Beyond Death by Deb McEwan Page B

calm when he was travelling to work and he hadn’t heard anything about a storm brewing. He opened the paper again but as soon as he did so, an image of his sister appeared in his mind’s eye, it seemed so real to Tony that he gasped.
    ‘Claire?’
    ‘Visit Dad, he needs you.’ Was all she said.
    ‘Bloody hell, Claire! I’m on the loo for God’s sake.’
    He heard his sister’s giggle which was followed by a small gust of wind, then absolute silence. Tony hastily finished what he was doing and left the cubicle. He looked at his pale face in the mirror and splashed cold water over it after washing his hands. This was no dream and he took a moment to come to terms with what had happened. He thought that he’d be spooked. He was shocked but not frightened. He’d adored Claire but when she wanted something she could be a right pain in the arse. Apparently this was the case whether she was alive or dead. Tony laughed to himself as he left the company bathroom, his sister’s visit had actually given him some comfort and he knew that he wouldn’t get any peace until they went to see their father. Returning to his office he picked up his phone to call his brother, and wondered how she’d got her message across to him.
    ‘Same here,’ said Jim when he answered the phone. ‘But I was in a meeting with the boss. He asked me a question. I was forming my answer and she appeared in my head, telling me that Dad needs me. The boss must have thought I was losing my mind when I said you’re supposed to be dead. I excused myself quickly and she was laughing. Why couldn’t she have waited?’
     
    Claire managed to stay with it as she watched the twins speak as if a visit from their dead sister was a completely natural occurrence. It had worked and she knew that they’d find the time to visit their father, probably that weekend.
    Ron had watched in amazement. They hadn’t been able to contact anyone since the episode with Jay, and now Claire had visited both her brothers simply because she had wanted to. He could see that it had totally drained her but he needed answers.
    ‘What were you thinking? How did you do it? Can you do it again?’
    Claire put up a hand. ‘Tired, Ron. Need to rest.’
    They were back on the cream sofa and she lay down and closed her eyes. ‘Later.’ She faded as she spoke the last word and Ron knew he’d have to wait for his answers, possibly for quite a while.
    As Claire drifted away her wedding fantasy appeared and she smiled. This time Tash was no longer a bridesmaid and had been replaced by Mel. Although Claire had forgiven her, she didn’t want to be reminded of her friend’s deceit on her wedding day. Her half-sister was a vague version of what she imagined her to be, but plumper than the real Mel as Claire remembered immodestly how good she had looked at age fifteen and didn’t want her young sister to upstage her on her special day. The ceremony continued until Claire was too exhausted to think any longer.
     
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    The night before the course was due to start both Val and Marion were happier than they’d been since the accident. A purpose had returned to their lives and they were like twenty somethings at the beginning of a weekend. Marion looked around the room they were sharing.
    ‘London’s not exactly cheap is it? Wonder how much this hotel costs the charity?’ She had expected more frugal accommodation. They each had a queen size bed and a separate wardrobe. There was one desk and chair and at the other side of the room, and a sofa was positioned against the far wall facing a TV screen. The bathroom contained both a bath and separate shower with toilet and b-day.
    Val explained that a rich benefactor had left the hotel to the charity, and that they made money out of it by running it as a going concern.
    ‘Having the courses outside of the summer tourist season and carrying out the training in the conference facility saves them from paying out money.