Beautiful Curses: Book One (14 page)

Dan, his hand still resting on Jo's shoulder, hesitated. “…We haven’t spoken to Gabriella yet … We will have to.”

Jo clenched her teeth, and opened her eyes to look at James, so grateful he’d chosen to stay. She needed him so badly.

James gave her a reassuring smile, and then turned to Barley and Dan, “We’ll go now.  You can contact us in the morning.”

James pulled Jo to her feet and then quickly shook hands with Barley and Dan using his free hand, while his other stayed around her waist. They didn’t say another word, but worry was etched all over their faces as they walked her out. Jo could only manage a tight smile, as her and James walked away to catch the train. Her head hurt, her chest ached and she just wanted to lie down and sleep. Or take some medication and knock herself out, whichever worked best.

The muffled sounds of hushed voices and doors being opened and closed drew Jo from a restless sleep. She couldn’t focus or make much sense of it all. She pulled James’ duvet over her head and scrunched herself into a tight ball, her mind whirling with all she’d heard yesterday.

On the way back in the train, James held her and let her think. She’d rung Sarah in a daze when they arrived at the flat, saying she needed another night, but having no clue if she sounded convincing or not. James helped her into his bed and stayed with her till she must have fallen asleep. Jo had no idea where he’d slept, but wished she was still lying in the comfort of his arms. She missed him.

The door creaked open and light footsteps approached the bed. Then a gentle hand caressed her hair. “Jo, its Sarah. Are you awake?”

Jo turned over pulling down the covers. Her head hurt and her eyes were still sore, but she made an attempt to open them.

“Jo, I’m going to stay with you. We won’t go home until you're ready. Okay?”

Jo nodded, tightening her lips and closing her eyes again. A sob broke free and the tears fell. Sarah drew her into a motherly embrace. She didn’t speak for some time while Jo continued to sob into the warmth of her soft jumper. Jo needed that. At first she felt numb. Now Sarah holding her made it okay, like being five again, when Sarah's hugs fixed everything.

Eventually Jo sat up and brushed the hair from her face. She took the tissue Sarah passed her and dabbed at her eyes.

Sarah sighed. “Jo, I don’t know what's been going on, but I don't expect you to tell me. I’m meeting Dan today. It might be best if you stay here. Will you be alright?"

Jo nodded and wiped at her eyes again.

Sarah smiled a knowing smile. “I’m sure James will be more than happy to keep you company.”

Jo twisted her lips, forgetting Peter and Sarah didn’t know about their relationship. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you about us. But he’s been so good to me. I expect he told you he came with me yesterday?”

Sarah nodded.

Jo kicked her legs out of the bed, feeling the chilled morning air. “I better go see him. He'll be worried.” She looked down to see her jeans and jumper from the previous day, noting how crinkled and creased they were from her restless night's sleep.

Sarah looked her up and down and furrowed her brow. “I brought you some clean clothes and your toiletries. I thought you might want to freshen up. Go and have a shower and I’ll bring your things in.”

Jo nodded, knowing a hot shower always made her feel better.

When Jo came out of the bedroom twenty minutes later she found Sarah and James, sitting on the one sofa in the main room, deep in conversation. The kettle had started to boil so she walked into the kitchen and turned it off.

“Want a cup of tea?” she asked as they looked at her.

Sarah stood and reached for her coat. “No thanks, dear, I’m going now, but I’ll be back soon. Make sure you get some rest and we’ll talk later." She looked over her shoulder. "Take good care of her James.”

After giving Jo a quick kiss on the cheek, she went to leave, when Jo put a hand on her shoulder. Panic fluttered deep inside her, thinking about where Sarah was going and what she was going to find out. Impulsively she wanted to cling to her. Then she dropped her hand, realising she needed to know. Sarah gave her a reassuring smile in return and then turned and left.

Jo sighed after the door closed, and glanced across at James, who sat watching her carefully. After hearing about Aspen yesterday all she could think about was her relationship with him, and what he'd said. If the curse was as powerful as Barley made out, she couldn't see them beating it, unless Gabriella refused to become like Rowellyn. Jo scoffed to herself, thinking that was a pipe dream. Her letter made it perfectly clear she’d already made her choice.

Jo thoughts drifted to think about Aspen.

Would it really be that terrible if you'd never loved, or been loved?

Jo found solace in her books and enjoyed her own company and the company of her family.

Aspen might be happy to live out her days in ignorance
.

Then Jo thought again.

She tried to imagine her life without James and Beth. Aspen never had that chance. She never experienced the gentle touch of a lover or shared moments with someone special. No memories of the laughter and tears shared with a friend who understands you completely.
How could Rowellyn have stolen that away to become something so selfish?

Then Jo’s thoughts shifted, as she thought of something she hadn’t considered before. She looked at James, who hadn't taken his eyes from her. She opened her mouth and then snapped it closed.

“Jo? What is it?” James prompted, getting up from the sofa.

Jo swallowed the hard lump in her throat. “W … What if Rowellyn … What if … she had something to do with my mother's…
death
.” As soon as she voiced her thoughts, she instinctively knew the answer. There were so many more questions, but none as important as this. She looked at James, but he didn’t say anything as he pulled her into a tight, warm hug. She snuggled her head into his chest, and smelled his beautiful scent. She was so grateful that at this point in time, curse or no curse, he was here, giving her exactly what she needed.

