A Witch Like No Other Page 2

  “Ted Stone is. I’m marrying him whether you love me or not.”

  “Fine!” shouted Miriam. “Fine, marry him! See if I care!”

  “I wont bother seeing, because I know that you do.”

  Miriam slammed the phone down and ran to her room, throwing herself on her bed. She cried every night for a whole month. Two months afterwards Dreamer’s mother Agnes called, telling her Dreamer did marry Ted, but refused to give up her last name. Miriam laughed: good. Dreamer Black sounded so cool. She couldn’t imagine a Dreamer Stone.

  Miriam begged Agnes for Dreamer’s address, Agnes giving it without hesitating. Miriam wrote Dreamer a long letter of apology, though she wasn’t exactly sure if Dreamer would reply. She wrote almost five pages, weeping as she did. She promised Dreamer she’d be there for her from now on, and wouldn’t do anything to upset her. Miriam missed Dreamer so much it was starting to hurt. She wouldn’t eat. She could just about sleep. She was always cold. Dreamer’s absence had a tremendous effect on Miriam, and her parents were starting to worry. Miriam couldn’t tell them the reason she was so depressed was because she missed her best friend, instead making up a feeble lie about a boy back in England.

  Her father sympathized, her mother scolded.

  Dreamer didn’t reply to the letter, but Miriam knew she received it. She wrote another, asking Dreamer for a recent picture of her. Dreamer didn’t reply until Agnes found the letters and forced her, Miriam thought as she smiled a little. Dreamer simply sent the picture as requested, with a picture of Ted Stone, and her two children.

  When Miriam saw the photos she fell in love with Baby Pandora at once, her green eyes startling against her brown skin- she was the spitting image of Dreamer. Baby Marlon had brown eyes like his father, just as gorgeous as his sister. How could she have called them stupid?

  Miriam called Agnes, asking her to give Dreamer her number. Dreamer took the number, but she didn’t use it. So Miriam called Agnes again, frightening the woman as she demanded for Dreamer’s contact details. Agnes knew how much Miriam loved her child, praying she loved Dreamer as a sister and nothing more as she gave the numbers.

  Dreamer simply listened to Miriam speak, not saying a word.

  “I’ll come back, Dreamer- I promise. I wont leave again.”

  “You say it like I begged you not to go,” Dreamer replied icily. “Did I?”

  “No no, you didn’t. But you had to have minded a little bit-”

  “To be honest, Miriam, I did miss you a little. But I don’t anymore.”

  “What?”

  “I’ve moved on,” Dreamer said coolly. “You’re in my past, ok? Don’t bother coming back here to mess up my present.”

  “But- but we’re best friends!”

  “I’m your best friend, but you’re not mine.”

  “You- you liar!” said Miriam, voice cracking. “Don’t lie, Dreamer!”

  “I’ve got to go,” Dreamer replied flatly. “Nice talking to you.”

  Miriam couldn’t stop crying after that. Tears were a part of her now. Her parents consulted a doctor and her tutor at her college, both who came to see her. The doctor prescribed some depression tablets while her tutor helped Miriam get back on her feet.

  “Why don’t you try mentoring, Miriam? It does help.”

  “I’m not talking to a shrink!” sobbed Miriam. “I want my friend, Miss!”

  “Where are they?”

  “She’s in England- and she hates me!”

  “I’m sure she doesn’t,” her tutor said warmly. “And I meant studying the profession of mentoring, not going to see a counsellor. It does help you control your emotions- and you’re very good at talking to people.”

  “Can I change my course? Will you be tutoring me?”

  “No, but you can come to see me anytime you like.”

  After that Miriam knew what she wanted to do. She’d practice mentoring with her family, and then try the real thing when she got back to England. The only snag was her aunt lived far out in the country: it felt like Dreamer was on the other side of Earth.

  Still, they had things to sort out. Agnes called Miriam over, much to Dreamer’s surprise.

  “When did you get back in the country?”

  “About two weeks ago,” Miriam said, gazing at her. “How are you?”

