Pearls & Baby Girls

The night before...

It was a little past ten at night. The children were asleep, Anna was washing for bed, and John was sitting up against the headboard with a book in hands trying to read.

'Bloody hell…' he muttered, rubbing his eyes. For the past couple of weeks he had been having trouble focusing on the words. Just now and then, mind you, but often enough that it was becoming annoying. His eyes were sometimes too tired after a long day at work, causing the letters to become a jumble on the page; William giving them wakeful nights with his sleepwalking wasn't helping much either. Yes, that was the problem, a lack of sleep and long hours pouring through hotel paperwork.

'Why such a frown, Mr Bates?' Anna's voice made him look up from his book. She was standing in the doorway, her robe loosely tied around her waist and her arms crossed.

'Hmm? Oh, I'm just too tired to read, that's all…'

'Don't be upset about it, love,' she said walking into the room and closing the door behind her. She had a mischievous expression on her face. 'Not when I have a surprise in store for you.'

'A surprise?' he wondered, placing the book atop his nightstand, his mood shifting considerably. 'Do tell, Mrs Bates.'

'But first…' she continued walking directly toward him, instead of going to her side of the bed, her hands coming to grasp the tie of her robe, pulling it ever so gently, and he knew then that she was up to something. Oh yes, something indeed. 'I need your opinion. You know how much I love my pearl necklace? I can hardly stand to take it off at night.'

'I had noticed that,' he gulped. She had his full attention now.

'Well, I was wondering how you thought they went with...nothing...nothing at all?' She was right in front of him when her robe slid down her body, landing on the floor.

John's poor, tired eyes were blessed with the glorious nakedness of her body, within a hand's reach away.

'So?' Anna asked, waiting for an answer. He couldn't help but smile.

His fingers itched to touch her but he wouldn't just yet. Not after such tease on her part. She would have to wait for that, if only he himself could wait.

'Well…' he looked at her slowly from head to toe, his breathing heavy and his tongue wetting his lips. 'Now that I'm looking at it again…' his eyes stopped at her breasts and truth to be told the necklace was the last thing he wanted to see. 'It suits you even better than before.'

'Do you really think so?' she asked him once more, touching the pearls gently, right before her fingertips began to travel down her body, stopping precisely where his attention was focused.

He ran his tongue along his lips again as he watched her touch one of her breasts, her eyes attentive on his expression and her body beginning to respond to her own tease.

'Why…why don't you…' he took her hands in his at once, pulling her to him, '...come closer to me so I can see even better?'

That made her giggle and willingly she straddled him, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him closer still. His desire could already be felt as she shifted on his thighs to make herself comfortable, only his pyjama bottoms separating them now.

'Oh yes,' he whispered, his lips nibbling at the skin of her neck. 'Perfect. You should surprise me more often.'

'I think so too.'

They kissed then, slowly and deeply, and things were beginning to really steam up when a squeal and a giggle was heard coming from the twin's side of the room where they should have been sleeping peacefully behind the dividing screen.

'Oh, John, look!'

And there she was, a naughty Finn lifting herself up to the knees so she could peek at her parents. Her little chubby fists grabbing at the railing of her bed. A frown of determination on her face as she used her arm's strength to bring herself up and when she did, she giggled again, facing a wide eyed Anna and John.

'You forgot to pull the screen, John!' Anna said shaking her head and climbing from his lap. She reached to the floor for the robe to cover herself again.

'Don't you blame me and when did she learn to do that anyway?' John grimaced standing up too.

'Well, she obviously can.'

'She's seen us now and she thought it was funny!'

'John she doesn't understand what she saw. She's only a baby- Oh look!'

Fee was now taking herself a peek and when the two sisters faced each other they erupted into a fit of laughter.

'Yes, they just think it's funny,' Anna reasoned, walking toward the girls. John followed 'Don't you, sweethearts? Mummy and Daddy are so funny!'

'I hope so…' he took Finn in his arms, nuzzling his nose against her warm cheek. 'Is that it, Finnie, love? You think Mummy and Daddy are funny?' The baby squealed at her father, patting him on the face before looking over at Fee and giggling again.

