Secrets of the Past

by Wendy Backshall

  Secrets of the Past

  Copyright © 2012 Author W J Backshall

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-978- 1480062269

  AUTHOR

  W J BACKSHALL

  W J Backshall

  Is a mother

  She has two children and five grandkids.

  She lives in Kent.

  She has spent the last thirty years taking care of her family.

  Her son has taken a great deal of her time, but is far more independent now.

  This is her first short story.

  ’ Secrets of the Past’

  This book is all fiction

  All characters are the product of the author’s imagination

  All names are fictitious.

  Everything about this book is coincidental if it resembles any name, place, or person.

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  DEDICATION

  To my family

  Who all gave me the time to write this book?

  In addition, to my husband Fred, who has spent so many hours without me speaking for days on end?

  A special mention for my son Lee.

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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I would like to thank my family.

  For being born in such a great, place Rochester in Kent.

  Amongst the history of the old buildings and famous people that have lived in this place.

  Without it, all my story would not been written.

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  Secrets of the Past

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  CHAPTER ONE

  The sun shining, warm rays on my skin, such a lovely day, thought I would take a stroll along the esplanade look by the river it was so peaceful.

  I stood alone, gazing across the water, no sounds just the splashing of water against the wall below, it was very clear for a change to the normal muddy dirty river I usually see.

  Often walked here now, and wonder if I am from the past, perhaps reincarnated. Back that time, the people I met were mine, and I will always think how could this be? A mystery, will I ever know the truth?

  From this day my life changed, through the misery of others, deaths occurred, all for an object of beauty that held a secret.

  My mind returned to the awful day it all started.

  It was Tuesday 23 August 2010

  On this day, my eyes become aware of a bulky object bobbing up and down, not far in the water, like an old dirty looking sack.

  As I glanced, again, the waves from a boat had started to turn the sack, suddenly I saw a hand sticking up, and it startled me as I stepped back. Looked again it was a hand, grey, not sure, is it real?

  Was it a prop, some stuff been chucked in the river somehow from a film set somewhere?

  I checked again, it certainly looked real. I turned to see if anyone was nearby, only children in the distance and an old gent crossing the road, a long way off, but then I noticed a telephone box, and thought I must call the police.

  I called the emergency number and the operator told me to give her details and wait by the river so an officer could identify me, so I made my way back along the riverside to the spot, it was still there, it looked like a body, or was I just getting carried away and had made a dreadful mistake.

  Two police officers arrived with their car siren sounding, very loudly as they neared. They asked, if it was I, that had telephoned.

  I pointed to the spot and they began looking over the railing, then as they did, both started talking on their radios and within minutes, countless police cars arrived, one taping off the area, another talking to the officers.

  A few onlookers had started to gather and I actually began to get excited, nothing ever happens in my life, so for a change I was the centre of attention.

  One girl in particular stood out from the rest she looked very sad, she stared, directly at me, so I turned away. Thought I saw a tear run down her cheek.

  I gazed towards an officer who called out to me to sit in the car, and tell her everything, well there was not much to tell, and I wanted to get away from the stares and accusing looks, the excitement had turned to embarrassment.

  Therefore, I got on with it, so I could get home. The officer told me to go, and said they may want to speak to me again in the near future, so I gazed up and began to walk across towards the crowd as another officer was beckoning me to go through the tape he had lifted.

  As I did, I had to push a little, as the crowd were not moving apart, I then felt a hand touch mine, it was warm and held me tightly, as I looked up I saw the sad faced girl so I hesitated, but she said nothing, I pulled my hand away, pushing through the crowd, rushing slightly.

  As I headed for home I realized my selfishness, not once had I thought about the body in the river, was it a woman, man, how they got there.

  My mind became a blur; I just wanted to get home, forget about the whole episode.

  Mum left me with enough to buy a little flat, so unlike most I did not have to struggle. I took a course at the local college in office and business studies, after she died, and she would have been proud of me as I passed all with excellence.

  Mum and dad were the first I told after I hurried to the college early to receive my exam results.

  I rushed to the cemetery, sad moment for me, as I lay at their graveside, babbling, amongst the tears how lucky I was. Lucky I thought, I had just passed the biggest hurdle in my life and had no one to tell, but as usual, I got on with it.

  I knew I could not let them down as I was there little angel and they gave me there all.

  I lived in a Rochester High Street, it was a fun place to be, old buildings, cathedral, museum, amongst a nightclub, wine bars, teashops.

  The famous writer ‘Charles Dickens' a favorite here amongst the visitors. It was always buzzing with people of all nationalities, due to its history; I would not live anywhere else.

  I rushed up the steps to my flat above the little antiques shop, collecting my post as I entered and threw my coat on the sofa, clicked the kettle, kicked off my shoes and sunk in the sofa.

