‘Blaze, can you order them some Kung Fu suits or whatever they’re called,’ he gulped, and both Blaze and Carrie smiled.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Fears, Tears and New Year’s Cheers
Three nights later it rained, and the following morning most of the snow had gone. They decided to go out for the day, but not all together. Some of the women felt like they were missing something. Carrie and Livvy went with them, but were dropped off in town, as were Paige and Claire who got off the coach at the pub they used to drink in. Michelle drove the limo to take George and Joseph where they needed to go. Blaze and Summer drove to a furniture store.
‘Well this is fun,’ said Paige, after being in the pub for an hour.
Claire looked around the bar which only had one other in there, an elderly man reading a newspaper. ‘It’s probably because you’re married now.’
‘No, silly, we used to have so much fun here. I thought I’d miss the place.’
‘We had our friends with us then, and when did either of us ever sit in a pub drinking orange juice?’
Paige laughed. ‘That’s true I guess, but don’t you miss the excitement of seeing each other after a few days apart?’
Claire shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Maybe, but I don’t miss all those times when I sat at home, alone, bored, and fed up.’
‘I forgot about those nights, thinking about it now it wasn’t always great.’
‘We would have lived together in the end.’
Paige took Claire’s hand. ‘I know, and it would have been sooner if not for my moods.’
‘It’s about time he told you why he left.’
‘I’m amazed how you put up with me.’
Claire toyed with her drink. ‘You know why, and yeah I’m still jealous of him.’
‘I never knew . . . we’ve only ever been friends.’
‘I know,’ said Claire, and nodded glumly. ‘I wish I had a friend like that.’
‘Like one who just walks away from you.’
‘Yeah, and I don’t like what he did, but you had him there when you really needed him . . . I never had a friend during school.’
‘You’ve lots now.’
‘And I’m beginning to miss them already.’
‘Me too, shall we go and find them?’
* * *
Carrie walked around some of her old haunts. She used to do it a lot after her ex-partner left her for someone else, someone who would do what she wanted. Carrie wasn’t like that. It saddened her, and would go walking around all the places they used to go, hoping she would come back. Her friends all told her to move on, but she couldn’t, and never knew why as she never loved her in that way. It was only the last few days in the mansion which brought it all back, her feelings were different now, and felt stupid for the time she lost because of it. I have a new life, a new home, a new family, and soon I’ll have the one I’ve waited all my life for. Carrie walked away realising her ex was just a stepping stone in her life.
* * *
Livvy was a happy little girl with loving parents. She didn’t have many uncles or aunties, and the ones she did have lived far away. It didn’t matter, as her parents showered her in love and gifts, she was daddies little princess. It was her mother who she spent most of the time with, cooking and cleaning, and although she didn’t really do anything, her mother made her feel special and important. Livvy did help in the garden where they had their own flower bed which they both took care of, and was thrilled when her first plant flowered. It was the dancing she loved the most, in front of the television to music videos. It was during one of these dances where her life was turned upside down. Livvy was just eight years old when her mother collapsed.
‘Mummy, wake up,’ she screamed. But she didn’t, and would never wake up again. They rushed her to hospital where she died, not even thirty years old, a brain tumour the doctor told them. Husband and daughter were inconsolable. Livvy had counselling and many hugs off her father, but that only lasted a couple of weeks. When she returned home from school one day she found her father drunk on the sofa, and for the next eight years she did all the cooking and cleaning. Her childhood died along with her mother.
Her father stopped going to work and money became tight, but always had enough for his drink. She had to beg him for money to buy food. That was when he was sober and sometimes she took it out of his wallet when he was asleep. He was never violent towards her, but would shout, and when he did she would go outside and sit by the flower bed she still looked after. It was her only link left to her mother.
At Christmas or birthdays Livvy would just lay in bed as her father wouldn’t acknowledge either. As she got older she grew, which gave her the problem of needing new clothes with little money to buy any. She solved the problem with the charity shops in town. The other children noticed and called her names, all except one, Donna Taylor, and they became best friends. Livvy found herself a paper round when she was old enough, and a weekend job at the local garden centre. The money wasn’t great, but needed as she dreamed of going to college when she left school. By the time she was sixteen she became a Goth, which her father didn’t like, and liked it even less when she told him she was gay. He kicked her out.
Livvy found herself in town with everything she owned in a suitcase, and nowhere to go. A couple of lads were insulting her in a threatening way, one of them had gotten right in her face and she cried. It wasn’t just the lads, but her whole life had come to this. One of the lads thought it was funny, until someone grabbed him from behind and threw him to the ground.
‘Leave her alone before I break something,’ said a red-haired woman.
‘You wanna try that on me?’ said a bigger lad.
‘I wouldn’t mind trying,’ said a blonde-haired woman.
‘I’m game,’ said another woman, with black hair, and the lads ran off.
‘Are you OK?’ the blonde-haired one asked Livvy?
‘No, my dad chucked me out because I’m gay,’ she said, and cried.
‘That’s disgusting,’ the red-haired woman said, and put her arm around her. ‘I’m Paige, and these are Claire and Carrie.’
