The English Descendants

21

Three years later, Anne graduates with a degree in architecture and marries Matthew. Their children follow quickly after, Richard in 1950 and Daisy in 1952. Richard cries when Thomas visits, but Anne lifts the child from the cradle and holds him, calming him, while Thomas kisses his forehead. She wants to ask him so many things, but he vanishes before she can do more than tell him how good it is to see him. She wonders why he has been so quiet. When Daisy is born, Matthew has been in Korea for a few months. Anne is lonely. When Thomas appears to greet her daughter, Richard hides behind her legs.

"There's nothing to fear. Thomas is an old friend."

He smiles as he bends low to kiss little Daisy's forehead. She coos and tries to suck on his nose. He laughs.

"She must be hungry."

"Shall I leave so you can feed her?"

"No, you don't need to go." She picks up the little girl and settles into the couch to nurse. Richard hides behind it.

"Oh, Rich...come now...."

"I was not Dexter's favourite apparition, either, was I?"

"No, you weren't." She adjusts the squirming baby, "Where have you been? With Matthew in Korea...I would like your company."

"All you need to do is ask, dear Anne. But I am not all-knowing, not even death has brought that. If you wish me here, you must make that known."

"Have you been watching?"

"Yes. I watch you. I watch Dexter. I watch May. I watch the elder Richard. And I watch your parents, your children, and your grandparents."

"That's a lot of people to watch."

"It is."

"Is something wrong? You seem distant."

Thomas nods, "There are men approaching the house. I can hear their footsteps."

Anne puts Richard down for his nap and nestles Daisy beside him. She goes to the door. Two officers approach the house. Anne knows exactly what this means and she is pale as she opens the door.

"Mrs Drake? I regret to inform you...." She does not hear the rest of what he says, clutching the doorframe for support. She faints; one of the officers catches her.

Thomas softly closes the nursery door. Daisy wakes and begins to whimper. Thomas strokes her back and sings to her, his voice so soft that he bends down only inches from her to make sure she can hear. She settles and sucks on her hand, falling back asleep.

A half hour later, Anne, trembling, enters the nursery to find Thomas still sitting beside the children, "You knew."

"I always do."

"When they happen, or before?"

"Time is...unclear to me. I prefer to stay in the timeline I know. I could move ahead, but I do not want to forget when you are. I know when they happen."

"How long has he been gone?"

"Just a few days before Daisy was born."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you needed your strength to bring her forth."

"But after...."

"Your children needed you. And he was not going to change."

She sits beside him, "Have you been watching them this whole time?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. I should call Mom."