BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY (8 page)

When she woke the next morning Belle had been and
gone again.  Carrie could hardly believe that she had slept through her
return and subsequent departure.  She left a note again with a lovely
selection of croissants and pastries.  At this rate Carries love handles
would be back.  She was still amazed as to where Belle would have found them. 

 “Good Morning Carrie,

Another manic day ahead I’m
afraid.  Can you fend for yourself again? 

I feel dreadful that I haven’t spent any
time with you.  But hopefully light at the end of the tunnel with the
negotiations!

Will call you later when I’m back up for
air. 

Love

B x”

It was a repeat of the previous day for Carrie as
she went for a walk along the beach and stared out to the ocean.  She
spoke with Belle whilst she was on a break from her meeting.  It would
appear that things were drawing to a close or so she hoped.  Carrie didn’t
mind having the time to herself as sometimes it was like being in a whirlwind
when she spent too much time with her Aunt.

“Now Carrie darling.  I think you should let me
book an appointment with my stylist.”  They had finally got round to
opening the bottle of Chablis.  Belle was on a break from the
negotiations.  The Forest family had yielded and the take-over would be
completed in principle tomorrow.  She anticipated a couple more days to
close things up then they could spend some quality time together.  “When
did you last go to the salon?”

“February”  Carrie replied taking a large gulp
of the wine.  She thought she was coping as the last two days she hadn’t
cried or needed to take any medication.

“Oh darling .. you can’t keep punishing yourself or
your hair!  I will make that appointment tomorrow.”

Carrie conceded as she knew Belle would go on and on
and on until she did.

The news was full of the Forest take over and it even
covered the press conference announcement.  The screen had the disclaimer
.. warning flash photography.

Click, click, click and the accompanying
flashes.  Nico Devanti was every inch the business man for the
cameras.  No five o’clock shadow or sunglasses.  Dressed smartly in a
dark navy blue three piece business suit but no supermodel girlfriend adorning
his arm this time.

“Devanti International Group is proud to welcome and
include Forest Hotels to our portfolio.  We will be working closely with
the management team at Forest for the integration to our family of
businesses.  We would like to quash any rumours of job losses.  We
want to bring back the glory days to the former Forest hotels.  It’s an
exciting time for us all.  Join us for the journey.”

The newsreader referred to the millions of pounds
that had been exchanged in the take over and speculated over potential job
losses despite the claims of Nico Devanti.  Click and Belle turned off the
TV.

“Mmm.  What a man Carrie?  Oh I didn’t
have many dealings with him.  Forest had asked my opinion just a little
too late in the day but I did my best to pitch in with a rescue plan.  Did
I tell you he told me he was part Scottish too.  Oh I wonder what
part??  Very sexy … now if I was twenty years younger!”

“Oh Auntie Belle!  You are incorrigible!”

“I speak the truth child!  My love life is
distinctly lacking at the moment.  A fact I need to remedy.  All work
and no play?  A new man could be just what I need!”

Carrie spat her wine in shock and snorted with laughter.

“Auntie Belle!”

“Yes Carrie? I may be older than you but I’m not
ready for joining your Granny Reynolds at the retirement home just yet!”

Belle had never married although she had told Carrie
that she had come close once or twice.  She was her mother’s younger
sister and in her mid-fifties but could easily shave ten or twenty years off
that in looks.  Short brunette hair and the thin but petite build of the
women of Carries family but was curvaceous with it.  In the past Belle and
Carrie were often mistaken for mother and daughter.  Although Carrie was
in need of some tlc at the moment they still were very similar in
appearance.  Carries hair was much longer but she had the same ‘generous
bosom’ as her aunt!

“I don’t have regrets Carrie.  As you know life
really is too short for regrets.”

“Would you do anything different?”

“Maybe, maybe not.  I reinvented myself
Carrie.  I didn’t want to be Isabelle Hamilton from the east end of
Glasgow.  I had dreams, wanted to do something with my life.  I
wanted to travel and see the world!  That’s how I became Belle Hamilton,
much more exotic wouldn’t you say!” she laughed.

“Belle you’ve always been my exotic Auntie”.

