Echoes of Grace

by Caragh Bell

  ‘Of course, of course. Where are you exactly?’

  ‘By a bus stop? There’s a Starbucks across the road.’ She sniffed. ‘I’m so sorry to disturb you . . .’

  ‘Stay right where you are. I’m coming.’

  She handed the phone back to the girl. ‘Thank you.’

  The girl nodded and walked back to her friends. Aurora wrapped her arms around her waist and melted into the darkness.

  Please hurry, James. Please.

  James’ Golf screeched to a halt and he jumped out of the car. Aurora emerged into the light, her head hanging and her arms firmly crossed to conceal her ripped dress. He was by her side in a flash.

  ‘What on earth happened you?’ he asked, pulling her close. ‘You nearly gave me a heart attack. Were you robbed?’

  ‘Not exactly,’ she mumbled into his shoulder. ‘Thank God you’re here.’

  He stepped backwards and looked at her properly. ‘Where’s your coat? We need to cancel your bank cards right away. I presume that they were in your purse.’

  ‘No, it’s okay,’ she said in a small voice. ‘My purse wasn’t stolen.’

  ‘Then where is it?’

  ‘I left it at Justin’s place. My phone is there too.’ She didn’t dare look at him.

  ‘Borealis?’ He shook her gently. ‘Why are you out here without your things? Did something happen?’ He pulled her arms down and then stared in horror at her dress. ‘What the fuck happened?’ he said slowly, fingering the torn material. ‘Aurora?’

  She started to sob. ‘Please don’t be angry. I should never have gone back to his place. I didn’t realise.’

  ‘What happened?’ he said in a dangerously low voice.

  ‘Justin invited me back after the party. He was drunk and high and then he kissed me.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘But he was rough and I asked him to stop and then he did this.’ She gestured to her dress. ‘I was so frightened, James. It seemed like ages before he listened.’

  ‘And then?’ He was rigid with rage.

  ‘I bolted.’ She looked him in the eye. ‘I ran out of there as fast as I could.’

  He was holding her arms so tightly she winced. Judging by his face, he was absolutely furious. Was he angry with her for going back to Justin’s flat? She couldn’t tell. Maybe she deserved it all. Maybe Justin was right: maybe she had asked for it.

  ‘Where does Debussy live?’ he asked, leading her to his car. ‘Is it nearby?’

  She pointed down the street. ‘In that building down there. Why?’

  ‘We should get your things.’ He slammed the passenger door shut.

  ‘No!’ she said in panic. ‘There’s no way I’m going back there. I’ll just text him in a few days to leave them at the theatre.’

  ‘That building, you say?’ he said, ignoring her. ‘Right, let’s go.’

  The engine roared to life and they took off down the now deserted street.

  Aurora shivered. Why did she say anything? She didn’t want to go back there nor did she want to see Justin again. The car pulled up outside the building.

  ‘Please, James. Please keep driving.’

  ‘Let’s go,’ he ordered grimly. ‘Can you remember which apartment it is?’

  ‘You’ll never get in the main door,’ she protested. ‘He won’t buzz us in. Not now.’

  He got out and approached the building. She followed fearfully.

  Sure enough, you needed a code to get in. He banged his fist on the wall. ‘Call him,’ he said, pointing to the buzzer. ‘Tell him you want your stuff. Call him, Aurora.’

  Just as she was reaching up to press the button, the door opened and two men walked out. James took advantage of the open door and barged through. Aurora followed meekly.

  ‘First floor,’ she said as he called the elevator. ‘Flat 1D.’

  Minutes later, they paused outside the door.

  ‘James, please,’ she pleaded for the last time. ‘We should go.’

  A muscle flickered in his cheek and he rapped loudly on the wooden panel.

  ‘Debussy?’ he yelled. ‘Open up!’

  ‘Stop!’ she whispered urgently. ‘He’ll think it’s the police. He has cocaine in there.’

  ‘Debussy!’ roared James, banging repeatedly. ‘Open up!’

  Justin opened the door with a jerk.

  ‘What the fuck do you want?’ he shouted, raising his fist. ‘Do you know what time it is?’ He glared at James and then noticed Aurora skulking in the background. ‘Ah, Sinclair!’ His tone softened. ‘You’ve come to your senses. Get rid of your stupid brother and we can pick up where we left off.’

