Leticia

by Lindsay Anne Kendal

  “I will, I will, just chill out.”

  “What? Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  She seemed to get all excited and hugged me tight. “I know we’ve got a bit of crap going on now but once it’s over and done with and we win; we can have a good life, the four of us.”

  “I know, I’d like that.”

  She took my hand and led me into the living room, Tristan was reading the local paper, Jackson was stood looking out of the window.

  “She’s staying,” Nancy announced. “And she promised.”

  “I should think so lady,” Tristan smiled at me. “You made the right choice.”

  “I hope so,” I sighed.

  Jackson didn't speak, but as soon as Nancy said I was staying he turned to look at me so fast I’m surprised he didn't fall over.

  “What changed your mind?” Tristan asked. “If you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Her,” I replied, pointing and smiling at Nancy. “Besides, I might as well stick around and piss him off a little more.” I laughed, referring to Jackson.

  Again he didn't speak. I did see him smirk before he turned his attention back to looking out of the window.

  “What are you looking at Jackson?” Nancy asked him.

  “I’ve seen four of the little bastards up to now, they’re photographing the house.”

  “What!”

  “Leave them to it love,” Tristan told her. “Let them think we have no idea what they’re doing. Let them think we’re oblivious to it.”

  “Why?”

  “Trust me.”

  “They’ve split up,” Jackson informed us. “Two of them are near the front gate; the other two are in the bushes next to the cars.”

  “Do you get the pleasure or do I?” Tristan asked him.

  “I’ll take this one.” He walked out of the room, a grin appearing on his face.

  “What’s he doing?” I asked.

  Nancy looked at me clueless.

  “You’ll see, now one of you stand near the window, just act normal, talk away, this won’t take him long; he’s good I’ll give him that,” Tristan smiled to himself.

  I didn't want to risk Nancy getting hurt so I took position in front of the window, I stood with my back to it leaning against the ledge. I desperately wanted to turn around, to see these guys for myself, but Tristan warned me against. I could hear a bit of a commotion going on in the room above us. Like chairs being dragged across the floor, then the sound of the window sliding up and open. I started to get fidgety, what was he doing?

  The next minute I heard a man shouting, he was warning his friends that one of them had been shot. I turned around quickly, just in time to see him run out from the bushes. However, he didn't get very far, not two seconds later he hit the ground. From the way he fell, I guessed he had been shot in the back. The other two men were now trying desperately to get away, taking cover between the cars parked in the driveway. They waited until they thought the coast was clear, but as soon as they came back into view, they were dead.

  Jackson came back into the living room a few minutes later.

  “Not bad mate, not bad at all,” Tristan smirked at him.

  “Thanks.”

  “I didn't even hear a gun fire,” I said.

  “Good, you weren’t supposed to.”

  “You and your collection of toys,” Nancy shook her head.

  “Those toys come in useful,” Jackson told her.

  “What are you going to do with the men?” I asked.

  “I’ll bury them,” Tristan said, before stretching and standing. “It won’t take me five minutes.” A split second later he was gone.

  “I’ll go and start tea,” Nancy sighed as she walked out of the room.

  I was about to follow her when Jackson spoke.

  “So you’re staying for good then?”

  “Yeah, as long as it’s still OK with you of course,” I answered.

  “Sure, no problem.”

  “Speaking of problems, what’s yours?”

  “I wasn’t aware I had one.”

  “And you said you’d talk to me today.”

  “Did I? About what?”

  “Oh you know what? Just forget it, I give up. I’m sick of trying to be nice to you when you just blow me off or turn into a dick,” I blasted, turning to walk out of the room.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “So am I.” I didn't look at him; I just carried on walking away.

  “Leticia wait.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  I admit it killed me to be so ignorant, to just continue to walk off. He’s a jerk, I get that, he’s cold, moody, arrogant, but I liked him and that annoyed me. I wanted to hate him, but I couldn’t.

  Chapter 17

  I’d gotten as far as the hallway when he grabbed my arm and dragged me into the study, locking the door behind us.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  “You need to have a bit of patience with me.”

  “Why?”

  “You have no idea what I went through, what happened, how much it hurt.”

  “What?” I asked confused.

  “And you have no idea how hard it is to talk about it. I can’t even think about it without getting annoyed.”

  “Look I get it, you’ve had problems, well so have I. The man I loved tried to kill me, left me for dead. I spent years on my own with only animals for company, I lost all my family, my friends, my entire life, and now it’s happening again. But I don’t take it out on you do I? I don’t blow hot and cold with you, nice one minute and then a bastard the next...”

  “I know,” he sighed. “I know.”

  “Then stop doing it with me, and until you can don’t bother speaking to me.” I turned to leave but he blocked my exit. “Jackson move,” I almost shouted.

  “I’m sorry; I don’t want us to be like this.”

  “Neither do I but...”

  “Not long after it happened I seemed to change, I put this titanium wall up around me that nobody could get through. Up until meeting you, the wall stood strong... but you, it’s like... it’s like you’ve weakened it, I try my damnedest to keep it up but I can’t... not all the time.”

