“Times have changed since I last decorated it would appear. What are all these things?”
“This records the measurements of the room. It’s digital. This checks for wiring behind the walls, and I record everything on my iPad because it looks better than a paper and pen, although secretly I quite like paper, and a pen behind my ear.”
This was the first time I think we’d ever had a hint of a normal conversation. Not that I’d met him often, but sometimes he’d visited the coffee shop to see his sister, and she spoke about him enough that I felt I knew him. The last I’d heard he’d had a steady girlfriend of the last two years called Callie.
“So, you still seeing Callie?”
“’Fraid so, babes, so you’re shit out of luck if you’re trying to check if I’m single.”
“Ugh.” I grimaced. “No, that’s not what I was enquiring about. You’re far too uncouth for me, and arrogant.”
“You’re such a snob. Just because I don’t talk in your very posh accent, yar-yar-yar. You think you’re better than me. Well you aren’t.”
“I don’t think I’m better than you. I’m just saying I wouldn’t be interested in you in a romantic sense because you say really crude things a lot.”
“Like what?”
“Like ‘shit’.”
“You have a problem with me because I say the word ‘shit’?”
“That amongst other things.”
He shook his head, widened his eyes and sighed. “I don’t have time for this shit.”
“See!”
He started measuring again.
“Are you doing anything nice tonight?” I asked as another way into discussing the contents of my vision.
He turned to me, his forehead creasing. “If you’re fishing about when I’ll be leaving, then yes, it will be soon. I’m meeting Callie at Beached.”
“And you’ve not had a text from her at all, about her cancelling?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Why would I have a text from her cancelling? She’s been pestering for me to take her for weeks. In fact that’s all she ever wants to do. Go to that bloody restaurant. It’s costing me a fortune.”
“I was just wondering.”
“Oh God. Don’t tell me you’ve had a bloody vision about it because I’m not into believing any of that bollocks. Now find something else to do because a) you’re weird and b) you’re acting even weirder than usual.
“Sorry, I spoke. I was only trying to help you.”
“You’re the one needs help from where I’m standing. Right I’m ready to see the other rooms. I think I got this now. You can go. I’ll be quicker if you’re not rambling and getting on my nerves.”
“It was lovely seeing you too, Henry.” I smiled with a complete look of smug satisfaction in my eyes. “Enjoy your evening.”
Returning downstairs, I headed for the kitchen. I made myself a coffee, sneaking a spoonful of Jax’s gift. I needed some of her amazing nectar of the gods. How come morons like Henry got dates, but I found it difficult? Men always ran away the first time my eyes rolled in my head. I told them I had epilepsy, but the grey pallor had made me look corpse-like and I think they genuinely thought their date might die on them.
Looking at Shelley and Kim had made me question my own future. They were both happily married now. I wanted some romance in my life and maybe if my visions were going to be less painful and my pallor less grey from now on, then I wouldn’t be as scary a prospect?
A shooting pain passed through my temple. Nowhere near what I’d had before but the first pain I’d had since being at the Farm. I put a hand to my forehead.
There I was again in church. I looked down at myself and there was my dress. White, plain. I looked behind me and I could see my train.
Shelley stood behind me in a pale blue satin bridesmaid dress. “We can’t go in there yet. The groom hasn’t arrived.”
The vision ended.
“You really need to get that checked out. All that eye-rolling can’t be doing you any good.”
Sitting down at the kitchen table, I reached for a jotter pad and a pen that Shelley used for shopping lists. I ignored Henry and wrote everything down, every word, just in case it all faded again.
I looked up at him as I could feel his eyes staring at me.
“Seriously, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just feeling a bit tired. Babies, you know.” I lied. “You were quick.”
“Yeah, once you were out of my hair not yapping anymore, I got things down in next to no time. Right I’m off on my hot date. I’ll be back at 9am so have the kettle on hot won’t you and keep continual cups of tea coming?”
