Beside the Brook (17 page)

“Kirsty, Kirsty,” she yelled as she crossed the path to the house, little orange and yellow stones flying up from under her feet. “I went to Lacey’s and she has four horses, and I went riding.” Her words tumbled out one on top of the other. She was so excited. Kirsten grinned and hugged Sarah. “Wow, that’s so cool.” She looked up and smiled at Jamie as he approached, keys jangling in one hand. He looked rather windswept and dashing in tight black moleskins over leather lace up boots, and a green shirt which offset the colour of his eyes. “What kind of horses does she have?” She averted her gaze back to Sarah.

Sarah danced on the concrete path behind the kitchen. “She has one grey pony called Misty and a black pony called Chaps. They’re both the same size. I had a ride on Chaps, he’s fat and Lacey’s dad said he needs to go on a diet, but I liked him. He has long eyelashes and when Lacey puts the saddle on him he puffs his tummy out and tries to bite her on the bum.” Sarah put her hand over her mouth and giggled through her fingers, hardly able to contain her excitement.

Kirsten laughed. “Did Dad go riding too?”

Sarah looked at her father and smiled. “No. He’s too big to ride the ponies. He could have ridden Tommy, he’s a-,” she paused and frowned. “What is he dad?”

“An Appaloosa, honey.”

“That’s right. He’s too big for me to ride, but Lacey said one day she’ll be able to ride him. They have another Appaloosa,” she slowed right down on the name, as if she hadn’t quite mastered it yet, “but she’s having a foal so nobody is allowed to ride her.”

“Well,” Kirsten said with enthusiasm, “it sounds like you had a fantastic time. Did you fall off?”

Sarah shook her head and looked very pleased. “No, Chaps just walked though. He’s fat and lazy, and Lacey’s dad led me most of the time.”

“Are you going to go again?” Kirsten asked.

“Yeah! If Dad will let me. Maybe you can come next time, Kirsty.”

Kirsten smiled. “Well, I don’t know how to ride, but I’d love to go and see Lacey’s horses if you go again.”

“Cool,” Sarah exclaimed. “Can I go again Dad? Can Kirsty come with us?”

Jamie crossed his arms over his chest. “We’ll see, okay?”

“Yay,” Sarah yelled, as if the answer had been a firm
yes
. “I’m going to go tell Grammy.”

“She’s in the pool,” Kirsten directed as the girl skipped away toward the house.

“Oh, okay.” She changed her course then stopped before adding, “Can I go for a swim dad?”

“Yes, of course you can. Go get your togs on.”

Sarah ran into the house and disappeared. They could hear her talking to herself as she walked up the stairs. Kirsten laughed and looked at Jamie.

“So, how was it really?” she asked when Sarah was safely out of ear shot.

“God, I was petrified.” Jamie dropped his shoulders but grinned despite the confession. “She has no fear that kid.”

“Well, that’s a good thing I guess.”

“It was so hard standing there watching her climb up on that horse’s back. It was something I never thought I’d be able to do.” Jamie stared wistfully at Kirsten.

“Hey, you did good.” She smiled. “I’d just like you to know that
I
got in trouble over this, however.”

“You?” Jamie frowned. “Let me guess, Beth?”

“Ah-huh.” Kirsten nodded. “I’m sure you’ll hear all about it too.” She put on a posh English accent as if imitating the Queen. “She was not amused.”

“Well, I’m sorry if you got stuck in the middle of that.”

Kirsten waved her hand in the air, brushed him off. “Ah, I can handle Beth.”

“Oh, I’m sure you can handle pretty much anything.” Jamie stepped forward, placed both hands on her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead.

“Well, at the moment all I want is a nice long bath.” She looked at her watch. “And then it should be just about time for drinks before dinner. I think we’re starting early today.”

“Oh yeah, Beth’s birthday. I guess I have to show up then don’t I?” Jamie grinned.

“Of course.” Kirsten put her hands on her hips.

He groaned. “I really can’t be bothered if she’s going to be grumpy with me.” He looked down at Kirsten. “Are you going to wear those earrings I brought you?”

Kirsten acted blasé but her lips curled into a smile as she said, “I suppose I could.”

“You suppose.” Jamie grinned. His eyes danced like the emeralds he had given her. He traced the outline of her mouth with one finger. She opened her lips and took the tip between her teeth, bit it softly before she moved it away with her hand and wound their fingers together.

