by KT King
Robert thought for a moment; he could feel himself regaining strength and momentum. “How odd!” he admitted. “You’re right. I felt as if I had a lead weight inside me, a voice in my head was saying: Don’t fight for what you believe in, it’s not worth it. My mind kept saying: No one wants you to keep Little Eden, no one values it. That’s so strange! Now, I’m thinking I can’t believe I ever had those thoughts! Everyone who lives here values it - to them it’s priceless. How could I have even contemplated giving up so easily?”
“We were under attack from the dark forces,” Sophie said angrily. “They were playing on our fears. My fear is about my health and future. Yours is about whether to fight against your family and stand up for what you believe in! We talk nonsense when we are under attack.” Sophie looked around the roof. “Likely it was Jennifer or your brother.”
“My mother or Collins? How could they do that to us? They are not psychic!” Robert said.
“Well, I don’t mean your mother has a cauldron in the attic or that Collins is messing about with his magic wand! Being psychic has nothing to do with it. Most people don’t understand how powerful their thoughts can be over the airwaves. And when they are supercharged by dark forces, they become really powerful. They can make you physically ill sometimes.”
“Like astral bullying?” Robert asked.
“Yes, exactly,” Sophie agreed. “People often feel a wave of love from another person who can be miles away. It’s just as easy to feel hate, fear or anger coming your way too.”
“But how did they get into our heads so easily?” Robert asked her.
“We doubt ourselves too much - it makes us vulnerable!” Sophie replied. “I think we are going to have to be vigilant from now on. Alice, Elijah, Tambo and Blue could be very vulnerable too, as guardians of the portal.”
“Let’s get you back home,” Robert suggested, as it began to snow again. He was not sure whether to believe Sophie or not, but astral bullying did sound plausible to him, and would explain a few things!
As Robert walked Sophie back to the Café, she asked him how his past life regression session had gone with Silvi Swan. “I don’t know yet,” Robert said. “I felt nothing and I’ve noticed no great change since this morning. It was like being asleep but not asleep. Like dreaming but not dreaming. I can’t describe it really. I knew I was back in time and yet I knew I was in the here and now in Silvi’s therapy room.” Robert thought for a moment and tried to recall the session. “I felt heavy and relaxed, and it was a bit hard to talk at first. Silvi asked me to describe what I was seeing, but the pictures and feelings were vague.”
“Who were you in that lifetime?” Sophie asked.
“I thought you would have known already,” Robert smiled. “I was Bobby of course!”
Sophie smiled. “Jack will be jealous of all your women!” She paused and added, “But, maybe not so jealous of the syphilis!”
“Don’t tell anyone else, will you?” Robert asked her. “It’s a bit embarrassing really.”
“About you being Bobby or about the syphilis?” Sophie laughed. “How did you feel, as Bobby?”
“As Bobby, I felt ever so guilty about deporting Melanie, but now I know she was a murderess after all.”
“She really did kill someone then?”
Robert nodded. “Lancelot did the research and has found that she murdered three men and they are in the lake apparently. As Bobby, I wanted to protect her, but I just couldn’t bring myself to let her off either. I mean it wouldn’t have been right for her not to be punished at all, would it? One murder could be considered an accident but three - well, that’s serial killer territory. Although I feel that as her husband in that lifetime, I should have taken better care of her.”
“Well, I would say that it sounds like the karma is certainly repeating its emotional pattern yet again!” Sophie nodded. “No wonder the dark forces can take such advantage of Jennifer and you! You feel responsible for your mother, not just in this life time, but from when you were Bobby too! You have to learn to stop feeling responsible for her. If you don’t, you will reincarnate over and over with the feeling that you have to look after her. You and your mother will be in a never-ending cycle of negative reincarnation.”
Robert grimaced. “Oh! Good god! I hope all those other women I was buried with don’t show up wanting revenge on me too!”
Sophie laughed. “Your old harem might come back to haunt you still! Who you hurt or who you love in one lifetime may well show up in another!”
~ * ~
When Robert got back to Bartlett Crescent, Shilty Cunningham was waiting for him. She was lying strategically on his bed, wearing lace underwear that was obviously a little too small for her, so that little was left to the imagination.
She seduced him.
And, dear readers, it did not take much effort I can tell you! First, she used her voluptuous and luscious body, and then, when he was relaxed and sleepy, she followed up with her sharp and brilliant mind. Oh! And, a little witchcraft, just for good measure!
“I know it’s a shame your friends and the residents will lose their homes, but you would be doing them a favour really,” Shilty began to say, “You know what some people are like! They get far too comfortable, and then they miss out on the life they could have had because they are too scared to do anything differently. A fresh start. That’s what they all need! When you think about it - you would be giving them their freedom. I always try to see change as an opportunity to do something even better than before.”
Robert didn’t reply.
“If you didn’t have to look after Little Eden you could look after yourself more. You deserve to be happy too.” She looked into his eyes and smiled. “We could get married and have the family you always wanted!”
