The Silent Touch of Shadows

by Christina Courtenay

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The film at the local cinema was a comedy, but although she laughed in all the right places, Melissa could never afterwards remember which movie they’d seen. She was far too aware of the man sitting next to her, his thigh touching hers. Every time he moved, little sparks shot through her, making her heartbeat erratic and her stomach flutter. It was agony and ecstasy all at once. They shared popcorn and some chocolate and halfway through the film he took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. She never wanted him to let go. She felt like a silly teenager on her first date.

  As they poured out into the High Street together with the other cinema-goers, Jake kept hold of her hand. ‘Do you want to share a Chinese take-away? I’m starving, and we can eat at my house since the kids are over at your place.’

  Melissa just nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She was afraid of being alone with him, yet she felt safe at the same time. It was very confusing.

  She followed him into his home after the short drive back. Ashleigh Cottage surprised her – although it looked small from the outside, its rooms were unexpectedly large and bright.

  ‘Oh, this is lovely! How did you make it look so spacious?’ she exclaimed, glancing round the living room with appreciation.

  ‘We knocked down as many walls as we possibly could, without making the whole house come tumbling down, and then painted everything in light colours. Plus, we added an extension at the back. It was a compromise. Karen wanted a “cute cottage”, but I can’t stand small spaces, so this way we both got what we wanted. Sort of.’

  Jake led the way into the kitchen and switched on the recessed lights. The walls were painted a warm shade of primrose and everything was spotlessly clean. Although the fittings were rustic and in keeping with their surroundings, Melissa could see that no expense had been spared in equipping the kitchen with all the latest gadgets, including a fridge with an automatic ice-making facility.

  ‘This is nice too, and so tidy. You must be very domesticated, or is this Amy’s doing?’

  ‘Thank you. No, I’m afraid neither of us can take any credit for this. It’s all due to Mrs Johnson, who keeps it sparkling clean.’

  ‘Ah, yes, I remember Amy mentioning her. She’s your housekeeper, right? She must be a real treasure.’

  ‘That she is. We couldn’t survive without her.’ Jake set the food out on a counter and dragged two bar stools over. ‘Would you like some wine? I think there’s a bottle of white in the fridge.’

  ‘Yes, please.’ Perhaps it would calm her nerves, she thought. They appeared to be tauter than violin strings and about to snap any minute. When he handed her the glass, she sipped the drink gratefully and tried to slow her breathing as she waited for the alcohol to work its magic.

  They ate in companionable silence and Melissa found she was ravenous, despite her inner tension. When they came to the dessert, however, she had reached her limit.

  ‘No, thanks. I couldn’t eat another bite. Honest.’

  ‘Just try a small piece of this. It’s heavenly.’ Jake proffered a bit of sticky apple on expertly held chopsticks.

  ‘Oh, all right. Just the one.’ Melissa opened her mouth obediently, and Jake watched her with a strange look in his eyes as she took the morsel he was holding out to her.

  Something happened in that moment and she felt as if she were under a spell. She chewed, swallowed and licked the sweetness off her lips. He gazed at her mouth the whole time and it appeared to have him spellbound. She knew without a doubt he was going to kiss her this time. Slowly he lowered his head towards her, giving her every opportunity to escape, but she remained motionless, just looking at him, waiting for the inevitable. She saw the icy blue depths of his eyes darken with desire and then he captured her mouth in a butterfly kiss. But it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.

  When she made no protest he deepened the kiss, and it was as if he had released a floodgate. Somehow they were no longer sitting on the bar stools, but standing up and her arms were round his neck. He held her as close as he possibly could without physically crushing her. It felt wonderful and she snuggled even closer. Jake groaned.

  Melissa couldn’t have stopped him if her life depended on it. His kisses were as intoxicating as the strongest drug and she loved the feel of him, hard against her softness. She ran her hands over his back, his arms, then through his hair. She couldn’t get enough of touching him; she wanted more. She pulled him closer still, rubbing herself against him, and arched her back as his mouth explored her neck and below.

  ‘Oh, God, Sibell, you’re so beautiful!’

  The words seemed to echo round the room and killed Melissa’s passion faster than a bucket of ice over the head would have done. With a gasp, she abruptly let go of Jake and pushed hard against his chest.

