A Spirit's Touch

Thirty-Six. Judith Vs Julie

Standing outside the faded red door Judith waited anxiously for the new tenants to answer. Assuming anyone was at home. If not, she wondered if Jersey would open the door to let her in.

It had been over a year now since she left the property. Would Jersey even want to see her or had even they moved on?

Judith knocked for a second time, hoping anyone would answer. She was tired and weary but ready to face any threat Jersey might impose in exchange for a comfortable chair for a few minutes.

Eventually, a woman a few years younger than Judith answered the door wearing only a dressing gown. She was shorter than Judith and looked very surprised to receive guests.

"Good morning, may I help you?" She spoke politely.

Judith began wondering how Sheridan must have felt when she was in this position before. She adjusted her glasses, a habit when she was nervous, before answering. "Good morning, miss. May I come in? I know this seems strange but I used to live here once an-"

"Judith?" The young woman questioned, cutting her off As if suddenly recognising her face. 

Judith nodded nervously.

"Please, do come in. I will put the kettle on. My name is Mrs Melissa Fitzpatrick, but please call me Mel." She knew stating her name was unnecessary but despite everything she was doing she was still proud to be married and belonging to Sam. Mel pulled the dressing gown tighter to herself and ushered Judith to follow her into the front room.

Judith looked round at her surroundings before stepping across the threshold into the house she had fond and horrific memories of.

"You know me?" Judith asked as soon as she entered the front room behind Mel.

Mel blushed which did not go unnoticed. The image of Judith's face was vivid in her memory of the vision on the kitchen counter. "It was a guess, I know the previous tenant was Judith Ainbridge, and you look like you fit the name." Julie half lied, she knew Judith's face and why she was there but she asked her next question anyway. "What brings you here?"

Judith assumed Mel's blush was something to do with the spirit; the ghost she once called Jersey but now educated, knew it to be a girl called Julie. Judith gulped, she did not brandish the same confidence Sheridan held when she had knocked Judith's door. "I would like to talk about Julie. I think you know who I mean."

Mel blushed again, she wanted to play it dumb but she knew her face was giving away too much already. So she answered honestly. "Yes, I know Julie, the spirit in this house."

It was Judith's turn to turn a shade of red, "And what she is capable of?"

Mel nodded. She entered the kitchen to make tea and Judith followed close behind, she held a brief stare on a certain point of the counter.

"What about your husband, Mr Fitzpatrick?"

"Sam is stubborn and sceptical. He is somehow able to ignore the strange occurrences." Mel felt uncomfortable with Judith in her home. Sure she may have had history with Julie but that was not a good enough reason to be calling now.

"I see," Judith replied.

Mel handed Judith a cup of tea and ushered her back into the front room to take a seat. "Judith, I know what we're trying to discuss is a little personal and uncomfortable but if you're here to see Julie, I can assure you she is fine."

Judith stared down at her cup. "How do you know her name is Julie? I used to name her Jersey, not knowing whether she was male or female. I had to do a lot of digging before coming here to discover the unpleasant truth behind Julie and her death. It was mostly covered up by the police and the assailant's family. How did you come by it?"