Chapter One

Mary Briggs locked the front door to the store Laura’s Lace and Linens and turned the sign over to read closed. Leaning against the door for a moment she took a deep breath and surveyed the mess left by the influx of customers. She should really tidy everything but decided to take a break instead.

“God, what a day!” Mary Briggs sank into a chair in the back office. She looked over at her boss, who was working on the computer. “What are your plans tonight?”

“You’re looking at it. Then I’ll go home and watch the late movie.” Laura Neill answered.

“Ugh! When was the last time you went out? When was the last time you had a date?”

Laura smiled. “I honestly couldn’t tell you. Besides when do I have the time?”

“What are you working on right now?”

“These accounts have to be updated. All the invoices to our customers who have credit accounts have to be done and mailed out. There are month end checks to be written and a balance sheet and an income statement to be done. As well, the ledgers are in a mess. We have just been too busy lately to keep up with it all.”

“But it’s Saturday night. Why don’t you go out and have some fun? Meet some gorgeous rich guy to take you away from everything?”

“Nice dream but I don’t think it’s actually going to happen. And besides, I am content with my life the way it is. At least for now.”

“Content, what a horrible word! Laura, you’re twenty-eight years old and all you do is work. You started this store five years ago and it’s doing phenomenal now. Why don’t you live a little? Enjoy the fruits of your success.”

“Hmm.” Laura answered. Mary sighed. She and Laura had a similar conversation every weekend and every weekend Laura stayed to work while Mary went to the local clubs.

“Well, if you change your mind, I’ll be at that new club that just opened in Gastown. I’ll be the one dancing on the tables.”

Laura chuckled.

“Just don’t fall off and hurt yourself. I need you to work on Tuesday.”

“Right boss. And I’ll come in a bit early and tidy the store if you want.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll probably be in over the next two days so I can do it.”

“Okay, if you insist. The front is closed up and I’ll make sure the back door is locked. I’ll also drop the deposit off in the night drop on my way by.” Laura was already immersed in the accounting and just nodded.

But after she heard the door close and the familiar click as it was locked, Laura’s mind started to wander. She wondered what it would be like to go to the new clubs every weekend instead of always being here working. Staring at the computer, Laura knew she wasn’t going to get any more accounting done. She had lost her focus.

“I’ll clean up the front.” Laura went to the front of the store and began arranging the clothing on the hangers. She rearranged the small displays and replaced the items that had been sold. She stepped back, satisfied that everything was back to normal. Laura took out the vacuum cleaner and quickly went over the carpet. But all the while, she couldn’t help thinking about what Mary had said.

Mary had been right - the shop she owned on Robson Street in Vancouver was doing well and she could afford to take things a bit easier.

“Why not?” Laura glanced at her wristwatch. If she left now, she would have time for dinner at a nearby bistro and then she could meet Mary at the club. Quickly she put the vacuum

Laura stood at the crosswalk, stamping her feet. Should she go to the club? Maybe Mary was just trying to be nice by inviting her, knowing Laura would refuse. What if she didn’t fit in there? Laura looked at the outfit she was wearing. The cream silk coatdress with matching pumps may have been good for the store but would she look out of place in a nightclub? Her long raven hair was in a perfect chignon but was it right for an evening out? Laura was sure she would stand out like a sore thumb.

The light changed and, in that split second, Laura squared her shoulders and stepped off the curb. She was going to go to the club and have a good time. Maybe she would even meet someone. She giggled as she thought of Mary’s comment about a gorgeous rich guy. It could

“Hey Brad! Mike went through that light before it changed. You have to catch him or we will never be able to find the party!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Brad muttered as he pressed the gas pedal to the floor.

The dark Chrysler Intrepid leapt forward, racing through the intersection and the red light.

“Oh shit!” Brad noticed the woman in the crosswalk and slammed his foot on the brake. The screeching of the tires wasn’t loud enough to mask the sound of the vehicle striking the body. Horrified, Brad watched the woman flip over the car’s hood, hit the windshield then slide back to the street and disappear from view.

Shocked, Brad and the other teenagers sat frozen in their seats. Dimly he was aware of passing pedestrians running to the scene. One man rushed over to Brad’s door and pulled the teenager out of the vehicle while another man knelt beside the injured woman.

