by Faith Helm
Claire Van White is trying to move forward after an accident takes the life of her husband and unborn child. After inheriting a beautiful Eureka Springs mansion from the family of her late husband,
she tries to build a new life for herself, but what
she finds is so much more.
When Claire discovers a journal written by Elizabeth, a young woman from the 1880's, it leads her to a family secret, that
won't let her rest until the mystery is solved.
The search for the truth of what happened to Elizabeth leads Claire down a dark path of captivity, incest and murder. But with Daniel, the handsome contractor by her side, they discover Elizabeth's secrets and unlock the door to happiness, not only for
Elizabeth, but for Claire and Daniel as well.
FINDING ELIZABETH
by Faith Helm
COPYRIGHT
Finding Elizabeth
Copyright 2015 by Faith Helm
All rights reserved. First published
February 8, 2015.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Cover Design by https://fiverr.com/webmark
Coming Summer 2015
INTO THE LOOKING GLASS
by Faith Helm
book two in
The Orchard House Mystery Series
Stay up to date with Faith Helm at
https://www.facebook.com/faithhelmbooks
DEDICATION
To my wonderful husband and best friend, Scott. Without your continual love, encouragement and support this book would not have been possible.
And to my son's Kelcey and Tyler, who laughed at the thought of their mom writing a book. And if not for their constant interruptions this book would have been completed much sooner.
Lastly, to my loyal companion Maggie, who has sat by my side for countless hours while I typed away. Although you do not know it, you are a great source of comfort and support.
"Grief never ends....But it changes.
It's a passage, not a place to stay.
Grief is not a sign of weakness,
nor a lack of faith...
It is the price of love."
~Author Unknown~
Chapter One
Claire packed everything she needed for her trip in the back of her SUV. She wouldn't be gone long, just long enough to find out what James Allen needed to speak with her about, and then a relaxing weekend in her favorite place. The Attorney said he had some business to discuss with her that concerned Adam, although she couldn't imagine what it would be. Even so the time away would do her good. Maybe she would finally be able to make a decision about her future.
She had made this trip with Adam countless times before, but this was the first time she had been back to Eureka Springs since Adam's death last summer. She always loved taking this trip with him. They would sing along with the country music on the radio, and laugh at each others corny jokes, but mostly they dreamt about moving to Eureka one day.
Adam and Claire both loved the landscape of northwest Arkansas with the beautiful trees, changing with every season. And the winding roads and rolling hills that seemed to go on forever. This time of year, or maybe because Adam wasn't with her the scenery was drab. Of course everything had been since Adam has been gone.
Claire turned up the radio when her favorite Carrie Underwood song came on. She tapped on the steering wheel, and was instantly lost in her thoughts. What was it the psychiatrist had told her? She suffered from Post-traumatic stress disorder. She nearly laughed in his face when he told her. Maybe she had been hasty, he was the professional, but she definitely was not going to take the anti-depressants he prescribed. They had given it to her in the hospital, just after she learned of Adam's death. She just couldn't stand the feeling of being numb. Sure it was great to be able to have a restful nights sleep, but she didn't want to live the rest of her life in a fog. No, she needed to face the past and learn how to live again. Who knows maybe you can build a life for yourself.
Claire checked the clock on her dash, not enough time to check into the hotel, so she quickly found the Attorney's office and parked her car. Like most everything in Eureka Springs the building was charming, it set nestled in a long row of brick buildings. They look like they dated back to the late 1800's, of course that could be any small town in America. But Eureka looks different, with the curved roads and stone facades on many of the buildings and brightly painted signs announcing the various boutiques, restaurants, bars and hotels. Come spring there would be baskets of colorful flowers overflowing from the awning of each business. The charm of this town had drawn Claire and Adam in and made them dream of making this beautiful place their home. To them, it was the perfect place to start a family and open an antique store. Wiping away a stray tear, Claire checked her reflection in the rear view mirror before getting out of the car. The quicker I get this over with the better.
The attorney's office didn't look like the dark stuffy office she had envisioned. It was bright and modern with hints of the younger attorney's personality. On the far wall a row of bookcases proudly displayed trophies and framed awards surrounded by photographs of a handsome young man and his loving family. The largest was a picture of the man she knew must be Mr. Allen in a graduation gown smiling proudly while hugging an older man. In the center of the room set a neat and organized desk and to the right a modern sofa with colorful pillows strewn around.
