Ghost Diaries 1_Gigi's Guardian_Paranormal Romance

by Michele McGrath

  “Sounds like a production line.”

  “Ireland is. I come from a family of seven and that’s about average.”

  “Your poor mother!”

  “Mam loves all the bustle. She’s never happier than when the house is full of people. My brothers and sisters live nearby and they come home for dinner after Mass on Sundays. I’m the only one missing. She’s a great girl is Mam.”

  Gigi felt jealous. “She sounds nice.”

  “Good cook too. What I wouldn’t give for a bowl of her stew right now. She pours in the Guinness and her hand always slips. The taste is grand.”

  “Different from coconuts and plantains.”

  “What’s a plantain?”

  “A sort of banana. You fry them.”

  “That's sun food. We’ve got the beaches, but not the weather.” He smiled. They were leaving the cafe and a cold wind hit them in the face. “Lucky you. Stews keep you warm in an Atlantic gale.” They both shivered.

  “What shall we do next?”

  “Do you fancy going to the pictures? I haven’t seen 'The Graduate’ yet.”

  “Neither have I.”

  They took the underground to Piccadilly and they both enjoyed themselves. Gigi was able to see the movie this time. Finn didn’t try to do more than put his arm round her. She’d told him she already had a boyfriend and he was being careful. Thelma and I sat behind them, enjoying the picture too. She’s a real addict. “I go as often as I can,” she told me. “I love all the black and white weepies. They didn't have movies in my day, of course, dear, which is my excuse.”

  “The last scene couldn't happen in real life,” Finn observed, as they left the cinema. He burst out laughing.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “The look on Mam’s face if I ever pulled a stunt like that - using a cross as a weapon. Half the congregation would faint and she’d be shaking with laughter.”

  “My mother would be livid.” Gigi frowned and Finn stared at her.

  “She wouldn’t want you to marry the wrong man, surely?”

  “I wonder if she’d mind, as long as I didn’t make a holy show of her.”

  “She’s your mother. Of course she’d care!”

  “My brother is her favourite. Sometimes I think she forgets about me, until Dad reminds her.”

  “Don’t be like that. Nobody could forget their own child.”

  “She only remembers when she wants to make sure I do things I don’t want to do. Let's change the subject; I’d rather talk about the movie. That was one wedding no one would ever forget.”

  “What would you do if you realised on your wedding day you were marrying the wrong man?”

  “Grin and bear it, I suppose. I wouldn’t have enough courage to do anything else.”

  “Not even if I came up and rescued you, waving a large cross?”

  She laughed. “Not even then. If I ever get married, I want a peaceful ceremony with no drama at all.”

  “I must remember that.”

  They walked along Oxford Street towards the hostel. It was late, but lots of shops were still open. Finn bought Gigi a record - ‘If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair’. He also bought one for himself - ‘Mrs. Robinson’. “To remind me not to steal you away from your wedding,” he told her. They held hands and sang. It had been a lovely day, a stolen moment in time. Gigi was happy and relaxed, after being so sad. I was happier too. I just hope Thelma is right about Ivan.

  28th October 1967, Saturday, London.

  Uncle Hugh is coming up to London this morning especially to meet Tommy.

  “I’m so nervous,” Jane said as she got ready to go to the station. “What if they don’t like each other?”

  “They both love you, don’t they?” Adele encouraged her. “Of course they will. They’ll try to, at least, and who could possibly dislike Tommy?”

  “No one,” Jane answered, “except the rest of my family.”

  “Your Uncle Hugh is making the effort to come here. He wouldn’t do so unless he had an open mind. Don’t meet trouble half way.”

  Leilani had her fingers crossed, as they left. The meeting should go all right. Uncle Hugh’s dossier at Angels Central shows he is a sensible man who is very fond of Jane. He hasn’t got any children of his own and he’s always thought of her as a daughter.

  Meanwhile, James still hasn’t contacted Gigi. He must have received her letter by now. She’s depressed; Adele is worried and so am I.

