The Broken Souls

by Rivka Spicer

  “How dare you?” She whispered quietly, her rage so white hot it was suddenly too full of fury for shouting. “Maybe if you were ever home I wouldn’t have to make friends with total fucking strangers.” Grabbing her dressing gown, she stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her and went in search of comfort.

  By the time she reached Nkara’s room on the floor above hers, her rage had given way to tears and when Nkara opened the door Jen was in a right state, sobbing helplessly. Pulling her into a hug, Nkara silently kicked the door closed and just held Jen until her shoulders stopped shaking. She’d heard the entire argument through the floor and was almost as furious as Jen at Tom for saying what he did. It was going to be a long night.

  The following morning at breakfast Jen sat opposite her mum, looking pale and blotchy, in absolute silence. Her father had gone up to his study and Nkara had never made it down to eat. Finally her mum took the hint and left the room, leaving Tom and Jen to talk it out.

  “I’m sorry for what I said last night.” Tom started as soon as they were alone. “I didn’t mean it. I love you Jen, please forgive me.” Jen sighed and rubbed her eyes.

  “I’ll forgive you for calling me what you did Tom, but my question still stands. If you can’t trust me then why the hell are we getting married?” Tom came round to her side of the table and took her hand.

  “Jen I do trust you. You were also right when you said I was jealous, although I couldn’t see it at the time, and I lashed out. The truth of it is that I saw you laughing out there and it hurt. It hurt because I can’t remember the last time I saw you laughing like that and I realised it should have been with me, not some guy you just met at a party.” His honesty forced her to look at him as he continued. “Jen, I’ve been so busy this last couple of weeks I’ve totally lost track of what’s important and I’ve been neglecting you. I want you to know that I’m sorry and I’ll spend more time with you from now on.” Jen smiled, feeling tears welling.

  “Okay. I know you’re busy, we both are. We’ve just got to get through the next few weeks and then we can sort this out when everything has calmed down.” Tom took it as the forgiveness it was and kissed her gently.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” She replied and he left her to finish her breakfast in the quiet.

  Jen followed Nkara back to the big city that afternoon and spent the evening in Nkara’s apartment in Kensington.

  “You want to talk about it?” Nkara asked as she put the kettle on and Jen shook her head, settling into her friend’s plush sofa.

  “He apologised, I forgave him, end of story.” She sighed. “I was going to tell him how annoyed I was that he proposed in front of everyone but it just wasn’t the right time. I guess that’s a conversation for another day...” She stretched out and rolled her neck, starting to feel herself relax for the first time in days. “I’m more worried about the man I met – Mark. There’s just something about him… You know that feeling when something is nagging at you but you just can’t put your finger on what it is?” Nkara grinned with amusement.

  “All the time.”

  “Well it’s like that.” Jen frowned as she explained. “I feel like I should know something, but I don’t.” She didn’t see the smile Nkara hid as she made fresh coffee and carried on, blithely unaware of her friends knowing amusement. “He was really lovely.” She continued. “I don’t know how I’m going to explain Tom’s rudeness to him.”

  “I’m sure he’ll understand.” Nkara said eventually. “Listen, I had a thought. I know you’re a little bemused by all this talk of past lives and stuff. I wondered if maybe talking to Kim would help you get things in a bit more perspective.” Jen nodded thoughtfully.

  “What a good idea! I hadn’t thought of that. When’s she coming back from Egypt?”

  “No idea.” Nkara said cheerfully, but then her brow creased. “I have a vague recollection that she said she was coming home for a few days for her birthday. Hang on, let me go see if I can find the email.” She rushed off and Jen sat back, thinking about Kim. They’d met when Jen and Nkara had just been starting out in the design business and Jen had been looking for someone to help her with historical research as her passion was making themed collections. Kim was an archaeologist and an expert on both the Romans and the ancient Egyptians with a special focus between where the Empires collided. She was currently living long-term in Egypt on a dig somewhere in the Valley of the Kings and Jen had missed her a lot. They’d become close friends over the few years they’d known each other and she together with Nkara made them a close little trio. When Kim was home they did everything together, even living in the same area of London, although Kim was actually a Northerner from way up in County Durham. It was one of those extraordinarily special friendships where they could go for months without speaking to each other and then pick up exactly where they left off.

