Ophelia Adrift (17 page)

“Well, you’re a good catch big brother, it’s her loss,” I said.

He smiled but didn’t look at me. “Thanks.”

“C’mon,” I nudged him, “I’ll make you my world famous scrambled eggs for breakfast. Argo and Agnes will love them too.”

Adam grinned. “Should I pick up a burger?”

“Shut up!” I hit his arm indignantly. “You wait, you’ll be asking for my recipe.”

He rose, extended his hand and pulled me up, and the four of us went home.

Chapter 24

OPHELIA

After breakfast which Adam said was really good, he moped around for the rest of the morning. He disappeared a couple of times in his car, came back and went for a surf. I was home the whole time—my books, laptop and pens sprawled over the large kitchen table as I caught up on school work. Argo and Agnes kept me company until another knock at the door just before two o’clock. I jumped up and opened it to find Holly and Peggy there.

“Hey you two,” I said really pleased to see them. “Come in.”

They were both in jeans and pullovers; we didn’t see each other out of school uniform much. Argo and Agnes were excited to meet Peggy and after they settled down, I led Holly and Peggy through the house.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

Peggy looked nervous and glanced at Holly. I frowned at them both.

“Okay, you’re worrying me,” I said.

“No, it’s just a social visit, sort of,” Holly said.

“I’m bringing back your assignment, I printed it out and just marked two changes,” Peggy said.

“Ah thanks, I’m almost done reading yours—so good,” I told her, and looked from one to the other; there was definitely something going on.

“Come through,” I invited them into the huge galley kitchen and offered them a drink. We sat around the wide bench—Holly took a Diet Coke and Peggy took up the offer of tea. I put the jug on and grabbed two cups to join her.

“Adam not in?” Holly looked around.

“No, he’s having a surf,” I smiled at her. “But stick around long enough and he’ll be back. I met Vanessa this morning.”

“Ooh,” Holly’s eyes widened. “What did you think?”

“She’s lovely—pretty and nice,” I said.

“I remember her,” Peggy said. “They were always a very attractive couple.”

“Hot,” Holly agreed. “Vanessa would be in senior at our school if she hadn’t talked her parents into letting her go to a school that focussed on the performing arts. Are they back on?”

I shook my head. “I think she broke Adam’s heart and he isn’t prepared to let her have two goes at it—well that’s my understanding of it.”

I finished adding milk to our teas, pushed one to Peggy and sat down with them.

“It’s so cosy in here,” Peggy looked at the dogs lying in the lounge room in a ray of sun as it streamed through the crystal shaped windows.

“So, what’s up?” I asked again, “not that you can’t just drop around without a reason.”

Peggy looked to Holly again. “It’s about Jack,” she started.

I bristled at the mention of Jack. He was mine and not up for discussion, yet.

“Oh,” I tried to sound casual, “he dropped into the dance last night, you know, just for a while. I would have introduced you if you had come out.”

Holly nodded. “When are you seeing him again?”

“Tonight, why?” I asked surprised.

“It’s just that ... well I’m worried about how much you know about him,” Holly said.

“Enough,” I assured them. I wanted this discussion to be over.

Peggy stepped in again. “It’s just that I thought you told me his name was Jack Denham and in your assignment there’s a Jack Denham.” Peggy looked at my assignment on the table between us.

“Right,” I nodded. I knew where they were going with this but I wasn’t going to make it easy.

“And your Jack and that Jack who drowned out there,” Peggy nodded towards the ocean, “they look alike, a lot alike,” she nervously sipped her tea.

I looked from Holly to Peggy and said: “you know how insane you sound don’t you?”

They both nodded.

“So you think my Jack is the Jack from my assignment who died on the La Bella and would now be close to 130 years old?” I narrowed my eyes and looked at them.

Peggy giggled at how absurd it sounded.

Holly nodded. “Yeah, it does sound out there when you say it like that. But we just want to be sure you’re okay, Lia. There are girls who have died in this town because they’ve drowned and some say it is an accident and some say, well other things. I’m just saying if you’re not careful and don’t know your way around, well, you can’t trust everyone ...”

I nodded again. “Thanks. I really appreciate that you are worried about me.”

We sat in awkward silence. I had gotten away with it because neither Peggy nor Holly had directly asked me if my Jack was ... sounds weird, a ghost or dead ... so I didn’t have to answer.

“Did you come down from Warrnambool just to ask me that?” I said to Peggy.

She nodded. “It’s okay, I just took the bus.”

“You’re sweet,” I squeezed her hand. I was keen to change the subject in case they came back to it. I was saved by the bell as the phone began to ring. At the same time the front door opened and Adam yelled out “I’ll get it.”

