by Sharon Sant
‘What time is everyone due?’
‘Seven,’ Maggie replied.
Jacob glanced at the clock and saw that he had just over an hour. ‘I’d better get showered then,’ he said, sliding off the worktop and making his way across the kitchen. He was stopped by Maggie’s stern reprimand.
‘The chicken…’
Jacob turned. She waved a hand towards the plate he had left out and returned to chopping lemons. Grinning sheepishly, he shuffled over to put it away. He would never have been asked to clean up after himself on Astrae. He liked it better this way.
He was back downstairs, showered and in a change of clothes, just as the first knock came at the door. A moment later, Jacob’s giant of an uncle entered the sitting room, followed by his diminutive wife, Carol. They were an odd pairing, so opposite in so many ways, yet it had always seemed to Jacob that they were the most devoted couple he had ever known.
‘Jacob!’ Uncle Dan gave him a hearty slap on the back that was so hard, in some quarters it could have been misconstrued as assault. This was followed by a crushing handshake. ‘The wanderer returns!’
‘Hi, Uncle Dan.’
His Aunt Carol gave him a swift peck on the cheek. ‘Hello, Jacob. Happy to be back?’
He nodded, forcing an over-polite smile.
Maggie stepped forward. ‘Drinks?’
‘Oh, that would be grand,’ Uncle Dan replied. ‘My mouth feels like Ghandi’s flip-flop.’
‘Daniel!’ Aunt Carol scolded.
Uncle Dan grinned. ‘Don’t tell me you weren’t thinking the same thing, love. It’s like an oven out there.’ He gestured to the window, where the evening sun still blazed with an intensity hardly diminished from its noon incarnation.
‘It’s gorgeous,’ Maggie agreed. ‘We should have done a barbecue, really.’
‘We could move everything outside, if you like,’ Dan offered.
Jacob glanced at his dad, who looked fatigued already. ‘I’m happy indoors, if everyone is ok with that.’
‘No worries, Jake.’ Uncle Dan crammed himself into an armchair and Carol took a place on the opposite one. ‘So, tell us all about your adventures in New Zealand.’
Jacob shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable. ‘There’s not that much to tell really. I expect Mum and Dad told you most everything already.’
‘You must have something to add,’ Carol said, smiling.
‘It was good.’
‘Good? That’s it? Blimey, don’t get any ideas about working for the New Zealand tourist board.’ Uncle Dan scratched at his thick beard and chuckled. ‘Imagine the posters: Come to New Zealand. It’s alright if you like that sort of thing...’
‘I won’t,’ Jacob said, grappling for an escape route. Already the conversation was taxing. ‘I’ll just go and see if Mum needs any help,’ he excused, making a swift exit. As he left the room, he could hear, with some relief, that his dad had joined the discussion and it had turned to the business they ran together.
‘Need any help, Mum?’
‘You could pass me that tray,’ Maggie replied. Jacob went to fetch it from a high shelf.
‘I don’t know why you don’t store things a bit lower down. You’re not getting any taller.’
‘You’re not too tall for a slap, cheeky,’ Maggie replied as she placed glasses of punch onto the tray.
‘Want me to take those?’ Jacob asked.
Before she could answer, a second knock echoed through the house. Jacob’s insides flipped, as though he had just been driven over an unexpected bump in the road.
‘Could you get that?’ Maggie asked.
Though he would rather have done drink duty, he nodded and went down the hall. At the door, he took a deep breath, and then opened it.
Luca stood before him, grinning. Jacob surprised even himself by his next action. He dragged his friend into an impulsive hug.
‘It’s so good to see you!’
‘Steady on, mate!’ Luca said, pulling him off and laughing. He stood back. ‘You’re taller.’
‘So are you,’ Jacob beamed.
Luca had changed as much as Jacob in the two years they had been apart. He was a good few inches taller, more muscular, his olive skin had been tanned even further in the current heat-wave and he had let his dark hair grow longer so that it fell in a sweeping fringe low across his forehead. Jacob gestured for him to come in, hardly able to keep the smile from his face.
‘I can’t believe you’re actually back,’ Luca said.
