Chapter thirty-nine

2010

N

atalie sat on the terrace nursing a glass of chilled white wine, her body caressed by a gentle, crisp warm breeze. Of all the momentous events of the past few days, Stuart’s revelation was causing her the most anguish. Possibly because it was the last thing she expected to hear. She was surrounded by friends having babies and never gave infertility a thought. She’d always assumed she could have children if and when she was ready. When she finally met The One. After Stuart had dropped his bombshell she’d been too shocked to say much, beyond needing to think about it. To be fair, he hadn’t expected a decision from her. He said it was the prime reason his ex, Pam, left him for another man. A look of sadness crossed his face as he told her about the mumps he’d had as a child, making him infertile.

Sipping the wine, Natalie was glad she’d refused Stuart’s invitation to join them for supper. It would have been much too awkward. Instead she’d rustled up a bowl of pasta with lashes of cheese. Always a great comfort food. Glancing at her watch, she wondered if Jeanne would have put the kids to bed. She needed to talk to her urgently and picked up the phone.

‘Hi, Natalie! Glad you called, was planning to ring you this evening. Did Stuart and his mother arrive?’

She brought Jeanne up to date, ending with Stuart’s news.

‘Oh! What a bummer! Poor Stuart. And poor you! What are you going to do?’

‘That’s why I’m calling. I need to talk it over with someone out loud. It’s been going round and round in my head the past couple of hours.’ Natalie took a sip of wine. ‘What would you do in my shoes?’

‘Ah, that’s not a fair question! It’s too personal for anyone else to comment. You have to ask yourself if your feelings for Stuart are strong enough to sustain a relationship without having his child. Remember there’s always adoption or sperm-donation. So, how much do you love him?’

‘Well, it’s early days and we haven’t, you know, even done it yet, but I do enjoy being with him and he makes my insides melt when he kisses me, so…’ Natalie remembered the last proper kiss they had in France. She so wanted him to take her to bed with him that night…now she realised why he’d held back.

Jeanne giggled.

‘Sounds like there’s something good going on. Why not give it a go? At the moment you’ve nothing to lose. He’s obviously dead keen on you or he wouldn’t have told you about it. The bottom line is, could you imagine life without children if it came to it? Just being with the man you love? To be honest, I’ve always seen you as more of a career girl.’

Natalie imagined the scenario. At thirty-six she didn’t have much time left to become a mother. Jeanne was right, she’d always focused on her career. She knew her mother would like her to have children, but Phil was providing another grandchild so…how keen was she to be a mum? To give up her lifestyle, nice relaxing holidays, tidy house…Jeanne was a natural, but was she? Oh, God, this was so hard!

‘Natalie? You still there?’

‘Sure. I was thinking. You’re right. I need to “go with the flow” as they say, and see how we work out. I think I could live without children if I was happy with the right man.’

‘That’s it – “the right man”. If Stuart’s The One, then go for it. If you miss having kids yourself, I’d be only too happy to lend you mine for as long as you like!’ Jeanne laughed.

‘Okay, it’s a deal. Thanks, Jeanne. I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of the evening with your lovely man. Keep you posted. Bye.’

She’d no sooner clicked off the mobile when her landline rang. Natalie took her glass into the kitchen to answer it.

‘Good evening, Miss Ogier. Reverend Ayres, you left a message for me. How can I help?’

Thank God! Natalie explained what had been happening over the weeks, culminating in the discovery of the body.

‘My goodness! I can quite understand how distressing this must have been. Although the Church doesn’t have a Deliverance Ministry here, I have helped people deal with restless spirits. I’d be happy to call round and see if I can sense anything I could help with. When would be a good time?’

They agreed on seven o’clock the following evening and Natalie gave him her address, mentioning the police presence. Relief swept through her at the thought of being ‘delivered’ from the angry spirit she was convinced was Bill. If it was him, it meant he was dead, for which she was glad. A dead haunting was bad enough, but a live one…

With the police guarding her home, Natalie felt able to go into the office on Thursday, conscious of the back-log of work on her desk. And it would take her mind off ghosts and babies.

