by Mark Stewart
March 3rd 2013
ELOISE MOVED away from the window. She turned her head to look at James. His eyes were red-rimmed.
“Are you on the verge of crying?” she asked.
“I have to admit, yes I am.”
“It’s only a story,” said Eloise.
“I know, but the way you’ve told the tale you make it sound so realistic.”
“Authenticity is an author’s greatest challenge. To have something sound real is the best way to sell books.”
“It’s contained in the suspense,” added James, wiping the water from his eyes.
“Suspense is just one aspect of the story. The delivery is the other. If you have your readers sitting on the edge of their seat the whole time and they feel satisfied the ending left them wanting more, you’ve done a good job.”
James watched Eloise walking across the room. Reaching the door, she glanced over her shoulder.
“I feel a little tired. I think I’ll go for a walk along the beach. Care to join me?”
James jumped to his feet. The chair he sat on toppled over.
“Yes, I’d love for us to take a walk. Comparing myself to you, I feel like an amateur writer.”
James held the main door to the hotel open allowing Eloise to step out into the sunshine. They walked across the road and down the steps to the sand. Eloise walked close to the water’s edge while James marched along on her right side.
“James, you have the talent to become a great author. You and Mia have the same ability. Have you talked to her about maybe writing together?”
“We did start to plot a novel. I have to admit sitting Mia down to have a serious discussion about teaming up to write novels has never eventuated,” confessed James.
“Why not?”
“I’ve been waiting for the right time.”
“If I were you James, I’d come out and say. Don’t wait for the right time. If you do, you might miss your chance.”
“I’m a little nervous about discussing the idea at length.”
“James, stop doubting yourself. It’s time for you to step up to the batter’s plate and start swinging. You’ll be more than surprised how easy it is to hit a home run.”
“What if Mia rejects the idea? What if she decides she never wants to see me again?”
Eloise stopped walking. Looking out across the bay to the other side James heard her sigh.
“You say lots of what ‘IF’ words,” said Eloise eventually. “Let me say this. What if she accepts your offer? What if she sees a future with you? What if she says yes to be your wife?”
“How did you know I’ve been thinking along the line of marriage?”
“It’s easy to tell you two are a match made in heaven.”
“How can you believe we’re a perfect match? You’ve never seen Mia and me together except when she was asleep on the couch.”
“Haven’t I.”
“No.”
“I thought you have introduced me to her.”
“Never,” he replied firmly, studying Eloise’s facial features.
“Is there something wrong?”
“You look a lot younger than yesterday.”
“Those are nice compliments,” admitted Eloise. “A woman likes hearing them.”
“You look younger than when we first met.”
“How old do I look?”
“This morning I’d say you looked fifty not eighty.”
“What about now?”
“No more than thirty.”
Smiling, Eloise continued her walk along the beach. In silence, James walked next to her. A few minutes ticked off before they stepped up to the next flight of stairs. At the top, they strolled across the road to a small white picket gate.
“Is this where you live?” asked James.
“This is my place,” replied Eloise. “Do you like it?”
“Like it, I love it. The white two storey mansion has a balcony outside the bedroom window so you can have an uninterrupted view of the ocean and sunset each night. Red roses line both sides of the path from the gate to the front door. There’s a settee on the verandah where you can sit and enjoy the morning sun. The big old gum tree at the side shades the two storey house in the summer. The green grass that covers the land has been perfectly manicured. I can’t see a single weed. This is a heavenly home to live at.”
“Yes, this is a peaceful place,” said Eloise. “The sunrise and the sunsets are the best times of the day.” She turned to face James. “I recommend you ask Mia today about writing novels together. Convince her you’re a nice bloke. Ask her to marry you. Before saying any more doubting words which start with ‘what if’ it’s time for me to go.”
“You sound like we’ll never see each other again.”
“We will, but not for a while.”
“What about the last part of the novel? We finished the whole thing except for the last chapter.”
“I recommend you and Mia ought to sit down and write it together.”
“Won’t you at least disclose the name of the company Lilly started?”
“James, you should know the answer by now. Take a look around,” urged Eloise. “Do you know where we are?”
James glanced at the manicured grounds, the tall green trees, the flower beds and the surrounding white picket fence that encompassed the entire park.
“How did we get here? We were at a small white picket gate a few seconds ago.”
Eloise stepped next to a gravestone. James looked shocked at the realization.
“Now you know,” whispered Eloise.
“You can’t be,” shrieked James.
“How else could I have known all about you and Mia or happened to be in the hotel at the same time? The lift door was closing yet I walked through. I entered your room when you told me the door was locked. There was no maintenance man to let me into your room. Ask yourself why I never drank or ate anything? Why I never wanted to be walked home? Why do I look out across the bay as if I’m waiting for someone to come home? How did I look younger every time you saw me? James, it is okay. Love Mia. Convince her you’re the man she’s being praying to meet. It’ll be hard at the start, but you’re a talented man. Show her this place. Tell her everything.”
James stood staring at Eloise. “There’s an aura around you,” he managed to whisper.
