by Helen Phifer
‘Beatrice from the post office?’
‘Yes and, Father, you should make sure you protect yourself when you go up there. I don’t know if after all this time there would be anything bad in that house, but you don’t want to take any chances, do you?’
If Joe had felt ill when he woke up it was nothing compared to how he was feeling right now. No wonder that house made him feel scared. Something was wrong with it, but surely after being empty for all these years whatever it was would have moved on? Then again if you were dead or an evil entity, time would have no meaning whatsoever. What felt like a lifetime to us might only be days to something like that. This was something he’d never experienced. Ghostly visitors who wanted to pass on messages to their loved ones – yes he’d met plenty of them, but a full-blown evil house full of only God knows what – he definitely had not.
Chapter Fourteen
Kate woke up first, surprised to see everyone else still fast asleep. She managed to extract herself from between Ollie’s legs and creep out of the bedroom to go to the bathroom. It was a bright, sunny morning and the house took on a completely different atmosphere in the daylight. She had no idea what was going on. It didn’t matter. She loved this old house so much she would find a way to deal with it. For some bizarre reason she felt more at home here than she had anywhere in her entire life. She wondered if in a past life she’d lived here once and had found her way back. There was a thought. What if she’d been reincarnated and had been destined to find the house all along? Maybe her destiny had been written for her before she’d even been born.
Ollie walked into the bathroom, making her jump and bang her head on the mirror she’d been staring into whilst brushing her teeth.
‘Oh shit, sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean to scare you. Have you hurt yourself?’
She spat her toothpaste into the sink and started laughing. ‘Jesus, Ollie, no – for a change I haven’t.’ She ignored the slight raised bump on her forehead. She was turning into a walking disaster zone.
‘What’s the plan for today? Do you want to do something with the girls? Take them out for the day while I get cracking? I’d love to spend time with you, but this house won’t finish itself and I wasted a day yesterday. No sorry, I didn’t waste a day at all. I had a great day with you all. What I meant was I lost working hours.’
‘It’s okay, I know what you meant. Would you mind? I’d like to take them out somewhere and spend some time with them if that’s okay?’
‘Of course it’s okay; you should. Before Dickhead comes back and puts the boot in to spoil everything.’
She wiped her mouth and kissed him on the cheek. ‘You, Oliver Nealee, are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’ Kate put a long-sleeved top on and then went into the kitchen and began making breakfast. Despite the heat that was already starting to build, she didn’t want her daughters to see the bandages on her arms and question her about how she’d hurt herself. She still couldn’t believe that she’d actually slit her wrists; it wasn’t her. After everything she’d been through, why would she try to kill herself now? Why couldn’t she remember cutting her wrists so deep that she almost bled to death all over the kitchen floor?
Surely that would have hurt. They’d been smarting like a bitch ever since it had happened. Alcohol numbs pain – she knew that. How did she do it though? She had to have been awake. A cold shiver ran down her back. What if something had tried to kill her when she’d drunk herself unconscious and tried to make it look like suicide? She knew she’d had cameras installed then although did she want to watch her sad, pathetic self-trying to end it all? Probably not. Still, the feeling that it hadn’t been her doing it was hard to shake. Ollie walked in just as she’d squirted brown sauce all over his bacon and egg sandwich. She passed him a plate.
‘You do know the way to a builder’s heart is through a bacon and egg sandwich, don’t you?’
She giggled, then smiled at the sight of her two girls who had just trudged through the kitchen door with hair sticking up all over the place.
‘Did you both sleep better in my bed?’
Both of them nodded. They’d never been morning people and now they were getting older she supposed the art of conversation would eventually dry up. They sat down and she put plates in front of them. Autumn wrinkled up her nose then pushed hers away. ‘I’m vegetarian.’
Summer burst out laughing. ‘You weren’t yesterday when you ate that huge box of chicken nuggets from McDonald’s.’
