by Deb McEwan
Since they’d died she had become something of a substitute daughter and he knew that if he left her permanently, to say she wouldn’t be happy was a major understatement.
‘That’s not your problem.’
Gabriella’s voice shook Ron from his reverie and made him jump.
‘I wish you wouldn’t do that,’ she’d sneaked up on him and he’d been so deep in thought that he hadn’t heard the customary whoosh.
‘I feel responsible for her.’
‘Are we talking about Claire or your wife?’
‘Both actually,’ Ron scratched his chin and was surprised to feel a beard. He raised his eyebrows but Gabriella ignored his silent question, deciding to deal with the more immediate concerns.
‘I can’t make the decision for you, Ron. But if you have reservations it may mean that now isn’t the right time.’
The decision was made. He knew the only reason he’d wanted to move up to heaven was curiosity about the pleasures of a wonderful eternity. It wasn’t enough and he wasn’t yet ready. About to voice his decision, Gabriella spoke before he had a chance.
‘Time to tell Claire. Do you want to give her the news or shall I?’ now that he’d made up his mind, Ron was eager for her to know.
‘I’ll go tell her,’ he disappeared and Gabriella smiled to herself. Everything had gone as she’d planned. As soon as they were reunited and off to catch up with their families and friends, it would give her time to get Sandy up to speed so that when Ron did decide to go upstairs, Claire would have a ready and willing helper in the wings.
Now free to come and go as she pleased as long as she had Gabriella’s permission to do so, Claire decided to return to Earth in time for the wedding. Her brothers and the girls were in the car and Claire saw the sign for Gretna Green, the first village in Scotland, and chuckled to herself. So they were marrying in the village where young English people used to run away to marry years before when the marriage laws of Scotland allowed, but England did not. Claire appreciated Libby’s sense of humour but the thought of their wedding made her feel nostalgic. Although she’d come to terms with the fact that she no longer had Jay and was happy that he’d found someone else, seeing her brothers happy with their partners made her realise how lonely she was, and she was also incredibly bored.
‘Fancy some company?’
It was a moment before she realised that Ron was speaking to her and she did a double take, clapping her hands together and laughing as he materialized. Claire enveloped him in a tight hug that made Ron lose his balance.
‘Steady, girl.’
‘Does this mean…’
‘Yup. I’ve decided that someone needs to keep an eye on you so I’m going to be around for a while yet.’
She leaned back from him but still held him at arms length. He could see that she was trying to say something but couldn’t form the words. She eventually gave up and hugged him again, this time even tighter, and Ron felt the wetness from her tears on the back of his shoulder.
‘Thank you. Oh, Ron. Thank you so much for staying, I…’
‘There, there,’ was all he could manage as he rubbed her back until she regained control of her emotions. Eventually they broke apart and Claire gave a self-conscious laugh before deciding it was down to business. It always amazed him how she could change from being super emotional one minute, to so business-like the next. She explained what had been happening while he’d been making his mind up and how she’d helped her brothers solve a number of criminal cases.
‘What has Libby got to say about all of this?’
Ron was eager to hear news of his daughter. The last he’d heard, the relationship between Tony and Libby was getting quite serious.
‘Well,’ said Claire and Ron could tell from her tone that she was dying to impart some important news.
‘What? Just tell me.’
‘Do you know where we are?’
They’d only just reunited and she was beginning to irritate him already.
‘Spill, Claire. And now.’
‘They’re getting married in Gretna Green. Tomorrow or the day after, I’m not sure which.’
‘What!’
‘I said...’
‘I know what you said, Claire. But why Gretna Green? Did Val and your mother come home early then?’
Claire explained that both mothers were still in Zambia and that Libby wanted a quiet affair because her father wasn’t there to give her away. Ron was thoughtful for a moment. Quietly taking in the information he shook his head.
‘Val’s going to be very upset and so is your mother. I’m glad I got back in time to see her though. I’d like to find a way to show her I’m watching over her.’
Ron couldn’t communicate with the living but Claire could ensure that her brothers knew they were there.
‘But that won’t convince Libby, you know how stubborn she can be.’
Claire knew only too well. When Tony had first tried explaining her presence to Libby it had freaked her and she couldn’t handle it. As time passed she’d come to accept that the twins gained some sort of comfort from talking to their dead sister though Libby had stubbornly refused to believe that they actually communicated with her, despite their assertions as well as Fiona’s. Tony had asked Claire to stay away when Libby was around and she’d reluctantly agreed to do so. A nudge from Ron broke her train of thought.
‘I certainly do but I have an idea. And if it all goes to plan, Ron, Libby will know that her Daddy is watching over her.’ Claire smiled smugly and Ron found himself extremely curious but irritated by her for the second time within a matter of minutes.
