Their mother glanced at Beth as she entered the room, and gave a very uncharacteristic nod of approval as she took in her wayward daughter’s neat hair, subtle make-up and bland dress. Bemused, she acknowledged her sister’s wisdom – appearing to do what their parents expected from them really did make life so much easier.
Slipping over to Jenny’s side, she stood with her against the wall while the twenty grey-haired, grey-faced men took their seats at the large boardroom table.
“Thank you for coming,” their father said, his voice booming around the room. At home he didn’t say much, content to let his wife do the organising and the disciplining, but Beth had been reliably informed that in business Frank Bishop was strong, ruthless and calculating – just what their mother sought in a man, a colleague, a friend, a daughter. Shame her two kids had turned out the complete opposite.
“We didn’t want to distract from our eldest daughter Jennifer’s wedding ceremony yesterday, so we held off this announcement until today. But we wanted you, our valued board members, to be the first to know that on Friday morning, Bishop Enterprises bought out Galen and Sons, and Patricia and I will be moving to London to run the greatly expanded operation from there, effective immediately.”
A gasp echoed around the room, but it was of admiration rather than surprise. No one had ever doubted Frank would be able to pull off the deal of the decade, and the murmurs of congratulations from around the table sounded genuine.
“Throughout the day I will be speaking to each of you individually, to determine whether you would like to move to London with us, or remain here. Our daughter Jennifer has just graduated, with honours apparently, so she will be heading up operations here. If you have any problems with that, I will be offering a generous redundancy package.”
Beside her, Beth felt Jenny stiffen, and heard her indrawn hiss of shock and panic. Josh steadied his wife with a hand on her arm and a whispered reassurance, as all eyes in the room turned to stare at the new bride. Beth had paled as dramatically as her sister, knowing she had no intention of working for their father’s company, let alone running it.
Taking a deep breath, Jenny stepped forward as confidently as she could and cleared her throat. Beth could see she was shaking, yet her back remained straight and her shoulders set. She was discovering again what a formidable woman her sister was.
“Congratulations Father, Mother,” she began, voice revealing only the tiniest quaver. “Your takeover is to be commended – I know it is a huge deal, and one you have been working towards for many years. I very much hope that you will treat the new employees you’ll now oversee with respect and kindness.”
Frank nodded in acknowledgement of her congratulations, while ignoring the exhortation to treat the new workers well, but Patricia’s eyes hardened with suspicion. Beth knew there would be words later, about her implication that they treated their staff badly, but Jenny didn’t seem afraid of that. And she supposed it wouldn’t matter, since the newlyweds were leaving the village today for their honeymoon on the Isle of Lewis, before returning to their home in northern Scotland.
“And I thank you for your confidence in me, and the generous ‘offer’ to join the family company,” Jenny continued, and Beth marvelled at how her sister managed to strike such a perfect balance of sarcasm and seriousness.
“However, I will have to respectfully decline. I’ve accepted a position to run a… company… in Scotland, so Josh and I will be remaining in our home up there.”
A ripple of shock swept around the room, and Beth struggled not to laugh as she watched the faces of their parents turn a mottled purple, and the board members try to hide their glee. Perhaps they weren’t the only people in the room who disliked the Bishops – or maybe they just hoped one of them had a chance at the massive promotion.
“Now, we just came by to pick up Beth for a farewell lunch, and to take her to enrol at the college in Smithfield. Congratulations to you both, and best wishes for the move,” she said to her parents, voice firm and strong. Then she turned on her heel and left the room. Beth stared after her, shock freezing her where she stood, until Josh grabbed her hand and hastily drew her with him, out into the hallway where Jenny was standing, pale and shaky, yet lit up with relief and joy.
“Quick Beth, where’s your stuff? We have to leave right now. Hurry!”
