Rosecoven

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“Take off your shoes; you must have had a long day. There’s a pair of slippers that’ll fit you right there.” 

As she said it, I felt my feet were hot, tired and uncomfortable, so I unlaced my boots and slipped into the soft, welcoming slippers.  

“Oh, that’s better.”  

“I’ve put the kettle on. Tea or coffee?” 

“Tea, thanks.” 

I heard the kettle boiling in the kitchen. 

Her thumb ran along the rim of my cup three times before handing it to me, like she was sealing something in. 

“Here you are. Careful, it’s hot,” Elma said, coming over and closing the book full of strange diagrams that’d been left open on the armchair. 

The smell of her coffee mixed with the room’s exotic scent.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” I blurted out. “I think about you all day, every day from when I wake up to when I go to sleep. If I sleep.”  

I felt happy, like I was a kid again. I had to carry on. 

“I see your face every time I close my eyes. I hear your voice telling me things.” 

The tea tasted perfect.

“What things?” 

“Well, the things you said at work. About how I’m a good man. About how I’m coming back. How you’ve seen me in the cards. All that kind of stuff. I think I even dreamt about you before, but that’d be weird.” 

“It’s OK. You don’t need to worry. I knew you’d feel this way,” she said it like she was talking about the weather.  

“I’ve got something in the oven. Have some dinner. You’ll feel better, and then you’ll be able to tell me all about it. Won’t you?” 

My mum would kill me for being so impolite, but I was starving by this time. I couldn’t resist, especially with the smells that were drifting through from the kitchen. 

I felt so relaxed while eating. I think she’d used herbs I’d never had before. Good though, and better than the chippy, an oven-ready meal, or even my mum’s cooking. 

I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed. 

We talked about everything. She always seemed to like the same things I did, even football. I thought she was faking at first, but she knew more about some things than I did. It was as if we’d known each other forever.

My muscles didn’t want to move. They’d turned all soft, but as long as I sat on her sofa, I was fine… The aroma, the company, just fine. 

The room breathed. Or maybe it was me. I couldn’t tell. 

“I can help you, Chris, but it’d be better if you let me do something first. Don’t worry, it’s not creepy, just a pack of cards that will explain what I mean.”

She got up and went over to the sideboard and brought out a package wrapped in dark purple cloth. She set it down on the dining table and unwrapped it carefully, revealing a pack of large cards. 

She asked me to shuffle the pack thoroughly and then cut it into three.  

“Which pile would you like to choose?” she said, looking into my mind, smiling.  

I liked it when she did that. 

It was as if it was calling me, “The one on the right.” 

She looked really cute as she concentrated on laying out the cards in a strange pattern. Then she told me about myself as if she’d known me since I was born. She knew my deepest hopes and fears and every desire I’d ever had. She was kind and took care not to hurt my feelings.  

Even though everything she said was true, there was conflict. My work was against my nature, they said, and that if I continued to pursue it as a career, my mental and emotional health could suffer badly if nothing changed.  

“I can’t believe you know all this about me from just a pack of cards, Elma. I’m sure I didn’t mention anything about trying to track down my dad. I even feel closer to him now.”  

I was so snug and content. 

The three of us were completely at ease. Elma, me and the room.

“It’s like you can see inside me. It’s like you can roam inside my head and know anything you want about me. How do you do that? Are all my doors open?” 

“Let’s see. Why don’t I come and sit beside you, mmm?” She said softly, getting up. 

She sat right next to me. Touching. I could smell her. I could feel her breath. It gently blew away all the worries I’d ever had. 

“My mum and my grandma taught me how to read the cards. They even taught me how to read tea leaves.”  

I could only nod. It was like her voice was inside my head. It filled me up. 

“I bet you’re engaged or something to some nice girl, or about to have a kid. Aren’t you?” 

“You mean you don’t know?” I grinned gently. 

When did she start rubbing my knee? 

My heart was pounding so hard, I thought I was going to choke.

It’d been a long time since I’d had a girl’s head on my shoulder.

She smelled like heaven. Sweet, soft and light.

