Chapter Seven
Ollie regarded me with a look of utter amazement. “That… that was Mike?”
I nodded. Mike just grinned.
Ollie recovered quickly. “And is this something he does now? Go around bopping guys on the head with his dick?” His lips twitched. “You were a lucky boy, weren’t you? There was some weight to that thing.”
“Consider yourself ‘torpedoed’, I said, air-quoting. “And yes, before you ask, he gave his dick a name. As far as I know, you’re the only one to receive such treatment.”
“Should I be flattered?” Ollie’s eyes sparkled with good humour. Then he gave me a speculative glance. “Why has he come back? Did he say?”
“I think it was to help me move on. He felt I was still hanging onto our life.”
“Sounds like he was right, from what you’ve said.”
I had to admit, since I’d started to clear out his things, I felt different. As if a new door had opened for me. I said as much to Ollie.
“Yeah. I know how you feel.” He looked around almost cautiously. “Is he still here?”
I met Mike’s gaze. He smiled and did his usual slow fade. “Not anymore,” I assured him.
Ollie let out a shaky breath. “Wow.” He sagged against the back of the bench.
“How many times has he… visited you?” I gave him a rundown of Mike’s appearances.
Ollie chuckled when he heard about the guy on the tube.
His gaze became thoughtful. “Why choose now? Because it sounds like he’s been watching you for a while. ”
I’d been thinking about that. “I think because it’s Christmas. My guess is, he looked at me, remembered how I used to be, and wanted to do something.” I smiled. “When he was alive, we used to do lots of Christmassy stuff. Maybe he wanted to bring that magic back into my life.”
Ollie nodded slowly. Then he chuckled. “Look at me. I’m coolly sitting here, like someone tells me every day of the week that he’s been seeing a ghost.” He grinned. “Although it does explain that gasp you gave in the coffee shop. You couldn’t exactly tell me what had happened, could you?”
I snorted. “I can see the conversation now. ‘You just sit riiight there while I make a phone call.’ And then the men in white suits arrive, bringing the straitjacket.”
Ollie took another drink of his rum and coke. “Okay. You boxed up his things, and you did what he asked. You went to a coffee shop. Is that it, do you think? Is he done?”
I couldn’t answer. I had no idea.
“Well, one good thing came of this. Apart from you moving on, of course.” Ollie smiled. “You made a new friend.”
That much was true.
We sat in silence for a moment, drinking and listening to the conversations of those around us. What surprised me was that it was a comfortable silence. And in those moments, I came to a decision.
“Maybe it’s time I rediscovered the magic of Christmas.”
Ollie regarded me with interest. “Any idea how you’d like to start?”
I chuckled. “Not a clue.” Except that wasn’t quite true. I wanted to do something I’d never done with Mike. That felt like the right way to go. I didn’t want to relive the past. I wanted to start new traditions for the future.
“Are you any good on skates?”
I blinked. “Skates?”
Ollie nodded. “Ice-skating.”
I laughed. “Never been ice-skating in my life.” Then I realized where this was leading. “You think I should take it up?”
Ollie shrugged. “There are a couple of rinks around London this time of year. There’s one near the band stand at Hyde Park Corner.
I saw it the other week. It’s been open since November.
So I was thinking… why don’t we both go and give it a whirl?
” His eyes were bright. “Although I should add at this point, I’ve never skated either.
This would be new territory for both of us.
” He cocked his head to one side. “What do you think?”
I guess it was time to find out if I was serious about my idea concerning new traditions. “I think we’re going ice-skating,” I said, my heartbeat racing. What reassured me was that it was my decision. Mike had no part in it. This was the right way to go.
Ollie beamed. “Excellent. Do you want to save this for a weekend, or shall we go during the week?”
I considered the question. “Maybe we should save this for a Saturday. I might need the Sunday to recover.”
Ollie laughed. “Yeah, that might not be a bad idea. Especially if I prove to be crap at it, and spend more time on my arse than on my feet.” He took a drink of his rum and coke. “I don’t suppose…”
When nothing else was forthcoming, I peered at him. “You don’t suppose what?”
“Would you meet me for a coffee at that same coffee shop one night this week? If it’s on your way home or something. I wouldn’t want to put you out.”
Part of me was flattered. “Oh, I see.”
His eyes twinkled. “Only this time, without any ghostly companions.”
I liked the sound of that. “Why not? But as for Mike not being there, I’ve got no control over that part. I’ve asked him to stay away a couple of times. Fat lot of good that did.”
“Then it’s a yes?”
I smiled. “It’s a yes.” It was only then that I realized how little I knew about Ollie. “Tell me about yourself. I know about Jay, but that’s it.”
Ollie shrugged. “There’s not much to tell. I’m twenty-eight, and I work in an office, where I answer calls. It’s not an exciting job, but it pays the bills. I get to leave my work at the office door, and I don’t work weekends, which suits me fine.”
