The Summer Guest

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘That’s pretty heavy,’ Rodger said.

  ‘I guess,’ Kathleen said, holding her head to the side and pondering. ‘He gave me three tasks to do while I’m here.’ She explained about the picnic and how she had the other two still to finish.

  ‘I’d happily accompany you to Dublin Zoo. Claudia and I used to go often with the children – we had a yearly membership once upon a time.’

  ‘Well, I’d be honoured to do that with you. As soon as you’re well enough,’ Kathleen said.

  ‘Now there’s a challenge,’ he said. ‘Tell me about Jackson’s video.’

  ‘He had the last word.’ She smiled. ‘He promised me three rainbows.’

  Rodger listened intently. ‘How wonderful. That’s commonly known as ADC,’ he said matter-of-factly.

  ‘It is? So you don’t think I’m crazy to hope that he may be able to send me these rainbows?’

  ‘Oh, no. After-death communication is a phenomenon that’s been around for centuries. Some believe it’s God’s way of reassuring us that our loved ones are back with Him. Others believe it’s their loved one sending them a direct message.’

  ‘I’ve never heard of it,’ Kathleen said. ‘I was almost afraid to tell anyone in case it’s all a load of baloney.’

  ‘The most common forms of communication from beyond are via butterflies and rainbows.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Rodger said. ‘I read plenty about it just after Claudia passed away. So many people have reported seeing butterflies in the most unusual places. They say they get a strong feeling that it’s a message, rather than a regular butterfly flitting about.’

  ‘So you reckon Jackson may be able to deliver on his promises?’

  ‘I firmly believe he will.’ Rodger hesitated. ‘Seeing as you’ve shared your message with me, can I tell you something?’

  ‘Sure you can.’

  ‘I talk to Claudia most days. In fact most hours of most days.’ He chuckled shyly. ‘But I’ve asked her over and over to send me a butterfly.’

  ‘I’m sure one will come,’ Kathleen said.

  ‘I hope so. It’s been nine months, though. Still, I must be patient, eh?’

  They chatted a while longer, and although Kathleen felt she could talk about Jackson, and how it felt to be a widow for another five hours, she could see that Rodger was tired. ‘I’ll leave you now. You’ve been through a lot. You need to rest.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I wish we could talk for longer, but my body is telling me I need a nap.’

  ‘I understand. I could come visit again, if you like,’ she offered.

  ‘I’m only here for another two days, all going well,’ he said. ‘After that I’ll be back in Howth. I reckon it’s way too far for you to travel. A day trip every once in a while is one thing, but I couldn’t ask you to come just to see me.’

  ‘Why not? Because I’m so busy?’ She grinned. ‘I’ll happily come on the DART. But let’s not pre-empt things. You mightn’t want some mad old Yank barging in on you at home.’

  ‘You’ve been a bit of a trial if the truth be known,’ Rodger deadpanned. Kathleen burst out laughing and leaned forward to clasp his hand.

  ‘I’ve enjoyed our chat. It’s good to be able to talk to someone who understands how I feel.’

  ‘Ditto,’ he said. ‘Thanks for the visit. I’ll be in touch. We need to arrange our visit to the zoo.’

  ‘Absolutely – and we need to talk rainbows and butterflies again.’

  ‘Sounds good.’

  Kathleen left the hospital and gazed upwards. The rain was falling so lightly that the drops were being blown about in little wisps. As she caught the train back to Caracove Bay, she could barely contain her excitement. The second she got home she wanted to watch Jackson’s message again. Rodger’s knowledge of ADC had renewed her faith in her husband’s promise.

  Chapter 25

  Lexie was about to finish hanging Agata’s pictures at the gallery when Dee burst through the door. ‘Is Amélie with you?’ she asked, clearly frantic.

  ‘No,’ Lexie said. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘She wasn’t in her bed this morning. Billy’s at work and I was so cross I drove to your house to have a showdown with her. She’s been ducking out and suiting herself all the time lately.’

  ‘I know she’s been very down,’ Lexie said carefully.

  ‘Lexie,’ Dee said. ‘I’ve had it with her. Don’t try to stick up for her either. I know the two of you have this bond, but it’s about time she learned some respect.’ She rushed to the door.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Lexie asked, following her.

