Читать книгу The Life You Left - Carmel Harrington - Страница 10

Sarah sat up with a start. A line of perspiration glistened on her forehead. She was shivering, despite the heavy duvet covering her body.

She leaned over and flicked on her bedside lamp, checking her watch as she did. It was 3.06 a.m. She knew there was no point in trying to go back to sleep. From experience, it would be at least an hour before that would happen, if at all. She had just awoken from a particularly bad nightmare. Already, as is often the way with dreams, the details of it were beginning to get murky. Unfortunately one image kept flashing into her mind, one she would have been happy to lose.

A young woman lying on the beach. Naked. Covered in blood.

‘You look tired.’ James said to Sarah when he was round at the house later that day.

‘I had a nightmare last night, didn’t get a huge amount of sleep. Thanks for coming with me by the way.’ Sarah said to her brother.

‘No worries. Sure this one could be a complete nut-job. There’s no way you are doing this on your own!’ James said emphatically.

‘She could be a nut-job just like me, you mean?’ Sarah asked playfully.

James replied in kind, ‘You? Nut-job? No! But for the craic let’s just summarise. An angel called Edward, who used to be your best friend when you were a child, has casually rocked up into your kitchen. Incidentally because of your insistence that Edward was real and not a figment of your imagination, you were committed by Mam and Dad for psychiatric assessment, thereafter you spent years in and out of therapy. Now the bold Eddy, enigmatic as ever is saying very little, except that you have a gift. As yet we don’t know what this is. I’d have put money on that it’s your finesse at baking, but not sure that’s what Eddy is talking about! Now that doesn’t make you sound like a Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut bar in the slightest!’

Sarah laughed at this, thank god for James; he was making this so much easier.

‘And to top it all off, this ability of yours is expected to help solve a murder of which we know nothing about. Eddy reckons we need to speak to some lady called Mary Donegan. So here we are outside some random woman’s home, about to knock on her door and say hello.’ James took an imaginary bow.

‘Why Watson, thank you for that summary.’ Sarah said with a smile. ‘Think that just about covers it! As much as I’m enjoying listening to you, I suppose we better get this show on the road. I’ve got to get back to collect the kids from Rita’s house by tea time.’

Sarah knew a lot of people didn’t have time for their mothers-in-law, but for Sarah it was the opposite. Rita was a godsend to her.

‘She heard anything from that loser of a son of hers?’ James asked.

‘He has a name, James.’ Sarah said with a sigh. ‘And no, she hasn’t heard anything from Paul in weeks either.’

‘He doesn’t deserve to be called by his first name, in my opinion.’ James retorted. He could feel himself getting angry again, as he always did whenever Paul came into his mind. ‘How can he leave a wife with three children, one only a small baby? What kind of man does that?’

Sarah could feel her head thumping again. ‘Please James, not now. I can’t deal with Paul on top of all this. I know you’re right. It’s not fair, but there’s extenuating circumstances. He says he’s having a breakdown. He can’t help himself.’

‘That’s a load of bullsh…’ Seeing Sarah’s face, he stopped himself. ‘Ok, I’ll leave it, but he just gets me so wound up.’

She was close to tears, as she often was whenever her wayward husband’s name came up.

‘Hey Sarah, don’t cry. I’ll zip it about Paul, promise. Come on, let’s go meet this Mary one and see what she has to say! Wonder what age she is?’ James wondered out loud. ‘She could be hot! Hey!’ James yelped as his sister punched him on his arm. ‘What was that for?’

‘We’re not here for you to get your next victim lined up!’ Sarah said with a laugh. ‘Come on, behave. I don’t care if she looks like Angelina Jolie; keep your hands to yourself!’

‘Hey, less of the victim, if you please. I’ll have you know that all my girlfriends are very well looked after by me. Hey!’ He yelped again. ‘Leave out the hitting. You have some right hook on you! I promise I’ll behave. There will be no chatting up of anyone. But if she’s anything like Angelina, all bets are off!’

They rang the doorbell and waited with nervous anticipation. Sarah had no idea who or what to expect.

With that the door opened and a tiny woman, no more than five feet peeped out. She was middle aged but hard to determine what side of fifty she was on. Her face was lined, not from frowning but with what Sarah guessed were laughter lines. She was plump and exuded warmth, and Sarah felt the urge to throw herself into her arms for a hug. Pulling herself together, she simply smiled at her. Mary smiled back, an expectant look on her face.

