The Harbinger

by Pat Adams-Wright

  After pondering for a moment, Leah decided to take off her dressing gown and draped it over the back of the chair. Then she turned on the ring and made sure the dial was right in the centre. She glanced at Ellie, awaiting her next instructions.

  “Now the next bit is slightly tricky because it all depends on how wet the bacon is.”

  Leah scrunched up her eyebrows but didn’t make a comment.

  “Right, fry the bacon in the oil until it becomes crispy. Then move it to one side, away from the heat.” The task only took a couple of minutes to complete. “Okay, now whisk the eggs in the bowl and add a little salt and pepper. Then put the butter in the saucepan to melt.” Leah hardly blinked while she did as per instructions, her tongue poking out the side of her mouth while she concentrated.

  Ellie looked in the saucepan, placing a protective hand on Leah’s shoulder. “See those bubbles appearing around the edges of the butter? That means you can put the eggs in now,” she explained. “Make sure you add the liquid going away from you.”

  Leah slowly tipped the eggs into the pan, being very careful not to splash any of the mixture.

  “That’s really good, Leah. Looks as though you were born to cook.” Ellie hugged Leah’s shoulders, eliciting a broad grin. After throwing in the bacon and stirring slowly, Ellie passed some Parmesan she’d grated for her. “There’s the last ingredient. Just a couple of turns, then we’re done.”

  Ellie made the toast while Leah grabbed the pan to start dishing up the food. Holly’s head appeared around the door. When Leah saw her, she put her hands together and jumped rigidly on the spot. “Mum! Mum! Look what I’ve made!” she croaked excitedly, pointing to the pan.

  “Well, my darling girl, I don’t know what it tastes like, but it certainly smells delicious. I’m glad to see you have your voice back too. What a good start to the day. Any chance I could share your breakfast? Do you have enough?”

  Holly looked at Ellie and mouthed Good morning.

  Ellie wiggled her fingers in response to the greeting. “Yes, of course, you can have some of the breakfast—we made plenty. One slice of toast or two?” Ellie enquired.

  After clearing away the breakfast things, they all settled down to watch a comedy film on TV. None of them had bothered to change their clothing or have a shower. In Ellie’s case, she could do both later before she went home. The thought saddened her. She loved spending time with Holly and Leah, getting to know both a little better. She would leave with memories of Leah’s newfound talents and Holly soaking in a tub full of bubbles. She thought she might linger on the second one later, allowing her imagination to fill in the gaps.

  The opening credits to the film had just finished when Holly’s mobile bleeped. She looked down, and when she saw the name of the message sender, she looked at the ceiling and rolled her eyes. She picked up her mobile and walked into the kitchen. Leah immediately left the settee where she’d been with her mum and joined Ellie. Her eyes never left the TV screen, but she was obviously aware it was her father on the phone. Pretty soon, there was a raised voice from the kitchen.

  “I’ve told you, Phil, she’s much better. Her voice has returned, it’s just an octave lower, but it will soon be back to normal.” There was a brief pause. “Look!” shouted Holly. “I’ve told you, she’s fine. We’ve just started watching a film, and I don’t want you interrupting. Give it a couple of hours, then you can do what you please!”

  Ellie heard the exasperation in Holly’s voice. At the moment, Phil thought it was his right to do as he pleased with regard to seeing Leah—even if it meant upsetting the plans Holly had in mind for her daughter. Ellie appreciated he must be upset when his child was ill. Even so, he should have faith in his ex-wife that she was capable of doing what needed to be done. She didn’t need him skulking around the periphery, sowing seeds of doubt and stirring up trouble. Why was he doing it? To induce confusion in his daughter’s mind? To prove Holly couldn’t cope on her own? On the other hand, was it simply to undermine the relationship between mother and daughter? Whatever his aim, it wasn’t pleasant for Leah to hear and watch. Ellie noticed Leah’s body stiffen when her mother went into the kitchen, so she placed a protective arm around her shoulders and gave a small squeeze. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought the child was angry.