Autumn glared at her sister. ‘Well I am now. I don’t eat bacon.’
Kate smiled at Summer, at the same time swiping the plate away from Autumn.
‘That’s no problem. Ollie will eat it, won’t you?’
He nodded his head and stuck up his thumb.
‘I have some cereal. Would you like a bowl of that?’
Autumn shook her head. ‘Can I have some toast? Please?’
Kate turned away before she started laughing at the girl who had a sullen face and was giving her sister evil eyes.
‘You’re so funny, Autumn. Honestly who are you following on Instagram now? Some model who thinks eating meat is animal cruelty? Or are you just being a goon?’
Luckily for Summer she saw her sister’s hand draw back to slap her face, and she moved away from her, with millimetres to spare.
‘Autumn, stop that now and Summer stop teasing your sister. It’s not very nice.’
Autumn glared at them both, scraped her chair back and stomped off in the direction of the upstairs bathroom. Kate didn’t know what to say. They’d both grown up so much since she’d seen them. At least Autumn wasn’t afraid to go upstairs now it was daylight. She wondered if Summer would be as blasé about what happened last night. She didn’t want to bring it up and remind them if they’d both forgotten about it and brushed it off as a bad dream. Summer finished her sandwich. ‘Don’t worry about her; she’s always moody. I’m surprised she lasted this long really. What should we do today, Mum?’
Ollie stood up. Taking his plate to the sink he rinsed it then grabbed his mug of coffee and left them to it.
‘I’ll see you later. I’m going to go and make a start on the bedroom.’
Kate blew him a kiss, which Summer groaned at. All the same she smiled at them both.
‘I don’t know, sweetie. Whatever it is promise you won’t upset your sister. I only have you both until your dad comes to pick you up at six and I want to enjoy every moment that I can. Is that a deal?’
‘Sorry, yes it is. I’ll just tease her when we get home then and drive Dad mad if that’s okay?’
Kate laughed. ‘The teasing is not okay. You should be kind to your sister. However, the being naughty for your father is okay because he deserves it.’
She winked at Summer who smiled back.
***
Ollie waited until he heard the front door slam and the sound of Kate and the girls’ voices drifting off as they walked along the drive to the main road and the nearest bus stop. He hadn’t mentioned anything in front of them. He didn’t want to scare them, but he needed to know what had happened last night. He felt a lot braver now it was full daylight. As soon as the lads turned up and he’d given them a list of what they had to do he was going to go through the CCTV system and check every camera there was.
He was trying to figure out how to use it when he heard the voices of Ethan and Jack as they were laughing at something while walking through the front door. He was amazed they’d come back. He leant over the banister, about to shout to them, when he felt a pair of hands give a sharp shove into his lower back. He let out a loud shout, but when he turned around there was no one there. Luckily for him he wasn’t leaning right over or he could have fallen.
‘Everything okay, boss?’
His knees had turned to jelly. There was no one behind him; yet something had just pushed him, wanting to do him some harm. Kate was right, there was something of the supernatural kind going on and he wasn’t afraid to admit he was scared.
‘Yep, sorry I nearly fell over. Can you two come up here?’
He took a couple of deep breaths. He couldn’t tell them what had just happened because they’d turn around and run for their lives. Ethan reached the top first and looked at Ollie.
‘Are you sure you’re okay? You’re pale. Are you coming down with something? Because if you are keep away. I’ve got a big night planned tonight. I don’t want to be ill.’
Jack laughed. ‘A big night – you’re taking Emily Woods to the pub for a game of darts, pint of lager and a packet of crisps.’
Ethan gave him the finger. ‘Fuck off, I’m taking her for a meal at the new Italian.’
Jack laughed even harder. ‘You mean Pizza Hut?’ He looked at Ollie. ‘He means Pizza Hut.’
‘It sells pizza and pasta. Isn’t that Italian? You’re such an arse.’
