England: April, 1909
"I just received a telegram from the Foundation's attorneys." Adam Featherstone bent to kiss his stepmother's cheek. She was lying in bed, propped up by pillows, a full cup of tea at her bedside. He nodded at her friend, Miss Daaé who'd been staying at Lillian's behest.
Christine put her embroidery hoop aside. "I'll leave you two to discuss business, shall I?"
"No, Christine," Lillian whispered. "Stay. If the news is what I hope, this will concern you." She saw Christine settle back in her chair and then nodded to her stepson. "Please continue."
He smiled, knowing how pleased she'd be at the news. "It's done." He pulled an envelope from his briefcase. "I have the signed the contract here. Monte Cristo Design and Construction of San Francisco will be building the new hospital. They're only awaiting word from us on when to begin."
Lillian closed her eyes, holding back tears. This was one more phase in her small plan. Now there was only one more step. Once completed, she could finally let go and rest. "Oh, Adam, that is wonderful news. I should very much like Mr. Sholokhov to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. Would you ask your secretary to make the travel arrangements we've discussed as quickly as possible?"
"I'll let Benjamin know at once. His schedule is open so he should be able to leave very soon. I expect it will take three or four weeks to travel to San Francisco, let's say a month to be on the safe side. I'll telegraph the architecture firm to plan for a groundbreaking in late May." He held Lillian's hand a moment. "The children have been asking about their favorite grandmother, may I bring them around soon?"
She smiled at his choice of words. "Don't let Katherine's mother know that I'm the favorite. You know how she likes to be the best at everything." Adam grimaced, knowing his mother-in-law fully well. "It will be our secret." He kissed her again. "Goodbye, darling. I'll be back to see you very soon."
She nodded. They both knew what that meant. "Thank you so much for coming and telling me in person." Once he'd gone, she turned her attention back to her companion. "And now, Christine, I must once again impose on our friendship."
The younger woman smiled. "Lillian, I have told you, you are never an imposition. Whatever you need, I'll do it happily."
"I want you to go to San Francisco with Mr. Sholokhov." She waited, seeing surprise register on Christine's expressive face. "The Foundation has already arranged to engage you to sing a small recital at a banquet following the groundbreaking."
"My representative never said a word to me about this."
"No. That's because I asked that he not say anything until the contracts were signed and everything confirmed. The Foundation's business manager will reach out to the firm and set a date based on expected travel times once the final bookings are made."
Christine sat on the bedside and stroked Lillian's hair. "I don't want to leave you. Not now." They hadn't spoken of it, but they both knew Lillian's time was quickly coming to an end.
"Christine, I need you to do this for me. Please." Lillian pulled in a breath, marshalling her strength for what she hoped would be the final argument of her life. "I can't explain, but I promise everything will become clear when you get to San Francisco. Promise me you'll go."
The younger woman looked into her friend's eyes. She could almost see the shadows encroaching, dimming the light in her eyes. "When we met, you said there was a bond between us." She watched as Lillian nodded yes. "This has something to do with that, doesn't it?"
"It does and I promise that one day soon you will understand." Lillian smiled.
"All right." Christine could deny her friend nothing. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Just one thing." Lillian felt herself slipping off to sleep. "The recital, sing the Bach-Gounod Ave Maria for me."
Christine gently kissed her friend's forehead. "I promise, Lillian. I will sing it just for you. Rest now." She slipped Lillian's hands under her blanket and quietly left the room. She started planning for the journey, knowing it would commence very soon.
. . . .
"Well, I'm ready to go." Christine walked into Lillian's bedroom and sat at her bedside. "I still don't like leaving you."
"I know," Lillian said, taking Christine's hand in hers. "I will miss your company, but believe me when I say it's for the best."
"I know there's something you're not telling me," Christine pressed, "and I wish you would."
"You're right." Lillian looked at the other woman. She wasn't sure about sharing the whole truth with Christine, but perhaps she could tell her a little. "It's about the boy. My Boy."
Christine nodded. She and Lillian shared many confidences over the short time she'd been staying in the dower house. She knew the story of the boy and Lillian shared the story of the simple charm she always wore on a thin gold bracelet. Was he the reason Lillian wanted her to go to San Francisco? Was he the recipient of the mysterious gift she was to deliver?
"He's there," Lillian said softly, "in San Francisco. Benjamin will tell him about me, but I want a woman I trust to be there, just in case he needs a soft shoulder. He's a proud man, and he doesn't bend easily, but I know he'll respond to you. Be his friend for me, Christine, even if he doesn't want you to be. Even if it's just for a short time."
"All right I promise. I'll take your boy the gift you've left him, and I'll do my best to be his friend. Goodbye, Lillian. Thank you for being my friend, I'll never forget you." Christine bent and kissed Lillian's cheek, then she left the bedroom for the last time.
Benjamin Sholokhov entered Lillian's bedroom and kissed her softly on the cheek. "I'm here, Lillian. I've come to take Christine to the boat, we sail early tomorrow morning for New York."
She turned her head on the pillow, looking at him through deeply sunken eyes. In the past few days, her condition deteriorated rapidly. Her time was almost gone. She and Christine had already said their farewells. "Thank you, my darling Benjamin. Everything is arranged?"
"Yes." He sat beside her on the bed, holding her thin hand. "Rebecca wanted me to thank you for your generosity in including her and the children on this trip."
"It wasn't generosity." She looked him squarely in the eyes. "I want you to stay in San Francisco and run the hospital. It's time to stop galivanting all over the world and stay home with your family. Adam said he and Jeremy will handle all the financial arrangements and see to it your belongings are all packed up and shipped over for you."
He looked at her through narrowed eyes. "Is this why Rebecca has been singing around the house for the past week? She knew about it already?"
"Of course. I wouldn't do anything to make your lives better without Rebecca's knowledge and approval."
He couldn't help but laugh at her audacity. "When I met your friend Mr. Dantes in San Francisco we both agreed that you are a force of nature who will not be denied. I guess I'd forgotten just how true that is. Thank you my dear Lillian, for everything."
"You're welcome, Benjamin." Then she took a deep breath, using the moment to organize her thoughts. "I must ask you to do two more very small favors for me."
"Anything. You know that."
"Yes, I do." She pointed to the simple desk under the windows. "You'll find two envelopes on the desktop. The smaller one has Erik's name on it. When you arrive in San Francisco, please do whatever you must to find him before the groundbreaking celebration banquet. Make him promise you to attend the event, and then give him the envelope with his name."
Sholokhov nodded. "Of course. And the other?"
"Give that envelope to Christine as soon as she finishes the recital. There are smaller envelopes inside and I've included instructions so she'll know what to do."
"I will." He looked down at her frail body and gently kissed her hands. "Lillian, knowing you has given me more joy than anyone in my life, excepting Rebecca and the children. And you were responsible for that. I promise, I will carry on the work you started and make you proud."
The look in her eyes said the words she couldn't speak.
"I know, my dear. Don't worry. Everything will work out fine. The Lord wouldn't dare disappoint you." He rose suddenly, needing to leave the room before he broke down and wept. "Goodbye, Lillian, flights of angels…."
"Goodbye, Benjamin."
Lillian heard the door close and nestled her head deeper into her pillows. "Thank you," she whispered, "for giving me time. I know everything will be all right now." She turned her head to look out her window at the budding garden. A shaft of sunlight reflected off the simple gold bracelet with its dangling charm that never left her wrist. "Goodbye my dearest Boy."