Ascension

by C J M Naylor

  A knock sounded at the door and Elisabeth lowered her blouse and looked to the door.

  "Come in."

  The door opened and her sister stepped in, dressed in her habit, and closed the door behind her. In her arms she carried several folders. She smiled, taking a seat on the bed.

  Elisabeth looked at the folders. "What are those?"

  Eleanor looked at the folders and then back up at her sister. "Potential parents. They all attend St. Patrick's Church in Soho. We work closely with the parish on many matters, adoption being one of them. I brought them for you to review and to pick one. You can also meet them if you'd like."

  Elisabeth shook her head. "That can't happen. And why only one? The girls can't be together."

  "I know," Eleanor said, "but the orphanage wouldn’t allow the twins to be separated if they knew, so we are going to have to pick one family for one child, and then work in secret to find a family for the other. These folders are for you to peruse for the official adoption.

  "Also, Sister Margaret is suspicious. We are friends, and I know I can trust her if it comes to it, but I can tell she suspects something. I made the mistake of telling her you were married, so she doesn't understand why you would want to give up your child. I thought about saying it wasn't your husband’s, but I feel that might make matters worse, so for now I'm just going to avoid telling her anything. Just be cautious of her presence." Eleanor stood. "I'll leave you to it then."

  She made it to the door before Elisabeth spoke up. "Ellie?"

  Eleanor turned around.

  "Will you stay with me?" Elisabeth asked. "I don't want to do this alone."

  Eleanor smiled and nodded. "Sure."

  Elisabeth had always been quick to make a decision and after going through only four, she felt she had picked the best families for one of her daughters. Eleanor kept talking about each families' positive qualities, never letting on to any negatives.

  "The Garfields are always helping out at parish functions," she said. "They have two children already, but feel God is calling them to adopt. Oh, and I love the Ainsley's. They are so sweet. They were recently married and have always done lots of work in the community. They plan to have children of their own, but they wanted to help out if there were any children in need."

  "I think these are good," Elisabeth said. "I'd like for Sister Margaret to interview them for me. And let me know how it goes. I think it best if you aren't there either."

  Eleanor nodded, gathering the folders and standing up. As she did, one of the folders slipped to the floor and the contents of a couple looking to adopt spilled out. Eleanor knelt down and began picking everything up, but Elisabeth stopped her and picked up the picture herself, looking at it carefully. They were an older couple, but they looked so kind, and also so lonely it made her heart skip a beat.

  "Who are they?" she asked, looking to Eleanor.

  Eleanor smiled at the picture. "Those are the Jordans. Her name is Annette, and I believe his is Dean. They married quite young but were never able to have children."

  Elisabeth looked back at the picture and considered it. And then she knew. "I want them. Interview them, but I'm almost certain they should be the ones."

  A look of concern passed over Eleanor's face. "Lis, they are older than the rest. What if something were to happen? Your daughter might not have them in her life for as long as she needs them."

  "I know," Elisabeth said, "but they deserve a chance. I want them unless something comes up in the interview."

  Eleanor nodded. "If you're sure."

  "I'm sure," Elisabeth said, handing her the picture.

  She walked back over to the mirror as Eleanor left the room and placed her hand over her growing belly again. Slowly, she once again rubbed her hand back and forth.

  "I've found one of you a home," she said. "And I know already you'll be very happy there. Now I just need to find one of you the other home and we'll be all set."

  Her sister returned after a few moments.

  "I let Sister Margaret know," she said as she walked into the room. "She said she'll visit the Jordan home this week and speak with them. Now, we just need to figure out what to do for the other."

  "America," Elisabeth said, turning around. "I want the other to be raised in America."

  "Lis," Eleanor said, "are you sure?"

  Elisabeth nodded vehemently. "Yes. They need to be as far away from each other as they can possibly get. After I have them, I intend to go there anyway. I'll drop her off myself. That way I can spend a little time with one of them."

  "What about Mother?" Eleanor asked.

  “She won't find me. We are going to do this in secret. She'll never know that I've been working with you and I know now that I'll have to leave Mathias. It's the only way. I will leave him before they are born and he'll be useless to her if she attempts to find him."

  Her sister took a deep breath and then nodded. "It's settled then. I'll find someone."

  "No," Elisabeth said. "I know just who I can ask."

  "Very well," Eleanor said. "But you need to keep me informed. Also, you'll need to find a midwife who can help us with the birth. And we'll need a private location where nobody can find us."

  Elisabeth nodded. "I'll start looking."

  She moved to the bed, picked up her hat, and placed it on her head. Nowadays she kept her hair up in a tight bun, along with a hat, so as to move discreetly throughout London and avoid her mother's eyes. As she moved to leave, she wondered how she would contact Henry. She couldn't use the Time Line or Mathias' pocket watch, because he could easily discover she had used it and know she was a Timekeeper. She also couldn't use her own because her mother could track her messages to Henry and discover their plan. She knew who she needed.

  "Ellie," she said, looking at her sister, "do you still communicate with Elijah?"

