The Plan: Part 1

by J. A. James

  Halva nodded. "I see. Thank you so much for bringing me here."

  "I hope it was the right thing to do,” he said.

  She nodded her head vigorously. Somehow, it felt like it was. Perhaps it was the only thing she could do at this point.

  Jonathan rang the doorbell, and moments later, a red-haired woman wearing a purple turban opened the door.

  "Mr. Darmes!" she said jovially as she opened her arms for a hug from him.

  Halva stood back as they hugged.

  “Lovely to see you at this hour,” she said, casting a friendly smile Halva’s way. “And you brought a friend with you. A lady friend!”

  "Zelda," he said. "Indeed I have. I am so sorry for the intrusion. But I have a lady here, she requested a meeting with you urgently, as she is leaving quite early tomorrow. We wondered if you could be available now for a...a..." he stuttered at his words.

  “I’d love your help,” Halva interrupted. She stuck out her hand. “It’s so lovely to meet you, Zelda. I - feel like I’ve just had the strangest experience I can’t explain. And I can’t find an answer for it -”

  "So you need a reading, darling!" Zelda exclaimed. "Of course... not a worry." She then grasped Halva's hand. She felt an incredible warmth from them. "You don't need to tell me a thing. I'll tell you how everything will go."

  Halva smiled a little. She had never done anything like this before, but felt that strangeness of the vision she had at the coffee shop justified finding some kind of answer. That and the warmth coming from the stone... “Thank you,” she said to Zelda.

  Halva glanced at Jonathan as they entered her home. He seemed a tad uncomfortable in this space. They entered the hallway, which was bathed in a world of dim orange lights and exotic, dark and ornate furniture. She felt a tingle go up her spine, as she saw a gilded water pitcher with the neck curved like an elephant's trunk.

  Like in her mother's vision. The pitcher she drank the water from.

  They entered the living room, and Zelda gestured to them. "Come in!" she sang, gesturing to the low-rise velvet blue settee. As they sat, their knees brushed each others, and Halva murmured an apology, turning her knees to the right as she brushed her skirt over her knees.

  "Were you in the middle of dinner?" Halva called out. She smelled something cooking - perhaps a chicken stew? It smelled wonderful. Her nose twitched at the familiarity of warmth coming from the kitchen.

  "We eat late around here... dinner will be at nine o'clock, if you'd like to join us," Zelda's voice drifted from the kitchen amidst the clanging pots.

  Halva smiled. "Hopefully we'll be done by then," she said, more to herself than anyone else. ”But thank you.”

  Zelda came back into the room, sliding the kitchen door closed behind her. Halva could still smell a waft of the stew - or whatever it was bubbling back there. Her mouth watered slightly at the thought of tasting it.

  I'm hungry, she realized. She was surprised. She hadn't had an appetite since she'd landed here.

  "Okay, my lady," Zelda crooned. She pulled out a small wooden step stool from underneath a table. "You're lucky today. For Mr. Darmes, I shall strive to make myself available.”

  She turned to wink at him conspicuously, making him flush red at his neck.

  Halva noticed the exchange, and in spite of herself, let out a giggle. She smiled directly at Zelda. She was loud and spirited - quite the opposite of what she’d expected.

  "So - " Zelda paused for a moment. "You came to me because you want to know something. So, my specialty is reading and passing on messages from people who have crossed over.”

  Jonathan coughed at her words.

  Halva shot him a sideways glance before nodding. "Okay. Do I need to do anything?"

  Zelda shook her head no. "Just relax. And I'll relax too!" she said, smiling.

  "Mr. Darmes -would you care to wait in the sitting room downstairs? Or the kitchen if you’d like.”

  He looked at her, seemingly with some relief. “Yes. I mean, it's just that I'm not used to these things and -"

  Zelda laughed, waving her hands back towards the kitchen. "Go, go you funny man!" she said. "And help yourself to some soup too while you're at it!"

  Jonathan thanked her quickly, and disappeared for the kitchen.

  Halva watched him go, surprised at his reaction to the session. She realized then, that he was immensely uncomfortable with the situation, and suddenly felt all the more grateful that he had taken her here.

  “Mr. Darmes is a sweet man, but a bit uptight,” Zelda remarked. “I’ve always tried to make him feel more at ease with me, but I think he’s worried I’ll just start reading his mind or something.”

  “Could you, though?” Halva asked curiously. She’d heard that the good ones did.

  Zelda smiled. “I see a lot of things in people. A lot of things they don’t need to tell me. And a lot of times there are a lot of things they don’t want to tell me.”

  Halva shifted, a tad uncomfortably. “I see.”

