The old Indian motorcycle roared down the highway. Carol’s apparition had inspired Jacob to get out of the house, but what he needed most now was help. The bike was still blowing off cobwebs from the dusty garage it had sat neglected in for months, as Jacob came to a rumbling halt out front of the old Murphy’s venue where he heard singing coming from inside.

  Within twenty minutes, Jacob angrily stormed out of the venue and headed back to town.

  On entering Moriset and riding along Daisy Park Road, Jacob noticed a sign that read “Medium” above a shopfront. He slowed excitedly, parked his bike, and went over to investigate.

  ‘Oh…’ said the young woman, turning to discover Jacob in front of her. She leaned down to pick up the astrology book she had dropped, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on this familiar?looking man. Not because she had met him before, but because of a description that somehow fitted perfectly into the jigsaw pieces she had been given. She placed the book on top of the long glass display case in front of her and waited.

  ‘Sorry to frighten you,’ said Jacob. ‘I noticed your sign when riding past and well… I need help.’

  The young woman wiped her hair to one side and looked thoughtfully at Jacob.

  ‘What made you choose me, ah… Mr.?’

  ‘Sorry, just call me Jacob. Or JK. Nothing, just… can you help? Miss?’ he asked hopefully.

  ‘Abagail,’ she whispered quietly. ‘Perhaps… it depends what it is… Jacob, right?’

  Jacob nodded and gave a small reassuring smile. He pulled up the only small wooden chair beside Abagail’s display cabinet. He looked at the wilting sunflower and pushed its glass vase to the side. Abagail threw a black cloth over it and gave a shocked short laugh.

  ‘And bah?boom!’ she called out. She lifted the cloth away to reveal a now bright and healthy sunflower.

  ‘I thought you were a medium, not a magician,’ said Jacob, admiring the now happy?looking sunflower.

  ‘Magician by night, medium by day. Or vice versa,’ she shrugged. ‘Musician when the time arises. Just like you, Jacob.’

  ‘That’s right. Good guess. Or maybe you’re aware that one of my songs is now… well, just left the top 100 country chart. Maybe you saw my face on the TV. Anyway, I was just out of town at a venue. It happened to be one I’d performed at with a band over two years ago. Some of the old band members were there and just laughed at me when I went up on stage to perform my one and only hit song.’

  ‘Mhmm,’ yawned Abagail.

  ‘They said things like: “That’s a great song.” “It’s okay.” “I don’t like it.” “One vote for I don’t like it. No… two. I don’t like it either. What’s ‘Your heart is one with mine’ supposed to mean anyway?” “Jacob’s the man.” “Jacob’s a dumb?arse.” That was Mitch.’

  ‘Mhmm,’ sighed Abagail.

  ‘I’d just taken the neck of the guitar and left it where it was on stage. I felt humiliated they would speak so badly of me. Not only that… some crazy guy had sat down in a rush at the same table as me, sweating, slightly drunk, maybe high too. He said stuff like: “Stupid cops!” and placed a full glass of cold beer down on the high?set table in front of me. I told him, “Sorry, pal. I’m not really looking to be chatty right now. But that beer looks good.” I admitted that. Then he said: “They shouldn’t have chased me. Now a woman’s dead.” I asked where. “Straight through the lights and BANG!” he said…’

  ‘Jacob,’ said Abagail, trying to calm him.

  ‘Not Main Street, Jasmin Beach?’ I gasped. “Cost me all my savings for that lawyer to get me out,” he said. He looked around, said, “One more beer and I’ll be gone. Gone like a damn magic act! They’ll put me away for twenty years for sure.” He laughed right at me. I made a fist. I was too worked up. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions. As I stood from the stool to take a swing, the man lost his nerve and ran out the front door. I followed him outside, but he was gone in a cloud of dust within seconds. Went back inside and saw the beer he’d left on the table in front of him and took a sip. “Destroyed my life for a beer,” I said.’

  ‘Jacob!’ shouted Abagail.

  ‘Hmm?’ asked Jacob, wiping his brow.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  ‘Congratulations on the song, Jacob,’ she coughed. ‘Now that the small talk is out the way…’ She leaned forward. ‘How can I help you?’

  ‘My wife died in a car crash, and she’s been appearing to me. You see, I had the car—God rest her soul—which she was killed in, towed back home and placed in the yard.’ Abagail slowly sat down and listened. ‘I was sitting in the car and she appeared.’

  ‘The car wreck?’ asked Abagail.

  ‘Yes. Lightblue.’

  ‘Lightblue?’ asked Abagail.

  ‘That’s what Carol named it,’ said Jacob, looking away toward Abagail’s bookshelf. To Abagail, Jacob looked totally confused.

  ‘And you’re wondering why she’s looking for you?’ asked Abagail.

  ‘No… I want you to talk to her. I want you to come to my house and when she appears, talk to her. Tell her I love her. Tell Carol I miss her. I am so lost without her. Tell her… tell her she’s… dead.’

  Abagail sighed and looked out onto the street as an old woman walked in and greeted her.

  ‘Hi Abagail!’ she said brightly.

  ‘Hello, Jenny. I’m with a client right now. Can you come back in twenty minutes, please?’ asked Abagail, with no emotion.

  ‘Oh, I… of course.’ Jenny flashed a quick smile toward Jacob, turned about, and left without fuss.

