Modern Day–Travel Agency Satellite Office
Gemma Conlin and her best friend, Becky Davis, sat in the tiny airless office. Most of the lights were off in a failed attempt to lower the temperature in the room. The air conditioning failed again.
“So, Pinky, what are we going to do after work?” Becky mimicked a cartoon character in an attempt at levity.
“It’s too hot to take over the world. How about we just go grab a drink and chill at home?” Gemma half-heartedly smiled, while lethargically tapping on her keyboard. There were no clients today, and their supervisor wasn’t there again. Which was normal for Kevin, this close to lunch. The girls figured it wasn’t their problem what Kevin did, as long as they received their paycheck. It was a relief from his frequent requests for a date. They needed their jobs, and he was incidental.
Rummaging in her purse, Becky pulled out an envelope. “Dang it. I can’t find my lip gloss. Oh, Gemma, I forgot. This came to the door yesterday. I was leaving to go shopping. You were out with Brad at the restaurant. It looks kind of official.”
“That’s weird. I wasn’t expecting anything.” With a frown, Gemma accepted the envelope. A bold seal of a lawyer graced the top left of the envelope. Staring at the envelope, Gemma felt her heart dip into her stomach. Letters like this were never good news. She tore it open and read it in stunned silence.
“Are you being sued? Why would anyone sue you? What would anyone have to sue you about?” Becky moved closer to get a better look while Gemma slit the envelope open and pulled a piece of paper from it. After the second reading of the letter, Gemma’s ashen fact looked up at Becky.
“No. I’m not being sued.” Gemma turned back to the letter and read it again, as if she were looking for something else within its depths.
“What’s wrong? Has something happened?” Now, Becky dropped all levity at her friend’s abrupt change of mood.
“Yes, you could say that. Well, at least my parents aren’t alive for this. My Great Aunt Esme died. This is a letter from the lawyer who’s acting as the executor of her will. No one bothered to tell me she’d died. I need to call Evan. He must have one of these too. Why didn’t anyone tell me she died? I didn’t have the chance to attend her funeral.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t remember anyone ever speaking about a Great Aunt Esme. Who exactly was she?”
“My dad’s aunt. My dad always called her the Great Crazy One. He insisted this sweet and kind woman was off her rocker, and before you ask, I never learned why. Now I know I saw some strange happenings in her house. I know for a fact that house wasn’t normal.”
“Ooh… Is this story time?” Becky pulled her chair close with an intrigued look on her face. “I want to know everything, and no minor detail is too small.”
“Fine, I warn you, this story is long. It’s also from the perspective of a kid, and no interrupting.” Gemma knew Becky was one of those people that ask questions as they watched a movie.
“I promise to try my best. Now spill it.”
“Everything seemed fine in the family until Evan, and I turned ten years old…” Gemma went into describing her last memories of her Great Aunt and the large, rambling mansion she called home. The family legacy, she’d called it. This story differed with the explanation of what she’d seen in the mirror and the fact it now lay broken under the floor of the bedroom she used when she visited.
“So, your aunt is or was crazy? What did she want to teach you about? Who was in the mirror, did you ever find out? Did you ever tell Evan? You don’t scare easily. I can’t imagine you that scared.” “Evan and I don’t know what they were talking about. It was like they were afraid if we knew we’d become as crazy as her. If that makes sense. Now she’s dead, and the executor wants us there on Saturday morning to read her will. No, I never found out who he was, and no, I never told Evan. You know how he is.” “Didn’t you contact your aunt after your parents died? Didn’t she come to their funerals?”“No, it felt too weird to contact her. It felt like I was approaching a stranger. She didn’t come to their funeral. Maybe the family didn’t tell her like they didn’t tell me about hers? I didn’t know how to communicate with her. Nothing I could think of sounded appropriate. Hi, I missed you growing up. What did you fight about with my parents and are you truly crazy?”
“Well, we can get to the lawyer’s office without a problem. Look, I’ll grab us lunch from the coffee shop while you call Evan. Say hi to the arsehole for me.” Becky never did like Evan, and they often insulted each other. Gemma thought it was childish, but it entertained them. “Sounds good to me. The usual, BLT on a bagel, and the largest tea possible. Three milk and two sugar on ice. It’s too hot for hot tea.” “On it. See you soon.”Becky decided she’d go with Gemma to listen to the executor’s words about her family’s estate. She knew her brother and his wife, Sara, would be present. But the thought of traveling in a car with Sara’s judgmental attitude and snide comments wasn’t appealing. This way she could make her escape without depending on them for her ride home.