'Come here Fee,' Anna smiled, taking the little girl in her arms. 'Give us a hug, you little stinker. When did you learn to pull yourself up?'

The twins began to flail their hands at each other, their laughter echoing around the room.

'They're growing up so fast, Anna. I love it and hate it,'John said, kissing Finn's cheek.

'You know what this means, don't you?' Anna eyed him seriously. 'It's time to move them to the nursery with Will. They usually sleep all night, I don't even know why they woke up tonight. And it's just across the hall. Hardly any further than they are from us now, really.'

'You're right…' he sighed.

'Don't you pretend you're sad! I know very well you want them to sleep there and I know exactly why.'

'Is it wrong to miss our privacy, Anna? Because you know with them here it's not the same.' John told her with a wink, and Anna couldn't help but agree.

'That's true...and I miss it too. It's time then, tomorrow. Well, not tomorrow because we'll hopefully be having our spirit board session tomorrow night, but the next night they move in with William.'

'I hope his sleepwalking doesn't affect them.'

'It won't affect them any more than it already does.'

'All right then...let's go to bed…' John said, walking to the bed with Finn.

'Where are you going with her?'

'To bed. Isn't this the last night they're here? I want to savour it.'

'By putting them to sleep in our bed?' Anna asked him with a scoff.

'And why not? Come on…' he said looking down at himself, '...it's dead by now anyway, Anna. It's ruined for the night.'

She laughed heartily at his words, before placing Fee in their bed as well. The twins would be up playing for a few minutes more, enjoying being between their parents and able to reach one another. John and Anna spent the night watching over their girls.

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February 21st, 10:30 am

Tonight is the night. Anna just poked her head in to tell me that Mrs P found the spirit board on the top shelf of the downstairs hall closet at the Abbey. Until recently, I wasn't even aware there was one. Apparently it was used just one Christmas, for entertainment, while I was away. Anna said the results were questionable - how could they be anything else? - but she swears there was one time, when she and Daisy were using it alone that gave her pause. I really can't see anything coming of this, and I think deep down Anna has her doubts too, but she's determined and she's excited about it and I trust my wife's instincts above all else.

Anna is convinced our 'ghost' is Davy Driscoll, come back to meet up one last time with his old Welsh friends, Dafydd Priddy and Owen Argall. The Welshmen agree it could only be Davy.

So here's the plan and the guest list. As soon as we're able to clear out the pub tonight, we'll begin. No electric lights allowed, Anna insists. She says the ghost has never shown up when the lights are on. Hence, she wonders if the vapors from the electricity drains its energy. I haven't a clue and she's just guessing. And then she worries if he will even show himself before four in the morning. He never has as far as we know. We shall try at midnight though, because no one on the guest list wants to wait around until 4 am.

Ah, the guest list. Anna, our fearless leader, my father, of course, Mrs Patmore, because she's bringing the spirit board and insists on being there, Daisy, who is terrified but still doesn't want to miss anything, Dafydd and Owen, Anna thinks the chances are better if they're here. After all, it's them Davy is here to see. And me.

Archie doesn't want to have anything to do with it and will be staying upstairs in his room. Remo is off visiting friends in York. And Caleb and Sarah are watching the children in their rooms. They've been warned about Will's sleepwalking. We only have one guest and don't expect any more until tomorrow night. And that's it. No one else is aware of what's going on. Good to her word, Anna has kept it quiet. I just hope the others have.

Then we commence with calling out our ghost. Needless to say everyone involved is a tad jumpy today. I have to admit, despite my reservations, I find my anticipation growing.

And the glow of Valentine's Day has not worn off either. I'm still sweeping tiny hearts from the cracks in the floorboards, some of the regular bar patrons continue to smile and wink at at me or pat me on the back as I walk past and Anna wears her pearls every day, without fail. Indeed, she's worn them to bed on occasion.

Will just ran in from the back door of the office followed by that miscreant Percy. I'd best go track them down.

