Aurora

by Karen Page

Part 6

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Part 6

"How did it go?" asked Tina as Ashleigh hung up her coat. She'd just got back from seeing Laura at the lab.

"Laura seems happy with the way things are going. She confirmed about the big test on Friday."

"Do you need to work?"

"No. I asked but was told I'm on holiday. I'm to relax as I'll be very busy post test."

"Very busy?"

"I've not been warned that for a while. Last time was at my previous company and I ended up working eight hours on, eight hours off for two weeks. I alternated with a colleague. All we did was eat, sleep and work. What a great fortnight that was. I earnt so much overtime."

"All my food is prepared," said Tina. "You want help with your dessert?"

"I should be fine, but we can chat as I bake."

Tina put on some quiet music and got things out for Ashleigh as she started work on the pastry. "Did you discuss me?"

"Laura asked how you were, but that was it," responded Ashleigh. "She didn't want to discuss any more without you being there. She didn't say who the guest was."

"We'll find out soon enough."

Time dragged as they waited. They'd finished preparing the meal and were sat chatting in the lounge when they heard a car. Together they went to the door and saw someone walking towards the house. It was dark outside, so it wasn't until they were closer that they saw them.

"Rachel!" cried out Tina.

"Ah, so that's who I'm meeting," said Rachel as she ambled up. "It's starting to get a bit cold in the evenings, isn't it?"

"Come in," said Ashleigh. "Tina, do you want to introduce us?"

"Sorry," said Tina as Ashleigh shut the door behind them. "Rachel, this is my sister Ashleigh. Ashleigh this is Rachel Ruiz. She was my psychiatrist when I was at school. She is now headmistress there."

"Good to meet you. Laura will probably be along shortly," said Ashleigh as she guided Rachel to the lounge. "Do you want a drink?"

"Coffee, white no sugar," said Rachel. She then turned to Tina. "Miss Taylor said you were cooking?"

"Yes, beef stroganoff," replied Tina.

"Jill's recipe?"

"Of course."

"Can I help?" Rachel Ruiz asked excitedly.

Tina gave a small smile. "No. I promised to keep it secret. You can relax while I slave over the meal. How's Sue?"

"Having a quiet evening without me," laughed Rachel. "Well, I hope it's quiet for her. The infirmary is empty at the moment."

Tina disappeared towards the kitchen but before Ashleigh could get Rachel's drink, the doorbell went. It was Laura.

"Sorry I'm later than expected. A few calls from the office. Let's talk shop after the meal," said Laura.

"Good, because Tina is already cooking. It will be about fifteen minutes."

After eating, which everybody agreed was one of the best beef stroganoffs they'd eaten, they all settled down in the lounge. Ashleigh sat next to her sister, just in case her sister needed a hug.

"Okay, so why was I asked here?" enquired Rachel.

"I want a second opinion," said Laura bluntly. "Tina was investigating a company in Turkey being used to channel money and drugs. During that investigation, she found they were holding children and using them as sex slaves. To stop the whole chain, she got herself promoted in the company she was investigating, to cover that part too. She was able to find out the kidnappers, how the children were being trafficked to this company, and who they were selling the services to."

During that explanation Ashleigh put her arm around her sister. Tina leaned in but didn't say anything.

"Europol worked with the Turkish police to raid but two children died before the police could get involved. Some walked away and weren't mentioned in the police investigations. Three government officials were involved. One it seems was disowned and was arrested."

Rachel maintained her gaze on Tina while Laura detailed the situation. After a brief pause, during which Laura remained silent, Rachel inquired, "Where is Luke?"

"On an investigation. We got a coded message that he was accepted, and he won't be making contact for a while."

"Don't you dare get him out," said Tina vehemently. "There is too much at stake for that."

"Tina, do you want your sister to stay with you while we have a chat?"

Tina shook her head. "No. Sorry Ash, but you know more than I wanted you to. You don't want the rest."

"Don't tell me what I want and don't want," retorted Ashleigh.

"Okay, I don't want you to know the rest. There are some things in the world that you don't need exposing to."

"What was different about this one?" asked Ashleigh, while gently stroking her sister's arm. "Did you kill someone?"

"No!" cried Tina. "I didn't, but I so wish I had."

"Oh," was all Ashleigh could say. Tina's last statement totally threw her. "If you can't talk to me, you will at least talk to Rachel?"

"I'd rather not tell anybody, but I need help. The last few days have shown that. You've helped me see that. It was drilled into me that asking for help isn't a weakness. Rachel, are you okay helping me with this?"

