Forever in My Heart: The Pocket Watch Chronicles Read online

Gertrude? The angel who gave my Jock the watch? “Elvis?”

  “The very same.”

  Ye can understand me? “Elvis?”

  “Aye, sweetling. Ye don’t have to speak. I can hear what’s written on yer heart.”

  Mary became agitated. Why? Why did ye do that to me? What did ye let me give my heart to him so completely only to have him leave in the space of a heartbeat?

  Gertrude crossed the room and sitting beside Mary on the bed, laid a hand on her shoulder. Mary was filled with a deep sense of peace.

  “I know that loss was devastating for ye. It wasn’t I that took him away. As ye guessed on that day, Elvis was his return word. It was a slip of the tongue.”

  Why did ye let him? Ye’re an angel, surely ye could have stopped him.

  “I can neither interfere with a human’s free will, nor control their destinies. The universe unfolds as it should. Yer Jock didn’t intend to leave but perhaps the universe didn’t intend for him to stay.”

  Mary felt tears slip down her cheeks. I loved him so and I have missed him every day since that awful one.

  “I know ye have. But tell me this, do ye love all of yer children?”

  Of course I do.

  “Can ye imagine what life would be like without yer three youngest? Never holding them? Hugging them? Hearing them laugh? Wiping away their tears?”

  Please stop. I love all of my children and the thought of not having a single one of them breaks my heart.

  “Ye know for certain it’s unlikely that Katie and Robbie would have lived very long after that fateful December night if yer Jock hadn’t used the pocket watch.”

  Of course I know that.

  “But did ye ever stop to think, ye wouldn’t have yer other children if Jock hadn’t said the word.”

  Mary frowned. She’d never thought of it that way. Why couldn’t I have had them with Jock?

  “Ye might have had other children with him, but they wouldn’t be the same children ye have now who ye love fiercely. Ye could only have had those children with James. They were a gift to ye. And there’s another wee piece of information that ye need to know. Ye still have all five of yer children because of the things ye learned from yer Jock about how to avoid illness.”

  Mary sighed. I’ve always wondered about that.

  “Well, now ye know. And ye had a good life, wouldn’t ye agree?”

  Mary nodded.

  “Still, I know yer heart was broken. The dream of emigrating to America ended the day Jock died.”

  I couldn’t bear the thought of going without him.

  “And ye never learned to read.”

  Mary shook her head. James offered to teach me. But books and reading were so much a part of my Jock, every time I tried it just caused my heart to ache afresh.

  “I understand.”

  Mary sighed heavily, suddenly feeling very weary. Are ye here to take me…onward? It felt presumptuous to say to heaven.

  Gertrude laughed. It was one of the most delightful sounds Mary had ever heard.

  “Nay child, taking souls onward is not what I do. But ye’re right, yer life here is nearly over. I’ve come to give ye a gift. How would ye like to see all of the marvels that yer Jock told ye about?”

  Are ye offering me the pocket watch?

  “That I am. Ye remember how it works? If ye choose to use it, yer soul will change places with another. The person whose body yer soul enters will have been about to do something that would end in their death. Ye will do something that stops that. Then ye’ll have sixty days to live in that person’s body. Ye can return to yer own body at any time just by saying a word. But in this case, if ye return to this body, ye will die very shortly afterward. So ye may want to stay.”

  Where will I be going? What year?

  “There isn’t time for details. Yer life is ebbing. If ye choose to accept the watch, I will make certain that someone who knows about it, will be nearby when the switch happens. I need yer decision, now.”

  I’ll do it.

  “I thought ye might.” Gertrude slipped the gold chain around Mary’s neck. “Now, normally I tell a traveler to pick a word that they are unlikely to say by accident. Unfortunately, yer word can only be Elvis, since it’s all ye can say now. Be careful. Elvis is not as popular as he once was, but I don’t need to tell ye, accidents happen.”

  Thank ye, Gertrude. “Elvis.” She felt so very tired.

