by Olivia Swift
“Thanks, Katarina,” she called and grabbed her carpet bag. “I don’t look much like a bridesmaid at the moment,” she told Jazz and glanced down at lime green trousers and bright pink top. The hair was still a tasteful paler pink, and Jazz wondered if she would keep it that color for the wedding.
“It might change before then, but it can come back for the big day,” she grinned at her friend and linked her arm to the car. Kim waved from her own transport and followed them to the best shop in town for this sort of occasion. Jazz took a breath and paused outside of the shop.
“This makes it real, doesn’t it?” she asked nervously, and the other two took an arm each and pulled her inside. The staff were well used to this sort of sale, and first of all showed them wedding dresses. The two friends sat like judge and jury as Jazz came out with various white dresses. The fifth one was white with pale pink edging. It fitted her like a glove, and the edge was the only decoration along the strapless top. The effect was stunning, and it took their breath away.
“Wow,” Kim managed at last. “That is perfect.” The assistant drew out two long mirrors on wheels and allowed Jazz the full effect. She felt herself welling up as the assistant handed her a tissue. They were well used to emotion. Jazz nodded without speaking.
“This is the one?” the sales lady asked, and she simply nodded in return. Then it was her turn to watch the parade of bridesmaid dresses. She knew they wanted a darker shade and nothing overly decorated. The bride’s dress was on a hanger at the side, and nothing seemed to work alongside it until Carly tried a deep purple, fitted dress with a cold shoulder detail and diamante clip at the waist for decoration. Jazz stood up and held the wedding dress. The two were perfect. Kim tried on the same dress, and the sight was just beautiful.
“Pale pink roses and pink in the planters, Kim,” she said.
“And my pink hair,” Carly threw in, and they all laughed. Jazz saw to the details and arranged for delivery, and the three of them went for a coffee to talk about what they had just arranged. They were too intent on girl talk to notice the van across the street. Jazz dropped Carly at the shop and found Ben actually enjoying selling a necklace to an elderly lady.
“This young man is an excellent assistant,” she told her. “In fact, I might take the bracelet as well.” Carly wrapped them in a gift box and tied them with a pretty bow. Ben finished the job by handing them over with the slightest hint of a bow from the waist and then he gallantly opened the door. He came into the back room to find Carly and Katarina convulsed with silent laughter and wiping tears from their eyes.
“Dex and Evan are good,” Carly told him, “but you are the master.” The man gave another flourishing bow as if he was on stage and enjoyed the joke.
13
When Dex came to collect Carly at the end of the day, Katarina slipped away next door. Carly told him about the dresses and Ben’s success as a salesman and showed him the delivery of fairy ornaments that had arrived and been unpacked.
“Katarina already bought one. They are exquisite,” she told him. “Do you think we could stop by Mrs. Duval’s and give her one as a thank you for the information. These are brand new and I don’t think she will have one in her collection.
“Good idea,” he answered. They drove away to the house where Jed Duval, the timber merchant, had grown up. As before, the place was very quiet, but Charlene Duval made them welcome and was entranced with the fairy sculpture.
“That is just a small thank you for helping with the search for the first Jedediah Duval’s father,” Carly told her and Dex explained what they had found out.
“He was called Charley Rose; he was a gardener, but he was knocked down and killed when going to meet Emily,” he said.
“So tragic,” Carly added, and they told her one or two other facts they had discovered. “We will try and find the grave, but at the moment everything is focused on Jazz’s wedding.”
“Has my son been annoying you?” Charlene asked suddenly, and they both looked at her in surprise.
“He came with the wood for the sign, and we paid him,” Dex said, but they never mentioned anyone outside of the house or that they were taking precautions to protect Carly. The woman hesitated and took a breath.
“I know he is my son and I also know what sort of man he is. I know he…he follows you sometimes,” she said to Carly. “And I am sorry about that. My husband has always been useless, and Jed takes no notice of me.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Carly said. “It’s kind of you, but you don’t need to.”