Flustered, Beth thought of her bag, up in her room, which had her wallet, driver’s licence and everything else she might need in it. But as she turned to head upstairs, terrified her mother would come out at any moment and stop them from leaving, her gaze alighted on the hall table. The small clutch she’d taken to the wedding, with money, lip-gloss and her keys in it, was sitting where she’d dropped it last night. Relief flooded her as she picked it up and raced to the front door.
“Let’s go!”
* * * * *
An hour later, the two sisters were sitting in a cafe, toasting their new freedom with large, strong coffees. Beth was enrolled in the teaching course – thanks to Jenny, who’d driven her to campus, taken her to the admissions office, and produced her passport when they’d asked for ID. Beth’s heart had plummeted when they’d requested proof of her identity, until her sister sheepishly admitted she’d grabbed her passport for her the day before, to make sure she signed up before she lost her nerve.
So, in two short weeks she would commence her studies. The admissions officer had been impressed by her employment in Paris, and pushed her into taking a couple of extra language electives to broaden her eventual qualifications. She’d also credited most of her course from London towards her degree here. Still shaking with excitement, Beth hugged her sister again, struggling to put into words just how much she appreciated her, and her not-so-subtle push towards making her dream a reality.
“Sweet Beth, you’ll be an amazing teacher, you really will.”
“And you will be the most incredible eco-warrior in the country,” she replied. Beth was in awe of the passion in her sister’s eyes as she raved about the new environmentally-friendly energy sources her team was investigating, the promising research they’d done so far, and all the new options she still wanted to explore. She even had a meeting set up with the Scottish minister for the environment to discuss their progress and ask about grants.
It was the love her new husband had for her, a love that was so totally and unreservedly returned, that touched Beth most deeply though, and reassured her that she’d be able to find someone who felt that way about her. Clearly Andrew just hadn’t been that into her – but now she had faith that someone else would be, eventually.
All too soon Josh pulled up outside and raced into the cafe, their luggage and wedding gifts all packed and ready for their journey home, and took his new bride’s hand. They were both fired up with excitement that they’d soon be back in their little Scottish cottage overlooking the ocean, and getting to work in their lab.
“I’m so happy for you,” Beth said, hugging her sister one last time, and trying not to cry all over her. “I’m sad that you’re leaving, when we just found each other, but the love you and Josh share is so inspiring, and the fact that you’re living your dreams together, working to change the world, it blows my mind, and fills me with enough strength to cope with Mother.”
Jenny kissed her cheek, then took her hands. “I love you so much Beth, and I really treasure the time we’ve had together – it’s the one thing that made coming back here to get married worth it for me. And I’m so proud of you, for returning home despite how difficult Mother is, for deciding to go after your dreams, and for allowing yourself to be transformed over these last five weeks. For letting love in, from me, from your friends Violet and Mike, and from the priestess who is helping you heal, and helping you see for yourself what an amazing person you are becoming.”
It was her final sentence that made Beth break down, and all attempts to hold back their tears dissolved as the sisters clung to each other and wept. But they laughed too, and promised to stay in touch, a
nd to visit each other soon.
And then Jenny and Josh were gone, and Beth was sitting in the cafe alone, gazing vacantly out the window. Her cheeks were wet with tears and her coffee mug was empty, but a thrill of excitement was building within her. She was going to do this. She was going to stay in this village and become a teacher. Granted the decision was much easier now, knowing that her parents were moving away, but still, she was proud of herself. After two years of what now felt like aimless wandering, she had a purpose. It felt good.
Her head swam with plans. She was going to be a loyal, trustworthy friend to Violet and Mike, and let new people into her life too. She was going to join Rose’s Year and a Day group and go to her rituals, now that she’d met that woman in the mists and been entrusted with the gorgeous pendant that reminded her of her connection to magic. And she was going to learn all she could, and become everything she was capable of being.
Her attention jolted back to where she was when a fresh coffee appeared on the table in front of her. “I didn’t order this,” she said, expecting to see the waitress standing above her. But it was Mike, his own coffee mug in hand.