I bit on my lower lip to stop me from saying things I’d regret.
“Thanks, Ebs.” He said, using my nickname that he had certainly not earned the right to use. “You’re the shit.” And then he strode back out of the kitchen.
Sitting back in my chair, I took a deep breath and picked up the hot drink, taking a sip of the dark aromatic liquid. Perhaps I’d need my vodka back. Not for any potential vision headaches but just to stop me from killing Henry Marston. Right there and then I vowed that no matter what visions I had regarding Henry, unless I needed to warn him of impending death, I was telling him nothing. I’d tried to warn him about his date and just received insults in return. I’d keep any and all information to myself and let him experience every hiccup that would befall him.
In the meantime, tomorrow I was going to pop out and over to see Kim and Lucy at the Dating Agency. Because my husband was out there somewhere and I needed to meet him. What better way than joining the dating agency I’d helped get started in the first place? I’d have Kim in my debt anyway. Because I now could tell her what her bridesmaid dress looked like and it was gorgeous.
Ebony
“You want to join the dating agency?” Kim gave me a look of disbelief. “But you’ve had a vision you were getting married anyway so what’s the point?”
Lucy threw a paperclip at her. “We don’t turn down customers, dumb ass. I’m opening the application form online as we speak.” She said.
“We can’t ask Ebs to pay. She’s one of the main reasons the dating agency exists.” Kim moaned. “So we’d be working for free.”
“God, I wish I could still shoot flames out of my fingers so I could fire one under your lazy ass. Sorry, Ebony. Kim is having far too much sex at the moment and because she doesn’t have a healthy diet, she’s tired all the time. Whereas me and Frankie are at it like rabbits so I eat lots more fruit and veg, especially carrots. Rabbits, carrots. You get it?” She giggled.
“Bring back the bloody demon.” Kim groaned. “Your jokes are worse than anything you did in Hell.”
Lucy looked at me and bit her lip and I knew what she was thinking. No matter the circumstances, her actions had led to the death of my mother.
“Application form opened. So Ebony. Your full name, please.”
“Ebony Yolanda Walker.”
Lucy carried on recording my personal details including my address and family history.
“Okay, let’s get onto potential ideal date questions. What’s your favourite food?”
“Caviar and smoked salmon blinis accompanied by a lovely glass of champagne.”
“Erm, okay. And would Prosecco and a fish finger sandwich do at a push?”
“I suppose.”
“Ideal dating venue?”
I sucked on my top lip for a moment. “Theatre, day at the races, high tea. Anything like that.”
Kim looked at Lucy and burst into a fit of laughter. “Glad you agreed to take her on now? Good luck with getting her a date. It’s Withernsea not Windsor.”
Lucy sighed. “Okay, if you could take a moment now to fill in this part of the application form for me. I’ll input it into the computer afterwards.” She passed me the sheet attached to a clipboard, along with a pen.
I looked down at it, Reason for Application. I began.
For the pa
st few years I have been so troubled with visions that I did not believe romance was indeed part of my future. However recent visions have shown me that I am to be married at some point though I know not to whom. Therefore I would like to actively seek out romantic encounters so that I might learn who my future intended is.
My visions are currently coming without pain and so I am not having to consume copious amounts of vodka which could render me unable to speak properly on a date. Thus it is an ideal time for me to look for a partner.
Thank you for considering my application.
I handed it over to Lucy who began to type it in. “So your visions are coming without pain? That must be a relief?”
“It really is. I feel like I’m getting to be me.”
Lucy smiled. “That’s wonderful, Ebony.”
Kim tilted her head at me. “You know your visions, Ebs?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t actually see yourself married in them do you? You’re just standing in a wedding dress.”
I thought back. It was true. In fact in my most recent vision, my intended was missing.
“Err, yes, that’s correct.”
“So maybe you get jilted, Ebs. We have to consider the possibility that the groom either doesn’t show or is a result of a hallucination from too much vodka.”