“The thing is,” Charlene went on,” and I have never told another soul this before,” she hesitated. “You have looked into this history, and you’ve seen the photo of the woman you found was Emily Duval.” They both waited. Charlene took a breath. “Jed is not the son of the man I married.” She got that out in a rush and went on. “I was raped.” Carly gasped and said that was terrible.
“It was a long time ago now. I knew him, and I was married to the man I am still married to so I said nothing and had the baby.” She drew her breath again and produced a photo. “This is my daughter now, and she is married with kids of her own. She is Emily’s great-great-granddaughter. Can you see the likeness?” They passed the photo between them and nodded.
“Very much so,” Dex answered.
“She was a few years older than me at school and I never really knew her,” Carly said.
“What I’m saying is that Jed’s father was a bad man. He is not related to Emily Duval.” She paused again. “I just wanted you to know the facts about your resident spirit.” Then she sat back in the chair as if it had all taken a great toll on her. Carly came and knelt down beside her.
“We won’t tell anyone what you have just told us, but I am glad that you did. It has been worrying me. If you need anything or if you would like to come and see the rest of the stock, here’s my number. We’ll come and pick you up.”
“It would be a pleasure,” Dex added and gave her his card as well. “Either of us will help you anytime if you need it.”
“Will you be alright?” Carly asked, and the woman nodded.
“Yes, thanks. I feel better for talking to you.” She picked up the figurine. “This is so beautiful.” They left her sitting in the chair inspecting the fairy ornament and climbed back in the car.
“Wow,” Dex said. “What a revelation.”
“I knew there was something not right somehow,” Carly answered. “Let’s get back to the hall.”
“Shall we tell Jazz and Evan?” Dex queried. Carly thought that they would have to and he agreed.
It was good to see the lights of Chestnut Hall and feel safe in the kitchen. It had been an unsettling revelation. Carly dropped her bag and sank onto a chair, and Dex ran a hand through his hair before splashing cold water on his face.
“What’s happened?” Evan asked him immediately. He and Jazz both sat on bar stools beside Carly, and between them, they told the story of Jed Duval and his mother.
“He was always odd,” Jazz remarked.
“I know we shouldn’t assume that he is like his real father but---“Carly let the sentence trail away, and Dex put his hands on her shoulders.
“It would explain a lot though,” he said. “His mother is quite frightened of him, I think.” Carly looked at the other three.
“Right. Enough of the worry. We will keep on the routine. I don’t really want to be on my own just in case, but we have a wedding to prepare for and a house to sort out.”
“Well said, Carly,” Jazz agreed. “I loved the dresses. There is so much to arrange and all the invitations to deliver.”
“What color did you go for in the end?” Dex asked. Jazz grinned.
“You can know the colors, but that is all until the day. The bridesmaids are rich purple and the flowers will be pink roses.”
“And my hair will match the roses,” Carly added.
“Sounds good to me,” Evan answered. “We have a photographer, but it occurred
to me that there is no one to walk you down the aisle, Jazz.”
“That’s a thought,” Carly added. “Dex can’t and Rob can’t. We haven’t any older male relatives.” They all thought about it. Then she laughed and told them about Ben serving the lady like a real gentleman. “He would do it.” Jazz gave it a second’s thought and said she would ask him.
“Can Katarina and her family have invitations?” Carly asked, and Evan added it to his copious lists. The evening passed in wedding plans and the start of the decorating that was still to do in Evan’s half of the house. Carly pushed Jed Duval to the back of her mind and wielded a paintbrush with enthusiasm. In the end, she was too tired to do any searching online and finished the day happily snuggled against Dex on his sofa. Most of the days in the next week or so flew by in the same pattern. Ben was over the moon to be asked to give his boss away. Katarina started worrying about what to wear, and the topic of conversation everywhere was almost exclusively the wedding. Three days before the big day, the tent arrived. Jazz had employed a contractor she knew to keep the grass cut and the place tidy. The garden looked stunning. Kim filled the planters with masses of pink blooms, and the florist checked with Jazz about time and delivery for the other flowers.