  ‘I want my bag,’ she said in her clear voice. ‘It’s on the table.’

  ‘Well, get it yourself, my dear. No one’s stopping you.’ He opened the door widely and gestured her through. James attempted to follow but he put his foot in the way. ‘Not you,’ he said contemptuously. ‘You can wait out here.’

  James pushed him backwards and followed her inside. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked as she put on her jacket. ‘Are all your things in the bag?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Right, let’s get out of here.’ He held out his hand and she grasped it gratefully.

  Justin watched them. ‘You know, we could’ve been great together,’ he said to Aurora. ‘You and me? We could’ve been the ultimate power couple.’

  ‘Never!’ she said passionately. ‘I never want to see you again.’

  ‘Oh, but you will,’ he sneered. ‘You need me, Sinclair. Without me, you’re nothing.’

  ‘No!’ she shouted. ‘I’m everything without you. I don’t need your silly plays. I’m going to make it on my own.’

  ‘Bravo, my darling,’ he mocked, clapping slowly. ‘Still doesn’t take away from the fact that you’re a frigid bitch.’

  With a howl, James leapt forward and punched him square on the jaw.

  ‘James!’ she screamed. ‘Don’t! He’s not worth it. Stop it!’ She pulled at his jacket but he shrugged her off.

  ‘Don’t you ever say that about her again,’ he said, grabbing Justin and shaking him like a rat. ‘You’re scum, Debussy.’

  Justin, momentarily dazed, gathered his wits and swung at James and punched him in the eye.

  ‘Stop it!’ Aurora started to scream. ‘Stop fighting!’

  James pulled away, his eye bleeding. ‘You’re not worth it,’ he said through gritted teeth. ‘Crawl back into a hole where you belong.’

  He allowed Aurora to drag him out onto the landing as Justin slammed the door.

  Gloria and Henry were asleep when they crept up the stairs to Aurora’s room. She sighed as she deposited her bag on her dressing table.

  James looked in the mirror and cursed silently.

  ‘Look at my eye,’ he said, pointing to the dark bruise forming over his eyelid.

  ‘Oh, James, I’m so sorry.’ Her lower lip quivered. ‘It’s all my fault.’

  He walked towards her and hugged her close. ‘Of course it isn’t your fault,’ he said firmly. ‘That guy’s a creep and you were taken advantage of. If I had my chance again, I’d floor him.’

  She clung to him, listening to his steady heartbeat. ‘You’re my hero,’ she said softly. ‘Like my Ken in the Barbie Ferrari. You saved the day.’

  He laughed. ‘My trusty old Golf isn’t quite an Italian sports car, but it worked in a crisis.’

  ‘Can you wait while I change my clothes?’ Her eyes were huge. ‘I’ll be two minutes.’

  ‘Of course.’ He brushed a tendril of hair from her face.

  She grabbed her pyjamas and disappeared into the bathroom. He sat on the bed and gazed at the pictures on the wall: one of her mother’s portrait, one of Will’s graduation and a nice one of her birthday party a few years ago. He remembered it well. He had turned up at the last minute and surprised her.

  The door opened and she walked back into the room. Instead of the dishevelled girl in the torn black dress, she was now in over-size
d tartan pyjamas and woolly slipper socks. Her hair was scraped back in a ponytail and her face was free from make-up.

  ‘Thank you for waiting,’ she said in a small voice. ‘I’m just a bit shaken up.’

  He got to his feet and pulled back the covers. ‘Hop in,’ he said.

  She obeyed and he placed the duvet gently around her, tucking it right up as far as her chin. All that was visible was her big brown eyes staring up at him.

  ‘Goodnight, Borealis,’ he whispered, kissing her forehead gently. ‘Sleep well.’

  She closed her eyes and snuggled down deeper. ‘Can you wait until I’m asleep?’ she murmured. ‘I like having you here.’

  His heart melted. How could he refuse? He lay down next to her and rested his head on his arm. ‘I’m here,’ he soothed, stroking her hair. ‘Don’t be scared.’