  “It’s next weekend!” Nkara exclaimed as she came rushing back in clutching a printout of the email. “I can’t believe I forgot!”

  “Oh no!” Jen was equally as dismayed. “We’re supposed to be going to this Manse place.” Nkara suddenly broke out in a bright grin.

  “I’ll ring Mara first thing in the morning and ask if she’s got space for one extra.” She announced. “Kim will love it! She’ll have a great birthday there. I’ll email her tomorrow and make sure she doesn’t have any plans.” Jen shrugged. Kim didn’t have any family in the city and her parents rarely made the long trip down from the North so it was unlikely Kim would have made plans.

  “Okay.” She smiled. “You’re in charge of this one…”

  Chapter four

  The following morning, despite it being Sunday, Jen had a short meeting with her design team in their local coffee-house to discuss the year’s theme.

  “What have you got for me?” She asked cheerfully as everyone pulled out folders with sketches and notes in.

  “Well there’s a real mix of stuff coming out media-wise.” Her research assistant began. “It’s about even between the historic epics and the oriental movies, both in books and film.”

  “When you say historic epics, what exactly are we talking about?” Another member of the team asked. “Are we talking Roman, Greek or mediaeval Britain?” The research assistant shrugged helplessly.

  “A mix of all three really. There’s even another film about the Egyptians. It’s a really open arena.”

  “Forget about the historical themes, we’ve done those before.” Jen was already designing and discarding outfits in her head as fast as the others could talk. “I think we could make oriental big this year. It’s so easily adaptable and comfortable to wear. Easy, clean lines that will suit any figure.”

  “They use a lot of bold, bright colours along with the pastels too.” Nkara agreed, getting enthusiastic. “I could have a lot of fun working with that.”

  “So what’s the game plan?” Jen looked around. “I think this year we should actually co-ordinate the showcase items with the summer collection.” There were approving nods all round. “Really, I think we could make a great summer collection on this theme – bright colours but light fabrics. Last years bohemian style only served to prove that the women of this nation secretly like the long skirt look. We dress the big stars in oriental outfits and the trend will soon follow. Are we all agreed?” Everyone nodded again and Jen smiled. “Well that was easier than normal!” She announced and one or two of the team began to laugh.

  “So what do you want us to do?” Another member of the team asked and Jen pulled out her pad of paper to jot notes as she spoke.

  “Well there are…” She quickly counted. “Eight of us, so what I suggest is that you spend the day today watching Oriental films and documentaries. Look for common patterns, themes and colours. If there’s something striking, pin it to your mood boards and we’ll collate when we’re back in the office. Nkara I want you to start looking at colours and fabrics.” Nkara nodded, expecting that anyway. “I’m going to
start work on the most pressing show-case pieces, so the other six of you I need to split into two groups of three. I want half of you to work on high street fashion, clothes that every woman in this country is going to want to wear. The other half of you I want to work on the dresses. We have a record number of premiere and function requests this summer: about thirty all told. It’s up to you to decide between you who wants to do what as long as you let me know at work tomorrow.”

  Once that was settled there wasn’t much else to discuss, so they made small talk until their coffee was finished and left to go their separate ways. Nkara and Jen headed down to the book shop to find some inspiration and hit jack-pot with a book of Chinese symbols and their meanings, one painted in bold on each page. They also rented out a couple of movies and went back to Jen’s apartment to watch them. When they arrived, Tom was in the kitchen making lunch and he wordlessly set out another plate for Nkara. He’d known Jen and her friends long enough to know their habits and to be honest he didn’t mind. At least it meant Jennifer wasn’t on her own too much.