It took several hours to drive there, so they left Friday afternoon and rented a hotel room. They’d leave after the reading of the will and a little shopping to return home. That would give them a chance to relax and prepare for the coming work week.
“You think we can afford room service? I’ve always wanted to order room service and eat in bed.” Becky bounced on the bed in the hotel room. They’d rented a room with two double beds. Gemma tossed her back into the doorless closet and moved to look out the room’s window at the city below.
“I guess we can order in dinner. I’m just glad that we made it here is such good time.”
Gemma looked at her phone and frowned. “It’s a little early. I think I’m going to call Brad. I don’t want him to think I’m ignoring him. Last night was so much fun. Did I tell you about the club he took me to?”
“Nope, I was asleep before you came home. I guess it was another great date. What you’ve dated for about two months, right? Do you think it’ll get serious? How did he react when you told him about this?”
“A girl can hope. He’s surprised I mentioned nothing about it until now. But he seemed interested, but he said he couldn’t get the time off work to come with me.” Gemma frowned down at her phone. “This is weird. I’m getting a message that my text can’t go through. I’m going into the bathroom to see if I can call him.”
“That’s weird. We should have great signal here. Okay, don’t worry about me. I’ll settle in while you talk to him.”
It didn’t take Gemma more than a minute or two to return. “Oh, my god. I can’t believe him. He’s blocked me with everything. His F******k status says single now. I think he’s ghosting me. Why wouldn’t he tell me? What caused this?”
“You’re serious? He’s ghosting you. What a jerk.” Both girls huddled over their phones, trying to find proof Gemma was wrong. “Hon, he may have his status marked as single. But look at this. He’s moving on before you’re even gone.” Gemma held up her phone with a picture of Brad with a blonde girl on his lap. “Her name is Gigi. Who names their daughter Gigi in this day and age? Oh, here’s an explanation. I’m reading this word for word from his response to a friend of his questioning him about the photo with the bimbo. She’s dead to me when she chose her side-chick over me. It was the last straw. She has money and lied to me about it. Witch went to accept her inheritance. I’m no long-distance Romeo.”
“I can’t believe him. What did he think I was doing? He’s the one that said he couldn’t make the trip. Lied? How did I lie about my net worth? Was that why he dated me? Because he didn’t need to pay for me? I bet Gigi doesn’t pay.”
“Fine. Now we’re getting room service. Then we’ll stay up late watching chick flicks and talking smack.”
“There has to be a mistake. Why would he have said something to me? I must get this straightened out. Give me your phone. I’ll call him on that.” “No, you aren’t calling him. It’s quite clear what he’s done and what he’s telling the world. You will not contact him and look like a sad sack of a woman desperate to keep a man who doesn’t want her. Let me show you exactly what he’s doing and as your friend I won’t let you get suckered into it.” “But I thought he cared.” “He cared about his comfort and convenience; you mean. You were there as a cheap date to entertain him when he wanted it. How many times did you go out when you invited him? How many times did he make himself available to you? None in the last two months. You went on what? Twelve dates? You paid your way. He told you what to wear and how to act. That’s not right. Now you’re not available for him. He dumps you like a hot potato and doesn’t have the guts to tell you. That sounds immature in my eyes. He’s clearly sending you and everyone the message. He doesn’t care about things unless his needs aren’t being met. Your needs meant nothing to him.”“That’s not nice, you never met him.”