  ‘To the school to make sure she’s sitting her exams.’

  As the door banged shut after Dee, Lexie grabbed her mobile and dialled her niece’s number. It went directly to voicemail. ‘Hey, Amélie, only me. Just want to see how you are. Your mum was here looking for you. I presume you’re in your exam. Call me when you get a chance, yeah? Love you.’

  The gallery was busy for the rest of the morning. Agata’s stuff was causing even more of a stir than Lexie had predicted. She decided to call Agata and commission more. ‘I reckon the ones you gave me will be gone by week’s end.’

  ‘I’m thrilled,’ Agata said. ‘I have many more completed works.’

  ‘Why on earth didn’t you show me?’ Lexie was amazed.

  ‘I didn’t want to cheapen the ones you were getting. I’ve been squirrelling pictures into bubble-wrapped resting beds for months. I have quite a collection.’

  ‘I’m delighted to hear that,’ Lexie said. ‘Why don’t we do an exhibition of your work? Would you be interested in coming to host an evening at the gallery? I’ve done it many times before. Some artists love the idea and look forward to the excitement while others shy away from the limelight. Please do whatever you’re comfortable with.’

  ‘You are sweet,’ Agata said. ‘I’d love it. There’s only one slight hitch. I’d have to bring Britta too. Would that be a problem?’

  ‘Not at all,’ Lexie assured her. ‘We could make it an afternoon event – say, four o’clock, so it’s not too late for her.’

  ‘That sounds brilliant. I’d feel odd doing it without her. She inspired the creation of Kara. I began painting him soon after discovering I was pregnant. I wanted to make some pictures to decorate the nursery. I suffered insomnia during the pregnancy so I had plenty of time to spill my creative juices.’

  ‘Well, that’s to all our advantage. Kara is wonderful. I’m flicking through my diary here,’ Lexie said. ‘How would Thursday week suit you? We tend to do late-night opening in conjunction with the other shops in Caracove. If we start the exhibition at four it would probably wind up around seven.’

  ‘That would be fine. Britta could sleep on the way home.’

  Within the hour Lexie had phoned her contacts at the local newspaper and one national publication. Both agreed to send a reporter and photographer.

  The phone rang.

  ‘Caracove Bay Gallery, Lexie speaking.’

  ‘Hello.’ Penelope sounded strained. ‘I don’t suppose you had young Amélie in your house last night, did you?’

  ‘No,’ Lexie said. ‘Dee was here earlier but we all assumed she was in school.’ Panic crept over her.

  ‘The school called Dee a while ago to ask about Amélie,’ Penelope said.

  ‘Oh, Jesus,’ Lexie said. ‘Where’s Dee now?’

  ‘She and Billy are going home to look for clues in her room. Did she tell you anything over the last few days that may be important now?’ Penelope asked.

  ‘Like what?’ Lexie said.

  ‘I don’t know. That she was thinking of going anywhere. With a boy or anything?’

  ‘No, in fact she’s just split with a guy. Dee knows about him … What’s his name again? Uh – Elton. I’ll go over to their house now and help them look.’

  ‘No. Dee asked if you’d check your house and also with your lodger to see if she knows anything. Odds are A
mélie’s just taken off to skip an exam. It’s maths today, which Billy says she hates.’

  Lexie hung up, tears burning, and quickly explained the situation to Kate. ‘If she comes in, please call me and don’t let her leave,’ Lexie begged.

  She dialled Sam’s number and left a message – he was in a different time zone.

  Lexie was sweating by the time she reached Cashel Square. There was no sign of Kathleen in the basement, so she ran into the main house and up the stairs to Amélie’s room. Dashing from one side to the other, she looked for something suspicious. Nothing seemed out of place. The bathroom threw up no clues either, so she dialled Dee’s number.

  ‘Lexie?’ Dee answered. ‘Any news?’

  ‘No. I was hoping you’d have found her by now. There’s no sign of anything unusual here, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Well, your father just called and he says there’s money missing from Penelope’s purse.’

  ‘How much?’

  ‘Sixty euro.’

  ‘Well, she can’t have gone far on that,’ Lexie said. ‘Can I call over?’