  ‘What did you say?’

  He blinked at her in confusion, his eyes still hazy with desire. ‘Nothing. I didn’t say a word.’ His arms were still around her and she pushed frantically to make him release her. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘It was Roger. He’s doing this to us.’

  ‘Roger? What are you talking about?’ He let her go reluctantly and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up even further.

  Melissa looked at him, biting her lip. ‘The bloody ghost. He spoke to me, while we were kissing. He spoke to me as if I was Sibell and he was you. He-he said I was beautiful.’ She turned away, shaking, and began to gather up plates and cutlery with unnecessary force.

  ‘That’s impossible. You shouldn’t watch films like The Exorcist, you know. Besides, you are beautiful. The ghost has good taste.’ Jake tried to make light of the matter, putting his hands around her waist from behind, but Melissa wasn’t having it. She swivelled round to look him in the eyes, her own narrowed in anger.

  ‘No. And that’s not all. I also felt as if I knew how it would be to make love to you. As if I’d done it before! Now why should that be?’

  Jake sighed and closed his eyes. ‘I don’t know, Melissa.’

  ‘Can you honestly tell me you didn’t feel the same?’

  ‘I don’t think so. I mean, of course I’ve fantasised about your body, but that was just my imagination. I have no idea what you really look like without your clothes on. Christ, I’ve been thinking of nothing but kissing you all week. That doesn’t mean I knew exactly what it was going to be like.’ He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘Come on, Melissa, this is crazy. It’s just that you’ve been thinking too much about this ghost business. Your mind wasn’t functioning normally. That’s all there is to it.’

  ‘No. I’m not buying it, Jake. Maybe he’s not affecting you, but he’s definitely put a spell on me.’

  ‘So what you’re saying is that if you weren’t under a spell, you wouldn’t look twice at me? Great. Thanks a lot.’ Jake sounded hurt and Melissa felt torn, but at the same time she was so confused.

  ‘No, of course not, but … Oh, I can’t explain it.’ Her voice was decidedly wobbly. She was shaking so badly she could hardly lift her glass of wine, but somehow she managed it and took a fortifying draught. She was scared. Terrified, in fact, and she didn’t have a clue what to do about it. ‘I knew I shouldn’t have come here,’ she muttered through clenched teeth.

  Jake tried again and gathered her stiff body close. ‘Melissa, darling, it will be all right. Let’s just forget it. I didn’t mean to rush you. We can take it slowly.’

  She leaned against him briefly, wavering, then tore herself away. ‘No, Jake, it won’t work. Not until I’ve solved the mystery of what Roger wants. When I make love with someone I want to be sure I’m doing it for the right reason. I’m not having this. It scares the hell out of me.’

  He walked her home in silence along the dark country lane. Not once did she look at him. She couldn’t trust herself not to respond to him again. She let him kiss her goodbye, but only on the cheek. It was as far as she dared to go.

  ‘Well, Hubert, and what advice do you have for me today? I’ve
made a right mess of things, haven’t I?’

  After a sleepless night Jake had gone to the surgery to check on his little hedgehog patient, among others, and to find something to occupy himself with. The silence in the cottage was oppressive and he couldn’t stand it for another second.

  Hubert made a small noise and looked at him out of eyes that were definitely as bright as they should be. The antibiotics had cured him and Jake noticed the little animal had eaten all the food left for him. He opened the cage door and fetched fresh water.

  ‘I really don’t know what happened last night. Do you think I’m possessed by a ghost? Could I have said something without noticing?’ As if tired by the conversation, Hubert turned his back on Jake. ‘No, it sounds too crazy, doesn’t it?’ Jake sighed deeply and ran tired fingers over the stubble on his chin, which he hadn’t had the patience to remove before he left home. ‘But I guess I should have mentioned those weird dreams I’ve been having, huh? They seem to be connected to the whole ghost business somehow. I don’t really want to tell Melissa, though. If it’s all in her imagination I don’t want to make things worse. Heck, I don’t even know if I imagined it all myself!’

