Ebony
So far, so good. I’d been accepted at the farm as an extra pair of hands and to help ensure the baby stayed safe. I should have been back at work tomorrow, but it looked like the boutique would have to close for a week or two, just while things settled here. Though I loved my shop, the truth was I didn’t need the money. I had a decent inheritance though I’d have rather still had my own mum. Seeing Shelley with the baby was unearthing feelings I’d made my peace with a long time ago. But I still missed my mum.
My mum had been a seer too, and she had the boutique before me. When Shelley’s parents had first got together, my mum had let them stay in the flat above the shop. The flat that was now the Dating Agency premises. Unfortunately one night, Lucy—the woman Dylan had dumped for Shelley’s mum, Margret—came to the building where she was coerced by the Devil. A fire followed, the result of which was Dylan and Lucy went to Hell, Margret into exile, and my mum, Yolanda perished in the blaze.
I’d been sent to live with my grandparents. Having never known my father or anything about him, my maternal grandparents were everything to me and I still visited my grandmother frequently. My grandfather had passed on a couple of years ago. My grandmother mourned him and then moved into a home where she enjoyed the company of the other residents. She lived in London and so I didn’t get to see her as much as I would have liked.
The shop and apartment above had passed to me and for a long while I’d rented it out, but then my visions had increased, and I’d received a gut feeling that my place was back in Withernsea, doing what my mother had done: running a boutique, and telling people of my visions. I’d continued to rent out the space upstairs as I couldn’t bring myself to live where my mum had breathed her last. Then Shelley had turned up one day when Kim had brought her to Jax’s coffee shop after meeting her at a speed dating event. They’d had no romance luck but found a new best friend each. My visions had shown her future with Theo and with the dating agency.
My mother didn’t communicate with me, but I always had the feeling she was around. It could have been in my head but in any case I liked to think she was watching me and keeping an eye on things.
This morning our friend Samara who owned the local pet grooming salon had visited Charlene, along with her husband. Theo was asleep in bed and Jax was due this evening.
I walked into Shelley’s bedroom. “Okay, why don’t you go take a shower while I have Charlene? Then let’s get you downstairs shall we, before you begin to fester?”
Shelley pouted. “But I’ve been enjoying a rest.”
“You can still rest downstairs. Now get out of bed.”
She huffed but did as she was told. “God, Ebs, you’re such a nag bag.”
“You can call me what you like, darling. You’re still going to wash yourself so that birds don’t come nest on your head. Then you can put on clean clothes because this.” I cast my hand in the direction of her body. “Is not yummy mummy worthy.”
“I just had a baby.” Shelley protested.
“Yes, you didn’t die, so the corpse look needs to move along.”
She grabbed her robe and left to go in the shower. It took barely any time to look presentable. There was no excuse for her not brushing her hair. I stared at Charlene in her crib. “Mummy has gone to get clean, baby girl, so you won’t have to smell her body odour. You’re welcome.”
I waited for the baby to talk in my mind but she stayed asleep. Perhaps I’d imagined the whole thing anyway. The visions kept me one step away from a psychiatric unit. I laughed at myself. As if a baby spoke to me. Honestly, Ebony, you’re an idiot.
No you’re not but I’m trying to sleep here.
Oh my God!
“You were right, Ebs. I feel so much better for being downstairs. Much more myself, and look, I’m back in my comfy jogging pants already.”
“Yay.” I said, knowing my expression was pained because comfy jogging pants didn’t cut it when you owned a boutique. I’d have to go get her some designer lounge-wear when I got a spare moment to visit the shop. It could be a ‘push present’. Yes usually such gifts came from the father, but I needed to save Shelley from becoming the mother who nipped to the shops in her onesie.
Theo was up now and looking very rested. He was on the sofa snuggling with Charlene. Theo always wore a shirt and tie with smart trousers.
“So the strangest thing happened yesterday.” Shelley announced. “I’ve been thinking about it trying to work out how it’s possible but I thought I’d run it past you, Ebs.”
“Okay.”
“My mum and dad visited as you know and they were upset because they didn’t get to raise me, and they held Charlie and then both of them received memories of when I was a child. Just a few happy ones.”