"Of course. And you don't have to hold back the details with me. I've helped in this type of therapy before. Ashleigh and Laura, are you okay to leave us to it?"

"We'll pay a visit to Becky," said Laura. "Ring one of us when you've finished."

Ashleigh grabbed a torch she kept by the front door and followed Laura out, the front door slamming behind them. "Thank you for organizing this."

"The investigation team is crucial. What they do can be challenging. If one of them needs something, they just need to ask, and I try to make it happen."

"There's a lot more that you're not telling me, isn't there?"

"Yes, and I'm not going to tell you. Not yet. It isn't that I don't trust you, but there are very few that know the whole picture. What you're doing here is important and needs your whole attention. Once this has concluded, there is another job I have in mind. You won't be lacking for work."

"That is good to know, but not really a worry at the moment. There is something you need to know before we get to Becky's. Jenny has been trying to find out more about Hilda. She has been enquiring about Hayfield but has found very little. When I found out who Rachel was, I wanted to mention it to her, but didn't think it was wise with Tina's issue."

"What brought on her search?"

"Not long after I started, Jenny was worried about the added security. She was worried she might have to stay with her aunt. Jenny is under the impression that her aunt thinks Ryan was to blame for Hilda's death. Jenny wants to know why and thinks digging into her mother's background will find the answer."

"Shit," swore Laura, coming to a halt.

It took a second for Ashleigh to register her boss wasn't still walking and stepped back. Laura's reaction wasn't what she'd been expecting. She'd thought Laura might have laughed, but the way she was behaving there might be more to it than expected.

"Okay, if Jenny brings it up, I will explain why her Aunt Donna is wrong. You might hear some things that don't make sense. Try not to dwell on it. When the project reaches a certain point, you will then understand."

"You like keeping information compartmented, don't you?"

"I don't like it. It makes life complicated and tiresome. However, sometimes it's needed to keep people safe. Hilda knew what was going on, but she won't have told Rebecca. Just in case you need to reach out, David and Helen know. I'm mentioning this now because I may have to mention some history if Jenny asks."

They carried on to Becky's house. It was still before Jenny's bedtime, and it was her who opened the door.

Jenny looked like she was going to say something, but then she moved her head slightly, and changed track. She gave a small smile and said, "Will you come in. Ma is just finishing off something upstairs."

"Thank you," said Laura. "That was very polite of you."

"Where's Tina?" blurted out Jenny as they went into the house, shrugging off their coats as they went. It was what she'd wanted to say when she'd seen who was at the door.

"She's been having trouble since her last investigation, so is having a chat with a friend."

"A psychiatrist?" she asked, uncertain if she'd got the word right.

"Yes. She was someone your mummy worked with at Hayfield."

"Hello," said Becky, coming into the lounge. "What do I owe this pleasure?"

"Just a friendly visit," replied Laura. "Someone Tina knew from her time at school is giving her some help. We are keeping out of the way."

"I forgot you knew Hayfield," said Jenny, all the tiredness gone from her eyes. "Can you tell me about mummy's time there?"

"What exactly do you want to know? That school is private."

"I'm trying to find out more about Mummy. She worked there for a while. I'm hoping there are clues to why Aunt Donna thinks Ryan killed Mummy."

Becky gasped. "She what?!"

"Ryan wasn't responsible for your mummy's death," insisted Laura.

"But Aunt Donna said he was."

"Your aunt was talking out of pain at losing her sister. Let me use an example. Sometimes a mother dies giving birth to a child. Thankfully it is extremely rare these days, but it does happen. Would you say that child is to blame for the death?"

"Like the film Jack & Sarah? But mummy didn't die giving birth," said Jenny slightly frustrated.

"No, she didn't, but it is a similar example," finished Laura.

Ashleigh had her phone out searching for the film Jenny had mentioned. She'd never heard of it. When she read the description her mind went to a single conclusion, but she needed to confirm it. "Did you watch that film with your mummy?"

"Yes, a few times over the last few years. She said it was a very important film. Why?"

"I'm just amazed at how much your mummy taught you," said Ashleigh, passing her phone to Laura so she could read the films synopsis. "Important living things, not just educational things. Since she said it was an important film, perhaps you can show it to me sometime."

Once Laura had finished, she went to pass the phone to Becky, but she refused. "I've seen it. So, mummy taught you to cook, and this. What else did she teach you?"

