by Nell Dixon
Lou tilted her head to one side and looked at me. “And, maybe you aren’t so good at listening to him when he tries?”
This sounded a bit rich from someone whose own life wasn’t in such great shape. Even if a tiny bit of my conscience did concede that she might have a point.
“Anyway, oh relationship expert, what’s happening with Jamie and Gary?
Jamie was here last night pouring his heart out to me over a tin of beer. I think you’ve knocked him for six with news of the baby.” I regretted sounding quite so snappy as soon as the words were out of my mouth and the hurt showed in Lou’s eyes.
“It went about as well as you’d expect.”
I nibbled at a slice of my pizza. “What happened?”
“Gary was ecstatic. He’s convinced the baby is his and he’s blanked out any possibility that Jamie might be a candidate, or even that he’s in my life. He’s already turned up at the flat clutching a four foot high teddy bear.” She sighed and took another sip of her juice. “Jamie just seemed dazed. I think if I’d said it was definitely his then he would probably have reacted like Gary but I guess the whole ‘who’s the daddy thing’ doesn’t exactly put me in a good light.”
“I’m sorry.” I reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Jamie does seem to genuinely like you. It’s all been rather sudden I suppose for both of you.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll see how it goes. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to Mum and I’m okay going it alone if that’s how it pans out.”
“You know I’m here for you and the baby.” I realised I was quite looking forward to becoming an aunty and having a little one to spoil.
She managed a half-smile. “Between me, you and mum we’re not very great at relationships, are we?”
I smiled back. “I guess not.”
Lou didn’t stay late as she wanted to get back to her flat before it grew dark.
The atmosphere between us was still strained, as if we had both said a little too much.
I decided I’d get an early night myself. I had no idea how long the paranormal team would be in the cottage tomorrow or if we’d have to stay up all night. As I washed up the plates in the sink I stared down the garden at the empty caravan and wondered if I’d see Steve in the morning.
* * *
I woke to the sound of rain pelting down. The trees and bushes outside the cottage thrashed about while the wind moaned over the chimney pots. It felt more like October than August and I shivered as I stood in the kitchen eating my bowl of porridge.
When I finished eating I gave Mum a quick call.
“Hi; did you want me to come over today for a while?” I wasn’t sure but I thought I heard the faint murmur of conversation at the other end.
“No dear, its fine, Mrs Gulliver is here. I know you’ve a lot to get done at the cottage and those people are coming tonight, aren’t they?”
“Well, if you’re sure.” I t seemed rather early for Mrs Gulliver to have come over, but I had heard someone else’s voice.
“Oh definitely, I’m feeling much better today and I’m sure everything will get sorted out soon..”
I was certain she was hiding something. I could tell by the cagey, over-bright tone of her voice.
“I could drop you something in for lunch?” I gave it once last shot.
“No, really, it’s fine. Don’t come over. I’ll pop and see you on Sunday and you can tell me all about your spook hunt.”
I hung up wondering what she was hiding. After everything that had happened I wanted to go over anyway but she’d made it quite clear that I was to stay away. I spent the morning pottering around tidying up where I could and checking the supplies so we would be ready for the next phase of the renovations. It all felt rather aimless though without knowing if Steve intended to come back.
The weather didn’t improve. Even Mr Flibble, who was generally an all-weather cat, had decided to stay indoors and lay sprawled in his favourite spot on a piece of old carpet in front of the Aga. I’d just fired up the laptop ready to run through the accounts when the back door opened and Steve came in.
The shoulders of his pale grey hoodie were dark from the rain and his hair was plastered against his head. He closed the door behind him and stood inside the kitchen on the mat to shake the water from his hair. My heart climbed into my throat as I watched and waited for him to speak.
“I came to check if you were still going to go ahead with this séance thing tonight.” He pulled a hand towel off the drainer and rubbed at his hair until it stood up in spiky tufts like a hedgehog.
“Yes, of course I am.” There was a horrible air of tension between us.
“Louise and your friend, Mike are coming, you said?” He dropped the towel back down.
“Yes.” I waited for him to say he wouldn’t be there.
“Is it okay if I bring someone too?” His dark eyes bored into mine.
“Um, I suppose so.” I didn’t know what else to say. Like the coward that I am I didn’t want to ask who he might be bringing.
“I’ll see you at eight then.” And, as suddenly as he’d arrived, he left.
That was it, no mention of what he’d said on Thursday night, nothing. I frowned at the column of figures on the spreadsheet in front of me. All my heartache and tears for a two-second conversation with an aggravating, irritating man! I blew out a breath of frustration and my programme crashed. My nice neat row of numbers vanished and the dreaded blue screen appeared.
* * *
My pains began shortly after father returned home from inspecting the field crops. Mother and Dorcas are assisting me and the woman from the village is come to help. I am told she has safely delivered many babies and is highly recommended. I am very afraid and wish Joshua knew of my plight. I hope to God he is alive and safe.