  “How did the meeting go?” He asked casually as they threw coats and bags on the hooks in the hall.

  “Really well.” Jen replied, kissing his cheek quickly. “I’m really excited about this year’s theme – we’ve decided to go for the oriental look.”

  “Sounds interesting.” Tom grinned. “I take it that means you’re going to spend the rest of the day watching movies and surfing the net…” Jen nodded.

  “I’m sorry, but I have to do it.”

  “That’s cool.” Tom shrugged. “I was going to go up to the supermarket anyway this afternoon. Will you stay for dinner Nkara?” Without waiting for an answer, he began serving lunch. “I’ll get enough food for three.” He gave a wicked grin. “I’ll get movie munchies too. Takes a lot of sustenance to watch films.” Jen chuckled.

  “We’ve been together for too long.” She declared and ducked a playful swipe from Tom. As they sat down to eat, Tom suddenly remembered something.

  “Are you free this weekend?” He asked Jen. “Mum invited us up to the house.” Jen sighed.

  “I’m sorry hon, I’ve got plans. I have to go away for a few days.”

  “Oh.” She could tell he was disappointed and didn’t know how to make it up to him.

  “I’ll be here the weekend after.” She offered. “I’ll ring your mum if you like and explain, see what she says.”

  “Sure.” He tucked into his food. “She’ll be delighted to hear from you. Where are you going? Anywhere exciting?”

  “Not really. Kim’s coming home for her birthday so we’re all going out to a health spa in the country-side.” Tom smiled.

  “Good. You could do with a break. I expect you to come back totally refreshed.”

  They ate the rest of the lunch with easy chatter before Tom left for the supermarket.

  “Why did you lie to him?” Nkara asked almost as soon as he was out of the door, and Jen shrugged.

  “I don’t know. I guess I just thought I couldn’t tell him I was going to a place I’ve never heard of to see I woman I barely know about something I’m pretty sure I don’t believe in.” Nkara grinned.

  “Good answer.” She helped Jen wash up the plates and then they settled down to watch films. As they waited for the menu screen to load, Nkara remembered something.

  “Kim arrives Wednesday night.” She told Jen. “She didn’t think there was much point flying all the way here for a weekend so she’s staying Wednesday to Wednesday. I said I’d pick her up from the airport.”

  “That’s cool.” Jen was wielding the remote like it was some sort of lethal weapon. “I haven’t got plans for Wednesday. Why don’t you bring her back here and I can make dinner for everyone?”

  “My, aren’t we full of ideas today…” Nkara poked fun with dry amusement, and Jen sighed.

  “Be nice to me!” She mourned plaintively. “I had a rough weekend. I need encouragement before I turn into the air-head I was destined to be!”

  “Oh quit complaining!” Nkara laughed. “The film’s starting…”

  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday shot by in a blur as Jen and her team worked furiously, lit with new enthusiasm as the season’s designs took shape. Although the theme was influenced by oriental fabrics and lines, it was heavily westernized so that it didn’t look clichéd. They had already created several beautiful prototypes of sheer wrap-around tops with butterfly sleeves and soft lacing at the back. When Nkara left for the airport to fetch Kim, Jennifer was still in her office, sketching sheet after sheet of designs. She had to have at least three designs ready to be made when she got back from the manse on Tuesday and being the perfectionist that she was, she wanted to have a selection of completed design to choose from. The initial fabric selections Nkara had rushed through the manufacturers were beautiful although they needed refining somewhat to make them practical and Jen was excited. This was going to be one of the most exotically feminine themes she’d ever created and she loved it. She’d even made some preliminary sketches towards her wedding dress, despite not actually having set a date yet. The fluid fabrics and striking colours had really captured her imagination. She was so engrossed in her work she totally lost track of time and could have leapt twelve feet in the air when the phone rang.