‘Hello’ Sarah stammered. ‘My name is Sarah Lawler. This is my brother, James. Are you Mary Donegan?’

‘Yes, I am.’ Mary replied with a friendly smile. ‘How can I help you?’

Sarah wasn’t sure where to start. ‘Erm, it’s a bit tricky this. I’m not really sure why I’m here. I was told to come and see you.’

‘Who told you to come see me, pet?’ Mary answered smiling, like it was the most normal thing in the world to have such a conversation.

‘Edward did.’

‘And who is that? Is he a friend of yours?’ Mary continued.

‘Well this is the tricky bit. You’ll probably not believe me, not sure I would believe me either. Edward is a friend of mine. But most people can’t see him.’ Sarah blurted out quickly reddening up to her ears. She held her breath, never taking her eyes of Mary, wondering what the response was going to be. She half expected the door to be slammed in their faces.

Mary continued smiling and then opened her door fully, ‘Oh that explains it! You should have said so sooner dear. Come on in so, both of you.’

They walked into the apartment and Sarah was surprised at what she saw. The apartment was ultra-modern and chic. It was clutter free and was decorated in varying shades of white and cream, the only splashes of colour on the wall were the art, which were contemporary. It seemed to contradict the first impression Sarah had formed of Mary, which was a mother earth type.

‘What a beautiful apartment.’ Sarah complimented.

‘Thank you.’ Mary nodded and smiled again. ‘It suits me very well. One of the advantages of being on one’s own is that you get to decorate your home to exactly your own tastes. No need to take into account anyone else’s requirements!’

‘Well it’s very chic.’ Sarah replied a little in awe. Her mind flitted to her chaotic house that always looked cluttered no matter how much she tidied up.

Mary indicated that they should sit down in the big open plan living space. ‘So, you have met your guardian angel, Edward, you said?’ Mary asked. ‘How lovely.’

‘You believe me? You know he’s an angel?’ Sarah asked incredulously.

‘Of course. Why wouldn’t I? Sure we all have a guardian angel.’

‘Even me?’ James said startled.

‘Yes, even you.’ Mary replied with a laugh. ‘Your angel is called Lorna.’

‘A girl! I might have known!’ Sarah said with a laugh.

‘What’s she look like?’ James asked Mary excitedly.

‘She’s very beautiful, tall with long blonde hair. All angels are beautiful. She has a message for you actually.’ Mary said dramatically, winking to Sarah as she turned to him.

James nearly fell off the edge of the 18^th century white chaise longue he was perched on. ‘What message?’ He whispered. He was feeling excited now.

‘She asked would you mind changing your chat-up story, she’s getting a bit bored of the dying children in the orphanage tale.’

James paled at this. Sarah yelped with laughter. ‘Please tell me you’re not still using that line – ‘I held a dying child in my arms as she breathed her last breath!’ story? You are unbelievable.’

James went from white to red. ‘How on earth does she know that?’ He spluttered.

Mary just smiled at him.

‘In my defence I send money to Chernobyl every month.’ James added lamely.

‘Shame on you.’ Sarah added, shaking her head.

Mary smiled herself. ‘Your angel is with you whenever you need her. But angels have a good sense of humour you know. I have a feeling that Lorna is having a little joke here, teasing you about your love life!’

‘Well you can assure her I’ll not use that line again.’ James replied with a slight sniff. ‘I’ll come up with something new to keep her amused!’

Making a face at James, Sarah whispered, ‘Calm down, focus on why we’re here.’

‘Mary, do you know why Edward sent me to see you?’ Sarah asked. ‘Have you spoken to him too?’

‘No. But he’s here now, alongside my own guardian angel, Diana. Look, see for yourself.’

Sarah turned around and sure enough Edward was standing there, smiling at her.

‘Hi Edward,’ Sarah said with a smile. ‘How come I can see Edward but not the other two angels? Yet you can see all of them?’

‘Oh but you could see them if you wanted to, Sarah.’ Mary replied. ‘You just need to open your eyes and really look. All in good time.’

Sarah looked again. No, still only Edward. Frustrated, she turned to Mary. ‘Why am I here?’

Mary walked over and sat close beside Sarah on the couch. She took her two hands in hers. ‘Well, pet, I have a feeling that you and I are going to be great friends. You’re going to need someone to help you understand and come to terms with your gift. And as I have that gift too, I know how much of a curse and a blessing it can be.

‘What gift?’ Both James and Sarah said at the same time.

‘Why, you have the gift of being psychic, pet. You just have to believe in the power that is within you.’