Sometimes things happen to test us, it's only if we pass the test do we receive the true gift. The time has come for the visitor to arrive. When this happens it is a life changing event for those he encounters. Their lives have reached a turning point and with the watchful eye of the Visitor they will each recieve a gem. By passing the test comes the opportunity to recieve the true gift if they are fortunate enough. His journey with each of these five women leads him to not only change their lives but also his own. "From all negative situations is the potential for a positive outcome" Endorsements: 1. "I couldn't stop reading, I got emotional at a few points, I loved the story, I love the twists" Sharyn. Warrior Films 2. 'The Visitor' gave me the answer that my heart longed for" Donna Di Lallo. Adoptamum.com

THE VISITOR

A magical understanding of uncertaintyBy Karen McDermott

BALBOA PRESS

Copyright © 2011 Karen Mc Dermott
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-0192-5

Contents

PROLOGUE.............................................xvChapter 1 THE MEETING...............................1Chapter 2 DISPATCH..................................11Chapter 3 CARRIE....................................19Chapter 4 TRACY.....................................27Chapter 5 BETHANY...................................35Chapter 6 KATH......................................43Chapter 7 SIOBHAN...................................51Chapter 8 RUPERT....................................61Chapter 9 HOME INFLUENCES...........................69Chapter 10 RELEASING THE GEMS........................79Chapter 11 DISCOVERY.................................91Chapter 12 POSITIVE RESULTS..........................101Chapter 13 SUMMONED..................................115Chapter 14 ATTAINING THE GEMS........................123Chapter 15 THE FINAL OBSERVATION.....................139Chapter 16 BACK IN THE ZONE..........................145Chapter 17 FINAL MEETING.............................149Chapter 18 ENTERING THE GATES........................155Chapter 19 HAPPILY EVER AFTER........................167EPILOGUE.............................................171

Chapter One

THE MEETING

I still do not know why the Boss gave me this role; I still wonder what he saw in me to make him think that I am the best person for the job. He must value my opinion highly to give me control of such a life-changing responsibility. No pressure then! Right. But then again, perhaps not. My mates have started to call me the "Indian", because I give a gift and then take it away. It's all right for them, with their conventional "giving" jobs. Not so for me. The official name for my job is "Visitor"; the definition of which is "a person or thing that enters into someone's life for a short period of time". I am just back after a break between assignments. Each assignment can take a lot out of me. The pressure can be intense, and I never know what to expect. Every assignment is different, from start to finish, so anything can happen.

Ah, Jonnie has just sent me a message:

"Meeting 10 mins boardroom."

That means it's time. Soon I will find out the name of the people I'll spend the next few months with. I always feel nervous and a little uncomfortable at this point. So I must remember to make a stop at the loo on the way to the meeting. As the Boss doesn't like it if we need to leave the room; sometimes these meetings can go on for hours.

I remember what happened to my good friend, Sydney, at the last meeting. She had been out for a curry and a few glasses of wine the night before, and they were doing a conga in her lower intestines the whole way through the meeting. I remember looking at her: the sweat on her forehead and the greenness of her cheeks told the whole story all by themselves. The poor girl was in pain, but I have to commend her. She stuck it out until the end. We didn't see her the rest of that afternoon, and we usually hang out to make sure that we are all in sync when the Boss isn't around.

Outside the boardroom door, we all line up in anticipation, as if we are waiting at the living-room door to see what Santa left for us. As we look in through the small window in the door, I can only describe the room as being spacious, bright and airy. The prominent colour is white—white walls, white table, enormous white fluffy chairs that we all sink into. Sitting in them is like lying on a giant cloud. When you sink in it feels quite luxurious. But they are awkward to get out of, and I have not worked out why. It is all very strange, as this room is not one that you would expect the Boss to have had an influence in designing; yet, apparently, it was his vision. Boss is quite loud and sharp; when he talks he has everyone's attention. Quite a bulky, strong man, not anything like me—I could fit twice into his pants. He has the utmost respect from everyone. No one has ever questioned his decisions, as he has never faltered; I would trust him with my life. I suppose, in a way, I have.

We hear a loud "Come in!" So we all enter the room and take our seats at the large white desk, where our assignment files await us. I am dying to take a peek, but I decide to wait until it is time to read about the people I am going to encounter. I love meeting new people; I love delving into the soul of their lives in order to find their true being. What makes them tick? Do they already know, or are they to find out in the future? Human behaviour has always intrigued me.

Boss gives us all the usual spiel: start afresh; forget the past assignments; take a fresh approach; all the usual get-in-the-zone focus stuff that helps us build a brick wall between assignments. And then comes the moment we have all sunken into our seats to await.

"Well, what are you all waiting for? Open your files. Have a look, and if you have any questions that I can help you with before the end of the meeting, all the better. If not, you can take your time to look over them tonight, and be at my office early, because dispatch starts at 9.00 sharp. Got it?" says Boss.

In unison, whilst we all reach for our files, we agree, "Got it, Boss"..

