“I suppose I could give you the notebooks, I don’t need them,” Grace said.
“No!” Marie called out.
Grace had to ignore her, she couldn’t indicate to where she thought the noise was coming from, Sharon might see. She carried on, “I don’t know much about your family circumstances but it seems you did a good job raising Andrew.”
Sharon smirked and nodded. “I did. Well, someone had to, after his wishy washy mother filled his head with so much nonsense. Hand the books over then, I haven’t got all day.”
Grace wasn’t finished with her questions yet. “It must have been hard for you taking on someone else’s son. Not just emotionally, but financially and you’ve built a successful business too. I admire you, I could never do that.”
Sharon tossed her hair back and laughed. It was an arrogant laugh. Grace had a sudden vision of Sharon being a villain from an old black and white movie, she would definitely be twirling her moustache at this point.
Sharon looked around the shop. “Are we alone?”
Grace nodded.
Sharon said, “I’ll tell you what I did, I’ve been dying to tell someone for years. It doesn’t matter if I tell you, you’re a nobody, no one would listen to you.”
Grace swallowed the insult and pasted a smile on her face. “Go on.”
Chapter 14
Sharon began to talk. “I never liked Marie, she was unbelievably happy, it got on my nerves. And the way Brian was so protective of her! What an idiot he was, I soon sorted him out after we got married. Even when Marie’s husband died she was still cheerful. Her and that little boy of hers did everything together. She encouraged him to write those stupid tales. The times me and Brian had to listen to him drivelling on! I could have slapped Andrew just to shut him up.”
Marie floated back to Grace, her eyes downcast. Grace could feel her sadness, her own heart felt heavy listening to this evil woman in front of her.
Sharon looked upwards as if gathering her thoughts. Then she looked directly back at Grace and said, “Do you know what? I was glad when Marie died. I don’t even feel bad saying that out loud. I was glad she was gone, any hold that she had on Brian was gone forever. Although, we had agreed on that stupid plan to look after Andrew, I only agreed to it so that she would hurry up and die.”
Grace heard a slight whirring noise behind her. She really hoped it was what she thought it was. She nodded encouragingly towards Sharon.
Sharon picked a bit of fluff from her jacket and dropped it onto the floor. She went on, “We knew she had some money put away but we didn’t know how much. Brian was too upset after Marie died to deal with the financial side of things, the spineless wimp, so I had to do it. I got quite a shock when I found out how much money Marie had left. I put it all in my account. I lied to Brian about the amount, I knew he would never have the Brians to check. Now, this is the clever part.”
Sharon actually grinned as if she was proud of what she had done. “I made sure Andrew could overhear what we were saying when I told Brian that Marie hadn’t left us much money. I said it wouldn’t be enough to pay for Andrew’s upbringing. I added that I had taken a loan out so that we could start a security business and try to make a profit. You should have heard me! I was the perfect victim. I said I would work day and night to make the business a success, and that I’d take a second job to make sure Andrew went to university.”
Grace’s smile faltered but Sharon didn’t notice. Grace said, “Do you think Andrew felt guilty about you having to work so much? Is that why he didn’t apply for university?”
“Well, duh!” Sharon said. “Of course that’s why. I used Marie’s money for the business, keeping some for myself. I need luxury items, Brian was never good at providing for me. I don’t have to work many hours because Brian and Andrew do so many. It’s amazing what guilt can make a person do.”
Marie said quietly, “I had no idea she was like this, I thought we were friends. How could she do that to my son?”
Grace had no answer for Marie, she was finding it hard to listen to Sharon. But she hadn’t finished with her yet.
Grace said, “Why didn’t you let Andrew have Marie’s things?”
Sharon curled her lip. “I wanted to remove all aspects of that woman. Andrew and Brian easily swallowed the lies about Marie’s stuff going missing, they’re a pair of gullible idiots, they’ll believe anything I say. I put her things in storage, although I was tempted to burn them. I stopped paying the storage fees 6 months ago, I didn’t see why I should waste anymore of my money on that woman.”