  "We write to each other," she responded. "Mother doesn't know. He collects his mail in the village. Why?"

  "I need him to meet me. Can you arrange a date and location for us to meet?"

  Her sister raised her eyebrows in suspicion but didn't question it. "Of course. Tell me when and where."

  After giving her sister a date and location, she hugged Eleanor tightly. "Thank you again." She pulled away and smiled, and then walked out of the bedroom and out of the orphanage.

  Elisabeth had asked her sister to arrange a meeting with Elijah at St. Patrick's in Soho the following weekend. She arrived early and took a seat in the pew. It was a Saturday, in the middle of the afternoon, and the church was empty except for the few parishioners coming in for the daily reconciliation. As she waited, she continuously moved her hand over her belly. Knowing she would have little time to spend with her children, she wanted to show them as much comfort as she could in the time she had.

  A hand touched her shoulder and she almost let out a scream but stopped herself. She turned and saw Elijah behind her. He threw his hands up in surrender.

  "Sorry," he whispered. "Didn't mean to frighten you."

  He walked around and took a seat next to her in the pew. Before they said anything, the two of them hugged, holding on to each other for as long as possible. They had not seen each other since Elisabeth had left for London, now almost three years ago, and even before then they hadn't been close, rarely speaking or spending time with each other because of Elisabeth's devotion to her mother. She regretted that now.

  "I'm sorry," she said quietly when they pulled away from each other. "I shouldn't have let myself be blinded by our mother's abilities."

  Elijah shook his head. "You love her. And Eleanor does too. I don't think I ever have or will."

  She understood him. While her mother had spent time pretending to be a mother to both her and Eleanor, blinding them from the truth and her true self and unfortunately bringing them to feel love for her, she had never been anything but cruel to Elijah.

  "I shouldn't have been the last to see it," Elisabeth said.

  He shook his head again. "It's
okay."

  "Have you seen Eleanor?" she asked.

  "We've only written to each other. I planned to stop by the orphanage after our meeting. She wanted all three of us to meet, but I advised her against it. Who knows what our mother would be capable of if the three of us were together. I'm not saying we have any special ability when we're all together, but I just don't want to chance it considering your condition."

  He gestured toward her growing belly and she smiled.

  "I just wish it didn't have to come to this," she said. And then she explained everything to him. She told him how their mother already knew of the pregnancy and what Elisabeth’s plan was for making sure her children were kept safe.

  "I plan to leave a note for each family not to try looking for their father," she said, "and that he'll be dead. I know that's the worst lie, but it's the only way. I'm planning to take one of them to America with me, but I'll have someone else take them to the family. I can't risk being identified or having one of them find me later on. But I need your help. I need to contact the American Timekeeper, Henry Jane, and see if he can meet with me here in London. I know I could send him a letter, like Eleanor did for you, but it would take too long and I need him to come to London through the Time Line and meet me privately."

  "What do you need me to do?" Elijah asked.

  "I need you to go to America and deliver the message for me. Tell him when and where we will meet. And then I need you to disappear."

  Elijah shook his head. "I can't leave Abigail. She's practically my mother."

  Elisabeth took Elijah's hand and held it to her belly. "I know you love her, but these are your nieces and they need you to do this. It's time to let Abigail go. I love her too, but she's made her choice to stay with our mother. I can't have you going back there now that you know this information."

  Elijah looked hurt. "It seems you've tricked me into doing your bidding."

  She closed her eyes a moment and then nodded. "I know. And I'm sorry, Elijah. But I need you. I need you. I have to protect my children. If this prophecy comes true, what would it matter? What would staying and protecting Abigail matter if years down the line she was going to end up in a world full of darkness and evil? Please, help me."

  Elijah took a deep breath and then nodded.

  "Tell me exactly what to do," he said.

  "Go to the London Headquarters," she said. "You know the way in. Use the Time Line to go to San Francisco and meet with Henry and tell him to meet me here, one week from today, at this same time. Tell him to come alone. He might be written up for unsanctioned travel, but he'll have to endure that. Tell him it's for me. He'll understand. And don't tell him anything about how we know each other. And after that, go and live your life. Don't go back to Ireland."

  Elijah stood up. She could tell he still wasn't happy about this. He truly loved Abigail. "Is that it then?"

  She nodded and he began to walk away.

  "Elijah?"

  He turned and looked back at her.

  "Thank you," she said. "I hope you'll be able to forgive me someday, but if not, I'll understand. Goodbye."

  Her brother didn't say anything and walked away, leaving her alone with her thoughts and daughters once again.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Elijah did as Elisabeth had requested. Exactly one week later, she met Henry Jane in the church. It was the first time they had seen each other in two years. His appearance had changed. His hair, which had once been short, now fell down to his neck, similar to Mathias'. He also sported a fairly impressive beard that looked well-kept.

  "Henry," Elisabeth said softly so as not to disturb the peaceful surroundings in the church.

  He turned his head and looked up at her from the pew he was sitting in, a smile on his face.

  "Elisabeth."

  Henry held out his hand. She took it and he guided her into the pew, where she sat next to him.