“Wow.” I said, looking over at Charlene. “You really do have one special daughter there.”
“Did she really do that? Is a baby capable of such things?”
I sat back on my seat. “Well, we don’t know what Charlene will be capable of. Just that she’s going to be a very powerful person. But maybe she’s inherited all your memories and her father’s? Then she’s passed those couple of memories on to your own parents?”
Spot on, Ebs.
This is very disconcerting you speaking in my mind.
How do you think I feel trapped in a baby’s body right now? Not in control of my poop. It’s so embarrassing. Now carry on, you’re reassuring my mum.
“I think you could be right. It was such a lovely thing. My parents were so pleased to see me as a child like that. My mum said Charlie was already bringing peace.”
“Yes, I believe that’s exactly what she was doing. She’s going to be an amazing woman.”
The telephone rang, and we heard Mary answer it.
The vision came into my mind but there was no pain.
My first visitor. An important one.
“Are you okay, Ebs? Your eyes rolled white, but you didn’t go grey or clutch your head?”
“My visions seem to be changing. They’re coming without pain. I wonder if your daughter is helping me too?”
You got it.
Thank you. If you can make my visions pain free, then my gratitude is beyond what I can express in words.
I can sense it from you, words aren’t needed.
“What is it, Ebony? What have you seen?”
“Tomorrow, as well as your parents visiting, you are going to be visited by the current Duke of Wyvern Sea, your keeper of the water. He will be bringing his son. They want to talk about your official coronation.”
“Oh that’s all I need right now.”
“The Duke will make you an offer that you need to turn down. That’s all I can tell you. You must turn it down although at first it will cause friction.”
“So I’m going to meet him and piss him off. Fab.”
“All will progress as it should.”
“And you can’t tell me anymore?”
“That’s all I see. I see him here at the house and he is frustrated at being turned down for something. But the voices tell me it has to be this way.”
“Thank you, Ebony.”
Mary came in. “That was some guy’s secretary on the phone. Said his name was Brishon Duke, and he and his son Drake Lord wanted to visit tomorrow. They were insistent at coming at eleven even though that’s when your parents are coming. You might want to ring back and change it?”
I shook my head at Shelley.
“No, eleven is fine. It seems my human parents and sister are going to mix with the royalty of the seas. This should be interesting.”
The doorbell rang. “A woman’s work is never done.” Mary complained.
“Sit, mother, and take Charlene for a couple of minutes before Jax wants a squish. I have some business to attend to.”
Shelley cocked her head at him. “What business?”
“Nothing for you to worry about, wife. You take charge of the child rearing and I will supervise the rest of the household.”
“Theo, we’ve spoke about equality how many times now?”
“Do you want me to cuddle Charlie while you discuss supporting walls?”
Shelley sat back. “Enjoy running the household, sweetpea.”
Our friend Jax walked in the room clutching a jar of her amazing coffee. “I thought you might be missing this.” She passed it to Shelley.
“Oh my God, you’re the best. I’m going to make one straightaway. What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll just have a water.” Jax said and then she said hello to Mary and cooed at the baby. Mary was not giving her up. Instead she tightened her grip around her.
“Hello, little Charlene. Well aren’t you gorgeous? I’m Jax and I’ve come to meet you and hopefully get a little cuddle with you while I’m here.” She hinted.
“My cuddles are keeping her content. We don’t want her disturbing now do we?”
Disappointment flashed across Jax’s face. “I guess not.” She came and sat down on the sofa beside me.
“How’s business?”
“It was quiet yesterday, but I decided I’m going to advertise for a new barista. And I’m going to choose another sexy one, Ebs. I don’t care about employment regulations. I’ll just make it look like I followed them. Hot guy equals more business, so end of debate.”
Shelley walked back into the living room followed by Theo, and Jax’s brother, Henry, who I hadn’t realised had come along. Then I thought of what Theo had said about supporting walls. Henry must be doing some farm refurbishment.
“Oh, hello, Ebony.” I knew Henry thought I was a complete fruit loop, but I thought he was an idiot, so it didn’t matter.
“Henry.” I said coolly.
