Christian gave an easy laugh. “Mags, I’m so excited, I don’t know how I will sleep tonight.”
“Oh, I can easily fix that. Join us tonight for supper at home. Ian is sampling a new demijohn of homemade wine. It’s usually quite strong, mind you, but I’m sure you’ll love it. It’ll put you to sleep as soon as your head hits your hotel pillow.”
Chapter 23
1988
A week later, Sofia was still relieved that Jeff hadn’t called at all since their fight in the club. On the contrary, Danny’s phone calls had increased. She was evasive with her responses, saying Jeff and she had taken a break for a while. Yet, it was as if Danny knew it was over and made sure to be there for her, albeit only as a friend. In the past week they had met a couple of times at the promenade and at the café where he worked. On all occasions, he acted different from before, as if there were no other females around. Gone were the days where he’d feel obliged to point out to her all the sexy girls in the vicinity. For that alone, Sofia was impressed. It was progress; it meant his insecurities were diminishing.
On one occasion, Sofia visited his house to spend some time with him and Sue and to check on their puppy, Paris. Sue was a pleasure to talk to as always; very chatty and open. When Danny left the room for a while, Sofia broached the subject of their mother, but Sue didn’t have much to say about her. Sue didn’t even remember her and had only seen pictures of her when she was young. She seemed blasé about her, feeling neither abandoned nor upset, much unlike Danny. Sue even warned Sofia not to bring up the subject of their mother in his presence, saying it was a painful one for him.
These days, Sofia slept soundly, and even when she saw The Lady in her dreams, the experience was serene. On one occasion, The Lady had an insistent message for Sofia. It was about Sue, Danny, and their mother. The spirit asked Sofia to find Danny’s mother and bring her back to his life. She said it was the only way to break down the last remnants of the walls he had put up against women.
Sofia didn’t know what to do. How was she going to find his mother? She was no private detective and didn’t even know the woman’s name. But she had to start somewhere, and the only lead she had was Sue. There was nothing for it; she’d have to ask her to help her locate their mother, for Danny’s sake.
***
Sofia entered the café where she’d asked Sue to meet her and found a quiet table to sit. Not five minutes later, Sue, dressed in casual but stylish clothes, walked in and strode towards Sofia in high heels, attracting everyone’s attention among the patrons, especially the men. She was six feet tall and a stunner. With her soft brown eyes and honey-coloured long hair, she was a vision of manicured loveliness.
Sue draped her trench coat over the back of her chair and sat cross-legged, tucking her long legs under the small round table with difficulty. She gave the waiter a pleasant smile and ordered an espresso. Sofia opted for Earl Grey. When their order arrived shortly later, the girls were engaged in light-hearted, idle talk.
“Can I ask you something?” piped up Sofia once she had a few sips.
Her friend set her tiny cup down, then gave a firm nod. “Sure.”
“How come you’re not curious about your mother?”
Sue gave a frown. “How do you mean?”
“Well, forgive me, but if it were me I’d want to know if she’s alive and well to start with.”
“Sofia, this woman abandoned us all. I was just a baby when she left. Why should I care if she’s alive and well?”
“Yeah, but just think . . . If she remarried, if she had more children, this would mean you have more siblings out there somewhere. Don’t you ever wonder about that?”
Sue shrugged. “I can't say it hasn’t crossed my mind . . . but as I said, she left us. I refuse to dwell on that, which I think is much healthier than what my brother is doing.”
“You mean the way her leaving you both has affected him emotionally? In his relations with women?”
“That’s right. He’s messed up because of our mother.” Sue leaned forward, tilted her head to one side, her eyes pinned on Sofia, searching them intently. “But why are we even discussing my mother? I don’t get it.”
“Sue, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be nosy or anything . . . but I care about your brother, you know that.”
“Yes, of course I do.”
“I really want to help. I think that if your mother ever came back into your lives, it would do Danny a world of good. Of course, she’s probably moved on after all these years, but—”
Sue put up a hand. “I don’t think Danny would want to see her again. He bears a huge grudge.”
