“Elliot Fielding, you’d better listen to me and listen well. Both you and Beatrice have a soulmate out there who will make your lives complete. However, you are not that person for each other. If you marry, it will be the greatest mistake of your life and of hers. Do you understand?”
Elliot’s mind was racing. He was lost in thoughts of Mimi, and wondered if there really was a way they could be together. He knew the quirky American was his soulmate, but Beatrice had already accepted his proposal. How could he take it back, especially now that she was sick again?
Pip felt her brother’s uncertainty and pressed, “Elliot, Beatrice has a true love waiting for her, as well. If you can’t break up with her for your own happiness, do it for hers.”
Elliot didn’t know what to do. For the first time ever, he wanted to believe in his little sister’s ability. He wanted to believe that he and Mimi were destined to be together. It tore him apart to think of his life without her. But Beatrice had been a dear friend for years. How could he possibly abandon her when she needed him the most?
He finally said, “Philippa, I love you with my whole heart, and I’m desperately sorry if I’ve treated you with any disrespect. I promise I’ll think about what you said. I won’t rush into anything prematurely, but you have to promise me something as well.”
“Anything,” she agreed.
“You have to vow that if I go through with marriage to Beatrice, you’ll accept her and not talk about this other business anymore.” When there was no response, he pressed, “Do you promise?”
His sister replied, “Of course I promise. I love you and Beatrice both. I just really, really don’t want either of you to settle for second best, and I’m afraid that’s exactly what you’ll be for one another.”
“I told you I’d think about it, Pip. Now I’m off to do just that. Give Mother and Father my love.” Before hanging up, he added, “I love you, little sister. Now maybe you should go off and see about finding your own soulmate.”
Pip laid awake the rest of the night, tossing and turning, her mind trying to wrap itself around the concept of true love. Why did it have to be such a challenge to find your other half? Shouldn’t that be the one guaranteed gift in life, handed out like candy at a child’s birthday? If life was all about love, then why in the hell was it so darn hard to find it?
New York
Chapter 13
“You owe me ten grand,” Richard told his friend.
Spencer laughed, “How do you figure?”
Richard replied, “I spent ten large for the first four months with Rachel, and so far I’ve gone on eight first dates. You are currently dating the only one that was enjoyable.” He asked, “Does that seem fair to you?”
Spencer smiled, “When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be, my friend. I’ll consider your investment an engagement gift.”
“You’ve proposed, already?!” Richard asked.
“Unfortunately, no.” He explained, “I would have though, if Eliza would let me. She has some rule that I’m not allowed to ask her to marry me until we’ve known each other for six months. Isn’t that the craziest thing you’ve ever heard?”
Richard shook his head, “No. What’s crazy is proposing to a woman you haven’t known for at least six months. You’ve got to be with someone long enough to see some of their faults. That way you discover if what you’re feeling is really love or just a burst of hormones racing through your rapidly aging body.”
Spencer playfully punched his friend in the shoulder, “Man, you think too much. You gotta live, embrace the moments!”
“Or in your case, embrace the alimony,” Richard quipped.
“Ha, ha, ha.” Changing subjects, Spencer asked, “How’s it going with that Mimi chick? Has she moved to the city yet?”
Richard nodded, “She got here last week.” He added, “And things are going well, considering she’s head over heels in love with another man, who just so happens to be engaged to another woman.”
“Richard, to look at you, anyone would think you had the world by the tail. But in truth, you seem to be going out of your way to make your love life as complicated as possible.”
Richard smiled, “Except I’m not in love with Mimi. I think she’s wonderful and beautiful and delightful, but unlike you, I’m smart enough to know when to cut and run.”
Spencer demanded, “What exactly does that mean?”
“It means,” Richard answered, “when you want someone, you pursue her relentlessly, even if she’s not available. You don’t take no for an answer and then you wind up married to the wrong person.”