  “Don’t give me that,” Dreamer said coldly. “Why are you back here?”

  “Because I miss you,” Miriam said slowly, carefully. “That’s why.”

  Dreamer’s mouth twitched as if she wanted to smile, and Miriam saw.

  “Can we be friends again, Dreamer?”

  Silence. Dreamer frowned as she thought, obviously wondering if having Miriam back in her life would benefit her in any way. Miriam waited anxiously, but Dreamer took her time.

  Agnes handed Miriam a cup of tea, watching her daughter.

  “Ok,” Dreamer said almost five minutes later. “All right then. But I don’t want you in my face all the time like before. I’d rather see you once every three months or something, because I have a new life and I have a husband and I go to college and I have new friends, and-”

  “Dreamer!” barked Agnes, making her jump. “Don’t be so immature.”

  “I’m not, Mama. I’m telling her how it is,” Dreamer answered, then she looked Miriam straight in the eye. “Take it or leave it.”

  “Fine,” Miriam said stoutly. “I’ve got studying to do anyway, so I wouldn’t be able to see you much either. Actually, I just came to clear the air because I was a wreck in America, I missed you loads. And now I’ve seen you, so I’m fine now. That’s all I wanted. Now I can move on with my life and leave you behind. Bye Agnes, I’ll be going now. I wont bother calling to say I got home, it’s not like she cares anyway.”

  Dreamer was impressed, as Miriam knew she would be.

  “Well… it’s going to take hours for you to get back to that place.”

  Miriam shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “So?”

  “So stay here with me tonight. Mama, can Miriam stay?”

  Miriam smiled broadly as Agnes nodded; Dreamer smiled back. Then they gave each other a massive hug and ran upstairs, talking and laughing as if they’d just got home after school like the good old days.

  Dreamer wasn’t joking about having a long distance friendship, but Miriam didn’t care. They were friends again. At least she could pick up the phone and call Dreamer whenever she wanted, and Dreamer could call her. Miriam still resented Ted Stone for changing everything.

  But there was something about Pandora that made Miriam determined to know her. She telephoned Dreamer in the middle of the night asking about her, and expected Dreamer to hang up and go back to sleep. But Dreamer did something very strange. She made Miriam promise- yes, promise- that if anything happened to her or Ted she would look after Pandora and Marlon. And Miriam promised. She didn’t care if she was only eighteen and up to her knees in coursework.

  Dreamer visited when Pandora turned one just a few days before.

  “I want you to be Pandora’s godmother, Miriam.”

  Miriam was overjoyed: Dreamer must have known what she thought of the beautiful little girl. Reverend John was more than happy to give a private ceremony just between Dreamer, Miriam and grandmother Agnes. Miriam knew from that day on she would play some sort of role in Pandora’s life, but then Ted and Dreamer had moved away to start their lives properly, now young adults. They’d done it on the sly, telling nobody, simply packing and leaving in the middle of the night. Nobody knew their address, not even Agnes, though Dreamer and the children visited every week and weekend.

  Miriam remembered Pandora’s fifteenth birthday. She was in America at the time, and she didn’t know Dreamer’s new address (they’d moved twice again in the years.) Still, she called. Dreamer let Pandora speak, though Pandora didn’t remember Miriam.

  “Hello?”

  “Happy Birthday Pandora!”

  “Thank you!” she said brightly, then she paused. “Um… who is t
his?”

  Before Miriam could answer Dreamer took the phone.

  “Go and look after your party guests, Pandora.”

  “Who was that, Mum? Do I know them?”

  “Yes, but you cant remember them. Go on now.”

  “Why did you do that?” demanded Miriam, a little hurt.

  “Because now isn’t the time for you to meet. It will be later this year.”

  “Dreamer, I… you mean I get to see her in the flesh?”

  “Yes, Miriam.”

  “Thank you, Dreamer! It’s about time! Have you settled down, then?”

  “Westport’s lovely,” Dreamer said nonchalantly. “Very nice.”

  Miriam could tell something was wrong.