  He sighed again. ‘But I can’t just let her walk away either, Hubert. I’ve got to change her mind somehow.’ It was Hubert’s turn to sigh, or at least that’s what his snuffling noise sounded like, and Jake smiled to himself. ‘You’re right, patience is probably the answer. I’ll have to be patient like you, little guy. If she feels anything like I do, she won’t let this silly ghost business come between us. Otherwise I’ll just have to convince her, won’t I?’

  That settled, he went to check on his other patients.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  ‘Mum, come quickly!’ Jolie burst into the sitting room a few days later and skidded to a halt inside the door.

  ‘What? What’s wrong?’ Melissa had just sat down with a mug of tea and made herself comfortable. She scanned her daughter to check for cuts or bruises, but couldn’t see anything. ‘Are you hurt?’

  ‘No, it’s Russ. He’s dying!’

  Melissa took in Jolie’s pale face and amber eyes wide with distress. ‘Surely not?’ She shot out of her chair. ‘Has he had an accident?’ She knew Jolie had a tendency to over-dramatise things, but this time she sounded serious.

  ‘No, but he’s in the kitchen and he’s throwing up all over the place, and …’

  ‘All right, all right. Calm down.’ They headed for the kitchen at a run. ‘He’s probably just eaten too much, he can be such a little pig, you know. Perhaps he stole tonight’s dinner? Dorothy left it on the counter.’

  Upon entering the kitchen, however, she was filled with remorse at her words and had to admit Jolie had been right to be concerned this time. The dinner was still intact while Russ was lying next to the Aga, shivering and looking extremely sorry for himself. He barely managed a small thump of his tail in greeting and let out the occasional whimper. As Melissa knelt in front of him, he looked at her out of sad, slightly glazed eyes, his nose resting on his front paws. All around him were the former contents of his stomach.

  Jolie held her nose with two fingers. ‘See, I told you.’

  ‘Yes, well, he certainly doesn’t look very well, poor thing, but I hardly think he’s dying.’ Melissa stroked the silky head and felt his nose, which was warm and dry to touch. ‘Oh, dear, it’s not cold and wet. I’ve heard that’s not a good sign,’ she muttered.

  ‘We’ll have to take him to the vet, won’t we?’ Jolie said. ‘Auntie Dorothy isn’t coming back for hours and we can’t leave him like this.’

  ‘No, we can’t. You’re right.’ Melissa sighed. There was only one veterinary practice within easy reach and that was where Jake was a partner. She had successfully avoided him ever since their disastrous date, and she’d hoped she wouldn’t have to meet him again until she had solved the mystery of Roger. Jake had called and asked to speak to her, but she’d told Dorothy to say she was busy.

  Melissa caressed the little dog’s head. There was no help for it, they had to go, and perhaps if she was lucky Jake’s partner would be on duty. ‘Stay with him while I ring and ask if we can bring Russ straight away.’ Jolie nodded.

  Fifteen minutes later they were ushered into the small surgery.

  ‘Hello, Melissa, Jolie.’ Jake smiled at them in welcome and Melissa tried to smile back while stifling a groan.

  Just my luck. But she couldn’t very well refuse to let Jake treat the dog. That would have seemed ridiculous.

  He took Russ from her arms and lifted him onto the table. ‘And what’s the matter with you, little guy?’ He examined the quivering dog carefully. ‘He’s been sick, did you say?’ Melissa nodded.

  ‘Yes, very.’

  ‘Yep, nothing left inside him, definitely not,’ Jolie agreed and made a face.

  When Jake looked up at her, Melissa realised hiding herself away hadn’t changed the fact that she still wanted him. And wanted him badly. Perhaps she had been a bit hasty and maybe he’d been right? How could a ghost possibly influence them? Then, with a shiver, she remembered the strange sensation that she had known exactly how it would feel to make love to Jake. Even if the voice inside her head could be ascribed to an overactive imagination, this eerie foreknowledge could not. No, Roger was up to his tricks, she had no doubt about it. She became aware Jake was saying something to her.

  ‘I’m sorry, what was that?’

  ‘I said, I think Russ has just eaten something he shouldn’t have done in the garden or while out walking. Perhaps he took a lick at a dead rabbit or something. It’s happened before. There’s no need to worry, I’ll just give him an injection and he should be okay soon. Don’t feed him today and only give him chicken and rice tomorrow.’

