The atmosphere inside bore out what Jean had thought as the wind or whatever it was swept past her on its way out; it was lighter and brighter, and unbelievably the sun was now shining through the windows in the upstairs living room. ‘I’ve brought the means to make us a cup of rosy,’ Father Merry plugged the kettle in and put tea bags in the mugs. ‘What did you make of that?’ Jean told him she had never been so scared especially by the falling picture – and when it seemed to reveal Alice’s father, well that had her transfixed. ‘I think that was him, his spirit I mean, leaving this flat and finally getting away from Alice. Literally, the breaking of the glass and the door opening. It opened for him to go out, not for you to come in!’
‘A kind of exorcism has happened Jean. And you appear to have been a conductor for it – a release for all the negativity simply by your clean spirt!’
‘My cleaning more like,’ Jean felt giggly now and hoped she wouldn’t go hysterical – crying and laughing were ok but not both at once. Still, after the mug of tea, she set to and got on with the clean up only stopping to give Gregory a quick ring at the estate agents to let him know all was well. Nearly all well. She had been clearing up the broken glass from the picture frame and carefully carrying the old photo back up the stairs when she noticed a huge crack in the mirror.
‘How on earth!’ Jean’s hysteria threatened to come back, as she gazed at the now distorted image of herself. ‘We’ll let Gregory know, and ask him to take it down for safety,’ said Father Merry, also seeing a strange vision of himself, peering over Jean’s shoulder. This final oddity forced Jean to quickly complete her cleaning tasks and leave. She had the photo though, from the broken picture frame, safe in her bag to pass on to the sister; she’d know what it all meant perhaps. Father Merry helped her back out into the street with her bags and locked the front door. He had said more than a few prayers for this place and the last occupant, and now prayed it would be a happy home for the next tenants.
‘Come on Jean, I’ll walk you home.’
‘No it’s alright Father, I’m going to call in at the estate agents first,’ she smiled and said her goodbyes; the sooner she offloaded the photo (for Elizabeth) and told Gregory about the mirror she could forget all about it. There were things in that mirror; old reflections of what had happened on those stairs that she didn’t want to dwell on.
When she did call into the estate agents, ready to say it was all her fault about the mirror, Gregory didn’t seem to want to hear about it, dismissing it as ‘not a problem,’ and going on to report he had a nice young couple coming to view! Jean handed him the photo to pass onto Elizabeth, and practically skipped out of the office. With any luck she would never have to clean that town house again.
Elizabeth took the call from Gregory at the estate agents, and sat down in amazement at what he had to say. Not only was there a prospective buyer, but it was to be him! Gregory had made an offer and in a daze, she had accepted. Given the circumstances, with all the publicity about her sister dying there and not to mention the horrid atmosphere she experienced every time she ventured up there, she wasn’t about to ‘consider’ the offer, or negotiate for more. The closure she wanted was in sight. Oh and there was a photo of her father to collect – funny she had never noticed this before on her forced visits to the property.
‘Yes. Yes. That’s fine to take your fiancée round – and you’ve got my solicitor’s details? Lovely – bye for now Gregory.’ Elizabeth stood up and went straight to the clock to give the wood a stroke and a pat for luck. This was her new ritual and one to lift her spirits. The ticking even seemed to match her mood, singing ‘in the money, in the money, in the money!’ She laughed at what she thought she heard and picked up the phone to ring her solicitor with the good news.
Gregory could not believe his good fortune, and thanks to his mother was about to get on the housing ladder at last. The money for a deposit was his and despite his mum’s diffidence about Elaine (‘no one is good enough for my Gregory!’) she realised they needed her practical help. ‘Your father would have wanted it Gregory, and if you think it’s a good buy, then make her an offer.’
All that was left to do was take Elaine round what was going to be her new home! Gregory didn’t think for one minute Elaine wouldn’t like it, or be put off by silly rumours; he had made sure all the news about Alice in the local paper was played down and when Elaine asked about it, he shrugged it off as a tragic accident – which surely it was? No, it was all to play for and he could not wait to go there with her.
Turning the key in the lock, and escorting Elaine through into the tiny hallway had to be one of his proudest moments. ‘Straight up there Elaine, and see what you think.’
Watching her walk up the stairs, towards the mirror at the top (the same one Jean had told him was cracked, but he was darned if he could see where), she turned to him – at least that was what he thought had happened – he thought she had turned to him and smiled and said ‘We’re going to keep that mirror right there Gregory, crack and all – I’m sure Alice would approve!’ What was she going on about? He couldn’t see anything untoward in the big long glass, and what did she mean about Alice? By then he was at the top of the stairs, and saw Elaine disappear up the hallway on his right into the living room – this was reflected back at him, and he paused to let her have a look round the room without him there. So when he looked again and saw her in the doorway he gave her a smile and the thumbs up.
The shadow in the mirror he put down to the lighting and the fact that Elaine was still in the living room when he joined her – that was nothing. The good news was she liked it. He reached for his mobile to give his mum a ring but then decided to wait; this was his and Elaine’s moment.
Jean saw the sold sign outside the town house a few weeks’ later and nearly punched the air with relief. ‘Yes!’ Father Merry who happened to be with her at the time, also sighed with relief. Now he could turn his attention to the story behind the property and with any luck the new owners would be amenable to being included in his history of the old town. Yes all in all, the tragedy of Alice Snood had opened more doors than closing them. They turned and walked together into the darkening afternoon, and the promise of a clear night.
For Elizabeth, the sister who had never really been there in life, and somewhat larger in death, could hurt her no more. The photo of her Dad, collected from the Estate Agents, was now in a new frame and next to the clock. She was looking at him now, and knew if he could speak, he would be urging her on to follow her dreams and get a life! ‘Well now Dad, I may just do that!’ Stroking the wood and patting it for luck, she looked forward to a future, which in a strange way, Alice had provided for.
It might be a happy new year after all.
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