“And what do you do when you’re not in your office? Any hobbies?”
Ollie snorted. “None whatsoever. That was one of Jay’s pet peeves. He felt I should have something to do in my spare time that fulfilled me. Except his idea of a hobby was going to the gym.”
“Sounds like he and Mike would have got along.”
Ollie smiled. “Another man who liked to work out? I couldn’t think of anything worse. I do the same things everyone does—I watch films, I listen to music, I read, although not as much as I would like. Maybe Jay was right. Maybe I need to find a hobby.”
“Hey, reading is a hobby too, you know,” I pointed out.
“Yeah, but I’m talking about the kind of hobbies that I can put on my CV. You know, something to discuss at interview.”
“Are you thinking of changing jobs?”
Ollie chuckled. “It wasn’t on my list of things to do, but you never know what’s around the corner.” He finished his drink. “Can I buy you another?” His lips were twitching again.
“Only if you’re prepared to accept the consequences.”
He pretended to consider my words. “Okay, maybe not. I’m not a huge Tina Turner fan.” His eyes sparkled. “Now, if we’re talking Adele, that’s another matter.”
“Well, I do know all the words to Rolling in the Deep.” When he blinked, I laughed. “Trust me, I won’t. You like your eardrums just the way they are.” I drank what was left of my rum and coke. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“You’re welcome. It wasn’t exactly what I had planned, but I think it worked out better in the end. We got the chance to talk, and I got to experience a ghost ruffling my hair.” Ollie gazed at me inquiringly. “You’re sure he’s not here?”
I smiled. “Positive.” I got to my feet, and Ollie joined me. “Time to go, I think.” Ollie led me out of the corner, across the pub and out onto the street. The snow had turned to a dirty grey sludge, and even that would be gone by morning.
He pointed to the right. “I go this way.”
“And I go that way,” I said, pointing to the left. I extended my hand, but he ignored it, and gave me a brief hug. When he released me, he grinned.
“I think we’ve passed the handshaking stage,” he said gravely. “It seems a bit formal, considering how up close and personal I got with your former boyfriend.”
He had a point.
We said our goodbyes, after arranging to set up a day and time for the coffee shop, and then set off into different directions. As I headed for the Tube, I didn’t need to look to know that Mike was close by. There was that familiar tingle over my skin.
Well, that went better than I thought it would.
You were listening, weren’t you? I didn’t glance around to locate him.
Just to the end part. Although… If you think I’m going to stay away from the sight of you trying out ice skating for the first time, think again.
That was what I was afraid of. As long as you promise not to do anything to make me fall over. And while we are on the subject of promises… I don’t want to see you in the coffee shop this week when I meet up with Ollie. Okay?
Mike sighed. Okay. I guess I can promise you that much. I’ll stay away from the coffee shop.
I had to ask. You’re still here though. You’re not done yet?
Not yet. Then my skin stopped tingling, and I knew he’d gone. As I joined the throng of people heading down into the bowels of the Tube, I couldn’t help wondering what was left for him to do. Maybe I had it right all along. Maybe Mike had come back to help me rediscover the joy of Christmas.
Then I realized after tonight, he had seventeen days left to accomplish his task.
Seventeen days until Christmas Day.
Seventeen days for him to get up to a whole lot of new tricks.
This did not bode well.
I lay in bed, unable to sleep. I didn’t glance at the clock—I didn’t want to see what the time was. Then I realized the only way I’d get any rest, was to ask the question that had been on my mind all night.
Mike? Are you there?
Warmth settled over me. Right here.
I didn’t switch on the light. Can I ask you something?
Ask away.
What’s it like? I don’t mean the dying part. I didn’t want to hear that. Losing him had been bad enough. I didn’t want to experience that pain again. Where you are now… Are you happy then?
There was silence for a moment. I’m not supposed to talk about that.
The words came out of me in a rush. I don’t want descriptions or specifics. I don’t want to know what you do. I just want to make sure you’re happy.
When I felt his hand on my cheek, I sensed…
I don’t even know how to describe it. It was as if a gentle wave rolled over me, bringing with it a feeling of joy so exquisite that it brought tears to my eyes.
There was love too, a radiance that seemed to grow brighter and brighter, until it hurt my eyes.
So many emotions flooded through me, leaving me awed and humbled.
He’d answered my question without a single word.
Mike withdrew his hand, and I felt its absence instantly.
And when you’re done, you get to go back there? You’re not stuck here? I didn’t want that for him, not when he’d left such a wonderful place to set me back on the right path.
A gentle chuckle rolled out of him. No, sweetheart, I’m not stuck here. Now get some sleep.
I had one last question. You left all that… to come back and help me?
I had to. Because as beautiful as it is, knowing you weren’t happy was more than I could bear. I felt the soft press of his lips against my forehead. Go to sleep, sweetheart.
The warmth didn’t recede, and I sank into a velvety sleep.