At home that evening she ate a hurried supper before Mr Ayres arrived. Earlier that day she had phoned Tabby to see if she’d like to be there and she’d said yes immediately. Natalie hadn’t spoken to Stuart and assumed Tabby would mention it to him. They needed to talk but the middle of a ‘deliverance’ wasn’t the right time.

Tabby popped round just before seven, alone.

‘Stuart wasn’t keen, but said he’ll catch up with you later.’ She gave Natalie a quick hug. ‘I don’t know what to expect, do you?’ Tabby’s eyes were round with excitement.

‘No idea! I only hope the ghost or whatever, goes quietly and doesn’t smash anything else in the process.’ She heard a car pull up and left Tabby in the kitchen to go and open the door. Natalie was surprised to see a white-haired man in his seventies emerge from the car. He came towards her, his hand outstretched in greeting.

‘Miss Ogier, pleased to meet you. Reverend Ayres at your service.’

His eyes twinkled at her and she smiled back.

‘Come in, Vicar. And please call me Natalie.’

He followed her into the hall and stood still, his head on one side. Natalie waited, not daring to say a word.

‘Interesting. Shall we go into the kitchen?’

Tabby jumped off her stool as they walked in and Natalie introduced them.

‘Delighted to meet you, Mrs Peters. I understand you grew up here? Although it’s much changed, I imagine.’

‘Yes, it’s hard to recognise the old place.’

Mr Ayres moved around the room, looking thoughtful, stopping near the fridge-freezer.

‘I can sense a great deal of pain here. A woman is frightened. On more than one occasion, I feel.’ He closed his eyes and stood still. When he opened them his eyes were full of sorrow. ‘There was – and is – a man. He’s angry, enraged–’

A blast of freezing cold air whirled around the room and Natalie heard the familiar voice, shout, ‘Go away! Go away, all of you!’ She and Tabby gasped as a mug on the worktop crashed to the floor, as if swept by an invisible hand.

‘You heard it?’ She looked at them both. They nodded.

Mr Ayres kissed the heavy crucifix around his neck.

‘I think we’ve upset him, haven’t we? Which is good. Means we don’t have to wait around for him. If you ladies would rather wait elsewhere, I can proceed on my own.’ He looked from Tabby to Natalie. Both shook their heads.

‘Could you give me the names of your parents, please?’ The vicar faced Tabby.

‘Olive and Bill Falla, though I don’t think he was my real father.’

‘No matter. I think you being here will lure him out of the shadows. Which is what we need if we’re to send him away in peace.’

The air became heavy, like treacle, and Natalie found it hard to breathe. But there was no way she was leaving now. As they stood close together, their backs to a run of units, a shape began to emerge from the fug. A tall, heavy man, with grey hair and brown eyes appeared like a wraith. Natalie and Tabby cried out. He glared at them, his fists bunched by his sides.

‘Bill Falla, in the name of Jesus Christ, may you be forgiven for the harm you have done to your wife, Olive. Leave now, in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.’ The vicar drew the sign of the cross in the air in front of him as his other hand gripped the crucifix.

Natalie watched transfixed as the figure seemed to swell. Then she realised another figure stood behind him. A woman. Grey-haired and thin. The woman in the kitchen.

‘Mum!’ Tabby cried, her eyes bright with tears.

The woman turned towards Tabby, her arms outstretched, and Tabby took a step forward.

Bill turned his head, raising his fists.

‘No! No more. Leave now, in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Leave this house and go and rest in peace.’ The vicar’s voice boomed around the room and beads of sweat were visible on his forehead. Natalie was worried the strain would be too much…

The figure hesitated, and at that moment Tabby’s fingers touched those of Olive, or rather went through them. Olive smiled.

The vicar repeated his exhortations and the figure of Bill faded slowly. Natalie held her breath and watched Olive, who turned her head towards her and smiled. Then she too began to fade. The air cleared and all that remained of what had happened was the smashed mug on the floor.