I saw Holly brighten. I heard him answer and chat for a few moments before hanging up. He came into the kitchen in his board shorts, a towel around his shoulder and no shirt. His hair was mussed up and he looked fit and tanned—it didn’t go unnoticed.

“Hey Holly, and you must be Peggy,” he said.

“I am,” Peggy said shyly. “Thanks for offering to pick me up the other night but Mum, well she’s insanely strict.”

Adam shrugged. “No problem.”

“Speaking of insane,” I said to Adam, “aren’t you freezing? It’s officially winter after all.”

“You’re soft Lia,” he teased. “Makes you feel alive that cold water. I’m making a coffee, anyone?”

We all declined. Adam pulled the towel from around his shoulders and slipped on his hoodie that lay draped over a kitchen chair. He continued: “That was Sebastian on the phone. They’ve asked him to stay a few more days.”

On cue the house howled.  Peggy and Holly both jumped; Adam, the dogs and I didn’t react.

“What was that?” Holly’s eyes were huge.

“Just the house,” I said.

“The wind ... the design of the house and our location makes it howl sometimes,” Adam explained stirring sugar into his coffee.

“That’s freaky,” Peggy said.

I looked up at the house and smiled. “And kind of cool too, I said.” Adam smiled at me, we were thinking the same thing—our house was missing Seb.

“Anyway, he should be home Tuesday but said he’d call you later, Lia, when you were alone.”

“Thanks,” I nodded. It was good Holly and Peggy were there, a nice distraction, otherwise I would have been way too anxious waiting all day for my date tonight.

“So what are you three up to?” Adam asked.

I shrugged, “we’re just hanging out.” I looked at Holly and then to Peggy and they nodded their agreement.

“But I have to go; I’ve got study to do,” Peggy added.

Adam narrowed his eyes. “Mm, there’s some plotting going on, I can tell.”

“Us?” Holly asked with exaggerated innocence.

Adam grinned. “I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got to shower and head to Zach’s place.”

I brightened. “Zach who lives in Warrnambool?”

“Yeah, want a ride?” he asked.

“No but Peggy could use a lift if that’s okay?” I asked.

“Just to the train or city if that works for you, please?” Peggy asked. “I’ll get home from there. If you drop me home I’ll be grounded until I’m twenty.”

“I can do that,” Adam said. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you big brother,” I said sweetly.

“Yeah, yeah,” he rolled his eyes and left. Holly looked particularly disappointed that she lived just down the road.

JACK

Night was falling and my strength was growing. In one hour I would be with Ophelia, my beautiful Ophelia. Yet, I sensed she was falling for Adam ... she looks at him with great affection and calls him brother, they are getting closer. I can’t lose her to him and tonight I will re-establish our bond.

This week while she slept and schooled, I have been preparing for her—doing up the Captain’s quarters which are mine now as I am the only one who lives forever on the ship. You should see it; I know she will love it. I have replicated the room that she loves so much at her home—scrubbed and polished floors, filled with white furnishings and linens, highly-polished timber and of course, the view from each window is the blue-green waters of the port.

The lower and upper quarter decks are spotless; are as clean as they have ever been. The rigging and sails neatly hung and stored. I even buffed the bell on the main mast. The La Bella feels like a romantic escape at sea for two. I can’t wait to see her on it, to give her a tour and welcome her to her new home.
 

Chapter 25

OPHELIA

I went to the front door, moved away again and returned to the lounge room. I didn’t want to look too eager, but it was nearly seven p.m. and I was waiting for Jack’s knock on the door—unless he just appeared. I looked around, nope. I had walked Argo and Agnes and given them their dinner. They had completed their dusk rounds of the property and, content that all was well, had settled into their usual positions in the lounge room.

The house moaned, it had been moaning for over an hour now—I didn’t know how to console it. Adam was not home yet, he may even stay at Zach’s and Uncle Seb was away so Jack’s kind gesture to meet the family wasn’t going to happen.

I had a few things ready to stick into a picnic basket because Jack said it would be a beach picnic but I wasn’t sure what he could eat or even if he would eat. I tried shopping for a ghost and when that didn’t work I shopped for a sailor. I bought some things that he might be used to eating like seafood, cheese, a breadstick and I bought chocolate and soft drink, why not? I packed them and then unpacked them because I didn’t know if he would want them.

Then I spent hours, and I mean hours, working out what to wear. I wanted to look romantic—kind of ethereal—Jack likes feminine, but I had to be able to sit on the sand or a rock too. I sighed; guys just don’t get how hard it is sometimes. Fine for them to say ‘see you at seven for a beach picnic.’ I chose a flowing cream skirt that went to my ankles, with petticoat layers underneath and a fitted pale blue cardigan with small pearl buttons. I had cream ballet slippers on my feet and I left my hair loose for the night. I knew I was a bit well-dressed for the beach, but it felt comfortable and romantic and I didn’t care if I got sand or water on my skirt.

