“You never would!” Honey exclaimed. “I don’t believe it, Clementine. You and Bertram were always such a lovey-dovey pair.” She looked at Anthony and added, “They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Like a couple of teenagers, they were.” Then she continued, “You mustn’t give up hope, dear. Bertram will come back and the three of you will carry on as a happy family once again. I just know it.”
Pip nodded in agreement, “I once had a friend who was in a coma for two years. When she came out of it, not only was she healthier than she’d ever been before, but she could speak three new languages.”
Clementine felt like she was in the middle of a nightmare. Who were these women and why did they keep carrying on about Bertram? Why wouldn’t they just leave her and Anthony to enjoy their tea?
Honey leaned back and signaled the waiter for another glass of champagne. She instructed, “Maybe you should bring another bottle. We’ll be here awhile catching up with our dear friend, Clementine.”
Bertram’s wife couldn’t imagine anything worse and managed, “Actually, I’m not feeling very well. I think it’s best if I just leave.”
“Absolutely not!” Honey declared. “You sit right there and let us take care of you.”
Looking wild-eyed, Clementine had no other choice than to do just that. Anthony however, excused himself after an hour.
Clementine looked up and demanded, “What about our room? I thought we were spending the night.”
Anthony simply replied, “I only booked a room for two. I don’t think we’ll all fit.” Then he walked away.
Richard
Chapter 43
Richard and Chantal enjoyed a lovely dinner and carriage ride through Central Park. As the night ended, he said, “I know you have a big decision to make about which man you’re going to continue seeing.”
Chantal nodded distractedly. “Richard . . . ,” she started.
He interrupted, “Chantal, I want you to go out with the other man.”
“But I thought we were having such a nice time together,” she said.
“We are. And if things don’t work out with the other fellow, I’d like for you to get in touch with me. It’s just there’s a woman from my recent past that I feel drawn to and I’d like to spend some time with her to see if there’s something there.”
Chantal smiled, “Amour, it’s such a mysterious thing, isn’t it?”
He responded, “Mysterious and elusive both.” He looked into her eyes and said, “I’m not sure about this other woman and if it doesn’t work out for you and the other man, will you promise to call?”
Kissing him on both cheeks, she replied, “Of course I will. Good luck to you, my friend. No matter how it works out for us, it’s been a great pleasure getting to know you.”
Richard couldn’t believe he was letting Chantal walk out of his life. Was he insane? But then again, what if he never gave Philippa a chance? He’d always wonder what might have been. Then things got even more complicated because Honey had called him back to say the lady from the auction was having second thoughts and wanted to go on a date with him, after all.
He decided to visit Mimi in Chicago where he would take a night away to meet his mystery woman. Then he’d continue on to London to see Philippa. Maybe by the time he saw her again, things would be clearer.
Richard arrived at Mimi’s house two days after New Year’s, full of nerves and trepidation. He was having dinner with the woman from the auction that night. He didn’t know where she was staying, but Honey arranged for them to meet downtown at the Capital Grill at eight.
Mimi greeted him at the door, “How was your flight?”
He hugged her expanding girth and replied, “Intriguing, actually. A passenger was ushered off the plane after accosting the lead singer of her favorite band.”
“Really?” she asked. “How did she do that?”
He explained, “He was seated in first class and she was walking through to the coach cabin. When she spotted him, she threw herself onto his lap. The stewardess tried to extricate her, but she grabbed his shirt and ripped it right down the middle. Then she screamed that she wanted to have his baby right there.”
“Wow.” She laughed, “I always get the boring flights.” Then she said, “Richard, I have something to tell you.”
But before she could say anything more, Pip walked into the room. The energy that flew between them was positively electric. Richard was the first to find his voice and he rather longingly declared, “Philippa . . .”
Pip wasn’t at all surprised to see Richard. After all, he had a date with her, or rather her alter ego later that evening. She assumed he’d see Mimi at some point while he was in town, she just wasn’t expecting to see him before their interlude.
“Richard, what a surprise to see you here.”
He responded, “I’m in Chicago on business. What are you doing here?”
Already nervous about the night ahead, Pip didn’t take his tone well and coolly replied, “Mimi and Richard are my family. I don’t need an excuse to visit them.”
Before Richard could retort, Mimi grabbed her stomach and doubled over in pain, moaning. Alarmed, Richard asked, “Are you all right? Where’s Elliot? Should I call an ambulance?”
Pip calmly inquired, “Another Braxton Hicks contraction?”
Mimi nodded her head slowly. So Pip explained to Richard, “She’s having practice contractions. It’s just her body’s way of getting ready for the delivery.”
“Thank goodness!” Richard declared. “There’s more to this baby making thing than a man realizes, isn’t there?”
When the contraction passed, Mimi led the way into the library. She motioned for her friends to sit down and demanded, “What’s going on with the two of you, anyway?” She looked at Richard and said, “I have no idea what Pip’s message was for you at the wedding. She won’t tell me.” She continued, “Why don’t you tell me, so I can help smooth things out between the two of you?”