Chapter 2
He sighed contentedly as the young girl lifted herself off him and slowly put on her underwear and the faded shift dress. She was stunning. Dark chocolate skin as smooth as a baby’s and a beautiful lithe body though underfed and not yet fully developed. They’d trained her well and he smiled guiltily as he remembered the sensations he’d felt when she’d used that skilful full mouth to pleasure his body. He looked at her beautiful deep brown eyes. Eyes that were completely dead to him, but he chose not to notice. He didn’t know how old she was, they were usually very young, and he’d only used her because he made sure these girls were clean but he always felt guilty afterwards. He preferred grown women but didn’t want to chance going with a diseased prostitute. He’d pleasured himself for months but eventually gave in to his need of a female body. Before he’d got into trouble in England he’d been a supplier rather than a user of younger women and he reflected how his life had changed. In some ways it was a lot better. He liked his new look and every time he stared at his reflection, couldn’t help a little grin. He was better than the men he supplied with the young girls, but wouldn’t show them that – why bite the hands that feed you? Old job but in a new country, new name, new face, hell perhaps it was the time to get a new woman! Gary closed his eyes and thought about the English women at the orphanage. One was crusty and he’d have to work hard to charm her, but the other had definitely had a spark in her eyes and they’d hit it off from the start. If he played his cards right...
Tamara looked at the man on the bed who was smiling to himself with his eyes closed. For her part she knew it wasn’t her place to ask for anything in return for satisfying him and she also knew that her face looked older than her 12 years. She’d aged since being taken away from the home and from knowing that she existed purely for the pleasure of sick older men. The few people that had cared thought her dead and this had been explained to her. Her face lacked hope and she knew that if she didn’t perform for her rich masters, they would make her life miserable. She tried to comfort herself by thinking she had more than some. They fed her well and her surroundings were comfortable. She also had the company of friends who were in the same situation and life could be fun when she wasn’t forced to go with these men. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself that things could be worse, her soul ached from the depravations placed upon it.
>
*****
Val and Marion were coming to the end of the fourth month of their second stint in Zambia. The orphanage had been completed during their first tour and Marion walked around a bend in the dirt road and the modest buildings of the orphanage came into view. The one-storey school building stood to the right and a larger two-storey where they lived and ate to the left. The communal rooms downstairs consisted of an eating area, a small medical room and separate washing and toilet areas for boys and girls. The Ministry of Community Development and their charity, People Against Poverty had recently completed the water project, which resulted in water being pumped into a well from a bore hole. The pump had the capacity to work to a depth of 85 metres and both the orphans and staff were grateful and felt lucky to be able to use a daily ration of 7.5 litres of this much sought after fluid. Basic sleeping accommodation was upstairs, again separated for boys and girls and each child had a space that contained their own small bed, meagre belongings and the luxury of a mosquito net. The orphanage accommodated 102 children aged between 9 and 13; 52 boys and 50 girls.
Marion frowned at the memory of the two girls who had died. She’d been given the news along with Val and the other two volunteers, and little other information. When she’d asked to see the bodies to say goodbye to the children her request had been refused and Marion was still upset by the deaths. Daniel, one of the newer members of staff, had been acting as Assistant Coordinator since Thomas had left to oversee the building of a new orphanage near Lusaka. Both Marion and Val had got along well with Thomas but not so his successor. They realised that his inexperience might make him defensive but couldn’t understand the cold and seemingly uncaring and matter of fact way in which he’d announced the deaths of the two girls. It had affected all the children and the other staff had upped their efforts to make the children feel safe. Marion and Val had noticed that the local staff behaved differently around Daniel and they’d already decided to speak to the charity about his appointment on their return to London. In the meantime they’d resigned themselves to the fact that they had to get on with him as best they could and try not to let his attitude interfere with running the orphanage and educating the children.
Along with the five children who she’d taken with her to collect water from the well, she turned to the sound of a vehicle approaching from behind and smiled falsely as the big white man driving the Land Rover lifted a hand from the steering wheel and waved. He was very good-looking and charismatic and Marion had no idea why, when she’d first met him, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her gut instinct told her not to trust the man. He’d evoked the opposite reaction in Val and they’d flirted openly on the three occasions they’d met. Marion knew that Gary’s firm supplied the building materials for the charity at reduced cost so she had to be polite, but that didn’t mean she had to like him. She had no idea why he needed to visit today so upped her pace towards the front door and two of the smaller children had to run to keep up with her.
*****
It was the evening before the wedding and Libby was feeling a little nervous. Her brother Carl had arrived to be a guest and witness and though he knew their mother would be upset that Libby had married without her present, he also knew that she’d be over the moon to see her daughter happy again, eventually. Carl had gone off with Jim and Tony, and Libby and Tony had decided that they wouldn’t see each other until the ceremony the following day.
‘What have you got planned for us this evening?’ Libby was curious as Fiona had said it would be a surprise. She’d already had a low-key hen night the previous week with Fiona and six of her other close friends and didn’t want a boozy night before her wedding the following day. When she’d said this to Fiona a few weeks previously, Fiona had told her not to worry and that she’d arrange something to keep the pre-wedding nerves at bay.
‘So come on then, what are we doing?’ Fiona hadn’t answered the question and Libby was very curious.
