Beyond Life (2 page)

*****

Claire didn’t know how long she’d been back on the living plain. Every time she’d tried to return to Cherussola, she’d been blocked and had been forced to remain on Earth.

She watched her brothers who didn’t appear to be in their usual daily work routine. They were both laughing and joking as each packed a bag too large for one night away.

‘I’ll take the suits,’ said Tony as he picked up the two covered hangers and left the flat whistling a tune that Claire recognized instantly.
I’m getting married in the morning.
But it must have been a coincidence, as Claire knew that Jim and Fiona had promised her mother they’d wait until she returned from Zambia. Although this was her mother’s second stint abroad as a volunteer, Fiona wanted a special wedding and they were still saving for the occasion. Claire pondered for a while and decided to hang around to find out what was going on. She heard voices coming from the front door and recognised Fiona’s laugh and Libby’s high-pitched giggle. She sensed their excitement but still wasn’t sure what was happening. They entered the living room and Libby took hold of Tony and gave him a long, lingering kiss, ignoring the presence of his twin and Fiona. When they came up for air Libby’s expression turned serious.

‘Two days, my love and I’ll always be the happiest woman on Earth.’

‘You know our mothers won’t be very happy?’

They’d had this conversation many times before but Libby still answered patiently. ‘My father’s not here to give me away and I can’t do the big production thing without him. You do understand?’

Tony was still amazed that the death of his sister and Libby’s father was the catalyst that had brought both families together. It was small consolation but at least something good had come out of their deaths.

‘He might well be watching.’

‘Whatever,’ said Libby knowing full well that the twins thought they could talk to their dead sister. The twins and Fiona had tried without success to convince her that the siblings could still communicate with each other but Libby was a non-believer. Fiona looked at her friend and hoped that the show she was taking Libby to the following night might change her attitude and make her more open to discussion.

As Claire watched and listened to the conversation the penny dropped. She knew her mother wouldn’t be very pleased and assumed that neither would Libby’s. Her father wouldn’t be happy to miss the wedding either. Now that she knew what was going on she intended to stay and watch the proceedings. She loved a good wedding and was curious to see what sort of do they had chosen. Claire’s next thought was one of frustration as she found herself on the cream sofa in Cherussola in front of the beautiful but sometimes irritating angel, Gabriella. Knowing that Gabriella could sense her moods and that she hadn’t yet won a battle of wills with the beautiful angel, Claire resisted the urge to complain. She hoped beyond hope that Ron had decided to delay his ascension to heaven and waited with baited breath as her frustration slowly dissipated.

‘I have some news,’ Gabriella paused to create tension like a seasoned Hollywood actress. I can play that game thought Claire but her mentor knew her for what she was and Claire was the first to break the silence.

‘Has Ron decided to stay?’

Gabriella ignored the question. ‘I have someone to see you.’

Claire sucked in her breath and waited for Ron to appear. She’d missed him and was so glad he’d decided to stay. She couldn’t hide her disappointment when a female image slowly appeared beside her on the sofa. Claire recognised the woman who’d been murdered by her half-sister’s captor.

‘Hi, I’m Sandy. Pleased to meet you,’ she sounds as if she’s at a cocktail party or something thought Claire unkindly as she tried not to show her disappointment.

‘Hello, Sandy. I was sorry to see the circumstances of your passing,’ she attempted a smile but Sandy could see it didn’t reach her eyes and she nervously picked at one of the cushions. Claire vowed to get a grip of herself, after all it wasn’t the woman’s fault that Ron hadn’t appeared. Gabriella broke her train of thought.

‘I’ll leave you ladies to get acquainted. Sandy’s been to hell so go easy on her. Back shortly,’ she disappeared with her usual whoosh and Sandy smiled ingratiatingly at Claire who thought she looked terrified.

‘Ask me anything you want to know and I’ll try and explain as best I can,’ this time her smile was genuine and Sandy visibly relaxed.

*****

Ron was torn. The unknown delights of heaven were extremely tempting, but he wasn’t sure whether he was ready to leave and abrogate all responsibility for Val, his widow. As much as he loved his children, he was confident that they could look after themselves and he knew they’d be able to carve out good lives. It came as something of a shock that Claire was a major reason for his indecision.

