Belle was drawing a pattern for a new blouse she was going to introduce when the vision of Davey and Penny, sightless and lifeless, their limbs floating eerily in the water, seared through her brain.
At the memory, she pulled in a deep, horrified breath at the same exact moment her mobile rang.
The display said, “Jack Calling”.
Belle stared at the phone, stunned for a second then picked it up and hit the green button on the screen answering it in a quiet voice by asking, “How did you know?”
There was silence then Jack queried, “Belle?”
She didn’t respond to his call, instead she repeated, “How did you know I needed you to call?”
Jack’s voice no longer sounded questioning. It sounded alert when he enquired, “What’s happened?”
She shook her head, realised he couldn’t see her and answered, “Nothing. I just, two seconds ago, remembered Davey and Penny. Then you called as if you knew I needed you to call. How did you know?”
“Poppet,” he replied, his voice soft and warm, “I wish I could tell you I knew you needed me but I didn’t. I was calling to tell you I wouldn’t be home for dinner.”
“Oh,” Belle murmured.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes.”
More silence then, “Belle.”
“Really, Jack, I’m fine,” she assured him, though she wasn’t.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that it was uncanny, the minute her mind had filled with terrible, frightening images and, even though she didn’t consciously think it, unconsciously, she needed him and all of a sudden he called.
There was something weird about that.
Wonderful but weird.
“Poppet –” she heard him call softly in her ear.
“Jack, I’m fine,” she repeated, stronger this time.
There was silence a moment then he asked, “Will you walk the dogs?”
Belle didn’t like the sound of that and enquired, “How late are you going to be?”
“You’ll wake up next to me.”
Holy heck.
“That sounds like it means you’ll be really late,” she whispered tentatively.
“Yes, my love,” he replied cautiously.
“Does that mean you’ll be…” she paused, her heart clenching, she swallowed and then asked in a rush, “flying in the dark?”
He didn’t answer her question instead he declared, “I’ll be safe.”
“Will you be flying in the dark?” she asked again.
“Maybe,” he answered, his tone still cautious.
“Oh my goodness gracious,” she breathed.