Whispers of the Past

Marcus - It truly is, isn't it? Glad to get you guessing. I hope you like the next chapter.



The Present Situation



Christmas fell upon the world and brought with it the usual stresses, strains, disappointments and, for Hank, Ralph and Rachel worries that no three friends should have to endure. Hank was livid with Ralph; he had always suspected Rachel had a crush on Ralph and now it was confirmed. She was his world for most of his life and now she had pulled the rug from under his feet, or Ralph did by rescuing her, and leaving him behind.



He was lying in his bedroom with the curtains drawn and miserable to the core. He had come upstairs to escape the inane babble and chatter of his family. He couldn’t believe that he hadn’t done anything for Rachel at that moment. The amount of boys he fought off for her and he wasn’t allowed to fight off that sick man! He was angry with Ralph for excluding him.



He had picked up Ralph’s present and flung it against the wall:



“Hey, Hank, that’s not nice you know!”



His Uncle walked into his bedroom and switched the light on. Hank turned his back.



“Go away,” he mumbled. “I came up here to be on my own.”



“What seems to be troubling you, Hank?” Mark asked. “Please,” Mark said. “Explain? You haven’t said a civil word to Ralph all day. And you flung his present against the wall.”



“It’s nothing Uncle,” Hank said.



“Hmm, then if it’s nothing then why are you so mad?”



Hank rolled over and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He looked at his Uncle squarely in the eyes. “He saved Rachel and I didn’t, and now she’s got a crush on him!” he exclaimed.



Mark tilted his head to one side and one side of his lips curled and his eyes twinkled gamefully. “Perhaps you better explain from the beginning.”



So Hank did. He told his Uncle all about that dreadful day. Mark listened to the story and shook his head. “So, what you’re saying is that Ralph saved this Rachel from a fate worse than death and that has made you miserable?”



“No, what I’m saying is, I should have saved her from a fate worse than death. I save her from all the other drooling dimwits that come her way!”



“This Brace didn’t sound like a drooling dimwit, Hank, and truthfully Ralph was the best man to deal with that guy.”



“Everyone say’s that,” Hank moaned looking down on the floor. He spread his hands and he sighed. “She’s just a good friend, but she’s my responsibility.”



“Can I give advice?” Mark asked.



“What can you do?” Hank asked.



“Hey, I was young once.”



“Yeah, in the dark ages,” Hank muttered.



“Ha! Ha! Ha! Be nice,” Mark said. “I mean it. I do know what you’re going through, I went through it once. I fancied a girl that was my best friend but she didn’t fancy me in return. Thankfully your Aunt was born and she did love me.”



“What are you trying to say?” Hank asked. He began swinging and kicking his heels against his bed.



“I’m saying that you can fool yourself but you can’t fool me. This Rachel is more than just a good friend,” Mark sighed and walked up to his nephew and picked up a chair and placed it opposite his nephew, he sat on it and picked up the boys chin so that there could be direct eye contact. “You fancy her,” he said. “Possibly you may even be in love with her.”



“She’s just a very good friend!” Hank exclaimed hotly moving his head away from the older man’s grip.



Mark decided to let it slide. “All right, Hank let me give you a penny’s worth of free advice. All girls are on the lookout for a Knight in Shining Armour one to rescue them from all sorts of villainy. But a Knightly act can be anything from giving your handkerchief if she’s crying, to slaying the so-called dragon. You gave her your coat when she was shivering, and gave her some chocolate which comforts any distressed person.” Mark took Hank’s hands in his. “Of course, any girl loves it when you give her your last Rolo!”



Hank rolled his eyes; he wondered when the punch line was going to turn up. His Uncle couldn’t remain serious for long.



“It’s just complicated,” Hank said.



“I’m used to complicated,” Mark replied in an understanding voice.



“It’s strange, but when I first set eyes on her at Toni’s Espresso four years ago now, I had this odd sound in my head – some twinge of recognition. It was as if I should know her,” he looked into his Uncle’s eyes.



