A Different Reflection (14 page)

“Wow, look at you!” I remarked at his appearance, which I realised I was taking far too long admiring.

“Wow yourself! It is very nice to see you again, Katharina!” he smiled.

“Thank you, I like the haircut!” I replied, as I took off my jacket; it was warmer in here than I had expected. James ran his hand through his hair.

“It took some doing, I can tell you!” George then remarked. “It's not easy, trying to cut one's hair with equipment that we've not bothered using for a long time!” he joked.

“Of course!” I grimaced. “Gosh, we take everything we do for granted. I would hate to cut my own hair!” I then finished as I ran my hand through my own.

“Wine?” George then asked.

“Why not!” I replied as we set off down to George's apartment.

“So, this Kate – is she definitely staying in the country and is she still single?” James then asked as I took a sip of wine. I held my hand up in response.

“Firstly, I am so sorry about Rachel. I had no idea that going to New York was even on the cards, so that just proves that I have not spoken to her for long enough. Kate – I do not think she would ever leave London. She is very passionate about her business here, and she is wealthy, so if she doesn't see you she may want to buy the place!” I informed them.

“Well, it really doesn't matter; it will be what it will be,” George then said. “Let us just keep our fingers crossed!” he remarked as he took a sip of wine.

They asked me about work and I happily told them about the story. George asked if I had a copy that he could read, as it sounded fascinating, so I went to the hall and retrieved my workbag and returned to the kitchen. Whilst George read the draft that I had edited ready for publication, I pulled out the diary and placed it onto the worktop where I sat, then looked at James.

“You know, reading this made me really sad at times.” I grimaced. “Do you know how much your mother loved you?” I asked him tentatively. George looked up from reading and glanced at James first, then me.

“Yes, I know!” he simply replied as he turned away to refill his glass. I looked across at George, who peered at me over his glasses.

“He misses her, more than he says! It was not the best of endings for them!” George whispered before James returned to his chair.

“I'm sorry, of course you know,” I quickly confirmed to James. “Could I top up?” I then asked George as I pointed to the wine bottle.

“Be my guest!” he simply replied. I poured without hesitating as I realised that James had picked up his parallel copy of the diary and started to touch the pages with his mother's writing on them. I started to feel like I had put a complete dark cloud over the whole evening. So I panicked a little as James flicked through the pages and was silent. I looked up at George again; he seemed oblivious, or maybe he was ignoring him.

“This is very good!” George then stated as he finished reading and took off his glasses. He passed the draft back and I placed it onto the worktop. Then as he smiled at me and looked toward James, I scowled; why couldn't I just keep my thoughts to myself? I placed my head in my hands and almost wanted to leave, then I heard something fall to the floor.

I lifted my head and looked toward James, who was bending down to pick a brown envelope up off the floor. I looked across at it curiously and then watched as James looked in the envelope and pulled out photographs.

“May I?” he suddenly asked me. At first I was slightly confused and then it dawned on me. They were the photographs of me that the photographer had taken. I had just slid the envelope into the book to hide them at work. As I nodded, feeling that I had no choice after my inconsiderate outburst, stating the obvious, he flicked through the six or so pictures. George then realised that there was something to be looked at, and turned the diary to face him to find the same photographs on our side of this reality.

I took a very large gulp of wine, and then another, as they both looked at them and said nothing. I broke the silence.

“Yes I know, I am not very photogenic and I hate my picture being taken. So please feel free to make any comments you feel necessary, embarrassing or not!” I joked unconvincingly as I gulped more wine.

“Quite the contrary, Katharina. Why would I want to make any negative comment, when these capture you so beautifully?” James then stated as he stared at them. I swallowed hard and then looked at him. He looked at me and our eyes met. I had butterflies.

“I agree,” George then confirmed. I turned my glance to him. “I cannot understand for one moment why you think that you are not photogenic, Katharina. They are beautiful and I should like to keep one, if that is acceptable. It is a nice reminder for me of my new friend, when we are unfortunate enough to not be in your company!” George then happily asked.

I was slightly taken back by the response and had no words; I simply nodded in agreement. George turned and placed it on the shelf of the dresser to the side of the oven. He smiled and then returned to check on dinner. It was quiet for a moment.

“It really does smell delicious, George!” I remarked.

“You are always so kind regarding my cooking, Katharina, unlike some others that we know!” he then gestured to James, smiling.

“Steady on George, you know full well that there are certain things that I do not like, but on the whole it is not bad!” James replied with a little sarcasm. Thank goodness things had clicked back into place. I sighed a breath of relief and sipped more wine and then looked at my watch.

“Gosh it is quarter to seven already. Is there anything that I can do to help, George?”

“No, I have everything under control!” he smiled contently.

“As always!” James then remarked. He did appreciate George so much, of that I was sure.

I helped George carry items to the dining room and just as we were nearly ready a car could be heard at the front of the house. I turned and looked at them both, and then straightened my appearance and went toward the door.

“Fingers crossed!” I then said, as I turned and looked at them both. George walked to my side so that he could also greet Kate and together we opened the door.

“Kat… bloody hell, it's been ages!” she called as she bounced up the stairs and threw her arms around me.

“Yes, it has been a long time!” I replied as I hugged her back. She looked really well. “Can I introduce you to George, our host for the evening?” I then said as I gestured to him. She quickly shook his hand and said:

“George, it's a pleasure to meet you. This is some place that you have! Trust our Kat to find a friend with a house that is from years past. One of your dreams to have something like this, isn't it Kat?” she then stated. I laughed.

“Yes, I think that I did once say that Kate!”

“Shall we?” George then asked, as he gestured for us both to go inside.