“Someone call 911, fast. She’s still alive.” It was 8:03 Pacific Standard Time.

Julian Rule took another glass of champagne and gulped it.

“Take it easy on that stuff, you have a long night ahead of you.” Niles Gordan, his, agent and friend, commented. “We don’t want our premier artist falling down drunk.”

“Niles, I am so nervous. What if no one likes my stuff? What if no one wants to buy anything and I am the laughing stock of the art world? We can’t go through with this. Take all the paintings down and let’s get out of here.” Niles laughed.

“Just jitters Julian. You have worked long and hard and you are extremely talented. The work here will set the world on fire, at least the guests tonight. Don’t worry about it.”

Julian fiddled with his collar.“Do I look okay?” Niles stood back to scrutinize the artist. Julian was dressed simply in an emerald green shirt and black pants. His shoulder length blond hair shone with health, he was freshly shaven and his green eyes were clear.

“Perfect. Now would you quit worrying?”

“Did we remember to send an invitation to my parents and my brother? I would really like them to be here especially if it’s a success. If it isn’t then they can laugh at me and tell me they told me so.”

“They already responded to say they were coming and no one will be laughing at you. Now go see that lady you brought with you tonight and enjoy yourself.”

Julian smiled weakly and went to stand with the statuesque blond who was his escort this evening.

The well-dressed people began to filter in and Julian tried to look unaffected. He was so nervous he felt his hands shaking. Then the first visitor approached the gallery owner and said he would like to buy a painting. Julian couldn’t contain the grin that spread across his face. He ventured out into the people, introducing himself and basking in the praise that was being heaped on him. This was exhilarating.

“Well, younger brother, the art collectors of Toronto seem to like your work. It’s selling like hot cakes.” Giddy from champagne and the thrill of success, Julian grinned at Tom.

“Not bad for a no talent hack, eh?”

“I never called you a no talent hack, Julian. I just said that maybe you would be better off with a career with more future. I still think that.”

“Tom, not even you can bring me down tonight.”

“Hey Julian, this is great!” Christopher Lee, another artist, clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“Thanks Christopher. I can’t believe it myself.”

“Isn’t that your parents over there?” Julian squinted in the direction that Christopher was indicating.

“Yeah,why?”

“They seem quite impressed. I thought you said they didn’t support you.”

“They don’t.” Julian swayed against Honey. “I had better get out of here. I think I’ve had too much to drink.” Julian, with the support of Honey, went to find Niles.

“Hey Niles, I am going to leave now okay?”

Niles looked at the bloodshot, blurred eyes of his client and smiled. “Sure, go ahead. Everyone here has had the chance to meet the great Julian Rule and you look like you need to sober up.”

“Yeah. Well thanks a lot Niles. Thanks for believing in me and thanks for all the help.”

“Sure thing, you just go home and be careful.”

Julian stumbled out of the art gallery, his arm draped around Honey.

“Wasn’t that great, Honey? They loved my work.”

“Yes, they did Julian.” Honey fought to keep her balance in four-inch spike heels.

“Did you hear the people talking? I have been discovered, I am the new rage of Toronto.”

“I heard. Julian, are you sure you don’t want to catch a cab? You did have a lot of champagne tonight.”

“I’m fine. I want to walk. Do you remember how John Travolta’s character strutted at the end of ‘Stayin’ Alive’? That’s what I want to do. I am going to be the toast of the art world. I’ll talk to you later.” Julian gave the woman a kiss and waved goodbye as she climbed into a cab.

Julian felt like he was going to burst. After years of hard work and having to go without so he could buy the necessary materials for his art, he had finally been recognized. Every time he had seen a small sold sign on one of his paintings, an adrenaline rush had surged through him. This was it; this was what he had worked for all his life.

His family had ridiculed him for years, saying that he was lazy and chasing a dream that would never come true. They didn’t understand how much work it took to paint; how much of him went into each piece. But they had seen his success tonight. Even Tom seemed to be impressed by the opening. Julian could just see Tom’s lawyer mind adding up the amounts as each new painting was sold. Julian had just made more money in one evening than Tom had made over the past year. But more than that, Julian’s art had finally been accepted and recognized.