‘I’m Livvy, thanks for getting rid of those guys.’
‘Well, Livvy,’ said Claire. ‘Grab your case; I’ve a friend who can help you.’
She met Blaze Ranger, who she felt at ease with straight away. Livvy stayed for a year before George found her and Donna a flat.
Now she was back at her childhood home to visit her father, and wasn’t looking forward to it. She had been back a few times, but it always ended in tears. She knocked the door and an unshaven man in his forties opened it.
‘Oh, it’s you,’ he said.
‘Hello, Dad,’ said Livvy, trying to sound cheerful.
He shrugged his shoulders and trudged back inside, she followed. He never once thanked her for everything she had done for him, before he kicked her out. Livvy still loved him, even though he had been hateful towards her over the last two years. He was still her father, and thought she ought to try.
‘How have you been?’ she said.
He slouched down in his armchair. ‘What do you care?’
‘You know I care, and I have a job now.’
‘About time, doing what?’
‘Gardening.’
‘That’s not a job for girls,’ he said scathingly.
‘Sure it is . . . lots of women do it.’
‘You mean the ones like your friends?’
Livvy sighed. ‘Here we go again. What have my friends gotta do with it?’
‘You still see them?’
‘I live with them,’ she said, looking out the window at the back garden, the flower bed had gone, crushed, as if someone had trampled it down.
‘That’s disgusting. Your mother would turn in her grave.’
‘She did that a long time ago, so she didn’t have to look at you,’ Livvy snapped, she knew he would make her angry, he always did.
‘What are you doing here
anyway?’
‘I’ve no idea, goodbye.’ Livvy left the house slamming the front door behind her with tears running down her face, and in that instance knew she would never see her father again.
* * *
Alex watched Sarin and James play Adhara and Asima at pool. He decided he would get a table for the mansion.
One of the women who are not here appears unhappy, said House. They had kept an artefact from the mansion in the coach and limo at all times, so the spirit could travel with them anywhere.
Where’s Michelle? said Alex.
About two minutes away.
‘I’ll be back soon,’ he told the others, and stepped outside as Michelle pulled up in the limo.
‘Anything wrong?’ she said.
‘We need to pick the others up.’
‘Where are they?’
‘Just head towards the pub you all used to drink in and we’ll find them, and to where Livvy’s dad lives.’
‘I don’t know why she bothers with him, it always upsets her.’
Alex sat in the back of the limo, and Michelle drove off. ‘Doesn’t she get along with him?’
‘Livvy tries, but her dad’s a pig,’ said Michelle, and told him what happened.
They saw Carrie first and Michelle pulled over. Alex got out and opened the door for her while bowing.
‘Why thank you, kind sir,’ said Carrie, and got inside.
It wasn’t long before they came across Paige and Claire, and he did the same.
Claire grabbed his arm. ‘Get in the car before someone sees us.’
Alex did and smiled. ‘Do I embarrass you?’
‘Yeah, you’re a pig.’
‘That’s unfair . . . Michelle said Livvy’s dad’s a pig.’
Claire shrugged. ‘I take it back. You’re nicer than him . . . just.’
Paige got in last. ‘I take it she’s gone to see him.’
Alex nodded. ‘We’re going there now.’
‘Has she phoned you?’
‘No, neither did you.’
Carrie smiled. ‘How did you know we wanted picking up?’
Alex was about to answer when his phone rang. ‘Hey, Livvy, you OK?’
‘Yeah, just about,’ she sobbed.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I just want to go home and be with my family.’
Alex looked saddened. ‘If that makes you happy, I understand.’
‘Will you come and pick me up?’
‘We’ll be with you in a few minutes,’ said Alex, and it wasn’t long before they saw her standing there crying.
‘Let me go to her first,’ said Paige.
‘No, I got this,’ said Alex, and got out of the car.
Livvy ran over and flung her arms around him. ‘You’re more of a father to me than he ever was,’ she said, after a few minutes.
Alex gave her a gentle smile. ‘I would’ve been proud to have you as a daughter.’
Livvy looked up wiping her tears away. ‘Would you?’
‘Of course I would, you’re quite special.’
‘I wouldn’t go that far,’ said Livvy.
Alex winked. ‘We’ll see.’
They walked into the arcade ten minutes later. Livvy seemed to stick by Alex for a while and he knew she wanted a father figure, one who behaved like one.
Alex talked to the arcade owner, who gave him a number to get any of the machines he wanted.
* * *
‘Have you put a spell on us?’ said Claire, back at the mansion.
Alex gave a sly grin. ‘No, I can’t do those yet, but I’m working on it.’
Claire leant on the back of a sofa. ‘We weren’t away from you for long, and got fed up.’
‘That’s not me you know, it’s everyone who lives here.’
‘It was never like this before.’
‘No, it was different then. I mean, how many of you thought living together would cause arguments?’
‘A few did, and I was one of them.’
‘Yet not one argument, House does have a calming effect, but it’s more to do with your friendship.’