John Bates

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Tonight Is the Night

February 21st 1928 10:38 pm

'Now don't forget to lock the door. And if Will does sleepwalk, don't be afraid and try not to wake him. Just lead him back to his bed on the sofa,' Anna reminded Sarah after she gave the girl's their last feeding of the day and tucked them into bed. This night, their bed was to be their playpen, moved into Sarah and Caleb's parlor, just off from their bedroom.

Will was going to sleep on the sofa next to his sisters and was excited to do so. It was all an adventure to him, as his four year old imagination turned the parlor into a giant sailing ship and the sofa into a swinging hammock-bed.

'Don't you worry, I'll lock the door right before we turn in. You just be careful out there. I wouldn't be doin' what you have planned for all the gold in the world,' Sarah declared.

Anna shrugged her shoulders and smiled. 'Well I'll admit I think it's all exciting. John may not share my excitement but at least he's supporting me, sort of. And if it helps some poor soul to move on then it will all have been worth it.'

"And if it doesn't? What if all this spirit board stuff just upsets it?' Sarah had taken to wringing her hands.

'Well, it has to work, doesn't it? We can't have a ghost blowing through the halls of The Grantham Arms, can we? It just has to work,' Anna said, patting her friend and employee on the arm before grabbing Will as he sprinted past her and issuing him a warning not to give Sarah a hard time.

The last thing she said to Sarah as she walked out was, 'Don't forget to lock the door.'

xx

Behind the bar, John and Eamon waited impatiently for the last stragglers to leave the pub. It was getting late.

'Don't they have wives waiting at home?' John whispered to his father, leaning his arms on the bar.

The old man took a long sigh, 'That bald bloke has a wife that looks more like a seal. That other one over there has seven children and his mother in law lives with them, and Jamie O'Neill, there gets hit over the head with an iron pot on a regular basis...I reckon the answer to your questions is: Yes they have, but they don't care.'

John looked at him in what could only be called surprised awe. 'How do you know all this? You've only been here a couple of months. I've been here for years and don't know half as much.'

'Because I'm what you'd call a social being. You know what that is, son? Nothing against you, but you don't really put yourself out there to get to know people and let them know you back.'

John rolled his eyes. 'I'm social enough with people I want to be social with. These days I would rather be at home with Anna and my children than drinking my life away in a pub.'

'Good for you, John, good for you, but not every man is such a sweet, tender boy like you are.'

'What if you stop calling me that? Hmm?'

'What? Boy? It's a compliment, all right!'

John nodded, but he was skeptical. 'Whatever you say…so, why don't you go tell your friends we want to close? It's getting on to midnight and- Oh! Here come the old Welshmen.'

Eamon looked ahead to see the two old men coming in the door and walking up to the bar where they stood. As always, they wore joyful smiles and long coats, caps and their cheeks were rosy pink. They almost looked like brothers, if not twins, maybe from all those years together as friends. Habituation makes one like the other.

'Evening,' John and Eamon welcomed them in unison.

'Never been here this late at night...cozy, isn't it Owen?' ,one of the Welshmen asked the other.

'It is! Maybe we should be coming after dinner,' his old friend suggested.

'If we could only stay awake after dinner. We needed a long nap to be here tonight!' Owen laughed so hard at his own joke Dafydd had to pound his friend on the back to stop him from choking.

'Gentlemen, fancy a brew before the entertainment starts?' Eamon offered, taking two glasses from the shelf, already sure the two would accept.

'Not so loud, Father.' John looked around the pub. 'We don't want the whole world to know.'

'We'd be much obliged, Captain!' the older Welshman tapped on the top of the counter. 'Coming into a pub without having a drink is the same as going to church without prayin'.'

'Yeah, it wouldn't do,' his friend agreed with a serious nod.

'It wouldn't do, indeed!' the other repeated.

'So gents, the weather seems to be taking a rainy turn,' John said, trying to make small talk. He didn't really know much about any of his bar patrons, maybe he should start taking more of an interest in them. Not because his anything father said, not at all...but for Anna. Anna had always encouraged him to be more social, for the sake of the business, if nothing else.

'Rather,' Owen replied shortly, before taking a long swig from his beer.

'Yep,' the other agreed, turning to face the room. It was silent after that, and Eamon and John looked at each other.