“I’ll wear them,” she said. “I better make sure I pick something out that they go with hadn’t I?”

“I was just thinking how stunning you’d look wearing
just
the earrings, but then I guess that wouldn’t really be appropriate for a party would it?”

“No. But if you want to meet me afterwards I could show you how it looks.”

“Wow,” Jamie breathed. “I’d like that. Just thinking about it gets me excited.” He dropped Kirsten’s hand and laughed. “Stop it.”

“You started it remember.” She smiled then left him standing with his thoughts as she walked to the house. “I’m going to have a bath. I’ll see you later.”

She peeked into the kitchen at Craig on her way past. The heavy door squeaked on its hinges and the heavy set man turned in surprise.

“You need any help?” she asked.

“Hey, kiddo. No I think I’m okay at the moment thanks. I’m just about to sit down and take five. Everything is under control so I can have a few drinks myself tonight.”

Kirsten winked. “Big night planned is it?”

Craig, understanding the implication, grinned then curled up a tea towel and hurled it at Kirsten. She moved her head quickly before it hit and let the door close for protection. She heard a dim thud as the cloth hit, then slid to the floor. Kirsten whistled as she climbed the stairs two at a time. She had only been here a few months, but already she felt her fitness level had increased from all the exercise. Tomorrow she would possibly pay for the bout of tennis Beth had just put her through, so she planned on soaking the tension from her body before it had time to do its worst.

She ran a hot bath, piled high with lavender bubbles. Soft music filled the room as she turned the radio on and the curtains protested against the thin rails as she pulled them shut. This part was purely habit. Being three stories up and having no neighbours within view of the house, privacy was a given, but it made her feel more comfortable closing herself in.

Having soaked for a good thirty minutes she pulled herself from the water, reached for a thick bath towel and dried herself off. She wiped the mirror with the corner of her towel and peered at her image through the steam. She had pulled her hair onto the top of her head with a large plastic clip to keep it out of the water, and she turned to see the curve of her neck, now bare and slender. Her hair never afforded much attention, except for the effort she put into preventing it from turning into a frizzy birds nest on a daily basis. Tonight she decided to style it up into a French twist. As she walked back into the bedroom she noticed something draped over the end of her bed. She frowned, and walked forward to pick it up. It was a dress, made of beautiful jade material, with a haltered neck and flared skirt. A row of diamantes decorated the middle, veering up into a slight ‘V’ under the breasts where the material was gathered to accentuate the waist.

Jamie,
she thought to herself as she pulled the padded clothes hanger over her head and turned to the mirror to get an idea of what it would look like on. It was a simple but stunning design and Kirsten smiled as she saw it against her. She hoped it would fit. Quickly she pulled the towel from her body and slipped the dress from its hanger; stepped into it and pulled the straps around her neck into a loose knot. She turned back to the mirror. It sat snugly against her frame as if it had been tailored to fit, the inlaid bra cushioning her breasts perfectly and producing just the right amount of cleavage. The waist accentuated her hourglass figure and the skirt flowed down over her hips in a final flattering detail.

“Wow,” she whispered under her breath. As she twisted, the material fluttered around her calves in soft folds.

How does he always know?
She pondered. First it was the earrings, now the dress. When she had commented earlier to Jamie about finding something to go with the earrings she had no idea he would do something like this. He must have already had the dress when they’d had that conversation. She smiled as she thought about it. Wasn’t he a dark horse for being able to keep a straight face over that one? Nothing had given him away at all.

Kirsten delved into the back of the closet and pulled out a pair of black, heeled sandals. She pulled them on, twisted the leather strap around her ankle and clasped it firmly into the tiny buckle on the other side of the shoe.

Going back to the bathroom she applied a little makeup and sprayed her hair into place, then put on the earrings Jamie had given her.

She returned to the full length mirror to examine her final look. She sighed. Never before had she been so happy with the way she looked. She couldn’t have picked a better outfit for herself if she had tried.

Jamie was so full of surprises. She was beginning to understand why Brook had been so in love with him, if this was the way he treated his women. It was very flattering. Kirsten decided it was time to go downstairs for the party. After a final dab of perfume behind the ears she headed out into the hallway. She couldn’t wait for Jamie to see what she looked like.