“Is it okay if I join you?” he asked, and she smiled as she wiped the last tear away.
“Of course.”
As he slid into the chair Jenny had just been sitting in, he looked concerned. “Are you okay?”
She smiled. “I’m great actually,” she began, and filled him in on her crazy morning, from the revelation about her parents leaving town soon, and Jenny turning down the job offer, to how much she loved and admired her sister, and would miss her.
“And I’ve just enrolled in the teacher training course, and I start in two weeks. So I’ll be staying in Summer Hill after all,” she said happily, then stared at her friend.
“Are you okay though? You look a little worried.”
Mike shrugged helplessly, his face sad. “I don’t know. Things have been a little… weird… since we started that divination course.”
“What do you mean? You don’t like it?”
“It’s okay, although I think Rose is way better than he is.”
Beth nodded her agreement.
“But, well, I’m worried about Violet. She seems, I don’t know, different?” he said, then broke off, blushing furiously.
“In what way?” she asked, heart sinking.
“She’s so, preoccupied maybe? Ever since we started this bloody course,” he scowled. “Has she said anything to you?”
Beth shook her head, and prayed her cheeks wouldn’t turn bright red and betray her.
“It’s so strange. She’s usually the one who longs to go out and socialise, but she hasn’t done any of our regular things since the course started. All she wants to do is practise with the cards, and do his assignments the minute we get them. Which is fine, but… Well, she seems a bit distant or something too, a bit aloof. And I have this nagging feeling that she’s been to see him. But you really haven’t noticed any changes in her?”
Panic swept over Beth, and she shrugged. “Um, not really…”
Mike sighed. “Maybe it’s not even her so much. Maybe I’m just being paranoid or overly sensitive, imagining things. But it seems like the teacher is paying a lot of attention to Violet, and kind of, I don’t know, flirting with her? Or am I just being silly?” he asked, blushing beet red at his confession.
“I’ve noticed that too,” she admittedly softly, apologetically. Although it wasn’t her fault – was it? Should she have put an end to it right away? Challenged Andrew on his behaviour towards Violet? Towards herself? Should she have shot down Violet when she started obsessing over him? Confessed what she knew of their teacher at least, that first day?
“But Vee wouldn’t –”
“She won’t stop talking about him, raving about him, mooning over him,” Mike complained. “How amazing he is, how psychic he is, what a great listener, blah blah blah. She really hasn’t said anything to you?”
Now it was Beth’s turn to blush. What could she say? Yes, Violet had gushed about their teacher to her too, going on and on and on about how hot he was, how attractive he was, how perfect at every little thing he was. But she couldn’t tell Mike that, it would break his heart. And yet… if she did confess, would he turn to her instead? Or was that just wishful thinking on her part? And was she only considering breaking Violet’s confidence because of her ulterior motive, of her liking of Mike? Her loving of Mike?
Oh god, what was she thinking? She didn’t love Mike. Did she? She just wanted a love like Mike, right? But an ache in her heart and an incredible wave of longing rushed through her, and she realised the awful truth. She was in love with her best friend’s boyfriend, and he was asking her for advice about said friend. Could this get any worse?
Mike’s piercing stare startled her back into the present, and she took a huge gulp of her coffee before carefully placing the cup back on the table.
“Just what you said,” she finally acknowledged. “He’s a great psychic, so perceptive, yada yada yada. But I’m with you, I think Rose is a far more impressive teacher, and a much more intuitive reader, than he’ll ever be.”
Taking the lid off the sugar bowl, she scooped out a spoonful and prayed her quick change of subject would stick. “When is Rose’s next ritual anyway?”
Although he remained sad and out of sorts, Mike managed to pull himself together enough to answer her question, and they talked about the autumn equinox festival of Mabon until Violet bounded into the cafe and rushed over to their booth.
