Chapter 23
Setting up the finishing touches was hectic but everyone, at some point, pitched in to help with further decorating the house and embellishing the garden. I’d never seen so many pumpkins and weirdly shaped gourds! If there was a gap to fill, an orange orb or knobbly gourd filled it.
As well as Freddie’s playing, Luke had also downloaded a spooky sounds playlist to add an extra sensory element. While he decided what to use to set the scene, we carried on about our work, becoming increasingly familiar with the sound of creaking doors, manic laughter and raging thunderstorms.
‘Shut the door, will you, Skylar?’ Rafe said to me on Sunday morning. ‘If I hear that hysterical laugh once more, I’ll turn into a screaming banshee myself!’
Kate had asked Rafe to assist with decorating the dining room because she’d heard from Lisa that he had a flair for seasonal interior decoration, and when he’d shown Kate the camera roll on his phone, she knew he was just who was needed to get the tone just right.
‘You and me both,’ I grinned. ‘It’s a bit much, isn’t it?’
‘I’ll say. Now, show me what we’ve got and we’ll get started.’
Rafe was very organised and we began by draping the cotton cobwebs around the top of the room, including the elaborate light fitting above the table and worked our way down.
The cobwebs were banned from the garden because Freya had told us how many garden birds died after being caught up in them every year.
Unfortunately, they looked like the real thing to our feathered friends who flew into them looking for insects and became entangled.
‘There,’ Rafe said as he stood back to admire the dramatic effect of them festooned about. ‘Much better in here than out. And safer, too. What’s next?’
It took the two of us, with Luke and Kate popping in and out and bringing with them the spooky sounds every time the door was opened as well as drinks and snacks, until lunchtime, to complete the room.
‘It’s dark, macabre, pure Victorian gothic!’ Kate clapped. ‘And I love it.’
‘Me too,’ I agreed. ‘Sticking to a predominantly black colour palette and adding the odd pop of crimson is perfect.’
‘That was your dad’s idea,’ Kate said as she squeezed his arm. ‘It feels like it has a spooky Satis House vibe. I can just imagine a wailing Miss Havisham drifting through here bemoaning her jilted status. Thank you, Rafe. It’s amazing.’
‘It’s funny you should mention Dickens,’ Rafe beamed. ‘I can’t wait for the banquet. I’ve got my costume sorted already.’
‘You got a ticket?’ I gasped.
The event had sold out in minutes which had taken us all by surprise. I hadn’t known my father had been a part of the speedy booking frenzy.
‘I got two,’ he preened. ‘And I’m sorry Skylar, but the spare isn’t for you.’
I was about to say that Hugh was a lucky man, but didn’t because I wasn’t sure if anyone else, aside from Erik, knew he was seeing anyone.
‘I still can’t believe the tickets all sold at the price we set,’ Kate said in wonder.
‘They could have sold twice over,’ Luke said, walking back in just as she’d said it. ‘Oh my god, this looks phenomenal!’
‘And all for just one night,’ Kate said wistfully.
‘As it’s so stunning, I think we should have a party for the volunteers in here the night after,’ Luke suggested.
‘Oh yes,’ Kate said, ‘and then everyone can enjoy it.’
‘That’s a brilliant idea,’ I agreed. ‘And perhaps if this year is a success and you want to repeat it, you could have more than one banquet in the future.’
‘That’s a thought,’ Kate nodded. ‘Let’s gauge how this year goes. I think it’s going to be a hit, but with a whole year to plan rather than a few weeks, it could be even more spooktacular in years to come.’
‘If you say that word one more time!’ Luke groaned, then tickled her and chased her out of the room.
‘Oh, to be young and in love,’ Rafe laughed.
‘Or old and in love,’ I nudged him.
‘I think the word you’re looking for is mature,’ he sniffed and headed off towards the kitchen and lunch.
In the afternoon, everyone who could stay was given tasks to complete in the garden while the room volunteers had their dress rehearsal indoors.