'Well that was a good start. Your wife would be so pleased with your efforts,' John's father told him in a sarcastic, low voice, leaning into him so the two old men couldn't hear his words.

'Shut up,' John answered back and Eamon couldn't help but chuckle. John was fairly certain his father would annoy him until his dying day.

xxxx

Eleven forty-five brought Mrs Patmore, with her spirit board and Mr Mason in tow. It worried John that Mr Mason was there uninvited. Not that he didn't like and trust Mr Mason, quite the opposite, he just wanted as few people to know about their planned goings on tonight as possible. But after all, he couldn't expect Mrs P to be out walking the dark lanes on her own at this time night. John chastised himself for not offering her a ride to the village.

'She's filled him in, and why wouldn't she? They share everything, you know?' Anna whispered reassuringly to her worried husband. 'He says not to pay him no mind. He'll sit in the background and just observe. And no matter what does or doesn't happen, his lips are sealed.'

'I suppose it's too late to put a stop to this, isn't it?' John asked, only half jokingly.

Anna rose on her tiptoes and kissed him under his chin. 'What do you think?'

John gave a nervous chuckle. 'That's the problem, I don't know what to think anymore, my darling.' He leaned down and gave her lips a soft caress with his own.

Eamon came up behind them, elbowing a startled John in the side. 'No time for that now, son. Let's get this show on the road. I just ushered the last man out and locked the door behind them.'

The stage was set. The players assembled.

At just past midnight seven people sat around the table by the front window, the Welsh men's table. The very table Eamon swore he had seen the specter's reflection sitting at from the mirror over the bar. The spirit board was placed in the middle of the table and only an oil lamp illuminated the dark and silent pub.

Anna was at the head of the table, John and Eamon sat accordingly to her right, Mrs Patmore and Daisy sat at the other end and the two Welshmen at Anna's left.

Anna looked at each of the others in turn, nodding as if to say are you ready? 'We're gathered here tonight...' Anna spoke in a steady but soft voice, '...to find out who this ghost really is.'

'If there's a ghost,' John said through his teeth and that earned him a stern look from his wife and a elbow in his ribs from his father. 'You do that one more time...' he said to the old man and was answered with a wraith-like gaze; eyes glistening in the darkness. If John had believed in ghosts, he would say Eamon was a proper wandering soul.

'All right, let's continued,' Anna insisted. 'Everyone, place your index on the wooden planchette…and don't press. Just rest it softly.'

'Then you ask if there's anyone here. The planchette will move of its own accord if there is, right straight to the 'YES' in the left hand corner,' Mrs Patmore added, placing her finger on the board before anyone else. She was eager to start this, being a committed believer.

'But what if they don't want to say?' Daisy asked, looking at her old superior, her voice nearly quivering. She too was a believer, of sorts, and that was the problem. Daisy was frightened to death but didn't want to miss anything.

'Well...you can only try, can't you?' The cook rolled her eyes. 'Go on, Anna, ask.'

Anna nodded decisively, looking around the table one more time, readying herself to start asking questions. With a deep breath she began, 'Is anyone here?'

Silence...nothing. All eyes were focused on the board. Some were skeptical, others already trembled in fear, but in the end...nothing.

'Maybe Mr Bates is right,' Daisy spoke again. 'Maybe there isn't any ghost.'

'And you are calling me mad, missy?' Eamon eyed the girl.

'Course I'm not, but-'

'Cause what's been haunting me is not of this world, and John here doesn't want to admit it 'cause he's a stubborn arse.' Eamon stated, quite upset.

'Father!' Anna scolded him immediately and John began to lose his patience. This was getting ridiculous. The two old Welshmen looked at each other not knowing what to do.

'As in donkey, I mean.' Eamon tried to excuse his swearing. ''Cause he's heard it, all right, and maybe even seen it.'

'I saw nothing, and what I heard was just...imagination,' John reasoned, taking his finger off the board and crossing his arms angrily over his middle.

'So you are saying you're mad then!' His father was the next to abandon the board, turning to his son and mimicking his posture.

'I am saying I haven't been sleeping well at all for reasons not needed to be explained now and sleep deprivation makes one hear and see strange things,' John explained.

