Ghost Diaries 1_Gigi's Guardian_Paranormal Romance

by Michele McGrath

  “Do you think he would?”

  “He might. He does care for me a bit and the frightening thing is - I might respond.”

  “When are you seeing him again?” Gigi asked.

  “Tonight.”

  “Where?”

  “We go to this boarding house. The landlady is supposed to believe we’re married, but I’m sure she thinks nothing of the kind. She doesn't ask awkward questions, though, as long as the money keeps coming in.”

  “You’d be better off telling him in a public place.”

  “We always meet in the pub first,” Adele said thoughtfully.

  “Why not there?”

  “I could, I suppose.” Adele sounded doubtful.

  “Tonight?” Gigi blurted out and then stopped herself. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t put pressure on you. It’s none of my business when or even if you do it at all.”

  “Don’t worry. I realise I’m not doing what I said I’d do. I don’t like rows - too many of them in my life already. I am dodging the issue.”

  “Perhaps this is your last ever row?”

  “I should be so lucky. I’ve got to do the dirty deed sometime, I suppose. Better now than later. I’ll tell him tonight. I will.” She sounded as if she was trying to convince herself.

  7th November 1967, Tuesday evening, London.

  Adele and Maude came in, looking pale and drawn.

  “How did it go?”

  “Rather shattering to tell the truth,” Adele replied. “At one point I thought he was going to punch me, but he didn’t. Ralph’s never hit me, which makes him almost unique among my boyfriends.” Tears sparkled in her eyes.

  “Would telling me help?” Gigi asked gently. “You don’t need to, of course, if you want to keep it private.”

  “Probably better if I tell you and get the whole thing out of my system,” Adele said. “He met me in the pub and we had a quiet drink, as we often do. He started to describe some of the problems he’s been having at work. I usually switch off, because he’s boring on that subject. I learned to say ‘um’ or ‘ah’ in the right places a long time ago. Tonight I kept waiting for an opening. When he started to pick up his coat, I couldn’t leave things any longer. I just blurted out, ‘Ralph, I have something to tell you.’ He sat down again and I told him.”

  “How did he take the news?”

  “Badly. He started to shout,” Adele’s voice quivered. “He’s never called me a tramp before. Others did, but not him. It hurt.”

  “That's nasty.”

  “You were right about telling him in the pub. Ralph’s not the type of man to make a scene in public and let other people overhear his business. Everyone stared at us when he raised his voice, so he shut up. Just as well, I think the landlord was going to throw us out. Ralph said nothing for a moment and then he started all over again, Quarrelling in a whisper is too difficult, though.” Adele gave a watery laugh. “He stopped and stormed out, leaving me alone with everyone’s eyes on me. I didn’t go after him. I might have done so once but, this time, I just left and came back here.”

  “He believed your story?”

  “I can be convincing when I want to be. He’s always had a secret fear that one day I would leave him for a younger man. I think the blow to his manhood is hurting him most. He’ll miss the sex, even if it isn’t as exciting now. He’ll find a replacement or make do with his wife for a while. I pity her.”

  “So do I, but she must realise what he’s like.”

  “Not necessarily. He’s good at keeping secrets. Anyway, if she suspected what could she do? She has two small children and she doesn’t work. She’d have very little to live on as a divorced woman. I can walk away and she can’t.” Adele’s resolve gave way and she started to weep properly.

  Gigi went to get the gin, but Adele stopped her. “Would you make me a cup of tea, please? If I start to drink gin, I’ll finish the whole lot and I can’t bear the thought of having a hangover as well.”

  By the time Gigi came back, Adele had washed her face and got into bed. Her eyes were red, but she wasn’t crying any more. She took the mug.

  “Here’s to freedom,” she said with a catch in her voice.

  “Freedom,” Gigi echoed the toast. “Health, happiness and true love for all of us,” she murmured under her breath, crossing her fingers.

  “Adele is brave, isn’t she?” I murmured to Maude.