Since they’d died she had become something of a substitute daughter and he knew that if he left her permanently, to say she wouldn’t be happy was a major understatement.

‘That’s not your problem.’

Gabriella’s voice shook Ron from his reverie and made him jump.

‘I wish you wouldn’t do that,’ she’d sneaked up on him and he’d been so deep in thought that he hadn’t heard the customary whoosh.

‘I feel responsible for her.’

‘Are we talking about Claire or your wife?’

‘Both actually,’ Ron scratched his chin and was surprised to feel a beard. He raised his eyebrows but Gabriella ignored his silent question, deciding to deal with the more immediate concerns.

‘I can’t make the decision for you, Ron. But if you have reservations it may mean that now isn’t the right time.’

The decision was made. He knew the only reason he’d wanted to move up to heaven was curiosity about the pleasures of a wonderful eternity. It wasn’t enough and he wasn’t yet ready. About to voice his decision, Gabriella spoke before he had a chance.

‘Time to tell Claire. Do you want to give her the news or shall I?’ now that he’d made up his mind, Ron was eager for her to know.

‘I’ll go tell her,’ he disappeared and Gabriella smiled to herself. Everything had gone as she’d planned. As soon as they were reunited and off to catch up with their families and friends, it would give her time to get Sandy up to speed so that when Ron did decide to go upstairs, Claire would have a ready and willing helper in the wings.

Now free to come and go as she pleased as long as she had Gabriella’s permission to do so, Claire decided to return to Earth in time for the wedding. Her brothers and the girls were in the car and Claire saw the sign for Gretna Green, the first village in Scotland, and chuckled to herself. So they were marrying in the village where young English people used to run away to marry years before when the marriage laws of Scotland allowed, but England did not. Claire appreciated Libby’s sense of humour but the thought of their wedding made her feel nostalgic. Although she’d come to terms with the fact that she no longer had Jay and was happy that he’d found someone else, seeing her brothers happy with their partners made her realise how lonely she was, and she was also incredibly bored.

‘Fancy some company?’

It was a moment before she realised that Ron was speaking to her and she did a double take, clapping her hands together and laughing as he materialized. Claire enveloped him in a tight hug that made Ron lose his balance.

‘Steady, girl.’

‘Does this mean…’

‘Yup. I’ve decided that someone needs to keep an eye on you so I’m going to be around for a while yet.’

She leaned back from him but still held him at arms length. He could see that she was trying to say something but couldn’t form the words. She eventually gave up and hugged him again, this time even tighter, and Ron felt the wetness from her tears on the back of his shoulder.

‘Thank you. Oh, Ron. Thank you so much for staying, I…’

‘There, there,’ was all he could manage as he rubbed her back until she regained control of her emotions. Eventually they broke apart and Claire gave a self-conscious laugh before deciding it was down to business. It always amazed him how she could change from being super emotional one minute, to so business-like the next. She explained what had been happening while he’d been making his mind up and how she’d helped her brothers solve a number of criminal cases.

‘What has Libby got to say about all of this?’

Ron was eager to hear news of his daughter. The last he’d heard, the relationship between Tony and Libby was getting quite serious.

‘Well,’ said Claire and Ron could tell from her tone that she was dying to impart some important news.

‘What? Just tell me.’

‘Do you know where we are?’

They’d only just reunited and she was beginning to irritate him already.

‘Spill, Claire. And now.’

‘They’re getting married in Gretna Green. Tomorrow or the day after, I’m not sure which.’

‘What!’

‘I said...’

‘I know what you said, Claire. But why Gretna Green? Did Val and your mother come home early then?’

Claire explained that both mothers were still in Zambia and that Libby wanted a quiet affair because her father wasn’t there to give her away. Ron was thoughtful for a moment. Quietly taking in the information he shook his head.

‘Val’s going to be very upset and so is your mother. I’m glad I got back in time to see her though. I’d like to find a way to show her I’m watching over her.’

Ron couldn’t communicate with the living but Claire could ensure that her brothers knew they were there.

‘But that won’t convince Libby, you know how stubborn she can be.’