  Maude is far more down to Earth. “Don't fret about men,” she said to me. “They always do what they want to do. We just put up with the blighters. Personally, I’d hope he stays away. Your job would be a doddle then. It’s easier for the two of them to break up at this point than later on.”

  “You’re right, of course.” I said, but, if Gigi finished with James now, my assignment would be effectively over. I’d feel cheated, even though one of the objectives had been achieved.

  Gigi spent most of her free time near the telephone, until Adele spotted her and dragged her away.

  “No man is worth you getting yourself into a stew about!” Adele told her firmly. “Look at me. I let Ralph get too close and now I'm in a mess.”

  “I wish he’d call me. I don't know if he even got my letter.”

  “No good brooding. If he does phone, you’ll sound like a wet weekend.” Adele had the grace to grin. “Do as I say, not as I do, of course. We need something to take your mind off him.”

  Gigi mentioned that one of the girls at work was having a party in Battersea. She’d been asked, but she did not want to go alone. Adele immediately said she would go with her. Neither Gigi nor Adele knew anyone, except the girl who invited them. They talked to her for a while, until she drifted off to greet other people. Adele spent a lot of time sitting outside on the back steps, drinking and smoking.

  “It’s been ages since she’s been to a party,” Maude told me. “Ralph’s much older and so are the people where she works. Everyone holds quiet dinners at home, rather than parties. She’s acting as if she’s fifty, instead of twenty-three.” Adele is living in Swinging London and missing most of the excitement.

  At the beginning of the party, Gigi enjoyed herself. The music was loud, the beer went to her head and she felt as if she was floating. When a new record started, she was the first one to start dancing. She had lots of different partners. Most of them tried to get off with her, but she didn’t fancy anyone. After a while, she found she was alone. People sat kissing, or drinking in the kitchen. The records began to slow down. The time had come to take a partner into a quiet corner, but Gigi wanted to leave, so she went to find Adele. Adele was still outside, leaning back against the wall and dozing.

  “Are you okay?” Gigi asked.

  “Fine. You?”

  “I’m tired, do you mind if we go home now?”

  Adele peered at her watch, holding it up to the light coming through the window. “At 2.30 in the morning? The buses stopped running hours ago.”

  “Is it as late as that?”

  Adele nodded. “The hostel will be locked up for the night.”

  “Oh Lord! What are we going to do?”

  “Well, I don’t fancy walking home in the dark and camping outside till they open up. I didn’t think you wanted to leave. You seemed to be having such a good time or I would have warned you earlier. We’ll stay here and catch the first bus back.”

  “Okay, we can't do anything else, can we?”

  "No."

  Gigi sat down beside her. They were silent for a while, watching the stars and smoking. Gigi’s tiredness began to catch up with her and her eyes started to close. They went back inside and curled up on some cushions. They had no trouble sleeping through the music, or the noise of people stepping over them.

  The next thing Gigi knew, she was being shaken awake. She opened her eyes to see a shadow looming over her, large and black and wearing a tall helmet. She was so groggy that, at first, she didn’t u
nderstand the words he said. Then she realised he was a policeman. He asked her what she had seen. Since she’d been asleep, she had nothing to tell him. He seemed to be used to people in her condition. He spoke pleasantly and, after a while, left her alone again.

  If he’d asked Maude and me about the incident, we could have told him. Few policemen can sense us, however, so he didn’t ask. I’m not sure we would have enlightened him. I don’t suppose we’re allowed to interfere with the course of justice. I can’t remember anything in the Action Pack to stop us, though. Can you imagine a couple of ghosts giving evidence in court? Pity it can’t happen.

  The policeman finished talking to the other people and left. Fully awake now, Gigi went looking for Adele, swaying from the alcohol and lack of sleep.

  “What happened?”

  Adele was standing in the front garden along with everyone else. “A crash woke me up. A few louts smashed some car windscreens down the street. Didn’t you hear all the noise?”

  “I didn’t hear a thing; I slept right through.”

  “They made a Dickens of a row. Someone rang the police but they got here too late to catch anyone, as usual. The lads who did it tried to gatecrash this party. They were so drunk no one would let them in. They scarpered as soon as the lights went on in people’s windows.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Almost six. They’re brewing up in the kitchen. Do you want anything?”