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Claire was sitting at the kitchen table when he got back to their flat. It was getting bright outside. Large streaks of red and pink dominated the skyline and the city was coming to life. Her hands were clutching a large mug of tea and her face was sullen.

  ‘Hey, you.’ James waved from the doorway as he took off his coat. ‘I didn’t realise that you were awake.’

  ‘Where were you?’ She was staring out the window.

  ‘I had to pop out. Aurora lost her phone and was stuck in Chelsea. I picked her up and brought her back to Gloria’s.’

  ‘Oh, you did.’

  ‘Yes. ‘He switched on the coffee machine. ‘She was really stuck, Claire. She rang me because I was the only number she knew off by heart.’ He chuckled. ‘I drilled it into her when she was a teenager so that she would always be able to call me if she was in trouble.’

  Claire said nothing and continued to stare out of the window.

  ‘Turns out that Debussy guy is a creep. I always knew it, but she couldn’t see it. He attacked her by all accounts. Her dress was in bits.’

  He took a seat opposite her, leaning his elbow on the table and keeping a hand over his eye.

  ‘I was worried sick. I woke up two hours ago to find you gone. Then I waited for a text or a phone call, but obviously you were too busy with Aurora to extend me that curtesy.’

  ‘Whoa!’ He held up his hands. ‘I was helping her out. She had no one else.’

  Claire saw his black eye for the first time and gasped. ‘What the hell happened to you?’ she demanded, pointing to the large bruise. ‘James?’

  He touched it gingerly. ‘Things got a bit heated. That Justin threw a punch.’

  ‘Are you fucking serious?’ she yelled with a red face. ‘You have that job interview tomorrow or have you forgotten? How can you go now?’

  ‘I’ll put some make-up on it or something?’

  ‘Jesus Christ, James, you have to get your life together! We’re back two months and all you’ve earned is a couple of grand from that job in Norfolk. How are we going to get our mortgage?’ She got up and started to pace the room. ‘Meanwhile, I’m working every hour I can to make ends meet.’

  ‘I pay my way –’

  ‘Yeah, out of your savings,’ she said dismissively. ‘Soon to be our savings. It’s just not good enough. Then, you have a great interview lined up and you mess up your face playing superhero with your kid sister!’

  ‘What could I have done? Left her there abandoned on the street? She called me –’

  ‘And you went running,’ she finished sardonically. ‘Big surprise.’

  James got to his feet and slammed his mug on the table. ‘I’m going for a shower. When I get back, I would like us to speak to each other like adults. I’m too tired to fight.’

  The door slammed shut. Claire picked up a cushion and threw it at the wall. He was not the same man she had met all those months ago. Since their return, he had become complacent and relaxed, unperturbed about money or settling down. It wasn’t cold feet. He loved her, anyone could see that. But he was being so immature. Her mother had warned her about men: how they sailed through life and left all the worrying to their wives. It was just so frustrating.

  Her expression darkened.

  James needed to shape up. They hadn’t even set a date for the wedding yet. Things were all up in the air and she hated it.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Ella came home from her daily walk to find William’s bag and coat in the hall. He had left for work as normal that morning. Why then would he be home early? All week he had been battling a head cold but he seemed to be better.

  ‘Will?’ she called.

  A hand appeared over the back of the couch. ‘I’m here,’ he said feebly.

  She rushed over to find him shivering on the couch, his face deathly pale and his hair wet with sweat.

  ‘Will!’ She felt his forehead. ‘You’re burning up. Have you taken anything? Should I call a doctor?’

  ‘I am a doctor,’ he said with a half-smile. ‘No, I’ll just have to wait it out.’

  ‘Look at you!’ she said in concern. ‘You’re far too tall for this bloody couch. I’m not having you suffering here.’ She pulled at his sleeve. ‘Come on, you’re going to bed.’

  ‘No, no. I’ll drench the sheets.’

  ‘Then I’ll change them.’ Her tone was firm. ‘Get up and lean on me. Come on.’

  He allowed her to lead him to the bedroom. ‘I thought I had come out the other side,’ he said. ‘Then I nearly collapsed at work.’ He sat on the edge of the bed.

  ‘Where will I find a clean T-shirt?’ she asked.

  ‘Top shelf.’