Finally a knock at the door. Argo and Agnes jumped up and beat me there; the hair on their back was standing up alert. Argo began to growl.

“It’s okay Argo and Agnes,” I assured them and closed the lounge door keeping them inside just until I had shown Jack around.

I opened the door and Jack was there looking divine. He wore a dark suit and an open-neck white shirt, no tie. He held one dozen long stem white roses, the most dramatic bouquet I had ever seen and my first bouquet.

Both dogs barked from the other side of the door and the house wailed. Jack ignored it, moved forward and placing an arm around my waist, drew me to him. He stopped short of kissing me, oblivious to the calamity around us and looked at me.

“Ophelia, you take my breath away,” he said and then he kissed me.

The aching in my chest just got worse; I understood now how people died of heartbreak. If he left me now I would not be able to go on. I heard him moan and he kissed my lips, cheeks, eyelids and then I felt his tongue tease my mouth. My breath hitched and I thought I was going to fall over but he held me up.

The house moaned and groaned and yet there was no wind; behind the door Argo and Agnes barked furiously.

Jack pulled away. “Are you alone?” he looked over my shoulder.

I nodded trying to get my head back in the now. “Uncle Seb is still away and Adam hasn’t returned from a friend’s.”

“Shall we go then?” he asked. He handed me the roses.

“They are beautiful, thank you. My first bouquet,” I told him.

“Really?” His eyes lit up. “I thought you would have received many by now. Well I’m honoured,” he bowed slightly. “You know, white roses mean new beginnings and the long stem means I will remember you, always.”

I inhaled them and drank in their beauty and meaning. “Thank you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” he said, gazing at me intensely.

“I didn’t know whether to bring a picnic or not but I’ve brought ...”

Jack shook his head. “I have it covered.”

I nodded. “Well, thanks again then. If you wait outside for me, I’ll let the dogs out of the lounge room and join you in a minute. I’ll put the roses in water too.”

He stepped outside and I reluctantly closed the door, scared he would disappear. I let Argo and Agnes out and they sniffed around me concerned. I assured them all was okay and gave them the run of the house. I raced to the kitchen, searched for a vase and of course Uncle Seb didn’t have one! I found a glass ice bucket and filled it with water. The roses looked rather grand in it.

I returned to the front door, patted the dogs once more and then the door wouldn’t open. I looked skyward.

“Please house, I promise I’ll be okay,” I said. The house moaned again louder than before and then relented. The door loosened and I slipped out, closing it behind me. Jack stood a little down the path waiting for me. He watched me approach.

“You look ... there are not words for how beautiful you look,” he said taking my hand.

I walked hand-in-hand with Jack, my skirt billowing around me, him in his dark suit and he led me across the road to our rock.

JACK

I had waited a century for a love like this and tonight I can’t describe what it was like to know I am going to be with her, my soul mate. She was breathtaking, her eyes sparkling, their blue colour accentuated and reflected in her pale blue cardigan. Her hair and skirt moved around her like she was a spirit, I could barely control myself. I wanted to hold her, absorb her, crush her to me and become one, feel her around me; I have to own her.

“I’m sorry if you dressed to meet Uncle Seb and Adam and then they weren’t home. Uncle Seb was supposed to come home this afternoon but he’s staying a few more days at the conference,” she said.

“I dressed for you and you only,” I said. I waited as she leaned on me and slipped off her little ballet slippers. I pulled off my shoes and socks, rolled up my suit pants a few turns, grabbed the shoes and we entered the beach feeling the cool sand beneath our feet. I reached for her hand. She was nervous, I could feel the energy rippling through her.

“Are we going to our rock?” she asked. “Or are you going to show me where you live?”

I smiled. “I am going to show you where I live but not right now. I’ve been preparing it all week.”

“Really,” she said surprised.

“Yes. I was busy at work while letting you catch up on your sleep,” I told her squeezing her hand. As we came towards our rock, I didn’t lead her up it, this time we went behind it. There in a small enclave in the rock, sheltered from the ocean and the wind, I had set up a table for two.

She gasped with delight and looked up at me.

“It’s perfect, Jack,” she said. “The most perfect thing to ever happen to me.”

I waved my hand over the table and the candles lit up.

She looked at me surprised.

“Is that a ghost talent?”

“May be,” I teased. “I can’t give away all my secrets.”

The sea air was cool and I invited her to sit. I reached for her hand across the table. For what seemed the longest time we just stared at each other. I still felt strong but I had recharged all week almost.

“First course,” I said.

“Yes?” she smiled.

“Touching.”

I heard her sharp intake of breath and her heartbeat hammered.

OPHELIA

It was the most perfect night of my life. If anyone had told me I could ever be this happy, I would not have believed it.

