Beyond Life (3 page)

Along with the five children who she’d taken with her to collect water from the well, she turned to the sound of a vehicle approaching from behind and smiled falsely as the big white man driving the Land Rover lifted a hand from the steering wheel and waved. He was very good-looking and charismatic and Marion had no idea why, when she’d first met him, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her gut instinct told her not to trust the man. He’d evoked the opposite reaction in Val and they’d flirted openly on the three occasions they’d met. Marion knew that Gary’s firm supplied the building materials for the charity at reduced cost so she had to be polite, but that didn’t mean she had to like him. She had no idea why he needed to visit today so upped her pace towards the front door and two of the smaller children had to run to keep up with her.

*****

It was the evening before the wedding and Libby was feeling a little nervous. Her brother Carl had arrived to be a guest and witness and though he knew their mother would be upset that Libby had married without her present, he also knew that she’d be over the moon to see her daughter happy again, eventually. Carl had gone off with Jim and Tony, and Libby and Tony had decided that they wouldn’t see each other until the ceremony the following day.

‘What have you got planned for us this evening?’ Libby was curious as Fiona had said it would be a surprise. She’d already had a low-key hen night the previous week with Fiona and six of her other close friends and didn’t want a boozy night before her wedding the following day. When she’d said this to Fiona a few weeks previously, Fiona had told her not to worry and that she’d arrange something to keep the pre-wedding nerves at bay.

‘So come on then, what are we doing?’ Fiona hadn’t answered the question and Libby was very curious.

‘Actually, it’s a surprise. We leave in half an hour and there’s no need to dress up.’

‘What sort of surprise?’

‘You’ll find out when we get there.’

Claire and Ron had heard the entire conversation and both were as curious as Libby. They didn’t have long to wait.

The disused cinema in the town had been converted into a Bingo Hall but also doubled as a venue for presentations, shows and concerts. The taxi pulled up and Fiona and Libby got out, Libby still not knowing what Fiona had planned. Her friend dragged her quickly into the building’s foyer and Libby assumed they had come to see a local play. Not giving her an opportunity to stop and look around, Fiona pulled her arm and led her into the main room, after showing a woman on the entrance door their tickets. She walked towards the stage at the front of the room and ushered Libby into the second seat from the end. Libby decided to play the game, it was a little exciting not knowing what was going on, but only until the host walked onto the stage and made the announcement.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, her fame has spread throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, she’s brought comfort to countless people who’ve lost loved ones, and hope to many others,’ he paused. Fiona looked at Libby and didn’t see any recognition on her face. Good, she thought, she hasn’t clicked yet.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, Gretna is proud to welcome Delores Davies for a night with the dead.’

The audience rose to their feet and applauded as a pink-haired middle-aged woman dressed from head to toe in pink, walked onto the stage holding open her arms in invitation.

‘I’m out of here,’ Libby couldn’t believe that Fiona had brought her to this farcical show. Fiona held her arm in a vice-like grip and pulled her back into her seat. The rest of the audience had calmed down by this stage and Delores got straight into her work.

‘Is there someone here who’s lost a son called Davy or maybe David? He’s holding his neck in an unusual way. I get a feeling of a major impact, maybe a car accident?’

‘That’s my boy,’ shouted a woman from the audience.

‘Oh my God,’ said Libby before putting her head in her hands and shaking it. ‘I don’t bloody believe you’ve brought me here.’

‘It might actually change your views and teach you to be more open minded,’ Fiona replied, but as she watched Libby sit up straight and fold her arms she very much doubted her own words.

‘Was this your plan, to talk to her through this medium person?’ Ron asked Claire while looking around the hall. He could see that there weren’t any other departed souls present and wondered how the woman was receiving messages.

‘No. I was going to speak through Jim when Fiona and Libby were there but Tony wasn’t. Anyway, it looks like we’ve lucked out,’ she could see that Ron was baffled. ‘She’s obviously a fake, Ron and has planted people in the audience.’