'So, you have seen it!'

All eyes were on John now, waiting for an answer.

'Did you, Mr Bates?' Mrs Patmore asked. She was way too excited for her own good.

'I'm not saying that, am I? I saw nothing!'

'Can we proceed or do you two gentlemen want to continue your very interesting chat outside?' Anna raised her voice and the two men shrunk in their seats.

'Anna, it's him, he drives me…' John tried to reason once again but he saw from the look in her eyes that his case was lost. 'Continue, please. I'm sorry.'

'Davy Driscoll,' Anna continued, clearing her throat soundly and reaching for and placing John's finger back on the planchette. Eamon did just the same. 'If you are the one wandering around at night, can you make your presence known? Now. Please?'

Silence again, and again, and again… Anna's questions were for naught, and one hour later all hope had finally died. Everyone sat back in their chairs. Mrs Patmore and Daisy started talking about recipes, Eamon nearly slipped from his chair as sleep tried to overtake him, John's yawns came one after the other. Anna was so disappointed by all this. She'd had such high hopes.

'I think this was all in vain, Mrs Bates,' one of the ancient Welshmen spoke. 'It's late, maybe we should leave it as it is. Maybe it's for the best.'

'Nonsense!' his old friend shook his head energetically and pounded the table with his fist. 'We ain't leaving this pub until we get an answer!'

Eyes were wide open again, facing this man, the oldest of the two, with determination written all over his face. He sat straight up in his seat and leaned into the table before speaking directly to the spirit board.

'Damn you, Davy Driscoll! You'd better answer if it's you, you old chump!'

And, as if magic, the planchette began to move. All by itself! No fingers resting on it at all, as each person just stared at the board, as if hypnotized. The room turned chilly, and a soft breeze kissed the back of everyone's necks, causing them to shiver.

'Oh God...' Anna gasped, as a word was forming before there eyes. 'I...A...M...H...E…' she repeated the letters as they were being revealed, the wooden planchette moving effortlessly around the board, gaining speed as it went. 'R...E. I am here...?'

At that very moment, the lamp sputtered out, leaving them in pitch blackness. They all felt the breeze again, as it traveled right through each and every one of them, followed by a gentle whisper. 'Goodbye.'

'Oh my Lord!' Daisy yelled out, throwing herself into Mrs P's arms.

'Did you hear that? Did you?' Eamon exclaimed, shaking his son's arm enthusiastically, glad that his ghost had at least given them a sign. 'I told ya, didn't I?! I bloody well told you!'

Anna reached out for her husband, capturing his hand. 'John, light the lamp.'

'Where's the matches?' John asked as he fumbled in his pockets.

'Here, I have them. Take them, quick, John.'

'It's all right, it's all right, there we go.' John light the oil lamp again, looking up at the others and searching for an explanation, but when he faced the two Welshmen, who sat right across from him, he saw nothing but horror in their expressions.

'What?' he asked as one of them pointed at something behind John's back and everyone turned to see what the old men were looking at.

'Oh sweet Jesus!' Mrs Patmore covered her eyes at the sight.

From the darkness emerged a pale figure, barefoot and dressed in white clothes. He walked with his arms fallen to his sides, his unseeing eyes wide open . Everyone froze as the figure approached the group, stopping at John's chair.

'William!' Eamon called out. 'It's William!' The others breathed in a blessed sigh of relief.

'Shhh!' John stood up at once, rounded his chair and held William gently by his shoulders. 'Shhh...don't wake him up. The lad's a sleepwalker.'

'Sweetheart.' Anna ran her hand gently through the boy's hair. 'Take him back to bed, John.'

'I will. Can you handle everything?'

'Yes, I can. We got what we wanted.' She smiled at John as he walked away with the boy, back to Sarah and Caleb's rooms. 'I think we got our answer!'

'So, is it Davy Driscoll?' Eamon asked. 'Do you think he's going to leave us alone now? He did say goodbye, didn't he? I reckon he did!'

'Only time will tell, really. I do hope it was him.' Anna wondered aloud.