A few hours later, the door opened and Spencer walked in. He glanced at Jo and smiled faintly. He’d been somewhat freaked out by her behaviour when she’d arrived home yesterday, but they couldn’t tell him the truth.

James and Jo were on the couch. Jo had her legs curled over James’s knees, his arms held her securely and a blanket covered them both. Neither of them made any effort to move. James had obviously decided, Spencer could get over his big brother protectiveness, and Jo couldn’t care less, she had bigger things to worry about.

“Hiya, Jo, how are you feeling?” Spencer asked as he shut the door.

Jo managed to smile. “I’m alright, thanks.”

“Is Sarah here yet?”

Jo’s whole body tensed, she hadn’t stopped worrying about Sarah since she left.

“She arrived just after nine,” James answered for her. “She’s gone to meet Dan. We’re expecting her back any minute.”

“Right. Oh, I saw your tutor, James.”

Spencer never dealt well with difficult situations and had obviously decided to talk about trivial things so he didn’t have to.

“Told him you might not be back this week. He gave me your assignment list and the timetable for this semester, in case you wanted to do some reading.”

“Excellent. I’m really looking forward to reading a pile of useless text books I’ll probably never use again,” he said with a scowl.

Jo punched his arm. “Hey, think of the hours the authors put into writing those books’.

“I’m not referring to the classics, Jo. I’m talking about surveying procedures’. James raised his eyebrows.

“I still feel sorry for the poor author. They probably spent a lot of time trying to make it as interesting as possible, even if it’s about boring surveying.”

“Alright. I promise not to criticise any books no matter how boring they are,” he said, then kissed her.

Spencer turned away and started rummaging in the kitchen cupboards. “Do you two want some lunch?”

A knock on the door forestalled any answer and Jo sat up stiffly. James patted her knee and moved her legs so he could get up to open it.

Sarah bustled through carrying a bag of groceries, which she dumped on the floor of the kitchen. Then she turned and looked directly at Jo. “Hello love, you're looking better. I bought some things for lunch.”

She turned to give Spencer a hug. “Hello darling, sorry I missed you this morning.”

“Sorry about leaving without saying goodbye, the other night,” Spencer mumbled while looking through the grocery bags.

“Never mind that now. So, I’ve bought some things to stock your cupboards. I don’t know how you survive on packet soup and noodles. I’ll make us all some sandwiches.”

The whole time Sarah put groceries away, and got the sandwiches ready, she didn’t mention her meeting with Dan. Jo picked at her fingernails, desperately wanting to find out exactly what Dan and Barley had told her.

James chatted to Spencer as they sat eating the large plate of sandwiches. Jo couldn’t bring herself to join in their idle chatter, and she certainly wasn’t hungry, only picking at the crusts of a cheese and ham quarter. Sarah glanced at her a couple of times, and smiled, a nervious kind of smile. Leaving Jo feeling less than assured.

“The tenants meeting starts in twenty minutes,” James said to Spencer, picking at the crumbs on the empty plate. “We should both go. We can catch up with Luke and Tobias.”

James winked at Jo, conspiratorially. He knew she wanted to speak to Sarah.

Spencer nodded. “Good, yeah that’d be grand. Luke and Tobias might want to go for a pint afterwards. Is that alright with you Sarah? We could pick up some takeout for dinner, I assume you're staying tonight.” Spencer’s eyes veered toward Jo.

“Yes. We will be. I’ll give you some money to buy something decent,” Sarah said and smiled at him.

“Thanks, well we'd better get going. Maybe we can pick up your text books for that background reading, James.” Spencer laughed.

James ignored him and bent down to kiss Jo on the cheek. “I’ll see you soon. Thanks for lunch, Sarah.”

They put on coats, and closed the door firmly behind them, leaving Jo alone with Sarah at last.

Sarah got up from the table and started piling the plates together, avoiding eye contact with Jo. But Jo couldn’t stand her silence any longer. “What did Dan and Barley say?” she blurted out.

Sarah almost dropped the plate she was holding, but managed to catch it and stack it neatly on the pile.

Turning to Jo, she sighed. “Everything. They told me everything.”

“And?”

Sarah closed her eyes for a few seconds, and then gestured toward the sofa. “Why don’t we sit for a bit?”

Jo followed her and they sat beside each other. For a few moments Sarah stared down at her hands as if gathering her thoughts. Her green eyes were misty as she looked back up at Jo. “I don’t really know what to say about it. It's a lot to take on ... but I do know, we’ll do anything to make sure you’re alright. Dan wants to meet again so we can work out what to do next.” Sarah hesitated, “We ... um... have to tell Gabriella. We need to help her too.”

Jo pulled at her fingers. “Yeah, well, I don’t think she’ll listen. That letter showed how she feels. I always knew we were poles apart. But I just accepted it. Now I know why we were so different. And she knew all along and never said anything.”

Sarah reached out and stroked Jo's cheek. “I know how hard this is. I know how strong the bond between sisters can be. I loved your mother so much. We were very close. And I know you think Ella has betrayed you, but I’m certain it’s not too late. The letter showed she doesn't know the whole story and was trying to contact Rowellyn. I believe when she knows the truth, she'll change her mind and we can beat this, this ...
curse
. She’s been under its influence too.”

Jo closed her eyes, absorbing Sarah's words. She needed to hear a voice of reason to stop all the bad thoughts. She desperately wanted to believe Gabriella could be the sister she always wanted her to be.