  ‘Sure. See you shortly.’

  Lexie knew she shouldn’t jump to conclusions, but she had a really bad feeling about this. Amélie hadn’t been herself for a while. She’d noticed and made a mental note to talk to her, but she’d put it all down to boy trouble. As she drove to her brother’s house, she prayed that Amélie was safe. Her heart dropped when she spotted a police car parked outside.

  She found Dee, looking very pale, at the kitchen table, giving a description of her daughter.

  ‘Any word?’ Lexie asked.

  ‘No,’ Dee said. ‘But we found her mobile phone in her room switched off. She never goes anywhere without it.’

  ‘Oh, God, do you think she’s been taken?’

  ‘No, nothing like that,’ Billy said, walking in behind her. ‘She used my credit card to book a ferry ticket to France. I’ve just found the transaction on-line.’

  ‘France?’ Lexie was pale now too. ‘Why would she want to go there?’

  ‘We’ve no clue,’ Dee said. ‘But the officers here have been very helpful. A girl matching Amélie’s description was sighted on last night’s sailing.’

  ‘What are we waiting for?’ Lexie asked. ‘Let’s book flights and follow her.’

  ‘It’s not that simple,’ Dee said, wringing her hands.

  ‘Why not?’ Lexie asked. ‘We know she’s in France, so let’s go!’

  It was decided that Dee should stay behind. ‘In case she sees sense and comes home of her own accord. This often happens with kids her age.’

  ‘She’s seventeen,’ Lexie pointed out, ‘not twelve. I’d say she’s planned this for the long haul. She’s not the type of girl to bugger off on a whim, change her mind and dawdle home with a stick of rock for everyone in the audience.’

  That made Dee cry and bury her face in her hands. Lexie knew the poor woman needed some support, so she rang her parents, filled them in and asked them to come and keep Dee sane.

  ‘We’re on our way. Leave Dee to me,’ Penelope said. In spite of the dreadful situation, Lexie couldn’t help smiling inside. Her mother was over the moon with the drama. She’d be in that kitchen making tea, sandwiches and apple tarts to beat the band. Lexie had once thought her favourite drama was funerals, but now she knew Penelope came alive with missing teenagers too.

  Sam phoned from America and was stunned to hear that his wife and brother-in-law were on their way to France.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘To Brest Bretagne airport. It’s just over fifty kilometres from there to Roscoff where she landed.’

  ‘And what are you going to do? Trawl the streets in the hope that she’s sitting at a café sipping a beer in the sun?’

  ‘Sam, this isn’t a time for jokes. If anything happens to Amélie, I’ll die.’ She hung up.

  By the time they touched down in Brittany, Billy and Lexie were frantic. They called Dee and were beyond relieved to discover the local police had found Amélie.

  ‘She’s at a hostel and knows you’re on the way to find her,’ Dee said.

  ‘She won’t run away again, will she?’ Lexie asked.

  ‘No,’ Dee said. ‘She’s terrified and was relieved we’d all missed her.’

  ‘How could she think we wouldn’t?’ Lexie asked.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Dee said. ‘But something has put the idea into her head that we’d all be better off without her.’

  Lexie texted Sam with an update. Remembering Kathleen, she sent her a quick text too so that she knew what was happening.

  Amélie knew she was headed for the lecture of a lifetime. She couldn’t begin to imagine how angry her father was going to be. She had a whole list of misdemeanours to her name now. Stealing, skipping exams, running away and causing a fuss. No doubt her mother was applying to boarding schools right this second. She was relieved Auntie Lexie was with her dad. She’d stick up for her. She was sorry she hadn’t told her she was going. She’d considered it, but knew she’d only try to change her mind.

  France wasn’t what she’d imagined. She’d been there when she was little, but to Paris, a far cry from this back-end-of-nowhere place she’d ended up in. The group on the boat had been total dicks. They were college students with a bag of weed, barely any money and no prospects. They would’ve let her tag along if she could have got an InterRail ticket. They were friendly but two of them had tried to hit on her and were insistent she go out on deck with them to smoke joints.

  ‘I’m not into it,’ she’d said.

  ‘But this is deadly stuff, home-grown.’

