Cue Me In

by Nell Dixon

  Unbidden, tears coursed down her cheeks and dripped onto the flagstone floor in tiny, salty splodges. She dashed her free hand across her face to wipe them away.

  It wasn’t fair. She’d worked so hard to try and make this film. She’d given up her sales job to take low pay and long hours as a TV researcher. Her free time and any spare money had gone on elocution lessons and acting classes to improve her style in front of the camera. All for nothing, it seemed.

  The lights in the tower stairwell flickered and dipped as she reached the landing where she’d found the secret passage. She thought she heard howling in the distance and she paused for a moment to listen. For a split second the lights failed once more and in the darkness something brushed against the back of her legs.

  She froze, unable to move or even to scream. She screwed up her courage and stretched out her hand hoping to find that Fang had followed her up the stairs. The lights blinked back to life and she saw that she was alone.

  She ran across the landing into the bedroom and closed the heavy door behind her, bolting it with shaking fingers. Sweat trickled, cold and clammy, down her spine as she tried to rationalise what had just happened.

  Fae sank down on the nearest bed and rested the camera on the coverlet. She leaned forward, head in her hands as she attempted to regulate her breathing. Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be a presenter on a paranormal show after all. Then again, their presenters were backed up with lighting technicians, sound people, and make-up artists. The only person she had to help her was Flash.

  She pushed her hair back from her face and straightened up. The air in the room was cold and clammy, as if the mist from outside the castle had somehow managed to penetrate the thick walls.

  Her sweater lay on the bed, half-hidden by the covers. Fae grabbed it and pulled it on, glad of the warmth from the cosy wool. The room had grown silent, and the howling noise she thought she’d heard on the landing was no longer audible. She took a deep breath, wiped her damp hands on her legs, and picked up the camera.

  She pressed the rewind button, ready to preview the film, wishing she’d had enough money to get a more modern camera with a memory card. Somehow, after everything that had happened, she didn’t know what she hoped to see, or even if she still wanted to see anything. Izzy was mad at her, and not without good reason. Rhodri thought she was lower than pond-life, and Flash thought...

  She didn’t know what Flash thought. The film whirred to a halt as the tape completed the rewind. Izzy had accused her of taking Flash for granted. She stared at the blinking camera light that told her the film was ready to view.

  A sharp rap at the bedroom door and the sound of the lock being jiggled startled her from her reverie.

  “Fae, are you in there?”

  She crossed the room on unsteady legs and undid the bolt to allow Flash in.

  “I came to see if you were all right. Have you been crying?”

  Fae nodded. The concern in his voice caused the tears to well up in her eyes for the second time that night.

  He stepped inside the room and took her in his arms. “It’ll be okay.” He stroked her hair in a gesture of reassurance while she sniffed and hiccoughed against his sweater.

  “I don’t deserve anyone being nice to me. I’m a horrible person. I tricked you and Izzy into coming here with me and took advantage of Rhodri’s hospitality. Now Izzy is hurt and Rhodri’s cross and I don’t deserve to get the rotten job.” Her words tumbled out in a long miserable wail.

  He pulled her closer. “Hey, I’m to blame too. I shouldn’t have gone along and encouraged you with some of the things we did. I’ve apologized to Rhodri and Izzy and hopefully we’ll find a way to make it up to them.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “I haven’t been very nice to you, either.” Fae heated with embarrassment as she remembered how she’d ordered him about over the last few months and persuaded him into situations against his advice. She never even called him by his proper name.

  “Somehow that doesn’t matter to me. I love you, Fae. I love your enthusiasm, the way you go after your goals, even if you do sometimes get carried away. You have a good heart. You just lose your way occasionally.” He smiled down at her. “You can still make everything right, you know.”

  Her heart lifted a little. “Oh, John.”

  His lips closed on hers and she melted into the sweetness of his kiss.

  “I’m going back downstairs. You need to decide what you’re going to do.” He extricated himself from her arms and after a final quick kiss, he left the room.

  Fae hugged herself, feeling cold and alone without him. She picked up the camera from the bed and stared at it for a moment. Her decision made, she took the cartridge of film from the camera and set off down the stairs.

  ****

  The murmur of voices stopped as she opened the kitchen door. Rhodri held Izzy’s hand as he sat by her side at the table. John lounged against the dresser, sipping from a mug, while Fang lay across Izzy’s feet.

  Fae’s heart thumped against her rib cage as she surveyed the scene. “I want you to have the tape.” She thrust the film towards Rhodri. “I’ve behaved really badly and I want to make things right. You should have this and get rid of it. I don’t know what’s on it as I haven’t looked, but I had no business shooting it in the first place.”

  Rhodri stood and took the tape from her trembling fingers. “Thank you.”

  Fae swallowed hard. “I’m sorry you got hurt, Iz. If I could change that, I would.”

  Her sister smiled at her. “My fainting was my own stupid fault. I shouldn’t have let my imagination run away with me.”

  ****

  Izzy didn’t want to discuss the figure she’d seen in the library, or what it meant. She was pretty sure Rhodri had witnessed the same thing she had. If they had both seen the Green Lady then that meant they were fated to be together. At least it did if she was to believe Fae’s book of legends.