Robert lifted Shilty off him and sat on the side of the bed. He put his head in his hands. Shilty massaged his shoulders, and kissing his neck continued to say, “Why don’t we make a clean break of things?” She wrapped her arms around him from behind and whispered in his ear, “Let’s go live in the South of France, just as you always dreamed of?”
Robert was about to get up when she pulled him gently back down and kissed him. “We could be happy Robert, away from all this. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything; no more meetings and legal headaches. No more people who haven’t paid their rent. No more trying to raise money for this and that.”
“It all sounds idyllic,” Robert admitted, as he let her wrap herself around him again. “You’re right!” he said, “I’m not bloody Jesus Christ!”
“Exactly! Just sell Little Eden and be done with it,” Shilty whispered as she caressed him.
He kissed her warm soft lips, as if to take strength from them. Robert sighed again saying, “Stella said I should think about the legacy I would leave behind. I want my grandchildren to know I was a good man. I don’t want them to think I was driven by greed.”
“You are a good man Robert!” Shilty reassured him. “The best man I have ever met. It’s not greed on your part. It’s the residents who are being greedy - always taking from you!”
Shilty kissed him again and smiled. “I’m on your side, Robert. I just want you to be happy. Let’s start a new chapter, just you and me, and leave the past and Little Eden behind us.”
Robert fell asleep under Shilty’s spell and she lay back on the pillows and smiled to herself in triumph.
~ * ~
The next morning Collins and Varsity were arguing in the kitchen at Bartlett Crescent.
“Damn it Varsity, I’ve told you before! I don’t have any money left this month!” Collins exclaimed.
“But why can’t we just put it on credit cards?” Varsity queried, sipping her wheatgrass shake.
“Because, old girl, we have nearly two million pounds on credit cards already and god knows how much in loans, and my brother is too tight to bail
us out!”
“Don’t blame Robert!” Varsity said. “It was you who promised me I could have anything I wanted if I married you. Well, I want this!”
“Yes, well!” Collins replied, trying to pour whisky from an empty hip flask into his coffee. “I may have oversold myself to you, old girl. You’re the only woman I know who takes things so bloody literally!”
“If you can’t afford me just say so!” Varsity complained. “You are always saying I buy too many handbags and shoes, but I only bought four pairs at the fashion show. Your mother bought ten last week in that new shop on The Old Kent Road.”
She started the blender again. Collins had to shout to make himself heard. “But why do you have to buy them straight off the bloody catwalk? Can’t you at least buy them in a shop? That last pair was twenty thousand pounds!” The blender stopped but Collins was still shouting - the last few words came out at top volume - “What were they made of? Solid f**king gold?”
“I’ll go right now if I’m so much trouble to you!” Varsity pouted.
“Now look here, old girl,” Collins told her. “You know I don’t want you to go anywhere! Just wait a few months and we’ll have more money than you have ever dreamt of, and you really can buy anything you want, literally! Soon! Just not right now!”
“If the money is coming soon, then what’s the harm in spending it in advance?” Varsity argued.
“Come on, old girl!” Collins said, smiling. “Don’t pout! You know I can’t resist your pout!” He came and put his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. “You love me, don’t you?” He lifted her onto the worktop and opened her dressing gown.
“You promised me you would take care of me, remember?” Varsity giggled.
“And I will!” Collins replied, as he looked up at her. “I always take very good care of you, don’t I?”
They suddenly pulled apart from each other as Shilty came into the kitchen wearing one of Robert’s shirts like a badge of honour.
Robert was doing laps in the pool on the roof, which was gloriously warm in contrast to the freezing snow surrounding it, and he was blissfully unaware of the machinations going on downstairs behind his back!
Collins smiled at Shilty and went to sit in the orangery, hiding himself behind the morning newspaper, with a cup of coffee.
Varsity beckoned to Shilty to join her. “I don’t know about you,” she said, “But, I don’t want them to sell all of Little Eden, do you? I always dreamed of my son inheriting this place. I presume you did too?”
Shilty looked at her in amusement. “I’m not the maternal type,” she replied.
“Oh, neither am I,” Varsity agreed. “But nannies and boarding schools are a godsend when it comes to children. I have already put our name down for Gordonstoun.”
“Are you pregnant?” Shilty whispered.
Varsity nodded and smiled. “I haven’t told anyone else yet. I did so want my boy to be a Bartlett-Hart like Collins. But without Little Eden, who are the Bartlett-Harts?”
“This place is a noose around their necks,” Shilty replied. “I wouldn’t wish the running of this place on my worst enemy. It’s a money pit! You know that Robert has no money of his own? He doesn’t even take his full allowance. He uses most of it to help the charities. He’s a fool when it comes to a good sob story.”
“That’s what I mean! Exactly!” Varsity replied. “I thought, if Robert could keep the charities then maybe he would agree to sell the rest.”
“Maybe? That’s not a bad idea!” Shilty said thoughtfully. “Robert might consider that as a compromise and be more likely to sell quickly.”
“But Collins said his mother would never go for it. It’s all got to be sold,” Varsity frowned.
Shilty smiled. “Leave it to me. There may be something that can be done!”
Varsity went to get a shower, feeling confident that she might be able to make both Collins and Robert happy after all, whilst still getting the money she needed.