Even Julian’s parents couldn’t turn their noses up at the people in attendance at the opening. Celebrities, politicians and well-known business people had all come to sip champagne, nibble on appetizers and gush over his work. This was the night he had been waiting for since the first day he had picked up a brush and looked at a blank canvas. Nothing could stop him now.

Julian glanced at the crosswalk light and started to cross the street. Inebriated and on an emotional high, he wasn’t paying attention. He didn’t hear or see the car until it was too late. He felt the impact then a sensation of flying through the air before the concrete rushed up to meet him. It was 11:03 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Laura knew she was being placed on a stretcher; she could see it. But it was as if it was happening to someone else. She felt as if she was floating high above the street and the activities below. She was just a spectator.

She could see the police officers talking with a teenage boy. The poor young man looked so frightened as he watched the paramedics work on her. A young girl sat on the curb weeping. Laura longed to comfort her. Surely the situation wasn’t that serious.

It was strange. Laura could see everything and she knew that the injuries she had sustained were maybe serious but she couldn’t feel any pain. She felt incredibly free and weightless.

Detached, she watched the stretcher with her body being loaded into the ambulance and the lights go on. As the vehicle started to move then picked up speed, Laura felt a sharp tug and she followed the ambulance.

In the emergency room, the scene was organized chaos. Laura winced at the sight of her inert body. There was so much blood; her favorite cream dress was ruined. There was no way she going to be able to get all the blood out of the silk.

Laura watched the hospital staff work on her body. She was intrigued by the procedure yet felt strangely detached from everything. That was her lying on the gurney and she may be dying; yet it didn’t seem to matter.

She felt herself drifting away, floating out and above the hospital. Laura looked down on the city, growing smaller. The ocean retreated as she felt herself being pulled east.

Soon the lower mainland was out of sight and Laura was looking down at the majestic Rocky Mountains. Even soaring above them, the Rockies were awe-inspiring.

Whatever force was pulling her increased in intensity as she sped over the prairies, always heading east.

Laura felt a jolt course through her and she looked up. Another hazy being was floating towards her. As it got closer, Laura could see it was the figure of a man.

Her progress slowed the closer they came together. For a moment they looked at each other curiously. Then he stretched out a hand and Laura responded in kind.

When the two ghostly hands touched, they melded to become one. Each of the celestial humans felt a shock that threw them back a few feet before coming back together. Their bodies became one incandescent being glimmering with iridescent hues of every color in the spectrum.

If someone on the ground had happened to look up, they would have seen a display more impressive than the famous Northern Lights. The form in the sky, which could vaguely be made out as human, glowed with vibrating colors. The hues of the colors fluctuated in intensity yet were always magnificent. It would have left a person feeling awe-struck as they unwittingly watched two beings joined as one.

Laura was filled with joy, hope and wonder. She felt as if she was touching heaven. No words were spoken between the two beings but Laura could sense that the man felt the same way. She knew his name was Julian and, like her, didn’t understand what was happening. She thought her name and felt his acknowledgment. Together they floated across the sky.

Julian grasped her hand again, marveling at the completeness he felt when they became one. Nothing, not even the success he had found earlier this evening, could match the joy he felt at this moment. He stared at the ethereal being beside him and was overwhelmed by a desire to kiss her. He lowered his head and, when their ghostly lips met, a burst of brightly hued sparks cascaded from their united mouths.

Regretfully, he pulled back. The certainty that, should they stay like this much longer his physical being would cease to exist, filled his mind. He knew he had to return to his body, as did Laura.

Laura felt an uncertainty flowing to her from Julian then a desperate desire to return to his body. She resisted the urge, unsure if she wanted to return to her life. This was an experience she wanted to go on forever. But Julian was insistent.

Reluctantly, Laura acknowledged she had to return. Slowly she pulled her hand away, feeling a sense of loneliness as she watched Julian begin to drift away. She wanted to call him back, to continue to share the feelings he had brought her. Yet, she felt something pulling her back, back to her body.

In the distance, Laura heard someone say.

“It isn’t hopeless, we haven’t lost her.”

Laura began to return to her body, a glimmer still emanating from her and she heard Julian promise.

“Someday, I’ll find you."

Copyright 2004 Karen Magill

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