As Kate walked in the main door, she did the usual thing expected when entering Northfield: she gasped, stood still and spun around, taking in all of the surroundings: the ceiling, the staircase, the paintings. She stopped at the large mirror, stared for a moment and then suddenly said, “Oh my God!” in a very loud voice. Both George and I looked at each other in shock and hope; poor James just stood there and stared back at her.

“You can see me?” he asked, as Kate walked toward the mirror.

“I don't believe it!” she then said, as she stood staring into the mirror. George looked so surprised and hopeful that it took me a moment before I said anything.

“Kate, what is it? What do you see?” I asked as I walked to her side. I looked up at James, who looked as hopeful as George and I. There certainly was no denying that Kate was beautiful, and I was sure that James had noted it. She turned and looked at me.

“Seriously, you could have told me that I looked so dishevelled!” she then replied, as she started to re-pin her hair. I stared at her and sighed.

“What?” I then asked in amazement. “Is that it?” I asked with regret. She turned to me.

“You know me and my appearance, Kat! What else did you think I meant?” she asked. I looked at James and then laughed lightly as he rubbed his face and then sighed.

“Nothing!” I replied as I shook my head sadly. “Nothing at all, you just surprised me with your outburst!” I finished.

George had now walked over to us, and he had a large grin on his face. I knew he had thought the same as I; that Kate could see James. I suppose they were used to being let down after the amount of people that have been here over the years. Nevertheless, I was disappointed that she had not seen him. He took one look at the look on my face and simply smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

“I thought that you had cracked it then!” he said with slight sarcasm. I coughed to hide a slight snarl at his remark.

“I am sorry. I do have a tendency to overreact to little things!” Kate then said. I smiled and turned her to face toward the dining room, then started to walk with her whilst she continued fixing her hair. Meanwhile I turned to James and scowled at him whilst I mimed, “I am trying!” He laughed and replied:

“I know, and I love the fact that you are!”

“Let us eat; you must be very hungry after a long day, Kate! Katharina tells me that you have your own business?” George then asked her as we walked through the door. He very kindly pulled out first her chair and then my own and we sat to eat. George disappeared to the kitchen to retrieve the starters as I poured some wine. Kate immediately started talking about work and what she had been up to this last six months, which believe you and me was enough for two people to achieve.

We happily started to eat and George, as ever, asked lots of questions, which gave him and James a full picture of who Kate was and what she did. The main course was delicious, and both Kate and I commented on the cooking. James commented numerous times at Kate's busy lifestyle; most notably he made me laugh when she was talking about what she wanted to do next in her busy schedule.

“It is probably best that she cannot see me, Katharina! She has absolutely no time at all in her busy schedule for breaking a spell cast by a witch!” he joked as he sipped his wine. Then he carried on, “Does she actually breathe between sentences? It is exhausting just listening to her!” he mocked. I could do nothing else but giggle slightly, because he was right in what he was saying. George, being ever the gentleman, carried on talking whilst I composed myself.

Kate was very inquisitive as to how I had become friends with George in the first place and so I had to tell another white lie and say that I had done a story on him.

“Anyway Kate, you know me. I love meeting new people, I love old houses and George has the most amazing tales of previous owners, so how can I refuse to come when he also offers to cook for my friend and me?” I happily stated.

“She always was one for loving a really good story, George. I am sure that she has told you that when we were younger she fantasised about stories of romance and fairy tales. I think that you can thank your dear mum for that Kat!” she confirmed.

“There is nothing wrong with a little bit of wishful thinking, Kate! We have all, I am sure, heard or read about things that a small part of us wishes was a story about ourselves? Katharina is simply a caring woman who believes in achieving things and fantasises a little along the way. There is nothing wrong with that; I find it endearing!” George suddenly said. I smiled at him. His words were kind and I welcomed them. Kate carried on talking, but I found myself blocking out her words as James then added:

“The fact that Katharina is living the real fairy tale fantasy has nothing to do with anything then?” he took a sip of wine. I looked at James, who was staring at me. “I know that you somehow feel obliged to help us, Katharina, but I want you to know that if you ever feel as if you have had enough, you do not have to do anything more! After all, you have your own life to live!” I scowled at him and I knew that George could tell that I was slightly angry, so he said that he would go and get our desserts. My eyes did not leave James until Kate then asked:

“Can you point me in the direction of the bathroom, Kat?”

“Please allow me to show you; I am on my way to the kitchen anyway!” George replied.

“Perfect, thank you, I will be back in a minute,” she then replied as she walked out with George.

I was slightly angry with James. He knew that I wanted to help them and yet occasionally I felt like he was trying to push me away, and then other times he seemed happy for me to be there. I felt like I had more of a connection with both him and George at the moment than I did with anyone else. I hadn't felt like part of a family for a long time, particularly since my mum had passed away, and this felt like family. So I decided to tell him what I thought. I stood up and walked toward him and the mirror. He looked slightly nervous.

“I have one question for you, James. Do you really want to break this spell and get out of this situation?” I stood and stared at him.

“Of course I do!” he then replied. I held my finger up to stop him from saying anything else.

“Then stop telling me that I can leave! You may not like it, but I am not going anywhere until I help you and George – who I do care a great deal about, by the way – get out of this situation you find yourselves in. Let's face it, it is not like you have a lot of friends at the moment, is it?” I quizzed him as I stood with my hands on my hips. He looked at me with reservation.

“No. You are our only friend, it seems!” he then answered.

“As I thought! So this is how this is going to work!” I gestured at the two of us. “I am going to help you and you are going to try and help
me
just a little bit, firstly by stopping trying to get me to leave, and secondly by turning on any charm that you have left. If you continue picking at the negative points of each person that I bring here for you, you are never going to have the opportunity to break this spell! Agreed?” I finished. He hesitated for a minute, and then George reappeared and looked at the two of us – but mainly James.