  ‘Nah, you’re all right, thanks.’ As soon as they docked, she’d made excuses and split. Her vision of pretty little roadside cafés with chic waitresses and gorgeous men was nowhere to be seen. The bereft fishing village offered nothing but a stopgap for weary travellers. She hadn’t the funds to go anywhere, so she’d found a room at a dingy hostel and hoped for a miracle.

  After a couple of hours, she knew the situation was futile, so she made her way to the tiny police station, racked her brains and surprised herself with how much French she actually knew.

  The officer she spoke to wasn’t overly friendly, but he agreed to allow her to call her parents. She’d felt like a heel when her mum sobbed down the phone. Amélie was genuinely surprised by how upset she sounded. She was astonished to learn that Lexie and her father were already on the way to find her. ‘What? All the way to France?’

  ‘Of course,’ Dee said, sniffling. ‘We’d go to the end of the world to find you, darling.’

  ‘Oh,’ was all Amélie could manage.

  It was really late by the time Lexie and Billy pulled up in a taxi. Amélie spotted them and ran outside.

  ‘Amélie!’ Billy pulled her into his arms. ‘Thank God you’re safe.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Daddy,’ she said, bursting into tears.

  ‘It’s okay. It’ll all be okay now that you’re safe,’ he said.

  ‘Auntie Lexie,’ she said.

  ‘Sweetheart.’ Her aunt hugged her tightly. ‘God, you frightened the living daylights out of us all.’

  ‘I can’t believe you’re both here,’ she said.

  ‘I can’t believe we are either,’ Lexie said, glancing around the dank police station. In flawless French she thanked the cop for keeping Amélie there.

  ‘Wowzers, sis,’ Billy said. ‘Impressive. I totally forgot you spent some time here way back when.’

  ‘I don’t get to use my French that often, so thanks for providing me with the opportunity,’ she said to Amélie, drily.

  The taxi was waiting outside, so they all got in and Lexie instructed the driver to take them to the airport. ‘There’s a bog-standard hotel nearby. We’ll spend the night there and get the first flight possible tomorrow,’ she added, in English.

  Once the flurry of phone calls was over, there was veritable silence in the cab. Billy held Amélie’s hand as if he meant never t
o let her out of his sight again.

  Once they’d checked into the hotel and Amélie had showered, they ordered food from room service. Billy was in the room next door, so Lexie knocked on the wall and he came in. ‘Feeling a little better?’ he asked Amélie.

  She nodded, looking far younger than her seventeen years.

  ‘Why did you do it, love?’ he asked.

  Amélie looked from one face to the other and hesitated.

  ‘You need to try to talk,’ Lexie coaxed. ‘This must be really serious if you felt you couldn’t stay. But I promise, whatever it is, I’ll help you if I can.’

  Once she began to talk, Amélie couldn’t stop. Billy was stunned to learn Amélie had overheard him and Dee arguing. ‘But you got the wrong end of the stick,’ he assured her.

  ‘So you and Mum didn’t get married because of me?’

  ‘Well, technically we did,’ he said. ‘But we’ve stayed together because we love each other.’

  ‘It doesn’t appear that way,’ she said. ‘You seem to hate each other most of the time. You never show affection, you argue, you snap at one another. I never hear you laughing. I’m not stupid, Dad.’

  ‘I know you’re not,’ he said. ‘And I can see why you think Mum and I aren’t happy. Things aren’t easy right now. That’s for sure. But it’s nothing to do with how we feel about each other.’

  ‘What is it, then?’

  ‘We’re struggling financially. Mum was told she has another five weeks at her job and then she’s being made redundant. I’ve had to accept a wage cut and it’s hard to make ends meet right now.’

  ‘Oh,’ Amélie said. ‘I see.’

  ‘There’s another matter that we need to discuss,’ Billy said, as there was a knock at the door and a man called out in French that he had their food.

  ‘Let’s sit down together and have a proper chat with Mum when we get back,’ he said.

  ‘Okay,’ Amélie agreed.

  They wolfed the steak sandwiches and fries.

  ‘Well, I don’t know about you two,’ Lexie said. ‘But it’s four in the morning and I’m bushed. Let’s get some sleep. Once we’re home, there’ll be plenty of time to work things through.’