‘Actually, it’s a surprise. We leave in half an hour and there’s no need to dress up.’
‘What sort of surprise?’
‘You’ll find out when we get there.’
Claire and Ron had heard the entire conversation and both were as curious as Libby. They didn’t have long to wait.
The disused cinema in the town had been converted into a Bingo Hall but also doubled as a venue for presentations, shows and concerts. The taxi pulled up and Fiona and Libby got out, Libby still not knowing what Fiona had planned. Her friend dragged her quickly into the building’s foyer and Libby assumed they had come to see a local play. Not giving her an opportunity to stop and look around, Fiona pulled her arm and led her into the main room, after showing a woman on the entrance door their tickets. She walked towards the stage at the front of the room and ushered Libby into the second seat from the end. Libby decided to play the game, it was a little exciting not knowing what was going on, but only until the host walked onto the stage and made the announcement.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, her fame has spread throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, she’s brought comfort to countless people who’ve lost loved ones, and hope to many others,’ he paused. Fiona looked at Libby and didn’t see any recognition on her face. Good, she thought, she hasn’t clicked yet.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, Gretna is proud to welcome Delores Davies for a night with the dead.’
The audience rose to their feet and applauded as a pink-haired middle-aged woman dressed from head to toe in pink, walked onto the stage holding open her arms in invitation.
‘I’m out of here,’ Libby couldn’t believe that Fiona had brought her to this farcical show. Fiona held her arm in a vice-like grip and pulled her back into her seat. The rest of the audience had calmed down by this stage and Delores got straight into her work.
‘Is there someone here who’s lost a son called Davy or maybe David? He’s holding his neck in an unusual way. I get a feeling of a major impact, maybe a car accident?’
‘That’s my boy,’ shouted a woman from the audience.
‘Oh my God,’ said Libby before putting her head in her hands and shaking it. ‘I don’t bloody believe you’ve brought me here.’
‘It might actually change your views and teach you to be more open minded,’ Fiona replied, but as she watched Libby sit up straight and fold her arms she very much doubted her own words.
‘Was this your plan, to talk to her through this medium person?’ Ron asked Claire while looking around the hall. He could see that there weren’t any other departed souls present and wondered how the woman was receiving messages.
‘No. I was going to speak through Jim when Fiona and Libby were there but Tony wasn’t. Anyway, it looks like we’ve lucked out,’ she could see that Ron was baffled. ‘She’s obviously a fake, Ron and has planted people in the audience.’
It was obvious now that Claire had explained and they watched for a few minutes as Delores went to two other people in the audience. Claire was becoming increasingly annoyed at the pretender on the stage and tried her best to talk to the woman, but there was nothing there. Just as they decided it was time to leave the door opened and a man walked down the aisle toward the stage. Claire and Ron gasped. They’d never seen so many dead souls, all talking at the same time and plainly driving the man to distraction. Above the souls who were buzzing around the man in an attempt to get his attention, was a male angel. Claire’s jaw hung open at his stunning good looks, beautiful black skin and soulful dark eyes which looked as if they were deep in concentration dealing with the hellish souls that he didn’t want to get through to the genuine Medium. Some he pushed away and with others he had to work a little harder. They saw the teenage spirit who had tried causing trouble for their own families and the beautiful angel gave him what appeared to be a gentle shove. The teenager screamed and disappeared into the ether like a comet shooting through the night sky. The angel looked directly at Ron and Claire and winked. He appeared to up the ante when he realised
he had an audience. Typical man thought Claire but was mesmerized by his graceful movements. She thought he looked like a heavenly dark Jackie Chan as he fought off the evil spirits sometimes four or five at a time. There were a few seconds where the angel had the opportunity to take stock and he beckoned to Claire and Ron. They rushed to his side and he spoke.
‘Good evening. My name is Raphael and I work with Gabriella,’ he had a voice that Claire could listen to all day and made her want to eat chocolate. His looks matched his voice, dark and mysterious but not as dark as Gabriella. When he looked directly at her his eyes seemed to melt her soul and she felt as if she could stare into them for eternity. Ron broke the spell.
‘We’re pleased to meet you. How can we help?’
Claire shook herself and stopped daydreaming.
Raphael wondered why he couldn’t read Claire. He had important work to do and would have to think about that when time allowed. Rubbing his hands together he gave his instructions.
‘When I give the command, hold my hands and we’ll form a circle. Concentrate on everything good that happened when you were alive, the love you shared with others and good deeds that you did. If a bad thought tries to surface, push it away gently. Most of them can’t get through as long as we’re bathed in love,’ Raphael closed his eyes and continued. ‘If this works I’ll reward you with faster access to the Medium, Claire and you’ll be able to pass Ron’s message to his daughter,’ he held out his hands and they linked. Claire tingled with sensations she hadn’t felt since...
‘But can’t I talk to the Medium like the other spirits are doing?’ Ron took back a hand and pointed to the mass of souls chattering away to the poor man who was seemingly trying to block out all of the noise as he strode purposefully to the stage.