  It was Nkara calling to say they were on their way back from the airport, and Jen could have kicked herself for forgetting that she’d offered to make dinner. Instantly dropping what she was working on, she shovelled as much work as she could take with her into her bag and headed for the door.

  Within twenty minutes she’d made an insane rush around the mini-market to get ingredients and was fighting through traffic to get home in time to cook before the others arrived and realised she’d stuffed up. Tom had, thoughtfully, arranged to go to his parents for the evening to allow the three girls a chance to catch up but it meant she couldn’t call him en route to put some water on to boil. Cursing at the last set of traffic lights, she parked outside her building, ran up the stairs instead of waiting for the lift and threw her coat and work bag at the hooks before rushing to start cooking.

  When Nkara arrived with Kim ten minutes later everything was all under control and Jen was silently congratulating herself on being the fastest chef on earth when it came to pasta. Hugging the friend she hadn’t seen for months, they caught up on small talk in the kitchen while Jen finished off the dinner, and then sat around to eat as Kim told them what she’d been up to in Egypt.

  It was fascinating stuff. They were excavating what they now thought was possibly the biggest tomb in the Valley of the Kings, that of the off-spring of Rameses II, and most of it appeared to have been untouched by grave-robbers as flooding in the past had filled most of it with grit and rubble. They were looking at an excavation process that would take years. They had already removed four skeletons from the site but they were looking at perhaps another thirty more intact mummies yet to be removed. Nkara choked on her pasta.

  “How many?” She squeaked and Kim laughed.

  “He had over a hundred wives and concubines.” She explained. “In between all of his military campaigns, Rameses was a very busy man. One of the longest ruling pharaohs too actually, he ruled for over sixty years – a long time in those days. Thirty of his children isn’t even a half of the total number. If the historical records are to be believed, he fathered at least 50 sons and 38 daughters and that’s the ones we know about.” Jen began to laugh.

  “So on average if you were a wife you’d only get to have sex three times a year? And be expected to produce children from that? God damn, that really sucks!” They all fell about laughing, but despite her humour Jen had developed a slightly nauseous feeling in her gut. Wondering if maybe she’d eaten too fast she put down her knife and fork and took a sip of water. After a few minutes as the others chatted, she still wasn’t feeling better and realised that she wasn’t really nauseous, it was more a deep sense of unease. Picking up her cutlery again she tried to squash the
feeling, and finally managed to forget it as Kim asked what news there’d been and they began to describe the Le Santaine fiasco.

  They sat up talking late into the night before realising they had to be up early. Kim and Nkara had drunk too much to drive and it was so late they couldn’t be bothered to call a taxi, so they pulled out some blankets and crashed on the sofa. Nkara would just have to pack in the morning.

  When Tom stopped by before heading for the office, he found all three of them still fast asleep amidst scattered wine-glasses and bottles. With an amused smile he picked his way through the carnage to the bedroom where Jen was sprawled across the bed and leaned down to kiss her softly on the forehead.

  “Mmmn what time is it?” she mumbled sleepily, barely stirring, and Tom looked at the clock.

  “About quarter past eight.” He replied and Jen groaned. He kissed her forehead again. “I just popped by to say hello and to wish you fun for your trip.” He told her quietly. “Take your time getting up. I’ll see you Tuesday night. We’ve got the dinner at the Bergdorff’s, don’t forget.”

  “I won’t.” She mumbled, still sleepy. “Love you.” He grinned as he stopped in the doorway.

  “I love you too honey. See you Tuesday.” He left her to it and the flat slowly began to stir.

  Chapter five

  With Nkara driving, they reached the Manse in the sprawling Berkshire countryside shortly after eleven and even Jennifer gasped as she caught sight of the building. It was huge and very old with leaded windows and wisteria climbing up sandstone walls. A sweeping expanse of lawn encircled the driveway to the front with a fountain directly facing the doors and glimpses through the trees to each side of the building hinted at further grounds to the side and rear.