  Again guiltily, I thought of the poor person who lost their life, and realized how sad it was for a life to end in such a way.

  Up to that point I had not given them a second thought, how selfish, what was I thinking of, I had got so wrapped up in the excitement of it all I had forgotten that this could be a mother of young children, almost anyone they still had a life, that had ended so traumatically.

  I had lived here for almost two years since I lost my mother, she had suffered the dreaded illness with the C word, still cannot say the word, it was so heartbreaking watching her waste away slowly, life so cruel.

  She had a wonderful life until it hit her, then it took two years of tests, medication, scans, in the end, it almost broke my heart.

  Mum never complained once, she was strong for me I knew that, but sometimes I wish she had broke down a little here and there, she never did.

  When she was in hospital, we went through every process, that I needed to know after she died, the funeral, the service everything.

  She passed away peacefully, I was happy she did not suffer in the end.

  Then Mum's house had to be sold. Luckily, my brother Tom done that bit, he did try to intervene with the funeral arrangements, but I was having none of that.

  I had to live somewhere busy after her death. I went against his wishes as he wanted me to move to London with him and his family, but I wanted to be close to my mother and father.

  When I had no one to turn to or when I was sad, I travelled to their graveside, as I knew they would listen and guide me.

  My brother is married to Lisa and they have five-year-old twin sons Bobby and Charlie. They live near
Hyde Park in London, not a place for me I preferred the countryside, in Kent. Tom is an estate agent. He was very sad about me living alone after mother’s death, but I proved to him I could be alone as I have super friends who helped me through the grief, it was very lonely at first, but now I am fine.

  Tom knew a few influential people and managed to set me up with a job at a local solicitors firm. I hoped for a great job, as you do when just setting out in life but I expect a little intervention from my brother helped.

  My boss James Brannon was a partner in the solicitors, a dream job I thought, when I started but recently boredom had set in. James was very sweet quite fancied him for a while but he realized he doted on his fiancée Rebecca. Never less, he was still cute.

  At twenty years old, I have my life ahead of me with opportunities I hope all the way.

  My special friend is Mel, what I can say, without her, and her family I would now be a wreck but her mum took care of me, adopted me like her second daughter. She was just so nice when mum died, so kind.

  Mel has been seeing Danny for a year or so, his great to. Mel stays over most weekends. She has the most gorgeous blonde locks and a figure of a model, unlike myself I feel so plain to Mel. However, she is far more outgoing than I am.

  As I glanced at the clock I had not realized the time, it had been flying by, with all thoughts that had been running through my mind I had lost all track.

  Suddenly the clicking of the kettle made me jump, I made myself a sandwich and a cup of tea, and sat at my window, to watch the delights of Rochester. I had a large bay window with cushions all around it.

  It was teatime so there were a few shoppers rushing around. An old Japanese couple stood, hand in hand gazing at the museum, smiling with delight at such an old crotchety building, it was almost falling over.

  The same old down and out old gent sitting on the pavement opposite shaking his tin as he always is. I wondered if he gets enough to feed himself, I feel a little sadness. However, I have learnt there are so many and I cannot help them all, so when I pass I always give him a pound or two. As mum, would have done. She could never pass them without giving them a quid.

  A group of youths sitting on the wall just along the way in the garden, laughing and joking was trying to amuse the girls sitting with them...

  The evening is drawing in now, darkness is almost upon us, still warm but nice. I have many thoughts while I sit there alone, mainly I wish mum was here with me, but that was not to be. I missed her so much.

  As I glance across the street, I become aware of a person’s feet standing in the doorway opposite, in the darkness, but cannot make out whom they are, until they step out. I realize it is the girl the one who touched my hand, who looked so sad, back at the riverside.

  However, what is she doing here?

  Next to her, there is a man, older who has hold of her arm, his very shabbily dressed, with long straggly graying hair, a crumpled grey suit, similar to the tramp sitting on the pathway. He looked awful, dirty.

  I jump back as I notice that they are both staring at me, I feel very strange at first, like a naughty girl, so I hide behind the curtain as they are there for some time.

  I then realize the girl must have followed me home for some reason, for what I wonder’ I know nothing; Nevertheless they were still looking up at me.

  I try to peep again from behind the curtain again, I glimpse the man is speaking on a phone, then the girl turns and speaks to him, and he grabs her wrist.

  He then pushes her back in the doorway. He looked very aggressive, which worried me slightly.

  Suddenly I am startled as the doorbell rings, so I jump up race to the door and speak into the intercom, its Mel so I tell her to come up quickly.

  She walks in saying.

  “Well how’s your day been, mines been terrible”

  Before she could go on, I blurted out my story.

  Then as I get to the bit about the girl, I remember and rush to the window, my eyes scanning the street below, to see if they are still about, but they have gone.

