‘Everything soon returned to normal. She had a good life with good friends and a supportive mother until she met James’ Jake said as he looked at me.
‘James?’ I asked, ‘Who was he?’
‘James was our schoolmate. While I was the resident geek, he was the captain of the football team. Sarah always had a crush on him and in no time, they were spending time together. As they grew up, Sarah really loved that man although she never pursued him. She was rather shy and a studious ugly duckling type of girl back then. After school, they announced that they were going to get married and settle down’ Jake continued while pensively looking at the ocean with his hands on his knees.
‘Sarah, an ugly duckling!?’ I asked Jake again, I couldn’t believe people had categorized her as such. ‘Yeah, an ugly duckling, you should see her albums’ Jake answered as he looked at me. ‘So, they got married and lived happily ever after?’ I asked, as if to confirm my thoughts and at the same time, hoping that it wasn’t true.
‘No, they got engaged. He said he wanted to become successful, make more money so that he could support her by giving her a comfortable life. He went on to become the chief partner at the top law agency in London while she remained as a waitress in Devon. At that time, Sarah brought marriage up and said that if they didn’t get married soon, she would walk out on him and break up from him. He relented and finally the marriage preparations began. She was very happy and excited, finally, she found a man to call her own’ Jake continued.
‘What happened next?’ I asked curiously as I placed my hands on my knees and occasionally looking out to the ocean.
‘What was to be the happiest day of her life ended up being her saddest day. I remember Sarah in her off-shoulder bridal gown; she really looked like an angel that day. So beautiful and her smile, just blew me away. I had never seen her that happy after her father’s passing. At the day of their wedding, James and Sarah were ready to begin the service when James had to go out to receive an urgent call. He never came back. Sarah, was left standing at the altar and the wedding was called off when she received a text message from James saying he dumped her and didn’t ever want to see her again’ Jake said as he wiped a tear from his eyes. I was stunned as I lay my arm on his shoulder and asked, ‘she never saw him after that?
‘Oh! She did see him after that. She found James with her now ex-best friend Rebecca in bed. I was there and it was a disgusting sight! She threw his engagement ring towards them and walked out crying’ Jake told me sadly. ‘As I had passed on myself, I couldn’t physically console her and that was hard for me. I could only offer words. Her mother noticed that she was going into depression. She always cried, never ate and would just sit or lie in bed, crying’ Jake said as he looked down and sat cross-legged and began drawing circles in the sand.
I watched him as he continued, ‘that’s when her mother decided that it was best for her to come and spend time with Aunt Josie. Her mum knew she needed a change in environment and St Just is just the right place. But Sarah wanted to visit London first and meet some friends over there. That’s where we meet you for the first time. Hey, you know, Sarah says she is over James but that guy is a player, he is capable of sweeping her off her feet again and I’m afraid he would do just that and hurt her again. Once is bad enough but twice, I don’t Sarah can take it. You won’t hurt her, won’t you?
I look out to the ocean as we both rise, ‘No, never … thanks for sharing all this with me. Sarah and I are similar in a way, I guess. I lost my father at thirteen years, but that’s a long story, for another time’ as we both hug and make our way to my Inn. Jake makes his way to Aunt Josie’s shop.
~~
Just as some customers had left the store, the telephone rang. Aunt Josie picked up the phone and immediately shouted excitedly, ‘Sarah! It’s for you!’
Sarah was surprised as she wasn’t expecting any call. She had spoken to her mother an hour earlier and with Jake and Aidan spending more time together, she finally had some time for herself and her thoughts.
As Sarah took the phone, ‘Hello’ she asked curiously. ‘Hey baby, how are you?’ the male voice said and Sarah was left silent, figuring out who it was. Since her arrival in St Just, she had not made any attempt to be in the dating pool. She was contented with Jake and Aunt Josie as her company. Having a man in her life wasn’t her priority. ‘you don’t recognize my voice anymore’, the male voice continued in a sad tone.
‘James?’ Sarah asked, sounding almost excited as a crooked smile formed on her face.