‘You mean the mansion?’ said Claire.
Alex scratched his head. ‘Erm . . . yeah, that’s what I meant.’
Paige put her slippers on and approached them. ‘What’s going on ‘ere then?’
‘I was just cross-examining Alex.’
‘Not about me I hope.’
‘No, I’ll leave that for you to ask him,’ said Claire.
‘Ask me what?’ said Alex.
‘Why you won’t tell my mate why you left, it still upsets her.’
‘Your mate!’ said Paige shocked, and Alex laughed.
Claire’s face turned scarlet. ‘Sorry, I’ve been talking to the wolves way too much.’
Alex put his arms around both of them. ‘OK, it’s time I told you why.’
‘I’ll go if I’m in the way,’ said Claire.
Alex shook his head. ‘You won’t, you’re as much a part of this as us two.’
Claire looked surprised. ‘Are you blaming me now?’
‘No, of course you’re not to blame. I didn’t mean you were part of why I left, but you’re the reason she’s happy now, as you’re married.’
‘I was married when you left,’ said Paige.
‘I know all about that marriage, and he was a dick,’ said Alex, quite bluntly.
Claire smiled. ‘I think that was a compliment to me.’
‘You’ve made Paige very happy, and I love you for it.’
‘OK, I wasn’t expecting that,’ said Claire, quite shocked.
‘It was a secret.’
‘I might need a drink first,’ said Paige.
‘Me too,’ he said. They walked into the party room, where James, Asima and Carrie were already sitting at a table.
Paige pointed to another table. ‘We can sit over there if you want privacy.’
‘No, we’ll sit with our friends, I’ve had enough of hiding things, even though I still have one secret I haven’t told you about.’
Claire raised an eyebrow. ‘What, more secrets?’
‘Yeah,’ said Alex, as he poured the drinks before sitting with the others. ‘It’s a nice one, he’s a friend.’
‘You’ve another friend, and it’s a secret?’
‘He’s special, and I’ll tell you about him one day.’
‘Chi told us you were special,’ said Paige.
‘That was kind, but I did buy her a bed.’
‘That’s nice,’ said Claire. ‘But it’s time you told Paige why.’
‘What’s going on?’ said Carrie, with a glass of white wine in her hand.
Claire picked up her own drink, which was a pint of lager, and took a sip. ‘Alex is finally going to tell Paige why he left.’
‘Remember how we met?’ said Paige.
Alex nodded. ‘It was about thirty years ago, and the first thing I did was make you cry, you might not know how guilty I felt about it.’
‘Bully,’ grunted Claire.
‘I was taller than the other girls, and a bit gawky,’ said Paige. ‘You were the first person to talk to me. I didn’t cry because the snowball hurt, but because I thought everyone hated me and you hit me on purpose. Then you came over saying how sorry you were. I could see it in your eyes you meant everything you said, and I got my first friend.’
Alex took a swig of his drink. ‘I couldn’t get rid of you after that, we were always together. People kept asking if we were a couple, even Mother.’
‘How are she and Thomas? I’ve not seen them in years.’
‘They’re fine, and should be back from holiday soon. She didn’t know I’d disappeared until you told her.’
‘She wasn’t very happy with you for not letting her know.’
‘I kept trying to phone her, but I couldn’t press the dial button. She hunted me down after a few days.’
‘How did she do that?’
Alex shrugged. ‘I’ve no idea, but she did. M
other maybe one of the most beautiful women in the world, but she can be one of the scariest, too.’
Claire grinned. ‘I’d love to have seen her tell you off that day.’
‘She told me in no uncertainty that I’d never leave her, and when I said I already had, she told me in a cold calm manner “No, my beautiful boy, you haven’t, and you never will. You might not know this, but I was the first one to attend to you after your accident, as I found you before your work mates did”. I would have bled to death if not for mother.’
Paige’s eyes grew big, as she stared at him. ‘You mean she had known you’d had an accident?’
‘Yeah, just like knowing where I lived.’
Paige was a little startled by it. ‘How could she know?’
‘I’ve no idea, but it was then I told her.’
Paige looked hurt. ‘But you couldn’t tell me?’
‘No, for some reason I knew Mother wasn’t in any danger, but you were. She wanted me to move back in with her, but I refused with the excuse of wanting my independence. I knew it was more to do with my punishment for leaving.’
‘Why was it punishment?’ said a confused Claire.
‘Because I hated my job, and living in that flat. I could’ve gone back to my mothers, and lived in comfort . . . I refused, as I felt I was meant to suffer.’
‘Why should you suffer for it?’
Alex circled the rim of his glass with his finger. ‘I don’t know . . . it was just a feeling I had.’
‘I don’t understand,’ said Paige. ‘I was never in any danger.’
‘I didn’t want to tell you why I left before, because you never would’ve believed it.’
Paige looked at him with both eyebrows raised. ‘And what’s so different now?’
‘You have psychic powers, talk to the wolves, and don’t forget the pixies.’
‘OK, I could believe anything at the moment.’
Vesta Mansion: Book One - The Power Inside Page 22