Recognizing an older Mr. Allen from the photo's she realized he wasn't what she thought an attorney would look like either. His dark, shiny hair falling to the top of his collar in a wave. His green eyes sparkled with an air of authority. But somehow his masculine jaw and wide shoulders made him look more like a football star than an attorney.
His handshake was firm, but Claire got a sense that he was a kind man, "Thank you, for coming Mrs. Van White. Would you like something to drink?"
Claire smiled nervously, "No thank you."
James smiled reassuringly, "Ok then let's begin. As I told you on the phone I learned of your husbands death in the newspaper. I am very sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, and please call me Claire, but I am still not sure what this is about. Adam never mentioned having any business with you, or any attorney for that matter."
James shuffled the papers on his desk, "Let me get right to the point. Have you ever heard of Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Van White?"
"No I haven't, are they related to Adam?" Claire asked with a hopeful smile.
"They were his great, great aunt and uncle. Unfortunately Dr Van White passed away in 1946 and his wife Rebecca passed away in 1968. The Van White's never had any children that lived past infancy. My great grandfather Charles was not only a friend of the Van Whites, but he was also their attorney. When Mrs. Van White passed away my great grandfather began searching for a living heir. Unfortunately at the time of Rebecca's death it was not as easy to find someone. When I took over my great grandfathers search, I tried all the traditional avenues. When that was unsuccessful, I tried online searches and even worked on the Van White genealogy, with little result. Sadly for the last few years I had just quit looking. When I saw your husbands obituary I was curious because as you know Van White is not a common name. I was able to use the information in the obituary and link Adam to the Eureka Springs Van Whites. Since your husband is deceased you are the rightful heir to the Van White Estates."
Stunned, Claire sat in silence while she tried to collect her thoughts, "I... I am sorry Mr. Allen, I don't understand."
"Please Claire call me James. When I hear
Mr. Allen I always think someone is talking to my father," he said with a playful grin before continuing. "Andrew Van White was of course a doctor, but his father Phillip was a shrewd business man. In the early days of Eureka Springs he and his wife Olivia settled in the area with their three children. Their oldest son was Andrew, then they had a daughter, Elizabeth and Adam's great, great grandfather William. They own many of the buildings you see in downtown Eureka, including their home an 1880's Victorian."
"I know this information is a lot to process. Can I answer any questions for you?" James asked as he looked into the stunned face of the beautiful young woman.
Pushing a stray hair behind her ear Claire thought for a moment, "Yes, How is it that there are no other heirs? If the Van Whites had three children surely there's someone that is a descendent of the Van Whites through bloodline."
"I noticed that as well in my search. There have only been a few heirs throughout the years and sadly they have all suffered untimely deaths, including your late husband."
And like my son, Claire thought with a grimace.
As he reached into his desk James produced a rather large envelope. Sliding it toward her he continued, "This package contains the keys to the home, banking and property information, as well as information on the investment property. The home has been closed since Mrs. Van Whites death in 1968. After I contacted you, I hired a team to clean and re-open it for your stay."
"Janet March has served as the property manager for all the Van White properties since the 1980's. She lives in the guest cottage on the property with her husband Steve, who takes care of the grounds as well as maintenance on the rental properties. My grandfather believed that with the March's living on site there would be less vandalism and theft of the property. They are wonderful people and have worked hard to maintain and care for the properties since they began working for Van White Estates. I hope you will consider keeping them on. I, of course would be happy to continue as your legal council. I know you have a lot of decisions ahead of you, but I hope you will decide to stay and make Eureka your home."
James opened a folder and pulled out several pages, "These are the forms you will need to sign to make it legally yours. If you are not comfortable signing them now we can wait a few days. You are welcome to take the forms with you and have someone check them."
"It's not that I don't trust you. I just want to make sure I know what I am getting myself into before I sign," Claire said as she stuffed the forms into the large envelope.
James nodded his approval, "If you have time now, I am free the rest of the day. I would be happy to escort you to the home and show you around the estate."
Still stunned and trying to take everything in, Claire nodded in agreement and silently followed James out of the office. She hopped in her SUV not paying attention to the drive but replaying all she had learned over in her mind.
***
Chapter Two
As Claire rounded the curve she realized James was turning into the driveway of the large Victorian. The one Adam had always teased would be theirs some day. Shaking her head, she thought, this must be a joke.