  “Dreamer, is everything all right?”

  “No,” Dreamer said, voice cracking. “I’ve done something very wrong!”

  Startled as Dreamer cried, Miriam tried to soothe her while firmly reminding her that it was Pandora’s birthday party, and it wouldn’t do for her mother to be crying at the event. Dreamer didn’t care.

  “I betrayed Ted,” she wept. “God knows I didn’t mean to, but I did!”

  Miriam opened her mouth furiously, then remembered her years of training and her brilliancy at her job. A mentor never loses their temper.

  “Do you want to tall about it, Dreamer? Tell me what happened.”

  “His- his friend Damon Stile-”

  “Ted’s best friend? Wait- Dopey Damon from high school??”

  “Yes, him! We were… talking, and-”

  “Mum, Janice and Marlon!” said Pandora, sounding near tears. “They’re kissing in the back yard, Mum! She’s my best friend, how could he-”

  “I’m coming, ‘Dora. Miriam, can you call me back on my cell phone?”

  “Of course,” said Miriam, as if she made the call.

  Miriam shuddered, remembering when she called Dreamer at eleven p.m. that night, knowing that the party would be over, Pandora and Marlon would most likely be in bed, and Ted would be watching the news.

  “Dreamer, what’s going on? You and Damon Stile, how-”

  “It was an accident,” said Dreamer calmly, much more in control than before. “We’ve been close for years, I never-”

  “Why?” Miriam cut across, then she remembered her profession. Never lose your temper with the client. Miriam took a deep breath, then she said “You told me you and Ted are made for each other. What happened?”

  “Ted’s hates me being a witch now,” Dreamer replied. “And Damon- well, he loves it. He can never get enough of a spell, Miriam, or a trick-”

  “You wanted Ted to love you for who you are? What you are?”

  “Yes! Oh Miriam, I’m so glad you understand.”

  “Tell me more,” pressed Miriam. “That cant be all.”

  “Damon confessed he loves me after I turned his hair blonde,” Dreamer said flatly, as if the fact meant nothing to her. “He told me he knows he’s Ted’s best friend but he doesn’t care anymore. He loves me and ‘Dora-”

  “Pandora?” Miriam cut across sharply, eyes narrowing.

  “As a daughter,” Dreamer said, annoyed. “He was telling me he wanted us to move in with him, but I refused- it was meant to be a small kiss, nothing more, and then-”

  “Don’t,” sighed Miriam. “Spare me the details.”

  “Then I found out I was expecting my third child-”

  “Dreamer!”

  Suddenly Dreamer was crying again.

  “Damon was over the moon- he just knew without me telling him- it would be his first born- but I couldn’t do it, Miriam! I couldn’t!”

  “I understand,” said Miriam gently. “Does Damon know you got rid-?”

  “Dreamer?” said a voice in the background. “Are you all right?”

  “Teddy, I’m fine.” Dreamer sniffed before repeating it. “I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” said Dreamer miserably. “I’m on the phone, Ted.”

  “Sorry.”

  Dreamer waited before saying “Miriam, I feel that I… I’m going to die.”

  “What?!”

  “I’ve been having dreams,” Dreamer said sadly, “Ever since I got rid of the baby. Damon thinks I’ll give up everything and live with him, but I cant- I wont. I love Ted and I always will- I belong to him.”

  Miriam smiled, feeling a little jealous. “That sounded lovely, Dreamer.”

  “I’ve been having nightmares about Damon and Pandora,” said Dreamer quietly. “He may have been- they could be just dreams, but-”

  “What, Dreamer? What’s been going on with him and my- Pandora?”

  “He’s been doing things to her,” whispered Dreamer. “My little girl, and I didn’t even know. He’s been tutoring her since she was twelve- I didn’t suspect, nobody did. Maybe there’s nothing to suspect. But my dreams-”

  “Ok Dreamer, ok. What does that have to do with you dying?”

  “He’ll find out I got rid of the baby, and he’ll lose control.”

  “You mean he’ll-!!”