"French," responded Jenny. "This wasn't teaching. It was just a film. Anyway, Miss Taylor was saying something about why Aunt Donna was wrong."

Laura sighed. "A lot of this is from before I was involved. Some of it even predates my mother's involvement. Your mother was gifted. She spent the early part of her life helping others. She trained as a psychiatrist, and she helped a lot of people. This bit you probably know. However, it is the nature of her gifts that you might not know. There was two parts to her gift. First, she had an ability to sense people's issues and therefore she could help them easier. The second part was much more dangerous; she could give part of herself to aid the ill."

"That's—" started Becky before trailing off.

"Crazy?" suggested Ashleigh.

"That's a naughty word," scolded Jenny. "Mummy said people were never crazy, they just weren't understood."

"She was warned not to use that last gift. I only know of two people she ever helped with the healing gift. A young pupil at Hayfield who had a stroke. She helped him until medical assistance could intervene. He had a bleed on the brain. However the surgeons discovered he had more areas that could bleed, and they put in a plan to help. However, he died before anything else could be done. Hilda was devastated. The second was Ryan."

Becky closed her eyes, horrified. "Ryan shouldn't have survived."

"What do you mean?" asked Jenny, not understanding what her ma was saying.

"Ryan was born with a serious illness. When he died the doctors said he shouldn't have lived as long as he did. I thought we were just lucky, but based on what Miss Taylor just said—"

"Ryan did kill mummy?" wailed Jenny.

It was the first time that Ashleigh had ever seen Jenny cry and moved to be next to the young girl. Becky just sat there stunned.

"Your mummy made the choice to help Ryan. Ryan didn't force your mummy. He couldn't, as he was still a baby. She made the choice she did. We might not like that she died, but she made the choice knowing the consequences."

"Why didn't she tell me?" asked Becky, more to herself than anybody in the room.

"Would you have believed her if she had?" asked Laura.

"That's not the point."

"We all have our secrets," said Laura. "I knew one of my parents was transgendered. I didn't know which. I had my suspicions, but it didn't matter. I only knew one of my parents, and she brought me up. When mum died, I did some digging. My guess was wrong. I was upset that it was a secret, until I realised that I was upset over something that was really none of my concern."

"Unless you plan to build a time machine, you can't do anything about it," pointed out Ashleigh.

"Are you going to build a time machine?" asked Jenny, looking at her ma hopefully.

"No," said Becky with a wry smile. "Messing with time is a bad idea. I wouldn't want to change the wonderful time that we had with mummy and Ryan. Would you want to lose the time you had with your brother?"

"I didn't like the smelly poos he left in his nappy."

"I don't think anybody liked them," agreed Becky. "But I wouldn't change having that experience."

"Now you know why your aunt said what she did, will you stop digging into Hayfield?" asked Laura. "That school is off limits."

"Okay," sighed Jenny. "But I'd still like to go there."

"I took the test, just like others did," said Laura. "I didn't get to go there even though my mother was chair of the governors. I didn't know any more details about the school than anybody in the country. Heck, I didn't even know my mother was a school governor. In hindsight, I'm glad my mother didn't get me in behind the scenes. It would have meant someone who needed to go wouldn't have gone."

"I hadn't thought about that," admitted Jenny. "I don't want to be selfish."

"I wouldn't say you were selfish. You just hadn't thought through the ramifications," said Laura. Then to change the subject asked the young girl, "Now, tell me all about how you are doing."

There was a small move as Jenny moved to sit next to Laura. This left Ashleigh next to Rebecca.

"Are you sure you don't need me for Friday?"

"No, we're good. You'll know when the test has happened."

"How?"

"You'll know. It won't be until Friday evening. And don't worry about Jenny. She is going to be helping us in the lab."

"You're such a tease."

"Not really. Just giving you time with your sister. How is she?"

"Hopefully getting the help she needs. I've no idea how long she'll be staying. How are you doing with all those revelations about Hilda?"

Becky shrugged. "I've no idea. It makes no sense, and yet it makes total sense. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with what I've just learnt."

"I've no idea. I mean it doesn't impact how Hilda loved you or how you loved Hilda. She kept a part of herself secret. A part she would have had great difficulty explaining."

"I think there is a lot more to this," sighed Rebecca. "I mean, how did Laura know about it? Was she born with this gift? Apparently, she was warned not to use it, so how did someone find out about it?"

"Ask Laura?"