  Chapter 8

  Manhattan, NY

  October 24, 2006

  Dr. Gerald Rose finished dictating the notes for his last patient of the day and checked his watch. Half past five—perfect timing. He had a date tonight. A little unusual for a Tuesday, but he’d managed to get center orchestra seats for one of the hottest shows on Broadway. He’d made reservations for half past six at a great seafood restaurant, just two blocks from the theater. Unlike most New Yorkers, he generally preferred to drive his own car. Allowing for traffic, he had ample time to drive from midtown to Soho to pick up his date, then drive to West 52nd Street, park and get to the restaurant.

  He shut down his computer and was putting on his coat when there was a tap on his door and it opened. His administrative assistant stepped inside, shutting the door behind her.

  “Astrid, I thought ye’d left already.”

  “Not yet, sir.” Her voice sounded odd. “Uh…there’s a lady here who wants to see you.”

  “A patient?”

  “No. I don’t think she’s a patient.”

  “Then please give her my apologies. I don’t have time to see her now. I have plans tonight. Ask her to call tomorrow, before office hours and I’ll speak with her then.”

  “I’m sorry, Dr. Rose. I’ve already told her that. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. She absolutely insisted that you’ll see her. She said her name is Gertrude.”

  He stopped buttoning his coat. “Gertrude? An elderly Scottish woman?”

  “I think so. Her accent is like yours.”

  “Yes, I’ll see her. Please send her in. And I’ll need ye to make a couple calls for me.” He pulled out his phone, looked in his contact list and wrote a phone number and address on a note pad. “I am going out tonight with Marilyn Maxwell.”

  “The actress?”

  Gerald gave her the paper. “Yes. Please call her, give her my profound apologies and tell her I’ve been delayed. I don’t think this will take long. If I don’t have to drive to Soho to pick her up, I’ll have plenty of time to get to the restaurant by half past six. If she’s amenable, please call the car service and arrange to have a car at the address on the paper at six.”

  “Yes, sir.” Astrid looked at the paper, appearing a little awestruck.

  He smiled. “And, Astrid, please consider that wee slip of paper highly confidential and shred it when you’ve made the calls.”

  “Yes, sir. But most everyone in New York knows that Marilyn Maxwell recently purchased a condo in this building.”

  Gerald smiled at her. “But not everyone in New York has her phone number.”

  “Oh, right. Fair point. I’ll take care of it. Shall I send the lady in now or do you need a minute?”

  “Send her in, please.”

  Astrid went back to her desk, leaving his door open. “You can go straight in, m’am.”

  “Thank ye, dear,” said a voice he hadn’t heard in years. Gertrude stepped into his office, gave him a huge smile and opened her arms. “Gerald, it’s been ages. Give us a hug.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, it’s been quite a while.” He stepped into her embrace. When Gertrude gave a hug, regardless of what else might be going on, one was filled with an indescribable sense of peace and serenity. It would be easy to allow this hug to go on forever, but alas, it couldn’t.

  When he stepped back, he motioned towards the sitting area in his office while taking off his coat. “Please make yerself comfortable.”

  “I don’t mind if I do.” She sat in one of the armchairs. “How long has it been?”

 
“Oh, Gertrude, don’t tease. Ye know exactly how long it’s been, probably better than I do. The last time we saw each other was when ye walked through those doors on the day I opened this practice.”

  “That’s right, the first Monday in September, 1970. Ye’re looking well, lad.”

  “Thank ye. But I’m certainly no lad.”

  “Oh, my dear one, I’m an immortal angel. Compared to me ye’re just a bairn.”

  “Yes, but clearly one of the blessings afforded immortal spirits is the ability not to show their age. Ye haven’t changed a jot since the day I met ye. I, on the other hand, show every one of my sixty four years.”

  “Nonsense. Ye haven’t changed a bit in my eyes.”

  He barked a laugh. “And I didn’t think ye could tell a lie.”

  “’Tis no lie. But I’m not referring to the outer shell. Yer soul is still as bright and loving as it was the day we met.”

  “I’ll have to trust ye on that, then. Now, what can I do for ye?”