After a moment of trying to decide what to do, Richard said, “Philippa had a message from my father.”
“And?” Mimi demanded, “What did he have to say?”
Richard cleared his throat, “Apparently, he thinks it’s time I get married.”
Mimi replied, “So? You told me in New York you were ready to settle down. What’s so disturbing about that?”
Richard replied, “My father believes Philippa is the right woman for the job.”
Mimi looked at her sister-in-law sympathetically and said, “Oh, Pip, I had no idea. That must have been an awful communication to deliver.”
“Certainly harder than most, but you know what would have happened had I declined,” Pip answered.
Richard interjected, “You can see how unexpected it was to have a strange woman approach me and declare herself as my future wife.”
Pip was getting mad, “Richard, it’s not like I threw myself at you. I simply passed on a message. That’s all.”
To Mimi, Richard explained, “And being that I charged you with finding my future mate, you can see how off-putting that was.”
“Richard,” Mimi started, “do you believe there are people out there who can talk to the dead?”
“Yes, I believe there are a chosen few who have that ability.”
“And you saw Pip at Thanksgiving. You saw how all the people lined up to hear what she had to say them, right?”
He grunted in the affirmative, so she continued, “Do you believe her messages for them were for real?”
Richard nodded his head, “I think they very well may have been.”
“So, why do you think she lied to you about your father’s message?”
He answered, “It’s just that a wealthy single man is a bit of a target at a wedding. Don’t you think?”
Pip had had enough and exclaimed, “Oh, for Christ’s sake, Richard, I’m probably worth twice what you are!”
“How was I supposed to know that?” he asked. “Some strange woman appr
oaches me at a wedding reception and announces my dead father thinks I should marry her . . . that’s not normal behavior, Philippa!”
Pip fumed, “First of all, you arrogant beast, I didn’t say it like that. I’ve learned to deliver these messages with more decorum than that. And secondly, of course it’s not normal, but what would you have had me do?”
Mimi asked, “What else did Richard’s father say, Pip?”
“You know I can’t tell you that, Mimi. Ask Richard.”
Richard said, “Go ahead and tell her. She already knows the worst of it.”
So Pip said, “He apologized to Richard for not being more present in his life and asked his forgiveness. He said he was proud of him and only wanted the best for him.”
Mimi declared, “Richard, that’s lovely!”
Pip continued, “He also told Richard he wished him a wonderful life with loads of children he could dote on.”
“Richard Bingham,” Mimi exclaimed, “that’s positively beautiful! What’s your problem?”
He awkwardly replied, “It just goes back to a peculiar woman declaring herself at a wedding. Don’t you see?”
Mimi fumed, “No, I don’t.” Then to Pip, she asked, “Do you even want to marry Richard?”
“Why on earth would I want to marry a man who thinks I’m a liar? I’d rather go it alone. Plus,” she added, “it’s not my way to ask random men to be my husband. I don’t even know Richard well enough to know if I’d want a future with him.” She didn’t add she’d really like to know him, even though he was currently acting like a bleeding arse.
Mimi turned to Richard and decided, “There you have it. She doesn’t even want to marry you, so you get off your high horse.”
Richard did want to get to know Elliot’s sister better, so he turned to her and said, “Philippa, you have my apologies.” Then he thought to add, “I forgive you, as well.”
“Forgive me?” she demanded. “Mr. Bingham, I’ve done nothing that requires your forgiveness. But just to show you I’m the bigger person, I forgive you for your narrow-minded, pig-headed behavior.” Then she got up and stormed out of the room.
The Date
Chapter 44
Philippa didn’t know how she could go through with her date with Richard. Thanks to Declan’s insight, she finally understood why he reacted to her message the way he had, but she was still so angry at him. She wanted to tell him she was the woman from the auction, but she feared he’d reject her all over again. Pip wasn’t sure she could handle that.
She decided to ask Bertram what he thought she should do. Her contact popped in immediately when she called him and offered, “Drive into the city with him when he goes in for your date.”
“You mean tell him who I am before tonight?”
“Nah. Just catch a ride with him. The trip will give you some time to smooth over your argument from this afternoon, which was totally ridiculous, by the way. You’re both so nervous about each other, you’re looking for reasons to be at odds.”
So Pip left her room and went down to the kitchen where Richard and Mimi were talking. When she walked in, Richard jumped to his feet and apologized, “Philippa, I’m truly very sorry about earlier. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
She nodded her head in acceptance and asked Mimi, “Can you tell me how to get to the train station? If you’ll recall, I have a party in the city tonight.”
“You know people in Chicago?” Richard asked.
“Yes, some friends are in town and I promised to join them for dinner.”
He offered, “I have plans there, as well. Why don’t you drive with me?”
“That would be lovely, Richard. Thank you.”
They agreed to meet out front by seven, so they’d both be in time for their appointments.
Pip said hers was at seven thirty so she’d have time to walk to the restaurant. She wore the same dress and shoes she’d worn at the auction, and at the last moment she decided to pack the mask in her purse.