  "How's Thomas?" Elisabeth asked.

  It was almost as if Henry's younger self appeared when he thought of his son. A smile erupted on his face.

  "Thomas… well, he is my everything. I don't know how I could live without him."

  Elisabeth looked at her belly and placed her hand over it.

  "I'm beginning to know the feeling," she said. "And Bessie? Did she ever come back?"

  Henry shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I've not heard from her since she left Mathias. I've actually met someone, and well, we are due to be married in the summer."

  Elisabeth smiled and squeezed Henry's hand. "That's wonderful. I'm happy for you."

  "Thank you," Henry said, still beaming. "The man I met with, he said it was urgent. He didn't tell me how you knew each other. And how did he know where to find me? How did he know about…"

  She could tell he was struggling to say the words because he was unsure what she knew about the world of Timekeeping.

  "It's okay Henry," Elisabeth said, reassuring him. "I know everything. And what I'm going to tell you, I've never told anyone. And it has to stay between us. Is that a promise you can keep?"

  He nodded.

  Elisabeth shook her head. "But before we get to that, you told me you owed me a favor. Is that still something you can do?"

  Henry nodded. "Of course. What do you need?"

  "I can't explain everything Henry," Elisabeth said, rubbing her belly, "but I need you to know that this means the world to me. I'm having twins and I'm going to have to give them up. And I know it sounds awful, but they cannot be together. I've already found one of them a home here in London and I was hoping you would be able to do the same for the other in America. They need to be as far away from each other as possible."

  A look of grief appeared on Henry's face as Elisabeth explained what she needed him to do. When she finished talking, he looked her squarely in the eye.

  "Are you sure this is something you want?"

  "Yes."

  "But you are giving up your children."

  Elisabeth nodded. "I know how it sounds, Henry, but I need you to understand this is for the best. And you'll understand why because of what I'm about to tell you."

  And so, for the first time in her life, Elisabeth Callaghan told another person about her family. How they were the original Timekeeping family. How her mother was most likely older than humanly possible. How a prophecy had long ago been predicted and how her mother was dead set on making sure prophecy came to fruition. And finally, how the only way to stop it was to separate her children and keep them out of the Timekeeping world.

  When she was done, Elisabeth lowered her head and took a deep breath. It was as if a great burden had finally been shared with someone else. Henry, having seen her distress, pulled her into him and held her.

  "I can see how much pain this has caused you," he whispered. "I'm sorry you've had to go through it, but I want you to know I'm here to help."

  Elisabeth pulled away, wiping tears.

  "Thank you. I suppose everything is settled from here on out. I'll see you sometime in December. I hope you don't get into too much trouble for the unsanctioned travel."

  A grin appeared on Henry's face. "I wouldn't worry too much about that. I've made quite a few friends since I've taken over from Bessie's father. But are you sure you are going to be okay between now and then?"

  Elisabeth nodded. "I have Mathias, for now. It'll be hard leaving him, and you can't tell him anything.”

  "Very well," Henry said, standing up. "I'll be heading back there shortly, then. If anything happens, please don't hesitate to contact me."

  Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket watch.

  "I may or may not have swiped an extra pocket watch that can be used to communicate with me," he said, handing it out to her. "I know any messages can be seen by those at central Headquarters so be sure you only use it in an emergency and then I'll make up some kind of excuse to come to you."

  Elisabeth shook her head. "It's fine. I fear it could make things worse if I have it."

&nb
sp; “I insist. It would give me some peace of mind."

  Elisabeth looked at it for a moment longer and then finally relented. It could be useful in the end. She let him drop it in her hand and then tucked it into her pocket with the one her mother had given her as a girl. It would also work, but if she used it, her mother could track her. Elisabeth stood and grabbed her handbag.

  "Where are you off to?" Henry asked. "I can walk you."

  “Oh, no need. I'm off to interview some midwives at a local café. It'll be boring work."

  Henry and Elisabeth bid each other farewell and went their separate ways outside of the church.

  The afternoon wore on and on as Elisabeth interviewed various women in hopes of finding a midwife who could successfully deliver her babies. Eleanor had insisted, many times, that she have the babies delivered at the orphanage, with the help of Sister Margaret and the other nuns, but she knew that was too risky. She couldn't risk the orphanage being linked with her children, in fear that her mother would find out.

  But the process of interviewing numerous women was tedious, and in each interview, Elisabeth somehow made skin contact with each of the women and saw something within them she didn't like. One woman had an abusive husband. Another had taken to whipping her own children as part of their punishment for being disobedient. While she knew these things couldn't necessarily harm her own children, she couldn't handle the thought of any of them holding her babies.

  Finally, when she thought she would have to give up for today, a woman entered the small café, walking back to the corner where Elisabeth sat. She had light brown hair, pulled back into a tight bun, and a soft round face. She was decently dressed, wearing a pink, midi shift dress with a solid, boat neckline. Silver heels clicked on the floor as she approached. She carried with her a small, pink handbag, which she clasped close to her side, and each of her hands were wrapped in pink gloves that matched her dress.