Chapter 28
The interview on Morning Talk had gone brilliantly, and Melissa had returned home beaming from ear to ear and feeling much more positive.
‘Susie was so lovely,’ she told me. ‘Nothing like Harriet, that’s for sure. And everyone was so kind to me.’
‘I know, Mel,’ I said affectionately. ‘I watched it and you came across really well. You’re an absolute natural onscreen. So chatty and – well – normal.’
It was odd, because I’d have expected her to be putting on some sort of act, but in fact she’d just been her old self; the old Melissa who used to laugh – not so much with me, but certainly with Mum.
I remembered how they’d sit together, drinking coffee (because it was way before Mel ever thought about things that could potentially ‘block her channels’) and talking together like old friends.
It made me realise how much my sister had lost when Mum died.
Had throwing herself into a new career and spending so much money been a way of distracting herself from her grief?
I should have considered that before, but somehow, I never had.
Then again, she’d never seemed to show me much consideration either.
We hadn’t been the best of sisters. Maybe it was time to try to put that right somehow.
The day after the interview I was just heading indoors after taking Honey for a walk when my phone rang. My pulse raced when I saw Mia’s name on the screen.
‘Hello?’ I hoped my voice didn’t sound too eager. I’d barely let the phone ring twice before I’d answered it. Were we finally going to meet up for that coffee? I’d almost given up hope.
‘Verity? Hi. How are you?’
I closed my eyes at the sound of her voice. I hadn’t realised until that moment how much I’d missed it. How much I’d missed her.
‘I’m fine, thanks. How are you?’
‘I’m okay thanks. Look, I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch with you. I really did want to go for a coffee with you, but I’ve been unexpectedly busy. We’ve got a bit of a situation here in Rowan Vale.’
I slid the patio door shut behind me and unclipped Honey’s lead, letting her trot out of the living room and into the snug, where she’d no doubt curl up on her bed.
‘What sort of situation?’ I asked worriedly.
‘It’s, er, a bit complicated.’ She hesitated. ‘You know that night in the woods when you – well – did whatever it was you were doing.’
The ceremony… I still shivered when I thought about it. I couldn’t work out what had possessed me to do such a thing.
‘Yes,’ I said slowly. ‘What about it?’
‘We think – that is, we can only imagine…’ There was a sigh and then she burst out, ‘We think you summoned two new ghosts to the village.’
I dropped into an armchair, half laughing in my confusion. ‘I’m sorry?’
Melissa walked into the room, carrying a book in her hands. ‘Do you mind if I borrow this? I– Oh, sorry!’
She looked as if she were about to leave the room, but she must have seen the look of shock on my face because she mouthed, ‘What is it?’
I shook my head as Mia explained. ‘The day after you performed the ceremony, two new spirits arrived on the estate. They’d been brought back from somewhere that they can’t remember. It’s certain that they weren’t ghosts here before you did what you did.’
‘That’s impossible,’ I said desperately. ‘I wouldn’t have the first idea how to bring people back from beyond the veil.’
The book tumbled from Melissa’s hand to the floor as she stared at me in shock. ‘What did you say?’
‘I kind of guessed you’d say that,’ Mia admitted, ‘but we can’t think of any other explanation.
One of the ghosts is Lawrie’s mum, and since the teacup once belonged to her, we’re wondering if that was the link that brought her through.
We haven’t checked with the possible owner of the brooch yet, but we think it’s likely that she arrived here the same way.
The problem is, they’re causing a lot of problems. Well, one of them is.
And she’s not like the other ghosts. She can touch things – move them even.
We need you to come here and send her back to wherever she came from. ’
‘What does she want?’ Melissa demanded. ‘And why is she asking you, not me?’
‘Is that Melissa?’ Mia asked. ‘I’m sorry, Verity. I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d realised she was in the room. I gather you haven’t told her what happened?’
‘No,’ I murmured. ‘I haven’t.’
‘Maybe,’ she suggested kindly, ‘it’s time you did. We really need your help. Things are getting a bit worrying around here and we don’t know what to do about it, so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.’
‘I don’t have any suggestions,’ I said, panic flooding my body as the implications of her phone call sank in at last. ‘This has never happened before. I don’t even see how it’s possible.’