Ollie couldn’t help but smile. ‘I’m fine, just tripped over and gave myself a fright. Listen, can you two go and check the attic out – every box that’s up there? Can you go through the ones you didn’t have a nosey through last time? I want to see if there is anything about the history of the house up there for Kate.’
That wiped the smile off Jack’s face. ‘Really? We only checked it the other day.’
‘I know we did, but please as a favour for me can you do it again?’
Ethan looked uncomfortable. ‘Well if you really need us to. I have to be honest with you though, boss, I don’t like it up there. I’d rather go down in the cellar. It’s damp and cold down there, but it doesn’t feel like the attic does.’
‘What do you mean, Ethan?’
It was Jack who answered. ‘I know what he means; it doesn’t feel right up there. When we were up there it felt as if someone was standing behind us, watching us the whole time. It was creepy.’
‘It does.’ Ethan agreed. ‘Have you been up there lately?’
Ollie shook his head.
‘Well we’ll go up if you come as well. It will be quicker if all three of us go up there and check it anyway. You might see what we mean; it’s scary up there.’
He ran his hand through his hair, not sure what to say. He’d wanted to get on with checking the cameras, but he couldn’t really force them to go if he wasn’t willing to. Before he chickened out he strode towards the far end of the hallway and the small door that led up to the attic.
***
They finally reached the bus stop and Summer sighed. ‘I’m tired already. Where are we going?’
‘I thought we could go into town, have a look around the shops and then go have lunch.’
Autumn sat down on the edge of the kerb. ‘I wish you still had a car. How are you going to manage living all the way out here without one? It’s so far from everywhere.’
Kate couldn’t tell her that she had no choice, that the police had taken her licence away from her for crashing her car when she was drunk. She did the maths. Another nine months and then she would be able to drive if she had any money left over to buy a car after the house was finished.
‘I have a bike; I like riding around on it. It’s great exercise and doesn’t cost any money. I know, why don’t we go and buy you each a bike? Then you can ride it around the grounds of the house and go for bike rides when you’re stopping with me. I used to love going for bike rides when I was your age. My mum would make me sandwiches, put a packet of crisps and a can of pop in a bag, and I’d be off.’
Summer began jumping up and down. ‘Yes please. Really? I’d love a bike. I haven’t had one since before you left us. Dad threw them out when he cleared out the garage so Tamara could fit her car in when she stopped.’
Kate smiled, even though inside her heart was breaking in two. I never left you; he made me. He threw me out and changed the locks so I couldn’t get back in. ‘What do you think, Autumn? Do you fancy a new bike?’
Her beautiful daughter looked up at her and smiled. All the blackness that seemed to have been clouding behind her eyes cleared and she looked more like her old self.
‘Can you afford to buy us each a bike? They’re not cheap.’
‘Yes, I can afford two bikes and helmets. It’s much cheaper than a car.’
She winked at Autumn, whose cheeks began to turn a very faint red. A loud sound in the distance like a tank began to echo around the quiet road and Kate wondered what on earth was heading their way when the pale blue VW camper van that belonged to Father Joe rounded the bend. It began chugging its way along the road towards them and she lifted her hand to wave at him. He started waving back, then realising who it was did an emergency stop – almost losing his nodding dog through the windscreen. He got out of the car and came running around.
‘Kate, I’m so glad I’ve seen you. I was just going to check on Father Anthony and then I was coming to see you. I need to have a chat with you about some things?’
Kate looked at her daughters, and then looked at him. She didn’t want them hearing anything that might scare them to stay at her house. Joe realised what she was trying to tell him and nodded his head.
‘Anyway it can wait. I’ll speak to you later. When would be a good time for you?’
‘The girls are going back to their dad’s at six, so any time after will be fine. We’re off into town to buy some bicycles, aren’t we?’
Both girls nodded, amazed that their mum was having a conversation with a priest. They’d never really seen one in the flesh. The closest they got to one was watching The Vicar of Dibley on UK Gold.