We had a table for two in a hidden enclave in the most idyllic spot in the world and no-one else in the world existed except the two of us.

Jack took my hand and declared the first course was touching.

“Don’t move,” he said. He turned my palm over and barely touching me, he ran his fingers up my arm. I broke out in small goose bumps, the feeling was overwhelming. He continued to trace me and study me, moving along my shoulder, slowly up my neck and touching my lips. The whole time he watched me. I did all I could in my power to try and breathe normally and not fall into him and kiss him.

He traced my lips, moved up my cheek, across my brow and he moved his hand down and closed my eyes. I heard myself inhale sharply.

“Second course,” he said. “Kissing.”

I kept my eyes closed as instructed and I felt him within a hair's breadth of my face. The chill around me gave him away and I knew if I leaned forward just a fraction I would touch his lips with mine but I waited in agony. He knew it and teased me mercilessly. His tongue touched my lips and I groaned with the pleasure and the pain of it. Then a little more, and a little more until his lips pressed against mine and we tasted each other. I could die now and be happy forever.

“You are too much for me Ophelia,” he moaned.

I opened my eyes and looked into his deep blue eyes, as dark as the ocean.

“What are you saying, Jack?” I asked in fear. I couldn’t breathe.

He shook his head.

All I could do was stare at him. I was scared to speak, scared to say the wrong thing, scared he was breaking up with me.

A few moments later, he whispered: “third course, dancing.” Suddenly we were on the rock and Jack was holding me tightly, my hand in his; his other hand against my back pushing me against his chest. The waves rose and crashed on either side of us with ferocious power and the ocean looked so dark and foreboding that fear ran through my veins.

A waved thundered over us.

“Jack!” I called out.

“I have you, you’re safe,” he gripped me but all I could see and hear was the ocean on either side of us and the frightening roar of the waves. I clung to him, terrified.

“Do you want to see where I live?” he asked.

“We’re going to be washed out to sea,” I trembled as waves crashed above us and over us and all the time we stood in the middle, dry and cocooned, Jack calm and in control.

“Jack, please,” I begged.

Jack swept me up and I gripped his jacket like my life depended on it. In seconds we were back on the sand again, back near our romantic table. I was breathing fast.

“I’ve scared you,” he said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He held me close and stroked my head.

“Not you, Jack, the ocean frightens me,” I said, shaking.

He led me to a chair at our private table and lowered me into it. Jack knelt on one knee in front of me and took my hands.

“But I am the ocean, Lia,” he said softly. “I’ll take you home.”

“No!” I protested, “I don’t want to go home. All week I have lived for tonight, please, can we stay?” I pleaded.

“Only if your heart calms down,” he said still holding my hands. He moved closer to hold me.

I pulled away and looked at him in surprise. “I can hear your heart beating.”

“Of course,” Jack said.

“But you’re ...”

“Dead?” he filled in the word. “I can take the form just like you in every sense.”

I leaned back and smiled at him. “But I’m not taking any form, this is me!” I reminded him. “So can you ... you know ... take another body?”

Jack shrugged. “Maybe. But this is me, I like my body. I’m a good looking guy,” he grinned. “Why would I want to be someone else?”

I breathed out, a long sigh. “You are my beautiful guy.” I looked into his eyes and thought myself the luckiest person in the world.

“And you, my beautiful Ophelia, are my life. Now that your heart has settled down nicely, please let me tempt you.”

HOLLY

I nudged Harry when Jack escorted Ophelia to the dining table he had set up. How super romantic, I hoped something like that happened to me one day. Soon would be good.

“Let’s go,” I said and Harry nodded.

We headed the opposite way up the beach so they couldn’t see us.

“Do you still think I’m crazy?” I asked Harry.

He dug his hands into his jeans’ pockets and shook his head. “Okay, maybe not this time. I’m not saying I believe in that ghost crap, but he definitely seems to have some ... power.”

“ I can’t believe he took Lia on the rock when the waves were pounding like that—they could have been washed away and she was freaking out.”

“The waves weren’t pounding anywhere else, did you notice?” Harry said. “Just on that rock and only when he went on it.”

“I noticed. I’m worried for Lia,” I said. “I think we should talk with Adam and tell him. Maybe we need to do one of those things where we confront her.”

“An intervention,” Harry said.

“That’s it. But we might not have enough time either, we may have to let Ophelia know what and who Jack is before it is too late.”

“You think she doesn’t know?” Harry asked.

“I don’t know,” I said as we reached the beach path that led home. “I’ll call Adam first thing in the morning.”
 

OPHELIA

Jack stood up and returned to his chair opposite me. With a wave of his hand he relit the candles and then, reached under the table and pulled out a little black cooler which I hadn’t seen hidden against the rock.