‘Yes baby, it’s me!’ to which Sarah erupts in laughter. ‘It’s been so long. How have you been? Oh my, it’s good to hear from you. How are you and Rebecca doing? Married, I presume’
James went silent for a while and said, ‘Sarah, Rebecca and I broke up a few months ago. She wanted to rise in her career and you know I am not into boardroom women. I have been thinking about you lately. Say, you wouldn’t be free for lunch, would you?’
‘Lunch? James, where are you?’ Sarah asked, while looking for his familiar silhouette. ‘Behind you, baby’ James said as he grabbed Sarah from her waist and she turns to face him. He plants a kiss on her lips before she could say anything.
With Sarah still in his arms, ‘come, we’ll talk more outside. I have already met Aunt Josie and she says you are off the afternoon’ he continues as Aunt Josie nods in agreement, smiling at Sarah and James being reunited.
Jake and I walk in as James opens the door for Sarah, both smiling and holding hands, Jake immediately, ‘Sarah! What’s this? What’s he doing here?’ Jake asks as he mimics himself holding a knife in one hand and raising it to James stomach, as if to stab him. A futile attempt considering ghosts can’t kill humans. ‘Aidan, this is James and James, this is Aidan, a friend of mine’ Sarah introduces us. I extend a handshake but he doesn’t accept it and says, ‘come darling, I’m getting hungry’ he says as he looks straight into my eyes. I pierced through his eyes and immediately sensed that he was trouble, not for me but for Sarah. He also was not honest and had an air about him, as if he was superior to me. James was dressed in a white shirt with black trousers and jacket. He wore a business suit while I was in my navy blue jeans and checkered shirt.
‘That’s James’, Jake whispered to me as Sarah smiled an acknowledgement at Jake and says to me, while facing me but looking at Jake in the eye’s and said, ‘I’ll see you later’ as she walks happily. For the first time, I felt I was being ignored.
‘Aidan, I’m glad you came!’ Aunt Josie said as soon as we shut the door. ‘Jake, keep an eye on Sarah and let me know what happens’ I whispered to Jake as I walked towards Aunt Josie. Jake immediately followed them but keeps his distance so as to avoid being caught by Sarah.
‘Who were you whispering to?’ Aunt Josie asked me as she pointed to the chest which needed to be moved to another corner of the store. I gradually lift the chest and places at the spot she points. ‘No one, this thing goes here?’ I look at Aunt Josie as she nods and gently place the chest.
‘Aunt Josie, who was that man with Sarah?’ I asked, hoping to learn more about James.
‘Oh, that’s James, Sarah’s ex-fiancée. They make a lovely couple don’t they?’ she asks me to which I replied, ‘no comments as I’m seeing them for the first time today. Will Sarah be long?’
Aunt Josie looked at me, surprised and said, ‘Of course! James said he would only bring her back after dinner. Did you want to meet Sarah?’
‘No, not really, just curious, that’s all. Is that all the stuff to be moved?’ I asked as Aunt Josie nodded and I take my leave from her store.
~~
As I walking along St Just on the way to my Inn, I met Sarah and James and Jake walking along the Old Foundry Road towards Aunt Josie’s home. Jake was giving me hand signals that he would meet me at my Inn and I telepathically acknowledged him. Jake then whispered into Sarah’s ear and he vanished.
‘Hey, Aidan, James and I are going for dinner? Would you like to jo
in us?’ Sarah asked innocently. James stared at Sarah and his mind went berserk that Sarah could ask that, without even consulting him. James didn’t want me anywhere near Sarah and felt that I was becoming a threat to him. He wanted to take back the offer and stop Sarah but the Sarah had already offered. ‘If it’s ok with James, then yeah, that would be nice’ I answered politely.
‘Yeah, I don’t mind. Come along now dear’ he said in an unhappy tone as he gave me a dagger stare and wished I would just disappear. As Sarah and James walk ahead of us, Jake walks beside me and tells me, ‘that idiot has been trying to sweet talk her and Sarah is falling for it again! I don’t believe her or this!’