  “Ah yes, straight to business. Ye have a hot date.”

  He coughed. “I…I…wouldn’t use those exact words, but, aye, I have plans.”

  “Well, then, I won’t keep ye long. When I last visited, it was to tell ye that I might need yer help from time to time.”

  “From time to time? Good pun.”

  She laughed and that feeling of total contentment washed over him again.

  “I’m glad ye appreciate my sense of humor. Back then I said I might need yer services occasionally to help people who have used the pocket watch and need help making peace with their choices.”

  He nodded. “I remember. Ye said the fact that I was a psychiatrist who was familiar with the watch put me in a unique position.”

  “Aye, returning after using the watch is much harder than most people imagine it will be.”

  He gave a mirthless laugh. “It should come with a warning.”

  “The watch comes with precisely the information needed. Humans just don’t always consider all of the consequences.”

  “Don’t always? I’ve never met a returning traveler who considered what it might mean.”

  “First, ye haven’t met every returning traveler. And second, there are many, many people who are offered the watch, who choose not to take it, because they do think about how difficult the return might be.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “But, I haven’t only sent ye returning travelers. This year alone ye’ve helped two travelers who came forward.”

  “That’s the exception.”

  She laughed again. “Gerald, that’s the reward.”

  He smiled. “Fine, I won’t deny it. I’ve garnered great enjoyment from helping someone from the past adjust to their time here.”

  “On the other hand, I also know every time ye help a returning traveler, it reopens wounds.”

  Gerald could only nod. “Ye know, I don’t talk about that.”

  She canted her head. “And ye’re the psychiatrist. Medice, cura te ipsum.”

  “Physician, heal thyself. But there’s nothing wrong with me. I just prefer to leave the past in the past.”

  “And ye’ve done a good job of that.”

  He glanced at his watch.

  “Oh, I know. I’m keeping very careful watch on the time. Ye’ll get there. I still haven’t told ye why I’ve come.”

  “So, I noticed.”

  She chuckled. “Don’t get cheeky with me, lad. Patience is a virtue. This is important”

  “I believe ye. After all, it warrants a visit in person.”

  “It does. And I’ll get to the point. A traveler will be arriving later tonight. She’s going to need help immediately. That’s where ye come in.”

  “Tonight? Gertrude, of all nights. I have center orchestra tickets to Jersey Boys. Isn’t there anyone else who can help her until morning?”

  “Nay, there isn’t. Ye’re the one who will be in the right place at the right time.”

  “Where will that be?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do ye mean, ye don’t know?”

  “Lad, ye understand how this works. I know what I need to know when I need to know it. Evidently, the only thing necessary for me to know is that ye’ll be where ye’re needed at the right time. That’s why no one else can do this. I don’t know where to tell them to go.”

  Gerald heaved a sigh. “Fine. I just hope it’s after the show. At least tell me how I’ll know who she is.”

  Gertrude shook her head. “I can’t do that either. The temptation to interfere might be too great. Besides, I’m fairly certain, if ye pay attention, ye’ll recognize the signs.”

  He gave a mock groan. “If I had known how long that watch would haunt me, I’d never have used it.”

  “Ye know that’s not true.” She glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Ye have to go now. Ye’ll want to leave yer car in the garage and take a cab. Otherwise, ye’ll be very late arriving at the restaurant. Trust me.”

  He grabbed his coat. “Ye know that, but not where this woman will be? Sometimes it boggles the mind. Will I see ye again?”

  “Only time will tell, lad. Only time will tell. Now go. I’ll lock up and see myself out.”

  “But ye don’t have keys—never mind. Ye don’t need them.”

  “Nay lad, I don’t. Oh, and Gerald remember this, she needs a friend, not a doctor.”

  “Then until we meet again,” he called to her as he hurried out of his office and down onto the street. Remarkably, or perhaps not so remarkably, he was able to hail a cab immediately.

