Ophelia Adrift

by Helen Goltz

  Chapter 25

  OPHELIA

  I went to the front door, moved away again and returned to the lounge room. I didn’t want to look too eager, but it was nearly seven p.m. and I was waiting for Jack’s knock on the door—unless he just appeared. I looked around, nope. I had walked Argo and Agnes and given them their dinner. They had completed their dusk rounds of the property and, content that all was well, had settled into their usual positions in the lounge room.

  The house moaned, it had been moaning for over an hour now—I didn’t know how to console it. Adam was not home yet, he may even stay at Zach’s and Uncle Seb was away so Jack’s kind gesture to meet the family wasn’t going to happen.

  I had a few things ready to stick into a picnic basket because Jack said it would be a beach picnic but I wasn’t sure what he could eat or even if he would eat. I tried shopping for a ghost and when that didn’t work I shopped for a sailor. I bought some things that he might be used to eating like seafood, cheese, a breadstick and I bought chocolate and soft drink, why not? I packed them and then unpacked them because I didn’t know if he would want them.

  Then I spent hours, and I mean hours, working out what to wear. I wanted to look romantic—kind of ethereal—Jack likes feminine, but I had to be able to sit on the sand or a rock too. I sighed; guys just don’t get how hard it is sometimes. Fine for them to say ‘see you at seven for a beach picnic.’ I chose a flowing cream skirt that went to my ankles, with petticoat layers underneath and a fitted pale blue cardigan with small pearl buttons. I had cream ballet slippers on my feet and I left my hair loose for the night. I knew I was a bit well-dressed for the beach, but it felt comfortable and romantic and I didn’t care if I got sand or water on my skirt.

  Finally a knock at the door. Argo and Agnes jumped up and beat me there; the hair on their back was standing up alert. Argo began to growl.

  “It’s okay Argo and Agnes,” I assured them and closed the lounge door keeping them inside just until I had shown Jack around.

  I opened the door and Jack was there looking divine. He wore a dark suit and an open-neck white shirt, no tie. He held one dozen long stem white roses, the most dramatic bouquet I had ever seen and my first bouquet.

  Both dogs barked from the other side of the door and the house wailed. Jack ignored it, moved forward and placing an arm around my waist, drew me to him. He stopped short of kissing me, oblivious to the calamity around us and looked at me.

  “Ophelia, you take my breath away,” he said and then he kissed me.

  The aching in my chest just got worse; I understood now how people died of heartbreak. If he left me now I would not be able to go on. I heard him moan and he kissed my lips, cheeks, eyelids and then I felt his tongue tease my mouth. My breath hitched and I thought I was going to fall over but he held me up.

  The house moaned and groaned and yet there was no wind; behind the door Argo and Agnes barked furiously.

  Jack pulled away. “Are you alone?” he looked over my shoulder.

  I nodded trying to get my head back in the now. “Uncle Seb is still away and Adam hasn’t returned from a friend’s.”

  “Shall we go then?” he asked. He handed me the roses.

  “They are beautiful, thank you. My first bouquet,” I told him.

  “Really?” His eyes lit up. “I thought you would have received many by now. Well I’m honoured,” he bowed slightly. “You know, white roses mean new beginnings and the long stem means I will remember you, always.”

  I inhaled them and drank in their beauty and meaning. “Thank you.”

  “The pleasure is all mine,” he said, gazing at me intensely.

  “I didn’t know whether to bring a picnic or not but I’ve brought ...”

  Jack shook his head. “I have it covered.”

  I nodded. “Well, thanks again then. If you wait outside for me, I’ll let the dogs out of the lounge room and join you in a minute. I’ll put the roses in water too.”

  He stepped outside and I reluctantly closed the door, scared he would disappear. I let Argo and Agnes out and they sniffed around me concerned. I assured them all was okay and gave them the run of the house. I raced to the kitchen, searched for a vase and of course Uncle Seb didn’t have one! I found a glass ice bucket and filled it with water. The roses looked rather grand in it.