‘To be honest,’ Jacob replied, his smile slipping momentarily, ‘neither can I.’
‘I’m glad you are, mate.’ Luca clapped him on the back.
‘So… how’s it going?’ Jacob asked as Luca followed him down the hall.
‘Oh, you know - same old...’
‘You must have something to tell me.’
‘I’m more interested in what you’ve been up to,’ Luca replied with a significant tone.
‘It’ll have to wait till later,’ Jacob whispered, before opening the living room door to reveal the reason why.
‘Luca!’ Phil exclaimed. ‘Long time no see.’
Luca grinned sheepishly. ‘Hi, Mr L.’
‘Would you like a fruit punch, Luca?’ Maggie cut in.
Luca nodded, wiping a fine sheen of sweat from his brow. ‘Yes, thanks, it’s boiling out there.’
‘How’s sixth form?’ Phil enquired as Luca took a seat on the sofa.
Sixth form. For some reason, the idea was a shock to Jacob. Not because he doubted his friend’s abilities, but because he just hadn’t thought about the many ways in which people’s lives would be moving on back home.
‘It’s good. I had my mocks, they went really well. Mr Jones says I should be on for an A star in my biology if I carry on the way I’m going.’
‘You’re still thinking of medicine, then?’ Maggie interrupted as she returned with his drink.
Luca nodded. ‘Thanks,’ he said, taking the glass from her.
The last time the subject of his medical career had been broached in Jacob’s presence had been just after Luca had resuscitated Jacob as he lay dying on the school playing fields. At that time, Luca had been too embarrassed to discuss it with him and Ellen, let alone Jacob’s mum and dad, and had seemingly dismissed it as a viable life option for him. That he had obviously talked to them about it at some length since showed that things really had moved on in Jacob’s absence.
There was another knock. Jacob steeled himself. Maggie glided out to get it. A few moments later she returned, followed by Ellen.
Despite himself, Jacob’s breath hitched as Ellen appeared in front of him. He struggled to contain the colour of his eyes and the blush settling on his cheeks as he took in the full extent of the changes in her. She was dressed simply in a pair of black skinny jeans and a white fitted vest, a small silver heart at her neck. Her dark hair was piled elegantly on her head and fastened with a large clip so that loose tendrils fell about her face and tickled her bare shoulders. Jacob noted a faint smudge of blusher and a slick of mascara - just enough to accentuate her green eyes and the sprinkling of sun-ripened freckles across the bridge of her nose. She smiled warmly at him.
‘Hello, stranger.’
Jacob smiled back. They gazed at each other in silence, and for a perfect, crystallised moment, there seemed to be no one else in the room.
Eventually, Uncle Dan coughed and broke the spell. Maggie and Phil shared a brief glance loaded with understanding. Luca bounded across the room and kissed Ellen on both cheeks.
‘Alright?’
She laughed. ‘You know I am, you only saw me yesterday at college.’
‘I know, but as we were doing the welcome back party thing, I thought I’d make an effort to be polite.’ Luca grinned.
He couldn’t be sure, but something in their manner towards each other gave Jacob the impression that there was nothing more than friendship there now.
After a brief greeting from his Uncle Dan and Aunt
Carol, she stood awkwardly in the doorway.
‘Come through to the kitchen, Ellen,’ Maggie finally said, ‘I have some fabric swatches to show you.’ As she left the room and Ellen followed, she called back. ‘Maybe you’d like to see them, Jacob?’
Jacob was about to ask why he needed to see fabric when he realised his mum’s ploy and followed gratefully.
Ellen smiled at the bunting strung across the walls. ‘Very nice, Maggie.’
Jacob couldn’t help noticing the familiarity between them now with the tiniest pang of jealousy.
‘Thanks,’ Maggie replied. She slapped her forehead theatrically. ‘Oh, the swatches are in the laundry room. I’ll just go and get them.’
Finding themselves alone, Jacob and Ellen fell into an awkward silence. He wanted to grab her, to hold her, but he knew it wasn’t allowed… not yet.
‘Have you been ok?’ he finally asked.
