I twisted my body so I was facing my dad. Then I let go. My dad didn’t catch me.
As I fell, my dad’s screams penetrated the rush of air in my ears as gravity took hold of my body. I was gone.
41
One year later
The ‘for sale’ sign was finally stamped with SOLD and Patrick and Jodie began packing up the rest of their things almost instantly. After Jane’s death they had both decided enough was enough and Patrick passed his leadership status at the church to the next medium in line. Patrick wanted to live life to the fullest with his wife and son and he did not want to think about death until he was faced with it himself as an elderly man.
Patrick had dealt with the courts and was able to have Sarah Henderson’s body moved to her planned burial plot in the grounds of the manor.
“This house would never have been ours truly, Patrick. It would always have been Henderson Manor no matter what we did with the place. And with the burial plots outside we would never have settled here,” Jodie had said.
“I know. It’s a sad but nice history to the house. At least they’re all together now.”
Lewis was now eighteen months old and an absolute rascal. They had decided to move into the cottage at Lomond Park for a while, to get some peace and tranquility and plenty of safe space for Lewis to toddle around in. Patrick and Jodie would never regret their time as psychics and they would always cherish the memories of helping others. But now their time was to be spent bringing up their son and Jodie wanted to be calm so that nothing would happen during her second pregnancy.
“I’ll carry the big boxes out to the van and you get Lewis settled,” Patrick said.
Jodie strapped Lewis into his car seat and looked up at Henderson Manor as Patrick put the last of the boxes into the back of the van.
“Do you think that a house can remember things?” Jodie asked.
“So much has happened in that house that I would be surprised if it couldn’t.”
Patrick climbed into the driver’s seat and started the van while Jodie took one last look over the manor. She looked up at the main bedroom window and even though she was used to seeing spirits, was shocked to see the whole of the Henderson family at the large window. Jodie blinked a few times to be sure what she was seeing was truly there.
She found Patrick at her side, looking up too.
“Tell me you see that too,” she said.
Patrick nodded.
The Henderson family, all of them including Sarah, smiled as Patrick and Jodie climbed into the van and drove down the gravel drive and onto the street.
Henderson Manor was finally at peace.
***
Janet Preston opened the door and welcomed Jim Lang into the house. Today was the day of Auld Tam’s funeral and Lang was not sure how Preston was coping, not on top of everything else that had happened.
“How is he?” Lang asked quietly.
“He’s bearing up. He’ll be glad to see you though.”
Lang hugged Janet and walked into the living room. Preston was in the kitchen staring into the back garden.
“You alright?” Lang asked.
“Aye, I’m not bad. How’s the head?”
Lang had been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm just after Jane had died and had been told it was inoperable. “I’m still alive, if that’s what you mean.”
The two had been able to joke about it but with the death of Auld Tam, Preston was now worrying that yet someone else so close could be snatched away from him too soon.
“How do you find it?” Preston asked.
“Find what?”
“Not working on the force anymore.”
Lang shrugged. “It’s strange, I’ll give you that. But it’s nice spending time at home. You never know how long you have, eh?”
Preston nodded. “That’s true.”
Preston had decided to leave the police force after his the discovery of Jane’s secret life. His decision was set in stone once CCTV footage had revealed that Claire Prowse’s murderer was in fact Jane. It had all been captured on a street camera, right beside the car park where Claire had been stabbed in the neck. Preston never ever understood why his daughter ended up the way she did. But it had changed his life and his family forever.
Janet walked into the kitchen. “The cars are here.”
Preston looked at Lang. They had known each other long enough to know the meaning behind that particular look.
“I know, mate. It is going to be hard but you’ll get through it. I’m here for you buddy.”
Lang put his hand on Preston’s shoulder and walked out to the cars with Preston’s family. Lang’s wife was outside waiting by their car.
“It’s at times like this where you need your friends around. I’ll see you at the cemetery,” Lang said as Preston, Janet and Lisa got into the car.
Lang and his wife, Mary, got into their car and followed the funeral cars to the cemetery.
“I don’t know how much more that man can cope with Mary; I really don’t. That family has been ripped apart by their own daughter. It’s at times like this you want your parents’ support and he is just about to cremate his dad.”
Mary held onto Lang’s hand. “I know sweetheart. But that’s why you’re here.”
“Aye, but how long have I got left?”
Mary sighed.
“You’ve got many a year left in you I’m sure. And if that time comes, he’ll be there for me, just like you’ve been there for him.”
The women in Lang and Preston’s lives were most definitely the strongest women they would ever know. Janet and Mary had been the rocks of each family. Lang had worried about everyone other than himself once he had been given his terminal diagnosis. He had had a good life and had felt like he had made, if anything, a small difference in the city of Glasgow. He just hoped that whoever took over from his and Preston’s post in the force that they would continue to make a difference to the city. Their time in the force was just a memory now and Lang wondered for just how long he would be able to conjure up those memories before his tumor would no longer allow it.
***
After the service, Preston disappeared from the crematorium and made his way out to see Jane. He walked slowly as approached her gravestone and a single tear dropped from his eye.
