Ghostly Echoes
4 – Sarah
Although Clarrie was obviously disturbed by her eerie
experience that morning, she had trivialised it when describing
it to her mother over dinner but Sarah wasn’t deceived. She
sensed underlying apprehension behind the light-hearted
account. Because the excruciatingly low temperature was
confined to just a few square yards, Sarah wondered if Clarinda
had even considered that a supernatural presence might be the
cause and considered tagging along on the next trip, to check the
waterfront atmosphere herself but, aware that her presence might
hinder her daughter’s concentration, Sarah shrugged off her
disquiet; her imagination was being over-active. Clarinda’s good
sense would be her own protection. Instead, she’d sort magazines
– far more useful and long overdue. Besides, it was her turn to
bake for Monday’s bridge circle. Maud had remarked hopefully
that Sarah’s date and walnut drops were delicious; she couldn’t
disappoint her hostess.
Clarrie, inexplicably drawn to stare from the window, felt
threatened and voiced her concern that she might have been
followed from the river; surely she would have noticed. For a
few minutes, they scrutinised the darkening garden together
then, although observing nothing abnormal, they re-checked
security, staring warily from every angle as growing twilight
flattened the shadows. Eventually, Clarrie apologised. It had
been an extraordinary day; her eyes and ears were usually more
reliable. Sarah, too, felt uneasy as she went to bed, but she
recognised the possibility that Clarinda’s mood was catching
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