Her full lips moved closer and closer until I just couldn’t control myself any longer. I grabbed her shoulders and kissed her hard, sticking my tongue right down her throat. 

“Woah! Take it easy. There’s no rush. Let’s take it nice and slow.”  

Her hand moved a little.

She spoke slower and slower and quieter and quieter and then took me. Took me to heaven, not just once but again and again.  

I didn’t know I could do these things.

Everything fits. Everything makes sense. Everything is right with the world.

She’s slow, wonderful, relaxed, comfortable. 

Not like any girl I’ve been with before.  

This is the life. 

I feel calm here, like something is rooting me to this place.

To her. To her taste. To her scent. Everything.

She’s kind, always coaxing, leading me to new heights. 

I think I go to work the next day, but to be honest, I’ve no idea. I’m on autopilot.  

I’m on cloud nine. 

My mum comes to see me at work to make sure I’m OK. She’s not sure, so she sends my uncle to check that it’s really me. He grins from ear to ear when he sees me.  

“Take it while you can get it, son,” he says in his best impression of a worldly-wise wizard. 

Back to hers after work. I can’t get enough. I’ve thought about nothing else.  

She shows me things I’ve never even heard of in the rec room at work.  

I’m so in. 

*****

I turn my key, walk in, slip off my boots, and into my slippers. 

“Hi, I’m home.” 

“We’re in here, love. Come and meet the girls.” 

“Chris, this is Zingy, Christine, and Lisa.” 

“Hiya. How’re you doing? I’ve heard a lot about you.” 

“All good, I hope.” Laughs all round. 

Elma comes up, wraps her arms around me, and gives me a big sloppy kiss. 

“How was today?” 

“Oh, same old, same old.” 

“We were waiting to start dinner. I bet you’re starving.” 

“I could eat a horse. What’ve you made?” 

“The four of us cooked tonight.” 

Everything on the table is incredible. The more we eat, the more we laugh, the more we relax. A wonderful time. 

Lisa is the quietest one, but I get the feeling that she’s assessing me in some way, almost like a silent interview. Her blonde fringe is like a curtain that almost hides her eyes; when she does speak, her voice is like silky smooth cream.

She says, “Elma says your readings have been unbelievable, so we’ve brought our own cards, just to check that she’s doing it right.” Her hand goes up to cover her mouth as the three of them giggle softly. “Do you mind?” 

I just shake my head, grinning.

“Who would you like to start with, Chris?” asks Lisa.

I choose Christine. 

The four women exchange a look that doesn’t quite include me. 

The tall redhead draws some kind of sign in the air above the cards, mutters quietly to herself and begins the reading. After 15 minutes or so, the other two try too. 

When they are finished: 

“I see what you mean, Elma,” said Zingy, her quick grey eyes twinkling. “The Fool, Death, a change for the good is coming.”

She approves of me. I don’t know why; it’s just a feeling.

“Yeah,” said Christine, flicking her long red hair over her shoulder. “They all talk about the same thing. Be true to yourself. They show you’re a leader. More than one king in each reading with none reversed.” 

“There was a Hierophant reversed, though,” Lisa said in her hushed voice. “So it says that he’s on the wrong path right now, and it’ll probably make him sick. Paths don’t change, only the feet walking them.” 

I had no idea what they were talking about, but I was glad they liked me.

“Who’s for some trifle?” says Elma, coming through with a huge bowlful. “I’ll be mum.” 

After the trifle, the sofa swallows me whole. The weariness falls off my bones. Every ache and pain vanishes.

It’s wonderful meeting the girls, but soon they’re on their way home. 

I don’t know why, but it’s like I’ve passed a test of some kind.

I stay as usual.  

Saying that, the next night, I have to sleep at my mum’s. She’s been lonely and is eager to catch up. She’s desperate to meet Elma, but I say it’s still too early. 

The nightmares start as soon as my head hits the pillow. I’m falling endlessly. Crashing into things that should kill me, but I just bounce off and fall in another direction. There’s no up. Everything’s down. 

