Always Closer

by Amelia Harlow

  Bec’s voice was flooded with concern. ‘Is it Alex?’

  There was a silence, filled only by the sound of the engine.

  I was staring straight ahead through the windscreen trying not to cry.

  ‘It’s always Alex,’ I said.

  She reached over and placed her hand on my leg. I held her hand for a moment and the familiar touch was comforting.

  To everyone, Alex was a charming man who doted over his darling partner. Perhaps everyone was blinded by his money and generosity, or perhaps they chose to ignore what signs of his violent streak they saw for their own benefit. He did a lot for the community, always holding benefit dinners and big parties to raise money for different charitable causes. He was loved, but also feared by many. They just never spoke about it.

  The Alex I knew and lived with, I feared him. The realisation that he had all the power, not just over me, but over everyone was terrifying. Previously I had only ever made it as far as the front gate of our property, after one of Alex’s outbursts, before he caught up with me. On one occasion however I had made it to the police station, but he had arrived very soon after I did. He casually parked the Mercedes and strolled into the station like a knight in shining armour.

  I had been crying, trying to explain to the police officer what had happened, but when Alex entered the station, the police officer stood up and shook his hand.

  ‘Afternoon Mr Herald,’ said the officer.

  My heart sank as did all my hope of ever escaping him. It seemed Alex was old friends with everyone in that city.

  When Alex moved toward me, I screamed, cowering and tried to push him away. His arms pulled me into him as he said, ‘I’m here now baby. It’s all okay. It’s all going to be okay.’

  It was all for show. I watched my tears soak into his linen suit, leaving little wet patches near his chest. He stroked my hair and kissed my forehead. His breath rich with scotch. I was paralysed with fear as he lead me back to the car. I sank into the hot leather seat and felt completely helpless.

  No statements were ever taken by the police and no one ever called in to check up on me. That was purely because Alex was a master manipulator. After the death of my mum I had a rather public breakdown, which Alex used to his advantage. He managed to convince everyone that I was simply mentally unwell and was acting out of character because of losing my mum in such a sudden and tragic way.

  Bec did her best to comfort me as we drove through the dark unlit streets.

  ‘For now, just try and relax. I know it’d be so hard, but just try. He doesn’t know you’re here. You’re safe.’

  I desperately hoped that was true. I hugged Bec goodnight and thanked her for the ride. As I crawled into bed that night, I had so much on mind. I thought about Alex, how I hated my new job, dad’s health, and then my thoughts finally landed on something nice, something warm, Hudson. I thought about how nice it might feel to have someone hold me and protect me.

  CHAPTER TWO

  As the sun rose over the mountains, and through the pine trees it warmed the small wooden cottage. The light shone through the window, landing on my face and waking me from sleep. I wandered into the lounge, still bleary eyed and catching my vision. I put the kettle on and looked out of the kitchen window over the valley.

  After making my dad some tea, porridge with fresh berries and a kale smoothie for breakfast, all of which he politely consumed despite finding it highly revolting, I went for my morning run. The mist was still hanging above the fields as I passed over the old wooden bridge that separated the farmland from the town. I always felt stronger when I was running, when the red blood cells were carrying oxygen to my muscles, making them contract harder and faster. My thoughts wandered to the sight of Hudson running yesterday, looking so fit and strong. I hoped he would be at the restaurant for the wine tasting. For some reason I just couldn’t get him out of my head.

  Back at home, I took a long shower. As the hot water trickled over by body, I became so relaxed and started to fantasise about Hudson. I wondered what he would look like in the shower, how his body might feel if he were to join me, water trickling over both of us and flowing over the contours of his finely sculpted muscles. For a little while, all my worries disappeared in that beautiful place.

  I spent the day at home, watching the football and eating a nice selection of local cheeses. I took care of the soft cheeses and left the hard ones for my dad so he could join in on the fun. We yelled at the television together like old times, hopelessly supporting our mostly useless team, the only difference being that out here we couldn’t annoy the neighbours. The cows weren’t easily disturbed or frightened. By the end of the game, my dad’s voice was weak and his breaths shallow. Before leaving for work, I made sure that he was comfortable and had everything he needed.