Jax introduced him to Mary who at that moment was in solid form. Neither Jax nor Henry knew about supernaturals so they believed Shelley had been further along than she’d first thought in her pregnancy, and that Mary was their nanny. Personally I’d have liked to out us all to Henry to watch his cocky face turn pale when faced with vampires, ghosts, and seers.
You’ll get your chance. Don’t worry.
Charlene had woken up.
Fuck, I can’t cope with this continual pissing myself.
She started wailing. “Ooh, Charlie. Let me go change your nappy and then Jax can have a cuddle.” Shelley took the baby from Mary.
Jax looked delighted. Mary looked annoyed and got up and flounced out.
“The nanny is awfully clingy, isn’t she?” Henry said. “She dresses weird too. Like someone from years ago. Where’d you get her from, Theo?”
Theo huffed. “She came highly recommended actually, and she’s brilliant with the baby.”
“Sorry, mate.” Henry said with a raised eyebrow.
After a minute of uncomfortable silence Henry spoke again. “Well I brought my tape measure so am I okay to go do my measurements, ready for getting started tomorrow?”
“Theo. Can I have a word, just outside the door please.” Shelley said, coming back in. She passed the baby to Jax. “We’ll just be outside. You can be cuddling Charlie.
“I was hoping Theo could show me around the upstairs again…”
“Ebony will take you upstairs, won’t you, Ebs?” Shelley’s expression showed me I so would.
“Women are always wanting to take me upstairs.” Henry quipped.
I rolled my eyes as I stood there. Henry was attractive. He had ginger hair and a ginger beard. He’d been mocked at school apparently for being a ginge, whereas his younger sister had taken after their mum and was dark haired. But he had lovely blue eyes and so apparently once he’d got over the awkward teenage years, and his genetics and the gym had resulted in a buff toned bod, he’d been fighting women off. I took his attitude to be a cover up of his insecurities of years spent being called ‘carrot top’ and ‘duracell’.
I led him up the stairs and began with the first room I knew Theo wanted to get refurbished. The farm was going to become a bed-and-breakfast that he was going to run. Events in Withernsea seemed to keep interfering with his plans, but it looked like he was pushing ahead regardless of the newborn, hence Shelley wanting a ‘word’. I’d bet they were ones where she’d need to donate to the swear jar.
“Are you still here from when you collapsed in the coffee shop, Ebony? Because I’m not being funny, but I think Theo and Shelley might want some private time and space with the baby.”
“I’m helping out.”
“But they already have a nanny.”
“I need to be here.”
“Oh God. Is this more of your psychic shit?”
My hands automatically went to my hips, and I narrowed my eyes in his direction. “I beg your pardon? I’m not going to explain myself to the likes of you. It’s all just wasted words anyway. Believe what you want to believe. I need to be here right now and I am, so get your measurements and then you can go.”
“Well, I’ll be back tomorrow. See I need to be here too.”
God he was an arrogant idiot.
Then it came. A vision.
I saw Henry sitting in a restaurant waiting for someone. He was dressed up in smart trousers and a smart shirt, rather than the jeans with frayed knees and paint splattered t-shirt he was wearing now. I watched as the restaurant went dark, showing me that time was passing. He looked at his phone and then at a text, scowled, threw money on the table and then left. The scent of his aftershave came to me both from the vision and from him in the room. As I opened my eyes, I realised he was right next to me.
“Your eyes did that weird ass thing. Is it some kind of fit? Do you need a chair?”
“No, I’m fine.” I watched as Henry recorded measurements on an iPad. Rather than use a tape measure he just walked from wall to wall with a device that kept beeping. Another one was used to run down the walls.
“Times have changed since I last decorated it would appear. What are all these things?”
“This records the measurements of the room. It’s digital. This checks for wiring behind the walls, and I record everything on my iPad because it looks better than a paper and pen, although secretly I quite like paper, and a pen behind my ear.”
This was the first time I think we’d ever had a hint of a normal conversation. Not that I’d met him often, but sometimes he’d visited the coffee shop to see his sister, and she spoke about him enough that I felt I knew him. The last I’d heard he’d had a steady girlfriend of the last two years called Callie.
“So, you still seeing Callie?”
“’Fraid so, babes, so you’re shit out of luck if you’re trying to check if I’m single.”