“Heaven is wonderful,” advised Eloise. “You’re free to express yourself. James, it’s time for me to go. My husband has come for me.”
James saw Eloise step onto the grave. She waved goodbye.
“Wait. I don’t know the name of the lolly company?”
Eloise gave him a heavenly smile. “It’s Mia’s middle name. Tell her. She’ll believe.”
James saw the figure of a man materialize. He looked handsome standing straight and tall next to Eloise.
“Lilly it’s time to go,” he said gently.
“Jack thanks for loving me.”
“I had the easy part,” he confessed. “Before we go I have a message for James. I also have a present.” He floated over. Standing directly in front of James he added. “Love Mia all of your life, she’ll love you for it.” An old walking stick appeared in his hand. “I won’t need this stick again. On the handle, there are four initials. Show Mia. It will also help her to believe.”
Jack floated back to Lilly. Wearing a broad grin, he held out his hand. Just before they vanished both waved at James.
Then they were gone.
For a long time, James stood speechless looking at where he saw Eloise vanish. Slowly he looked around the cemetery. The white picket fence and the small gate reappeared. He felt the wind brush his cheeks. The warm breeze took his breath away. Before walking back to his hotel room to finish the novel, James noticed a few leaves on the marble plate where Eloise and Jack were laid to rest. He squatted. Brushing them off James read the names on the gravestone.
‘Eloise Lilliana Barrett.’ Underneath her name, he read another. ‘Jack Michael Barrett.’
James walked along the path towards the main gate carrying the walking stick Jack handed him. Standing under a giant gum tree at the main entrance he paused to read the four initials on the handle of the walking stick.
‘JB loves LB’
Using his index finger, he traced the shape of the hand engraved heart around the letters. Tears formed in his eyes. Smiling, he whispered. “I should have known Eloise was a ghost. After all, I am an author.”
James walked under the stone arch and stepped off the property. He closed the cast iron gate and walked back to the hotel.
James shouldered the door to his room. He found Mia sitting in front of his laptop reading. Her cheeks were red and stained with her tears.
She stood slowly. When James stepped up to the table, Mia lashed out, slapping him across the face. For only the briefest of moments, she glanced at his startled expression before sprinting out of the room.
James finally caught Mia up at her hotel door.
“You, horrid man,” she spat, slapping him again. “How could you?”
“How could I do what?”
“Make my Grandmother sound like a monster. She could never murder anyone. So much for your romance novel. You used her story to write a crime novel.”
“Please, let me explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain. Let me tell you something, Mister. When my Grandmother was alive, she started to outline the same story you’ve been so busy typing. I never want to see you again. I’m leaving in five minutes.”
James stood at the threshold to the bedroom watching Mia dump clothes into the large suitcase. He saw her zip it closed and felt the push as she marched towards the lift.
“Your Grandmother, Eloise relayed me the whole story,” blurted James.
Mia whirled around to face him. Her tears were flowing faster than a river. Her chin and lips were quivering.
“You somehow got the information. You set out to shatter me and my family. Let me tell you something James or who the hell you are, there’s one piece of information you don’t know. I’m the only one who knows it. Eloise sold the lolly company twenty years after she started the business. She made an enormous profit. The undisclosed amount was never revealed to anyone. Nobody outside the family knows the name of the company. Yes, you might have uncovered the story which is real, but you don’t know the name. That makes you the worst kind of fraud to ever have lived. Get out of my life. I’ve been thinking of late you could have been a great husband. Someone I can love forever. For me to have a man in my life, he will need to be an honest, caring individual in the highest degree. I won’t settle for anyone less. You will never fit the description. I never want to see you again.”
Mia thumped the lift call button on the wall. Cursing the lift for not arriving, she started for the stairs. When she was gone, Eloise appeared.
“James, go after her. Tell her the name of the company.”
“I don’t know Mia’s middle name.”
“Lilliana,” confessed Eloise. “The company name was Lilliana Sweets.”
James raced for the stairs. Sprinting down to the ground floor three steps at a time, he saw Mia at the main hotel door. He came up behind, stepping into her path.
“Get out of my way,” she spat.
“Lilliana,” blurted James. “The name of the company was Lilliana Sweets. Your middle name is the same.”
Mia stood staring at him. She looked to be trembling from head to foot. She raised her hand to move hair from her face. “How did you find out?”
“Eloise told me.”
“Impossible. Nobody knows my middle name. I demand you tell me how you found out?”
“I’m not lying to you. I spoke to Eloise.”
“I’ve already stated my Grandmother died when I was little.”
“The photo of your Grandmother in the locket you wear around your neck, I believe is the Eloise I’ve been seeing. I’d like to prove it.”
“I told you I only open the locket once a year.”
“Please open it for me.”
Mia stared directly into James’ eyes. She spoke in a matter of fact voice.
“I’ll say this. There are three faces in the photo. If you can tell me who they are, I’ll listen to what you have to say. If you can’t then it is goodbye.” She reached down, opening the locket.