  Holly walked into the room with her face like thunder. “Leah, your dad is calling to see you after the film, to see how you are.”

  Leah tutted and croaked loudly. “You told him I was better, didn’t you? Why doesn’t he listen?”

  Holly lifted her eyebrows and shook her head. “I don’t know, sweetheart,” she answered. “You know how he has to see things for himself.” This time it was Leah’s turn to shake her head, cutting the conversation with her mother dead, as she concentrated on watching the film.

  Although the movie was a comedy, the laughs throughout it were rare. It wasn’t that the movie was bad, just the thoughts of those watching held little or no concentration. It wasn’t a surprise to Ellie when Phil Simons arrived early… ten minutes before the end. He did knock on the door before he came in, but his entrance received a cool greeting.

  It was Leah who spoke first. “You’ll have to wait, Dad,” she said, sotto voce. “The film’s not finished yet.”

  “Well,” he answered, “things have changed around here. I would never have thought you’d ignore me in favour of a film.”

  Holly turned her head and shot him a look of pure steely resolve. “Sit down and let us watch the end in peace. It won’t be long.”

  Although she tried to watch, Ellie could tell that Phil’s eyes were boring into her from across the room, charging it with negativity. Only when she remembered she still had an arm around the girl’s shoulder did she understand why. Honestly, the man was bordering on an unhealthy obsession. She understood parents had to be careful with the people whose history they didn’t know, as she had been with Alex. What she didn’t understand was why he wasn’t attempting to do that. He hadn’t spoken to her in greeting or anything else. It was almost as though he thought she would harm Leah in some way. Had he forgotten she’d rescued his daughter from what could have been a perilous situation? In addition, if she was good enough for Holly, why wasn’t she good enough for him? All she felt from him was hostility.

  Ellie tried to hide a smile. Whatever point Phil Simon had come to make, it had fallen flat on its face. She wished he would do the same.

  12

  Holly kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet under her behind, quickly jiggling her body for maximum comfort. She let out a long breath. She felt so completely at home in this house. She didn’t know why, but the feel of it wanted to make her smile. Her own house was pleasant, with all the right gadgets in place, but she didn’t really feel at home there. Not like here. The reason wasn’t that Leah was here either, although it was an added benefit. It had more to do with the way the colours and furniture were arranged and used—obviously something to do with Ellie’s career as an interior designer. She obviously knew what she was doing.

  “Do I need to bring the sugar in?” said Ellie, her voice drifting in from the kitchen. “I have a terrible memory for people’s habits… sorry.”

  “Yes, I’ll need sugar, please. Sweet tooth, I’m afraid. Especially after today. It had such a promising start, too.” The end of Holly’s sentence held a sigh, the thoughts of her ex-husband dispelled when she heard the rattling of crockery, and the smell of fresh coffee drifted through to the lounge. Holly stroked the seat of the leather settee feeling it cool under her fingers, as she waited for Ellie to appear at the door. The thought of spending an hour or two with Ellie cheered Holly up. It was as though she’d known Ellie a lifetime. For now, she put all thoughts of romance to one side. She didn’t think either of them was ready for the next step. No words had passed between them on the subject. It was just something she sensed. She still had Leah and Phil to concentrate on, and Ellie was somewhere in the long process of grieving for her son. />
  Ellie came through the door, stooping forward as she carried the heavy tray. “Sorry it took so long. Bloody kettle blew so I had to change the fuse.”

  “Ah,” replied Holly knowingly. “A truly independent woman.”

  Ellie laughed heartily, shaking her head. “I can assure you, if I had someone around who could do it, they would be doing it. I didn’t take independence as an option. I wasn’t given a choice.”

  Ellie’s eyes took on a faraway look and Holly, taken a little aback by Ellie’s comment, felt the need to lift the mood. “Ah, diddums den,” she replied with a smirk. “If you’re going to go all woe is me on me, I’m afraid I will have to return to the bosom of my dysfunctional family.”

