Aunt Bessie Finds

by Diana Xarissa

  “What’s wrong?” Doona asked.

  Bessie explained about the differences in the old oven at her cottage and the much more modern one here. “But the crumble looks fine,” she told Doona as she sat back down to finish her stew.

  “Oh, good,” Doona replied with a smile. “It’s an apple crumble kind of night.”

  “But you were asking about the flat and my neighbours,” Bessie recalled. “The flat seems fine, so far. It’s going to take a lot of getting used to, but I’m determined to think of it as an adventure. Nothing unusual or strange has happened yet, at least not that I’ve noticed. As for the neighbours, why don’t you come with me after dinner and you can meet them for yourself.”

  “What you are doing after dinner?” Doona asked.

  “I thought I’d hand deliver the invitations to Saturday’s party,” Bessie answered, her eyes twinkling. Whatever else, she was excited to start trying to figure out what was happening that was upsetting Bahey.

  After generous helpings of apple crumble with cream, Bessie and Doona quickly tidied up the tiny kitchen space.

  “Well, that didn’t take long,” Doona said, as she put away the last of the dried dishes.

  “No, it seemed to go faster than at home, but I’m sure it’s my imagination,” Bessie remarked.

  “Or maybe it’s because it was just the two of us, and in Laxey you often have Hugh and John over when I’m there as well,” Doona suggested.

  “That could be it,” Bessie agreed. “Shall we play postman, then?”

  “Lead the way,” Doona invited. “I’m almost as excited as you are to meet everyone.”

  Bessie knocked on Bahey’s door, but no one answered. She shrugged at Doona. “Maybe she’s at Howard’s,” she suggested.

  “Ah, Bessie, you didn’t move in today, did you?” Howard demanded when he opened the door to his flat a moment later. “Bahey and I would have helped, if you’d let us know.”

  Bahey walked up to the door, a glass of wine in her hand. “Bessie? I thought you were moving in tomorrow? Did I get it wrong? We would have been happy to help.”

  “I was going to move in tomorrow, but then I had an offer of help today so I decided not to wait,” Bessie explained. “I was just dropping around with invitations for my housewarming on Saturday afternoon.”

  “Oh, but come in and have a glass of wine,” Bahey suggested.

  “I really need to get these invitations out,” Bessie demurred. “And I have a friend with me as well.”

  “Well, pass out the invitations and then come back,” Howard said firmly. “And bring your friend. We have plenty of wine.”

  Doona spoke from behind Bessie. “I’m driving, or I’d take you up on that for sure,” she told the man.

  “Please do stop back,” Bahey said to Bessie. “I feel as if I haven’t seen you for a long while.”

  “Well, the good news is, I’ll be right next door, at least for a while,” Bessie told her. “Anyway, I’ll stop back after I’ve been around the building. We have a lot to talk about.”

  Howard shut the door as Bessie turned to number nine. “I met the woman who lives here earlier,” Bessie told Doona. “She wasn’t terribly welcoming.”

  She knocked on the door with more enthusiasm than she felt. After a moment, the door swung open as far as the security chain would allow.

  “I still don’t have any milk,” the woman told Bessie through the crack.

  Bessie forced herself to chuckle. “I’m just dropping off a party invitation,” she told the woman. “I’m having a housewarming on Saturday so that I can meet all my new neighbours. I’d love it if you could come.”

  “I suppose you’ll be expecting fancy presents,” the woman sniffed. “I’m on a very tight budget. You probably won’t be wanting to invite me now.”

  Bessie shook her head. “I don’t want presents,” she replied. “In fact, I said that very thing on the invitations. I just want a chance to meet everyone in the building. I’ve lived alone in a little cottage in a somewhat remote area my entire life. I’m looking forward to having neighbours and getting to know them all.”

  She held out the invitation towards the woman. After a moment, Ruth reached a hand out through the crack and took it from her.

  “I hope to see you Saturday,” Bessie said cheerfully as the hand snaked back inside the flat.

  Bessie could just make out the “maybe” that was said before the door slammed shut in her face.

  “Lovely,” Doona muttered from behind Bessie.

  “Maybe she’s just lonely,” Bessie suggested.

