The Mirror
There are still one or two puzzled faces out there! Joey's mother is back on the scene... having brought Joey and Charlie together for all the best reasons, she is now irritated by Ruby's pointed dislike of her sister's new life, and how she could be an influence on Charlie judgement, therefore, jeopardizing her daughter's comfort. So here she is, about to make mischief! (Anyone know the telephone number for Ghostbusters?) ~S&L~ xx
Chapter 14
The wind had started to get up as Ruby and I drove home. I hadn't heard a weather forecast for the day but the keen breeze was a welcome visitor after days and days of hot, sultry temperatures. I glanced at my sister who was sitting in the passenger seat; her eyes glued to the road ahead. How was I to keep this young girl safe and out of the hands of a spirit which I had little or no power over?
We pulled into the drive way and I unbuckled my seat belt. Ruby remained exactly where she was.
"Rubes?" I nudged gently.
"Huh?"
"We're home. Come on sweetheart."
Ruby nodded her head and attempted to unbuckle her seat belt.
"This stupid thing appears to be stuck!" Ruby grumbled as she pressed the red release button several times.
"Hey, let me help!"
I looked up to see the welcome face of Joey standing by the passenger door.
"What's she doing here?" My sister hissed ungraciously.
"Joey is here to help us." I said, smiling up at my lover.
Joey smiled back. She looked at Ruby, but her eyes lost some of their warmth.
"And what do you think 'she' can do to protect me, if you can't?" My sister wisely pointed out.
"Let's just say she's here as moral support to us both!" I said, trying my best to keep Ruby calm.
"But shouldn't we be going to a 'safe house' or something?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah, but not just yet."
Joey leaned over Ruby and yanked at the stubborn seat belt; magically it surrendered to her touch.
"There." She said, with a little gloat in her voice. "You just have to know how."
I glanced at Joey who winked at me. I smiled back; I guess my sister deserved that.
We got out of the car and locked up. Ruby got to the front door first, when a sharp gust of wind blew a heavily laden hanging flower basket off its wall bracket, which lifted briefly and fell within millimetres of Ruby's feet.
"Blimey!" Ruby gasped, looking down at the upturned basket as it lay smashed and unwieldy; it's contents scattered all around.
"The weather is certainly taking a turn for the worse. Just look at those clouds!" Joey said, pointing towards the sea.
The sky above the ocean was as dark as I had ever seen it and the angry clouds were moving inland quickly. The wind gusted again and a sticky, ice cream wrapper hit Ruby in the face and stuck to her. I held my breath; longing to laugh but knowing Ruby would be mortified. With difficulty, she peeled away the persistent wrapper from her skin and flicked it off her fingers onto the ground with disgust.
"Where the hell did that come from?" She muttered, taking a paper tissue from her pocket and mopping her face.
I took out my key and put it into the door keyhole. I quickly took it out; looking at the key in wonder. It wouldn't budge! Had I used the wrong key?
"Come on sis! It looks like it's gonna pee down any minute now!" Ruby exclaimed.
Suddenly, sea birds started to cry overhead; probably driven inland by the sudden inclement weather. Ruby looked up and was hit in the eye by a dropping from an unfriendly feathered assassin.
"Shit! I don't believe this!" Ruby yelled in frustration.
"It's meant to be lucky!" Joey giggled. "And troubles come in threes, you know!
I shot Joey a look. Now wasn't the time to be making merry at Ruby's expense. Joey raised her eyebrows at me, but I shook my head. Suddenly, I was aware of something vaguely familiar in Joey's eyes; a look which I had seen once before... somewhere. As if reading my mind, she blinked hastily and took the key from my hand; placing it in the keyhole, turned it and unlocked the door with ease. I frowned in frustration, but ushered Ruby inside."Shall I put the kettle on?" Ruby asked, when she returned from the bathroom after wiping away the 'good luck message'.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan!" Joey chirped in as she settled herself into a chair. "I have two sugars in mine and I could eat a cookie if there's any in the jar!"
Ruby and I both stared at Joey; Ruby because she didn't like her and I, because I was seeing a different side to my demure girlfriend.
"I suggest you get off your fat arse and get them yourself!" Ruby hissed.
"That's enough!" I said quickly. "Joey, if you want a biscuit, the jar is on the shelf; help yourself."
I noticed a frown appear on Joey's forehead as she flashed a look of dissatisfaction at me. What was going on with her? She knew how worried I was about Ruby; hadn't she been just as worried a few hours before? Now she was acting as if we were about settle down for the evening in front of the television instead of keeping Ruby safe from...
"Oh my God!" I whispered under my breath.
Suddenly, the realisation hit me. This woman wasn't Joey at all; this was Joey's mother! I swallowed and watched her eyes as she observed my sister moving around the kitchen. There was malice in her look. Oh God! Where was Joey?
"Joey?" I said, sweetly. "Can you do me a favour, please, honey? We're short of milk; would you mind popping along to the grocers to pick some up, before it rains?"
As Joey looked at me, I detected a little annoyance at my suggestion, but I smiled as lovingly as I could, considering the 'person' and the circumstances, and she reluctantly agreed. I watched her leave and quickly grabbed hold of Ruby's arm.
"Quick!" I hissed. "We've gotta get out of here before she gets back!"
"Who? Joey?" She frowned.
"Yes, come on! Shift your backside and let's get going!"
"Hold on just a minute, Charlie! Isn't this the love of your life we are talking about here?"
"No. Ruby! Stop asking questions and get a wiggle on!" I said, dragging her along towards the door.
I opened the door cautiously; glancing around, hoping that Joey's mother wasn't hiding under a plant pot somewhere, waiting for us. We ran down to the car and jumped in.