Kirsten could almost feel the cloud under her feet as she glided down the stairs. It was amazing how the right outfit could instill such confidence, she mused as she watched her reflection pass in the window. She paused on the second storey landing to see if Jamie or Sarah were still there. When she heard nothing but the steady tick of the antique framed wall clock she continued down to the ground floor. As she rounded the corner to the formal lounge she could see everyone was already present. Craig and Sarah had decorated the room with bright streamers and had hung a large birthday banner over the French doors.

Sarah looked gorgeous in a pink taffeta party dress, white stockings and polished vinyl shoes to match. Her blonde hair had been washed and pulled back into pigtails with two cerise ribbons.

Beth wore a stunning two piece pant suit in vivid blue, and Tyler had donned a burgundy silk shirt and black dress pants. He looked extremely handsome, his dark hair brushed back in place. Even Craig had scrubbed up for the occasion, wearing a casual brown suit and an open collared shirt.

But her attention was for Jamie, who had also showered and changed. He now wore a pair of tan dress pants and a linen vest over a long sleeved black t-shirt. She smiled as he turned. Everyone looked as she entered the room and she waited for a glance of appreciation from Jamie. But what she got told an alternative story. Puzzled, she stared at him. Her stomach lurched as she realised his face had drained of all colour, as if she were an apparition of the dead.

She heard Tyler in the background as he whistled in appreciation, but was equally astonished as Beth gasped, her hand clutched fearfully to her chest. Something was wrong; terribly wrong. What was it?

“Jamie?” she questioned.

“You look
stunning.
” Tyler seemed to be the only one smiling as he stepped forward. Kirsten glanced at him, confused for a moment.

“Is that-?” Beth’s fingers were shaking so much she had to put her drink down. It clunked heavily onto the table and almost toppled over. Jamie’s face was stone, unreadable. His eyes seemed lifeless as he spoke in a low tone, finishing Beth’s sentence in a deathly tone, “Brook’s dress.”

Kirsten’s heart flipped in her chest as she realised her devastating mistake.

“You look so pretty.” Sarah, unaware of what was unfolding, ran forward and smiled at Kirsten.

“Jesus Christ where did you get that?” Beth spat in an uncontrolled blather. She seemed almost hysterical.

“I-,” Kirsten started. She stared down at herself, suddenly feeling sick to the stomach. Her mind raced as she tried to grasp what had gone so wrong. One minute she was on top of the world, feeling a million dollars in the new outfit Jamie had bought her and the next she was wearing a dead woman’s dress. How had this happened? If Jamie hadn’t given her the dress then who had?

The room began to spin and her vision swam, making her feel giddy. She clawed at the dress with her hands, suddenly wanting to be somewhere else; anywhere but here, standing in front of Jamie wearing his dead wife’s clothing.

Jamie turned away, unable to look at her. She wanted to speak but her mind wouldn’t focus, couldn’t find the words.

“Kirsten,” Beth said uneasily as she moved forward. Her voice seemed to be coming through a thick fog down a dark tunnel. Kirsten could barely make her out through the haze. As her head swung round the room turned grey and she felt her body falling. There was nothing she could do. Everything faded to black as she collapsed onto the floor.

When she came to Beth was hovering over her, her pale face looking frail and full of concern.

“There you are, honey.” She wiped Kirsten’s face with a cold cloth. “Kirsty, can you hear me?”

“Mmm,” Kirsten groaned as she squirmed on the floor. Her legs lay at an odd angle and were beginning to cramp.

“You fainted, its okay, lie still for a minute.”

Kirsten could hear Sarah crying. She turned her head and could see that Jamie had taken Sarah out onto the patio. She could tell he was listening to Beth, but he wouldn’t look in their direction.

“Beth?” Kirsten looked up as a tear rolled down her cheek and plopped onto the carpet beneath her.

“Yes?” Beth placed her hand softly on Kirsten’s forehead. Kirsten whispered loud enough for only Beth to hear. “Get me out of this dress.” Her whole world had caved in. She felt humiliated and alien lying on the lounge floor. Understanding, Beth called, “Craig, help me will you?”

Tyler stepped forward into Kirsten’s line of sight. “I’ll help.”

Beth whipped her head round at her son and gave him a sharp look of disapproval. “I think you’ve done enough for one night.”