The Past’S Present

By Barbara Boyd Gorton

Bridgette is the mother of adult children whose problems she has taken on as her own, for far too long. As she finally allows herself to stop making their problems hers, she embraces the present and looks forward to finding new interests and doing new things. What she has no way of knowing, is that the timing is perfect for a culminating event dating back hundreds of years. The catalyst for this is an actor, Hunter Stephens.
After seeing the latest Hunter movie with a friend, Bridgette confesses to her friend, about the growing obsession she has to learn all she can about Hunter. Her friend suggests there could be an ancestral or spiritual connection that needs to be explored. Perhaps their paths crossed during another lifetime. Over the next two years, Bridgette and her friend put together the pieces of the puzzle. Someone or something from the past is manipulating Bridgette to continue her fascination with Hunter, to accomplish a goal. But what is the goal? When Bridgette learns that she and Hunter might be linked by a present from the past that goes back to Mary, Queen of Scots, she is lead down a mysterious path to find the truth about the gift and, determine whether her destiny is linked, somehow, to Hunter Stephens.
In this fascinating tale, a womans inexplicable fascination with a movie actor takes her on a journey to find the truth. Could they be connected through their ancestry?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781532047459

Barbara Boyd Gorton

Barbara Boyd Gorton has been nurturing her passion for writing ever since she can remember. She currently resides with her two dogs outside Baltimore, Maryland. The Pasts Present is her first book.

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Copyright © 2018 Barbara Boyd Gorton.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-4744-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-4743-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-4745-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018906167

iUniverse rev. date: 05/29//2018

Contents

Prologue

Part One

Off To The Movies

Food For Thought

Calling Ash

In The Meantime

Part Two   Mary, Queen of Scots

Father Comes A Calling

Beth & Duncan

Death Is All Around

Part Three

The Plot Thickens

Now What?

Dream On, Dream On

The Letter

First Responder

Kristen

Second Responder

Part Four

The Call

Duncan

Dolphins & Steelers

D Day

And So They Meet

Sunday

Epilogue

Prologue

It was dreary, cold and raining. The weather suited the mood of the village. If Queen Mary was to remain their sovereign, there was no choice but to continue to fight for her. They knew this was going to be one of the last battles, so even the priests were going. They could help with the wounded, provide moral and spiritual support. They could not condone taking a life, but if pressed into a him or me situation, would they?

She raised her arm, using the horse as cover to try to block anyone from seeing her put the folded handkerchief in his hand. As he pulled his hand away, his fingers lingered on hers. They exchanged a last desperate look, as he put the cloth inside his coat, next to his heart. She said the words, he responded, and then rode off.

What was in the handkerchief would link the past to the present, and lead to an unexpected end.

Part One

(Present day)

OK, so I’ll pick you up in half an hour. Chris hung up the phone.

It had been quite a while since she had hung out with her friend, so she was looking forward to the afternoon movie, and then getting something to eat afterwards. A co-worker had read about a place out on route 7 that had changed hands in the last year, and the guy making the food was doing amazing things. They’d tried it out and had really liked it. They served the run of the mill bar food: fried, cheesy and salty (to make you thirsty for another drink), but he also had seared ahi, with a killer slaw and a tropical salsa that rocked. The lobster mac & cheese was great, but the best was the selection of burgers. And when duck was on the menu, oh well, that cherry chutney was to die for…. And there was a seafood gumbo so thick you could eat it with a fork. That would be food Bridgette liked. But it was a pretty run down, no frills roadhouse, so she might be a little put off by the ambiance….or lack thereof! Chris checked her makeup at the mirror by the front door, freshened her lipstick, wet her finger and stroked her eyebrows to tame any wild hairs, and then opened the door. Bridgette was just pulling up so the timing was perfect.

Bridge was her typical Chatty Cathy self, so conversation was easy. Work was a common subject, much discussed anytime they got together. Neither was particularly fond of some of the people in charge, but they had bills to pay and jobs that were, for one reason or the other, worth holding onto for as long as they could. For Chris it was being less than a mile from home and having good health benefits. She had worked in the high school over twenty years, and in that time had watched the school go from an All American great high school, to one that was no longer so great. For Bridgette it was a job that had, over the years, given her satisfaction in building relationships with clients who trusted her and came to her with problems she was usually able to solve for them. She worked in the health insurance industry, and with the creation of the Affordable Care Act, things had changed greatly. She was still able to help her clients with claims and enrollment issues, but the industry was changing, and she wondered how much more it would change. It would have been nice if she’d had other people around to socialize with after work now and then, or to go to lunch with. But she was in a comfortable office, and most of the time the guys she worked with were out, so she was alone much of the day and could take care of personal things, and be her own boss, more or less.