"No. Not yet anyway. I think I need to come to terms with what we've just been told. To be honest, I don't think we'd have been told this if it wasn't for Jenny."

Ashleigh's phone rang. It was Tina letting them know she had finished.

"Thank you for letting us camp out at your house," said Ashleigh, as she grabbed her coat.

"It was illuminating," replied Rebecca. "Jenny, say goodnight and go get ready for bed. You have school in the morning."

"Bye," called out Jenny as she ran up the stairs.

"I know that was unexpected," said Laura to Rebecca. "Are you okay?"

"I think so. I've lots to think about. Anyway, have a safe journey home. I'll update you tomorrow on the finalisation for Friday's test."

"Do that."

"It gets really dark without streetlights," observed Laura as they went towards Ashleigh's house.

"I purchased a torch soon after arriving. It was probably the biggest difference from city living. That and the quietness. That was a lot to lay on Becky and Jenny."

"It was, but they both needed it. I know Becky will think there is still more to be said. There is, but I don't want to overwhelm her."

"Talking of revelations. You said three people had mentioned me. The CEO and Tina were two. Was Hilda the third?"

"Yes."

"I'm not a replacement wife."

"I never said you were. Hilda never said you were."

"Then why did she discuss me?"

"Because her cousin was Gregory Hawkes. One of the people you saved at Trinton."

"You're kidding?!"

"However, based on the way I saw you and Becky looking at each other, I worry there might be feelings you are both suppressing."

"This isn't the time for things like that. She is still getting to grips with Hilda's death. Yes, I like Becky. I doubt it is love though. Too much time has passed."

"If you say so."

They got to the house and found Tina and Rachel discussing the best places to see in Iceland.

"You seem relaxed," said Ashleigh as she sat down next to Tina. "What's the conclusion?"

"The basic conclusion is the same. However, Rachel was able to give me a better treatment plan."

"Only because I know her slightly better," said Rachel.

"Which is?" asked Laura.

"She should stay here with her sister and do a week or two as a teaching assistant, if she can find somewhere locally."

"I'd rather it not be the school Jenny goes to," said Laura. "But one close by will help with Tina's local legend."

"I'll look tomorrow to see what is available," said Tina.

"Ashleigh, one last thing," said Rachel. "Last night you heard Tina in distress, and you stayed with her. This is something Tina is used to. When a pupil is in distress, their study partner stays with them. However, I don't want her to become dependent on that. So have her stay with you tonight but then go back to sleeping in separate rooms. She will get the love by being with you while she stays. I know she will get nightmares, but they need to occur. Tina needs to process what she went through. She didn't do anything wrong, but she is thinking about what the children went through."

The conversation moved onto nicer things. There was no talk about any of their work, but just a nice easy flowing conversation. Rachel Ruiz was the eldest of them all, but that didn't cause any issues, and they all seemed to fit nicely. At first, Ashleigh was surprised at how much Rachel seemed to know about her and the family, but then she realised that Tina must have had many sessions with Dr Ruiz where her background would have come up.

"I'm going to need to go soon," said Laura, "But before that, there is one thing I need to bring up."

"Is it that time already?" mused Rachel. "The time has flown. Well, good conversation will do that."

"You know that Hilda had a daughter?" asked Laura.

"Of course. How's Jenny coping with her mum's death?"

They all looked at Ashleigh. "When I first arrived, she seemed to supress her emotions, but I've no idea if that's just how she is, or from her mum's death. Day to day she seems fine but did get a bit of an obsession about finding out about Hayfield, because that's where her mum worked. She even went as far as starting to learn a musical instrument."

"What instrument did she choose?" asked Rachel.

That wasn't the response Ashleigh had expected. "She decided on the piano. There's an old upright one in the building I work in. Liam's been teaching her, and she hasn't given up."

"An interesting choice of instrument," laughed Rachel.

"I found out tonight," added Laura. "I told her the school was off limits and that just because her mum used to work there, doesn't mean she had any better chance at getting in. She said she didn't want to be selfish and take someone else's slot."

"It sounds like sensible back peddling. There are a few years before she takes the test. Ashleigh, can I ask if she starts to falter with the piano, can you encourage her. It will be a good way for her to channel her emotions."

Tina sat up and looked at her old psychiatrist. "Like Sarah Smith?"

"Exactly."

"Someone you knew from school?" enquired Ashleigh, wondering where this conversation was going.

"No, she never went to Hayfield," said Tina. "She was someone Luke knew at his original school. She used to play the violin."