“I beg to differ. I think it’s all a front. Deep down, he’s hurting. If she comes back, if he hears her story and it makes sense, maybe he’ll manage to understand and forgive her. He could have a chance to move on then, to be in a relationship and enjoy it like a normal person.”
Sue shook her head. “I doubt it. I think he’s beyond fixing.”
“Can't we just try? Please? I really want to give it a shot. I dare say it would benefit you too, if we could pull this off.”
“I don’t have any interest in her.” She tipped her chin. “If she ever had a chance to call me her daughter, she’s lost it by leaving and never looking back once.”
“Even then, can we please try for Danny’s sake? I really want to help him if I can . . .”
Sue looked away and gave a soft sigh.
Sofia leaned closer. “Listen, Sue, can you keep a secret?”
Sue turned to Sofia again and gave a firm nod. “Of course.”
“I confess I’m not purely altruistic about this. I’ll have a benefit if his relationships with women become healthier. You know we used to date . . . I still have feelings for him, Sue. But it was a disaster last time. I’m just trying to help him and help myself too in the process. I think this will give us a better chance to make it. I know he has feelings for me too, I do, but he is much too scared. Will you please help me, Sue?”
Sue gave a deep sigh, then pressed her lips together. “Well, okay, if you think it’ll help. Look, Sofia, I want my brother’s happiness just as much as you do. He’s a good lad, but he’d rather have his toenails pulled out rather than talk about his feelings, let alone commit to a girl. So let’s give it a try . . . for his sake, as you said.” She leaned forward. “How do you suppose we go about it?”
“Well, what can you tell me about your mother? Do you have any pictures of her in the house? And do you know her full name? Perhaps we could look in the white pages.”
“I salvaged a couple of old photos from the rubbish bin a few years back. Dad went through a phase back then and got rid of everything that belonged to her, including any photos. And I know her name; it’s Abigail. Dad called her Abby from what my grandma used to say. She’s passed away now. There are no grandparents and no aunts or uncles to ask. The information I have on her is very limited, I’m sorry.”
Sofia bit her lower lip, her eyes focusing on the far wall, as she thought of the possibilities. “So her name was Abigail Markson when she was married to your dad. Do you know if they got a divorce?”
“Yes. I know that for a fact. And there’s something else you should know. A few years back, I was about thirteen, a woman came and visited one day. That was when we lived in a rented house, in another village here in Sussex. Dad answered the door and I came down the stairs when I heard shouting. Dad pushed the woman away and ordered her to leave. I think it was her. She never came back.”
“What? But if that was your mother, why would your father send her away?”
Sue huffed. “I’m not surprised. He never forgave her for leaving him for another man. She left like a thief in the night with her lover, leaving dad just a brief note. I’d be cross if I were him, too.”
“If that was her, why do you think she came?”
“I expect she had a crisis of conscience, for having left us like that. Maybe she wanted to see us kids. Who knows?”
&
nbsp; “But if that’s the case, it was wrong for your dad to not let her see you and your brother, don’t you think? Does Danny know she came to visit?”
“I’m afraid not. Dad refused to answer my questions about who the woman was and told me not to tell anyone. So no, I never told Danny. You’re the only one I’ve ever told.”
“But don’t you see what this means? We have to find her, Sue! This is good news. It suggests she’s interested to see you both.”
“Maybe,” said Sue, her expression impassive.
“Why don’t you ask your dad about the visit from that woman, to see if it was indeed your mother? Do you think you could?”
“No way. My dad has been through a lot of difficulty raising Danny and me on his own. He never remarried or got himself as much as a girlfriend. He hasn’t moved on at all and he’s miserable as it is. I don’t want to upset him more by bringing up the subject of my mother. I can help you find her, for Danny’s sake, but it should be done in a way that doesn’t affect my dad. All right?”
“Sure. Don’t worry. But what if we do a bit of searching behind his back?”
“What kind of searching, Sofia?”