  The night sky was so clear out in the countryside, it was easy to make out all the constellations. I watched for shooting stars on the way to the restaurant, but didn’t see any. As I arrived, the last customers of the day were leaving and I immediately caught sight of Hudson inside. I wandered in and took a seat at the bar near where he was standing.

  ‘How did that extra sleep work out for you?’ he said, as he rested his forearms on the bar beside me and leant in closer. His eyes were wide open, taking me in as if he were seeing me for the first time.

  ‘It. Was. Glorious,’ I said, as if it were the greatest sleep I had ever had.

  His rich scent was filling my senses and was wildly distracting.

  ‘I’m glad,’ he laughed, ‘but I’d by lying if I said I wasn’t very jealous of your glorious sleep.’

  ‘Has this past week been a bit much for you too?’ I said.

  ‘No, not at all.’

  He smiled to himself then leant in a little closer and spoke softer. ‘I couldn’t sleep last night because all I could think about was you.’

  A rush of adrenaline shot through my body, and I’m sure my face looked as red and hot as it suddenly felt. Bill passed behind Hudson and I, and began assembling the glasses as he ushered everyone over. Bec was standing with a few other waitresses who’s eyes kept darting between Hudson and I. She winked at me and I hoped Hudson hadn’t seen what they were doing. As the wine went down, the mood in the restaurant loosened. I didn’t drink a drop, but listened to the descriptions that followed each sip until there were no more sips to be had. Rich with knowledge about wine and full from conversation with the other staff, I headed for the exit with the others.

  As I walked through the carpark I could see Hudson loading a few things into the back of his car. The shirt he wore clung to the muscles on his back and pulled tight against them as he bent over. Everything about him was so distracting. I hadn’t felt the closeness of someones touch in a long time, and even to feel his breath pass over me as he spoke was enough to send me craving that closeness.

  Hudson and I made eye contact in the car park, I smiled, and said goodnight to him. ‘Goodnight,’ he said.

  His voice still so sweet to listen to. As I walked away from him, a part of me had hoped the night wouldn’t end there, but I took his swift departure as a sign that I shouldn’t be involving someone else in my life right now. Then I heard him suddenly run up behind me. My heart started to race.

  With a soft hand he touched me on the arm and stepped to my side.

  ‘I’m sorry, but you don’t have plans for another glorious sleep tonight do you?’ he asked.

  It was dark in the car park and the lights nearby cast a soft yellow glow across his face. The moment felt so intimate and I couldn’t see much beyond him.

  ‘Not tonight, no. A regular sleep will do me just fine.’

  I was nervous after what he had said in the restaurant. I hadn’t suspected his thoughts would have been of me at all, let alone enough to keep him awake at night. It was difficult to look into his eyes without letting my thoughts wander.

  ‘How about we kick up the difficulty level and have a coffee before bedtime.’ He playfully suggested.<
br />
  ‘You sure know how to live on the edge,’ I joked.

  He smiled and nodded triumphantly. ‘So you’re up for the challenge?’

  We walked down the strip to the only late night cafe in town and sunk into an old retro lounge. The foam in the cushions was quite worn and as a result, Hudson sunk further into his seat than I did. I slipped down into his gravitational pull until we were touching and I couldn’t slide any further.

  ‘Cosy’ he said, as he wiggled against me. His thigh and arm rubbed against mine.

  ‘So, you’re a wine salesman?’ I asked.

  ‘Sort of. I own a vineyard in town, I make my own wine. Most of it goes overseas, but I like to keep some of it local too, mostly for the restaurants and bars around here.’

  I didn’t know much about viticulture, and I didn’t like wine. But I liked the way he spoke about it. He was really enthusiastic and proud of his work. I tried not to show how impressed I was with his achievements as he continued to speak about his winery.