  ‘Take off your clothes,’ she ordered, grabbing a T-shirt and then pulling a pair of sweatpants from the wardrobe.

  ‘Oh, how I’ve dreamed of you saying that,’ he quipped and then groaned. ‘Oh my head! It’s throbbing.’

  ‘Hurry now,’ she said, helping him take off his shirt. ‘You’ll get cold.’

  His shirt was wet from perspiration and his skin was clammy. She grabbed a towel from the bathroom and dried his skin. Then she motioned for him to raise his arms so that she could slip on the T-shirt. His chinos were harder to remove but she managed and soon he was tucked up in bed with a rug over him for extra warmth.

  ‘Right, I’m off to make a honey and lemon hot drink.’ She gathered up the clothes on the floor. ‘You get some sleep. Have you taken some paracetamol?’

  He nodded. ‘An hour ago.’

  ‘Fine. You’ll be due another dose in five hours.’

  He smiled. ‘You’re like a matron. I think I like it.’

  ‘Well, it’s karma, William. You looked after me when I was ill. Now it’s my turn.’ She smiled too. ‘I’ll be back in a sec.’

  He closed his eyes, feeling zapped of all energy. Moments later, he was fast asleep.

  The next morning he woke up to find the sheets drenched. His head was still pounding and the honey and lemon concoction she had made the night before lay untouched. He couldn’t remember much about the night, just flashes of Ella’s concerned face and doses of tablets.

  Ella!

  He clutched his hair. She must have slept on the couch. He immediately felt guilty. How uncomfortable for a woman in her condition!

  As if on cue, she appeared at the door. ‘Hey, sleepyhead,’ she said fondly. ‘I’m here to change the sheets.’

  ‘Did you get any sleep at all?’ he said, fretting. ‘God, Ella, I’m so sorry. I passed out cold. I had fully intended to move back to the couch.’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ she said, pulling the pillows out of their cases. ‘You were delirious. You kept calling my name and then laughing and then passing out.’ She shook her head. ‘You’re a bit of a lunatic when you’re sick to be honest.’

  He eyed her warily. ‘Delirious? What did I say?’

  ‘Oh, this and that. I couldn’t really follow it.’ She laughed. ‘You did mention Simon at one stage. I found that quite amusing.’

  He said nothing.

  ‘So, are you able to move for a moment? Hopefully the worst has
passed with regard to the perspiration. I googled it.’

  ‘Yes, I can move.’ He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and immediately felt light-headed. ‘Whoa! No rapid movements.’

  She helped him onto an armchair. ‘Just give me two minutes.’

  She whipped off the sheets and replaced them with fresh ones. Then she took more clean clothes from his wardrobe and waited while he stripped.

  ‘Boxers too,’ she said. ‘I’ll turn around.’

  He laughed and threw his clothes in a pile on the ground. Minutes later he was dressed again.

  ‘I’m decent,’ he said.

  ‘Right,’ she said, propping up the pillows. ‘Are you hungry? I can make you something.’

  He shook his head. ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘Now, Will,’ she warned, ‘you’ll vomit if you take tablets on an empty stomach.’

  ‘Oh, okay then. Some toast.’

  She smiled. ‘Coming right up.’

  Later that evening, she joined him on the bed to watch a movie on his laptop. He had improved immensely and when the closing credits appeared on the screen, he made a move to leave.

  ‘Where are you off to?’ she asked sleepily, her head on his shoulder.

  ‘The couch,’ he answered. ‘There’s no way you’re sleeping there again tonight.’

  ‘No, Will,’ she said vehemently. ‘You’re too ill. I couldn’t possibly allow it.’

  He snapped the laptop shut. ‘Well, out of us both, I’m the lesser candidate for the bed. You must have been very uncomfortable last night.’

  ‘Unless,’ she said softly.

  ‘Unless?’

  ‘We both sleep here.’ She blushed and cast her eyes down. ‘I mean, that way we could both get a good night’s sleep and it’s a pretty big bed.’

  He regarded her speculatively. ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Yes.’ She looked him straight in the eye. ‘It’s crazy that one of us has to suffer.’

  A broad smile spread across his face. ‘Do you snore, Taylor? I might have to reconsider if you do.’