From time to time, Dex noticed the van that he thought belonged to Duval and he mentioned it to Evan but nobody else. Carly was beginning to let the presence of the man fade away because she had not had any contact and was hoping his mother had talked some sense into him. The big day dawned with caterers and florists in full flow everywhere. Jazz was nervous but trying not to let it show. Evan, Dex, Rob, and Ben had agreed to pink vests and boutonnieres and were keeping each other company as the girls fussed over makeup and hair. Evan was coping with the arrival of officials while Dex, Rob, and Ben showed guests to their seats in the tent. There were arrangements of fresh flowers everywhere, and gentle music set the scene.
Carly popped back through to Dex’s side of the house where all was quiet to retrieve some makeup in her carpet bag which she had left in the lounge. The place was quiet and peaceful. She straightened up with the lipstick in her hand. She turned, and Dex was standing in the doorway. The long, purple, fitted dress emphasized her figure and the pale pink hair was held in a knot by two jeweled pins. She had made amethyst jewelry especially for herself and Kim, and the effect was magical. Dex drew in a sharp breath and stepped into the room. He stood after a few steps and held out his hands. As she walked towards him, he smiled.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life,” he said quietly. “I won’t spoil the makeup,” he added as he brushed her forehead with his lips. They clasped hands, and Carly felt a tear well up with the emotion that she felt. “I would like to sweep you up and run away.” he added.
“It would spoil the whole effect,” she answered with a smile. “But thank you. You are pretty smart yourself.” She looked at him. “I guess the ceremony is about to commence.” He nodded and then pulled her back by her hand.
“I love you, Carly James,” he whispered, and her heart threatened to burst with joy. There was no time to reply as they heard Rob calling from the door. They walked out together to the joy and bustle of the day.
“Evan is in place. The music is about to start when I give the signal,” he said, and Ben held out his arm for Jazz as she stepped into the room looking quite amazing. Kim followed, and they fell into place with Ben proudly playing the part of the father figure. Evan Sutherland saw the vision in white and pink that was Jasmine Summer come towards him and wondered, and not for the first time, how anyone could be this lucky. The smile on her face told him that she felt the same and they took their vows in front of all of their friends. He was allowed to kiss the bride, and the chatter of conversation burst out as everyone crowded to see the photographer take photos.
Jules Callander could take some of the best photos in the world, but not very many there knew who he was. He took thousands of digital images and knew that he could stitch them together in his lab.
He simply shot picture after picture and managed to get all of the guests in various combinations with friends. He had taken the flowers, cake, and planters before people arrived and he concentrated on combinations. Bride and groom, of course, all of the bridesmaids and ushers. There were closeups and distance shots, and he managed to make the gardens a background for a lot of them. There was one girl in particular who seemed particularly photogenic. She had ginger, curly hair that was not unlike his own and freckles across her nose that makeup could not quite hide. Her hair was tied back tightly from the face and only allowed the riot of curly locks to escape at the back. There was a natural feel about her that seemed at odds with the very high-end designer wear that showed off her figure. The two people she was with looked like her parents. The man was quite distinguished, and the woman was stunning in a long and beautiful full-length summer dress. Jules suddenly saw that he had taken about twenty shots of the young woman and pulled himself together. All the same, he managed to reach Evan and ask who the girl was with the ginger hair.
“Surely there are relatives that I haven’t met yet,” he joked, but Evan took the hint and introduced Miller Hollenbeck.
“She was interested in the history of the garden, and that was how we all met,” Evan offered and left the two comparing notes on having unruly ginger curls.
