Beginnings by J. E. Nice

Author:J. E. Nice [Nice, J. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Write into the Woods Publishing
Published: 2018-11-01T23:00:00+00:00

Alfie wasn’t wrong about the café by the harbour being lovely. It was busy but they were served quickly. They managed to find a table overlooking the water, just as the previous occupants left, and ordered their coffee. Erica took a moment to stare out at the boats and the reflections on the water, blocking out the noise and proximity of Alfie, so that it was just her in this world. A weight started to lift.

‘Your grandmother is something,’ said Alfie, shattering Erica’s peace. She gave him a smile and sipped at her hot coffee. ‘You’ve inherited some of her gifts.’

‘Have I?’

Alfie nodded.

‘You could sense that there wasn’t a spirit in that house, for one thing.’

‘That’s not a gift. It’s just experience. If you were human and had grown up with my gran, you’d be able to do that too.’ Erica’s voice dropped, trying to make sure those around couldn’t hear. Alfie didn’t take the same care.

‘That’s not true. Your mother can’t do it.’

‘She can. It’s just different for her.’ Erica narrowed her eyes against Alfie’s easy smile. ‘And what do you know about my mum?’

‘I met her, when you were growing in her belly.’

Erica cocked her head at Alfie.

‘How old are you?’

Alfie grinned.

‘You know, I’m not sure. You lose count after a while. Who cares how old you are when there’s so much life to be lived? I think that’s a lesson you need to learn. Somewhere, Erica Murray, you’ve lost your grandmother’s spirit. It’s in there somewhere, deep in your blood. We just have to find it again. I think quitting this job you have will be the perfect catalyst.’

Erica wanted to disagree, she really did, but there was a good chance that he was right.

‘There is so much I haven’t done,’ she murmured in agreement. ‘Maybe I should go travelling. I have enough saved up.’

Alfie barked a laugh and Erica snapped her head up to him. ‘What?’

‘Travelling the world isn’t what I had in mind.’

‘I can guess what you had in mind,’ Erica muttered. ‘Anyway, so you met my mum before I was born. That doesn’t mean you know us.’

‘Minerva speaks highly of both of you. She’s proud of you both.’

‘Well, that’s nice.’ Erica smiled down into her coffee. ‘She tells you about us, then?’

Alfie looked out onto the water.

‘There are things that we are told and things that we know. It depends on the person, of course. Your mother is hard to read. She got that from her father. But you, you I can read the same way I can read Minerva. Which is different, of course, to the way that Eolande reads Minerva. Or you.’

‘Makes sense,’ said Erica, wondering if it did. She gave Alfie a sideways look. ‘I’ve been warned away from you, you know.’

Alfie grinned.

‘Oh, I know. By your mother.’

‘And Gran. Something about you being inappropriate when mum was pregnant with me.’

‘Yes. I regret that.’ Alfie’s grin was gone in a second and he looked seriously down at the table, a fingernail scraping against a notch in the wood.

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