“Kim! You’ve gone too far.” Lucy yelled.
“I’m just looking out for my friend. She needs to not focus so much on her vision and start living her life now she’s pain free.”
“I see what you’re getting at, Kim, although it’s delivered in your usual delicate flower like way.”
Lucy snorted.
“Go on these dates to enjoy yourself, Ebs. Not to question if every single one is your future husband. That’s all I’m saying.”
“So be free, single, and ready to mingle.” I winked at her.
“You got it, babes. Now go book in at a beauty salon and get everything freshened up.”
“I already am ‘freshened up’. It’s part of my routine to look elegant everywhere at all times.”
“So bare, hair, or landing strip there? Personally I rate a landing strip so they know where they’re aiming for.” Kim stood, motioning with her arms like an air hostess. “Please take note of the areas here, here, and here.”
“I take it this is not part of the official application form?” I said to Lucy.
Lucy shook her head. “You know that vodka you don’t need any more, Ebony…?”
“It’s behind my shop counter whenever you need it.” I rose from my seat.
“Thank you, ladies. It’s been… interesting. I shall look forward to seeing whomever the computer matches me up with.”
“I’ll be in touch shortly about your first date.” Lucy said.
“Right, I’d better get back to the farm because there are a lot of visitors due to arrive at eleven.”
“Oh yes, could you give Shelley this card and present from me and tell her I’d love to visit but I’ll need to make sure her mum and dad aren’t going to be around. It could be a little awkward.”
“Sure.”
“Oh yeah, her adoptive parents are visiting today aren’t they?” Kim suddenly remembered.
“Yes, and the Duke of Wyvern Sea and his son.”
“Hey, how old are they? Maybe one of them is your future husband, Ebs?”
A slow smile crept across my face. Not mine, Kim. Not mine.
I returned to the house and went to fix myself a drink. All that talking had proved to be thirsty work. I really ought to have called in at the coffee shop but time was passing quickly. Unfortunately Henry also happened to be in the kitchen, Mary at his side. “Please be careful with the cups, Henry. Some have been in the family for years. We don’t want chips.” She turned to me. “Oh fantastic. Please can you educate Henry here on the importance of fine china, Ebony? Only I must dash.” Her body went a little translucent, and she left the room before Henry could notice.
“Thought you were going to be here to make my drinks? Then I wouldn’t need to be having my every move watched. I’m quite okay with this mug but she even kicked off about me using that.” He pointed to a mug that said This isn’t coffee with blood splatters on the front.
“Oh that was a gift from Theo to Shelley.” I picked it up and placed it back in the cupboard. “Here, use this one.” I passed him an orange mug.
“Have you automatically gone for that because I’m ginger?” He raised a brow. Then placing his mug next to the kettle, he went in the cupboard rummaging and brought out a black mug which he passed to me. “Here you are.”
“You’re such a child. I don’t know why I bothered to try to help you.” Filling up the kettle, I switched it on and then I remembered my vision.
I rested back against the worktop. “Did you have a nice time at Beached the other night?”
The skin around Henry’s eyes bunched, and he rubbed the back of his neck. I noted his hands clenched into fists. “Not exactly.”
“Oh. Sorry.” I busied myself putting coffee in my cup. “Tea for you?” I asked him.
“Yes please. Strong, one sugar, plenty of milk.”
There was silence as we waited for the kettle to boil.
“She didn’t show and then I got a text while I was there. She dumped me by text.” He shook his head. “Two years and that’s what I was worth. And do you know why she’d wanted to go to Beached? Because she was shagging one of the bar staff there. Had been for the last six months. She wanted me to meet her there so she could show him what he was missing by not committing to her. Except he did. He proposed. So it was bye bye, Henry.”
“I’m so sorry, Henry.”