  I returned to the front door, patted the dogs once more and then the door wouldn’t open. I looked skyward.

  “Please house, I promise I’ll be okay,” I said. The house moaned again louder than before and then relented. The door loosened and I slipped out, closing it behind me. Jack stood a little down the path waiting for me. He watched me approach.

  “You look ... there are not words for how beautiful you look,” he said taking my hand.

  I walked hand-in-hand with Jack, my skirt billowing around me, him in his dark suit and he led me across the road to our rock.

  JACK

  I had waited a century for a love like this and tonight I can’t describe what it was like to know I am going to be with her, my soul mate. She was breathtaking, her eyes sparkling, their blue colour accentuated and reflected in her pale blue cardigan. Her hair and skirt moved around her like she was a spirit, I could barely control myself. I wanted to hold her, absorb her, crush her to me and become one, feel her around me; I have to own her.

  “I’m sorry if you dressed to meet Uncle Seb and Adam and then they weren’t home. Uncle Seb was supposed to come home this afternoon but he’s staying a few more days at the conference,” she said.

  “I dressed for you and you only,” I said. I waited as she leaned on me and slipped off her little ballet slippers. I pulled off my shoes and socks, rolled up my suit pants a few turns, grabbed the shoes and we entered the beach feeling the cool sand beneath our feet. I reached for her hand. She was nervous, I could feel the energy rippling through her.

  “Are we going to our rock?” she asked. “Or are you going to show me where you live?”

  I smiled. “I am going to show you where I live but not right now. I’ve been preparing it all week.”

  “Really,” she said surprised.

  “Yes. I was busy at work while letting you catch up on your sleep,” I told her squeezing her hand. As we came towards our rock, I didn’t lead her up it, this time we went behind it. There in a small enclave in the rock, sheltered from the ocean and the wind, I had set up a table for two.

  She gasped with delight and looked up at me.

  “It’s perfect, Jack,” she said. “The most perfect thing to ever happen to me.”

  I waved my hand over the table and the candles lit up.

  She looked at me surprised.

  “Is that a ghost talent?”

  “May be,” I teased. “I can’t give away all my secrets.”

  The sea air was cool and I invited her to sit. I reached for her hand across the table. For what seemed the longest time we just stared at each other. I still felt strong but I had recharged all week almost.

  “First course,” I said.

  “Yes?” she smiled.

  “Touching.”

  I heard her sharp intake of breath and her heartbeat hammered.

  OPHELIA

  It was the most perfect night of my life. If anyone had told me I could ever be this happy, I would not have believed it.

  We had a table for two in a hidden enclave in the most idyllic spot in the world and no-one else in the world existed except the two of us.

  Jack took my hand and declared the first course was touching.

  “Don’t move,” he said. He turned my palm over and barely touching me, he ran his fingers up my arm. I broke out in small goose bumps, the feeling was overwhelming. He continued to trace me and study me, moving along my shoulder, slowly up my neck and touching my lips. The whole time he watched me. I did all I could in my power to try and breathe normally and not fall into him and kiss him.

  He traced my lips, moved up my cheek, across my brow and he moved his hand down
and closed my eyes. I heard myself inhale sharply.

  “Second course,” he said. “Kissing.”

  I kept my eyes closed as instructed and I felt him within a hair's breadth of my face. The chill around me gave him away and I knew if I leaned forward just a fraction I would touch his lips with mine but I waited in agony. He knew it and teased me mercilessly. His tongue touched my lips and I groaned with the pleasure and the pain of it. Then a little more, and a little more until his lips pressed against mine and we tasted each other. I could die now and be happy forever.

  “You are too much for me Ophelia,” he moaned.

  I opened my eyes and looked into his deep blue eyes, as dark as the ocean.

  “What are you saying, Jack?” I asked in fear. I couldn’t breathe.

  He shook his head.

  All I could do was stare at him. I was scared to speak, scared to say the wrong thing, scared he was breaking up with me.