Mark narrowed them. “Hmm, that is very odd. Déjà vu can be a scary thing.”



“It wasn’t Déjà vu,” Hank said. “I had that before. This was different.”



Mark shrugged his shoulders. “Well, it’s probably fate telling you to get your act together and ask her out.”



“I don’t fancy her!” Hank exclaimed.



“Well, if you don’t, then I can assure you someone else will.”



Hank narrowed his eyes. “If Ralph does I’ll kill him!”



Mark’s heart pumped in his chest. “Nothing is worth losing a good friend over, Hank, and Ralph is your friend. But if you don’t fancy her I don’t see the problem with Ralph asking her out when she’s a bit older.”



Hank withdrew his hands away from his Uncles and swung his legs back up on the bed and turned his back to Mark, the older man shook his head and placed the chair back where he got it from and walked out of the room. He bumped into Ralph.



“How is he?” Ralph asked.



Mark took pity on this boy and rubbed his arm. “Look, Ralph, Hank is young and in love. He told me what you did for this girl, and I’m proud of you, and I’m pleased that you kept Hank out of the way. He just doesn’t see that as a good thing.”



“Thanks Uncle,” Ralph sighed. “I know he cares deeply for Rachel. It’s one of the reasons that I told him to stay.”



Mark shook his head. He smiled slightly. “Ralph, just be gentle. He’s at a tender age.”



“It wasn’t too long ago when I was his age,” Ralph said smiling. “I think I’m more in touch with it than you are old man!”



“Why is everyone making fun of my age?” Mark said. “I still got some of my wits about me you know; I have to, to keep up with Julia and Sarah.”



“I have no doubt about that!” Ralph exclaimed laughing slightly. “She’s squiggled me to death.”



Mark laughed and sighed. Ralph was actually all right. He was downstairs in a matter of seconds and walked into the kitchen. Gertie was sitting on a chair her head in her hands.



“How is he?”



“He’s a teenager,” Mark said. “He’ll realise in a year or so’s time that Ralph did the right thing.”



“Let’s hope so,” Gertie said. She turned around and gave the washing up the evil eye.



“Charles and I will clear up,” Mark said. “You go in there with a glass of wine. We know where everything goes.”



“You sure?” Gertie asked.



“Go on,” Mark said. “That’s an order.”



Charles had walked into the kitchen at this point and looked between Mark and his daughter in law. He’d come to escape his son’s blather about the business. He looked at the washing up and looked at his friend. It was clear that Mark wanted to talk. Charles could gather that much.



She dug her hand into her apron pocket and dragged out a sprig of mistletoe.



“Dost thou wish for a kiss good Knight?”



“This Knight accepts thy Lady’s kiss.”



She walked up to him, raised the leaf above his head, and placed her lips on his. She was about to draw back but for some reason went to explore his mouth further. He almost withdrew but for some reason he stayed there swirling his tongue inside her mouth. He held her close to him and squeezed her before letting her go. He sighed inside her mouth before releasing her. She blinked and blushed. She placed the mistletoe over Charles head but he backed away.



“No, no, Gertie, you go.”



She looked at Mark again and smiled shyly. “No wonder Sarah loves you.”



He stepped aside and she walked out of the room happy. Mark turned to Charles.



“I don’t think I should do that again,” he said.



“Not again, Manfred!”



“Sh! Mark, remember!” he hissed, Charles shook his head.



“What did you do to her?”



“I don’t know, something told me she needed some proper loving,” Mark said. “I doubt her husband gives her the attention someone like Gertie so obviously deserves.”



Charles nodded in agreement. “He takes after his mother.”



“He sure does,” the other man said. “Look, Charles, something’s happening between Hank and Ralph. We need to help them.”



Charles narrowed his eyes. “I knew that kid was bad news.”



“Charles, those two are really close, you’re not the only one with hunches you know. I know that those two are a great team.”



