A Hidden Past ~ Final Part

[avrovulcan.livejournal.com]

I thought it about time I finished this story, so when I had some spare time, that is what I did! Hope you enjoy it.

Link to Part One: A Forgotten Past
Link to Part Two: A Forgotten Past
Link to Part Three: A Forgotten Past
Link to Part Four: A Forgotten Past

The next morning Illya and Becca examined some old estate plans that had been found amongst the papers stored in Gramp's study. One large yellowed sheet covered most of the huge kitchen table. Various bottled condiments held down the edges and corners.

"I wonder where the memorial could be, I've never seen anything in our gardens that could be considered one," Rebecca sighed.

Gramps pointed to a faded line, "that seems to mark a boundary, but it's not our current one, that's right back here." He commented as he indicated the approximate end of the existing garden.

"I wonder why it was made smaller - and when," Emily, Becca's mother, wondered as she looked.

"Here's a newer map; look, the dates are about forty years apart." Grams added, bringing a less yellowed document to the table, "but the boundary is still the same."

"This one looks more up to date." Illya placed another almost white plan on the old one they had been studying. "This has the new boundary marked. The date is…….1910"

"There's almost a hundred years between these two maps and Grams one is near the middle." Becca added.

"So sometime after the 1850's the boundary moved." Emily said thoughtfully before turning to her Father. "When did your Great Great Grandfather Amos die Gramps?"

"Ah, let me see." He opened the big family Bible to find the information. "Yes, it was the 15 September 1862."

"I think I have an idea about the change," Emily said, "what if the memorial was somewhere in this area when it was still part of the garden…."

"…. and after his death it became overgrown and the boundary eventually moved inwards." Gramps finished.

"Yes, that could be the answer," Illya agreed, "I think we should look here Becca."

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The two agents walked through the manicured gardens, amongst the rose beds and beautifully planted borders; their wide variety of brightly coloured flowers of all shapes and sizes attracting the butterflies who fed on their sweet nectar.

As they approached the Western end of the garden, they could see an old wooden post and rail fence; and beyond, part of the old meadow with it's ancient oak trees, their gnarled boughs spreading out in invitation to the agents to enjoy the cool shade they provided against the heat of the day.

"I've never really been over here, but when I have I don't remember seeing anything unusual," Becca commented.

"Maybe the memorial has broken or fallen over."

They explored the area, examining every good sized lump and bump they came across; just incase it was hiding what they were looking for under decades of soil and overgrowth.

Just as they were about to give up, they tried one last mound. Digging through the dirt with their hands, Illya's fingers scraped on something hard.

"Here, I think I have found something."

"Yes, I have too Illya."

After another 15 minutes of excited digging, a large flat stone was revealed. They heaved it out of the ground and found it was indeed a monument. With some effort they stood it up, it was about two foot square and three foot high. An inscription was carved into one surface and something was etched on the remaining three sides.

"I can't quite see what it says. I'll get some water to clean it up," Becca said.

"Okay, I think something like this would have had a plinth to stand on, I will see if I can find one while you are away."

Shortly, Becca returned with a bucket of water and a scrubbing brush, just as Illya was clearing soil from a three foot square piece of stone near the monument.

"I see you were right, there is a plinth a well."

"Yes, and it is in quite good condition, it should look fine once it has been cleaned and tidied up. Can you read the inscription yet?"

"Almost, just need to remove some dirt just here……. Yes, there we are. It says:

'In memorium to our darling Daughter Sophie Eleanor Andrews.
Taken from our care so early, but now looked after by Angels.
14 May 1831 - 21 August 1838.
Rest In Peace Peanut'.

There are angels carved on the other three sides, it's beautiful."

"Yes, it is. Why does it say 'Peanut?"

"I think it was probably their pet name for her."

"Ah, I see, a bit like Russian diminutives."

"Yes, Illyusha!"

Rebecca and Illya placed the stone pillar on the plinth and stood back to admire their handiwork.

"I think we should make this part back into a garden, just so it's never lost again. She shouldn't be forgotten." Becca sighed, she rested her head against Illya's chest and he wrapped his arms around her.

Over the next few days and with the help of the estate gardeners, the area around the memorial was re-integrated into the garden. The flower borders were extended so they ran down to the memorial  and a small rose bed was made on the opposite side. New turf had been laid so the reclaimed land matched in with the existing garden.

Becca placed some cut flowers in a vase in front of the memorial, the blues and pinks of the iris and freesias bright in front of the pale stone.

"Illya, if we are lucky enough to ever have children, and if it's a girl, I'd like to call her Sophie Eleanor."

"I like that idea, It will be a fitting tribute. Sophie Eleanor Kuryakin, I like it."

"I'm so glad you do." Becca replied, before exclaiming, "Illya… look do you see her?"

"Yes, I do," he whispered.

Skipping around by the memorial was a little girl dressed in a pretty blue summer dress, a ring of white daisies in her hair, she stopped and smiled at the two agents and waved as she faded from view.

"I think she approves." Illya said with a smile.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

What a lovely finish to an intriguing little adventure.

It's too much of a coincidence that I was just saying to someone how much your stories are missed here on Section VII. We have so many new writers that have joined, and your stories along with Avirra's would make for a nice full house of excellent MFU writers.

I hope you can find a little more time to hop in on some of the challenges now and then.

Thanks for posting the finish to your story!

[avrovulcan.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed writing this little story.

I have so many things on the go at the moment, I'm running out of hours in a day! Quite often I'm still up past Midnight and I'm completely cream crackered!

I hope to be able to join in on some of the challenges/post some short stories when I can.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Don't get yourself sick, burning the candle at both ends. Hugs to you!

[avrovulcan.livejournal.com]

I know, it does concern me, the business is supposed to be going quieter now the children are on Summer holidays.

It does usually, so we started to install some new business software, but quiet time doesn't seem to be happening at the moment, so I'm doing double the workload.

Hopefully someone will tell the rest of the world to slow down with the ordering!!!

Thanks for the hugs.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Either that or get you some help Hang in there and so good to hear from you!

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you for finishing this tale. You have ended it beautifully :-)

[avrovulcan.livejournal.com]

Thank you, glad you liked it.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

It's great to see you here, you have been missed. And it's great to have the final chapter of this story... mystery no more.

[avrovulcan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I thought it was time it was finished, I had a spare couple of hours so got to it. Glad you liked it.

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Thank you. This is a fine ending for the enjoyable fic. Very solid desscription!

Hope that rl does let you drop in occasionally. Good wishes for it.

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Glad to see you found some time and finished this delightful tale. Very nice and satisfying ending.

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Excellent so happy to read it now that it is finished. Very nice ending.