  A few moments later, he whispered: “third course, dancing.” Suddenly we were on the rock and Jack was holding me tightly, my hand in his; his other hand against my back pushing me against his chest. The waves rose and crashed on either side of us with ferocious power and the ocean looked so dark and foreboding that fear ran through my veins.

  A waved thundered over us.

  “Jack!” I called out.

  “I have you, you’re safe,” he gripped me but all I could see and hear was the ocean on either side of us and the frightening roar of the waves. I clung to him, terrified.

  “Do you want to see where I live?” he asked.

  “We’re going to be washed out to sea,” I trembled as waves crashed above us and over us and all the time we stood in the middle, dry and cocooned, Jack calm and in control.

  “Jack, please,” I begged.

  Jack swept me up and I gripped his jacket like my life depended on it. In seconds we were back on the sand again, back near our romantic table. I was breathing fast.

  “I’ve scared you,” he said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He held me close and stroked my head.

  “Not you, Jack, the ocean frightens me,” I said, shaking.

  He led me to a chair at our private table and lowered me into it. Jack knelt on one knee in front of me and took my hands.

  “But I am the ocean, Lia,” he said softly. “I’ll take you home.”

  “No!” I protested, “I don’t want to go home. All week I have lived for tonight, please, can we stay?” I pleaded.

  “Only if your heart calms down,” he said still holding my hands. He moved closer to hold me.

  I pulled away and looked at him in surprise. “I can hear your heart beating.”

  “Of course,” Jack said.

  “But you’re ...”

  “Dead?” he filled in the word. “I can take the form just like you in every sense.”

  I leaned back and smiled at him. “But I’m not taking any form, this is me!” I reminded him. “So can you ... you know ... take another body?”

  Jack shrugged. “Maybe. But this is me, I like my body. I’m a good looking guy,” he grinned. “Why would I want to be someone else?”

  I breathed out, a long sigh. “You are my beautiful guy.” I looked into his eyes and thought myself the luckiest person in the world.

  “And you, my beautiful Ophelia, are my life. Now that your heart has settled down nicely, please let me tempt you.”

  HOLLY

  I nudged Harry when Jack escorted Ophelia to the dining table he had set up. How super romantic, I hoped something like that happened to me one day. Soon would be good.

  “Let’s go,” I said and Harry nodded.

  We headed the opposite way up the beach so they couldn’t see us.

  “Do you still think I’m crazy?” I asked Harry.

  He dug his hands into his jeans’ pockets and shook his head. “Okay, maybe not this time. I’m not saying I believe in that ghost crap, but he definitely seems to have some ... power.”

  “ I can’t believe he took Lia on the rock when the waves were pounding like that—they could have been washed away and she was freaking out.”

  “The waves weren’t pounding anywhere else, did you notice?” Harry said. “Just on that rock and only when he went on it.”

  “I noticed. I’m worried for Lia,” I said. “I think we should talk with Adam and tell him. Maybe we need to do one of those things where we confront her.”

  “An intervention,” Harry said.

  “That’s it. But we might not have enough time either, we may have to let Ophelia know what and who Jack is before it is too late.”

  “You think she doesn’t know?” Harry asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said as we reached the beach path that led home. “I’ll call Adam first thing in the morning.”

  OPHELIA

  Jack stood up and returned to his chair opposite me. With a wave of his hand he relit the candles and then, reached under the table and pulled out a little black cooler which I hadn’t seen hidden against the rock.

  “We have a ‘love’ menu,” he teased.

  I bit my lip, a little concerned and a little intrigued. He looked so handsome in his suit sitting opposite me that sometimes I forget to speak for staring so hard.

  “Ophelia, are you with me?” he asked.

  “I am,” I promised him. “So, what is ‘love’ food and will we both be eating?”

  “Of course, I have to keep up my strength. You’re very wearing Ophelia,” he gave me a wink. He pulled out a small, dainty covered glass dish, two small white butter plates and a large white plate, a container with two small silver forks and napkins, and two crystal water glasses and a bottle of water.