I gasped as Melissa snatched the phone from my hand.
‘It’s Madam Mariska here,’ she said crossly. ‘If you’re trying to book another séance or something then you can speak to me directly. No need to go through Verity.’
I watched warily as my sister frowned. Clearly Mia was telling her something, but what?
‘How can it be private business when it’s about ghosts returning from beyond the veil…?’ Her eyes narrowed suddenly as she turned back to me. ‘Verity, what’s this about?’
I took the phone from her and said to Mia, ‘I’ll call you back.’
Tucking the phone down the side of the chair I faced Melissa, who was somehow managing to look completely baffled while at the same time extremely annoyed.
‘I have something to tell you,’ I said, feeling sick with anxiety at the thought. ‘You’re going to be angry about it, but even so, you need to know.’
Melissa sat down and folded her arms. ‘Go on.’
Oh, where should I start?
‘Remember that night – Halloween – when we had the row at Stable Cottage? Well…’
Melissa sat quite still as she listened to my tale of woe. I left nothing out, even explaining how I’d felt afterwards as I’d walked back along the Pumpkin Path, when both Honey and I had been certain we weren’t alone.
‘So, you think that’s why you fainted?’ she asked, when I’d finally finished telling her. ‘You had some sort of psychic episode and it drained you?’
‘I have no idea,’ I told her.
‘Well, I think I do. What you did that night, Verity, it’s on another level.
Contacting spirits who are already earthbound is one thing.
Bringing them back from the Great Beyond is something else entirely.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone who’s able to do that, whatever some people might say. ’
‘But I never meant to do that!’ I protested. ‘I thought maybe I’d get in touch with someone from The Monastery at best. But then Verity told me about the teacup belonging to Lawrie Davenport’s mother and that she’s one of the ghosts who’ve returned, so somehow, I think I’ve done something awful.’
Melissa seemed lost for words. She sat chewing her lip, deep in thought, as I sat trembling in the armchair, wondering what the hell I’d done.
‘And they still don’t know who this shopkeeper was?’ she asked at last.
I shook my head.
‘It seems to me,’ she said thoughtfully, ‘that he’s played a huge part in all this. He manoeuvred you into taking that brooch and cup and he must have had a reason for doing so. He wanted you to bring those ghosts back and somehow the two objects pulled you in and made you do just that. But why?’
‘Is why the main concern?’ I asked. ‘I’m more worried about how he did it. And how the heck I can reverse the damage.’
‘The why’s important, too,’ she assured me. ‘Why those two objects? Why those two ghosts? Why you? How did he even know you had that kind of ability?’
I shook my head helplessly. ‘I don’t know. I didn’t even know I had it.’
‘Maybe you had a helping hand from someone. I’d love to know who this mysterious shopkeeper is and why he wanted those ghosts back in particular.’
‘What am I going to do, Mel?’ I murmured. ‘Mia says one of them – Sir Lawrie Davenport’s mother – is causing a lot of trouble. She can touch things! Have you ever heard of that?’
Mel’s eyes widened. ‘No! Ghosts don’t do that! It’s impossible!’ She frowned suddenly. ‘But then again, I’ve only ever encountered earthbound ghosts. This is a very different kettle of fish.’
‘Mia thinks I can put it all right,’ I said tearfully, ‘but I haven’t a clue where to start. Will you – will you help me?’
She laughed. ‘I haven’t got a clue where to start either!’ As I crumpled in dismay, she hurried over and wrapped her arms around me. ‘But I’ll go back to Rowan Vale with you, and maybe between the two of us we can figure it out. Okay?’
I blinked back tears. ‘Seriously?’
‘Of course. You’re my little sister, when all’s said and done, though I must admit I’ve not been a very good sister for a long, long time.’
She pulled me to my feet. ‘We’d better get packing,’ she said. ‘Back to Rowan Vale it is.’
I squeezed her hand gratefully. Maybe with ‘Madam Mariska’ by my side I could figure this out and put right the terrible damage I’d caused.
And if I couldn’t?
I didn’t even want to imagine what might happen if we failed.