The afternoon dragged on like the last day of Lent. She took a walk, then a nap, followed by a bath. Anxiety ate at her the entire time. It was one thing to be interested in a man, but to have friends and parents in the afterlife convinced you were meant to spend your lives together added a pressure she wasn’t accustomed to.
Up until recently, Pip just wanted a nice boyfriend, someone to go the cinema with, to spend lazy weekends with, and eventually settle down with. But now she had the burden of hurrying up and finding her soulmate and declaring everlasting love in order to get Bertram back into his body before he transitioned into the next world for good. It was simply too much, too soon.
When she met Richard, he positively took her breath away. He was wearing a black suit with a burgundy tie, and black cashmere overcoat. He was cross between a cover model for a billionaire romance novel and a wanton pirate from a bodice-ripping historical romance. Pip wanted to rub herself against him like a cat in heat. What was it about him that made her feel so out of control? She wondered again how she’d come to be in this position.
Richard smiled appreciatively when he saw Pip. She looked beautiful even though he had no idea what she was wearing under her winter coat. Once he helped her into the car, he asked, “Where shall I drop you?”
She answered, “The Peninsula Hotel on Superior, please.”
He remarked, “That’s only a couple of blocks from where I’m dining. Would you like me to drive you home, as well?”
Pip smiled, “That would be lovely. Why don’t we meet back at the Peninsula at eleven?” She figured that would give Richard three hours for the date he thought he was going on. Once he learned the truth, she realized she might have to find an alternate ride back to Mimi and Elliot’s house. She didn’t imagine Richard was a man who liked to be toyed with.
Richard asked, “Who are you meeting for dinner, again?”
Pip didn’t know if she should continue her ruse or just come clean. It’s not like he wasn’t going to find out for himself soon enough. She finally replied, “I’m not actually meeting friends, I’m meeting a man.”
Richard’s eyebrows shot up in question. Could he already be too late in showing interest in her? Even though he was meeting another woman, he knew he was more interested in Philippa than the secretive lady from the auction. Uncertainly, he asked, “Someone special?”
“I don’t know. I hope so.” She asked, “How about you?”
He replied, “I’m meeting someone I met in London actually.” He added, “In fact I’m pretty sure you know her.”
Pip gasped, wondering if he’d already figured out her secret. “How would I know her?”
“It’s the woman who bid on me at the charity auction for childhood lupus. I just assumed you knew her as you worked together at the event.” He asked, “What’s her name again?”
Pip responded, “You’re having dinner with her and don’t know her name?”
“Neither she nor Honey would tell me. I feel like I’m at a bit of a disadvantage,” he confessed.
“Well, Richard, if they don’t want you to know, I certainly don’t feel it’s my place to tell you. But cheer up, I’m sure you’ll find out at dinner.”
The rest of their trip was made in silence as they were both preoccupied by their individual thoughts. Richard dropped Pip at the Peninsula and bid her an enjoyable evening. More than anything, he wished he could cancel his date and follow her. He needed to know if he was losing her before he even had her. But unfortunately, he had an appointment of his own to keep.
Once he parked the car, Richard walked into the restaurant early. He made sure there was a bottle of champagne waiting at the table, then to kill time he read through some emails and the menu while he waited for his date to arrive.
Richard became more and more nervous as the minutes passed. He wondered where Philippa was going on her date and whether or not she was already in love with someone else. She did say she hoped the man would be someone special. Yet somehow, he couldn’t ima
gine her not being available when he’d finally decided to pursue her.
Richard had given up Chantal, and thoughts about the mystery woman he was about to meet, all in hopes of having a future with Philippa. His father had said she was the one for him and he finally realized that might be true. How could he possibly lose her now?
Then his mystery lady walked in. She was wearing the same dress she had on the night of the auction. She was even wearing the same mask. Richard looked at her and the breath caught in his throat. Even with the disguise he knew who she was. It was Philippa. How had he not seen that the night of the auction? Both women were tall, elegant, and achingly beautiful. Both set his blood on fire like nothing he’d experienced before and now he knew why. They were the same woman.
Richard approached her as though caught in a dream. Before saying anything, he reached for her pulled her close. He thought his heart would explode in his chest. “Philippa . . .” he whispered in her ear.
It’s all he could manage before bringing his mouth down on hers again. It was a passionate kiss, one of amazement and ownership. When he pulled away and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Pip removed the mask before replying, “I didn’t want you to hate me and yell that I was trying to trap you like you did at the wedding.”
Richard felt horrible, “Pip, I didn’t know what I was saying then. I wasn’t angry at you as much as I was angry at the world.” He continued, “I couldn’t believe my father had a message for me because he’d never shown much interest in me while he was alive. How was I to believe he’d care once he was dead?”
Pip nodded her head. “I understand. I really do. The spirit I’m currently working with kept telling me the man I was seeing wasn’t the one for me, and I didn’t want to believe him.”
At that moment, the maître d’ approached them and offered, “Mr. Bingham, your table is ready whenever you are.”
Kindred Spirits: A Romantic Comedy About Love, Life, and the Afterlife . . . Page 21