  “Promise me you’ll look after my baby girl, Miriam. Promise me.”

  “Dreamer, you can possibly know you’re going to-”

  “Promise, Miriam!”

  “I promise!”

  Dreamer hung up then, not wanting to take the conversation any further. Miriam, mind spinning, tried calling back but the phone was turned off. A day after Dreamer’s murder Miriam ran straight to the police and told them what she knew. Ted also happened to be there as she ran to the officer in charge of the case, saying “Dreamer had an affair with her killer. She called me- she knew she was going to die-”

  The policeman pulled her into an office the same time Ted grabbed her other arm, frantically asking “What did you say? Dreamer and-”

  But the officer pulled her into the office and slammed the door shut. Pulling out a notepad and pen, he said “Talk.”

  Ted did the same thing as soon as she left the station. Eyes brimming, Miriam told him who she was, what she was to Pandora, and what Dreamer had told her only a week ago.

  “Where is Pandora?” she asked desperately. “Please Ted, tell me.”

  “She’s in hospital,” Ted replied, looking away. “It turns out Damon-”

  “Yes yes, I know- will she be all right?”

  “No,” said Ted flatly. “She’s in shock- she witnessed the whole thing.”

  “No,” said Miriam, shaking her head in disbelief. “No! How? When?”

  “I was at work. Marlon was at football practice, Dreamer was home with Pandora. Pandora’s refusing to tell the police what actually happened, she just keeps saying it was him. He killed her.”

  Ted’s eyes filled, Miriam’s too. They walked in silence, then Miriam asked “What about Agnes? Does she know?”

  “She called beforehand, telling me I must stay with Dreamer. I told her I couldn’t, I had a very important meeting at work-” Ted’s hands balled into fists; he was angry. “If only I did- Dreamer might still be here.”

  “You cant blame yourself,” started Miriam, then she felt annoyed. Why did she always use her mentor technique? Why didn’t she say that what Ted was saying might be true? If he had listened to Agnes Dreamer might still be alive. She’d been a mentor for so long it was now a part of her.

  “Um… here.”

  She fumbled with her purse, pulling out a card.

  “Please contact me as soon as Pandora leaves the hospital. I’m her godmother. I love her, Ted- like my own daughter.”

  “She’ll immediately think you’re trying to take her mother’s place.”

  “I want to work with her as well,” explained Miriam. “I’m a mentor- that’s my workplace on the card, and work number.”

  “So we don’t have to tell her who you are?”

  “No,” said Miriam painfully. “Not for a while, anyway.”

  “Why didn’t Dreamer introduce you to the family, uh…” Ted peered at the card before sayi
ng “Miriam Hughes?”

  “I’m not sure, but I did travel a lot. I was never in one place.”

  “I see.”

  “Promise me you’ll call and let me see Pandora?”

  “I promise.”

  “Earth to Miss Hughes,” said Pandora, scowling. “I didn’t come here to watch you gaze into space, you know. I could be at home in my room.”

  Miriam smiled at her, loving how feisty the girl was. “I’m sorry.”

  Pandora hesitated, then she smiled back. “Never mind.”

  “Pandora, I… sit down.”

  Pandora sat, looking curious. “Is something wrong?”

  Miriam opened her mouth to say no, then she nodded. “Yes.”

  It had been three years. It was now or never: she had to know.

  “Would you like to know what I was thinking, love?”

  “Not really.”

  “I was thinking about your mother,” Miriam said gently. “About you.”

  Pandora looked nervous now. “What about us?”

  “Get a cup of water, Pandora. You may not like this…”

  * * *

  “I knew you was,” Pandora said flatly, an hour later. “I could tell.”

  “You could tell I was your godmother?” said Miriam, bemused. “How?”

  “I have dreams,” Pandora said shyly. “Like my mother used to. Isn’t that what you told me?” Miriam nodded. Pandora was eighteen now: there was no need to hold anything back. “I never told you, but you looked real familiar when I met you three years ago.”

  “Oh honey, you should have said.”