On this assignment I have five different candidates to observe, and I have five special gems assigned for me to pick up in the morning before I dispatch. The gems are not designed to last long, but they will have an unimaginable effect on those who encounter them. It never seems to baffle me how everyone deals with these situations in his or her own unique way. Over the thirty-four years that I have had this role, I believe I have seen it all—but, hey, maybe not. I never take things for granted; definitely not here, anyway. Once I have done my duty, I am not allowed to interfere; I must only observe for the immediate reaction and then report my findings to Boss and the others.

I am always asked how I am able to do my job. Well, my answer to that is that someone has to do it, and I feel that I do it properly by ensuring that, although the gift I deliver is taken away, there are only so many gifts to give, and I help in the process of choosing the best candidates in each assignment group.

Scanning my files I see that my first candidate is a thirty-year-old, blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman named Carrie. As I look at her picture, I see that her sparkle is hidden—still there, but hidden behind a dark cloud. Her profile says that she had always lived life to the fullest until having her first child, which was at the same time that her partner encouraged her to give up her work and her studies, and focus on her family commitments. She has applied for a visa to move to the other side of the world, far away from her friends and family, in order to focus on the family unit that she is creating with her partner. All of this, and yet she hasn't considered having any more children! I am intrigued to know why. I delve further into her profile. Ah! Now I see the reason. About a year ago a violent attack inside her home traumatised her, and she suffered the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, which she is still trying to overcome. I try not to judge others, as it is by means of a combination of different circumstances that we each make dramatic choices. A lot more to discover here, I imagine.

Next is a thirty-eight-year-old woman named Tracy. Based on her appearance, she has had a rough life and has let herself go somewhat. It is amazing how the pressures of life can really reflect on someone's face. She has brown short hair and is wearing jeans that are too tight for her, which creates a muffin-top effect around her waist. Let's see what her profile says. Oh, she has a medical condition which she has not discovered yet. A miracle sent to her four years ago allowed her to conceive her son. She has been trying, to no avail, to have a second child, and she has had many miscarriages. She also takes care of her mum, who is not as mobile as she once was and thus needs a lot of care. Tracy's family has had its fair share of trauma, which has led her to become quite cautious and sometimes anxious. People perceive her as being a negative and dull person who often feels sorry for herself, regularly vocalising her sadness over losing another pregnancy. Because some people can feel uncomfortable with the taboo subject of miscarriages, they avoid her. This leaves her feeling isolated, which only adds to her anxiety and paranoia, especially after a playgroup session. Again, I do not judge. I will take the time to encounter people for myself so that I can understand the lifetime of circumstances that have brought them to this place in life where they now stand.

The third candidate is a twenty-two-year-old model named Bethany. She is very beautiful, with long brown locks that flow elegantly over her slender shoulders. Her eyes are as brown as the darkest mocha, but she is so thin that her bones show through her tanned skin. Her profile says that she has a boyfriend who is also famous. They are regular partiers. Some in society have presumed that they are together in order to get more publicity, as the paparazzi have followed their every move since their dating status became "news". They seem to be what people perceive as a "perfect couple"—if there is such a thing! She is Australian; he is American. What more could the world want than the hunky American actor and the glamorous Australian beauty. Ever since birth, Bethany has won every "bonny baby" contest and beauty pageant available. Yet people have only seen her beautiful appearance, not who she is inside. But I can see that she is in love, as she has a twinkle in her eye that it is not love for herself. It is true love for her soul mate. Again, I am intrigued to learn more about her life. My job becomes so much easier when I am interested in learning more.

Next is another thirty-eight-year-old woman. This one is named Kath. She looks a lot younger in her picture, which indicates a stress-free life; maybe she has not yet had children. She has a toned physique. Her hair is blonde and her eyes are blue. She seems to have a confident presence, which I can discern by her posture and facial expression. The profile says that she has always been focused on her career and has always planned everything in her life in advance. Time has moved swiftly since Kath was in her twenties, and she has worked hard to become a highly successful fitness instructor. She appears regularly on daytime television and has produced numerous fitness videos.

She has had neither the time nor the space for children, as she Storms through life at an ever-increasing pace, exercising and exercising and exercising some more. Kath is obviously very successful; but, is she happy? That is what I would like to know. I read on to discover that, over the past few years, she has tried—unsuccessfully—to fall in love. Now she has started investigating a sperm donor, as she feels that it is her only option; her biological clock ticks louder and louder, and she has not yet found the right person— the man she would love enough to partner with to create a family. Many a debate goes on all over the world, through different lands, religions and cultures, about medical intervention when it comes to having children. Is it better to start a family when a woman is young and her body is in its prime? Or is it better for a woman to wait until she has secure job and is more mentally and emotionally prepared for raising a child responsibly? I still am out on this one. So many pros and cons exist for both; and, from my experience, each individual is exactly that: individual, and, therefore, having her own positives and negatives. We must always remember that no one is perfect. However, decent with some moral standards are preferred "qualifications."