“I mean, to search among his things. Old paperwork, photos, that sort of thing. See if he kept anything that could give us a name, an address, a clue as to find her. Maybe the divorce papers? The purpose justifies the means, as they say. Would you mind doing that behind his back?”
Sue took a few moments to mull it over, her finger tapping her chin absentmindedly. She gave a faint smile. “Sure. I’ll do that for my brother. For my brother and you. But don’t get me into the mix if and when you find her. I’m not interested in her. I was a baby when she left me, and my brother was just a little boy. She’s despicable for that and it’s much too late to make amends. I have no place for her in my life.”
Chapter 24
That same afternoon, Sofia visited the seafront again after her classes. Since the day The Lady appeared before her on the promenade, Sofia had chosen the same bench every time as to sit and marvel at the view of The West Pier. It had turned into a habit, once or twice a week, to sit and sketch the Pier, or seascapes, whatever inspired her in those moments of quiet contemplation. She even had a go at drawing Danny’s face a few times and was pleased with the outcome. Her favourite was one that she drew of him wearing the rusty brown scarf she got him for his birthday. The vibrant colour of the scarf brought out the blue in his eyes, and she captured his long fringe that reached down to them quite vividly. She could almost hear the rustle of the wind that set the silky strands dancing in her memory whenever she looked at it.
That day, Sofia had brought along her notepad where she wrote her poetry, as well as a few loose sheets for sketching.
She had just finished a marvellous seascape from her imagination. It depicted crashing waves against big rocks, a sailboat in the distance half-sunk in the angry sea, its masts torn, the arms of men on the deck raised in terror towards the heavens. It was a magnificent work of art, the feelings of agony conveyed perfectly with every stroke of the frothy, vengeful sea by her sharpened pencil.
All at once, Sofia heard a turbulent sound. For a moment, it was as if it rose from within the page on her lap, but then, she looked up and froze. Before her, a white tornado-like shadow approached towards her from the Pier. It lowered itself inches over the surface of the wash, droplets of water rising into the air. Then, impossibly, it rose again and came before Sofia in an instant. As it swirled, it slowed down all the more until its shape gave its place to the one of the spirit she knew well.
The Lady smiled and approached, her figure translucent. Through her frail body, Sofia could see the beach and the Pier behind her. Her mouth gaped open at the sight, causing the spirit to give her that familiar knowing smile.
“Don’t be alarmed,” said The Lady, “I am just making sure you have done all I asked.”
“What you . . . what you asked?” stammered Sofia. A couple of youngsters sped past as she spoke, making her shoulders jump. They had just walked straight through the apparition. Nothing in their expression and the rhythm of their conversation showed they had felt The Lady’s presence in the slightest.
“Yes. I asked you to let go of that other boy. And I also asked that you find Danny’s mother. Have you?”
“It’s . . . It’s complicated with Jeff . . .” muttered Sofia, unsure if she should be speaking to the apparition at all. The thought crossed her mind that the spirit had caused her to lose her marbles. But there she was, staring back at her, demanding answers and Sofia had no choice. “He’s mad at me, and I don’t blame him. Since we fought he hasn’t phoned so it’s safe to say that, for him, it’s over.”
“What about you, Sofia? Is it over for you?”
“Yes, of course it is. I love Danny. You know that. There can never be anyone else. I was a fool to think I could ever forget him. I know that now.”
The Lady gave a satisfied smile, the energy pulsating around her, her aura brightening for a few split seconds. “I am pleased to hear that. And I promise, it won’t be long now. You’re nearly there. Soon, you will know everything about me and what happened to seal my tragic fate. And, as you find out, your Danny will be ready to be yours again, just as my Christian was mine once. But to do that, you really must find his mother. This and only this, will set him free.”
“I am working on that. I have spoken to his sister.”
The spirit’s face became animated with exasperation. “His sister? I cannot wait for such things! You really must hurry! There’s no time!”
“But . . . She’s all I’ve got. I wouldn’t know where to start on my own!”