“Ugh.” I grimaced. “No, that’s not what I was enquiring about. You’re far too uncouth for me, and arrogant.”
“You’re such a snob. Just because I don’t talk in your very posh accent, yar-yar-yar. You think you’re better than me. Well you aren’t.”
“I don’t think I’m better than you. I’m just saying I wouldn’t be interested in you in a romantic sense because you say really crude things a lot.”
“Like what?”
“Like ‘shit’.”
“You have a problem with me because I say the word ‘shit’?”
“That amongst other things.”
He shook his head, widened his eyes and sighed. “I don’t have time for this shit.”
“See!”
He started measuring again.
“Are you doing anything nice tonight?” I asked as another way into discussing the contents of my vision.
He turned to me, his forehead creasing. “If you’re fishing about when I’ll be leaving, then yes, it will be soon. I’m meeting Callie at Beached.”
“And you’ve not had a text from her at all, about her cancelling?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Why would I have a text from her cancelling? She’s been pestering for me to take her for weeks. In fact that’s all she ever wants to do. Go to that bloody restaurant. It’s costing me a fortune.”
“I was just wondering.”
“Oh God. Don’t tell me you’ve had a bloody vision about it because I’m not into believing any of that bollocks. Now find something else to do because a) you’re weird and b) you’re acting even weirder than usual.
“Sorry, I spoke. I was only trying to help you.”
“You’re the one needs help from where I’m standing. Right I’m ready to see the other rooms. I think I got this now. You can go. I’ll be quicker if you’re not rambling and getting on my nerves.”
“It was lovely seeing you too, Henry.” I smiled with a complete look of smug satisfaction in my eyes. “Enjoy your evening.”
Returning downstairs, I headed for the kitchen. I made myself a coffee, sneaking a spoonful of Jax’s gift. I needed some of her amazing nectar of the gods. How come morons like Henry got dates, but I found it difficult? Men always ran away the first time my eyes rolled in my head. I told them I had epilepsy, but the grey pallor had made me look corpse-like and I think they genuinely thought their date might die on them.
Looking at Shelley and Kim had made me question my own future. They were both happily married now. I wanted some romance in my life and maybe if my visions were going to be less painful and my pallor less grey from now on, then I wouldn’t be as scary a prospect?
A shooting pain passed through my temple. Nowhere near what I’d had before but the first pain I’d had since being at the Farm. I put a hand to my forehead.
There I was again in church. I looked down at myself and there was my dress. White, plain. I looked behind me and I could see my train.
Shelley stood behind me in a pale blue satin bridesmaid dress. “We can’t go in there yet. The groom hasn’t arrived.”
The vision ended.
“You really need to get that checked out. All that eye-rolling can’t be doing you any good.”
Sitting down at the kitchen table, I reached for a jotter pad and a pen that Shelley used for shopping lists. I ignored Henry and wrote everything down, every word, just in case it all faded again.
I looked up at him as I could feel his eyes staring at me.
“Seriously, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just feeling a bit tired. Babies, you know.” I lied. “You were quick.”
“Yeah, once you were out of my hair not yapping anymore, I got things down in next to no time. Right I’m off on my hot date. I’ll be back at 9am so have the kettle on hot won’t you and keep continual cups of tea coming?”
I bit on my lower lip to stop me from saying things I’d regret.
“Thanks, Ebs.” He said, using my nickname that he had certainly not earned the right to use. “You’re the shit.” And then he strode back out of the kitchen.
Sitting back in my chair, I took a deep breath and picked up the hot drink, taking a sip of the dark aromatic liquid. Perhaps I’d need my vodka back. Not for any potential vision headaches but just to stop me from killing Henry Marston. Right there and then I vowed that no matter what visions I had regarding Henry, unless I needed to warn him of impending death, I was telling him nothing. I’d tried to warn him about his date and just received insults in return. I’d keep any and all information to myself and let him experience every hiccup that would befall him.
In the meantime, tomorrow I was going to pop out and over to see Kim and Lucy at the Dating Agency. Because my husband was out there somewhere and I needed to meet him. What better way than joining the dating agency I’d helped get started in the first place? I’d have Kim in my debt anyway. Because I now could tell her what her bridesmaid dress looked like and it was gorgeous.