  “Maybe everyone leaves her alone for a reason,” Doona shot back.

  Bessie laughed and then knocked firmly on the door to number eight. After a few moments, the door swung open and Bessie blinked at the plump and friendly-looking woman who was now standing in the doorway.

  “Oh, good evening, I’m Bessie Cubbon,” she began. “I’ve just moved into number ten and I’m having a housewarming on Saturday. I do hope you can make it.”

  She handed the woman the invitation with her name on it. The woman took it and looked it over for a moment, giving Bessie time to study her. She had to be in her sixties, at least, and she was very generously built. Her hair was grey and pulled back into an untidy bun at the back of her head. Her clothes were the sort that could be bought at any shop on the high street in the section marked “plus sizes,” but they were reasonably well-fitting and looked clean and neat.

  “So, who’s been telling you about me, then?” the woman demanded now in a thick Scottish accent.

  “Bertie was kind enough to supply everyone’s names,” Bessie explained. “And I’m friends with Bahey and Howard as well.”

  “Aye, so you’ll be knowing everyone’s business before you’ve even unpacked, won’t you?”

  Bessie shrugged. “I’m not really interested in prying into people’s private lives,” she said. “I just want to get to know my new neighbours.”

  The woman nodded. “Well, I’d be delighted to come to your little gathering. Especially if Bertie is going to be there.” She looked at Bessie for a moment and then narrowed her eyes. “You aren’t going to be interested in my Bertie, are you? He’s too young for you, anyway.”

  Bessie laughed. “I’m not interested in Bertie,” she assured the woman, whose bright smile had now disappeared. “I’m quite happy on my own.”

  The woman nodded slowly. “Well, then, I’ll see you Saturday,” she said, slowly shutting her door.

  Bessie turned away before the door was shut in her face.

  “My, what interesting neighbours you have,” Doona muttered, as they headed for the next door.

  Bessie laughed and knocked on Bertie’s door. After a moment she looked at Doona and shrugged. “Maybe he’s gone out,” she said. She waited a moment longer and then sighed. “I’ll just slip his invitation under the door.”

  Having done so, the pair crossed to the lift and headed down to the ground floor. Nigel Green was still sitting behind the small desk in the foyer.

  “Ah, Ms. Cubbon, I hope you’re settling in okay,” he said, giving her a huge smile.

  “I am, thanks,” Bessie replied coolly.

  “And who is this?” he asked, turning towards Doona and extending his hand.

  “I’m Doona Moore, one of Bessie’s closest friends,” Doona replied, taking the offered hand reluctantly.

  “Well, any friend of Bessie’s is definitely a friend of mine,” he said, raising Doona’s hand to his lips.

  Doona pulled her hand away just before it reached his mouth. “Yeah, whatever,” she muttered.

  “I have an invitation for you and your mother for Saturday,” Bessie told the man, handing him the envelope. “I do hope you’ll be able to make it.”

  “Will you be there?” he asked Doona, winking at her.

  “I’m hoping to be there with my boyfriend,” Doona replied.

  Nigel frowned and then shrugged. “I might make it,” he said nonco
mmittally.

  “Well, you and your mother are both very welcome,” Bessie said, putting emphasis on the ‘your mother’ part of the sentence. She was very eager to meet the woman for some reason.

  “We’ll see,” was all that she received as a reply.

  Bessie headed past him now, down the hallway between the ground floor flats. Outside the first flat, there was small, framed mirror hanging next to the door.

  “I wonder if this is the mirror that Bahey says keeps moving,” Bessie whispered to Doona.

  “It doesn’t look terribly exciting,” Doona replied, glancing at it.

  Bessie shrugged and knocked on the door to flat number one.

  “One minute,” someone called from inside. A moment later the door swung open and Bessie drew a deep breath. The man who stood looking out at her was one of the most attractive older men she’d ever seen. He must have been somewhere in his sixties, but his silver hair and artfully arranged wrinkles simply made him look distinguished rather than old.

  “Oh, what a pleasant surprise,” he said in a lilting Irish accent. He gave Bessie a perfect smile. “Two lovely young ladies on my doorstep. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”

  Bessie opened and then closed her mouth, for a moment unable to speak.

