by Faith Helm
Claire sat up slowly, trying not to move her foot any more than necessary, "What time is it? How long did I sleep?"
Looking at her with concern on his face Daniel said, "It's almost five. You have been asleep for almost six hours."
"Are you serious? How the heck did I sleep that long?" Claire asked with a yawn.
Just then Janet came in with a tray of food, "Here you go, I made you some homemade chicken noodle soup."
Claire happily accepted the tray, "Wow it looks delicious and that is more than just chicken noodle soup. Janet, you amaze me, you need to teach me to cook."
"It's really very easy and I would be happy to teach you. But eat up so you can take your medicine," Janet firmly replied.
Claire took a small bite of the bread, "Where is Jen and Steve?"
"They are in the basement. Daniel repaired the step and the three of them have been down there all afternoon going through everything," Janet said.
Claire groaned, "Oh that stinks, I wanted to see everything."
"We knew you would, that's why they have been bringing everything up to your staging area. Maybe in a couple of days you can go take a look," Janet said sweetly.
"I just don't know what to say about all of this. You are all so wonderful. I just hate to put everyone out. You all have jobs and lives and better things to do than baby sit me," Claire said with a frown.
Janet sat down on the bed beside Claire, "It's not a problem. Besides that Steve and I work for you. Most of our work is from home anyway, and Daniel will be off until the weather gets better. That's just a drawback from being a contractor."
After Claire ate her food and took her medicine, she looked around the room for Elizabeth's journal. As Daniel walked back into the room with a new ice pack she asked, "Did you forget the journal?"
Sitting down on the bed Daniel slowly unwrapped her ankle, "Jen and I both looked in the turret room and it wasn't there. I was just heading back upstairs to look again."
After placing the new ice pack on her ankle and loosely wrapping it to hold it in place, he went in search of the journal.
While she waited for Daniel to find the journal Claire decided she would pull up the Van White family tree and see if she could find anything else. After nearly an hour of searching she had found nothing. She closed the laptop and set it on the bed just as Daniel walked in waving the journal in his hand, "I found it!"
"Where was it?" Claire asked.
"I found it in laying on the bed, in the pink room. The one at the top of the stairs on the second floor. I know Jen and I searched that room. I'm not sure how we missed it."
With a confused look, Claire said, "I don't understand, why would it be in there? I read it this morning in the turret room just before Jen and I came downstairs to start on the basement."
"I'm not sure, but that's where it was. Maybe Jen was playing a trick on you," Daniel said.
Claire nodded her head in agreement, but knew that Jen wouldn't have hidden it from her. Now more than ever she wanted to read the journal and try to solve the mystery of what happened to Elizabeth. It was a little strange that the journal keep getting misplaced. She was the only one who had been reading it. Maybe Elizabeth keeps moving it, she thought. Come on Claire be serious. There is no such thing as ghosts.
Deciding Elizabeth must want her story told, Claire opened the journal and began to read.
April 4, 1886
Dear Diary,
Things around our home have improved a great deal since father has left on business. Mother's headaches have mysteriously left her, and she is once again feeling like resuming her usual activities.
As it is the beginning of spring mother has asked William and I to help her plant a new English flower garden in the back yard between the hedges. I am happy to help mother and to spend time outdoors with her and William. I think it shall be lovely with bright flowers every color of the rainbow, and then some. As I write this William is collecting stone to make a path. I know it makes him feel like a man to do these activities, but I worry he will somehow be harmed.
Mother and I have also started work on my new dresses. The original pattern will have to be altered to fit my expanding size. But we are hopeful they will conceal my shame for a while longer.
I must go, Annie is heating water for my bath.
Elizabeth
April 10, 1886
Dear Diary,
Father returned today in an especially foul mood. Again he smelled of whisky and was spouting off about how the louse stole his money. Mother suspects father has taken to the gambling house, but does not know that for fact. Actually I do not know what father does for a living but suspect it is something that would bring shame upon this family if we ever knew.
The English garden is coming along splendidly. Some of our stable hands have been helping William collect large flat stones and they have begun putting them in the ground. I think it shall look grand winding through the colorful garden. Although we have months before the new flowers will bloom, it should be a sight by mid summer. I can picture us sitting on Williams new patio, under the large oak tree sipping lemonade, as we enjoy the fruits of our labor.