“My money,” Marie amended.
Sharon’s hand came up to her necklace and fiddled with it. “I did keep some things, like this, it might be worth something one day. And some of her perfume, she had good taste in some things. I thought Brian might recognise this necklace, Marie went on about it enough after she returned from her honeymoon, her husband had bought it for her. He was just as soppy as she was.”
Sharon looked at her watch. “Pass me the notebooks, I’ve got a nail appointment.” She reached for her handbag. Her hand paused and her eyes looked down at something.
Marie gasped. “The pasta necklace! She recognises it.”
Sharon looked at Grace, annoyance shooting out of her eyes. “Did you find this in the storage unit? Andrew sent me a text to say that everything had been sold. I recognise this piece of garbage, Marie paraded it around as if it was made of gold. I’ll take that, I’ll have great satisfaction destroying it.”
Grace’s hand shot out towards the necklace.
Too late.
Sharon got there first. She curled her hand around it as if ready to crush it.
Grace lunged forward.
Marie screamed.
There was a loud slapping noise and Sharon collapsed to the floor.
Grace ran around to her and crouched down. Sharon sat up looking dazed, there was a red mark on her cheek, the size of a palm.
Marie said, “It was Pearl! The old woman whacked her! Grace, get the necklace before Sharon realises what’s going on!”
Grace took the pasta necklace from Sharon’s loose grip.
Sharon’s eyes cleared and she focused hate filled eyes on Grace.
The hate was quickly replaced by a hurt and confused look. Sharon looked over Grace’s shoulder and in a pitiful voice said, “I’m so glad you’re here. This mad woman has just attacked me! Call the police.”
Grace looked over her shoulder.
Brian and Andrew were looking back at them. Hate filled both of their faces.
Chapter 15
Sharon held her hands out. “Help me up, Brian, don’t just stand there.”
Brian folded his arms. “Get yourself up, Sharon.”
An annoyed look flickered across Sharon’s face, it was quickly replaced by a hurt look. She got to her feet and gingerly touched her red cheek. She flinched as if she was in great pain.
Grace stood up and looked at Brian and Andrew. Their hateful looks were directed at Sharon, just as Grace was hoping.
Sharon’s voice trembled as she said, “That crazy woman attacked me and you look as if you don’t care!”
Brian gave her a cold look. “Grace didn’t attack you, it looks like you just fell over. We know, we saw everything, didn’t we, Andrew?”
Andrew nodded. “And we heard everything too.”
Sharon’s eyes darted between the two men. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?”
Grace finally looked at the object that had been making the strange noise. She pointed to it on the wall behind the counter. “It’s a CCTV. Is this the job you were going on today, Andrew?”
“Yes, your brother called us, said we’d done a survey for someone he knew,” Andrew replied.
Frankie must have got their details when he came round to her house earlier, Grace thought.
“But ... but...” Sharon blustered.
Brian unfolded his arms, he raised one hand as if to stop Sharon talking. “Don’t bother trying
to make excuses, what you’ve done is unforgiveable. I don’t know where to start. I can’t believe I fell for all your lies, you’re not the person I thought you were.”
Andrew said, “I fell for them too, Uncle Brian. I didn’t go to university because I felt I’d be letting her down, I thought I had to repay all the money that she’d spent on me. I didn’t know that it was Mum’s money.”
Andrew’s voice broke and he looked down at the ground. Marie was at his side in a second.
“But ...” Sharon tried again.
“No more lies!” Brian thundered out. Sharon’s mouth dropped open. “I can deal with the hurt you’ve caused me, and I can deal with the things you’ve said about Marie, but I’ll never, ever forgive you for what you’ve done to Andrew. You took away his dream of being a writer! No one has the right to tell someone their dreams are wrong.”
Sharon put her hands on her hips, her hurt look replaced with scorn. “I know better, I know what’s right for him, and for you. You’re too weak minded, the both of you. I’ve done you a favour.”