“Excuses! You’re a clever girl! If you put your mind to it, you’ll find her. I’ve done all the work for you. You’ll find a strange coincidence will make it easier for you to meet her. But you must hurry. There isn’t much time left.”
“I will. I’ll ask Sue to hurry and find what she can from her dad’s things.”
“Why, oh why is your mind so limited? Aren’t there any gifted clairvoyants left in this town? Can't you seek a consultation from someone with divine intuition? The girl sharing your room has been listening to my pleas better than you have!”
“Annika?”
“Yes. She’s been trying to tell you. Why won’t you listen to her? Only intuition can lead you in the matters of the heart and the soul. And here you are, wasting time!”
“But . . . But I . . .”
“Enough! You’re trying my patience! You frightened little girl! Look at you, trembling in your own shadow!”
“Sofia took the notebook in her hand, stood and balled her free hand into a fist. “I’m not a little girl! From what I know, I am you and you are me!” she shouted, taking three steps forward to walk up to the ghostly figure, unflinching. She was so vexed that she didn’t care if any onlookers spotted her and thought she was crazy, talking to herself on the promenade like that.
The Lady curled her top lip, then sneered. “Finally, you show some spirit.”
“How dare you laugh at me? You’ve been plaguing my dreams for so long with your poems right here, and all those nasty nightmares!” Sofia blurted out, shaking the notebook in her raised hand. “But you know, all that is fine, because I love Danny, just as much as you loved your Christian. I am letting you guide me to win Danny’s heart, knowing you and only you can help me. But, Laura, if indeed this is your real name, don’t you think it’s a bit too much to offend me as well?”
“Laura . . .” whispered the spirit, her ghostly eyes focusing far, her hair glistening, burning red, as they danced in mid-air around her pale white face. “No one’s called me that in a long time. It feels so foreign to me . . . It might as well belong to someone else. These days, the name Sofia seems far more familiar to me.”
“Suit yourself. But you’ll have to behave. I’m doing the best I can. You’ll just have to trust me.”
Instead of speaking, The Lady started to walk, causing Sofia
to retreat, always a step away from her. “What, what are you doing?”
“I’m trying to give you a gift, little girl. A gift that is well overdue for you to receive. But to take it, you must shed all your fears. And you must trust me. Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” said Sofia, as she continued to step back, as The Lady continued to walk up to her. “But could you please stop pacing? This is awkward . . . and you’re scaring me. Just tell me what you want and I’ll do it.”
The Lady stopped and stood rigid, like a slab of marble. Sofia gasped when she saw that the apparition changed in an instant. The spirit’s green eyes turned black, her red hair turning white. The change made her look terrible. Whereas before she looked almost alive, like a mirror image of Sofia, now, all black and white she looked terrifying, a vision that belonged in a dark grave, not the middle of a street.
The tiny hairs on the nape of Sofia’s neck rose, her skin prickled, and a shiver coursed through her spine. At that same moment, she lost her balance and flailed out her arms to regain it. Much to her horror, she realised she was standing right at the edge of the pavement. The Lady had been making her retreat for much too long. Cars rushed behind her along King’s Road. Sofia felt beads of sweat roll down her forehead. She opened her mouth to speak, to tell The Lady that this was all too much, to ask her to regain her previous form or leave, when the spirit’s face contorted with rage. It caught Sofia by surprise.
The spirit threw out her long, emaciated arms, then opened her eerie lips slowly, strings of sticky saliva forming between them. “NOW!” shouted the spirit, her empty eyes widening. At the same time, she put up two translucent arms to push Sofia backwards.
The next thing Sofia knew, she was lying on the tarmac, the terrible sound of screeching tyres in her ears, fear paralysing her. She was lying in front of a car. The two front wheels had stopped, as if by miracle, beside her head and body.
Sofia’s mind whirled, the world turning dark and fuzzy, and then she felt gentle hands on her shoulders pulling her out from under the car. She opened her eyes and tried to focus. A man was kneeling before her, his kindly eyes searching her face. He was in his late forties, a respectable-looking man in a smart suit. People had gathered behind him, looking intently.
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