"Check the back seats!" I yelled.
Ruby did as I asked and I started the engine. We screeched out of the drive way and sped off down the road in the opposite direction to the grocers.
I took my mobile from my pocket and threw it at Ruby.
"Ring Joey, quickly!" I commanded.
"What the...?"
Ruby stared at me as if I'd gone completely mad.
"Ring Joey and tell her to meet us at the pier."
"Charlie! I have no idea what you're playing at! Just now, you told her to go and get some milk and then we're outta there like a couple of scolded cats! Now you're telling her to meet us at the pier? Excuse me if I do not understand what's going on here, but..."
"I'm sorry, Rubes... It's too difficult to explain right now. Please, just do as I ask."
Ruby sighed heavily and shook her head in confusion, but scrolled to Joey's name and pressed the contact button.
I pulled up near the pier and dragged Ruby, who was still questioning me, down the boardwalk and up to the pretty young woman leaning against the railing. As we neared, she straightened up and looked at me anxiously.
"What's happened?"
"Your mother!"
"Shit! Where is she?"
"Probably doing her pieces as we speak! I sent her out on a fool's errand, then, we escaped!"
"Are you both okay?" Joey wanted to know; glancing from one to the other of us.
She held out her hand and gently touched my arm. Her hand was warm and it sent shivers down my spine. This was the real Joey; this was my Joey.
"Yeah, we're fine." I said, smiling and putting my arm around Ruby's shoulders.
"Will someone please explain to me, what the fuck is going on?"
Joey and I looked at Ruby, then at each other. Joey shrugged her shoulders, leaving the decision to me.
I sighed; resolutely.
"Rubes, the 'Joey' you saw at the house, isn't Joey at all... It's her mother!" I said; grimacing.
"Hold up! Are you now telling me that Joey is her own mother? You're bloody barking; the pair of you!"
Ruby made a move to leave in disgust, but I pulled her back.
"No, Ruby! It's too dangerous! You've got to stay with us!"
"Ruby, I know you don't like me or the fact of your sister and I being together, but please believe what she says. You could be in great danger at the moment from something we have little power over. If we tell you all the details, you will be as confused as we are! Just believe us and do as Charlie tells you." Joey advised, gently.
Ruby frowned; wanting to believe us, but somehow being reminded, by logic, that we were talking rot. Before she had time to utter another word, Joey suggested we should find a safe place to go; some establishment where there were plenty of people around. The aroma of cooking led us to The Diner, which was nearby.
"But I still don't understand what's going on, Charlie!" Ruby said, watching Joey as she ordered us some drinks.
"Remember when I was looking at that house and I thought it was haunted?"
"Yeah."
"Well, it was!"
"But I thought you said it was just Joey hanging out!"
"So I did, but I stretched the truth as I knew you wouldn't believe me!"
"So, Joey is a ..." Ruby said, gesturing at my girlfriend. "A ghost?"
Her eyes were full of mockery and disdain.
"No, Joey isn't a ghost, but her mother is and seems to be hanging around, making a nuisance of herself!"
"But why?"
"Well, sister dear, she seems to have the hump with you, coz you won't accept Joey and I as lovers."
"Shush!" Ruby squeaked, checking for eavesdroppers. "You don't want everyone knowing your little secret, do you?"
"Rubes, I don't care who knows about us! It's you with the problem, not me!"
Ruby shifted uncomfortably as she watched Joey walk back from the counter.
"Irene said she'll bring the drinks over in a moment." Joey advised cheerfully.
The happy look in her eye was soon banished when she looked at me; obviously picking up on our moods. She sat alongside me and slipped her hand onto my knee; squeezing it gently. I tried to smile, but I was nervous, scared and annoyed with Ruby over her stubbornness with regard to Joey and me.
"So, Charlie tells me you have a ghost in your life, Joey, who just happens to be your mother and a dead ringer, if you'll pardon the pun! Are you sure you're not trying to hoodwink my sister into something? She was quite sane before you came onto the scene."
Joey was evidently discouraged by Ruby's cutting words. Suddenly, the sky outside went as black as night. Everyone in The Diner muttered to each other; some leaving their seats to walk over to the door and look out.
"Looks like there's a storm brewing!" Irene said, as she brought over our drinks.
I looked at Joey worriedly.
"It's her, isn't it?" I whispered. "She's about to strike!"
Joey nodded and quickly rose from her seat.
"Come on, let's go somewhere safe."
"What's happening out there? Is it Armageddon?" Ruby asked, rising and stretching her neck.
"Not, it's my mother and you've annoyed her again!"
"Oh for heaven's sake, Joey! I don't know what you're up to but there is no such thing as ghosts and I give you fair warning, if you mess with my sister, I will..."
Suddenly the window beside Ruby blew in and glass covered our table. Joey dragged Ruby from the wreckage; her face scratched and bleeding.
"Now do you believe me?" Joey said, picking up a serviette and dabbing the blood running down the side of Ruby's face. "Charlie! Come away from the window!"
With Joey's words, I was shaken from my trance. I could hardly believe what I had just witnessed. I rushed over to my girlfriend and sister and was horrified at what I saw. The cuts to Ruby's face were superficial but the blood was horrendous!
"I think you'd better get her to hospital, darl." Irene suggested as she opened the first aid box. "Gordon only knows how that window caved like that or why, but looks like Ruby took the full impact."
"If you could spare us a towel, we'll take her straight away." Joey said, taking charge.
I was as good as a chocolate fireguard! My mind revolved in ever decreasing circles. What had I done to Ruby? This was my fault! If I wasn't with Joey, none of this would have happened!