  ‘Enough about me though! You must be new to town? I’m sure I would have noticed you a long time ago if you weren’t,’ he said, then he placed his hand on my knee before reaching for his coffee. His touch excited me and made me blush.

  ‘I’m pretty new to town. I’ve only been here a few months.’

  ‘So, what brings you here?’

  This wasn’t the time to divulge that I was on the run from my ex, so I kept my answer simple.

  ‘A change of scenery.’

  ‘And how are you liking that scenery so far?’ he asked.

  As his eyes were busy placing his cup back on the small wooden coffee table in front of us, my eyes passed incredibly fast over his body, sneaking in a good look.

  ‘It’s great, it’s really been such a nice break,’ I said.

  ‘I’d love to show you my favourite parts of town sometime. Get you more familiar with everything around here, it will definitely help with getting you more settled in.’

  ‘I’d like that, thanks,’ I said, ‘so did you grow up here?’

  ‘I did, yeah. I studied viticulture after high school and found a way to make a living here which I’m really fortunate for. A lot of my friends had to move to the city.’

  ‘Oh, right,’ I said, hoping we didn’t get talking about the city I had so recently left.

  ‘My best mate Beau though, he managed to get onto the surfing circuit, so when he’s not off around the world chasing waves, he’s here.’

  ‘Wow, that’s amazing! Is he in town at the moment?’ I knew the finals were being held this coming weekend.

  ‘Yeah he is actually, he’s made it through all his heats so far, so hopefully he keeps on doing well and makes it to the final!’

  ‘Do you surf too?’ I asked.

  ‘Every day. Well, almost every day. Have you ever given it a go?’

  ‘No, never. I imagine I’d have terrible balance, I don’t think I’d be any good at it.’

  He laughed, ‘I think that’d be an accurate assumption.’

  I made a playfully offended face at him.

  He placed his hand on my thigh as he leant in closer to face me.

  ‘Well, I did have to assist you with your balance on land the other day. So, on a piece of fibreglass on the top of rushing water… yeah, I think you might have a hard time. But as you’ve proven tonight, you’re up for a challenge, so why don’t you come out with me sometime this week?’ he asked.

  My mind wandered to thoughts of him surfing. I could picture his thick arms and ripped abs dripping with water and glistening under the sun. It would be quite a beautiful sight even if I just sat on the beach and watched him, though I got the feeling he wouldn’t let me get away with simply sitting on the beach.

  ‘What do you say?’ he said.

  ‘Do you know first aid?’ I asked.

  He laughed that deep booming singular chuckle again.

  I carried on, ‘It’s cute that you think I’m joking. This is going to be more intense for you than it will be for me. So I hope you’re prepared to play life guard.’

  ‘I’ll make sure to wear my red swimming trunks, and I’ll work on my Baywatch run just for you,’ he said, as we laughed together.

  Hudson had caught my eye wandering past him. I was distracted by a girl in the cafe that I had noticed wasn’t looking too well, and I could see her head starting to move as if she wasn’t in control of it. A man came over to where she was sitting and put his arm around her, scooping her up ready to take her home. I saw the panic in her eyes and knew something wasn’t right.

  ‘I don’t think that girl knows that guy,’ I said to Hudson, as I sprung to my feet.

  ‘Let’s find out then,’ he said, as he jumped up and followed me.

  We approached the couple who were now standing, the man at least was standing and the girl was being propped up in his arms. I ignored the man and asked the girl if she was okay. She was unable to respond, her eyes were rolling into the back of her head, and she looked as if she were about to pass out.

  ‘She’s fine, just had bit too much too drink. Time to go home, thanks though.’ The man casually laughed us as he tried to carry her outside.

  The girl was pushing against him as if she was trying to get away. Her efforts were useless as her movements were almost completely uncoordinated. Her body looked incredibly weak and she could barely stand. Hudson stepped between the man and the exit, taking up a lot of space with his broad shoulders. He was only a little taller than this man, but looked so much bigger.

  ‘What’s her name?’ Hudson asked, never taking his eyes off him. Only moving his head in the direction of the girl when he asked the question.