  “I told you so.” Maude nodded. She turned her head away abruptly, but not before I had seen the shimmer of tears in her eyes too. Old softie, she’s not as hard as she’d like us to believe.

  “Well, that’s your first task done,” I said, trying to divert her. “Now for number two. Let’s get busy.”

  We tried, but Gigi slept restlessly, without dreaming. Adele hid her dreams behind a thick green hedge, almost as if she was keeping her thoughts away from her own self; she was certainly successful in hiding them from us.

  16th November 1967, Thursday, London.

  “Why don’t you follow James and find out where he goes?” Adele asked, when Gigi told her he was going away again. “I would, if I wanted to know whether someone was telling me the truth.”

  The three girls were holding a council of war. Jane had returned, reasonably happy. She hadn’t spoken to her uncle again, but he’d warned her to be patient. Adele told her tale, but she seemed to be over the worst, at least on the surface.

  “She learned not to show her feelings at a young age, after her mother died,” Maude explained to us. “Poor little girl.”

  The talk turned to James. “He’d spot me, if I followed him, and there’d be an awful row. It would definitely be all over between us and I couldn’t blame him. I don’t want that to happen. I hated not being with him.”

  “He wouldn’t spot us. He’s never met Jane or me. When does he leave London?”

  “Right after work on Friday, I suppose.”

  “Point him out and we'll follow him for you.”

  “It’s my late night on Friday and he’ll be gone long before I can get away.”

  “Not this week then, but what do you think about the idea in general?”

  “Gigi? You’re the one who has to say yes or no,” Jane asked.

  “I’m not sure. I want to. I’m afraid of finding out the truth. Adele’s made me doubt him. It's on the tip of my tongue all the time now. I’m worried I’ll blurt out my suspicions by accident when I’m with him. We could try next Friday. I’m off early. Are either of you?”

  “Friday's my half day,” said Jane.

  “I can ask for time off,” Adele offered. “I’ve done enough overtime, so the boss will let me take a few hours in lieu. I’ll tell him I’m going to the dentist. Do you want me to?”

  “Perhaps, maybe, I’m still not sure.”

  “Well, I’m the last one to advise you to make your mind up,” Adele said. “I dithered about Ralph for weeks. I'm so much happier now, in a strange sort of way. You will be too.”

  “Give me more time to think things through. Something might happen to make my mind up for me.”

  “She's right,” I told Maude and Leilani. “The schedule says ‘Expect trouble this week’.”

  In the meanwhile, Gigi’s going to meet Finn again. The cream he gave her made her fingers far less sore. She used the surgical gloves as well and they let her move more easily than ones she’s tried before. She’s wearing them when she’s mixing and applying dye, which is the worst process of all, because of the chemicals. She’s bought Finn a present, a small bottle of Irish whiskey, to say ‘thank you’.

  19th November 1967, Sunday, London.

  Gigi and Finn went to see ‘In the Heat of the Night’, which has just been released. I’d seen it already and it's worth seeing again. I sat behind them with Thelma. She prefers musicals but she enjoyed this film too.

  “Sydney Poitier is such a good actor and so handsome!”

  ‘In the Heat of the Night’ is ahead of its time. People were rather shocked at first. The st
ory is about a black cop who goes to the deep south of America to solve a murder. He comes up against vicious race prejudice and gains the reluctant respect of the local white sheriff. The storyline is rather tame now. In those days the film showed everybody the problem of having the wrong colour skin in the wrong place. Americans already knew the reality, of course; the Sixties was the era of the fight for Civil Rights. British people were shaken by the violence.

  Afterwards, Finn said, “I admire people who go into dangerous situations to help others. I don’t think I’d be brave enough. Demos can be frightening at times, but to face real hostility....”

  “I agree. Racial prejudice isn't nice when it happens to you. Name calling and discrimination are awful, but physical violence terrifies me.” Gigi’s emotion was so heartfelt Finn looked at her in astonishment.

  “Did something like that happen to you?” he asked her.

  “Look at me!” Gigi replied, stopping and staring at him, her voice tense. “Of course it did!”

  “You sound as if you had a bad time. What happened?”