His expression changed, becoming guarded. “Anyway, it was nothing to do with your psychic shit. Just that she was a cheating bitch. Best thing is, I’d been thinking of dumping her for ages. Things were stale.”
“Maybe that’s why she did what she did? Though I don’t condone cheating.” I’d switched the kettle off just before it boiled, adding water to my mug and then flicked it back on.
“Why’d you do that?” He pointed to my mug.
“Coffee is better if it’s almost boiled, not completely.”
He huffed. “Thought you’d be drinking Earl Grey from a china teacup.”
I bristled. “Yes, I like nice things and I was brought up around money, but I’ve worked in my boutique for years now. I’m not some pampered princess.” I shoved his mug towards him. “The kettle’s boiled, make your own tea, because you’re no Prince Charming either.”
I stormed out of the kitchen. God that man. How had Jax put up with being his younger sister? I’d bet he used to push her off swings and chase her with spiders and frogs. Anyway, I had much more important things to do than make tea for that imbecile. The visitors were due any moment. I made my way to my room to freshen up before they all arrived.
Shelley
“Ebony! You’re back.” I announced very obviously as she walked into the living room. “Thank goodness for that, only I’m feeling extremely fatigued and Mary is fading in and out. Could you receive the visitors while I go nap?”
She gave me some serious side-eye. “You hardly sleep anymore, and there’s no way I’m being left with your visitors. Now as they say in your world ‘grow a pair’.”
“They say that in your world too, Ebs. You live in Withernsea now. It’s okay to adapt and to adopt some of the local dialect.”
“Shut yer mouth, stop talking shit, and get ready to look pleased to see the old folk.” Ebony said trying to adopt a local accent, but it came out, ‘shoot yerrr mouth, stop talking shite, and get ready to luke pleased to seee the owlde fowk’.
She shrugged. “I tried.”
“This… my parents and this bloke from the sea coming. It’s worse than childbirth. I dread to think what’s going to happen.”
Ebony crossed one leg over the other. “What will happen is whatever destiny has planned, Shelley. It will happen whether you dread
it or not.”
This was where I wanted Kim. Ebony was no good to just plain whinge at. It was always: because it’s fate. Oh blah, blah, bloody blah.
The doorbell rang and Ebony rose. “I’ll go receive the visitors while you prepare yourself for the inevitable.”
Yeah thanks.
My adoptive parents had arrived. I’d had to perform a spell on myself to keep my amusement under control because I knew I’d have a hard time not giggling at their actions. I’d seen enough of it at our wedding. My mum and dad walked in as if the floor was filled with booby traps and the air with those red laser beams they used to protect jewels. Finally they managed to get as far as the sofa.
“Hey. Take a seat.”
Polly came through the door a minute after them but she didn’t pause, she just walked straight through. “Sorry, I was just parking the car only there are paint pots everywhere.”
Ebony huffed, a disgusted look coming over her face. “I do apologise. It’s the decorator, Henry. He has no idea about tidiness or the fact there are other people to consider.”
“I can hear you.” A voice bellowed down the stairs.
“Good.” She shouted back up.
Oh dear.
Feet trampled down the stairs and Henry stuck his head in the room. He took one look at my pretty blonde younger sister and straightened his posture, a smile replacing his frown.
“Well, I’m sorry for any inconvenience caused. I’ll go tidy up right now. Do you need to move your vehicle?”
Polly shook her head. “No it’s fine now thanks.”
“Oh, well I’ll go tidy up out there anyway ready for when you leave.”
Ebony cleared her throat. I looked over, watching as her eyes went white.
My parents gasped and grasped each other.
A second or two later Ebony’s sight returned to normal, and she cackled with laughter. She looked like a madwoman.
“Ebony’s a seer, remember? Is everything okay there, Ebs?”
“Absolutely wonderful.” Ebony smiled. “Just so nice to see Henry take such an interest in Polly here. He’s about to have an interesting encounter with another ‘bird’.”
Here for the Seer Page 4