Confetti was thrown, and the buffet was eventually served to background music. When most people had eaten quite a lot, Dex called for attention and gave a funny speech to wish his brother and new sister-in-law a wonderful future together. There was much calling out from the crowd, and then the cake was cut by the happy couple and festivities began in earnest.
Dex pulled Carly to her feet and made his way to where there was space to dance. It was a slow tune. He pulled her close as they swayed to the music but didn’t move very far. With her head resting against his chest, Carly knew that she was home. This was where she wanted to be, but it was not the place to tell him that. They had no more time to be close as the newlyweds made for the car. Jazz came and hugged her sister and her best friend, gave Dex a kiss on the cheek, and they set off with much clanging and clanking of whatever had been tied to the car. The rear of the car had a sign that said, ‘Just married’ and it disappeared out of the gate. It then fell to Dex, Carly, Kim, Rob and Ben to see that the guests could still relax, eat, drink, and be merry. The last ones left as it was dark and Dex pulled her onto the sofa.
“What a day,” he sighed, just as Carly’s phone rang.
14
She almost didn’t answer but picked it up. The name on the screen was Charlene Duval. She answered the call, and a broken and frightened voice whispered.
“It’s Charlene. Help me. Help me.” Her voice trailed away, and Dex and Carly jumped up as one person, grabbed jackets and car keys, and ran for the door. Carly was very glad she had managed to change late in the evening into comfortable jeans. The purple dress would have slowed her down. Even as she slammed the passenger door, Dex was moving the car forward. He kept as much speed as he could until they reached well-lit streets and skidded to a halt in the place where the Duvals lived. As Carly knocked on the door, it pushed open, and she carefully stepped inside.
“Charlene. Are you there?” she shouted as she went into the living room and rushed over to where the woman was lying on the floor. Blood was pouring from a wound to her shoulder, and her neck and her face were a dreadful mess of bruises and blood. She reached out an arm to protect herself from a blow, but Carly told her who it was and grabbed a cloth from the table to staunch the wounds. Dex was calling the emergency services and said they desperately needed an ambulance.
“A woman has been attacked.” The voice reassured that there was help on the way and he came to see if there was anything he could do. Charlene was gripping Carly’s arm with a strength that was painful, but Carly took the strain and talked to her in as calm a voice as she could manage.
“Who did this?” Dex asked, but in his
heart, he knew who it was.
“Jed. I told him about his real father, and he went crazy.” The voice was shaky, but they could make out what she said. The woman moaned in pain.
“Hold on. Help is coming,” Dex told her, as they heard the sirens coming close. The paramedics rushed in, and Carly stood back to let them do their work. As the medical help was being given, the detectives arrived. It happened to be Detective Inspector Mallarchy Mackay and Detective Felix Sanchez who had been to Chestnut Hall when the digger unearthed some old bones.
“Thank goodness,” Dex said. “The victim is Charlene Duval, and she says her son went crazy.”
“How are you here, Mr Sutherland?” Mackay asked, and Carly butted in to say that Charlene had called her cell and asked for help.
“We came as fast as we could and found this,” Dex waved a hand, and for the first time realized that the room and all of the precious collection of ornaments was completely trashed.
“Oh, her fairy treasures,” Carly called out. “He knew what would break her heart.” The paramedics asked if they could take her to the hospital and Mackay agreed.
“She is Charlene Duval,” Carly told the man as the stretcher was wheeled away. Charlene herself was not saying anything, and for a time Carly feared the worst.
“She’s sedated,” The ambulance man said as he saw the look on Carly’s face and they saw the ambulance loaded and driven away.
“Now tell me the whole story,” Mackay said, and Dex looked at Carly.
“Where do we start?” he asked himself, as the story would sound a bit silly if they said it was a ghost. Dex explained that the history of the shop went back to a hotel and Charlene’s husband was a descendant. Carly had to say that Jed Duval had stalked her at school and seemed to have started again.
“Why on earth did you not report it?” Sanchez broke in.