The house sat at the end of a long drive, flanked by a row of large trees on either side. Because of the season the trees were sparse. But she knew come spring the yard would be alive with color. And the Azalea's that ran the length of the porch would be blooming in full color by summer. She vaguely remembered the beautiful flowering baskets that hung in each section of the wrap around porch.
To the right of the drive set a large but quaint carriage house, painted the same white as the main house. There were three large sets of double doors and rows of sparkling windows up above, where Claire imagined the hired hands had once lived.
Releasing the breath she realized she had been holding, Claire looked up at the house. It was three stories tall, painted a crisp white with cream trim and windows that were trimmed in black. The beautiful turret room that sat to the left, made the house look majestic. The classic railing on the balcony of the second floor seemed tiny hanging over the massive double front door. With the dense forest and the Ozark mountains behind it, the home was a sight to see. I will go take a look around, but this must be a mistake. There is no way I am the owner of this beautiful mansion.
The cobblestone path curved graciously leading them to the front steps. As she turned the key and stepped inside, Claire shivered. She had a strange sensation of deja vu, which was odd considering she had never been to the home before today. She was barely aware that James was speaking, but realized he had been giving her some of the homes history.
"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" Claire asked sweetly.
"I was just saying construction on the home began in 1885, but was completed in 1886. It was built by the Van Whites and it has remained in their family since that time. It is rumored the family referred to the home as Orchard House. Named for the apple orchards that once graced the property," James said as he closed the door behind him.
Claire gasped as she turned her attention to the grand entrance. The solid mahogany panels lining the walls led her eyes to the ornate plaster molding in the center of the ceiling. The plaster detail was lost to a beautiful scene depicting cherubs floating through the clouds.
In the center of the entrance hall set a table with intricately carved antique candlesticks and a generous porcelain bowl. Beyond the table to the right was a grand curved staircase with ornate railing that led to the second level. To the left of the entrance was the turret room which appeared to be decorated in a more feminine style with lace curtains and furniture in soft florals. Beyond the entry was a short hallway and Claire could see more rooms through the arched doorways. James continued the tour showing Claire where the kitchen and dining room were, and then the library.
On the right side of the library was a beautiful mahogany desk with two French provincial chairs in front. On the left wall was floor to ceiling shelves with books lining every shelf. In the center of the room sat a cozy leather Chesterfield sofa and two antique wing back chairs. The fireplace that sat on the back wall displayed paintings of a man and a woman framed in elaborate gold leaf with intricate flowers along the edges. She wasn't sure who the couple was, but knew that they must have been related to Adam. The mans hairstyle was different and so were his clothes, but the eyes were the same as Adam's sky blue eyes. Although there seemed to be a hardness in the mans eyes that he did not share with Adam. The woman had soft, small features and her hair was pulled up in a French twist. Claire could see just a hint of a small gold comb sticking up from the back of her head. She wore a dark colored ruffled top, with delicate buttons. Along the neck line of her top was scalloped lace, and in the center, she proudly displayed an oval shaped cameo. Her pretty face showed of sadness, despite the pleasant smile the woman gracefully wore.
Coming up beside her James said, "This is Adam's third great grandparents, Phillip and Olivia Van White. They had the paintings commissioned by the famed artist Joseph De Camp just before they moved here from Boston. He also completed paintings of the rest of the family, which you will find displayed throughout the house."
Hearing heels clicking on the wood floors Claire turned as the older woman walked into the room. She had a friendly round face and eyes that lit up when she smiled. Her fading strawberry blonde hair fell in loose curls around her face and down to her shoulders.
"Mrs. Van White, I am Janet March," The woman said with an outstretched hand.
Smiling, Claire reached for her hand, "Please Janet call me Claire."
Smiling kindly Janet said, "It is so nice to meet you Claire, my husband Steve should be along any moment."
As if right on cue, the older man walked into the room with his hand extended. Claire reached for his hand as she introduced herself. Claire couldn't help but think of the contrast between Janet and Steve. Janet looked sophisticated in her crisp business suit and high heels. Her husband Steve was wearing denim work clothes. His skin was rough, almost leathery, probabl
y from hours of working in the sun. He seemed quiet, almost reserved where Janet had been warm and friendly. Thoughtfully, Steve offered to bring Claire's luggage in and put it in her room. With that Janet put her arm around Claire and guided her toward the kitchen.
"I wasn't sure what you like to eat, but I stocked the pantry and the refrigerator with the necessities. Let's see if we can find something, I know you must be starving after your drive."