  “Look, if you’re not going to tell me what’s gone on then just move, because I don’t understand and can’t pretend to.”

  “I will tell you.”

  “When?”

  “We normally go out for a walk one night a week to Winscar Reservoir; it’s not too far away. I think we’re going tonight, come with me and I’ll tell you.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Please Leticia, I promise I’ll tell you and won’t be cold with you.”

  “Like I said, I’ll think about it.”

  He didn't respond he just nodded and moved out of my way so I could leave the room. I felt awful not saying ‘I’ll come’ but by the same rule, why the hell should I be so nice with him when his moods towards me changed faster than the wind changes direction?

  I went to join Nancy in the kitchen.

  “Has your brother always been a jerk? Tell me the truth,” I groaned.

  “No,” she laughed. “I’ve told you this before; he used to be one of the nicest people you could ever have asked to meet. He would have done anything for anyone. He was so good natured and warm hearted, so loving and affectionate. He could make anyone laugh you know, could cheer up the saddest person on earth in less than five minutes. Then he met her!”

  “Who?”

  “It doesn’t matter, it make’s my blood bubble, you’ll have to ask him.”

  “I doubt he’ll tell me.”

  “He will, just ask who Clara was,” she told me.

  “He said you’re all going out tonight.”

  “Yeah, are you coming?”

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “It would be nice; you may even get to talk things out with Jackson. Tristan an
d I sit at the side of the water, and he normally walks off. I think he feels left out – alone.”

  “He’s a good looking guy; maybe if he didn't spoil himself by being a jerk he would get himself a girl.”

  “I’m hoping he gets you.”

  “What?” I choked.

  “Don’t be like that, he’s not as bad you think he is he just needs.... well, I’ll let you work that one out for yourself.”

  We sat down to dinner together but nobody really spoke. There wasn’t a weird atmosphere or anything; it was just that Nancy’s cooking was so nice that nobody wanted to do anything but eat. However, when I would look up I’d catch Jackson staring at me. I said I’d wash up since they were letting me stay there until Nancy pointed out the dishwasher. So I just helped her load it and went up to my room for a while. I put my new clothes away, then fell back on the bed, staring out of the window at nothing in particular.

  There was a knock at my door and a moment later Nancy popped her head around.

  “We’re going soon, are you coming?” she asked.

  “No thanks, I’m just going to stay here. Sorry.”

  “Oh, OK,” she said sadly. “Well if you change your mind, we’ll be leaving in about five minutes.”

  She tried to smile at me before leaving the room. I wanted to go, but at the same time, I knew I’d only end up getting annoyed with Jackson. Then again, he had promised he’d tell me what was wrong with him. I jumped off the bed, grabbed one of my new jackets and made my way downstairs. They were in the hallway just about to leave.

  “I’ve changed my mind,” I said joining them.

  “Oh good, good,” Nancy smiled.

  We walked outside while the guys locked up. I thought we’d have waited for them but Nancy took my arm and we started walking away.

  “I’m so glad you’re coming, poor Jackson, he looked absolutely gutted when I said you weren’t,” she said quietly. “What changed your mind?”

  “What do you think?”

  She didn't answer she just smiled and squeezed my arm slightly. It was quite a long walk to the reservoir. Luckily it was a nice night, and still rather warm. When we were half way there we all started walking together, then Nancy and Tristan fell behind. I didn't speak; I just walked until we got there. It was just like Nancy said, she and Tristan sat on the grass close to the water, cuddled up together giggling over something. Jackson walked a few feet away. I started to feel a little awkward, and decided to go for a little walk myself. I went straight past Jackson, towards the little wooden docks. I leaned against one of the wooden fences and stared out at the water.

  “It’s a beautiful night isn’t it?” Jackson commented as he appeared beside me.

  “Yeah.”

  “Perfect for coming here.”

  He was right. It was a comfortable temperature, clear skies, the stars were out and the moon was shining bright and reflecting off the water. It was beautiful.

  “Nancy said you weren’t coming,” he said turning to face me.

  “I wasn’t going to.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  “I don’t know, I guess I just fancied a walk,” I lied. “A bit of exercise and some fresh air to maybe help clear my mind.”

  “Oh.”

  “You don’t have to stay and talk to me. Do whatever it is you normally do when you come here.”

  “I don’t do anything; I just stare at the water. It’s peaceful here, Nancy and Tristan do their own thing and so do I. Sometimes I try not to come out with them, but they drag me,” he laughed a little.

  “Don’t you feel like a bit of a spare part though?”

  “Yeah, but they don’t see it like that.”

  “I did a minute ago, that’s why I came over here.”

  “Come and walk with me for a little while.”

  “Where? Why?”

  “Just around the edge of the water so we can talk. I promise I won’t be off with you.”

  “We’ll see,” I sighed as I started walking with him.

  “You don’t think much of me at all do you, I know it’s my fault and....”