“Why did this have to happen to my family?” Preston dropped to his knees and wept like a baby. He felt a strong hand fall upon his shoulder and Preston attempted composure.
“Come on mate, let’s have a whisky in Auld Tam’s honour,” Lang said as he put his arm around Preston and helped his very best friend back to the car.
***
Jenny got out of bed and picked up the post from the door mat. She searched through it quickly in the hope that there was a letter from Sam. When she saw the envelope and recognised the handwriting, her heart ached. She missed her friend so dearly. After the ‘Deborah’ situation, Sam had not been coping and had been turning down work. He had decided to leave and go to Australia for a year. His year was almost over and even though Jenny knew it was selfish, she was excited that he would be coming home soon.
She ripped the envelope open and pulled out the letter. As she read it, tears filled her eyes.
Dear Jenny,
How are you? My time in Oz is almost over and to be honest, the thought of going back to Scotland is making me feel sick. I am still seriously messed up over everything that has happened so I have decided to go to America for a while. Some friends I have met here have offered for me to stay with friends of theirs in Washington and so I have taken them up on their offer. I would love it if you would come out to join me.
I miss you Jenny but I just can’t come home. Every time I think about it, I see her face and I can’t bear it. I hope that you’ll understand.
Lots of love
Sam
Jenny put the letter in her house coat pocket and went into the kitchen and switched on the kettle. The flat was so empty and quiet without Sam. Jenny
knew he would never come home.
The flat would be empty and quiet forever.
Epilogue
The whisky flowed, the wine was poured and the dinner was served. Sarah Henderson was in awe of what was happening around her. If this was death, then she didn’t mind it so much.
“The roast is perfect for a family reunion,” Anna Henderson said as she placed the food on the large dining table.
“Are you alright dear?” Helen Henderson asked Sarah.
Sarah could only nod.
“We’ve waited on you for a long time, Sarah. You must understand that,” George Henderson said.
Sarah looked around the dining table at her whole family, ancestors and all. Henderson Manor was filled with every Henderson she had ever known of. She turned to her left and found her mother sitting next to her, Audrey Henderson. She smiled sweetly at her daughter and couldn’t believe everything that had happened in … how long had it been? She couldn’t be certain but what Sarah was certain of, Patrick McLaughlin had found justice for her and that was all she had ever wanted. He had somehow managed to have her body moved to its proper resting place: with the rest of the Hendersons at Henderson Manor. Now she found herself in spirit, sitting around the dining table with the rest of her family.
“I can’t quite believe how this is actually happening but I couldn’t be happier that it is. I never thought this was possible.”
As the conversation continued into the small hours, Sarah excused herself from the table and made her way out to the hall where she had met her death. She remembered how she had died and tried not to allow Jane Preston’s memory to flood her mind.
Audrey Henderson was by her side then, looking down at her daughter’s place of death. “I would certainly assure you that I wanted more for you in life than you had. It couldn’t have been nice to have had to deal with what you did. I was with you the whole time.”
Sarah smiled. “I’m glad I’m here. If this is death, then it’s not as scary as I thought it would be.”
The happy family sounds from the kitchen made Sarah feel at peace forever.
***
The estate agent closed the door of Henderson Manor and once again felt deflated. “You’re sure you don’t want to think about it a little more?” He said to the family he had just shown around.
The little girl in the blonde pigtails and pink dress tugged at her mother’s skirt, “I don’t want to live here Mummy; the people are scary.”
The woman looked down at her daughter and then to her husband. “I’m sorry, if my daughter doesn’t like it, then we’re not buying.”
The estate agent tried not to show disappointment, even though every family who had ever viewed Henderson Manor seemed enthusiastic at first and then by the end of the viewing said that they were no longer interested. Most of those families had young children. “Ok, what about the other properties we talked about?”
They walked slowly down the gravel driveway, the sound of their voices droning in the little girl’s ears as she looked up at Henderson Manor. When she saw the old woman who was stood at the window of the room which her mother said would be her bedroom, she froze. The woman waved at the little girl and smiled before she was surrounded by several more people, all of different ages. They all wore very different clothing to the types of clothes the little girl saw her parents and even her grandparents wear. The oldest woman, whom the little girl had seen sitting in a rocking chair with a ball of wool and knitting needles, was now standing at a separate window and she was also waving. The little girl had been truly terrified when she and her parents had been looking around that house, and although when she had tried to tell them that they were not alone in the house, they told her to be quiet as they listened to the man in the suit talk about the house and its history.
She continued to stare up at the house as the old people faded away from window. The little girl ran after her parents down the gravel drive way and never looked back.
The house would never belong to anyone else, it would always remain as it was, as it always had been: Henderson Manor.
About The Author
Emma L Clapperton was born in Glasgow in Scotland in 1985.
She was brought up in a little village on the outskirts of Glasgow and has always had an interest and love for books and writing.
Emma began writing in 2010 and hasn’t stopped since.
Beyond Evidence is Emma’s first novel and is the first in the Patrick McLaughlin series.
Emma uses her time to write and create new stories and characters and can’t thank her readers enough for their support and kind words and will continue to work towards developing her skills in her writing career.
Emma currently lives at home in Scotland with her partner and lazy cat.
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