* * *
I made a mental note to mention the crazy behaviour of all my electronic gadgets to the paranormal team. This wasn’t the first time my laptop, which worked perfectly outside the cottage, had gone into a complete meltdown inside the house.
My iPod often selected strange music when I was listening to one particular album and my mobile would play up changing ringtone or losing the connection.
I turned the computer off, deciding to reboot it later and hope that it had saved all my changes. Luckily I always made backups, something I’d become much more vigilant about since moving to this house.
Outside the kitchen window the buddleia thrashed its purple sprays in the wind sending tiny showers of petals into the air to be beaten to the ground by the deluge.
Puddles had formed on the path and water plinked noisily from the scaffolding. It looked as if it would be the perfect evening for a paranormal investigation.
By the time eight o’clock rolled round I was a bag of nerves. What if nothing happened? What if it was all in my mind and I was going mad? I pulled the corks on a couple of bottles of wine, arranged a couple of dishes of crisps in the kitchen and waited for my guests to arrive.
Lou and Mike were first to knock at the front door.
“Are they here yet?” Lou asked in a stage whisper as she hurried inside, tugging off her raincoat.
“No, they should be here anytime though.” I hung their coats on the hooks near the door while Lou and Mike went through into the kitchen for drinks.
“It’s the right kind of night for it, very atmospheric,” Mike said, indicating the lowering sky outside the kitchen window. Lou helped herself to crisps.
Another loud knock at the front door sent me scurrying back along the hall.
This time a plump cheerful looking man with a beard and two middle-aged women were on the step.
“You must be Kate.” The man extended his hand, “I’m Brian and this is Sarah and Mandy.”
I stood aside to let them into the hall. I wondered which, if any of them, was the mystical Beaner. Although I’d thought from earlier conversations with Brian that Beaner was probably male so perhaps he’d pulled out of tonight.
“Beaner will be along in a while.” Brian explained as I led the way to the kitchen.
I introduced the paranormal investigators to Louise and Mike while everyone helped themselves to a drink.
“This is a lovely old place.” Brian observed looking around the kitchen.
“So, how does this all work tonight, then? Is it like Most Haunted?”
I glared at Lou.
Brian’s posture stiffened a little. “Mand and Sarah are both gifted psychic mediums. I act as record keeper and if we think it necessary we use audiotape and infra-red cameras to capture any phenomena we might encounter.”
“We’re very experienced. We’ve had quite a lot of success.” Sarah added.
“No Ouija boards then?” Lou sounded disappointed.
“Sometimes we’ll use other methods to communicate with spirits if we think that’s appropriate, but its best done by professionals,” Sarah said.
“Are you expecting anyone else to join us this evening, Kate?” Brian asked.
“Um, only Steve, my um…” I wasn’t sure how to describe Steve any more.
“…my um, business partner and he said he might bring someone with him.”
Lou looked interested but didn’t seem surprised when I said Steve had invited somebody. I wondered if the someone might be Jamie.
Just then the back door opened letting in a squall of wind and rain. Steve stepped into the room first huddled inside his hoody. He was closely followed by her, in her high heels and short skirt.
“I take it this is everyone?” Brian smiled at me once more.
Right on cue there was another knock at the front door. I excused myself from the group and hurried along the hall to answer it. I don’t know quite what I’d expected the mystical Beaner to look like, but he turned out to be a tall, thin man with a face like a sad tortoise. Dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie he reminded me of a professional mourner at a funeral. After the build up from Brian I wasn’t sure if I should offer to take his coat or drop a curtsey.
“You must be Kate, the young lady who is experiencing the phenomena?” He had a handshake like a dead fish, all cold and damp.
“Yes, that’s me.” I was aware that I sounded overly chirpy but my nervousness had kicked in big time.
“And are the others all assembled?” he fixed me with a cold, pale blue gaze that seemed to go right through me.
“Yes, everyone’s in the kitchen.” I led him through to where the others were all munching crisps and helping themselves to drinks.
The buzz of chit-chat stopped as soon as Beaner entered the room. He took a seat in the largest of the pine kitchen chairs and we all waited expectantly to see what would happen next.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Perhaps we should begin the investigation. Kate, would you be kind enough to tell the group why you felt the need of the team’s assistance.” Beaner took a seat in the largest of the pine kitchen chairs.
My heart pounded and I longed to help myself to a glass of wine but everyone had gone silent and something about Beaner’s demeanour told me it wouldn’t be a good idea. Avoiding Steve’s sceptical looks I explained about the noises, the lavender smell, the mist and finally, I told them about the woman in the kitchen.
“Ooh, that means it’s a strong presence if you actually saw her and in such detail,” Mand said.
Sarah nodded in agreement. “Very strong, and no one else seems to experience this?”
“Mike saw her at a window and so did Lou. Steve has smelt the lavender scents but it’s mainly me that seems to have experienced the most things.”
Chloe stared openly at me, her black rimmed eyes wide with a mix of astonishment and fear. “Wow, that’s so amazing. I would be peeing myself if any of that happened to me.”