  Unfortunately, traffic was heavier than usual. He kept glancing at his watch. Finally, with two minutes to go, he realized they were still at least five minutes away. He absolutely hated being late. Not to mention the fact that he’d already had to send a car for Marilyn instead of picking her up himself. He sincerely hoped that a superb dinner and a great show would make up for his lapse of manners. He called her cell phone, but she didn’t answer. So he resorted to texting her.

  I’m terribly sorry. Traffic is a nightmare. I’ll be there in five.

  Five minutes later they were just around the corner from the restaurant and at a dead standstill. “I’ll get out here.”

  “Whatever,” said the cabby.

  Gerald hopped out of the cab, tossed some bills to the driver and ran the rest of the way. As he turned the corner, he saw Marilyn emerge from the restaurant halfway down the block, striding angrily away, cell phone in hand, thumbs flying. He could only assume she was firing off an angry message to him.

  And he deserved it.

  He ran down the street after her. “Wait. Please. I can explain.” Even though he really couldn’t.

  She reached the corner, head still down paying no attention to anything around her. She was about to step into the street, against the light and into traffic. But she stopped so suddenly she almost lost her balance. In that instant, her entire demeanor changed. The angry tension was gone. She looked up from her cell phone and slowly surveyed her surroundings, as if she’d never seen any of it before.

  “Oh, no. It’s her.” Gertrude had said he’d be in the right place at the right time. At that moment it became clear. Marilyn Maxwell, as famous for her temperamental behavior as she was for her acting skills, would have kept walking and been hit by a car.

  Gerald reached her moments later. “Excuse me.” He stretched out a hand out and touched her shoulder.

  She turned to him, looking bemused.

  There was only one thing to say to her. “Gertrude sent me.”

  Chapter 9

  Mary was absolutely amazed. It had worked. Moments ago she had been in her bed, her life and strength ebbing away and now she stood on a street corner in a futuristic city. Huge buildings, electric lights, and motorcars—it was just as her Jock had described it.

  Her moment of awe was quickly overwhelmed by panic. She had no idea where to go or what to do. Someone touched her shoulder and she turned around. br />
  A handsome older man, slight of build and with a graying beard said, “Gertrude sent me. My name is Gerald Rose.”

  Mary heaved a sigh of relief and nodded.

  “What’s yer name?” he asked.

  She opened her mouth to answer, then clapped a hand over it. She wanted to tell him. And she had a million questions she wanted to ask. But what if the only word that came out of her mouth was Elvis? She’d be back in her own dying body instantly. Nay, she couldn’t risk it. If she wanted to stay here, she didn’t dare say a word until the sixty days were up. She put one finger to her mouth and shook her head.

  “Ye don’t want to tell me yer name?”

  She frowned and shook her head harder.

  “Ye can’t tell me yer name?”

  She smiled and nodded.

  “Why?”

  Again she pointed at her lips and shook her head.”

  “Ye can’t speak?”

  She smiled and nodded vigorously.

  “Do ye mean, wherever ye came from, ye couldn’t speak? Ye were mute?”

  Not exactly, but that was close enough. She nodded again.

  He glanced around at the crowded street. “Look, we need to go somewhere where we can speak privately. Will ye come with me to my apartment? I’d take ye to yers but ye have a live-in housekeeper and I’d like to avoid having to talk to anyone until we’ve sorted things out.”

  She nodded. She figured if Gertrude sent him, it must be safe.

  A couple walked past them. The woman stopped suddenly and turned around. “Oh my, God. You’re that actress. Marilyn Maxwell. I read that you moved here from Hollywood after you retired. When we decided to visit, I never thought I’d run into you. I just love your movies.”

  Although it sounded like a compliment and good manners would dictate at least thanking her, Mary had no idea what the woman was talking about. Nor did she dare risk saying anything. Mary smiled politely before giving an imploring look to the man Gertrude had sent. What was his name? Gerald? Aye that was it.

  Gerald immediately took her hint. “I’m sorry, please excuse us. I’m certain Miss Maxwell appreciates yer kind words. Unfortunately she isn’t feeling well tonight.”