It was obvious now that Claire had explained and they watched for a few minutes as Delores went to two other people in the audience. Claire was becoming increasingly annoyed at the pretender on the stage and tried her best to talk to the woman, but there was nothing there. Just as they decided it was time to leave the door opened and a man walked down the aisle toward the stage. Claire and Ron gasped. They’d never seen so many dead souls, all talking at the same time and plainly driving the man to distraction. Above the souls who were buzzing around the man in an attempt to get his attention, was a male angel. Claire’s jaw hung open at his stunning good looks, beautiful black skin and soulful dark eyes which looked as if they were deep in concentration dealing with the hellish souls that he didn’t want to get through to the genuine Medium. Some he pushed away and with others he had to work a little harder. They saw the teenage spirit who had tried causing trouble for their own families and the beautiful angel gave him what appeared to be a gentle shove. The teenager screamed and disappeared into the ether like a comet shooting through the night sky. The angel looked directly at Ron and Claire and winked. He appeared to up the ante when he realised he had an audience. Typical man thought Claire but was mesmerized by his graceful movements. She thought he looked like a heavenly dark Jackie Chan as he fought off the evil spirits sometimes four or five at a time. There were a few seconds where the angel had the opportunity to take stock and he beckoned to Claire and Ron. They rushed to his side and he spoke.

‘Good evening. My name is Raphael and I work with Gabriella,’ he had a voice that Claire could listen to all day and made her want to eat chocolate. His looks matched his voice, dark and mysterious but not as dark as Gabriella. When he looked directly at her his eyes seemed to melt her soul and she felt as if she could stare into them for eternity. Ron broke the spell.

‘We’re pleased to meet you. How can we help?’

Claire shook herself and stopped daydreaming.

Raphael wondered why he couldn’t read Claire. He had important work to do and would have to think about that when time allowed. Rubbing his hands together he gave his instructions.

‘When I give the command, hold my hands and we’ll form a circle. Concentrate on everything good that happened when you were alive, the love you shared with others and good deeds that you did. If a bad thought tries to surface, push it away gently. Most of them can’t get through as long as we’re bathed in love,’ Raphael closed his eyes and continued. ‘If this works I’ll reward you with faster access to the Medium, Claire and you’ll be able to pass Ron’s message to his daughter,’ he held out his hands and they linked. Claire tingled with sensations she hadn’t felt since...

‘But can’t I talk to the Medium like the other spirits are doing?’ Ron took back a hand and pointed to the mass of souls chattering away to the poor man who was seemingly trying to block out all of the noise as he strode purposefully to the stage.

‘You certainly could, Ron. But you know that Claire has more power than you and with my help her voice will stand out amongst the others. I feel a new wave of evils approaching, let’s get on and remember what I told you.’

They forgot about what was going on in the show as all their efforts were concentrated on blocking out the evil spirits.

Michael Gray was not a happy man. He was fed up with charlatans making money out of the grief and misery of others and determined to do something about it. He looked at the woman on the stage with disgust. He’d been to one of her shows before just to make sure and knew for a fact that she was a fake. Nobody expected trouble at this type of event and Michael knew that it would take a little while before any of the staff would think to phone the police or some sort of security personnel. He wasn’t even sure that they employed security staff. He jumped onto the stage, barely acknowledging Delores and smiled at the audience. It was important to get them on side as soon as possible. The last thing he needed was a
have a go hero
from the audience trying to tackle him.

‘Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,’ he waited until the muttering had stopped and he had their full attention. ‘My name’s Michael and I apologise for the inconvenience but I have a number of messages here for some of you and I wanted to make sure that you receive them,’ there was deathly silence and looking down, Michael put his hands to the side of his head.

‘All right, all right. One of you at a time,’ he smiled and looked up. ‘Kay Beattie, that top’s far too low cut and yellow is most certainly not your colour.’

A woman stood up blushing bright red. ‘Err, who told you that?’

‘Doreen,’ said Michael. ‘She’s an older lady dressed very conservatively...’ he stopped as if listening to someone. ‘She passed almost a year ago and said to tell you that she’s reunited with Albert and that although your choice of clothing is dubious, your man is the right choice and they’re looking forward to seeing the little one.’

