At last, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and a warm, inviting voice called out, “Where are you two hiding? Come join us! I think there’s quite a bit to explain!”
Julie and Amanda exchanged nervous glances before stepping forward. The visitor, a tall, distinguished man with an air of elegance, extended a hand to each of them. “You’re incredible!” he said, a note of genuine gratitude in his voice. “If it weren’t for you, none of this would have been possible. My mother and I owe you more than words can express. Please, come and sit with us. Let’s unravel the mysteries together.” He led them to the sofa where his mother was seated.
The transformation in Mrs. Collingwood was striking. Where there had once been a veil of profound sadness, now there was a radiant glow. Her face, once etched with years of sorrow, seemed to have regained its youthful vibrancy. Her brown eyes sparkled with renewed life, and her smile echoed the warmth and grace captured in the portrait they had seen earlier. She looked like the woman in the painting, as if time had been rolled back a decade.
Julie, catching her breath, finally spoke up. “Mr. Collingwood, we’re dying to know how you ended up being here, alive, and why you used another name at the door. Can you please explain everything?”
He chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I’ll get to that, but first, I need to know—who exactly is ‘Julie Kenway’?”
Julie’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’m Julie Kenway. Didn’t you guess?”
“Not at all,” Mr. Collingwood admitted with a grin. “I never imagined it would be a girl who sent me that note. I was unsure if the name was genuine or a cover. I was quite perplexed. But let me tell you the story behind everything.”
He settled into an armchair, the room’s dim light casting a soft glow on his features. “To start with, I wasn’t killed at the Battle of Shiloh, contrary to what was reported. I was severely wounded, but not mortally. After the battle, while lying among many others, I found myself next to a grievously injured soldier who was shivering uncontrollably. My own wound was less severe, so I took off my coat and wrapped it around him to keep him warm. I had personal papers in that coat, but at the time, my only concern was helping him. When the surgeons arrived, we were taken to different hospitals, and I never saw him again. His death, and the confusion of having my papers, led to the mistaken belief that I was dead.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
He paused, his gaze distant as he relived the memories. “When I saw my obituary in the paper, my first reaction was to correct it, but then I reconsidered. I had severed ties with my past. I hoped that my mother might eventually forgive me, but when no word came, I thought it might be kinder for her to believe I had died honorably rather than live with the pain of my absence. I decided to let the report stand and distanced myself further.”
Julie and Amanda listened intently, absorbing every detail.
“I made my way westward, through the rugged terrain and slow stagecoaches of the era, until I reached California. There, I became obsessed with the gold rush, believing I would strike it rich. Years of fruitless effort left me as poor as when I arrived, but the lure of adventure kept me going. Then, rumors of gold in upper Canada reached me. It was a wilderness, virtually untouched, and that appealed to me even more. I gathered supplies and ventured into the untamed north.”
He leaned back, a look of wonder in his eyes. “Those were extraordinary years. I spent months alone with only a half-breed Indian guide for company, and the search for gold was relentless. But one day, I struck gold—massive amounts near the surface. After extracting as much as I could, I realized I had enough wealth to last a lifetime. Fifteen years had passed, and I felt a deep longing to reconnect with the world I had left behind.”
Julie and Amanda sat in stunned silence, absorbing the incredible tale.
“We’re still trying to piece together everything,” Julie said, her voice filled with awe. “Why did you use another name when you arrived?”
Mr. Collingwood’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. “I wanted to test the waters discreetly. I didn’t want to draw attention until I was certain of my reception. And as for the surprises, I’m sure we’ll unravel them all in time.”
The room fell into a contemplative silence as the reunited family savored the profound moment. The answers they sought would come with time, but for now, they were content to bask in the mystery of their unexpected reunion.