Spencer sighed, “You’re right. I’ve done that in the past, but this time things are different. Eliza’s different. You know she’s not at all interested in me for my money and she insists on paying for every other date. She says she has an equal investment in this relationship and she doesn’t want me to feel like I have the upper hand.”
“Smart girl,” Richard replied. Then he cautioned, “Don’t mess this up.”
Spencer shook his head, “Not a chance, my friend. Not a chance.”
Richard bid his friend farewell and continued his walk through Central Park. There was a comfort in watching the hum of life in constant motion around him. Joggers ran by, cyclists whizzed back and forth, and children squealed in delight. Somewhere in the midst of it all was the woman he was meant to spend the rest of his life with. He just had to figure out where the heck she was.
Over lunch, Mimi announced, “Elliot’s coming to New York next week.”
“Why?” Richard asked. “I mean, what’s the point unless he’s going to break up with Beatrice.”
“I think he wants to come so he can yell at me. He’s mad at me for moving on with you.”
“Mimi, darling, I’d be more than happy if you wanted to move on with me, but I know you’re still in love with the Englishman.” Then he asked, “And why in the world does he think he has any say about who you spend your time with?”
Mimi shook her head, “I don’t know. All I know is that I really do want to move on and you’re the best possible person in the world to do that with. You’re funny, smart, and you like to eat. What more could a woman want?”
Richard realized that most women would have said he was handsome, rich, and successful. They wouldn’t have even noticed his other qualities, which is another reason he wished Mimi were available. She saw people for who they really were, not just their packaging.
Richard had a date later that night with one of Eliza’s friends. He was both excited and jaded about it. He wanted to be relaxed and enjoy meeting someone new. The problem was he’d met so many subpar women lately; he was quickly starting to feel deflated.
Mimi asked, “Why do you suppose it’s so hard to find the right person? I mean, it’s taken me thirty-four years and I didn’t even like Elliot at first. Initially, I hated him.”
Richard quirked his eyebrow indicating he wanted to hear more. So she told him, “When we first met, Elliot wouldn’t even shake my hand. He was just so, so, superior acting, I wanted to spit!”
Richard would have used the words ‘stuck up prig.’ He wondered how Mimi came to change her mind about him, so he asked, “When did you decide you liked him, instead of hating him?”
She cocked her head in thought, then replied, “When my sister Ginger invited us both over for a dinner party. She set us up with different people and I realized I was jealous of Elliot’s date. Of course that was before she ran off with my date.”
Richard laughed, “You’re kidding!”
Mimi shook her head, “Nope. I wouldn’t kid about something like that. I went straight off my diet and ate all the leftover cake. Then I drank a couple more glasses of wine than was prudent. Then I propositioned Elliot. Of course he didn’t take me up on it at that time, but that was the night everything changed.”
“That’ll definitely be a story for the grandkids someday,” Richard joked.
Mimi gasped, “Richard, that isn�
�t funny! You know Elliot’s not going to marry me.” Then she broke down sobbing, “Life’s so unfair.”
Richard felt horrible. He hadn’t meant to make his friend cry. So he reached across the table, took her hand, and said, “I’m sorry, Mimi. I didn’t mean to be so callous, but the truth is I don’t really think Elliot’s going to marry Beatrice. In my heart of hearts, I think he’d be an idiot to walk away from you. And as much as he rubs me the wrong way, I know he’s not an idiot.”
Mimi sniffled, “I hope you’re right. But I’m going to need an onion ring to make me feel better.”
Richard signaled the waiter, as Mimi sniffled, “Just don’t let me eat more than one. Two, tops,” she amended.
Richard enjoyed the rest of his meal with his new friend. He only hoped the woman he was to meet later that night had a touch of the spark Mimi possessed. After all, he hadn’t known her or Eliza for very long, but he already considered them both prime catches and very good friends. He’d discovered firsthand that quality women did exist. He just had to find one for himself.