  Abagail unscrewed the lid of her water bottle, took a sip, and lit another incense stick.

  ‘How do you plan on paying me?’ asked Abagail softly, her pale white skin striking under her dark?dyed hair.

  ‘Oh, here,’ explained Jacob, bringing a cheque for five hundred dollars from the inside of his denim jacket pocket and placing it delicately in front of her.

  ‘That’s no small feat, Jacob, and quite a lot of money.’

  ‘Please… will you help?’ begged Jacob.

  Abagail looked at the cheque, then back at Jacob.

  ‘I don’t usually do house calls… but I will help you. Or should I say, I will try, Jacob.’

  ‘Oh, thank you. Thank you kindly,’ smiled Jacob.

  ‘When were you wanting me to help?’ asked Abagail.

  ‘Today?’

  ‘Not today… Friday the thirteenth. I am free then.’

  +

  Jacob stood looking through the cream?coloured curtains as a small yellow Volkswagen Beetle arrived in his yard. He hurried around the boxes, pulling on his boots and tidying his hair before quickly making his way outside. Right, left, left, right.

  Abagail was getting out of her car, which she had parked right beside Lightblue, as Jacob caught his breath on reaching her.

  ‘Thanks for coming.’ He nodded.

  Abagail said nothing, but looked very seriously at Jacob. She turned to look at the car. Slowly, she turned back and looked at Jacob.

  ‘She’s here,’ whispered Abagail, looking at the car.

  ‘She is?’ asked Jacob with great anticipation.

  ‘Come, take a seat in the front and I’ll sit in the back. Okay?’

  Jacob walked with purpose to the passenger door, meeting Abagail. They both hopped in and waited. Nothing happened for a minute before Abagail said,

  ‘Here she comes.’

  Jacob looked in every direction until he noticed her walking up to the driver’s door, passing through it, then sitting, staring straight ahead.

  ‘Hello, Carol,’ said Abagail quietly.

  ‘Hello, Abagail. Is Jacob here?’ she asked tensely in a whisper.

  ‘Yes,’ answered Abagail gently. ‘He’s sitting right beside you.’

  Jacob looked pained at the thought Carol could not see him.

  ‘Carol, honey, it’s me… I’m here. I’m right beside you!’ Jacob tried to take her hand but couldn’t. He stopped and rubbed his face in confusion.

  ‘Jacob? You’re here… I can’t see you… I love you. I’m sorry, baby. I can’t believe what’s happened!’

  ‘Carol? Carol? She can’t hear me, Abagail? Why not? Carol? CAROL?’

  ‘Jacob,’ said Abagail firmly.

  Jacob spun around, perplexed.

  ‘She can’t hear you yet. But she can hear me. I will talk for you. Do you understand?’

  ‘Okay, okay. Talk. Please talk.’ He nodded repeatedly.

  ‘Jacob says he’s missing you and loves you dearly. He wishes you could hear him.’

  ‘He does?’

  ‘Yes. Very much so,’ confirmed Abagail.

  ‘Will I be able to hear him?’ asked Carol, staring straight ahead.

  ‘Yes, in time you will hear him as well as see him, I believe… we’ll get there. When the time is right. Yes, that’s right. They are in agreement,’ explained Abagail in a whisper.

  A police car drove into the driveway, heading slowly toward them.

  ‘Someone’s telling me it’s time to go now,’ Carol informed them.

  ‘Who? Not yet!’ pleaded Jacob, moving about in his chair.

  Jacob watched with amazement as Carol quickly vanished. Both officers got out and walked toward the car wreck.

  Both officers got out and walked towards the car wreck.

  ‘They would have to turn up right at this very moment. We were getting somewhere,’ complained Jacob.

  The shorter officer stepped up to the window, looked at Jacob, then at Abagail. Jacob jumped out and looked at the officers.

  ‘You know you could have called. We’re very busy at the moment with an important matter. Ah… regarding the insurance. Right, Abagail?’ said Jacob, looking for agreement from her to fool the police.

  The older officer looked away from Jacob and handed Abagail a letter as she opened the door.

  ‘Police report for the insurance. It’s finalised,’ said the officer in a drawl. ‘Thanks, Abagail.’

  ‘Oh, sorry,’ apologised Jacob.

  ‘I’ll get it sorted. Thanks,’ she replied.

  They got back into their police cruiser and slowly reversed out and drove away.

  Abagail and Jacob went inside the house. Jacob watched Abagail place the police report onto the kitchen table and sit down.

  ‘I need a cup of tea,’ said Abagail. ‘Would you like one?’

  ‘Yeah, thanks,’ Jacob said with a smile. He sat down and sighed.

  ‘Don’t worry, JK. I’ll have it all sorted out before the end of the week. You’ll be chatting like there’s no tomorrow. Sound good?’

  ‘Sounds great… I can’t believe you can do this. It’s really helping. I mean that. Thank you.’

  ‘I know. I’ve done this kind of thing several times before,’ lied Abagail. ‘It’s always a bit different.’ She swept a hand out to the side. Jacob had never seen her move her arm to express anything before that. ‘But we just have to be patient. When the time is right, the time is right. Right?’

  ‘Right.’ Jacob nodded.

  Abagail drew out two cups, placed tea leaves into a pot, and sat back down at the table.