  “Name calling mostly. I was ‘Whitey’ in Antigua and ‘Nigger’ in Norway. I never, ever, fitted in anywhere. That’s horrible when you’re little and don’t understand why.”

  “Kids call names all over the world. I was ‘Carrots’ in school and some of my friends call me ‘Red’ to this day.”

  “It’s not the same. Lots of people are born with red hair. Hardly anyone has one black parent and one white, except me.”

  “True. Nobody can change the way they’re born. I’m red-haired, you’re beautiful.”

  He looked so sincere, Gigi’s anger suddenly slipped away and she giggled. “When are you getting your eyes tested?”

  “My eyesight is perfect, thank you. Don’t tell me you haven't been called ‘beautiful’ before?”

  “Actually, no.”

  “Other people need their eyes testing, not me.”

  Gigi couldn’t help preening herself a little and she snuggled up to him.

  “She is lovely,” Thelma told me. “I agree with Finn. I can understand why he’s so attracted to her, but their children are going to be a glorious mixture.”

  “They might not have any!”

  “Keep the faith, dear. Finn’s more in love with her every time they meet. She likes being with him and she’s grateful for all the things he’s done for her. Not a bad start for a few weeks work.”

  “You’re right, of course.” I immediately felt more cheerful.

  “I am. I’ve seen this sort of thing before and we’re working well together, which helps.”

  “Who couldn’t work well with you?” Thelma’s fun to be with and unpredictable - you never know what she will do next.

  “You’d be surprised. Several people say they won’t work with me ever again.”

  “Who? They must be mad.”

  Thelma giggled. “That old rogue, Francis Drake, for a start. He tried to give me orders. He even wanted to flog me, when I interfered with what he was doing on our last case together. He kept talking about ‘insubordination in the ranks’, as if I was one of his crew. Poor things. He's a real tyrant, although the men who sailed with him seem to love the old wretch. He went about everything the wrong way. I stepped in to prevent a disaster. Brenda must have had too much Nectar when she assigned him to his client. She was a timid little girl who was going on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. He doesn’t know a lot about women or timidity. He tried to use levitation, of all things, to encourage her to walk again and he kept dropping her. So careless, but he thought it was funny. The poor girl was already suffering and he made her worse. I put a stop to his antics sharpish. He didn’t mean to harm her; he just picked the wrong technique. Now he says I’m too bossy and he won’t work with me any more. The pot calling the kettle black, in my opinion. Florence Nightingale is another person who avoids me. She wants things done her way and modern medicine is a bit too technical for her. As for anyone answering her back!” She pulled an urchin’s face and I giggled.

  “Pity I never saw you together.”

  “An exciting experience, but I prefer to cooperate with other Guardians. Things are much less stressful, if you can respect the team who are working on the same assignment. Like now.”

  She gave me a wide smile and a nod. My confidence got a real boost to know I had gained Thelma’s trust. As for Francis Drake, I hope I’ll hear that story in full one day.

  24th November 1967, Friday, London.

  “Do you fancy seeing the Christmas lights turned on?” Jane asked the others.

  “I thought you’d be going with Tommy,” replied Adele, who was lounging on the bed smoking a cigarette. I keep forgetting how many people smoke in the Sixties. Everything reeks of tobacco. The odour suppressers in my kit are almost used up.

  “He’s trying to get a job finished. They’re behind due to the weather. I don't know when he’ll be able to leave. He’ll be too late anyway and I want to watch the switch-on. What about you two?”

  “I wouldn’t mind. Are you doing anything, Gigi?”

  “Not tonight.”

  “Neither of your young men in attendance?” Adele feigned incredulity.

  “Don’t you start!”

  The three girls made their way through the crowds to Carnaby Street. The streetlights were off, making everything dim, especially as all the shops had darkened their windows. People stood around, chatting. A real feeling of expectancy filled the air. The girls found a doorway with some steps, so they could peer over people’s heads to the small raised platform.