London
Chapter 14
Philippa woke up in bed feeling hung over. Since she hadn’t consumed any alcohol the night before, she knew her malaise was due entirely to an excess of emotion. Crying had a way of sucking every last ounce of strength out of person. Poor Beatrice, a third occurrence of breast cancer did not bode well.
Pip rolled over, embraced a couple of large down pillows for comfort and mumbled, “I guess I’d better get used to snuggling pillows as there doesn’t appear to be boyfriend on the horizon.”
She was startled when a voice responded, “Don’t succumb to self-pity, Philippa, it’s not attractive.”
Startled, Pip replied, “Gran? What are you doing here? You haven’t visited since you warned Mum to have that spot on her back checked.”
Her maternal grandmother reached over and patted her hair with a phantom hand, “I’m only allowed to pop in when one of you is in real trouble.”
Alarmed, Pip sat up, “Who’s in trouble? I mean, normally, I might have a go at guessing, but right now there seems to be enough trouble for all of us.” She further explained, “Elliot and Beatrice have gotten themselves engaged, Beatrice’s cancer is back, Mother is fit for an asylum over the whole thing . . .” She stopped short, “Oh dear, it’s not Father, is it? Please tell me he’s okay.”
Granny Charlotte smiled fondly at her granddaughter, “Your father is fine, dear; your mother will survive her drama; Elliot is on track; and Beatrice, of course, is not well, but she’s not the reason I’m here.”
“Why are you here then? Who else could you possibly be worried about?”
“I’m here for you, pet,” she replied.
Pip inhaled sharply, “Me? Wouldn’t Bertram have told me if there was something wrong with me?” Then she thought to ask, “You do know Bertram, don’t you?”
Her gran answered, “I haven’t had the pleasure, yet, but I know of him.” She continued, “And yes, Bertram would have told you if he could, but in this case he can’t.”
Completely confused, Pip replied, “I’m thoroughly muddled here, Gran. Why wouldn’t Bertram be able to warn me?”
Gran tilted her head and grimaced a bit, “Well, love, I fear I’m here to warn you about him.”
“What?” Pip screeched. “Why in the world would you warn me about him? He wouldn’t have been sent to me if he meant any harm, would he?”
Her gran replied, “Well, no, not really. It’s just that he’s different from your other contacts. With him, things aren’t exactly as they seem.”
“In what way?” Pip demanded. “Is he or is he not here to pass on messages to people who need to hear them?”
“He is, yes.”
“Is he here with ill intent?”
Her grandmother responded, “I don’t believe so, no.”
“Gran,” Pip was thoroughly frustrated, “then what exactly are you warning me about?
“I just want you to remember that you have the power to make your own decisions. You don’t have to do something just because Bertram says you do.”
“You mean I don’t have to pass on messages that come through him?”
Granny Charlotte replied, “Oh no, you have to do that.”
“Gran, what are you talking about then?” Philippa demanded.
“I guess I’m saying that if he comes through with a message for you, you have free will whether you act on it. You aren’t obligated to do whatever he says.” After a brief pause, she clarified, “Regarding you that is. Just like Elliot isn’t obligated to listen to you and break up with Beatrice.”
“But he should!” Pip exclaimed. “And this information isn’t just coming from Bertram. All of my other contacts have said they aren’t right for each other.”
Her gran replied, “Again, dear, you shouldn’t doubt Bertram’s messages for others. In fact, you shouldn’t doubt his messages for you. You just don’t have to follow through with his advice.”
“Gran, please, I feel like my head is going to explode. Just tell me this, is Bertram a bad soul? Should I be afraid of him?”
Her grandmother responded, “Oh dear, I’m really mucking this up, aren’t I?” She didn’t wait for her granddaughter to answer, she merely added, “He’s not bad. But being that you’re in the business, as it were, you might assume you have to do anything his communication tells you to do. I’m here to say you don’t.” She explained, “Just like people you share messages with don’t have to do what you tell them. Do you understand?”
