Ghostly Echoes
Although Sarah was proud to see her daughter’s paintings
so well displayed her gaze lingered more often on Maud’s,
finding that the portrayal of Norma made her feel vaguely
uncomfortable. She had never really liked Norma and somehow
the portrait revealed something deeply disturbing about her that
was easier to ignore in life. Sarah never asked about her personal
feelings for sitters but perhaps, inadvertently, Clarinda had
captured intrusions from her own subconscious. Others admired
both of the portraits without reservation ...some even likened
Norma’s strange smile to that of the Mona Lisa!
Norma had the dummy hand in the first round and at the
adjacent table Sarah’s partner also had the contract. No player
likes to be left out of play and as they caught each other’s eye
sympathetically, in what was potentially a fleeting glance, they
were both simultaneously distracted from the play.
Norma saw Sarah’s expression intensify. Her normally
smooth features were creased in a worried frown and as their
eyes locked, Norma had what seemed to be a telepathic vision of
Maud’s face contorted with pain. They looked over the tables at
each other – sharing the same dreadful image – then both stared
at Maud, triumphantly tidying her tricks away, having made a
slam.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur to Norma but when
the party broke up she found that Sarah was, for once, anxious to
talk to her! Accompanying her outside, while Maud was
occupied with all the other departing guests, Norma was almost
dizzy, anticipating Sarah’s reaction when she described what she
had seen. It was Norma’s chance to prove herself to Sarah, but,
before she could do so, Sarah spoke urgently, her voice tinged
with alarm. “I know you’ll think it a strange request, but please,
I beg you – I feel this so strongly – you must keep Maud at home
today!” Sarah refused to explain further, trusting that Maud’s
well-being would be supremely important to her sister, but
Norma pressed for a reason.
Clutching Sarah’s arm, Norma described what she herself
had seen and for a few moments neither woman moved. Sarah
studied Norma intently then came to a decision. “It seems that
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