“I would have liked to have a child but I wasn’t
ready.  I was chasing my dreams and having a ball or chasing a man! 
Opportunities came and went.  Then when I wanted out of the hospitality
industry, felt a bit jaded I supposed but I didn’t know what to do with
myself.  I re-located to Newquay.  Not ideal in my line of business but
then I was chasing a man.  It didn’t work out obviously but I decided to
stay here.  Then BAM what do you know?  Ten years have gone by and
I’m still travelling the globe doing what I do.  I envied your mum. 
She is so settled with your father and satisfied with her lot.  But that
kind of domesticity was not to be for me.  Oh I’ve got you my darling
god-daughter I think of you as the daughter I never had, but better not tell
your Mother I said that!  You know what she is like.”

It was said with envy for Carries parents had a strong
solid marriage and after almost thirty five years together a lot of love.

“They are still so in love.  I thought that
would be me and Rob… I thought we would have forever”

“Carrie three years or thirty five years you were loved
and loved in return.  That’s why you are hurting so much.  That’s why
it isn’t fair.  You are mourning your loss of your dreams my darling girl”

For once the tears fell but not with the ache that
they usually did.  She missed him so much. 

“I feel so empty Belle.. I miss him.”

The following day Belle had managed to get Carrie an
appointment at her salon.  Belle was going to have a manicure and pedicure
whilst Carrie was returned to a semblance of normality.  She looked
through a magazine but had already dismissed a change in style.  This was
wrong.  She shouldn’t be here and could feel panic pooling in her
stomach.  Breathe Carrie, breathe she coached herself.

“Hello.. now now now what have you been doing to
your hair?  It’s shocking!  Have you cut your own fringe??? 
That’s sacrilege!  Along with all these split ends!  I think you are
in need of the full Mario rescue treatment.” Her hair was fluffed and pulled in
all directions.

Carrie bolted.  She shot out of the chair still
with protective wrap around her clothes and made for the front door.  OMG,
OMG, OMG!

“Carrie!” Belle shouted chasing after her.  Her
feet already in the little pedicure slippers.

“I’m sorry Belle.. I can’t breathe .. I just can’t do
this.. I need my bag .. I have to get my medication.”

“It’s okay Carrie, come with me.” Belle coaxed
softly.

Slowly they returned to the salon and the manager
discreetly showed them to one of the treatment rooms for privacy.  Belle
left the room to collect Carries bag and speak with the owner.

“I’m sorry Tony. My niece had a sudden bereavement
and is still very upset.  Give me a few minutes with her and we can try
again.  Oh and a glass of that whisky you have in your desk wouldn’t go a
miss!”

Belle returned to the room and Carrie was breathing
normally again. 

“Are you okay? Here’s your bag.”

Carrie found the tablet and a bottle of water.

“This is so embarrassing.   Im so so sorry
Belle.  I just panicked.  I’m mortified!”

There was a knock on the door and Belle was handed
two glasses of whisky.

“Here this will help .. Carrie we all have to take
first steps.  Just like a new born.”

Carrie sniffed at the liquid and let it burn the
back of her throat.

“Jeez Belle ..” she coughed.

“Now let’s try again if you think you can … time for
some baby steps!”

Carrie agreed and sat back in the same chair. 
She apologised to the stylist.

“That’s okay .. just as long as you don’t run off
when we finish! I really don’t think my ego could handle that!!! You are in
safe hands here, time to make you look fabulous,”

They agreed a colour to banish the roots and trim to
tidy the locks.

Two hours later they left the salon.  Carries
hair was transformed.  The locks healthy and shiny looking.

“Thanks Belle for doing this with me.”

“That’s what Aunties are for!”

Belle had plans for the morning and Carrie decided
on some retail therapy.  She wanted to browse the shops and pick up some
gifts.  She walked along the many shops of Bank Street, passed cafes and
restaurants.  Stopped off at a coffee shop for her cappuccino fix and
resumed her mostly window shopping.  A little gift box ticked most of the
boxes for her gifts.  Devon clotted cream fudges for her Dad a must for
his extreme sweet tooth despite his profession as a dentist.  The family
indulged in this as he was notoriously difficult to buy a gift for.  A
couple of boxes for her work colleagues as it was an unwritten rule that on
return from holidays sweeties had to be provided.  But it was the
butterfly sun catcher that caught her eye.  The glasswork of the wings
swirls of blue and turquoise with tiny glass beads making up the border. 
It was on display with the sunlight catching the crystals and Carrie was
mesmerised.  Her family knew she had a fascination for butterflies since
she was a child and would buy her gifts with a butterfly association.  She
hadn’t seen anything like it before.