  ‘Well, that’s a relief. He looked awful and I was afraid I would have to give Dorothy some bad news when she came home.’

  Jake smiled. ‘No, he’s just feeling very sorry for himself.’ He glanced behind him where Jolie was wandering around inspecting everything with curiosity. ‘Why don’t you go through that door,’ he said to her, ‘and say hello to Hubert. He’s in the third cage from the left. In fact, you’re lucky he’s still here. He was going to leave a couple of weeks ago, but the old lady who brought him in had a fall and won’t be out of hospital until next Saturday.’

  ‘Hubert? Who’s that?’

  ‘Go and see for yourself.’ Jolie didn’t need to be told twice. As soon as she was out of earshot, Jake turned back to Melissa. ‘I need to talk to you,’ he whispered. ‘Can’t we have dinner or something? Please? I know you’ve been avoiding me and I understand your reasons, but I really want to see you.’ Melissa felt herself weakening and he must have sensed it since he continued his persuasions. ‘How am I going to convince you I’m right if you won’t even talk to me? Come on, Melissa. What can it hurt to just eat together?’

  Melissa wavered as he came to stand close to her. The look in his azure eyes almost made her give in, but she turned away and steeled herself.

  ‘No, not yet. Please, you must give me more time, Jake, I …’ She couldn’t explain. Not even to herself. ‘I need to work this out on my own.’

  ‘Okay fine, but I won’t give up, you know. I can’t rationalise what happened, but I really think it has a logical explanation.’

  ‘Maybe …’

  ‘Oh, Mum, come and look! Hubert is a baby hedgehog and he’s sooooo cute.’ Jolie came hurtling back into the room and interrupted their private conversation. Melissa dutifully admired Hubert, but although she had to admit he was sweet, her heart wasn’t in it. She returned to Ashleigh with Russ and her daughter, feeling torn, but determined. Am I being silly? She didn’t think so.

  Melissa had just finished the dishes and was coming out of the kitchen later that evening when she heard a scream from upstairs. She rushed over to the stairs, taking them two at a time, and collided with Jolie, who threw herself into her mother’s arms and burst into tears.

  ‘Sweetheart
, what on earth is the matter?’ Melissa looked at her daughter in dismay.

  ‘Oh, Mum, I’m so glad you’re all right,’ Jolie sobbed.

  Melissa raised her eyebrows and hugged her child close. ‘But why shouldn’t I be? I’ve only been washing dishes. Not a dangerous occupation, you know.’

  ‘I … I thought Jake was going to k-kill you,’ Jolie wailed. ‘H-he had a huge sword and he went into your bedroom just now. At least I think it was him. Only, now he’s g-gone …’

  ‘What on earth are you talking about?’ Melissa frowned. ‘Come on, let’s sit down on the stairs for a minute. Now tell me exactly what happened, from the beginning, please.’

  ‘Well, I was doing my homework, listening to some music and then suddenly I felt someone touch my cheek. I thought it was you and kind of shook it off because I was in a hurry to finish my essay so I can go riding with Amy tomorrow. When it happened again, I got annoyed and turned around to tell you not to sneak up on me like that, but there was no one there.’

  ‘I see.’ A cold knot was forming in Melissa’s stomach, and she waited anxiously for the rest of the story.

  ‘So then I went over to the door and looked into the hallway. At the end, just turning right into the older part of the house, I thought I saw Amy’s dad going towards your bedroom. It happened so quickly, like he was there one minute and gone the next, but I decided to run after him because I definitely saw a sword and that scared me.’

  ‘A sword? You’re sure about that?’

  ‘Mm-hmm. It was sort of gleaming when he turned the corner. It … it looked very dangerous.’ Jolie paused to take a deep breath and Melissa could feel her daughter’s shoulders still shaking. ‘I called out to him to wait, but he’d disappeared. The only room he could have gone into was your bedroom, so I panicked. I thought he’d gone mad!’

  ‘So then what did you do?’

  ‘I ran into your room, but there was no one there and the windows were all shut. It smelled funny in there, kind of like Amy’s horse’s stables and it was freezing cold. I thought I heard someone laughing. That’s when I got really scared …’