  Ellie broke off pouring the coffee and playfully tapped Holly’s arm. “Behave yourself! Or I will send you to sit on the naughty step.”

  Holly let out a loud belly laugh. “Actually, I really don’t want to be in Phil’s company right now. He’s beginning to aggravate me. He was never like this when we were married. He was more than happy to pass the responsibility of Leah to me. He put pressure on me to give up work, giving Leah full-time attention. I didn’t really like my job.” Her mood became subdued. “Actually, it wasn’t really the job, but more the person in charge. So I was more than happy to oblige. Spending the early years with my daughter was priceless.” Her face looked pensive. “Just lately, though, any trust he had in me seems to have gone out the window. He snipes continually at everything I have to say. He’s getting on my bloody nerves. We used to agree on decisions we made for Leah, but now it seems it’s either his way or no way.” Her throat emitted a low growl.

  Distraction needed at this point in time, thought Ellie. She took an initial swig of her coffee, wondering if it was cool enough to drink. “What work did you used to do?” she asked, genuinely interested. Then she slapped her hand to her forehead. “The library! I am so sorry. I forgot.” Ellie looked crestfallen.

  Holly seemed surprised by her question. Then set off giggling at Ellie’s bad memory. “Actually, being a librarian was never my true vocation. I trained and qualified as an English teacher. I managed to get a post in Exeter, but unfortunately, the headmistress was a bitch and made my life a living hell. Happily, I’d discovered I was pregnant, so it was easy to resign and tell her where to shove her job. Some of my friends there saw what was happening and told me they’d back me if I wanted to go down the complaints route. But I had other fish to fry. Not long afterwards, Phil accepted a promotion up here. After we got here, the cracks started to show, and we decided to divorce. ”

  Ellie settled back in her chair. Feeling the back and sides hugging her made her feel secure. She took a large gulp from her mug and looked at Holly. “When did you get your library work?”

  “I studied for my qualifications at home after Leah was born. It was hard going, but she was a great baby, so I did manage to get a decent night’s sleep most of the time. I started working part-time when she was six, then full-time when she turned eight. Children of that age go through items of clothing so fast, I felt guilty at Phil having to provide everything. It worked well, too.” Holly looked wistful. “But as we know, situations change. Redundancy came along, last in first out, of course. My savings eventually ran out. Now here we are having to rely on Phil again.” Her eyes were downcast. Not like the Holly that Ellie had come to know. “I am looking for a full-time job again, though. My only worry will be the travelling time to wherever it might be on top of a full day’s work and what I’ll do with Leah.” Holly looked pensive. “This library work is just to keep me busy, so I don’t sit at home wallowing. Plus, I will have another reference. What’s your story?”

  Ellie drained her mug and stretched out to put it on the coffee table. “Mine is boring really. I was always fascinated by people’s homes. Whenever my mother took me to her friend’s houses, she would always warn me before we set off. ‘Don’t mention, colour, curtains, carpets or furniture,’ she would say sternly. Of course, being a child, by the time we got to our destination, I’d have forgotten what she’d said. Her friends seemed amused and happy to share. My mum, however, was not happy. In the end, she stopped visiting until I was much older. By then, of course, I didn’t want to go anyway.” Ellie laughed throatily.

  “So you were always into design then?”

  Ellie nodded. “Yes, I suppose subconsciously, I must have been. I did a degree course, got it, and then worked for a design company for ten years. It was only when a change of management occurred did things go decidedly sour. A brother and sister were the new owners of the company. They had their own ideas and wanted us to do their bidding. I, along with three co-workers, left within the space of four months. It was time to strike out on my own, but it was a daunting prospect. I’d had my first round of in vitro fertilisation, so obviously, money was a factor I had to consider. The second round worked, thank goodness. Mum and Dad were supportive and said they would help me in any way I needed. I was very lucky.”

  Holly nodded as a faraway look came to her eyes. Ellie suspected she was thinking of her own parents, and how at a crucial time in her life, there had been no support from them. Ellie carried on talking in the hope it would bring Holly back from her daydreaming.