  “God, yes!”

  Gigi and Adele had some tea and a quick wash. Gigi went looking for her friend to say thanks. She’s been properly brought up, although everyone’s more casual in this era. I quite like informality, though. Politeness can be stuffy, even if my mother wouldn’t be pleased with me for saying so. Gigi’s friend was nowhere to be seen, so the girls shouted “thanks” into the crowd and left. Behind them the music started up again.

  “I must be getting old. Parties tire me out.”

  “If you’re old, what does that make me?” Adele asked.

  “Ancient!”

  They walked to the nearest bus stop, laughing. On the bus, Gigi said, “I don’t want to go back yet. I feel fuzzy. The sun’s shining. Can we go for a walk instead?”

  “Why not? Let’s walk in the park and get the fumes out of our heads.”

  The day was beautiful, with a blue sky and sunshine, warm for late October. The air was fresh, as it often is in a city on a Sunday morning, without traffic fumes or crowds. They even heard the birds singing in the trees. The girls got off the bus at Marble Arch and walked across to Hyde Park. Once they left Speakers’ Corner behind, the place had a dreamlike quality. Maude and I strolled behind them. We enjoyed the autumn trees gilded by sunshine and the silence after the racket of the night before. Then one of the crystals on Maude’s bracelet began to flash and she exclaimed, “That’s my alarm! Things are due to start happening right now. Got to get cracking.”

  “What sort of things?”

  “Watch.”

  “Go to the Serpentine café,” Maude whispered in Adele’s ear. She uncorked one of Leilani’s bottles and waved the scent gently beneath her nose. The aroma of freshly-ground coffee surrounded us.

  Adele's nose wrinkled. “I can smell coffee and we’re right in the middle of the park.”

  “What a brilliant idea; I’m thirsty. The café must be open.”

  They sat at a table by the window, where they could see people feeding the ducks. They ordered toast and coffee and settled down. The same dreamlike peace, a combination of tiredness and the magic of Sunday in the city, fell over them. Then the harmony shattered abruptly.

  “Good grief!” Adele hid her face behind a menu.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Ralph and his family just walked in.”

  “Grey hair, wearing a green shirt, two children?”

  “Right. Can you move over a bit and hide me from him?”

  “You're okay. He’s got his back to you.”

  Adele lowered her menu gingerly. The family sat round a table on the far side of the room. As Ralph stood up to order their food, he laid a hand gently on his wife’s shoulder. The youngsters, a boy and a girl, wanted to feed the ducks. Their mother was smiling as she said “Yes, later”. They made a perfect picture of a happy family.

  “Oh Lord,” Adele murmured, watching them closely.

  “Shall we go?” Gigi whispered.

  “Your coffee isn't finished.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Come on.”

  They sneaked out. Once they were safely outside, though, Adele hesitated.

  “Gigi, would you mind if we waited for them? I’ve never seen Ralph with his family before. He’s told me he doesn’t get on with his wife…”

  “I’m sorry, Adele, it didn’t seem that way to me,” Gigi said sympathetically.

  “Nor to me. I’ve wanted to see them together for ages, but I’ve always stopped myself from going anywhere near. He said he was only staying with her because of the children. Yet they're all so happy. We've met them by pure accident and I’ll never get another chance like this.”

  “We’ll wait until they come out and follow them.”

  They waited. The family came out and went to feed the ducks. Ralph laughed as he held onto the back of his daughter’s dress. She leaned over to throw crumbs into the water. After the bread was all gone, the family bought ice creams and strolled towards the swings. Ralph held his wife’s hand, while the children ran on ahead. They spoke softly together, the way people do who have been married for a long time.

  “Come away. I can’t stand any more of this.”

  Adele hurried down the nearest path, with Gigi chasing after her. She only stopped because she couldn’t cross the busy road. The lights changed and Adele darted into Oxford Street.

  “I am so sorry, Adele,” Gigi gasped, when she caught her up. Adele’s eyes were wet and Gigi gave her a tissue.