“Mark,” Charles sighed. “What is going on?”



*^*^*^*



Ralph opened the door and found Hank with his back turned to him and his present on the floor. Ralph shook his head. He went to pick up his present and dusted it down and put it on the desk. He stepped up to the bed and looked at his old friend.



“Okay, Hank, what have I done now?”

“What haven’t you done?” he asked.



“You’d rather me have left her in the hands of that creep?”



“No, I’d rather you involved me!”



Ralph turned Hank around so he could look into his eyes. They were swollen, and red. He had been crying.



“I couldn’t Hank, don’t you get it?” Ralph said. “What happens to a human when he’s cornered an angry snake? He gets poisoned and dies. He was like a frightened, poisonous snake and he would have mangled you. I care about you too much. I saved you as much as I saved her. Don’t you get it? You and I are friends, brothers, and amigos. We need each other, and I want to make sure you are safe and as unscathed as possible. Besides you didn’t need to see what I saw. You’re a good person, Hank, and I want to keep you good.”



“Well, I thank you, next time I’ll remember that. I won’t try and tear off the bubble wrapping encased in cotton wool!”



Ralph sighed. “Whatever, Hank, I know I’m not nice; and I’ve been through hell with my mother. You don’t deserve that. I am not saying your soft. You got balls; and I’m pleased you have; but you’re also kind. I’m not. You’d be prepared to listen to a story. Brace wasn’t the kind to tell a story.”



“I can swing a punch!”



“Yeah, with guilt in your eyes. Brace would have spotted your weakness and exploited it. I don’t have as much mercy as you do.”



Hank turned his back on Ralph. “You know where the door is.”



Ralph sighed. “Listen, Hank, what is really the matter?”



“You want to know what is the matter?” Hank sat up and scowled darkly at his friend; “all the time you were in the off licence all she could talk about was you!” he fluttered his eyelashes and did a cruel impersonation of Rachel. “Ralph was so brave! Ralph was cool! Ralph this! Ralph that! Ralph is so hot!”



“So this is what this is all about?” Ralph asked. “You fancy Rachel and you’re worried she’ll never like you?”



“Oh purlease,” Hank said. “Are you telling me you’re oblivious to the looks that girls give you?”

“They give them to you to, you know, I’ve seen girls; and Rachel especially, look you up and down with a smile on their faces. You’re not a bad looking kid.”



Hank humphed. “Sure!”



“Hank, you are a cool guy. Of course any girl will be flattered if you asked them out, AND I wouldn’t feel cramped around you. You’re my mate, not my little brother.”



“Sure!” Hank said in a voice dripping with sarcasm.



“Next time, I will include you, I promise.”



“Don’t bother,” Hank said.



*^*^*^*



Charles had put the last saucepan away and folded the towel up and hooked it over the door of one of the cupboards. He turned around and stared Mark in the eyes.



“So, this is all over a girl?”



“This girl sounds like a lovely person Charles. She would be nice if Hank is prepared to get himself killed for her!”



“You do realise that Hank would kill himself for a world class bitch?” Charles asked.



“I don’t think that this Rachel is a bitch,” Mark said.



“Sounds like one to me,” Charles mumbled.



There was a cough from behind them. Mark and Charles turned around and Ralph was standing behind them. “I can assure you both that Rachel is not a bitch, Mr Harris! And I would appreciate it if you two didn’t talk about her, or us like we didn’t really exist.”



Mark shook his head and tossed the water down the drain. “It’s all yours mate.”



He left the kitchen leaving Ralph alone with Charles. He patted the young man’s back and whispered good luck in his ear. Charles narrowed his eyes.



“I don’t like you, boy, I don’t like the fact that you seem to be screwing with my grandson’s life.”



“Hank overheard your conversation the day we first met, Mr Harris. I can assure that whoever it is I remind you of I am not him! I probably don’t even know the guy!”



“How much did Hank tell you he overheard?” Charles asked. Ralph was sure his eyes widened.



“Firstly, I am not the one messing with his head,” Ralph said. “Who am I really talking to? Charles or Karl?”



The silver haired old gentleman sighed. “That is for another time, young man.”



“Yep well everything I tell Hank is the truth; I am not the one lying to him – or to anyone else.”



Ralph turned on his heel and walked away. Charles swore under his breath and followed the boy and grabbed his arm. “Believe me, young man, there are several valid reasons why I changed me name, and they are all in this house at the moment; yes boy, one of them is you. I may not like you very much but you’re still an innocent.” Ralph scoffed. Charles blue eyes darkened dangerously. “You are an innocent in most things, young man.”



Ralph wished Charles would say his name, but it was a consolation to know that the old man wanted to protect him. “You know, old man, I bet we’re more alike than you would care to admit. We care a lot about the same people.”



Ralph wished he hadn’t opened his mouth as the glare that Charles gave him made him gulp slightly. “Caring about the same people doesn’t automatically make us friends.”



“I know I’m not nice, Mr Harris, and I have my flaws. I am sorry that this other person hurt you so much and that you’re scared. I want you to know that I will never do that to Hank. I’d lay my life for that kid. And if this guy does come to hurt you, I’ll hurt him harder. You are the closest thing to a grandfather I’ve ever had.”



Charles shook his head. “Whatever!”



Ralph walked into the living room grinding his teeth. He was going to get Charles to like him; he wanted that old man’s respect more than anything. Charles sat down contemplating what the boy had just said. Ralph barely had time to compose himself, however, because Julia walked up to him, took his hand, and dragged him into the room.



“You didn’t hear me sing!” she exclaimed.



Ralph rolled his eyes. “All right then!”



Philip groaned. “Not again!”



“Shut up, Phil!” his sister snapped. “Not all of us likes listening to the same paragraph of a book over and over again!”



Ralph smiled slightly. “Go on then Julia; sing for me.”



Julia smiled. She launched into one of her favourite songs. She started singing Eternal Flame; it was her favourite song of that year. She sang it beautifully; and Ralph actually felt his heart swell slightly in his chest. She finished and looked into his eyes, her eyes were glittering with tears, and his were to.



“Well,” she was breathless. “What do you think?”



Ralph choked. “It was lovely, Julia.”



She blushed and skipped over to her mother and father and squeezed between them. Mark mouthed a ‘thank you,’ to him and Ralph sat down.



*^*^*^*



Rachel’s mind was tossing and turning over her little dilemma. She knew that she was enthusiastic about what Ralph did. She had noticed that Hank had turned colder towards them at the end of that day. It hurt her to see Hanks eyes turn that frosty.



Then there were the dreams. Dreams of a moronic, Victorian teenage farm girl! She was dressed in a mediaeval dress; she was at a jousting tournament, and she was wearing those tall, pointy hats. It was pink with some lace flowing in the wind.



Two Knights were standing in the lists and one wore burnished gold armour and another wore black armour, they turned to her and lifted up their visors. The one is burnished gold was Brace: “You’ll be my bride!” The one in black armour was Ralph: “I shall save thee from this brigand!”



It was always when they charged; lances pointing; horses snorting, kicking up dust and dirt from beneath their hooves that she woke up. She woke up feeling awful every morning. She hated having these dreams. It always made her feel wretched.



She was currently arguing with her dad: “Why can’t I go and see Hank?”



“It’s family time,” George said sternly. “You spend enough time with your friends anyway.”



“But this is important dad. I want to give him his present, and there is something I need to say. I’ll be back before the Queen’s Speech.”



“No, Rachel.”



Rachel rolled her eyes and stamped her foot. Her father hasn’t liked letting her out of his sight since that incident, and Rachel began to feel suffocated. She stormed out of the living room and Heidi watched her daughter leave the room.



“It’s all right, Heidi,” Mary said. “I’ll go and see what’s wrong with her.”



Heidi narrowed her eyes. Some part of her was jealous of the special bond Rachel and Mary had. She sulked slightly in the sofa.



Mary found her granddaughter kicking her foot against the fence.



“All right, young lady, tell me what is on your mind!”



Rachel turned around. “I don’t like the way I left things with Hank. I need to see him to explain a few things.”



Mary sighed and looked at her granddaughter with empathy in her eyes and sympathy in her heart, her mind fell to the last time she had seen her brother and how they argued.



“Get your present and go. I’ll speak to George.”



“You sure?” Rachel said.



“I have always found that it’s better to go to bed without a dispute hanging in the air. George never really argued with anyone in his life.”



Rachel snorted. “I can’t imagine dad being really angry.”



“Before you go I want to know exactly what the argument is about.”



“I was a little over enthusiastic about Ralph and the way he rescued me.”



Mary nodded her head. “And Hank fancies you?”



Rachel looked up and her eyes shone for a brief moment before shaking her head. “I don’t think so,” she sighed.



But you wish he did, Mary thought to herself. And I understand why!



“Go on,” the elderly woman said, “and come back with a smile on your face.”



Rachel kissed her grandmother and ran inside the house and put her coat on. She had her present in one of her pockets already and ran out of the front door. Heidi got up and watched her daughter leave the house, and her mother in law walk back in.



“What’s the matter, Mary?” Heidi asked.



Mary knew Heidi wanted to help her daughter, but she just didn’t understand Rachel the way Mary did.



“She’s having a little bit of boy trouble,” Mary said.



“Oh,” Heidi said. “They grow up so fast don’t they?”



“They do indeed,” Mary agreed.



*^*^*^*



Charles Harris opened the door to a very breathless wild haired girl. She was clutching onto the doorframe holding a rectangular shaped object.



“H – Hank?” she asked. “Is Hank in?”



“Yes,” Charles said. “Who are you?”



“R – Rachel,” she gulped. Her hand slipped down the doorframe and Charles grabbed her body before she fell on the floor.



“Come in, child;” he handed her into the hallway and led her into the kitchen. “I’ll get him for you.”



He went up the stairs and walked into Hanks room. He was now sitting up and fingering the gift that Ralph had brought him. He supposed he was being slightly childish, and awfully possessive. It wasn’t as if Rachel was officially his girlfriend. She was free to fancy whomsoever she wanted to. It’s just that, why couldn’t it have been him?



“A girl called Rachel is downstairs,” Charles said.



Hank’s face shot up and he jumped off the bed, he picked up his present and brushed past his grandfather. He ran down the stairs, and smoothed down his hair. He walked into the kitchen and found Ralph in there with his arms wrapped around her shoulders. He was about to tiptoe out when Ralph looked up. He let go off her and walked out of the room.



“Ralph was just soothing me,” Rachel said. “I ran all the way here. I shouldn’t have.”



Hank nodded; he knew of Rachel’s breathing problems of late. He sat down on a chair opposite her. Charles had managed to get to the living room and he told the family that on no account was anyone to enter the kitchen.



“Listen,” Hank said, “I’m sorry. I was going to come and see you but my dad is in one of his ‘family’ modes. He rarely gets them nowadays.”



“Yes, my father is on one of those moods!”



“How – How are you?” Hank asked.



“Not bad, I’m just slightly scared, and now my chest is tight.”



“You should go to a doctor about that,” Hank said.



“I will do after Christmas,” Rachel said.



Hank smiled at her. “Anyway, I wanted to give you this.”



“I’ve got a present for you to.”



Hank gave his to her; they accidentally brushed fingers against her skin. He blushed.



“Here’s yours,” she said. She pushed the object to him and they opened them simultaneously. His eyes widened considerably.

“Wow, the continuation!” he gasped. “Ralph gave me the first one.”



“We worked that out together,” Rachel said. “We wanted to give you something special.”



We? She was already acting like they were a couple. He sighed, and pushed his broken heart to the back of his mind. She opened the box and it was her turn to gasp. It was a silver snake pendant with emerald eyes. There were two snakes entwined in some sort of love knot around a heart with a small ruby set in the centre.



“Hank; I – it’s beautiful.”



“I know you want a snake for a pet,” he said. “This is just to tide you over until you get a real pair.”



Rachel smiled. It was the only crazy thing about her; she wanted a pet Snake since she was six years old. It wasn’t the snake that brought a lump to her throat; it was the red and green.



“Can you put it on for me?” she asked shyly.



“Of course,” he said. He got up and she lifted her hair, he took it out of her hands and clasped it around her neck. He let go and it dropped. The snakes fell between her breasts and it looked beautiful on her. “I thought that the eyes would match yours,” he explained. “And it looks like I was right.”



He stepped back and she got up. “Thank you, Hank, truly I couldn’t be without you in my life.”



He looked up and she stroked the pad of her thumb across his lips and was about to kiss him when a loud voice interrupted them. Hank, for the first time in his life, cursed his Uncle.



“Well, well, who is this?” Mark asked.



“Her name’s Rachel,” Hank said.



“Ah! Rachel!” Mark said. Hank narrowed his eyes. “Hello, Rachel. Why don’t you come and meet my kids. I’ve got a daughter your age.”



Rachel smiled. “Sure. Who are you?”



“This is my Uncle Mark!”



“Ah!” Rachel exclaimed. “What part of Austria do you come from?”



“What?” Mark blinked.



“Austria? You have a similar accent to my grandmother’s, I’d say Linz,” she said. “Or thereabouts.”



“Linz, yes, it’s where I come from.”



“I’ll meet your kids,” she said. “Hank wanted me to meet you guys anyway.”



“Brave boy is Hank!”



Rachel said nothing and Hank gave his Uncle a glare. They all walked out of the Kitchen into the sitting room.



“You know my family,” Hank said standing behind her. He pointed to the other four strangers. “There is my Aunt Sarah, and my three cousins: Philip, Louisa, and Julia.”



Julia looked Rachel up and down and she looked at the way Ralph was also looking at Rachel.



“Nice to meet you all finally,” she said.



“Likewise,” Mark replied.



“And thank you for the necklace, Hank,” Rachel turned around and gazed steadily into his eyes.



She walked out of the house and as soon as the door closed behind her, her heart thumped into her throat. She had almost kissed Hank! She knew that. She fingered her pendant and knew she’d never take it off from that day forward.



She ran back to her grandmother’s, she went round the back way and walked through the gate; she clutched onto the corner of the shed and panted. Her mother walked up to her and put an arm around her daughter’s shoulder.



“Is it sorted?”



Rachel looked up and smiled. “Yes, and this is what he gave me.”



Heidi helped Rachel back into the house. “After Christmas you’re going to the doctors. That problem of yours seems to be getting worse.”



Rachel nodded. She was placed in a chair and her mother gave her a glass of water. “Thank you mum.”



“No problem,” she said.



“What about dad?”



“He’s apoplectic, best not to disturb him at the moment.”



*^*^*^*



Mark bit his lip. What she said worried him somewhat, it was amazing that the girl could pick out where he came from, from his accent.



“She was pretty, wasn’t she?” Sarah said.



“She was,” Julia said with a hint of steel in her voice.



“She’s great,” Anna enthused.



Hank and Ralph remained silent. Both knew that whatever they said could land them in trouble with the other. Mark sighed.



“Anyone for a game of Snap?” he asked bringing out a deck of cards.



Elizabeth ran forward to play Snap with her Uncle. Everyone else was vaguely listening to the Queen’s speech. Charles also had a shock, and one he could only share with specific people.



A/n - A bit more of a character building chapter rather than one with drama and angst in it. Still, what did you think? Please, can some more of you review if you liked it.