  “All the while, I’m glad he brought you here. I’m actually surprised he did.” Zelda leaned backwards. “He’s not really the sort who would believe in these types of things.”

  "Well, I am grateful to him," Halva murmured. "I was just looking for some answers. I just feel like it would be impossible for me to find them otherwise, just given… “ she hesitated. “Given the situation. So how do we begin?”

  Zelda waved her hands once in the air, and then closed her eyes. "Just be still. I will just see what the Spirits have to say."

  Halva nodded, placing her palms in her lap, waiting. She looked at Zelda, whose piercing grey eyes were looking somewhere behind her. There were no cards in front of her, no crystal ball. But then again, what did she know? She’d only seen a few movies with fortune tellers and they all seemed so hokey. Yet it didn’t feel ridiculous to be sitting here now… She felt a small shiver run through her and sat completely still.

  There were a few long moments of silence. Then, almost undetectably, Halva noticed a change in the woman sitting across from her. It was almost as if a wave of heat was passing through her, and somehow, Halva felt it. She felt goosebumps raise on her arm.

  "She's here," Zelda whispered.

  She's here? Halva was suddenly unnerved by the thought. Her mom? How could it be? “My mom?” she asked.

  Zelda nodded. “She says... she gave you something," Zelda said quietly.

  Oh my God. Halva's eyes widened even more.

  "And? And?" she asked Zelda with a touch of urgency in her voice, leaning forward then. "What else?”

  A strange look passed through Zelda's face. It was something that Halva could not very well decipher. "You have to keep it with you. Close at all times. Dream with it. It will lead you to a place where..." Zelda hesitated then.

  "What?" Halva whispered. "Where will it lead me?"

  "To a place where life… collides," Zelda said quietly, her eyebrows furrowing.

  Outside, thunder suddenly struck, followed by a flash of lightning. Halva nearly jumped out of her seat.

  Even Zelda was startled, suddenly breaking her trancelike state. "Oh...!" she exclaimed then, getting up quickly.

  Halva looked at her. Zelda seemed suddenly startled, her eyes wide.

  “Was there… was there anything else?” Halva asked. The message sounded ominous. To a place where life collides. A chill went up Halva’s spine as she reached into her pocket and felt the small rock again, which was nestled quietly in the corner of her thick jacket pocket. What if she dreamed horrible nightmares? she wondered. She didn't know what to expect.

  Zelda spoke, after a minute of silence. "She’s gone,” she said then.

  Halva felt immediate disappointment setting in.

  “I have to ask you," Zelda said to Halva. Her voice then lowered a few more decibels. "I felt your mother's spirit was very strong. I didn't want to alarm you, but... you should know that whatever she gave you she needed you to have it. And..." her voice stopped for
a moment.

  "And?" Halva asked, her insides constricting at the thought of her having something so important. And the fact her mother was trying to talk to her... it felt like she was alive. A wave of longing passed through her, something she hadn't experienced in a long time.

  Zelda looked at her sharply. "I've never felt a Spirit insist so strongly that you have to be careful. You need to stay safe, and look out for yourself. Know thy enemies. You have something coming to you, and you need to be prepared. You mother...your mother feels that you will be more prepared than she was."

  Halva looked at Zelda, dumbfounded. "What?" she whispered, her throat dry.

  Zelda nodded, this time her voice more assertive. "I'm not making it up. I'm sure you think I could be, but I don't do that kind of thing..." Zelda looked at her, concerned. "I didn't want to deliver you a message so shocking, so initially I resisted. But you know, I didn't think it would do you justice if I only gave you half of your mother's message. You did come to me, after all.”

  Halva looked at her, her mind barely registering her words now. She was in trouble? The last time she was in trouble she'd escaped the high school for good and left home for six weeks, never to return. She'd made up her mind to avoid trouble at all costs. And now, a spirit guide was telling her she had trouble approaching like a freight train.

  "No. I appreciate it, Zelda," she said, reaching out and gently squeezing the woman's arm. "You did the right thing by telling me," she said, trying to smile as she reached to embrace the woman. "I have to admit I'm terrified but at least I'll be looking in both directions as I cross the street," she said with a little laugh.

  Zelda's eyes were furrowed with concern. "I understand your concern. Your Mother's spirit was restless with this news, but now she's better, having passed the message to you. So please know... you did the right thing by coming here. Truly."

  Halva's eyes welled up with tears at her words. "Oh," she uttered, as a hot tear slid down her face. "I'm-I'm so glad to hear that," she said.

  She felt a tissue being placed in her half-open palms that were being held to her face.

  "Easy, dear," Zelda said quietly, embracing Halva and patting her on the back. "There are reasons for everything in life. And I'm just glad you came to me when you did. And – please. Be careful."