“Of course, I never met him. If I met him, he’s having to share you with someone else. He’d have to make himself available to your schedule, and that would mean he’d not get his way. Come on, Gemma, you’re better than that. He’s saying this for everyone to see. He’s trying to make you look like the selfish person. But anyone with a brain in their head can see him for the immature child that he is. You are better off without that headache.” “Fine. But I want chocolate tonight. Do you think I should respond on my page?” “Drive him nuts and wish them well?” Becky grinned evilly at Gemma. “No one said, you needed to make things easy for him. Let him explain why you aren’t begging him to come back to you. Just say you had a good time, but it’s over and you’re on to better things.” “Remind me never to make an enemy of you.” Gemma looked at Becky, knowing her friend was right. It just wasn’t easy to accept sometimes.The next morning, the two girls walked to the lawyer’s office. As expected, they entered the waiting room lobby of the law firm to find a frosty reception from Gemma’s family. They were all there for the money, but no one wanted to share or deal with anyone else. Evan and his wife, Sara, stood in a corner. “Clearly, something’s wrong in paradise,” Becky whispered from behind Gemma. The girls never got along well with Sara. Partly because of what she was doing right now. She was in the midst of telling Evan what he should do and how to do it. Long ago, Gemma discovered Sara acted like this when money became involved. “Well, that’s all the money-grubbing relatives.” &n
Gemma and Becky held back as the rest of her family left. Only Gemma’s brother and John made it a point to say goodbye to Gemma before they left. Uncle John wasn’t happy that she’d agreed and would waste all the resources and the workman’s time. He warned her it wouldn’t turn out well for her or the estate. Sell it to the city or to a private corporation. The family would benefit from its sale in the long run. Mr. Winters took the two women into his private office to continue their meeting. “Now, Gemma. Your inheritance will stay for now at the estate. Currently, the work being done in the house is too great for anyone to stay there. But the servants’ cottage is available to move into. It will need a little further work, but nothing you can’t handle. It’s mostly sorting through years of clutter and keep
“Kevin, shut up for a minute and listen. It’s fine. Just send us our severance pay and we’ll call it a day. No, it doesn’t matter. Because we were going to quit, anyway. No, that does not mean we can date. No, Becky isn’t available either. Goodbye Kevin and don’t call again.” Gemma disconnected the call and looked at Becky. “That was nasty. Thanks for dealing with him, hon. He’s so creepy.” Becky bubble wrapped an empty mason jar. “Yeah, I’m calling to reroute our mail right now. I don’t trust him not to track us down and stalk us. At least he won’t find us here tomorrow if he comes around.”&n
Sure enough, Gemma and Becky woke up to several large burly men at their door, which meant they needed to scramble to get ready and finish the last-minute packing. The men were patient and went for coffee while they got ready. After all, the men were ahead of schedule. Once dressed and the last of the packing done. Gemma packed the new car that arrived the day before. Becky minded the movers and the closing walk-through with their landlord. Gemma went for breakfast for them and returned in time to see the moving truck head out, and Becky waiting on the curb for her. She jumped into the car, and they sped off towards their new home. “Glad you got here when you did. I thi
It took hours to unpack everything from the truck and more time to get Professor Digby to leave. Night fell while Gemma and Becky focused back on the items hidden within Gemma’s bag. “I’ve not been able to get my mind off the mirror. You really hit it hard on the railing. I hope it’s not broken further.” “I’m glad I have heard no scrapping of glass. So, I don’t think it dislodged the glass.” Sitting at the kitchen table in the old servants’ cottage, they carefully opened her bag and pulled the items out. Laying them down, the mirror looked no worse for wear and both women sighed in relief at that. The book, however.
First thing the next morning, Gemma thought of the gorgeous slab of a man from her dreams. Her first thought was to find him in the mirror. But that failed. It was as black as ever. However, to her surprise, the glass was whole. The crack disappeared from the glass, like it’d never been there. This sent Gemma into a tailspin of panic. Something definitely happened last, and she didn’t know what it was. She needed to talk to Becky right away. Becky needed to see this. “Becky! Becky wake up! You won’t believe this!” Gemma yelled as she sprinted down the hallway to Becky’s room. She stopped long enough to knock on the door before she entered, a little out of breath. “What’s going on? Are we being invaded or something?” “That’s what I’m trying
Larin knocked an empty tankard from the table beside him in irritation. It’d been hours since he spoke to her, Gemma. The more he thought of her and her fragile beauty, the more imperative it felt to him is that he must be by her side. Her ignorance was not the bliss, many claimed it to be. It endangered her life. Part of the problem started when Ester passed. The illness took forever to kill the sweet old woman. The magic and medicine they possessed couldn’t save her from the magical disease, combined with her age. Magic was in short supply, and a war waged on. Now the other guardian Esmeralda died, and her replacement failed to take her place. That guardian died, too. Gemma now stood in the position of becoming one of the two guardians. Mirror guardians were always twins. One must exist on either side of the portal.
Gemma and Becky followed Professor Digby, who pointed out various things as they returned to the main house. He kindly pointed out where the arbour was near the lake. Becky couldn’t keep her excitement in when he disclosed this information to them. Gemma, on the other hand, was more concerned about what happened to the restoration crewmen. Nothing would get done if they couldn’t keep staff. Also, what Larin said in the dream or whatever that was. He may not be real, but they could still prove the information. The verification of that appeared to be frighteningly true. The only confirmation that would be indisputable would be to see one of these creatures or meet Larin. “Once we deal with this interruption, we can continue with the rest of the tour. That way you can comprehend the scope of this restoration and how i