  She took a peep at Rhodri’s face from beneath her lashes. It was definitely a face she could fall in love with. The touch of his hand as it curled protectively around her fingers made her very glad her wilful little sister had decided to visit Rhodri’s castle.

  Even if it had been an eventful Halloween.

  ****

  John put down his mug and came to place a supportive arm around Fae’s waist.

  “What about the contest? And the presenting job? John was just telling me how much it meant to you and how hard you’ve worked,” Rhodri said.

  Fae’s shoulder’s drooped. “There’ll be other jobs. Maybe next time I’ll have learned my lesson.”

  John’s arm tightened in a tender hug and her spirits rose a little. She knew she’d done the right thing by giving the tape to Rhodri, but her heart still ached from the loss of the dream that had sustained her for so long.

  The library clock struck two short chimes.

  “We should go and get some sleep,” Izzy suggested.

  John nodded in agreement. “We’ve a long journey home tomorrow.”

  Fae didn’t care. She had nothing to hurry back for now that she’d given the film to Rhodri. Izzy stood and Fae followed her to the door.

  “There might be something else you could film.” Rhodri stared at the tape in his hand.

  “What do you mean?” For one wild moment Fae wondered if he’d changed his mind and was prepared to allow her to shoot inside the castle.

  “You remember I told you there were other ghost stories locally? The church youth group stages a dramatic re-enactment every year of the legend of the headless horseman. I’m pretty sure if I made a few calls in the morning, they would be prepared to stage one for you to film.”

  Excitement bubbled up inside Fae as the possibilities danced through her mind. “You really think they wouldn’t object to being filmed?”

  Rhodri laughed. “They’re desperate to raise funds to repair the church roof. A little extra publicity would probably be more than welcome.”

  Fae d
anced across the room and hugged him. “Oh, thank you!” She quickly let him go when she caught a glimpse of Izzy’s jealous expression.

  John laughed. “Come on then, you’d better get your beauty sleep.”

  “I’ll phone round everyone first thing, so get up early,” Rhodri warned.

  Fae skipped along the gallery and up the stairs to the tower ahead of Izzy. Her mind buzzed with excitement and ideas for what she might film.

  John grinned as she gave him a lingering goodnight kiss outside her bedroom door. “Go and get some sleep.”

  Izzy was already under the bedcovers when she entered the bedroom.

  “Rhodri’s a really okay guy.” Fae climbed into bed and yawned at her sister.

  “Yeah, he’s more than okay,” Izzy mumbled as she snuggled down in her bed.

  “You’re not so bad, either,” Fae called and thought she heard Izzy laugh.

  It seemed like only seconds after she closed her eyes, she was awakened by the sound of knocking. Fae sat up as Izzy slipped out of bed and went to see who was there.

  “Come on, hurry up and get ready. Rhodri’s got everything set up with the youth group. If we get down the mountain quickly, there should still be some of last night’s mist in the churchyard to give us some atmosphere for filming.” John was dressed and ready to go.

  Fae’s pulse sped up at the sight of him. How had she been so blind to his attractiveness?

  “Okay, give us five minutes.” Izzy closed the door and began rummaging in the overnight bags. “I’ll plug in the hair straighteners. You’d better find your trendy boots. It looks as if you have a film to make.”

  ****

  A couple of weeks later, Rhodri sat on Fae’s sofa next to Izzy while Fae cuddled up with John. Ghost UK had started, and Fae’s film of the headless horseman was second to be screened. Three films had made the final cut and the audience was about to vote on who the next presenter of the show should be.

  “I’ve got the phone on speed dial!” Izzy waved her mobile.

  John and Rhodri were poised and waiting too. Tears of gratitude prickled the backs of Fae’s eyes. No matter what the outcome of the public vote, she felt like a winner already. It seemed incredible now that only a few weeks ago they hadn’t met Rhodri or visited his home, and now he and Izzy were already planning a cosy Christmas together. Neither of them had ever admitted they’d seen the Green Lady that night, but Fae suspected there was more than a grain of truth in the legend.

  She had a lot to thank the Green Lady and November Castle for. Her future with John looked rosy, and she had some ideas of her own about the forthcoming festive season.

  The film credits rolled and the phone numbers came up on screen saying the lines for voting were now open. John hit the button on his mobile.

  “Did I ever get round to telling you how much I love you?” Fae murmured as she dialled the number on the house phone.

  “Yes, but you can tell me again when you’re voted in as the winner and new presenter for Ghost UK.” His blue eyes twinkled at her in a way that sent her pulse racing.

  “I’ll tell you now anyway!” She kissed him tenderly as she continued to dial. She was already a winner in every way that truly mattered.

  Also by Nell Dixon:

  “Dangerous to know.”

  Nathalie’s words about her elder brother, Jerome, resonated in Gemma’s mind.

  “Strawberries taste better when they’re dipped in chocolate.” Jerome suggested and dangled one near her mouth.

  Gemma licked her lips, a gesture that was purely automatic. The air was warm inside Nathalie’s sitting room and Gemma struggled to draw enough air into her lungs.