  “Let’s stop here,” Jane suggested, just as the loudspeaker boomed out,

  “Ladies and Gentlemen…”

  “Who’s he?” Gigi asked.

  “The Mayor.”

  “Who’s switching the lights on?”

  “The Bee Gees, it was in the paper,” Jane replied.

  Gigi peered forward. Three shadowy outlines stood behind the Mayor.

  “I love ‘Massachusetts’. Don’t you? I always want to dance.”

  “Hush!”

  “…great pleasure to switch on the Christmas…”

  The crowd gasped as lights of all colours sparkled on their upturned faces.

  “Oh, how lovely,” Gigi exclaimed, pointing to the snowflakes which seemed to hang in the sky.

  “One year they had rainbows,” Adele remembered. “They were fantastic. I’ve never forgotten them.”

  “Let’s go to Regent Street and see what the others are like.”

  With a flash, the street lights came back on. The shop windows glittered once again, dazzling the three girls, until their eyes adjusted. Walking along the crowded pavements wasn’t easy. They joined a stream of people all heading in the same direction.

  Adele stopped so suddenly, outside one of the shops, Jane bumped into her. Adele pointed longingly at one of the displays. “Look at those red shoes. Last year I would have walked straight in and bought them.”

  “This year you’re rich. Think of all the money you’ve saved for India. Anyway they’re bound to be painful. Anything so stunning always is,” Gigi said.

  “True.”

  “Oh look!” Gigi exclaimed as they turned the corner into Regent Street. “The lights are like castles in the air.”

  “I think they're supposed to be,” Jane remarked, “The Standard called them ‘castles in the clouds’.”

  “That one’s mine.” Gigi pointed to the glittering turrets above her head. “And you’re all invited to the house-warming party.”

  “Who’s in it with you?” Jane asked.

  “James, of course.”

  “Not Finn?” Adele teased.

  “Maybe he’ll visit us.”

  “Well, that’s mine and Tommy’s.” Jane pointed.

  “And all the little Janes and Tommies.”

  “Not yet,” Jane giggled.

  “There’s yours, Adele, in a far-off land full of mystery and romance.”

  A few white flakes
fell, sparkling in the coloured lights and touching the girl’s faces with icy fingers. “Are these snowflakes?” Gigi asked, holding up her hand to catch them. “They’re perfect; I’ve never seen snow falling before. We only went to Norway in the summer and my Gran lives a long way from the mountains.”

  “Nice to come from a sunny climate,” Adele exclaimed.

  “You’ll be in one yourself when we are freezing here next winter.” Gigi laughed.

  “If everything goes well.” Adele crossed her fingers.

  “What shall we do now?” Jane asked.

  “Go to the pub?” Adele suggested.

  “Have we got enough money?”

  “I’ve been paid.” Gigi said.

  “Adele?”

  “I can afford one drink.”

  The pub was noisy and full of people, but the girls forced their way to the bar and ordered their shandies.

  “Crikey! We’ll be squashed. Come on.” Adele moved towards a slightly less crowded corner. Then Gigi caught her by the arm and stopped her.

  “It’s that cow, Selina," she hissed. "I don’t want her to spot me.”

  She was too late. “Hello,” said a voice behind them, “I thought I recognised you. Did you enjoy the opera?” Rupert was holding a couple of pints.

  Gigi turned to face him and replied, “Super. Wonderful music. Thank you so much for the tickets.” She smiled, wondering what he would look like, if she told him she’d detested the evening. He had only been trying to be kind, though, and he didn't deserve being blamed for the quarrel.

  “Join us?” The girls had no way to escape and followed him as he pushed through the crowd.

  “Oh hello,” Selina greeted Gigi, “lovely to meet you again.” She does insincerity really well. Gigi introduced Jane and Adele.

  “Are you all hairdressers?” Selina has also lost none of her sarcasm.

  “Oh no,” Jane said sweetly, “I’m a nurse and Adele’s a secretary. I work in the operating theatre, cutting people up. I only do so physically of course.” Gigi had told her all about Selina and Jane decided to take a small revenge. She hates anyone who hurts her friends.