Talk moved on to their adult children. In their 30s now, the males had managed to get themselves into trouble for stupid, non-violent stuff, spend some time in jail, and now Chris’s son seemed to have straightened out his life. The jury was still out on Bridgette’s son. As with most people struggling with some kind of addiction, there were periods of really wonderful times, and then suddenly the wheels would come off the wagon. For years, Bridgette had lived in a constant state of anxiety. It was always just a matter of time before another episode occurred. Stupid things usually happened then, which ended up costing money either in repairs or court costs. Bridgette’s girls had done well, getting master’s degrees, good jobs, and on their way to happily ever afters. But then all hell broke loose at a time when most people were finally getting their act together. For all of their lives, Bridgette had taken her children’s problems on as her own. She felt guilt when they got in trouble or were hurting. She hurt right along with them to the point that she had been drowning in despair. Friends, and relatives all tried to explain that they were adults now and needed to stop depending on her. But she knew in her heart, she had to do whatever she could until her heart and God gave her a signal that enough was enough. That day finally came. Trying to explain what the catalyst was would make her sound looney tunes, so why bother. But she was slowly climbing out of the sad darkness and back into the world. She hadn’t realized how cut off she’d become. It felt good to release herself from their problems. It still pained her to see them struggling. But she knew they had to figure things out for themselves. Bridgette was ripe for new interests, getting out, having fun. And someone had piqued her interest and gotten her back on track.

Off To The Movies

So I caught the first movie on cable a couple weeks ago, Bridgette said, as they were driving to the theater. The casting was unbelievable!

Chris replied, I know! I saw it too, and it made me look forward to seeing if this movie will be as good as that one was. I heard they have already started writing the next one, even though this one was just released.

Bridgette took a few seconds and then said, The weirdest thing happened though. I never use the cable guide but something compelled me to hit the button and before I could even make a selection, that movie came on. I saw what it was and thought what the heck? I loved the old tv series, so let’s give it a shot. Chris, I started watching it and, I can’t explain it, there was something about him, Hunter, a connection, ummm, I don’t know how to even describe it. It’s not…

Chris interrupted, Oh Bridge, he’s a hunk, movie star good looks, great body, you have the hots for him. You could do worse, she laughed. He’s too good looking for me, I Iike the scruffy, bad boy type. Give me dark hair, kinda long and wearing leather and I’d be a happy camper, she said with a laugh.

Oh, I get it, the motorcycle riding, troubled, bad boy type, chuckled Bridgette.

By this time, they were at the theater. Bridgette parked, as usual first spot across the driveway in front of the theater. What was it about her? No matter where she went, a space either just opened up or was waiting for her, right near the entrances wherever she went. She couldn’t luck out on many things, but parking spaces, near the entrances were practically guaranteed.

I can’t believe it, Chris exclaimed. You always get the best spot and it doesn’t matter where we go or what time it is. It’s like the parking gods are ahead of you making sure someone moves so you get the prize space. Bridgette just laughed, then put the SUV in park. The theater wasn’t crowded. It was a gorgeous, late spring Saturday afternoon. Most people were probably either at the fields with their kids finishing up the end of the spring sports season or sprucing up their lawns for the coming summer. They bought their tickets, got some popcorn and found seats behind the wall so they could stretch out their legs. The usual previews went on and on: sci-fi, action, adventure, a comic book super hero, and one with some crazed gang killing everyone, and cops killing them.

I can’t believe people pay money to see crap like that, Bridgette said, as she dug into the popcorn tub.

Well, to each his own. I don’t mind them as long as the good guys keep winning in the end, Chris responded.

Yeah, but the way things are today, you can’t be sure who the good or bad guys are. It’s really pretty sad, Bridgette said.

Finally, the last soda bubble burst, the popcorn bucket sped down the film runway into the distance as the concession stand ad ended. The theater went dark, and the feature film started. It had been over half an hour of previews so everyone was ready for the feature film. They weren’t disappointed. It was wonderful! As the lights came on and people started to roll out of the theater, Bridge asked Chris, Did you like the movie?

Chris answered, Yes, let’s talk about it in the car. Right now I’m hungry. Let’s get something to eat!

Sounds like a plan, I’d love to go somewhere different though, replied Bridgette.

Great, I have just the place. I’ve gone there a couple of times now and never been disappointed. I heard about it from Jeannie. She was googling places to eat in the county and this one came up. She tried it out, loved it, so told a few people about it. I was one of them. I went with her, and I’ve gone there a time or two since and never been disappointed. The only thing is, it’s a little run-down. But the guy who bought the place makes great food, and you never know what you will find for the special. Chris said.

Sounds perfect, which way am I heading? asked Bridgette, as she backed out of the parking space.

When you get to 24, make a right because we’re heading north up route 7. Chris responded.

Food For Thought

Once the dinner destination was established, conversation turned to the film they’d just watched.

So, what did you think? asked Bridgette.

I really liked it. I’m glad I caught the first one a couple weeks ago though, because it explained where these characters came from, and how they turned into such a great team. When you think back to the old television series, they were just who they were from the first episode. There was no back story. Seeing this movie after the first one, you knew time had passed, people had grown into their jobs. It gave it a depth and cohesiveness I don’t think I would have gotten had I not seen that first movie, Chris explained.

I know what you mean, Bridgette said quickly, turning her head to glance at Chris. She seemed calm and together, but Inside Bridgette was a mess.

She wasn’t sure what was going on inside her. During the movie, her eyes were riveted on Hunter. When he wasn’t in a scene, she was looking in the background, trying to see if he was there, somewhere. When he was in a scene, she studied his mouth when he talked, how he said his words, his eyes, how he