I looked at Jake and say, ‘that idiot doesn’t want around. He hasn’t broken up with that Rebecca woman; follow him as much as you can. I don’t like him anymore than you’
Jake looked at me, surprised and said, ‘how do you know he hasn’t broken up with Rebecca? He told her he did. I’ll be on the look-out’, to which I answered, ‘I know, please trust me on this and this James fellow’
We reached the café. We head to The Cook Book Restaurant along Cape Cornwall Road. This was the first time I had come to this café. It had a warm and welcoming feel to it. The aroma of home-made cakes wafted through the air as James opened the door. ‘James, I’ll be upstairs, there are about five thousand books to read here! Can you believe that!?’ Sarah asked as James nodded and said, ‘yeah, so I heard, go ahead darling, I’ll call for you once our food has arrived’. After placing our orders and Sarah and Jake head upstairs, James turned towards me and asked, ‘So, Aidan, what is it you do?’
‘I deal in investments, basically’ I answered to which he instantly asked, ‘Are you parents into investments too? What type of investments, specifically?’ he prodders. Just as he brings himself forward and places his elbows on the table, the waitress appears with our dishes and says, ‘Sarah will be coming down soon. Enjoy your meal!’
I looked at James and answered, ‘nope, they aren’t into investments, just simple farmers’ I answered. Sarah appeared and sat next to James. As she smiled, she said, ‘I bought this book, it’s so cheap here. Oh! This smells good, come let’s eat!’ Jake looked at me as I skewered the broccoli and ate it in one gulp. I sensed a woman approaching our table and I knew it was Rebecca. Jake then vanished from the table and whispered to Sarah, ‘come, let’s go! We are wasting our time here!’
‘What a pleasant surprise!!? James and Sarah back together’ to which James rose to kiss and hug Rebecca. Jake turned to me and stared angrily at Rebecca while Sarah looked lost. ‘Sarah’ James looked at Sarah and gestured her to greet Rebecca. ‘Really pleasant, indeed!’ Sarah said as she barely smiled and looked at James, confused.
‘Rebecca, this is Aidan, Sarah’s friend’ James introduces as I rise up. ‘Wow! What a hunk! Sarah, where do you find such men? Poor me, I have no such luck’ Rebecca asks sarcastically as she looks at me while licking her lips. Rebecca was an average height woman but she knew how to carry herself well. She wore high heels which increased her height, had a slim slender figure and her tight fitting blouse emphasized her curves. She wore a business suit, like James, only hers were dark navy blue in color. She had wavy shoulder length blond hair. I sensed she had a liking for me but it was clear that James and she were still in love. Rebecca began making it obvious that she liked me.
‘St Just’ Sarah answered in a somber tone without even looking up. I wanted to touch her hand on the table but with James there, I decided against it. James was jealous of my from the day he set eyes on me. ‘Come Rebecca, you are just in time for dinner!’ James said as he pulled a chair for Rebecca. Rebecca joined us for dinner and the only people seemed to be in conversation were James and Rebecca. James would occasionally ask if Sarah was alright. I read James and Rebecca’s mind and it was clear they were still a couple. I tapped Sarah’s hand, ‘come with me, let’s go’ as we had finished dinner. Sarah hardly ate with Rebecca around and I didn’t want to send her home on an empty stomach.
As Sarah and I rose, James asked me while looking at Sarah and said, ‘Sarah, where are you going?’ to which I answered, ‘I’ll be taking Sarah home, it was a pleasure meeting you and Rebecca’
‘No way! I’m taking Sarah back. You just leave her alone!’ James said in a raised voice. ‘James, it’s ok. Aidan has sent me back before. Don’t worry’ Sarah tried to pacify him. ‘Sarah, we have other plans’ James looked at Sarah and held her hand. Sarah turned to me and said, ‘I guess we will wait for you outside by the car’
I looked at Sarah and answered, ‘fine by me, let’s go!’ as James angrily stared at me as I took Sarah’s hand and walked her outside.