Claire knew only too well. When Tony had first tried explaining her presence to Libby it had freaked her and she couldn’t handle it. As time passed she’d come to accept that the twins gained some sort of comfort from talking to their dead sister though Libby had stubbornly refused to believe that they actually communicated with her, despite their assertions as well as Fiona’s. Tony had asked Claire to stay away when Libby was around and she’d reluctantly agreed to do so. A nudge from Ron broke her train of thought.

‘I certainly do but I have an idea. And if it all goes to plan, Ron, Libby will know that her Daddy is watching over her.’ Claire smiled smugly and Ron found himself extremely curious but irritated by her for the second time within a matter of minutes.

Chapter 2

He sighed contentedly as the young girl lifted herself off him and slowly put on her underwear and the faded shift dress. She was stunning. Dark chocolate skin as smooth as a baby’s and a beautiful lithe body though underfed and not yet fully developed. They’d trained her well and he smiled guiltily as he remembered the sensations he’d felt when she’d used that skilful full mouth to pleasure his body. He looked at her beautiful deep brown eyes. Eyes that were completely dead to him, but he chose not to notice. He didn’t know how old she was, they were usually very young, and he’d only used her because he made sure these girls were clean but he always felt guilty afterwards. He preferred grown women but didn’t want to chance going with a diseased prostitute. He’d pleasured himself for months but eventually gave in to his need of a female body. Before he’d got into trouble in England he’d been a supplier rather than a user of younger women and he reflected how his life had changed. In some ways it was a lot better. He liked his new look and every time he stared at his reflection, couldn’t help a little grin. He was better than the men he supplied with the young girls, but wouldn’t show them that – why bite the hands that feed you? Old job but in a new country, new name, new face, hell perhaps it was the time to get a new woman! Gary closed his eyes and thought about the English women at the orphanage. One was crusty and he’d have to work hard to charm her, but the other had definitely had a spark in her eyes and they’d hit it off from the start. If he played his cards right...

Tamara looked at the man on the bed who was smiling to himself with his eyes closed. For her part she knew it wasn’t her place to ask for anything in return for satisfying him and she also knew that her face looked older than her 12 years. She’d aged since being taken away from the home and from knowing that she existed purely for the pleasure of sick older men. The few people that had cared thought her dead and this had been explained to her. Her face lacked hope and she knew that if she didn’t perform for her rich masters, they would make her life miserable. She tried to comfort herself by thinking she had more than some. They fed her well and her surroundings were comfortable. She also had the company of friends who were in the same situation and life could be fun when she wasn’t forced to go with these men. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself that things could be worse, her soul ached from the depravations placed upon it.

*****

Val and Marion were coming to the end of the fourth month of their second stint in Zambia. The orphanage had been completed during their first tour and Marion walked around a bend in the dirt road and the modest buildings of the orphanage came into view. The one-storey school building stood to the right and a larger two-storey where they lived and ate to the left. The communal rooms downstairs consisted of an eating area, a small medical room and separate washing and toilet areas for boys and girls. The Ministry of Community Development and their charity, People Against Poverty had recently completed the water project, which resulted in water being pumped into a well from a bore hole. The pump had the capacity to work to a depth of 85 metres and both the orphans and staff were grateful and felt lucky to be able to use a daily ration of 7.5 litres of this much sought after fluid. Basic sleeping accommodation was upstairs, again separated for boys and girls and each child had a space that contained their own small bed, meagre belongings and the luxury of a mosquito net. The orphanage accommodated 102 children aged between 9 and 13; 52 boys and 50 girls.

Marion frowned at the memory of the two girls who had died. She’d been given the news along with Val and the other two volunteers, and little other information. When she’d asked to see the bodies to say goodbye to the children her request had been refused and Marion was still upset by the deaths. Daniel, one of the newer members of staff, had been acting as Assistant Coordinator since Thomas had left to oversee the building of a new orphanage near Lusaka. Both Marion and Val had got along well with Thomas but not so his successor. They realised that his inexperience might make him defensive but couldn’t understand the cold and seemingly uncaring and matter of fact way in which he’d announced the deaths of the two girls. It had affected all the children and the other staff had upped their efforts to make the children feel safe. Marion and Val had noticed that the local staff behaved differently around Daniel and they’d already decided to speak to the charity about his appointment on their return to London. In the meantime they’d resigned themselves to the fact that they had to get on with him as best they could and try not to let his attitude interfere with running the orphanage and educating the children.