The fifth and final file. This will be interesting; the Boss usually saves the best until last. Well, her photo shows a woman who takes care of herself. She is very petite and has fiery-red hair tied back tight from her face. "Let your hair down, girl" comes to mind immediately. She has a killer-instinct look in her eye. Not much softness here, and her choice of clothing is a very businesslike suit with killer heels—must be to match her killer look. I don't see a ring on her finger, and I suspect she doesn't know what is coming. Let's see what her profile reveals. Her name is Siobhan, she is thirty-four years old, and has never wanted to get married or have children. Siobhan's sole focus in life has been to secure the top job at Maximus Corporations, a powerful law firm. There seems to be no limit to what moral hurdles she will jump through in order to achieve that goal. I have no inkling at all as to how this is going to end up. However, I am intrigued to discover how this ambitious go-getter has arrived at this pinnacle.

"Rupert, are you still with us?" I hear Boss shouting in the distance.

Oh, that's me! "Yeah, Boss. Sorry, I was just scanning my files."

"I see that Rupert, but what I want to know is if you have any questions to ask."

"No, Boss. Everything seems to be in place."

"All right. If that is all that I can do for you for you all, I will get back to my office. I trust that everything will run smoothly then." He said this as he intensely scanned the room.

Everyone agrees, and then we all look back at each other under our brows. We all know that the Boss has a lot of responsibility, but we all work voluntarily for this cause because we believe that what we do is for the greater good of mankind. Do we look for anything in return? No. I suppose we do live very comfortably when we are not on an assignment, but it is not as if we don't earn it.

There I go again. "Stop!" I say to myself. Where is my optimism? I do love it here—it is so heavenly, and everyone is in the same boat, so we have a sense of camaraderie. Syd, Jonnie and I are good mates, and we help each other out a lot; each of our roles allow us to interact all the time, and people who have been through as much as we have been through together tend to get close to each other.

"Hey, Roo, what's up with you? You're off on a world of your own."

"Sorry, Syd, you know me—just afloat in another thought bubble. What do you think of these assignments?"

"Yeah, pretty standard really—well, apart from assignment five, of course; it will be interesting to see how that progresses. We will have to work closely on that one I think. Are you okay about that one? She looks quite like ..."

"Who? What do you mean, Syd?"

"No one, Roo. You know me: I just jump to conclusions without any justification at times. Please don't pass any remarks. Do you fancy catching a coffee later?"

"Yeah, sounds great, Syd. Will need to be early, though. I want to get prepared for dispatch in the morning. You know I am always first to go."

"Let's say six at my place this time? I'll pick up some heavenly delights from Dave."

"How can I resist such an offer, then? Are you gonna tell Jonnie, or will I?"

"He said to confirm a time via message. He has had to rush off to get some form signed from the Boss."

"Oh shit! I need my dispatch form signed, too; otherwise, I can't get the gems released. There is no way that I am going running around in the morning."

I quickly jump up, grab my files, and run around to the other side of the desk, where Syd is trying to get out of her chair. So I bend down, meeting her halfway and giving her a friendly thank-you kiss.

"Syd, what would I do without you?" I say.

"But I just said ... Oh, well, you are welcome, then," she replies, as she tries to get up whilst watching me dash out the door.

Outside the door I have the unfortunate encounter of bumping right into Jayden.

"Whoa, Rupert, you are in a hurry! Did you forget something important? Maybe you forgot to take back the gift you gave `Indian boy.'"

I just ignore him, as I don't want to fuel the fire that he is trying to ignite. I start to walk away, and he continues to shout after me, for all to hear.

"If you can't handle that job of yours I can always take it of your hands! Make sure you tell Boss that when he discovers how incompetent you can be."

Oh, he does rag me sometimes, but he is just jealous. Although I understand that is where his fire is coming from, it doesn't justify how he expresses his frustration. But I know the day will come when he moves on, so I will bide my time until then. I stand glorious in the knowledge that I am what he wants to be, and it is he who has issues, not I.

I make it around to Boss's office in good time and knock lightly at the door.

"Come in, Rupert," he calls loudly.

I hate it when he does that! He makes me feel that he knows my innermost thoughts.

"Take a seat. Would you like a drink?" he asks, whilst making himself an espresso in his fancy espresso machine.

"No thanks, Boss. I am meeting Syd and Jonnie for a coffee later, and I don't want to overdo it. I will never sleep tonight!"

He takes a seat right opposite me in his big, white-leather chair, which he fills completely; it would take four of me to fill it.

Keen to move on after a moment of awkward silence, he says, "Have you got the dispatch form there, Rupert?"

"Oh, yes, the form. It's right here," I reply, fumbling in my bag. Ah, got it—thank goodness.

As he signs the dispatch forms, he says, "Are you looking forward to this assignment, Rupert?"

"Yes, Boss. I will look over the files in more detail tonight, of course, but it all seems intriguing,"

"Case five has very close similarities to ..."

"I know what you are going to say. And, no, that is not a problem, Boss."

"Remember the profile, Rupert, because what is inside is not the same."

"Yes, Boss, and it is what inside that matters the most. If that's all, Boss ..."

"Yes, Rupert, that's all. I hope that your dispatch goes smoothly, and I will check in with you"

(Continues...)

Excerpted from THE VISITORby Karen McDermott Copyright © 2011 by Karen Mc Dermott. Excerpted by permission of BALBOA PRESS. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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