  “Working from home meant no real overheads, so I could undercut the competition. Business cards and word of mouth have made me a very comfortable living. Of course, the new design software programmes are excellent. It means the clients can see how their homes will look before and after completion. It gives such clarity. Virtual tours and all that jazz. It’s not always a hands-on job, either. Sometimes, the clients just want the designs and plans, preferring to get their own builders and decorators. Like the one I’m doing at the moment.”

  Holly’s mind now seemed to be concentrating, as she joined in the conversation. “I think all you would need to do is show the clients around your own home. It’s still a home, though and not a show house, and that can’t be easy to achieve. You have a definite gift.” Holly looked at the clock. “Good heavens! Look at the time. I get talking to you and time flies.” She sat for a few long moments, her mind ticking over. “Do you fancy playing hooky?”

  Ellie’s eyes narrowed. “Hooky from what?” Ellie didn’t understand what Holly was saying.

  “From our lives! That’s what from. Let’s be spontaneous and intrepid.” Holly fished out her phone from her bag and began texting quickly. When she’d finished, she dropped it back into her bag, a self-satisfied look on her face.

  “What have you done?” asked Ellie, her voice registering lower than normal.

  Holly looked smug. “I’ve just texted Phil and told him I’d be back around nine-thirty, he should feed Leah her dinner, and later, see her into bed. I’ve told him I’ll be busy until then. What a shame he has a date tonight at half past seven.” Both women chuckled. “Serves him right. He said he wanted to spend time with his daughter. Now his wish has come true. The moral of the story is… be careful what you wish for.”

  Ellie was concerned. “Won’t he be angry?”

  Holly’s eyes smiled. “Absolutely livid!”

  Ellie swallowed hard at the thought of what might keep them busy until nine-thirty this evening.

  Ellie looked around the room she found herself sitting in. The floor had large fawn tiles with dirt ground into the grout, garish orange chairs that would have done justice to a sixties kitchen, and tables of a brownish grey edged in fluorescent sky-blue. Yes, it was their local Burger King restaurant. Add to that the screaming kids who’d gone too long without their tea, and weekend dads looking out of their depths, should have made it one of the worst experiences of Ellie’s life. Nevertheless, she could forgive it all, because she’d just had the most delicious burger she could ever remember.

  She stared down at the last few remaining fries. She could have forced them down, but no doubt, they would have made her sick. However, even though they were stone cold, she was still contemplating eating them. She heard low gig
gling coming from the other side of the table.

  “Go on, do it,” she heard Holly say in a low, conspiratorial voice. “Bugger the waistline,” followed by another fit of giggles.

  Ellie raised her eyes from the vision of the fries, under lowered lids, to take in Holly staring at her. She couldn’t help but laugh at the eager face, topped by the windswept blonde curls. The green eyes with their gold flecks stared unflinchingly.

  “I would if I could, but I can’t,” answered Ellie. “I do want to, they’re delicious, but I’d be sick. No doubt about it.” She took in her last vision of the fries before folding the wrapping around them, making a tiny parcel. “I must say, you do know how to show a girl a good time.”

  “Hey, I aim to please,” replied Holly as her eyes danced under knitted brows. “Next time… we’ll have onion rings as well. You have to ease slowly into these experiences, you know. Otherwise, you might get an attack of the vapours,” she said, dragging the back of her hand across her forehead.

  A man feeding a child in a buggy turned his head slowly, a deep furrow in his forehead. Obviously, not the kind of conversation he expected from two women in Burger King early on a Sunday evening.

  “Come on now,” said Holly looking at her phone. “We have to run—we don’t want to miss anything. I should just be able to get home before my curfew time.”

  The Palace Theatre was a little jewel in the crown of the town. Bijou. This was the way the local rag always described it in its numerous articles. It was indeed, small and elegant, but gave up its theatre antics in the mid-sixties due to dwindling audiences. The only thing it had done since then… was rot. Then along came the saviour in the form of Michael Devlin, who, three years ago, turned the general opinion of no redemption… into hope.