“You’ve done us a favour all right. You’ve shown your true colours, and I don’t like them,” Brian said, disgust in his voice.
“So what? There’s nothing you can do about it now. The money and business are in my name,” Sharon said. “You’re fired, I don’t want you two working for me anymore. And you can leave my house.”
Brian let out a bitter laugh. “Oh no, Sharon love, it’s not going to be like that, we don’t take orders from you anymore. I’m seeking legal advice. I’m getting back all the money that belongs to Andrew. It’s not going to look good for you, is it? Telling Andrew all his mum’s belongings were lost when you were actually paying for them to be in storage.”
Sharon paled. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
Andrew looked over at Sharon, his eyes glittered. “I can’t believe what you’ve done, I thought you cared about me, I thought you cared about Mum. I’ll back Uncle Brian up when he goes to a solicitor, I’ll tell them all the lies you’ve told me over the years.”
“They won’t believe you,” Sharon said, her voice trembled slightly.
Grace spoke, “We have your confession on CCTV. I presume it’s being recorded?”
“It is, I’ve already taken a copy, if that’s alright with you, Grace?” Brian asked.
“Of course. Andrew, you heard about the necklace, the pasta one, would you like it?” Grace opened her hand, the necklace was still intact.
Andrew smiled as he took it. “Thank you, it means a lot to me, Mum loved it.” He looked back at Sharon. “You can keep the one you stole from Mum, that one you’re wearing now, I don’t want it. I don’t want anything else from you.”
Sharon fiddled nervously with the necklace. “Brian, I’m sure we can sort this out.”
Brian shook his head. He took hold of Sharon’s elbow and propelled her towards the door. “We’re going home to pack your things. I want every last item of yours removed from the house. Then we’ll collect anything of yours that is in the shop.”
“But where will I live? Where will I go?” Sharon wailed.
“I don’t care. You can rent another storage unit and live in there,” Brian said. “Andrew, I’ll catch up with you later. Will you finish this job off? Show Grace how the CCTV system works? We’ll talk about universities when you get home.”
Andrew closed his hand gently around the necklace. “Will do, Uncle Brian.”
Brian shoved Sharon out of the door.
Andrew turned back to Grace. “I don’t know what to say, I can’t believe that this all just happened. I didn’t know Auntie Sharon was like that.”
Marie smiled gently at her son.
“You’re in shock,” Grace told him. “Let’s have a cup of tea and some choccy biscuits. You can explain the CCTV to me. I’ll close the shop, we can go through to the kitchen.”
“Okay, thank you,” Andrew said.
Grace locked the shop door. She took a deep breath and said, “I need to make a confession, I’ve done something with your stories. You might not like it.”
Chapter 16
They sat down with tea and biscuits at the kitchen table, Marie hovered at their side. Grace told Andrew about his story.
Andrew took the news remarkably well, much to Grace’s relief.
“So you posted the first part of my story on that website under my name,” Andrew said.
“I did. It’s so other writers can review it, give their opinions on it,” Grace clarified. “It’s automatically copyrighted, no one can steal your ideas.”
“I like the sound of that. Well? What did people think of it?” Andrew asked.
“I haven’t checked since I posted it. Do you want me to check it now?”
“Yes. No! I don’t know!” Andrew said. “What if everyone hated it?”
“They won’t, it’s a brilliant story,” Grace said. She opened her laptop and was soon logging onto the website. She could feel Andrew’s eyes boring into her head. She had no worries, she knew his story was good.
She scrolled down the page. Her smile grew as she read the comments. She turned the laptop round to face Andrew. “Read the reviews.”
Grace watched his reaction as he read. Disbelief to joy, joy to overwhelming happiness. He jumped up and punched his fist in the air. “They love me! They love my work!”
Grace added, “And they want more, they all want the rest of the story. And so do I! When are you going to write it?”