  ‘You’re kidding me? Get out of my way!’ the man growled.

  ‘What’s her name?’ Hudson repeated with a deepness in his voice that echoed through the cafe, causing a silence to fall across the room.

  ‘Anne!’ said the man, as he tried to walk around Hudson, who shifted his weight to stop him.

  I had pulled the girls ID from the handbag she had left on the couch.

  ‘Her name’s Nicola,’ I said to Hudson.

  In one swift move, Hudson grabbed the man by the scruff of his shirt, pushing him up against the wall and caught the girl in his left arm. I grabbed her from his arm and lowered her into a nearby chair. Hudson had almost raised the man off the ground by the scruff of his shirt. The man then tried to take a swing at Hudson, which Hudson dodged before pushing him into the wall hard enough to almost put a hole it in. Defeated, he put his hands up in the air, surrendering to Hudson so he released him from his grip. Hudson glanced over to check if the girl was okay, in which time the man had already bolted out the door.

  ‘Nicola, can you hear me?’ I continued to talk to the girl as I checked her vital signs. She was mostly unresponsive, but did murmur something incoherent as her head rolled back and forth. Her pulse was weak and she had very little control over her body.

  ‘Someone call an ambulance,’ I called out.

  The cafe was now filled with a soft whisper and I could feel everyone’s eyes watching the scene play out. Some people gathered around and much to my dissatisfaction, watched on.

  Hudson crouched down beside me. ‘The manager’s called for an ambulance, they should be here in a few minutes.’

  ‘Thanks. Can you help me move her to the lounge over there?’ I asked without taking my eyes off of her. I needed to lay her down so she wouldn’t fall off the chair. It would also be easier to monitor her breathing this way and start CPR if necessary.

  Hudson scooped the girl up in his arms and carried her a few metres to the sofa where he gently lowered her down and we made her as comfortable as possible.

  I continued to monitor her and explain what was happening to her, as we waited for the ambulance.

  Hudson shook his head. ‘I can’t believe that guy. If I ever see him again…’

  Before he could finish his sentence, the manager of the cafe came over. She was a
young and busty woman, with impeccable makeup and a great deal of confidence. She thanked Hudson and I for stepping in.

  She held Hudson on the arm and said, ‘I’m just so glad we had a big, strong man here tonight.’

  Her voice was very suggestive, and I didn’t like it, but Hudson didn’t seem to even notice her. He was more focused on comforting Nicola. The manager removed her hand from Hudson, smiled at me, and asked if we needed anything.

  ‘We’re okay for now thanks, as long as that ambulance gets here soon,’ I said.

  ‘It won’t be long,’ she said, before asking the small crowd that had gathered around us to go back to their tables.

  ‘Mae, you’re shaking! Are you okay?’ Hudson asked, placing a reassuring arm around me, both of us now crouched down in front of Nicola.

  ‘I think so.’

  I could see my hand was shaking against Nicola’s skin as I kept track of her pulse. I felt so safe by Hudson’s side, but seeing that burst of anger and violence between the two men brought back bad memories and a response of fear was triggered in me. For the last few years, I had been living every day in a violent home, and I couldn’t put the feeling of anxiety away. I knew Hudson wasn’t dangerous to me, but my body was telling me to run, to get away from that situation. The anxiety was building, and my heart was pounding so loud and violently in my chest.

  When the ambulance arrived, I was relieved that I didn’t recognise either of the paramedics. One of them rushed straight to checking Nicola’s vitals. She knelt down in front of her and began checking her pulse as I got her up to speed on the situation.

  ‘Hello sweetheart I’m a paramedic, can you tell me your name?’

  ‘What’s your name sweetheart? Stay awake for me. Stay awake now.’ I could hear the paramedic saying in the background.

  The other paramedic asked Hudson and I questions about what had happened. I told him what I had seen and had suspected had happened.

  ‘There’s been a few this week,’ he said.

  ‘A few!’ said Hudson. He breathed deep and pushed his lips together. As he got more worked up, that instinct to run grew stronger in me.