‘Without you? Why wouldn’t I be?’ Her voice seemed harder now. ‘I thought I might have heard something from you, though, considering I was the one person you could communicate with.’
‘I didn’t know what to say.’
‘Hello would have been a good start.’
‘My life was so different from yours; I felt like there was nothing we could talk about.’
‘That’s the best you’ve got?’
‘I… all I do is train, and Astraen Council stuff. You wouldn’t have wanted to hear about it.’
‘That’s not the point. I was scared for you, did you ever think of that? I had no idea whether you were alive or dead. How did you think that would make me feel, after everything we had been through?’
‘Ellen…’ he started towards her. She held up a hand in warning.
‘Don’t think that a kiss will make this alright.’
‘When I went I never promised I would be able to contact you.’
‘But I know you could.’
‘I couldn’t. I can’t explain…’ his words faltered. There were no excuses good enough. ‘It was just too painful,’ he finally admitted.
‘I know, I just thought…’ Seeming to sense an impasse, she changed the subject. ‘Does your being home mean you’ve found the other one?’
He sighed. ‘No.’
‘So how come you’re back?’
‘I think I have a lead. It’s only a slim chance, but I think the other one is on Earth. One of the Council Elders, Kaleb, told me that I have a twin who disappeared around the same time I did, and that she could be the other Successor. It makes sense to me that if I was sent to Earth, she probably was as well.’
Ellen’s mouth fell open. ‘A twin sister?’
Jacob nodded eagerly as he noted her interest. ‘The other Council members didn’t want me to know about her because they knew I would want to search her out. But I think Kaleb felt sorry for me. It took ages to persuade them to let me come and look for her.’
Ellen mused on this new information. ‘How are you going to find her? Can you feel her?’
‘No. I think she has the same protection I had. It’s a pain, but it’ll have to be old-fashioned detective work.’
Luca appeared, hovering at the door. ‘Is this a private party or can anyone join?’ he asked, seemingly uncertain whether he was interrupting something intimate.
‘Course you can,’ Ellen replied. ‘Jacob was just telling me what he’s managed to find out about the other Successor.’
‘Seriously?’ Luca gaped. ‘Have you found them? Is that why you’re back?’
Jacob shook his head. ‘I haven’t found her yet. But I think she might be here, on Earth.’
‘Where?’
‘Haven’t a clue. That’s the problem. It could be Delhi or Nottingham, or anywhere in between.’
Luca grinned. ‘Scooby gang back together then?’ he said, looking from one to another with affection. ‘Like old times?’
‘I need to do this. I can’t ask you two to drop everything and come chasing across the globe with me after any slim lead.’
‘That’s what you think,’ Luca replied.
Ellen stayed silent. Jacob felt her questioning gaze on him. He was still wondering what the deal was with those two, whether they had got back together after he left.
Maggie returned to the kitchen. ‘I couldn’t find them after all,’ she said.
They all looked at her blankly, each still with their own thoughts about what they had just discussed. ‘The swatches,’ she reminded them, rolling her eyes. ‘You three may as well stay here,’ she added, ‘I’ll call everyone through for food.’
Much as he had enjoyed being reunited with his family and friends, Jacob’s mind was teeming. He was desperate to get Ellen and Luca alone again so they could continue their discussions. He felt the value of their input, felt the need for it, despite what he had told them earlier. Though they couldn’t come with him on the search, he knew that they might have some helpful ideas about where to start it. And knowing that they wanted to help, despite his long absence from them, gave him a rush of affection for their old friendship; it was a loyalty that he felt grateful to have. But the small talk continued long into the evening, until the sun had slipped below the horizon. Jacob was convinced he could still hear the echoes of Dan’s booming laugh long after his uncle had left the house.
A short time later, Ellen yawned and made her excuses to leave.
‘I’ll walk you home,’ Luca offered.
‘It’s miles out of your way, isn’t it?’ Maggie remarked. ‘I could get Phil to run you home, Ellen.’
‘Is it?’ Jacob asked.
‘I forgot to tell you,’ Luca replied. ‘Just after you left, Dad got a promotion and we moved house. We’re about a street away from you now.’