  “Love food is luxurious food that entices the senses and the taste buds. I’m going to serve you a small sample of my favourites because it is all about the taste,” he said. “Perhaps you would be good enough to pour the water?”

  “Perhaps I will,” I teased him, taking the bottle he opened for me and half-filling our glasses. “And when did you become a connoisseur of food?”

  “I’ve had many years to refine my tastes and some good, um, teachers over the years,” he explained.

  My eyes widened. “You mean you have had lovers?”

  “Ophelia! I’m 128 years old! I have had some company, especially from some wealthy older women. After the first war, times were particularly decadent.” He cleared his throat. “But a gentleman never tells.”

  “But you are my first real boyfriend, my first kiss,” I pouted but not seriously.

  “And you are my first real love in all those years. You have no idea how long I have waited to feel this way.”

  As he spoke the moon broke free of the clouds and seemed to hang right over our table. A more perfect setting could not be painted. Jack opened the glass dish, and using a set of small tongs he put the contents of the dish on the large white plate. It looked like such a delicate feast. Creamy blue cheese, oysters, strawberries, chocolate, figs and dainty biscuits and breads.

  “First, the oyster,” he said.

  I grimaced.

  Jack frowned. “I knew you would make that kind of a face ... as cute as it might be. Have you ever tried an oyster?”

  “No, but they look so ... alive and slimy.”

  “They are sublime. Lia, everyone needs a teacher and I am yours,” Jack said. “I could live on oysters. I love the texture, the taste; I even love the beautiful shell they are in.”

  “True,” I studied them. “They have their own serving dish.”

  “Fresh from the ocean. You will find these particularly creamy. Now you must put it on your tongue, close your eyes and truly taste it,” Jack instructed.

  I nodded keen to please him. We both took our little silver forks and taking the delicate oyster from its shell, I placed it in my mouth. It wasn’t as bad as I thought and I wanted Jack to think I had worldly tastes, so I closed my eyes, tasted its creaminess and swallowed. When I opened my eyes, Jack s
till had his eyes closed but he looked like he was in heaven. His eyes blinked open.

  “Divine. You’ll come to love them,” he assured me. “This cheese is my favourite — blue and creamy.” Again he studied me. “If it is too rich or not to your taste ...”

  “No, I’m keen to try them all,” I assured him. If his past relationships loved these sophisticated foods then so would I. Eventually. I accepted a small serve of the cheese on a plain slice of cracker. He wrapped the cheese up in its paper again.

  “Close your eyes and truly taste it,” he instructed.

  We didn’t get to the strawberries and chocolate for a while after that. He wanted to taste each of the dishes on my lips and on my tongue.

  Later when Jack walked me home, I asked him to come in with me.

  “Not to do anything serious yet ... you know ... but we could stay together,” I said, stumbling over the words.

  Jack kissed my hand and bowed. “We have all the time in the world Ophelia and when I lay beside you for our first night together, it will be on the large bed I have prepared for you and you will be my wife. You know I am an old-fashioned guy.”

  He stood full height, looked down at me and cupped my face. He kissed me again.

  “Goodnight my Ophelia.”

  He stepped back and before I could form words, he was gone.

  Chapter 26

  OPHELIA

  Sunday morning: I lay in bed just daydreaming. The sun was trying to stream in through the gaps in the curtain. I rose, pushed them back and looked out to sea—the tide was out and the surfers were a fair way out waiting for a wave. No ships were on the horizon. I dropped back into bed, fluffed up my pillows and lay under the quilt thinking of Jack. Life was so good, again. I wondered if he was thinking of me.

  I can’t wait to see his place and the room he has prepared for me. I can’t wait to introduce him around too ... why not? If he can take a form and eat, why can’t he be part of my life and his secret be our secret? I felt a cold chill and I whispered his name. Jack appeared; he leaned against the window frame, crossed his arms and grinned.