  “Bessie’s just moved into the building,” Doona spoke for her. “She’s having a housewarming on Saturday and wanted to invite all of her new neighbours.”

  “Oh, how delightful,” the man said, clapping his hands together. “I’ve always thought it was a shame we didn’t do more as a building. It will be such fun to get together with everyone.”

  Bessie gave herself a mental shake and then handed the man his invitation. “I do hope you can make it,” she said politely.

  “Oh, I’ll be there,” he assured her. “I never miss a party.” He gave Bessie a wink and then slowly shut the door. Bessie turned to Doona and surprised herself by giggling.

  “He’s gorgeous,” she gasped.

  “And you’re not his type,” Doona replied dryly.

  “But he’s made the whole building feel much more scenic,” Bessie replied with another giggle.

  No one was home in number two or number three, so Bessie simply slipped their invitations under their doors. At number six, she was happy to finally find someone at home.

  “Can I help you?” the woman asked in an Irish accent that made Bessie smile.

  “I’ve just stopped by to invite you to my housewarming on Saturday,” she explained as she studied the other woman.

  “Oh, how lovely of you,” Tammara replied. She, too, looked to be somewhere in her sixties, with long grey hair and matching eyes. She was slender and very elegantly dressed. “It would be nice if the whole building was friendlier,” she told Bessie. “I do feel rather isolated down here in my corner sometimes.”

  “Well, I’m doing my best,” Bessie replied.

  Bessie couldn’t resist knocking on the door to number five, even though everyone said it was empty. She waited a moment, listening intently. After several seconds, she was sure she heard movement within the flat. She knocked again, but this time the only sound she heard was from the foyer.

  “Aye, that flat’s empty, you know,” Nigel called from the entrance to the hall. “No point in knocking there, or on my door, either. Mother will be dead to the world by this time of night.”

  Bessie figured she wouldn’t get any more snooping done with Nigel watching, so she gave him a bright smile and then she and Doona headed towards the lift. Bessie thought about asking him about the missing man, but he disappeared into his own flat before she managed to do so.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Doona said as they walked back into Bessie’s flat. “But I’m going to have to call it a night. I have to work tomorrow.”

  Bessie was sorry to see her friend leave, but she knew Doona’s job demanded a great deal of her. Doona needed to be well rested, especially with Inspector Kelly in charge.

  “Are you turning in now?” Doona asked as Bessie showed her out.

  “I think I might just pop over to Howard’s for a quick glass of wine,” Bessie replied.

  Chapter Ten

  Howard was happy to pour Bessie a glass of wine.

  “Come and sit down and tell us what you’ve been up to,” he said, waving towards the comfortable looking sitting area past his kitchen.

  Bessie sank down in one of the overstuffed chairs and grinned. “This is very comfortable,” she said.

  “I love this furniture,” Bahey told her friend. “I spend most of my spare time over here, sitting on Howard’s lovely furniture.”

  “And all this time I thought it was me that was the draw,” Howard said, making a sad face.

  Bahey flushed. “You know what I mean,” she scolded the man.

  He laughed. “I do,” he agreed. “And I know it is wonderful furniture as well, so I suppose I wouldn’t blame you if it were part of the attraction.”

  The trio drank wine and chatted about nothing much for several minutes. “I suppose I should get back to my flat,” Bessie said after a while. “I’m not sure how well I’ll sleep. The first night in a different place is always strange.”

  Bahey nodded. “It took me a few weeks to feel comfortable here,” she told Bessie. “And now, with all the odd things going on, I’m not sleeping well again.”

  “Has anything else happened since we last talked?” Bessie asked.

  “Aside from hearing noises from the flat below me, not really,” Bahey said. “Although the mirror has disappeared again. It was outside my flat for about a week and now it’s gone.”

  Bessie described the mirror she’d seen outside of Simon’s flat. “Is that the one you’re talking about?” she asked.

  “It is indeed,” Bahey confirmed.

  “Then I’ve seen it,” Bessie told her. “It’s outside flat number one at the moment.”