I still have not heard of Thomas, and I have asked Annie to speak with the hands to see if they have word of him. I am hopeful they will have news.
Just as I write this I can hear mother and father yelling. I will close for now.
Elizabeth
April 12, 1886
Dear Diary,
A couple of days ago when father was in one of his sour moods he beat mother so badly, we feared she would die. Mothers chamber maid Rose and I have stayed by her side night and day while we nursed her back to health. We had to clean and doctor the many wounds and bruises and administer laudanum for her pain.
It concerns me to see mother in this state, she is like a shadow of the person she once was. I remember as a child how she would sing happily as she played the piano. Her glorious voice reminded me of a beautiful bird as it perched happily on a limb.
When Andrew and I were children she would even play outside with us playing hide and seek. As the years go by father gets angrier and she becomes less and less herself.
Father took quite the liberty last evening of entering her bed chamber and professing his love for her. He spoke of his sorrow for putting her in such a state. He brought her flowers and a gold charm bracelet and said, "As God is my witness, I will never lay a hand on you again. Please forgive me Olivia, for I was not myself."
As I stood there listening to fathers words I grew hopeful he could change, but hearing the slurring of his speech, I knew it was not to be.
There is still no word from Thomas, and sadly I do believe he has forgotten me. Since mother is in bed I have turned to Annie to help me devise a plan. I fear if I leave mother that father will kill her, but if I stay I fear he will kill me and my child. I wish I knew what to do. Oh heavens, I am at such a loss.
Elizabeth
April 13, 1886
Dear Diary,
It is with deep sadness that I write this entry. My dear mother succumb to her injuries this morning. As I was heading into her bed chamber to bid her good morning, I heard dear Rose scream. It was an ear piercing scream that I shall never forget. As I entered her room father was holding her and crying.
As she left this earth for her heavenly home, I could envision the angels in heaven singing. For they must have as they have gained the most beautiful angel of all.
I feel such despair at the loss of my dear sweet mother. My fears for myself and my child as well as that of my precious baby brother have become dire. I know my time is coming and if father should kill me, what will happen to William. I have prayed to God every day that he would send a solution, but I think even God has forgotten me.
We will lay mother to rest tomorrow. I have tried to comfort William, but the poor boy is inconsolable. As soon as he learned of her death he took off running into the woods. I wanted to run after him, but father told me t
o let him go. I am not sure what to say to comfort the dear boy. I hope he does not question mothers death, for I do not know how to tell him that she died at fathers hand.
I must go, the house has been abuzz with activity and I need to be there to greet our neighbors and to care for William.
Elizabeth
April 15, 1886
Dear Diary,
Mothers funeral was yesterday. Father chose a piece of land near the back of the property for her resting place. He is enclosing it in a fence as I write this. I shall plant flowers on her grave very soon. I am hopeful that William will feel up to helping me. The poor boy has barely even taken a bite to eat. I have tried to soothe him the best I know how. I am hopeful that tomorrow he will want to go to his attic space. He always seems so happy there, perhaps it will lift his spirits. I have sat by his bed each night as he cried himself to sleep. I just feel so helpless.
Now that mother is gone I have decided that I must put a plan in action to protect myself, my child and my dear William. I was thinking I could wait until father left home on a trip and William and I could slip out into the night. I could style my hair in a more matronly fashion and wear one of mother's suits and her wedding ring, in hopes that I could pass as Williams mother.
I fear if I return to Boston that father will be alerted and we will be returned to him. I can only imagine the horror I would face if something like that happened. I shall take a few days and try to consider my plan.
Elizabeth
April 18, 1886
Dear Diary,
William finally visited mothers resting place. He helped me plant mothers favorite flowers. We chose beautiful pink peonies, the largest I have ever seen. I know she would have loved them. I am also going to plant a rose bush so it can climb the lovely fence that father built.
I am hopeful as father seems to be a changed man. He visits mother daily and sits quietly by her grave. William is beginning to feel better, although I know he will always miss mother, as will I. He still has not spoken of her, but I know he will when he is ready.
I was thinking on it the other day and it troubles me that William will not have the same memories of mother that I have. For all of his ten years he has seen a different woman than I knew. My mother was fun and full of energy and she chattered like a little bird and her beautiful infectious laugher was like music to our ears. Williams mother was sad and fearful and spoke as little as possible, to avoid angering father. I am conflicted if I should tell him of the mother I knew or if it would only sadden him to know he never knew her too.