Pip shook her head, “Not in the least, Gran. In fact, I’m more confused than ever.”
“Oh, dear,” Charlotte replied. “I’m sorry if I’ve made a stew of things. It’s just that Bertram has more at stake than your other contacts did.”
“More at stake than whether or not he gets his wings? What could possibly be more important than that?”
“I’m not at liberty to say, dear. Just know he’s a good man, but you don’t have to listen to his messages for you. That’s all I can say for now.”
Pip shook her head in frustration, “But he hasn’t even had any messages for me.”
As she began to fade, her grandmother said, “But he will, dear. He will . . .” and then she vanished completely.
Pip immediately called out, “Bertram, are you there? Please stop whatever you’re doing and come here right now.”
Moments later her contact materialized next to the large picture window overlooking the private park behind her family home. He was wearing short pants and a polo shirt. His hair was mussed and his beard appeared to be in need of a shave, “What’s up, love? I’m a little busy.”
“What keeps you so busy, Bertram? You’re dead,” she said.
“So you keep saying, love. But as I keep telling you, life continues. There’s much to do in the great beyond and I’m all about doing it.”
Pip demanded, “What exactly were you doing?”
He responded, “I was running around the playground with Periwinkle. Every time she jumps, I whisper in her ear, ‘You can fly, love, you can fly!’ And in that split moment when both of her feet are off the ground and she’s airborne, she can feel me next to her.”
Philippa felt goosebumps rise up on her arms. “That’s very sweet, Bertram. I don’t want to be cruel, but aren’t you torturing yourself by trying to keep yourself alive for your child? I mean, you are dead, after all.”
“The torture will be on the day when she no longer hears me and feels me next to her. That day will be unbearable.”
Pip asked, “But once you fulfill your mission with me, won’t you have to leave her behind when you move on?”
Bertram’s eyes twinkled, “Ah, Pip, I’ll move on in the best possible way. For me, that will be a day to rejoice, not cry.”
Pip shook her head, “There’s so much I don’t understand about the afterlife. You’d think with my job assisting you I’d know a heck of a lot more than I do, wouldn’t you?�
�
Her contact smiled, “No one ever has all the answers, love. Now, why have you called me away from my park date?”
“Oh, right, that.” Pip continued, “My gran was just here to warn me about you.”
His eyebrows shot up, “Really, why?”
“She wanted me to know I didn’t have to listen to any message you might have for me if I didn’t want to.”
Looking confused, Bertram asked, “But isn’t that the way for everybody? You give messages all the time that people either act on or not. It’s their choice, right?”
Pip replied, “She was afraid I’d feel honor bound because I work with you.”
Bertram shrugged his shoulders, “It’s on you, love. You do whatever you want. I understand that.”
“Bertram,” she asked, “do you have any messages for me?”
“Not a one.”
“But, will you?”
Her contact replied, “Perhaps. I’ll let you know if something comes in. Now,” he said, “would you mind terribly if I went back to the park to play with Peri? The more I’m with her, the longer she’ll remember me.”
“Go,” Pip said. “Go and play with your little girl. I’m sorry I called you away.” Then she pulled the covers up over her head and tried to force herself back into a state of unconsciousness. She liked to start the day slowly with a strong cup of coffee before greeting the dead and any trouble they brought with them. In order to do that, she needed to start over.
The Plan
Chapter 15
Cressida draped a cape around Pip’s shoulders and asked, “What do you want me to do today?”
Pip made eye contact with her friend in the mirror and replied, “I want you to cut my hair.”
“Don’t be obtuse, Philippa. How much do you want me to cut? How do you want it styled?” she asked. “Help me help you.”
Pip answered, “I couldn’t care less. Do whatever you want.”
Kindred Spirits: A Romantic Comedy About Love, Life, and the Afterlife . . . Page 7