Outside, we walked towards the car and decided to wait for them there. As neither of us had the keys, Sarah sat cross-legged on the bonnet while I stood leaning against the bonnet, ‘Jake told you about James, didn’t he?’ she asked. I didn’t answer her question and told her, ‘I’ll get you something to eat, I didn’t see you eating just now and yeah, Jake told me about him’
Sarah looked at me and said, ‘you do have a way with words. You noticed that I didn’t eat, where are you going to get food, go back inside?’ Sarah asked as she gave smiled at me. I looked at her and asked, ‘what you want to eat, you shall receive!’ I answered as I playfully took out an imaginary pen and paper to take her order. ‘I want chicken shop with black pepper sauce with iced lemon tea!’ Sarah laughed as she looked at me. ‘Give me a second’ I said as I walked away into the darkness. I conjured her order complete with plastic utensils and brought it back to her. She stared at me and said, ‘where , how did you do it?’ I answered, ‘that doesn’t matter, enjoy your meal now. They won’t be coming anytime soon’ as Sarah proceeded to eat heartily.
‘Jake! I had completely forgotten about him’ I thought to myself. I quickly sent a telepathic message telling him to put up the night at my place and that our meeting would be first in the morning. I sent apologies and informed him that Sarah was still with me. ‘Yeah, he did. You should trust your ghost friend. He does a lot for you, more than you give him credit for’ I answered.
‘Yeah, I should, I guess. What do you think of James?’ she continued while looking into my eyes, only to bring down her gaze after that. ‘Honestly, I don’t like him and that Rebecca woman but …’
‘But what?’ Sarah asked.
I turned towards her and said, ‘you would have to think carefully and decide if you really want him back’ to which James and Rebecca appear and James pats my back, ‘Thanks Aidan for keeping my Sarah company. Darling, all ok?’ and Sarah nods with a brief smile. As Sarah had finished her meal, I had enough time to clear up the mess. ‘Good! Rebecca gave a brilliant plan and suggested we go to Darkness Club, it’s said to be the hippest and happening spot in St Just and Aidan, you are not invited for this’ James tells me, directly. ‘James! That’s ridiculous!’ Sarah protested.
‘How I wish I could obliterate this vermin here and now!’ I thought to myself. ‘Darkness Club? At this hour?’ I asked surprised. Mother interrupted my thoughts and whispered, ‘Protect Sarah, go to Darkness Club, you don’t need an invitation’ to which I replied Mother, ‘obviously!’
‘Yeah, is there a problem?’ James asked with his face directly at mine and chest out. ‘This guy is jealous of me! Well, he should know that he has competition’ I thought while smiling to myself and turned and started walking away.
~~
Outside Darkness Club, as expected, James, Rebecca and Sarah were inside. James and Rebecca were at the dance floor while Sarah was alone by the counter. Sarah’s enticing scent had the demons in the club drooling, but because there were several mortals in the club, Balor had demanded that no damage and unnecessary publicity was needed. So, Sarah was to be left alone, for now. Balor had read Jake’s mind and sensed that Sarah was some one important to me.
I walked to the counter where Sarah is seated and immediately all demons, who were standing and sitting near he
r backed-off, ‘Hello!’ I say as I tapped her on her shoulders. She turns and her face brightens, ‘Hey, I’m glad you came’
‘You can never leave her alone, can you?’ James approached us with Rebecca dancing with one of the demon; disguised as a mortal male, as I turned towards the bartender and say, ‘I came to meet someone’ I answered James. I turned towards the bartended and asked, ‘Balor?’ and the bartender points towards a room in what looks like the darkest corner of the club. ‘
‘Balor?! He is here?’ Sarah looks at me and asks, surprised. ‘Sarah, who is Balor?’ James asks Sarah in a raised voice to which all the demons in the club look at James. ‘James, Balor isn’t your concern. Sarah, I’ll see you around’ I said as I walked towards the room which the bartender pointed to me.
‘Ah! So the goat walks right into the lion’s den!’ Balor sniggers as he lifts his feet and places them on his desk.
‘Yeah, well, the goat has come with a warning!’ I answered sarcastically.
‘And what might that warning be?’ Balor continued with his snigger as he intertwined his fingers and placed them on his knee.
‘Harm the mortals and you will pay’ I answered as I see Jasmine Halle approaching Sarah, who was still at the counter. ‘Great, that woman is here too!’ I thought to myself. James had left her alone to be with Rebecca as they continued on the dance floor.