Kay put her hand to her mouth and the woman in the chair next to her started crying. ‘You’re pregnant?’ said the woman between tears.

‘Yes, Ma.’

The two hugged and the audience clapped, won over by Michael’s message and, for the moment, forgetting about Delores.

‘Thank you so much,’ said Kay, but her words were drowned out by the applause.

‘I think it’s time to leave, young man,’ Delores was now on her feet and approaching Michael.

‘This woman’s a fake,’ he shouted as he jumped down from the stage and made for the exit. ‘I have an important message for Libby. It’s from a friend of your father and he wants you to know that he’ll be at your wedding tomorrow.’

As the crowd chanted his name and Michael ran to the exit, dodging staff members as he did, Libby’s mouth gaped open and Fiona nodded with a smug told you so expression on her face. Libby jumped to her feet and grabbed Fiona and they both ran out of the room, hot on the heels of Michael Gray.

Chapter 3

Fiona and Libby had breakfasted together on the morning of the wedding. Libby was in the hotel’s salon flicking through a magazine while the stylist fussed with her hair. Fiona had expected her to be nervous and emotional but Libby was calm and happy.

‘Knowing that Dad’s okay wherever he is has made so much difference,’ she put down the magazine. ‘And that he’s going to be at my wedding. I’m so happy, Fi.’ Unable to hug her friend due to the stylist’s ministrations, Fiona held Libby’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

‘The only ones who know about the song my father used to sing to me in the garden are my mother and brother, and there’s no way they could have told Michael. I can’t wait to give my mother her message as well. It’ll be like a weight’s been lifted,’ she picked up the magazine again. ‘Why don’t you leave me to it and I’ll text you when I’m done.’

It was the excuse Fiona needed to get away for a while. She hadn’t seen Jim since the events of the previous evening and was dying to tell the twins what the Medium had said. She also hoped they’d be able to get hold of a special song to make Libby’s day even better.

‘Okay if you’re absolutely sure?’

Libby nodded and Fiona lifted her phone out of her pocket, texting Jim as she left the salon.

‘So you’re telling me that Libby’s father gave Claire a message to give to this Michael bloke, and he gave a message to Libby?’ asked Jim as the four were walking in the hotel grounds.

‘My father gave my sister a message through a Medium?’

‘Yes, and yes,’ replied Fiona. She could see that Carl looked sceptical. ‘Remember the song
It’s a Wonderful World?
’ That showed him she thought as his expression turned to one of disbelief.

‘He used to sing that to her in the garden when she was a kid.’

‘Uhh, huh.’

‘But nobody would know about that.’

‘Uhh, huh.’

Fiona noticed the knowing look between the twins, remembering how shocked she’d been when she realised that their sister was really able to communicate with them. The group remained quiet as Carl digested the information. A gentle gust of wind blew a few rose petals along the path in front of them and Fiona hoped that the weather would remain dry for the ceremony and the few photographs afterward.

‘I can’t believe it.’

‘Not you as well,’ he can be as stubborn as his sister thought Fiona. ‘Look, I know it’s hard to take in but I can only tell you what the Medium said and how Libby reacted. Let’s just concentrate on the wedding and try to get the song played at the ceremony,’ she turned to Tony. ‘Would you be okay with that?’

‘If it makes Libby happy I’m fine with that.’

‘Good, because I’ve already downloaded it and sorted it with the Registrar.’

Another look passed between the twins. They knew what a bossy go-getter Fiona could be when the need arose. She preferred to think of herself as having second to none leadership and organisational abilities.

*****

Marion reached the building to hear Val and the visitor laughing.

‘Hello, Marion. How are you?’ he gave her his best smile.

‘Fine thanks. You?’ the smile wasn’t returned.

‘Just leaving actually. See you later, Val.’

‘Will do.’

She sounded like a teenager to Marion who raised her eyebrows after Gary had left.

‘It’s just a bit of fun. He’s taking me for a drive later to see some of the wildlife, you can come if you want.’