Andrew’s hand flew to his forehead. “Of course, I need to write it. I need to write the next one too. Oh, Grace! I’ve got so many stories to write. My heart’s pounding! It’s like my dream has woken up!”
Marie clapped her hands with joy. “This is my Andrew! Look how alive he is, Grace. Look at him, you can almost see the stories running through his head.”
Andrew began to pace the floor, muttering to himself. “Of course, if he did that then it would lead to the dragon war, but then The Cloven Wizard will appear ...”
Grace stood up. “I think you need to go home, you’ve got writing to do.” She reached into her handbag and took something out. She held them towards Andrew. “Your notebooks, you’ll need these.”
Andrew stopped pacing. He took the notebooks and pulled them to his chest. “Thank you, thank you so much for finding these. I don’t know what’s happened today with Auntie Sharon and everything but I think you’ve got something to do with it. I can’t thank you enough. If I ever got a book published...”
“When,” Grace amended.
Andrew grinned. “Okay, when I’ve got my first book published I shall dedicate it to you.”
“Oh!” Grace’s heads flew to her chest. Her heart suddenly felt as if it had grown. Her eyes stung, she blinked quickly, she didn’t want to cry in front of Andrew. She briskly said, “Thank you, that’s very kind. Off you go now, I’ve got things to do too.”
“I haven’t shown you how the CCTV works,” Andrew said.
“I’m sure I can work it out. Is there a handbook?”
Andrew nodded. “It’s all straight forward.”
“Good, I’ll read the book, my brother will ignore it. He says instruction books are for idiots.”
Andrew laughed. “He sounds like a character.” His eyes glazed. “I could use a character like that in my story, he could help the wicked elves...”
Grace put her hand on his arm and led him out of the kitchen. “Go home! Get these ideas written down.”
Andrew muttered to himself as Grace took him to the front door. He said thank you again to her and then wandered off down the street. Grace could see his lips moving, he obviously didn’t care what anyone thought of him, he was in his own fantasy world.
Grace closed the door. She motioned for Marie to move away from where the CCTV was aimed.
“I don’t want any footage showing me talking to myself,” she explained to Marie. “Although, if your brother and son saw me talking to myself earlier they were kind eno
ugh not to mention it.”
Marie smiled at Grace. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done. You’ve put Andrew back on the right path, I know he’s going to be fine now.”
Marie started to glow white. She said, “I think it’s time for me to go. You take care of yourself, Grace.”
“I will, and I’ll keep an eye on Andrew. I think he’s going to be my favourite author. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, you’ve done more than enough. Goodbye, Grace, thank you.”
Grace shielded her eyes as Marie glowed even brighter.
Then she was gone.
Grace sighed. She always felt sad when the ghosts disappeared, it was like losing a friend.
She shook her head, she’d have to learn to live with this if she was going to help more ghosts.
Talking of which.
Grace went upstairs. The CCTV monitor was set up in the stock room, also known as the room where Frankie was living. She soon worked out how to use it.
She rewound to the action downstairs, to the part where Sharon was hit on the cheek.
It was Pearl. The old woman had a look of sheer delight on her wrinkly face as she landed a slap on Sharon’s cheek.
Then, as if she knew Grace would later be watching her, Pearl turned towards the camera and gave her a double thumbs up before she disappeared.
Grace laughed. She couldn’t wait for Pearl to show herself to her. The old woman had looked out for her several times. A comforting feeling settled over Grace. It was nice having someone looking out for her, even if it was a ghost with a taste for violence.
A note from the author
Just like Frankie in this story I love watching storage auction programmes. I’ve never been to one but I’d love to visit one of the big ones in America, I’m sure I’d be useless at bidding though – I’d be too excited.
When I watch the shows I always wonder where the items have come from, and who they belonged to. I wondered what would happen if some of the items had ghosts attached. I reached a point where I couldn’t stand it anymore and I knew I had to write some stories down, I was inspired by the variety of items that have been discovered in storage lockers.
The Write Dream (Storage Ghosts) Page 5