I wake up about four, but my eyes don’t seem to work properly. I keep seeing Elma at the end of my bed, smiling. “Don’t worry,” she keeps saying, “Go back to sleep.” 

Now she’s beside me, maybe only in the dream, and all my worries vanish. 

Then. 

“I’m sorry. My friends need me. It’s important,” she whispers in my ear.  

“I need to go. Now.”  

I drift.  

I’m on the sea.  

Nothing for miles.  

Just sea. 

And a huge sun. 

It’s so hot. It’s unbearable. I’m parched. I have to let go. 

My skin blistering.

I’m burning! 

A fin. 

I can barely stay afloat.

I thrash.

Is it circling?  

Every time I scream, seawater fills my mouth. 

I’m filling up. 

Dropping. 

Into the depths. 

I can’t. 

I’m going to be eaten. 

A mouth. 

Teeth! 

Then… 

“I’m back,” she says in my dream. 

My panic deflates, and everything’s rosy again. I drift off into a deep sleep, with no water in sight. 

No sharks. 

The cards didn’t mention sharks.  

*****

After dinner on Thursday, I don’t feel right either. 

I’m still in Elma relaxation mode, but something’s different. 

I sleep, but I’m even worse in the morning. 

I can’t tell her it’s the food, cos it was better than usual. 

“I’m not feeling very well.” 

“Oh Chris! You’re burning up,” says Elma, hand on my forehead. 

“My guts,” I whine. “Got any pills? I’ve got to get to work.” 

“There’s no way you’re going to work today, love!” She says. 

“No choice… must… go.” 

I clock on; the sergeant sees me, sends me to the medic and I’m back at Elma’s within the hour. 

“The girls are here. They sensed something was wrong. I hope you’re a better patient than I am.” 

I’m put to bed.

Something smells different. Smoke?

Incense.

My head is against a breast as I’m patiently spoon-fed something smooth and sticky. It tastes, I don’t know, kind of like medicine, but…

I’m coming and going.

Gentle white-skinned hands are wiping my forehead with a deliciously cool cloth.

Oh, that’s so good.

Voices are chatting in the room.

“He’s adapting really well, better than they usually do.” 

What was that? 

Hands everywhere, pulling me up. I think they’re pills. Water.

I want more water.

What’s happening now?

Why am I on my side?

Wiping.

That’s more comfortable. Dry.

I arrive. I leave. I don’t know when.

I feel safe here. Safe and seen. Like someone’s smoothing my thoughts. 

Even my mum can’t look after me this well, though only Elma’s allowed to give me a bed bath. 

After two days off and feeling much better, I’m back at work.  

I take a while to get my bearings. I make a few small paperwork mistakes, but apart from that, I’m fine. 

It isn’t too busy, so I go to chat with Ken in the drone control room. It’s fun watching people being followed. 

And there she is. Not Zingy, Christine or Lisa, but Leah, another of Elma’s friends. The drone’s following her through the sparse woodland up on Rosehill. 

Lots of things about Elma and her friends seem strange to me at times, but Leah’s downright odd. She has all-knowing eyes that look as if they’ve seen horrors beyond belief, but she’s only seventeen. She’s so fragile. I can’t let her be followed. Elma would never forgive me. 

Ken’s being his usual efficient self. He’s the best drone pilot we have. 

I have to do something. 

I stand up and stumble against him, nudging his hand. The drone smashes straight into the nearest tree. He’s furious. 

“What the fuck did you do that for? I’ll need to report this, Chris. Someone’s going to take the fall for this, and it’s not going to be me.” 

“Come on, man. I didn’t mean it. I leaned on the arm of the chair. It moved as I got up. It was an accident.” 

“It’s not that, Chris. Losing any drone has to be reported. They’re not cheap, you know. We’ll need to get a recovery team out there as soon as possible.” 

“OK, OK. Report it, Ken. Just say it was my fault. I’m really, really sorry. I don’t want you to get into any shit.” 

“Yeah, yeah, Chris, I know. You shouldn’t be here, man. If you’re not fit, get yourself back to the medic.” 

*****

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