'I reckon he just wanted to be acknowledged. For his friends to know he came back as they agreed, sixty years from the date he left.' Mrs Patmore spoke from her seat at the table. 'If it was indeed Mr Driscoll, and it seems it was, he will leave you all alone now.'

'I hope so!' Eamon said.

'Now this was a night...' one of the Welshmen spoke.

'My ma would make these spirit board meet-ups near every week back in Wales.'

'I remember that. Oh, indeed I do. And my ma wouldn't miss one for the world. And now and again you, me and Davy would peek in from behind the curtain covering door. Like to have scared us half to death, they did.'

Dafydd pushed his chair out from the table. 'Let's be goin', Owen. This is no proper time for two old coots to be awake.'

'Wait,' Anna called out. 'Wait until John returns. He'll walk you back to the boardinghouse.'

Dafydd wave off her concern. 'Nah missus. We ain't even a lane away. Don't you worry about us. You've already done us a world of good tonight.' The old men touched the brims of their hats and headed out the door.

Anna watched them from the window until they faded into the darkness.

John returned to the table soon after, retaking his seat by Anna. He took up her hand when she turned to look at him, and brought it to his lips.

Mr Mason joined them then and everyone just sat there, silently for a few minutes, unsure how to end this extraordinary evening.

'Well, I guess that's that,' Eamon finally said, looking deep into his son's eyes. John said nothing, but nodded, knowingly. The old man raised himself from the table using John's shoulder for help. 'I reckon I can sleep in peace now and I shall be doing that.' He kissed Anna on the top of her head as he passed by. 'You done good, my girl. You done real good.'

'I think it's time I got you ladies home too.' Mr Mason rose from the table. 'It's been quite a night. Too bad I won't be rememberin' a lick about it.' He turned to shake John's hand. 'What happened here tonight is safe with me, Mr Bates. Ladies, your carriage awaits…' He helped Mrs Patmore and Daisy on with their coats.

'Wait, don't forget this.' John handed Mrs Patmore the spirit board, which she reluctantly took, not so sure she actually wanted it anymore, before they walked out the door.

Anna and John were left sitting alone at the table. They were suddenly very tired, their eyes heavy and their breathing slow. When he looked at her after a moment of introspection she was smiling.

'What?' he asked, smiling back.

'Say it.'

'Say what?'

Anna stood from her seat then and moved herself to his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. 'Say that I was right all along.'

'About?'

'John Bates! The ghost. Davy Driscoll. Everything.' He frowned as he looked at her. 'What? You are not going to say the wind made the planchette move, or we, the seven of us, were all sleep deprived.'

'All right. There was something odd happening.'

'Something odd?' She wrinkled her nose not quite satisfied with his answer.

'Something unexplainable,' John corrected.

'That's better.'

'But, I still have my doubts,' he playfully quirked his eyebrow at her.

'Your father's right. You are such a stubborn arse.'

'Maybe I am. And that's why we are so good together. We are one in the same.'

'So you are calling me a stubborn arse?' Anna stared at him.

'A stubborn little, sweet arse…'

'Why you cheeky...'

Anna smacked him across the chest and he couldn't help but laugh. 'Why don't we go home? Just the two of us...alone. No children.'

'It's almost three in the morning, John.'

'And we will go to bed and sleep peacefully until daylight. That's it.'

'Are we certain Caleb's door is locked this time?' Anna asked.

'Oh, it was locked before, they just left the key in the door. Will unlocked it in his sleep. He's very talented, that one. I made Caleb get up and lock it behind me and take the key.'

They headed home a moment later, securing the doors behind them. The sky had cleared and night was strangely calm for this time of the year. The moon was full and the stars shone brightly. They slowly walked hand-in-hand through their garden, enjoying the stillness of the late hours.

'It was all rather scary, wasn't it?' Anna spoke as they reached their kitchen door.

'I have to admit, it really was.' John gave a long sigh, chuckling as he did.

Anna couldn't help but smile victoriously at him when she stood on tiptoes to bestow a tender kiss under the night sky for admitting that.

Their long day had come to an end, bringing with it the end of Davy Driscoll, and curiously enough, the end of Will's sleepwalking.

You explain it, because we can't.