Lonely People

Times of Trouble

Death is an old friend of mine. We've crossed paths more times than I'd like, each time he tipped his hat and moved on, sparing me even when I wanted to follow. It seems as if everyone I ever love dies early on. My love was tainted, I'm sure of it, and it all began with the death of my mother.

I was lucky enough to have two mothers in my lifetime. My own Mum meant the world to me, and I miss her each and everyday. Mrs. Mackenzie was a woman with the largest heart I had ever seen. She opened her arms and her home to me and became the mother still walking. I was lucky enough to have two Mums, and cursed to lose them both.

"Bloody hell," I muttered, "I wanted Boardwalk."

Linda smirked, "Sorry, Amelia, first come first serve."

"Tosser."

Linda chuckled. Heather came up behind her and whispered something, to which Linda nodded. She handed Heather a bottle from the nearby table, which she gratefully drank from. She peered over her mother's shoulder as she drank. 

All of us were criss-cross on the floor of Molly and my flat. Our Monopoly board was open in front of us with cards haphazardly thrown around. We had only been playing for an hour and Linda was already wiping the floor with us. She had almost every property and half of the bank. Molly and I were hopeless.

"You're just like John," Molly chuckled, "A lucky bastard."

I grinned, "I'd like to see you beat him."

John was the reigning champion in all of our Monopoly games. Only once had I ever seen him beaten, and that was back in 1959 when Stuart was playing with us. Stuart, to this day, was the only person I had ever seen beat John Lennon in Monopoly.

When I was sent to jail, I seriously considered giving up. Linda had a winning smirk splayed across her face like some tattoo. I was saved from watching Molly go bankrupt by the phone ringing.

"I got it," I said, jumping to my feet.

Molly glanced up at me, "Could you get me a pop while you're up?"

"Anything for you, love," I winked, "You lazy bum."

"Look who's talking."

Both of us laughed as I headed into the front hall. Heather was just behind me, dragging a rag doll that was nearly half her size. The ringing got louder. If it was possible, the phone seemed to get more anxious. I quickly picked the phone off the receiver and leaned against the wall.

"McCartney-Mackenzie residence, McCartney speaking," I answered.

The connection crackled a bit, "Is this Amelia McCartney?"

"Yeah, the other McCartney lives elsewhere," I replied, "Who is this?"

"This is Alastair Beckett and I need to speak to my niece."

"Wait, who?" I asked.

As the connection became clearer, I heard someone sobbing in the background. A few people were talking, but their voices were unclear. My mind focused on the sobbing and my blood ran cold.

"I need to speak to my niece, Molly Mackenzie," Alastair replied, "It's about her Mother."

I nearly fell down right then and there. My nerves were getting the best of me, I didn't even realize my fingers were gripping onto the phone so hard, I nearly dented it. Heather sensed my anxiety and came up to hold my other hand. She looked up at me with worried eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Alastair hesitated. That hesitation nearly killed me inside. He didn't have to say what was wrong for me to know. The Mackenzie Family Curse was very real, and I already knew it had hit again. All I needed was confirmation, and that was the last thing I wanted.