  Why had she decided the best way to get over being dumped yet again was to boost her confidence by flirting with Jerome? The corners of his deep blue eyes crinkled, and she knew he found her naïve attempts at flirtation amusing.

  Gemma leaned forward and took the fruit from his fingers with her teeth. She chewed and swallowed as Jerome’s pupils darkened in the soft light from a nearby lamp.

  “You’re right. It makes all the difference.” Even to her own ears her voice sounded husky.

  He smiled and her heart skipped a beat. “Well, there’s more if you want some.” His fingertips were coated in melted chocolate from the fountain that stood in the centre of the platter of fresh fruit.

  His words held the unmistakable note of challenge. Gemma sucked in air. This was not a good idea. She was in too deep. She tried not to stare at his fingers or imagine the taste of his skin. Phew, she felt hot…

  “Gemma, Tali says could you come and be in the photo she’s taking?”

  Gemma blinked and tore her eyes away from Jerome. Polly, Nathalie’s little stepdaughter, stood waiting in her pink party dress.

  “Of course, where is she?”

  “She’s in the hall. She said to get you as well, Uncle Jerome.”

  “Lead the way then, princess.” Jerome wiped his hands on a napkin and leaned forward to murmur, “Later,” in Gemma’s ear. His words fell soft and intimate on her hot face and her heart rate quickened.

  Polly giggled as he ruffled her ponytail. Gemma rose quickly to her feet from where she’d been sitting opposite Jerome on the rose chintz-patterned couch. She followed Polly into the large square hallway, conscious of Jerome’s commanding presence close behind her.

  Nathalie was busy arranging people on the broad oak balustrade staircase that swept into the center of the hall. Gemma thought how well her friend looked now that she’d recovered from the surgery she’d had only a few months before.

  “Come on, you two! I want pictures of everyone.” Nathalie laughed as she directed Gemma into position on the stairs.

  “And you, Jerome.” Nathalie lined her brother up next to Gemma near the back of the group.

  Gemma’s senses flared onto red alert as he draped an arm around her shoulders for the picture.

  “Okay, smile everyone!” Nathalie clicked off a shot and checked in her viewfinder. “That looks great.” People began to drift back towards the food and drink in the various rooms.

  “Oh, let me get one of you two together.”

  Gemma realized she and Jerome were alone on the stairs. His arm was still around her and the bare flesh at the top of her shoulder tingled as he ran his finger lightly over her skin.

  “Okay.” Nathalie’s voice broke the spell and Gemma shivered as Jerome removed his arm.

  “Are you cold?” He placed a gentle hand on the small of her back. Heat sizzled through the soft chiffon fabric of her dress.

  “No, I’m fine. Someone must be walking on my grave.” She took a quick step away from him and rubbed the goose-pimpled flesh on the tops of her arms. Oh, she was way out of her depth - she must have been insane to think she could flirt with Jerome and not get burned.

  “My sister told me you were a free agent again?”

  She sucked in a breath and supposed that could be one way of putting it. It sounded better than the truth - that Carl, her boyfriend of the last year had dumped her in favour of a pretty blonde and a trip to Australia.

  “Yes, I’m free, single and loving it.” She tilted her chin upwards in challenge.

  “I always thought you were much too good for him.” Jerome smiled at her.

  “Uncle Jerome, Daddy says he wants to show you something.” Polly reappeared with chocolate cake crumbs around her mouth.

  “If you’ll excuse me for a minute?” Jerome’s dark blue eyes appeared to hold a deeper meaning.

  “Of course.” Gemma hated the way her voice squeaked the words out as Jerome turned away hand-in-hand with Polly.

  “Is everything okay?” Nathalie re-entered the hall from the kitchen.

  “Fine, it’s a lovely party.”

  “I’m glad you changed your mind and decided to come.” Nathalie gave her a warm smile.

  “Me, too.” Gemma decided she was glad she’d come. It was definitely better to be here amongst friends than home alone fee
ling sorry for herself.

  “Don’t take too much notice of Jerome. You know he’s a dreadful flirt.”

  Heat flared at once in Gemma’s cheeks. “Oh, he wasn’t. I mean, we weren’t.”

  Nathalie laughed. “Relax, he’s always liked you. I just meant don’t take any messing from him.”

  “I feel much more cheerful now. I’m glad you talked me into coming.”

  Nathalie tucked her arm through Gemma’s and patted her hand. “What else are friends for? It wouldn’t have been the same without my best friend.”

  “So, do you have any more eligible bachelors hidden away at this party?” Gemma was well aware of Nathalie’s penchant for matchmaking.

  Her friend grimaced. “I’m not sure Jerome is very eligible and the only other free agent here is Barnaby, my younger brother. He’s no fun at all to be with at the moment. I don’t know what’s gone on. I may have to do some sisterly digging.”

  Gemma smiled to herself and felt a little sorry for Barnaby. Nathalie was a force to be reckoned with when she was on a mission.

  “Oh, just look at that child! That must be her third piece of cake! She’ll be sick.” Nathalie dropped Gemma’s arm and darted off after Polly who had just taken a bite of a very large slice of cake.