‘Right. I’ll come out with you, walk Ellen home, if you like. Save Dad a journey,’ Jacob said, trying to sound casual.
‘But it’s miles out of your way, too,’ Ellen pointed out.
‘I don’t mind,’ he replied quickly, ‘I could do with a walk; work off some of that cake.’
Luca bit back a smirk. ‘You didn’t eat that much cake, did you?’
Ellen smiled. ‘I didn’t see you eat that much either…’
‘I fancy a walk, ok?’ Jacob said in an exasperated tone.
Luca threw Ellen an amused glance.
They left the house together and stopped at the corner of Luca’s road. The night air was still warm, even though it was late. Moths flitted around the streetlamp they stood under. Jacob gazed up, momentarily distracted by the feathered delicacy of their wings.
‘So, where do we start on this search?’ Luca asked.
‘I told you, we don’t,’ Jacob replied, brought back to his surroundings.
Luca pouted. ‘What, you think we’ll be useless?’
‘I didn’t say that.’ Jacob paused and put his hand on Luca’s shoulder. ‘Seeing you tonight, after all this time, hearing you talk about your life... it’s made me realise that you have your own worries, your own hopes and fears. I can’t just turn up and ask you to drop everything to come on some wild goose chase with me.’
‘I know. But we haven’t been asked. I’m saying I want to come.’
‘And I’m saying that you shouldn’t.’
‘Luca’s right,’ Ellen cut in. ‘Don’t you think we should be asked, rather than told, what we want to do?’
‘I don’t see what you can do.’
Luca snorted. ‘Nothing has changed. Still think we’re beneath you.’
‘God… no!’ Jacob corrected quickly. ‘I didn’t mean that, you know I didn’t. I just mean that even I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have absolutely no idea where she is.’
‘Forget it, mate, it’s ok,’ Luca said. ‘Tomorrow’s Sunday. How about we come to yours and brainstorm, see what we can figure out between us?’
The idea was too tempting to for Jacob to refuse. He smiled warmly. ‘Alright then,’ he said. ‘But if it turns out that she’s somewhere dangerous, I’m tell
ing you now I won’t take you there.’
Luca nodded. ‘We’ll see. I’ll come over tomorrow. Not too early, though,’ Luca added, lifting his arm in a farewell as he turned and started down his road for home.
Jacob and Ellen watched him go and then turned in the opposite direction for her house. They walked in silence. Jacob itched to reach for her hand, but what he had seen so far didn’t make him think the gesture would be welcomed. Eventually, he spoke.
‘So you see Luca a lot, around college?’
‘Not really. He’s in the science block and I’m doing art. I see him in the rec room sometimes, though.’
‘I thought you might have still been hanging out…’
‘It’s not that simple.’
Jacob brooded on her words. The next question was one that he wrestled with for some silent moments, but finally had to ask.
‘So you’re not seeing him?’
‘No. I’m not seeing him.’
Jacob exhaled forcefully. ‘I thought you might –’
‘I did. For a while after you left, we got back together. But it didn’t work out.’
‘Oh,’ Jacob said, unable to think of a suitable response.
‘You don’t get it, do you?’ Ellen halted under the pool of a streetlight and turned to him. He shot her a questioning look. ‘After everything that we had been through with you, how could it work? You went off to save the universe, or whatever, and we were left behind. You think you had it bad, imagine how that feels. We had to get back to normal life after that, knowing that you were out there and might never come back.’ She began to tremble. ‘Every time me and Luca were together, you know what we talked about?’ Jacob shook his head in a small movement. ‘We talked about you. Every time, all the time. What else could we do? Seeing each other only made us think of you, wondering what you were doing, whether you were safe, whether you were dead. There were nights…’ Ellen’s voice cracked. Her next words came out in a rasping half-sob. ‘There were nights when I lay awake, convinced that you were dead and I’d cry myself to sleep, and then I had to see your mum and dad and pretend that it was all ok, that I’d spoken to you, had to listen to them convinced that they had been speaking to you, see them search for nonexistent postcards that you were supposed to have sent and wonder why they couldn’t find them, and I couldn’t tell anyone the truth. Luca was the only person who knew what that was like.’