice
The Gift
You can learn more about other titles by Ceci Giltenan at www.duncurra.com.
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Scottish Historical romance by Ceci Giltenan
The Fated Hearts Series
Highland Revenge
Highland Echoes
Highland Angels
The Duncurra Series
Highland Solution
Highland Courage
Highland Intrigue
Duncurra Legacy series
Highland Redemption
A Wee Highland Predicament
Beyond Duncurra
Highland Sins
Ceci Giltenan, Forever in My Heart: The Pocket Watch Chronicles