  Mel tells me she cannot make it tonight as she has to baby sit her sister, so we will not be going clubbing this night, not that bothered as it has been a very unusual day, its warm, and I feel so tired.

  Mel has to leave so I decide a nice relaxing bath, watch a bit of television, and chill out a bit. Therefore, I ran it and jumped in, as I lay there it seemed for an eternity, the water now slightly had a chill to it, I decide to get out. I quickly dried myself put my soft pyjamas on and sat on my great big sofa with my snuggly blanket.

  I started flipping through the channels to see what was on. I found an old movie, just what I need a sad romance I thought. I felt so warm and sleepy, think I nodded off for a while.

  Then my hand touched an object, it was cold, I jumped forward, it was slightly sticking into the back of the sofa, I lifted it up and it was a silver locket.

  Where did it come from I thought?

  Perhaps it fell from my pocket or Mel's when she visited earlier.

  I tried to open it but it was difficult, and then it clicked, so I carried it over to the windowsill and gradually opened it slowly.

  Inside was a picture of a woman with dark lockets with a high lacy top, she was stunning.

  On the opposite side, there was a child about five years old also with dark hair in ringlets, very pretty.

  It looked like it was very old, quite large to what we wear now.

  I opened it wider to get a clearer view.

  This is when it all happened.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Suddenly the room began to dim, as I lifted my head to look up at what was happening a tunnel of light appeared, and then it cleared.

  My eyes scanned the room, unbelievably in my fireplace, there was coal burning in the hearth. A large china dog stood on the mantelpiece.

  A corner unit full of ornaments.

  The room very dark, with oil lamps flickering all around, a cat asleep on the rug in front of the fire, I thought a real coal fire? Mine was gas, what could be happening?

  I just sat there, frozen taking it all in.

  I was captivated, strange objects, old oil paintings adorned the walls of my room, very old fashioned.

  Then I heard a woman’s voice, it startled me.

  “Anna, now come on, you do not want to be late it’s time to get ready.”

  As she spoke, I glanced down at my feet, amazed to see, a pair of black leather boots with lace ties all down the front, what was going on here?

  I had a dress on that almost touched the boots, with a frill around it. Had tiny pearly buttons all down the front, then a large bow at the waist.

  Looking up across the room, a strikingly attractive woman I had ever seen stood in the doorway, with a beautiful smile.

  She said, “Come now you must not be late”.

  Then she added,

  "Look Anna, I know it will be strange at first, but you are a young woman now, and Fredric is from a fine family and your father has told me he will very soon be running the business”

  As I looked at her, I could not speak. Like my voice had gone, and why is she looking at me?

  There is no one else here, why is she thinking, I am her daughter?

  I sat contemplating, should I stand up or stay seated.

  I hesitated for a moment, but rose from the windowsill, and as I did, I noticed the sofa it was hard with large buttons adorning it, high at back.

  I followed her to the bathroom, through a very dark hall where she told me to remove my clothing and pointed to a beautiful dress, with white lace, it was stunning. It was a dark blue velvety material.

  Then I felt myself change, I felt warm. It was as if I belonged.

  I knew I was Amy, but felt I was Anna to.

  Never less, where am I?

  It was such a strange feeling.

  It then hit me the locket must have unlocked this secret.

  I must have gone back to this time.

  How I tho
ught?

  If I wear the locket, I can go back. After all, it was like a mystery, no one would ever believe me. This was so exciting, and it is happening to me.

  I would be famous, oops must not be carried away.

  Eventually I opened the bathroom door and came face to face with this woman, I was close to her, she had the most amazing olive colored skin, with dark brown eyes, and almost black hair the was all on top of her head. She had curls dropping over her brow, with a large clip in the top. With pearl earrings, quite large, not the sort I would wear. Mum had some like them.

  She said.

  “Oh Anna, You are your mother’s daughter, Fredric will gasp when he sees you, you look beautiful, look here in the mirror”.

  I stepped forward I was gorgeous. A bit like me, but this dress on me had worked wonders.

  No longer plain Amy but pretty, stunning I thought.

  I had a little cape that went around the shoulders that matched the dress also with lace adorning the edges. I was already wearing large earrings, not mine.

  While I was in the bathroom, I put on the locket, slightly heavy to what I normally wear, but it looked fantastic. The dress was exquisite I look like a princess.

  I am Cinderella.

  I then opened the door to the hallway, as I passed on the hall table, lay a letter, I picked it up, it read:

  ‘Anastasia Isabella Shelby.’

  I assumed the woman to be Anastasia.

  I had not noticed her standing there directly in front of me again; she had white gloves in her hand.

  “Here look, these are my favorite gloves, until we can shop for a pair, you may wear these.”

  As she put them on my hands, she looked at me with proud eyes, as my mum used to.

  She whispered

  “Be the perfect young lady tonight, I wish your father were here to see you.”