  “I’m such a fool.” Adele blew her nose angrily. “I think I knew, deep inside, Ralph loves Edith, but I didn’t want to believe it.”

  “You said he wouldn’t leave her for you.”

  “I believed he was staying for the sake of the children, but he loves her.”

  “He isn't faithful to her, though, is he? He can’t love her all that much.”

  “He's not the first man to cheat on a wife he’s fond of. Perhaps she isn't good in bed or something. Some men seem to think they have a goddamn right to make love to several women at a time. I sometimes wonder if they can be faithful. Why should we even expect them to be when it’s not in their nature?”

  “Don’t be like that.”

  “Ralph lied to me and I believed him. He’s had the best of both worlds for years. He has a loving wife with me to spice things up for him twice a week. There could even be someone else on the side. I thought he was different from the rest and cared for me. I can’t believe I was so stupid.” Adele was fighting back more tears.

  “Come on.” Gigi steered her into the nearest pub. “I’m going to buy you a drink. Then we'll go home and sleep, with the help of the gin in your wardrobe. You’re tired. That makes the whole thing worse.”

  Adele smiled wanly. “I’m glad you were with me, Gigi. At least I know what to do now. I’ve been dithering for such a long time. If I keep seeing Ralph, it’s not fair on his wife or on me. The only one who gains is Ralph and he’s using us. What a bastard!”

  “Atta girl!” Maude clapped her hands in delight.

  “Well done, you,” I told her. “Amazing what the simple aroma of coffee will do.”

  29th October 1967, Sunday evening, London.

  Adele fell asleep before Jane literally bounced into the room. Gigi had tucked her up with a hot water bottle and a glass of gin. In spite of her troubles, she had drifted off.

  “Hush!” Gigi dragged Jane out into the corridor. “Don’t disturb her.”

  “What’s the matter with her?”

  “Oh the poor love,” Jane said, after Gigi told her about Ralph.
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  “You look as if something’s happened to you too.”

  “Something did.”

  “Well, come downstairs and tell me.”

  They went into the large empty sitting room. Hardly anyone uses it because it's cold and bleak, but a good place to go if you don’t want to be overheard.

  “We met Uncle Hugh at the station,” Jane began her tale, “and I introduced Tommy. They were both polite with each other, too polite. We went into a café and chatted for a long time. I was beginning to worry. Uncle’s usually easy to get on with and I’ve never seen Tommy so uptight. When the man at the next table dropped his newspaper, Uncle Hugh picked it up and gave it back to him. The headline on the last page was about rugby and everything changed in an instant, like magic. Uncle Hugh is a huge fan and Tommy used to play Rugby League at school. He comes from St Helens and supports the Saints. They discussed the prospects for the next England game and acted as if they had known each other for years. Rugby broke the ice.”

  “Lucky,” I murmured.

  “Nothing lucky about it. When I saw the headline, I knew I had the perfect opening. Their mutual liking for rugby was in the information Ariane found at Angels Central. So I jogged the man’s elbow to make him drop the paper. The rest, as they say is history.” Leilani grinned.

  “We went to Tommy’s flat,” Jane continued, “and started talking seriously. The pair of them sounded like something out of a book. Uncle didn’t actually use the words ‘what are your intentions with this woman?’” Jane giggled. “Just as well. Tommy's intentions are most improper.”

  “So he’s quite normal.”

  “Uncle Hugh asked Tommy lots of questions about himself and our plans. He agreed living in London would be easier for us. Tommy reassured him that, if the band doesn’t make it, he'll give up casual labouring and get a more secure job. We covered all the important things and Uncle Hugh told us we had given him a lot to think about. He left to catch the train home. Tommy didn’t go to the station with him, but I did. I wanted some time with Uncle on our own. Uncle thinks Tommy is a decent lad who obviously loves me. He’s going to try to help us. He'll speak to Mum and Dad when he finds the right moment to bring up the subject. He told me nothing will be easy or immediate, but he thinks he can persuade them to meet Tommy eventually. If anyone can, he can. Getting Uncle Hugh involved was a brilliant idea. Thanks so much.” Jane gave Gigi a hug.