“They are all individually handmade”

“It’s beautiful  ... I love the colours
cascading over the window”

“We’ve had a lot of interest but it more of a
speciality piece.  I only updated the window display yesterday”

Carrie looked at the price tag £95.  Wow for a
sun catcher it was a bit pricey but the glass was full of detail. 

“I’ll take it”

She watched as it was carefully dismantled; wrapped
in bubble wrap, tissue and boxed.

“I have other items that the artist has made if you
are interested?”

Carrie was looking through the selection of scented
candles which she bought frequently.  Removing the lids and smelling the
different scents.

“Yes, please .. what do you have?”

Leaving the shop with two large carrier bags Carrie
wondered how she would safely get everything back home?  Sun catcher,
boxes of fudges and a specialist teething toy for Harry she had added to her
butterfly collection with little plaques with different coloured butterflies
for her Mum and sister.  Shopping complete and a tick in the box. 

“Excuse me, miss, excuse me!”

Carrie turned round.  It was a woman pushing a
pram who had been looking at the same teething ring as Carrie.

“Yes?”

“Look I’m sorry to bother you .. I was going to
speak to you in the shop but then you might have thought I was crazy!”

“Can I help you?”

“It’s more that I
need
to help you!”

“I don’t know you from Adam .. look I have an
appointment to go to”

“Yes, yes,” she appeared to be speaking to
herself.  Yip loony tune! “Carrie! Stop!”

“How do you know my name?  I haven’t seen you
before”

“My name is Sheena and in the middle of Bank Street
it is a bit strange for introductions.  Do you mind if we go to that café
across the road?  I’m dying for a cuppa tea”

Carrie knew she should walk away and not look
back.  She didn’t know this strange woman but something inside her said
stop, to stop and listen to what she had to say.

“Okay  ...” she found herself agreeing to go to
the café and follow this woman.

Five minutes later they were settled in the café and
a mug of tea in front of each other. 

“I’m sorry to ambush you like this.  I don’t
usually accost strangers in the street, honest I don’t”

“Well if it’s any consolation I don’t usually allow
myself to be ambushed!”

“Here me out but I have to speak to you.  I’m a
spiritualist medium.  When you walked into the shop I was actually
finished shopping and planning on leaving.  Luckily this little one has
been sleeping soundly” She sat patting at the baby in the pram and pausing as
she took a sip of the tea. 

“I don’t think this is for me” Carrie began to
gather her things to stand up.

“Please hear me out.” She pleaded and placed a hand
on Carries arm.

“I have a message to tell you.  It’s from
Rob.  He said he’s sorry”

“How do you know this?  Why are you saying
these things?”

“Carrie, I only pass on what spirit want to tell
me.  Your Rob is very persistent!  How else would I have known your
name?  He kept talking to me in the shop, wanted me to pass this message
on to you.”

“I’m sorry, this is too much for me” Carrie could
feel the tears burning her eyes.

“I won’t keep you.  It’s not my intention to
cause you any upset.  Please just listen to me for a second more.  He
was insistent that I tell you he’s sorry for leaving you.  He promised he
never would.”  Carrie sobbed.

“Please no more, I have got to go; this was a crazy
thing to do, I can’t do this,”

“I understand really I do, it’s a lot to take in,
and all I can do is pass on what spirit wants to tell me.  Just one more
thing Carrie; he says watch out for the butterflies”

“Now I know you are making this up.  You saw me
in the shop, what I was buying.  I was in there for ages. What do you want
from me?  How can you be so cruel?” She slung her hand bag over her
shoulder.

“I’ve heard it all before Carrie.  Don’t be
afraid.  He says the butterflies are in the book, the lighthouse book,
look at it properly, he says it will help you and show you the way”

Carrie stood up and practically raced out of the
café hearing the validation of the lighthouse book.  There was no way she
could have known that.  But Carrie couldn’t listen to Sheena
anymore.  Her fragile state urging her to run. 

“And the shiny pennies are from him, it’s his way of
letting you know he’s still around, pennies from Heaven as the song goes!”

Tears running down her cheeks she didn’t know how
she made it back to her Aunt’s house.  Belle found her lying on the bed
when she returned.  Her face once again puffy and eyes red from
crying.  Incoherent when she tried to explain what had happened.  The
lighthouse book lying open next to her.