I hoped for the sake of my floorboards that her bladder would remain under control if anything exciting happened tonight.
Brian was busy scribbling notes on a pad. “Which rooms are most active?”
“Well, there’s in here, mostly over that side of the room, the old part, by the Aga. The lounge, especially since Steve opened up the fireplace, and then there’s the landing where I keep hearing footsteps. It’s mostly the lounge and in here though.”
Beaner fixed his opaque gaze on my face. “Describe the woman.”
“Dark curly hair, wearing a white bonnet. She had a long greyish brown dress with a white collar, she might be pregnant. She looked about my age and had sad dark eyes. I keep feeling as if she wants me to help her or she wants to tell me something but I don’t know how or what.”
“Kate has been trying to trace the history of the house and its previous owners to try to work out who she might be,” Mike said.
Beaner turned his gaze on Mike as if seeing him for the first time. Mike fidgeted and coughed under the scrutiny before Beaner returned his attention to me.
“And have you discovered her identity from your research?”
“No, I thought at first she might be someone called Isabella who lived here in Victorian times, but then I saw a picture of Isabella and she was blonde and dressed differently to the woman I saw. I did some more research at the library yesterday and I think she’s from an earlier time but the records get patchy the further back you go, so I’ve hit a bit of a wall.”
For the first time since we’d met I thought I saw the faint trace of a smile tug at the corner of Beaner’s narrow mouth.
“Perhaps, Amanda and Sarah, you should go with Brian to the lounge and see if you can pick up on anything in there.”
Mand and Sarah did as Beaner commanded leaving the rest of us in the kitchen.
“What happens now?” Lou asked, finishing off the last of the crisps.
Beaner gave another of his secretive, almost-there smiles. “Amanda and Sarah will come back soon and tell us their impressions of who the spirit might be and why it is here.”
“Brian mentioned that you had some kind of family connection with the cottage," Mike said. "I know both Kate and I would be very interested to know more about that. I teach history at the university and anything that adds to our body of knowledge about local heritage buildings is always welcome.”
Beaner’s smile expanded, stretching the skin of his face into a reptilian grin.
“All in good time. We must not prejudice Amanda and Sarah’s experiences.”
I helped myself to a glass of wine and tried to decide who was creepier, my ghost or Beaner. Steve had silently watched the whole exchange with Chloe by his side. I’d been trying to pretend neither of them were there. From the moment she’d stepped through the back door I’d felt curiously disembodied, almost as if this was all a bad dream.
“Why do you think that only Kate and no one else seems to see and sense this so-called spirit?” Steve folded his arms across his chest and rocked back on his heels.
“Again, I think we should wait for Sarah and Amanda to share their experiences and then we can consider the reasons why that might be.” Beaner’s smile vanished and his voice was cool.
“Ooh, I can’t wait. I’ve always wanted to come to something like this.” Chloe gave a little shiver.
We all fell silent again as we waited for the others to return. The room had grown darker since everyone had arrived and the rain continued to drum against the window panes. I began to wonder if I should open more packets of crisps and turn on the lights. Then the door opened and Mand, Sarah and Brian trooped back in.
Brian’s chubby face appeared flushed and excited while Mand and Sarah both bristled with self-importance. I sat down on one of the kitchen chairs, as did Lou.
Steve, Chloe and Mike remained standing. All of us fixed our attention on the three returnees.
Beaner steepled his long bony hands in front of him, flexing the tips of his fingers. “Well, you a
ll look very pleased. I take it your quest was successful?”
They all nodded in agreement.
“Perhaps you would like to share your thoughts with the others.” He gestured vaguely towards me and Lou.
“There’s definitely something there and we both strongly felt that it was a woman,” Mand began.
“This woman was someone who had strong connections with this house and experienced great loss and sadness in her lifetime here,” Sarah continued.
I stole a quick peek at Steve to catch him rolling his eyes in disbelief. I had to admit I felt a touch underwhelmed so far. After all, they were only telling me what I’d figured out already for myself. I suppose the one good point about it was that at least, even if they were all fruit-loops, they did actually believe me.
“Did you establish what time period this lady is from?” Beaner asked.
Mand and Sarah exchanged a quick glance. “Civil war,” they said, in unison.
Mike looked quite interested in this titbit of information. When we’d been kind of dating he’d mentioned that it was his favourite period in English history.
Beaner favoured them with another of his smiles. “Did either of you determine the source of her unhappiness?”
Brian gave a small cough and held his notepad up to read. “Mand sensed that the woman was waiting for someone, someone who hadn’t returned. There was something she deeply regretted and she was trying to put it right. Sarah saw soldiers in uniform and a baby.”
“Very interesting, thank you Brian.”
Brian basked in Beaner’s approval.
Right then, above my head, I heard the familiar heavy tread of footsteps on the landing. “Sshh, listen.”
Everyone fell silent. At first I thought the sounds had stopped and all that was audible was the wind and rain outside the house. Then it began again, the thump and drag sound of someone walking about upstairs.