"Oh," said Ashleigh, slightly lost. She was sure there was some hidden conversation going on between Tina and Rachel, but she was totally at a loss to what it was. "You don't seem as worried about Jenny as I thought you would be."

"Oh, I'm concerned, but I'm sure that Laura's talk will have stopped the worst. Jenny also now knows there isn't much information out there. If she mentions about it again, let me know via Laura."

When Laura and Rachel were gone, Ashleigh turned to her sister. "Are you okay?"

"Surprisingly, yes. Thank you for reaching out like that to Laura. She does care about what happens to us."

"I'd gathered that. So does Rachel, or she wouldn't have come, even if summoned by Laura. She didn't know it was you she was helping until she got here."

"All the support staff at school really cared for those they looked after. That included Rachel and Hilda. I was privileged to go there."

* * *

Friday came and it seemed to be just an ordinary day. The activity in the area was no different from any other Friday. There was a mist that hung over the river for most of the morning, but there was nothing extraordinary about that.

"I have a job interview at three this afternoon," stated Tina, having just taken a call.

"Well done. Which school?"

"The Crypt."

"That's a secondary school," pointed out Ashleigh, thinking but not saying that it was the school that Tony had gone to. Back then it had been a boy's grammar school. Now it took both boys and girls.

"Yes. I'm qualified for both primary and secondary. They need a teaching assistant in their languages department."

"I hope you don't get too frustrated at their beginner levels," joked Ashleigh

"I'm good," stated Tina with a twinkle in her eyes, "I take the frustration out on the permanent teachers by speaking with a southern French accent. They think everything should sound like they come from Paris."

They both laughed. When Tina returned after the interview, she rushed in.

"You'll never guess what we've forgotten."

"Why don't you tell me. And did you get the job?"

"Yes, I'm there for two weeks starting on Monday. Today is Children in Need Day. There was a collection going on at the school."

"Well, that's this evening's viewing sorted," said Ashleigh. "If that's okay with you? It won't give you bad memories?"

"Not at all. I'm upset about what they'd gone through, and I did everything I could to make sure they were saved. You weren't dissimilar. I heard about what you did for a kid call Simon. Nobody should be treated like that. I'm glad you contacted the authorities."

"How did you hear about that?"

"When I'm away for a longer time, the company collects information about what's happened with my family. Just in case they need to let me know. When I get back, there is a briefing report to get be caught up."

"Geesh, do I have no privacy?"

"You do. This was public record. They don't spy on you or your email."

"Just checking. Pizza?" offered Ashleigh

"Perfect," smiled Tina, rubbing her hands gleefully. "Do they deliver this far?"

"Yes, though I have to pay for delivery."

They opened the app on Ashleigh's tablet, and they browsed through the options.

"Silly question time," said Ashleigh as Tina added extra onion. "Do you drink alcohol? If so, what do you want?"

"I do. A glass of red wine if you have it. I don't drink anything if I think I might be called out. Last time I was here, I was not here socially."

"I feel a bit sad that there is so much I don't know about you."

"You can't know everything about me. Just as I don't know everything about you. But what I do know, I like. We each have parts of our lives that are secret. Your time at university is a total blank to me and I've no idea what you're doing here."

"Sometimes I've no idea what's going on here! I got about a tenth of the story before accepting the job. I got another sliver after a week, when they knew I was happy with the job. I know there is more that I haven't been told. Laura admitted that the other day."

The pizza arrived, and with a bottle of wine on the coffee table, they settled down to watch Children in Need. They'd watched it together when they were younger. It was one of the big annual events that their parents had watched without fail.

It was about fifteen minutes into it, when Ryan Hanson, the presenter of the show said, "It seems even NASA is supporting Children in Need."

A video was shown, where an astronaut was being interviewed on the space station and a Pudsey Bear floated into view. It had a large tag with the name Becky on it. Tina watched in shock as her sister jumped up, and without putting on her coat flew out of the front door. It slammed shut behind her as she ran towards the old Anchor pub.

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Notes:
It seems some of my writing needs a bit of clarification for readers not from the UK:

Children in Need is an annual charity event hosted by the BBC. See link. The mascot is Pudsey Bear.

For anybody confused about Hilda's "gift" please see Survival and A New Style of Education Year 5 - Part 10

For Sarah Smith. I refer you to A New Style of Education - Part 59 and A New Style of Education Year 5 - Part 4. As for the meaning - I will leave that for you the reader to speculate.