  Halva nodded. “Thank you. How much do I owe you?”

  Zelda shook her head. “It was a pleasure to meet you. Don’t worry about the payment. It was short and sweet. Consider it a parting gift before you leave. It is always hard to lose someone.”

  Halva nodded, feeling grateful. “Yes. It is. That’s very kind of you.”

  “You must be careful, dear,” Zelda replied. “The strength of your mother’s message can’t be ignored. Just look after yourself. You did the right thing by coming here.”

  Her words were worrying… but what could she do about it? It was raining terribly as they returned to their vehicles.

  The skies turned eternally gloomy, heaving their dark, angry tears in a relentless downpour that rained sharply, drumming down on the cars.

  "So... I don't want to pry," Jonathan said as they finally reached the school parking lot. "But are you ok?"

  Halva blinked at him, and a forced smile came upon her lips. "Yes. I'm alright. I have to thank you, for this evening," she said, then looking at him directly. "I can't be more grateful. You went out of your way for me."

  "I’m glad it helped,” he said. “For an old alumni, I feel like it was the least I could do.”

  "I actually felt that my mother spoke through her,” Halva said softly. “And that was something... something I never thought could happen. Through a medium." A tear rolled down her cheek. Halva was startled, and wiped it away. "It makes me realize how much I miss her…" she said softly, gazing out at the empty parking lot. She did miss her. And all she had were memories now. She didn’t mention to him that she hadn’t seen her mother in decades.

  "I’m sure you do. I hope it gave you some closure,” he said quietly.

  Halva quickly wiped her eyes with her hands. "I think everything is settled, as they can be," she straightened her shoulders and smiled quickly at him. "I am so grateful for all your time. You didn’t have to do any of this. I must get your contact information... you'll have to visit me if you ever come to Vancouver." She quickly grasped his arm and gave it a little squeeze. "Don't hesitate."

  John nodded, as he fished out a card from his wallet, handing it to her. "I won't. And drop me a hello and let me know how everything goes with your mother." He paused for a moment, and Halva saw how embarrassed he seemed at his gaff. "I mean - uhhh-"

  She laughed slightly. "No harm done, sir," she smiled again. "See you." She wiped her face again and watched him drive off before heading back to her hotel.

  CHAPTER 11

  That night in the hotel bedroom, Halva slid under the cool sheets, an exhaustion creeping over her. She was sincerely grateful for the help she had gotten from Jonathan and Zelda. How strange life was.

  Strangely, hearing Zelda talk about her mother had brought a kind of closure to her mother's passing that she hadn’t felt even after the funeral. As her eyelids started to close, she suddenly remembered. The stone.

  Keep it close, an inner voice whispered.

  She rolled over, fumbling through her small bag and feeling for the small rock which sat inside. Without thinking of it, she held it clasped in her left palm as she quickly fell asleep to the sounds of rain thudding against the tall hotel windows.

  Halva, a whispery voice whistled through her ears. And she saw her then - her mother, in a silvery grey robe, her face beatific, her hands clasped out in front of her. It was a dark silvery vortex they were in; a sea of dotted stars and purple painted midnight blue skies. My dear, they are coming for you. A man will come...

  "Mom!" she cried, reaching out in vain. Her mother remained untouchable; a hologram. "I'm so sorry I didn't get to see you before...!"

  Her mother smiled. "No, dear," she said quietly. "I know you love me. That is the most important part."

  Halva burst into tears, unable to contain herself.

  Halva. This journey is your own. Do not let anybody stop you..

  "Yes, mama!" she cried, unable to look away from her Mother's peaceful face. Her mother…an angel...

  Halva jolted awake then, realizing that she was crying forcefully into the dark hotel room. And then she saw it - the stone in the middle of her bedsheets. It glowed a strange blue light which was rapidly fading. She gasped - was she imagining things? No, it couldn't be...

  Halva blinked rapidly, quickly rubbing at her eyes as she kept her eyes locked on the stone. No, she was not imagining it - it was definitely glowing. Perhaps not as brightly as a minute ago, but...

  Am I going crazy? a small voice from within her asked. Halva stopped for a moment. Was she losing her mind?

  But no. Here it was... right in the middle of her bedsheets. And no other light seemed to surround her; nor anything from outside the windows that could shine so brightly through the drapery.

  Right?

  Halva squeezed her eyes shut, as she tried to retain the image of her mother, looking so much more peaceful and happier than she had ever seen her. A strange feeling came over her. After so many years of disconnection and silence, and then torrential guilt at her Mother's passing... somehow, however strange it was, she felt now, she was closer to her mother than she ever had been when she had been alive.