  “Actually you’re wrong; I do think a lot of you. I don’t know many people who would stick by their younger sister and her partner just so you know they’re safe. Who would help and fight for a stranger and invite her into their home. Who would put himself in danger to help her.”

  “Like I keep saying we look...”

  “After our own, yeah you do keep saying it,” I interrupted.

  “It’s not just because of that.”

  We were a good distance away from Nancy and Tristan now, far enough away that we could talk without being heard. We sat on the grass in silence for a moment.

  “This started about twenty years ago,” he began. “We were living in Bath at the time, in a nice cottage just on the outskirts of town. We’d been there about six months when I met her.”

  “Clara?”

  “How did you know?” he asked, his eyes wide.

  “Nancy said she wouldn’t tell me what was wrong with you, but to ask you about her.”

  “We met one day while taking a walk in the nearby park. It started to rain quite heavily and we both ran to take cover under some of the trees. The rain lasted a good few minutes and we got talking. She was so pretty, long light brown hair, big brown eyes. She had such a lovely and contagious smile. She was only little, and curvy, her personality was fantastic. We instantly clicked.”

  “Love at first sight?” I asked.

  “No, not love, not then, just an attraction, but a strong one. We met up regularly and got to know each other quite well. We had lunch several times and in the end we spent most of our free time together. I remember I used to get butterflies in my stomach when I knew I was going to see her; and when she kissed me, I was the happiest man on earth.”

  “So you loved her?”

  “I was falling for her, but I wasn’t in love with her.”

  “Oh, so what was the problem, what....”

  “Her father was ill, so sometimes she had to cancel on me, but I understood. She was helping her mother nurse him. Or so I was told and was stupid enough to believe,” he stood up and stared out at the water. “We’d been seeing each other for over six months when I decided to buy her a necklace she’d wanted for weeks, but couldn’t afford. I went into town and was about to walk into the jewellers, when I saw her... I was just about to make my way over when a man stood beside her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. I think my jaw nearly hit the floor, my heart and stomach sank. I walked over to her, when she saw me she panicked and I saw her fumbling with something on her finger.”

  “What was it?”

  “Her wedding ring.”

  “What!” I gasped.

  “Yeah.”

  “Did you tell her husband?”

  “He already knew,” he said in disgust. “They knew I had money and they wanted it. I’d showered her with some of the most expensive gifts you could buy, and what had she done? Either managed to return the items and get the money for them or sell them. That was all she wanted me for, all they wanted me for.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I knocked ten bells out of him right there in the middle of town. I called her a number of horrible things and went home. Nancy was fuming, she’d liked and trusted Clara, Tristan just wanted to drain them both.”

  “I don’t blame them.”

  “We couldn’t do anything though, not unless we wanted to risk exposing ourselves, so we moved. In fact over the fifteen years that followed we moved a number of times, until finally settling here about six years ago. I haven’t been involved with anyone since, I just think, what’s the point, it’s not that the girl would love me she would just love my bank account and what I could buy her.”

  “Wow, that’s an awful thing to do to someone, I don’t know how people like that sleep at night,” I said shaking my head. “They really piss me off.”

  “Yeah, me too believe
it or not.”

  “So why have you told me all this?”

  “You wanted to know why I am how I am. Well this is why.”

  “Because a girl used you for money?”

  “Because it hurt like hell that’s why,” he snapped. “And she wasn’t the first one to do it to me; I was just damn sure she’d be the last. So I put the wall up, stopped being so soft with people. What’s the point in being nice and kind if you’re only used? If all people want from you is your money?”

  “Firstly, don’t snap at me!” I retaliated, standing now. “Secondly, maybe you shouldn’t advertise the fact that you have money. If people don’t know about it they can’t try and take it from you can they? Lastly, I understand that it must have hurt you Jackson I really do. But just because you were stupid enough to let God knows how many women do it to you, that you didn't learn from your mistakes the first time it happened, doesn’t mean you have the right to treat others, like myself, who mean you no harm, like shit!”

  Once I’d finished my sentence I started to walk away from him. I didn't get very far though. He grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. His face was sad, something I’d seldom seen from him.

  “I know I’ve been horrible to you, I’ve said this before and I’m sorry. I’m trying to be me again instead of this heartless pig you see now. Every now and again the old me comes back and....”

  “And then you send him away. Look I don’t know how you used to be with people, I didn't know you then, obviously. But what I do know is that I personally have never done you any harm, nor would I ever.”

  “Just have patience with me, please Leticia, I’ve been doing this for a long time, blocking people out. Please just give me some time to push that side of me away.”

  “Why should I? What has all this got to do with me? Why do you suddenly want to change?”

  “Just forget it, forget I said anything, I’ll just stay like this,” he shot, letting go of my arm.

  “That is your choice and yours alone.”

  I walked away from him again and this time he didn't stop me. I told Nancy and Tristan I was heading back to the house, they wanted to walk with me but I told them I didn't want to ruin their night. After a small argument Tristan tossed me his set of keys and told me to stay safe.