  Bahey shrugged. “I’m sure Simon enjoys having it there,” she said. “If I had his gorgeous face, I’d look in the mirror all the time.”

  Bessie smiled. “He is very attractive,” she agreed.

  “Should I be getting jealous?” Howard asked, giving Bahey’s hand a squeeze.

  “Not even a little bit,” Bahey answered, blushing.

  “Have you heard any more about the mystery man?” Howard asked.

  Bessie shook her head. “I gather he left Noble’s and disappeared. I assume you haven’t seen him around since?”

  Both Bahey and Howard shook their heads.

  “No sign of him,” Bahey said.

  “Thank you for the wine,” Bessie said, standing up reluctantly. The chair truly was incredibly comfortable. “I’d better go before I fall asleep in your chair.”

  “Oh, but I have a little present for you,” Bahey said. She followed Bessie to the door. “I’ll just get it for you.”

  Bessie tried to protest, but Bahey waved her words away. “It isn’t really a present so much as an experiment,” Bahey told Bessie as she unlocked the door to her flat. Bessie waited in the hallway as Bahey rushed inside and then back again. She handed Bessie a bag with something flat inside of it.

  Bessie peeked into the bag and then laughed. “A welcome mat?”

  “I thought you could put it outside your door and we could see if it disappears like mine did,” Bahey told her. She flushed. “I will get you a proper housewarming gift, too. This is just a little something.”

  “It’s lovely,” Bessie said. She pulled the mat from the bag and smiled. The dark mat was covered with a bright floral pattern that spelled out “Welcome.” While it wasn’t anything Bessie would have bought for herself, its cheery colours were perfect for the somewhat dimly lit hallway.

  “Anyway, I don’t want any presents,” Bessie told Bahey sternly. “This is wonderful as it’s bright and cheerful and will be an interesting test of what’s going on here, but nothing else, okay?”

  Bahey shrugged. “Do you have plans for the rest of the week?” she as
ked.

  “I thought I’d spend tomorrow playing tourist in my new town. On Friday, I need to get the shopping done for Saturday in the morning and then I’m going to a barbeque in the afternoon. That will probably run into the evening as well.”

  “Would you like a ride to the shops on Friday?” Bahey offered. “We usually go out to the ShopFast in Onchan at least once a week anyway. They have a bigger selection than the one down here.”

  “That would be wonderful,” Bessie told her. They agreed to meet at nine and then Bessie opened the door to her flat. Before she headed inside, she carefully put the mat in front of the door with the “Welcome” facing out to greet visitors.

  Inside her flat, she made sure everything was tidied and put away from dinner and then made her way into her bedroom. She’d already unpacked the two suitcases of clothes that she’d brought; now she changed into her favourite nightgown. In the loo, she brushed her hair and teeth and washed her face before heading back into the bedroom.

  She’d only brought a single box of books for now, so she quickly flipped through it until she found something that appealed to her. She crawled into bed and adjusted the small reading lamp she’d brought. After only a single chapter, she decided to try to get some sleep. In the dark, she found herself listening carefully to all the unfamiliar noises that surrounded her. Someone was running water somewhere in the building and at one point she was sure she could hear footsteps in the hallway outside her flat.

  It felt like hours to Bessie before she finally drifted off to sleep. It was a restless and interrupted sleep as well, as doors opened and closed outside her flat and below her. She could hear traffic noises from the car park below her and perhaps even from the promenade that wasn’t terribly far away. By the time six o’clock arrived, Bessie was ready to give up on trying to sleep. She took a quick shower and then, once dressed, looked out the window at a lovely sunrise. A morning walk along the promenade and Douglas beach would no doubt improve her mood.

  She pulled her door open and stopped short as she met her own eyes in the mirror that was now hanging in the hall outside her door. She blinked and then reached out and ran her hand down the frame. It appeared to be the exact same mirror that she’d seen hanging outside Simon’s door the previous evening. Shaking her head, Bessie turned and locked her door. She took a few steps and then stopped as her tired brain registered another anomaly. Her brightly patterned mat was right where she’d left it, but the word “Welcome” was now facing inwards, as if welcoming Bessie into the hallway rather than welcoming her guests to her flat.