I must go now, it is time to help William with his studies.
Elizabeth
May 25, 1886
Dear Diary,
My fears have come true. Father discovered my condition and after a severe beating, I was forced into hiding in Williams secret attic room. Annie cared for me as I was in a state and could not quit crying for fear that my baby had been harmed. But finally I felt the baby move.
I have been held here for weeks without seeing anyone but my sweet Annie. She was finally able to slip my journal out of my room and bring it to me. Father continues to watch every move Annie makes. I believe he knows that if she is given the chance, she will help me escape.
Although I have not been permitted to see William, Annie and Rose are watching out for him. Annie tells me every day of how he is doing. He seems to be coping with mother's death. I am unsure what father has told him about me or if William even knows I am still here. I am hopeful that he will come to his secret room and I will be able to see him. I fear for his safety at fathers hands and of his well being at having lost both his mother and his sister at such a young age.
My days and nights are filled with nothing but memories of the people I love. I have thought so much about my mother and what I could have possibly done to save her, but I would just drive myself mad thinking such things.
I wish that I would have escaped with William, but father had shown to be a changed man after mothers death. I should have known that evil can not change.
Elizabeth
Claire put the book on her bedside table, her vision was blurred from the tears that now streamed down her face.
Hurrying into the room Daniel quickly rushed to Claire's side, "Oh my God, are you in that much pain? Did something happen?"
Blowing her nose Claire said, "No, the pain isn't bad. I was reading Elizabeth's journal. The abuse is so bad that Phillip killed Olivia and then later he locked Elizabeth in William's secret room in the attic."
With a puzzled look Daniel said, "He killed her? Wait, What are you talking about, there is no secret room in the attic."
"In the journal Elizabeth talked about her and William going into the attic and he found a secret room. Elizabeth thought it was just the attic space of the turret room. For some reason it was closed off from the rest of the attic. And she also wrote about how her father beat her mother so severely that she died the following day." Claire said.
Daniel ran his hands through his hair, "Claire I think you need to take a break from the journal. I can see it's tormenting you to read it. Let me get your medicine, so you can get a good nights rest. Maybe tomorrow will look better."
"That's a great idea. I have something that will help me sleep in the small pink bag that was in the bathroom upstairs," Claire said.
Daniel found the bag in the bathroom next to Claire's new bedroom and returned with a glass of water as Jen entered the room.
"Jen can you help me change into a nightgown please?" Claire asked.
"Please try to get some rest Claire and I will see you tomorrow. I'm going to sleep on the sofa in the small room off of the kitchen if that's ok. If you need anything just call me. Jen are you staying in here with Claire tonight?" Daniel asked.
They both nodded in agreement and with that he was gone.
***
Chapter Twelve
Claire slept anything but a restful sleep. For the first time in a week she dreamt of Adam and the accident and the child they had lost. She woke up at the sound of the crying baby. Settling back down she drifted off again, only to dream of the horrible things she had read about in Elizabeth's journal. In her dream Elizabeth was calling to her, begging her for help. Please don't leave me here she begged, please help me find my baby.
Claire woke again to the throbbing pain in her ankle. She tried hobbling to the bathroom, but just couldn't get the crutches to work. She tried waking Jen, but it was no use. I doubt a freight train could wake you!
Hearing the thumping sound coming from down the hall, Daniel jumped up and was at the door to Claire's room just as she opened it. She tried to take another step, but the crutches fell out from under her as Daniel quickly steadied her.
"Umm I was heading to the bathroom," Claire blushed.
"I can help you. I will sit you down and then I will step out of the room. Just yell when you are ready for me to come back in," Daniel said.
Reluctantly Claire agreed, but it was an emergency so she didn't have a choice. Thinking to herself after Daniel sat her down, "This is the most humiliating thing I have ever had to do!"
As Daniel picked her up he asked, "Do you want to go back to bed?"
"No, I was just having nightmare after nightmare, and of course with the baby crying err, the foxes howling, sleep is no use," Claire said.
Daniel carried Claire into the small sitting room and gently placed her on the sofa. He put a pillow on the table, so she could rest her injured ankle, "I'm going to make hot cocoa, would you like some?"