I hadn’t really noticed before as I’d either been planning or helping in the house, but I could see now how much the garden had changed.
Autumn was really making its presence felt.
It was a chilly, but thankfully dry day, and the forecast for the whole week was looking favourable, and with the smell of a bonfire which Graham was tending drifting over from the Grow-Well, the atmosphere couldn’t have been better.
The leaves on the trees had reached peak colour and the borders Freya tended with such care were vibrant, too.
With the protection of the old mellow brick walls, and still no threat of frost, the chrysanthemums and dahlias were putting on a spectacular display.
It all looked and felt like the perfect autumn tableau, even with the strategically placed pretend gravestones and scary sculptures dotted about.
‘Are you going to help or just stand there admiring the view?’ Erik called and I realised I must have been gazing at it for a while, because I’d started to get properly cold.
‘That rather depends on what you want me to do,’ I said and walked over to where he was threading a cable through a wooden box.
‘I’m only teasing,’ he said. ‘You’ve done more than your share. What were you looking at over there?’
‘Everything.’ I sighed dreamily. ‘Isn’t this the most perfect autumn day?’
‘It is,’ Erik agreed as he stood up and brushed his hands down his jeans. He was filthy again, but the look suited him. ‘It’s the perfect lead in for embracing what autumn offers us the chance to do, isn’t it?’
‘Which is?’
‘Think about the balance in our lives,’ he said. ‘Slow down and accept that change can be beautiful and for the best, even when it’s hard and unexpected…’ He smiled and ducked his head. ‘Do you think I’m mad?’ he asked.
I’d never seen him look or sound more endearing. In that moment, I was transfixed by him rather than the garden.
‘Not at all,’ I said truthfully. ‘You’ve just made me realise again that I couldn’t have moved to Nightingale Square at a better time. Thank you.’
‘Don’t thank me, because I can’t take the credit for being so enlightened,’ he said referring to his words of wisdom. ‘Thank Kate. She sent me a link to this brilliant wellbeing podcast. The guest on it last week was a witch from Wynbridge.’
‘A witch?’
‘Yes,’ he smiled at my reaction. ‘Someone Kate knows a little. She’s called Molly and she lives in a cottage in some woods belonging to a grand hall.’
‘Well, I never,’ I said in amazement. ‘A real, live witch. Wynbridge was Kate’s childhood hometown, wasn’t it?
’ She’d mentioned it when we were talking about the autumn festival there.
‘The home of that festival celebrating fall.’ As my father would say, though my attempt at his accent wasn’t great.
‘That’s it.’ Erik grinned.
I still hadn’t forgotten about the dogs in Halloween themed fancy dress. May’s Monty with his packed wardrobe would have fitted right in in the Fens!
‘I’d love to visit one day,’ I said.
‘The town, the festival or the witch?’ Erik asked.
‘All three!’ I laughed.
‘Hey you two!’ Luke waved at us from across the lawn. ‘Time for a breather. We’ve got cake!’
‘Just what I need,’ I said and rubbed my hands, which were feeling the cold, together.
‘I’m not surprised,’ Luke teased. ‘You’ve been hard at it since you got out here.’
I went to shove him, but then remembered there was no point, because he was built like a brick wall. I stuck my tongue out instead and he laughed and followed me back inside.
I was awake early Monday morning, which was launch day, and feeling a heady mix of excitement, anticipation and trepidation.
It was a cocktail of feelings I’d experienced a lot in my early days as the Highfell event planner, but I hadn’t succumbed to them for years as I knew my job inside out and was always confident the results would be just what the clients had ordered.
This week-long program of events however, that were being put on to support a project that was dear to so many members of the local community, felt deeply personal, and I knew how important it was that it went smoothly, and of course, raised as much money as possible to keep The Chapel open during its funding gap.
I resisted the urge to cross the road early.