‘Good, that’s good, I’ll come around then. Forgive me, can I offer you a lift somewhere?’
‘Well seeing as how the bus doesn’t look as if it’s going to be here any time soon, that would be wonderful, thank you.’
He smiled and slid open the rear door for the girls to climb inside. Once they were in he shut it. Kate reached out with her fingers to grab the door handle, when he grabbed her arm.
‘I’ve been speaking to some of the locals about the house. My cleaner suggested that you talk to Beatrice Hayton who runs the village post office. She’s a bit of a local historian and knows everything about everyone around here. I’ll come and see you after the girls have left, but I think you really should go and speak with her if you can.’
‘Thanks, I will. I take it there’s a lot of history to my house that I should know about.’
He nodded his head. ‘Kate, don’t be alone up there anymore. Maybe stop in a hotel or B&B, but whatever you do don’t stop in that house on your own any longer. It’s not a good place for a single woman.’
‘Thank you, Joe, but I can’t. I’m not really in a position to waste money like that. I need every penny to get the house finished – even if I’m terrified of my own shadow at the moment.’
He nodded his head. ‘Look the vicarage is huge, too big for a single man and his Xbox. You could move in for a while until things have settled down.’
‘That’s really kind of you and if I don’t get things sorted out soon I might take you up on that offer, but for now please don’t mention anything in front of my daughters. I don’t want them to be scared to come here.’
Letting go of her arm, he walked around to his side to get back in the van. Both girls were chattering about what colour bikes they wanted. He started the engine and Kate smiled at him. Lowering her voice, she said, ‘They’re all I have. I’ll go and visit Beatrice this afternoon.’
‘Good, that’s a very good idea.’
Joe stopped the van outside the one and only bike shop in the small town. The girls clambered out and rushed to the window to look at the limited selection of bikes on display.
‘Thank you.’
‘You’re more than welcome. Be careful, Kate.’
She shut the door and waved at him as he drove away.
‘Was he an actual vicar?’
Kate looked down at Summer. ‘Yes he was. He’s nice, isn’t he?’
‘I suppose so. He drives a funny car for a vicar and isn’t he a bit young?’
&nbs
p; ‘I don’t really know. I don’t think there’s an age limit on choosing to spend your life devoting it to God.’
‘Well it’s a waste if you ask me; he’s quite nice.’
Summer turned her attention back to the bikes and Kate felt a wave of relief. She wasn’t qualified to answer questions on God, the priesthood or how good-looking Joe was. She opened the door to the shop and smiled as the old-fashioned bell rang to signal there were customers. Autumn ran straight over to a luminous green mountain bike, which made Kate’s eyes water it was so bright. Summer looked at the fluorescent yellow one next to it and beamed at her. Well that was easy. Let’s just hope the prices aren’t as eye-watering as the colours. The middle-aged man who was repairing a puncture looked up at them and grinned.
‘Well now, haven’t you two got good taste? But wouldn’t you like to look at the selection of girls’ pink and lilac bikes over here?’
Kate felt her cheeks flush red as both girls gagged, pretending to be sick.
‘I guess not.’ He wiped his hands on his trousers and came over to them. ‘So you’re not into all that pink dribble then?’
Both girls shook their heads.
‘Good, because I’ve been staring at those two bikes for far too long. They make my eyes go fuzzy and water they’re so bright.’
Kate turned the price tag over on the green bike that Autumn was clinging on to: a hundred and eighty five quid. She didn’t know if she could afford that much with all the money she needed for the house. She’d been hoping to get some for a lot less.
‘I can do you a deal if you’re wanting to buy both of them. Three hundred for them both and I’ll throw in the helmets if only to give my eyes a rest.’
Kate began to laugh. She looked at her daughters, who were silently pleading with her, and she didn’t have the heart to say no. ‘Two helmets and you’ll make sure they can ride them out of here?’
He stuck out his hand. ‘Deal.’
‘I guess we’ll take them then.’