Collins came into the kitchen area to refill his coffee, and brushing up against Shilty from behind, he let the fingers on one hand stray of their own accord, whilst he filled his cup with the other. Shilty managed to move away from him just in the nick of time as Robert came through the door, looking serious.
Shilty kissed him and whispered, in his ear, “Coffee? Robbie, darling!”
But Robert was in no mood this morning for any kind of shenanigans.
“I have a busy day!” he told her and gave Collins a black look.
“But, last night!” Shilty reminded him. “And this morning! I thought we were...”
“What?” Robert snapped at her.
“Do you want me to go back to Clive instead?” she asked him with a sullen look.
Robert shrugged. “Do what you want Shilty - you usually do. I have bigger things on my mind right now.” Robert was surprised at his sudden change of heart regarding Shilty and Little Eden. During his swim he had felt something switch in his brain (just as he had on the Tower with Sophie). He now felt much more confident about wanting to keep Little Eden.
He had not yet, dear readers, equated his sudden subconscious switching to and fro with spells, psychic attacks and also with the past life regression he had had the day before, which was starting to work its magic!
“See you later?” Shilty called to him, as he absent-mindedly left for the office.
Shilty turned around and grinned at Collins, who had gone back to pretending to read his paper. “You see!” she said, sidling up to him and leaning against the table. “I am trying to get Robbie to do what we want, just as I said I would!”
Collins smiled and put down his paper. He began slowly unbuttoning her shirt. Kissing her, he said, “Let’s see if there is something I can do that will make you try even harder shall we!”
Chapter 16
~ * ~
Sophie had been asleep pretty much for the whole of the next day, when she was violently awoken by shouting and screaming echoing through the square. She jumped up and looked out of the window but could see no one on the roof. So, she pulled on some clothes and headed downstairs. When she reached the Café it was empty and quiet - the last customers and staff having gone home for the evening.
Suddenly, Tosha came running inside to a backdrop of raised voices and some general yelling. Johnathon Grail followed her a few seconds later, holding a shaking Minnie against his shoulder, and they were followed in by a tearful Linnet. Miss Adela Huggins brought up the rear, on Jack’s arm, looking harried and flustered.
“Fetch some water!” Johnathon told Tosha. “And, put some of that flower essence stuff in it you all take around here. Minnie’s in shock!”
“I’m absolutely fine,” Minnie said, rubbing her bruised elbow and knee. “Luckily, I fell into a pile of snow, which stopped me banging my head too hard against the wall.” She laughed - somewhat half-heartedly.
“What on earth happened?” Sophie asked. “What’s wrong with everyone these last few days? All this falling over! Was it an accident? Did you slip on the ice?”
Minnie shook her head and looked over at a crying Linnet.
“Make some strong English Breakfast tea would you, Tosha?” Sophie suggested. “With plenty of sugar!”
“I was on my way home,” Tosha told her, as she went behind the counter to make the tea. “I not get further than the corner when I see Minnie grappling with a huge man!”
“Grappling?” Sophie asked, intrigued.
“She was attempting a citizen’s arrest!” Adela explained proudly. She was in awe of her new friend.
“Please someone, tell me what is going on!” Sophie asked again.
Johnathon took out his phone and started making notes. “Yes. Tell us exactly what happened, and I’ll call the police if necessary.”
“Adela and I were just one our way back from the
gym,” Minnie began to say. “Linnet was in her shop as usual and as I - we - came down Rose Walk...”
…“There was a man looking through Linnet’s shop window!” Adela interrupted.
“Yes!” Minnie nodded. “The man was standing, looking through Linnet’s window, and I recognised him, so I yelled for him to stay put…”
…Adela enthusiastically interrupted again; “She shouted, ‘Oy! You! Stay where you are! citizen’s arrest!”
“He started to run - so I jumped on him!” Minnie explained (as if that was what everyone did in those circumstances). “And I almost had him too!” She frowned. “But I slipped on some ice and lost my grip. Next thing I knew, he was gone, and I was on my back in a pile of snow!”
“I heard the screams but by the time I got out onto Rose Walk he’d gone,” Jack said. “I ran down the passageway, but Castle Street was so crowded I couldn’t have made him out, even if I knew what he looked like!”
“She was so brave!” Adela added, gladly taking the cup of tea that Tosha offered her. “What’s that saying: Judge me by my size, do you? You should not. For someone so petite Minnie, I wouldn’t want to mess with you!”
“Why would someone looking through shop window make you jump on them?” Tosha asked Minnie, handing her a jar of cookies. “Window shopping is normal. Linnet’s windows are famous. People come to look in window all the time!”
“He wasn’t window shopping!” Minnie responded, reaching out to hold Linnet’s hand, who was still in tears. “The man was Marcus Finch!”
Everyone looked at each other in concern. Adela and Tosha just looked puzzled.
“Who’s Marcus Finch?” Tosha asked.
“He’s Linnet’s ex-husband,” Sophie said in hushed tones (as if Minnie and Linnet were not supposed to hear, but of course they could). “He’s supposed to be behind bars. He was put away seven years ago for nearly killing Linnet!”