I might have been an integral cog in the planning wheel, but I knew Kate and Luke had everything in hand and would shout if they needed me.
I bided my time, kept an eye on the growing queue outside the gate as the clock ticked down, and then went to wait in line to experience the spooktacular – as Kate had become obsessed with calling it – first-hand.
‘Hey Skylar,’ waved Mark as he left the grounds and walked back along the pavement carrying some empty lidded containers. ‘What are you doing out here?’
‘I thought I’d go in with the first wave of visitors to get the full experience,’ I told him. ‘How’s it going in there?’
‘I only went as far as the kitchen, but all very calm. Blossom asked me to drop off some extra cookies and skull and pumpkin chocolate lollies.’
The profits from the confectionery would be Blossom’s generous contribution to the fundraising pot and her sweet treats were on sale along with trick or treat tin buckets and a range of sustainable craft kits I’d found online.
We’d practically eliminated anything plastic, which made me feel better about what some of the decorations were made of, but I had sourced many of those second-hand.
‘Is Freddie warming up?’ I asked.
‘He is,’ Mark laughed. ‘And you wait until you see him, he’s—’
‘Don’t tell me. I want it to be a surprise.’
‘Shock more like!’
Right on cue, the speakers crackled into life, the dramatic opening bars of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ rang out, and the line shuffled forward in anticipation. There were as many adults as children and it didn’t matter that it was a light mid-morning, everyone was ready for a good scare.
‘Showtime!’ laughed Mark. ‘Have fun.’
The tour had been set up to take in the house first, then the garden and then back into the spacious hall to tempt the visitors to buy something.
Luke had cleverly arranged the path, so it was impossible to leave without walking by what was on offer.
Kate was worried that was a bit of a cheek considering the ticket prices, but he reminded her that it was standard practice in commercial venues and she acquiesced when she remembered how much they’d ended up spending in a local Sealife centre that summer.
By the time the stream of visitors had moved far enough into the house for me to spot Freddie, he’d moved on from ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and was playing The Addams Family theme tune.
Dressed as a vampire, he gave me a wink and I laughed, feeling delighted that he’d made such an effort.
The sound of a creaking door led me into the first room and the tour began…
‘So,’ Kate said, when a couple of hours later, I joined her in the kitchen to help restock what was selling fastest, ‘what did you think?’
‘No tantrums yet,’ announced Luke who rushed into the room to grab some more tin buckets, ‘but we’ve had tears and terror!’
‘Brilliant!’ Kate called after him.
‘It was really weird,’ I told her, once he’d gone, ‘because having had a hand in setting it all up, I didn’t think I’d get so caught up in it, but with the lights dimmed and the music and sounds playing, not to mention the volunteers drifting eerily about, it all felt completely plausible.
I loved it! I even got jump scared a couple of times and not from the paintings. ’
‘I’m so excited!’ Kate squealed. ‘Everyone’s reaction has been amazing. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like in the dark with May hamming it up?’
‘Spooktacular!’ I laughed.
‘Don’t,’ she grinned. ‘Luke’s banned me from saying that now.’
Once the last lingering day visitors had left we were able to switch things about in plenty of time for May’s arrival, and after a speedy bite to eat with the family and volunteers who were staying, the night tour began.
Lots of the guests were in costume, which was fun, but the laughs and smiles happily didn’t last.
Dressed, spookily enough given the Dickensian feel in the dining room, as the time-ravaged Miss Havisham, May drifted through the rooms ahead of us telling the tale she, Rafe and Luke had cooked up.
I can’t deny, I looked over my shoulder more than once, and when she reached the part about the family member who hung themselves, I felt a genuine chill course through me.
The sensation increased tenfold when May drew back the curtain in the upstairs room to show us the tree, lit from below and with more than a hint of fog shrouding the lower part of the trunk.
Something or someone brushed my arm and I barely contained a shriek. After that, I made sure I was in the middle of the crowd as we completed the tour. Mission very definitely accomplished!