James studied the faces in turn. “You’re the little girl in the middle. Your mother is on the left; your Grandmother, Eloise, is on the right.”
Mia closed the locket. Her eyes revealed she wanted to believe what James told her. She started shaking her head.
“I’m almost correct,” blurted James. “In fact, your Grandmother’s name was Lilliana Eloise Barrett. She never liked the name Lilliana, so she told everyone to call her Lilly. She was married to Jack. He went to war as a sailor. He was on the Waterhen when it sank. He came back to Lilly, a broken, wounded man. They started up the lolly business using the bullet making machine nicknamed the Old Clunker. You would have read those words in the novel. There’s something I have to show you.” James thrust the old walking stick Jack gave him at Mia, pointing to the four letters inside the hand engraved heart.
Mia groped for the wall. James pushed his arm around her waist scooping her up before she crumpled to the floor. Wearing a puzzled expression, Mia wrapped her arms around his neck while James walked towards the open lift door.
“Excuse me, Sir, is the young lady okay? Does she need a doctor?”
Staring through glazed eyes, James looked at the face of the young woman receptionist. Instead of answering her he focused lovingly on Mia. He slowly bent his head so he could kiss her gently on the lips. Mia moved her arms tighter around his neck helping the kiss to be firmer.
“I guess my question was answered,” mumbled the receptionist turning her back.
The lift door opened. James carried Mia into the lift car. The moment she was in a vertical position the door closed.
“If my Grandmother told you the story of her life she’d have to be a ghost. I don’t believe in ghosts,” protested Mia.
Before James could say a word, a dull light appeared in the corner. At its brightest the light quickly faded, leaving a woman standing exactly where the light had been.
“Eloise!” exclaimed James.
“Grandma?” added Mia.
“You’re both correct,” said Eloise. “I’ve been watching over you two for a long time.”
“Why?” asked James.
Eloise raised her eyebrows. “What have I told you about suspense?”
“I have to wait.”
She chuckled then switched her attention to Mia. “He’s a good bloke. He’s a stayer. You two have a lot in common.”
“Grandma, why are you here?”
“I’ve come to finally tell my secret.”
Mia frowned, her voice deepening slightly. “Grandma, how could you tell a stranger the full story you tried to tell me?”
“Mia, it’s okay. Please, don’t be too upset. When I was alive, I plucked up enough courage to at least begin to tell you the story so you might one day write it down in a novel. You refused. What was I supposed to do, except find someone else. Who could be better than James?”
“I don’t want the whole world to know your secret,” sobbed Mia.
“It’s okay. When I vowed, I’d take my secret to the grave, I did. I lived up to my end of the vow. When I met up with Suzie in heaven, she gave me permission to tell our story in its entirety. I want it told by you two. Besides, I have one more secret to share.”
James interrupted. “Tell us what it is?”
“All in due time,” protested Eloise.
“Grandma I miss you terribly,” sobbed Mia.
“I miss you too. Mia, those beautiful eyes of yours, shouldn’t be crying. You and James have a great future ahead. Promise me you’ll be happy.”
Mia nodded slowly.
“I have a few questions,” blurted James. “The time Mia and I were having
lunch on the balcony, and the wind suddenly felt cold is my first one?”
“I blew cold air on you,” confessed Eloise. “I wanted you to start walking back to the hotel for a swim.”
“What about the time we stepped out of the lift, and an old lady gave us a slight grin when she walked in?”
“I changed my appearance, but it was me. I also pushed you two together using all the uncanny hints I could think of.”
“What about the time we were at the Ritz? The table at the back corner with the red rose in the crystal vase? The breeze brushing our cheeks?” asked James.
“Guilty as charged. The romantic music; I hinted the band. I also spoke to the girl who scooted across the dance floor towards you two. I advised her on how she should set up the red rose on the table. I thought it might help to move the night along nicely. I was right.”
Mia blushed at the news.
“Dear, don’t worry, I didn’t watch the love between you two. There are some things that should be kept private.”
“I’m happy you weren’t in the corner watching,” gushed James. “It was bad enough you saw me naked.”
Mia looked shocked.
“Take my advice, explain that one later,” quipped Eloise. “By the way, the music coming from the jukebox with the broken queue list; I’ve met the one who is in charge of heaven. He kept the music playing, not me. I only asked.”
“So, it must have been you pushing the lift call button when we came home?” questioned Mia.
“I didn’t want the night delayed even for a second.”
“The person who walked into my room, the boiling kettle, the opening of the curtains, happened to be you and not room service?” quizzed James.
“Don’t look too surprised,” said Eloise. “How else could I get you two together? You have a lot in common which you have yet to discover.”
Mia folded her arms across her chest. “I’m having a stab in the dark here; is my writer’s block of your doing?”
“Please don’t be too angry with me. I did stop it because I love both of you,” chirped Eloise, her outline starting to fade away.
“Tell us the last secret before you go?” urged James.
“Suspense,” replied Eloise. “It’s all about suspense. Take my advice; put what I have yet to say in the revised edition.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN