Chapter 21
A new incident occurred on a regular basis now. The vase moved and the light in the cloakroom was on. It happened a couple of times and then, on the third occasion, Nina had to tell Rory.
"You know about the vases. Well now a new thing keeps happening. I come downstairs in the morning and the cloakroom light is on. I asked you about it and you said it wasn't you. Three times it has been on now."
"Maybe there's a fault."
"Should I call an electrician?"
"Let's see if it keeps happening and then decide. At least the vases are staying put."
"They aren't. They still move a couple of times a week."
"You haven't mentioned it in a while, so I thought it had stopped."
"I didn't mention it because you were, let's say, sceptical. It made me feel like I was a bit crazy, keep going on about things moving themselves."
"I'm sorry. It's just that I don't really know what to say. The vase thing, I couldn't see the difference. I know you wouldn't talk about it unless you thought it was moving."
"Rory. I don't "think" the vases are moving. They ARE moving."
"Sorry, sorry."
"I'm well aware that this sounds ridiculous. I'm hardly one for frivolity or a practical joke. I hate practical jokes. If I tell you something weird is happening, please believe me. In the morning, we must check the cloakroom together. Then you will see for yourself."
"Yes. That's a good idea."
Two days passed without the light being on. Both Nina and Rory peered into the room, shook their heads, and then retreated. Neither mentioned the absence of illumination. On the third day, it was on.
"Ha. There you go. You checked it last night before we went to bed. Now it's on."
"We'll call an electrician." Rory returned, grim faced, to the kitchen.
The official verdict, given by a qualified electrician, was that there was nothing wrong with the wiring, switch, or bulb in the downstairs cloakroom. Rory merely nodded on hearing the news. He disappeared upstairs to get changed from his work clothes and only commented when he came back down.
"It's probably a loose connection."
"Would the electrician not have mentioned that?"
"I don't know, Nina." A note of irritation in his voice.
"Okay. Let's take stock. The vase moves an inch and the light in the cloakroom comes on. Neither of these things is more than a minor annoyance. I don't think we should expend any more energy investigating them. Also, there are wonderful things happening in our lives. That should be our focus."
"You're right." The Rory smile was back. "A couple more weeks and you will have your scan and then we can tell people."
"We'll have your mum and dad over for lunch on the Saturday and then we can tell them. I'll phone Louise after that."
"Maybe that evening we can see Grant and Maria, as well. They will be excited."
Nina got into a routine. After a cup of coffee, she moved the vase back to its correct place and then went and turned the light off. Sometimes it was both, sometimes just one. The weeks passed and the appointment at the hospital arrived. Rory went with Nina and they saw the images. It was a boy.
The car journey home was full of talk of names and what their son might look like.
"I quite like Edward." Rory said.
"Eddie Jackson. He will sound like a gangster."
"No. A footballer."
"I'm sure your mum and dad will have suggestions. Grandparent's and uncle's names. Then we will have to think of an embarrassing middle name for him, Rory Leonard Jackson."
"Ha ha. I hated the Leonard bit when I was young. These days, kids have such bizarre names that it seems quite mild now."
Walking into the house, Rory was calling Joy and Martin as Nina checked the cloakroom. The light was on and she tutted before turning it off. Rory felt a shudder run through his body and marvelled at the stoic way his wife dealt with the strange event. The invitation was accepted.
"Mum and Dad said yes to coming on Saturday. What are you going to make for lunch? Maybe you could whip up a cake with some blue icing."
A shake of the head, a raised eyebrow, Nina turned towards the kettle.
"I'll take that as a no."