Portriat
Chapter 14: A year and a Day

When Jamie went back to the bank, Meghann followed. They worked as equals. Under this partnership the bank prospered. The O’Brien’s carried on Shawn’s tradition of lending money to those in need with no expectations of repayment. Though loved by many in the City, Meghann receive a great deal of criticism from her peers. They thought Meghann was neglecting her proper family duties.

To the critics she would reply, “My duty is to my husband. He can not run the bank without me.”

Jamie would only smile upon hearing her. He loved Meghann’s independence and wit. Meghann had one disturbing characteristic. She suddenly seemed to resent her fallen brother. When others spoke of him, she would make unkind statements.

“My dear why do you speak ill of your beloved brother?” Jamie asked at last.

“I will not tell you until we have been married a year and a day.” She replied when Jamie insisted on an answer to his question.

Try as he may, Jamie could not draw the mystery from her. Over that year Meghann became very hard to understand. Though she spoke ill of her brother, she could not bear for his room to be dismantled. She would not even consent to using it as a storeroom. When Jamie wished to move into a larger home, Meghann refused.

“I will not move. I intend to die here,” she said.

Jamie decided not to press the issue. To meet their need for space, Jamie had a room added on. Through understanding and compromise the couple’s love grew. No one in town could remember such a well-matched pair. A year and a day flew by.

That day came upon a cloudless morning.

“My darling, you have promised to tell me the secret one day after our anniversary,” Jamie remined. “Today is the day.”

“NOW! You demand the answer now? We have not even risen from our bed.” Meghann teased.

“Yes! NOW!” demanded Jamie.

“Very well, she replied, leaving the room.

She seemed to be gone a long time returning attired in her brother’s clothing with a mustache upon her lips. Jamie was shocked. For a moment he thought Shawn had risen from the dead.

“Meghann,” Jamie chided, “This is in poor taste. You dishonor your brother’s memory. Put this pretense aside and tell me the secret.

Meghann seemed hurt. “My husband you do not understand? I could not disgrace my brother’s memory, Shawn never existed,” Meghann replied removing the mustache

“Do you mean to tell me? No! It cannot be true!” Jamie exclaimed.

“It is true. I am my brother,” she said using her brother’s voice.

Meghann drew towards Jamie asking for forgiveness. Jamie simply moved away.

“I attempted to tell you many times. I feared what you would do. I loved you too much to lose you,” Meghann implored, searching Jamie’s eyes for forgiveness. “Forgive me, please.”

Jamie rose in anger from the bed storming out of the room. Forgive her. There was too much to forgive. The pain and worry she had put him through. The things he told her when he thought she was Shawn. He was hurt and confused.

He needed time to think. Meghann sensed this remaining where she was. Jamie was grateful that she did not pursue him.

Long forgotten events danced upon his remembrance. There were happening he had brushed aside. Now he understood their meaning. If he had thought about them at the time they occurred, Jamie would had unveiled her long ago.

He recalled the way brother and sister spoke his name. It had been so endearing. Then there was Shawn’s clumsiness when Jamie drew close to him. Never were brother and sister in the same room or place at on time. Jamie had been blind.

The question, why, screamed into his mind. Jamie slowly returned to the room to find Meghann waiting for him.

“Why?” he demanded.

“It was necessary. When I, No, I must start at the beginning. When I was sixteen my father sent for my mother and I, we had been living in England in an abbey. Father had come to America eight years earlier to bring us a new life. He finally sent us the fare. I was disappointed that he did not come himself.

“It would have been to costly,” Mother told me.

So, we set out putting our hopes as well as everything we owned into our suitcases.

On the way mother died of consumption. Upon her death bed she made me promise to continue the journey. In truth I had no choice.

“America is the land of opportunity,” mother told me.

Arriving in America was not the end of my trials. On reaching New York, I learned my father had also died. Father left me this house and nothing more. There was no money, no job because of the war.

I dressed as man enlisting in the army. My enlistment lasted only a few weeks. During my first battle I was wounded. Upon discovering that I was a woman the surgeon had me dismissed from service. I quickly learned that my situation would not improve unless I change my gender, so my brother was born.

As Shawn O’Malley, I found employment at the bank. Mr. Simon took me under his wing. When he retired he sold me the bank? I soon learned that being a sickly gentleman had its advantages. It allowed me to slip between two characters without suspicion.

I hired Betty to become my companion and helper. She is quite a skilled actress.”

“As you are,” Jamie interrupted.

Meghann went on without responding to him. “I was content to remain Shawn until you came into my life. I did not plan to find a husband when I hired you. I just wanted some time away from the bank. I could not help falling in love with you. I am ashamed at all of the games I played on you at the beginning. They were childish. Later, I wanted to confess all.

“Why didn’t you?” Jamie asked.

“I feared your response. Therefore, Shawn had to die. I admit my plans did not go, as they should. You acted in a way I had not planned. Since you were intent on staying by Shawn’s side, I took a dose of my mother’s sleeping potion. It had the effect of making one appear dead. It worked. I almost broke down at the funeral.

“Why not? What use was my grief? Did you enjoy watching me suffer?” Jamie said with warmth.

“No, my love. If I had told you then would you be at my side? Would I be carrying our child?”

“Our child!” Jamie exclaimed

At that moment Jamie forgave her everything. The pain would no longer be remembered. He would soon have a son of his own.

Meghann sat watching him. She waited for him to speak. Jamie’s joy was so complete he took Meghann in his arms. He almost kissed her, but stopped.

“What is it?” asked Meghanne.

“I cannot kiss your brother,” he said smiling.

She laughed as she removed the wig and mustache. He kissed her passionately. The kiss was upon my lips as I stared from my sleep. By some miracle, I had traveled back in time. I had been allowed to see my ancestors and in turn played a role. I felt I had lived my grandfather’s life. The experience left me shaken. I took a look at the portrait knowing full well why the ghost had laughed. Why had I been given this revelation?

To find this answer, I searched through the attic. In a leather box the O’Brien family bible rested. Opening it with much reverence my eyes fell upon this inscription. Jamie O’Brien went to war never returned. A wife and two children survived him.

Turning more pages revealed a miniature portrait of a man, who resemblance mirrored my own. Written in a fine hand was the name Jamie O’Brien. Chills went down my back.

For some reason’s my ancestors had come to visit me. They gave me a glimpse of their lives. Why, I cannot tell. After all it may have been just a dream. I will leave it up to you to decide, dear reader.

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