“Hi guys! So sorry I’m late, I decided I need a new look, so I’ve been shopping all morning, and lost track of the clock. It’s time I looked a bit more grown up, a bit less school girl,” she announced happily. Beth studiously avoided catching Mike’s eye. Wasn’t that the first sign of an affair, or the contemplation of one? A total makeover, trying to look like a different person in an attempt to impress someone new.
“Tea?” she asked Violet, needing to get away from them both for a minute. “Another coffee Mike? I’m getting one.”
He nodded dispiritedly, and her heart ached for him. Clearly he’d just had the same idea she had. Sighing, she wondered if she should put her own feelings aside and think of a way to get through to Violet, to let her know that her foolish crush on their teacher was a bad idea. Convince her to see what she’d be giving up if she wasn’t careful. How could anyone want to trade Mike in for Andrew?
* * * * *
The next morning, Beth caught the bus over to Smithfield to buy all the books she needed for her new course. Excitement pulsed through her as she roamed the cobblestone streets, and she felt an amazing rush of confidence about her new career path, and her new life. She knew her parents wanted her to join the family business in some way, but she didn’t care. The sunshine and the text books in her arms filled her with positivity – things were definitely looking up for her, and all the swirling of potential managed to drown out the twinge of guilt over her growing feelings for Mike. Soon she’d be too busy studying to worry about that.
The strangest and best development was that when she’d arrived home the previous night, her parents had been supportive of her decision to go back to school and become a teacher. Perhaps Jenny’s “betrayal” in studying science, then turning down her assumed position in the family company, meant she was the favoured child now. Her mother had even conceded that she could stay in the family home when they moved to London, since they had no desire to sell, and no need for the money they’d get renting it out.
And to think that just five weeks ago she’d been terrified of facing her parents, and pining away over Andrew, so desperate to see him that she’d planned to throw in the nannying job she loved in Paris to work in a cafe in London just to be near him. Shaking her head, she laughed at how silly she’d been, and sent a silent prayer of gratitude to Rose, the goddesses she connected with, and whatever destiny it was that had brought her and her sister back together.
When she saw Andr
ew walking towards her moments later, arguing with a woman carrying a toddler who looked just like him, she thought she’d conjured him up like a ghost from her past. She was happy to note that she felt nothing for him – although why she’d decided on a vision of him she had no idea. A reminder of what she didn’t want perhaps?
And yet, it was him. She stared, trying to figure out the body language of the couple as they paused next to a blue car and he continued berating her. Finally the woman, tall and pretty, with long red hair, strapped the child into his car seat, jumped behind the wheel and slammed the door, before screeching out into the traffic and driving off.
Before she could look away, Andrew turned towards her, caught her eye, and smirked. Mike’s words from the cafe came back to her, and she felt anger rising within her. Anger at Andrew’s dismissal of her, and his lies and condescension on the first day of the course, burned in her veins. Fury at what he was doing to Violet and to Mike blurred her vision. And concern for the woman in the car was a black cloud hovering on the edge of her consciousness.
“Beth, it’s so good to see you.” Taking her arm, he marched her into a cafe and slid them both into a booth, before she’d even registered what he was doing. He was smooth, she’d give him that, even as she discerned the insincerity of his tone. When the waitress came over he ordered for both of them, and she rolled her eyes. How strange that she’d been so blind to his patronising manner when they were dating.
“So, how are you enjoying the course?” he asked smugly.
“It doesn’t start for another two weeks,” she replied, then as she watched the smirk slide off his face, she realised he’d meant his course. Oops!
Trying not to laugh, she muttered something vaguely reassuring, then noticed the wedding ring on his finger. The face of the toddler in the red-haired woman’s arms came back to her, and she shivered. What the hell was going on with him? He had mentioned an ex-wife when they were in France, but that woman didn’t look so ex. And he’d specifically told her that he had no children, yet that kid was the spitting image of him. Not that it mattered to her now – it was Violet she was concerned about, and Mike too.
Into the Storm: Into the Storm Trilogy Book One Page 30
