D-Vow-R: Disappointing; you live.
***
Wednesday, 13th March 2013
In The Cool Of The Night.
03:20
The house was quiet as I tiptoed to the kitchen for water. Were the creaking sounds the fall of footsteps or ghosts of memories pacing my mind? Definitely footsteps. I hid in the utility cupboard.
‘Saze?’ The door squeaked open, revealing my hiding place. ‘What are you doing in the cupboard?’
‘Hiding.’ I sidled out, feeling foolish. ‘I thought he’d come back.’
‘Andrew?’
I nodded mutely. Mr Him’s twisted face was sure to haunt me for a long time to come.
‘You need to sleep, you’ve had a very emotional day.’
‘I slept for a while but I keep replaying things in my head. I see him in every shadow. I imagine every creak is him.’
‘I’ll come back up with you. I won’t let anything happen to you.’ I gratefully grasped the proffered strong hand. The corridors seemed less dark and frightening with company.
‘Shall I come in with you?’
I nodded. ‘I don’t want to be alone.’
09:45
Cool sunlight streamed through the open curtains and I woke from a sleep full of nightmarish scenarios involving Mr Him.
‘You’re awake.’ Darrelle observed me from the pillow next to mine. Her blonde hair glistened in the morning sun and she wore a t-shirt nightie.
‘Were you here all night?’ I was relieved it was Darrelle beside me not Mr Cool. I’d rushed in where Mr Dry was concerned and I didn’t want to make the same mistake with Mr Cool when I wasn’t sure how I really felt. In the cold light of day I wasn’t sure if he, or any man, could ever measure up to the yardstick that was the memory of Smith.
‘Don’t be sad.’ Darrelle reached out a pale hand and smoothed my hair from my face. ‘I couldn’t leave you on your own.’
‘Did I keep you awake? I imagine I was tossing and turning.’ Tears pricked my eyelids. The reality of last night weighed heavy and the tears readily ran free. ‘The father of my child was going to kill me!’
Darrelle shuffled across the huge bed and wound her long arms around me. ‘Shush, you’re okay. He can’t hurt you anymore.’
‘But he’ll make bail and come after me again. He’s never going to give up and he’ll never let me go.’
‘He won’t be allowed to come near you ever again.’
‘But he will,’ I sobbed. ‘He doesn’t want anyone else to have me and the only way that will happen, is if I’m dead!’
‘You’re not going to die.’ Darrelle’s hold tightened. ‘I won’t let you.’
I smiled weakly through my tears. ‘You won’t be able to stop him if he comes after me again.’
‘You can stay here with us.’
I shook my head. ‘I couldn’t. We don’t know each other well enough yet, Daughter and I’d drive you up the wall.’
‘I think it’s for the best. I work from home which means I’m always here. You wouldn’t be alone. Just until the case has gone through.’
‘But it’s so far from my daughter’s school.’
‘And here in this house is the headteacher of that school,’ Darrelle pointed out. ‘She can travel with him.’
I remembered Darrelle’s comments about Arabella. ‘I would feel as if I’m taking and not giving.’
Darrelle kissed my hair and gently eased herself from the bed. ‘You’re not taking, I’m offering. We’re friends, friends help each other.’
10:00
I felt so unfaithful to Mr Dry lying in bed by myself, although it wasn’t as if we were actually even an item and I hadn’t done anything with Mr Cool other than kiss him.
“Can you forgive me?” I sent the message to Mr Dry.
“For what?”
“Accusing you of being mass-murderer.”
“How could I not forgive you? You can cook me a meal tonight to show me how sorry you are. I’ll bring the champagne ;)”
“I’m staying with Darrelle. Call me if you want to talk.”
10:07
‘You’ve never mentioned Darrelle,’ Mr Dry snapped once I’d answered his call. ‘How well do you know her?’
‘She’s a friend and you don’t know everything about me.’ I bristled even though I had wanted to talk to him in the first place.
‘Glad to hear you’re not with that headteacher twat.’
I didn’t know how to answer him so I didn’t.
Mr Dry cleared his throat. ‘Do I take it from your silence he’s somehow involved?’
I couldn’t lie. ‘He lives with Darrelle.’
‘They’re married?’
I paused. ‘He’s Darrelle’s housemate.’
‘He’s a headteacher but he rents a room?’ scoffed Mr Dry. ‘Can’t he afford his own house? I thought headteachers were rich bastards.’
‘Don’t be catty,’ I reprimanded. ‘He doesn’t just rent a room. It’s more of a house-share. Darrelle has a hot-tub, about a dozen bedrooms, horses,’ I carried on unaware of Mr Dry’s increasing silence. ‘She even had a horse-drawn sleigh collect us yesterday! Can you believe it?’
‘Yes,’ Mr Dry replied crisply. ‘Isn’t it amazing what money can buy? Is that why you’re staying there? To live in the lap of luxury?’
‘I don’t want to be alone.’
‘Then come here. Admittedly I don’t live in a mansion but there’s more than enough room for the pair of you. I just wonder what this new friend of yours wants. No normal person goes around sending horse drawn sleighs out in the snow. Couldn’t she just have hired a couple of snowmobiles or a snowplough like a normal rich person would? A sleigh is completely over the top. Are you making it up to make me jealous?’
‘No. You’re right,’ I admitted. ‘It was over the top but my daughter and her friend loved it, it was like something out of a film.’
Mr Dry harrumphed.
‘Anyway all that was overshadowed when I was attacked.’
‘What?’ Mr Dry exploded. ‘Was it Andrew?’
‘He was going to kill me!’ I dissolved into tears. I told him about last night and he kept silent until I’d finished regaling the tale.
‘I’m coming to collect you,’ Mr Dry’s voice was authoritative. ‘I’ll take care of you. I want you to be with me. You’re clearly not safe. Is it the place I picked you up from the other evening? The one with the bloody great grounds?’
‘Yes,’ I muttered. ‘But I can’t leave. They’ve both been so good to me. I’ll be fine, honestly.’
‘But I—’
The bedroom door swung open. ‘Heeeyyy! Sexy lady,’ Mr Cool yelled. He bounced onto the bed, impervious to my keep quiet motions and kissed me noisily. ‘I can’t stop thinking about getting you in the hot-tub.’
‘Quiet!’ I hissed. ‘Hello?’ I spoke into the phone.
‘Who are you talking to?’ Mr Cool asked.
I looked at the silent phone in my hand. ‘No-one,’ I replied quietly.
‘Good.’ Mr Cool grinned. ‘Darrelle told me you’ll be staying with us for a while longer?’
‘Sorry, I can’t stay another night.’ I dropped my mobile phone onto the bedside table. Despite being in a house full of people, I suddenly felt more alone than ever.
11:00
‘I was about to bring your breakfasts up,’ Darrelle said teasingly as Mr Cool and I strolled into the warm kitchen. She gestured to plates on the kitchen table, piled with croissants and strawberries.
‘Did you think I’d allow her to wake up without a proper good morning greeting?’ Mr Cool asked.
‘Give the girl a break,’ Darrelle scolded. ‘Stop hitting on her!’
‘Like you did?’ Mr Cool questioned smoothly. ‘You’re the one who spent the night with her.’
‘I comforted, I didn’t demand anything,’ Darrelle returned. ‘I was being a friend.’
I didn’t know whether I imagined Darrelle’s smile didn�
�t quite reach her eyes.
Mr Cool bit into a croissant and poured himself a coffee from the pot. ‘You know me, Darrelle, I like to have my own way.’
‘Can you show me around after I’ve had breakfast?’ I interrupted. ‘I’d love to see the rest of the house and its grounds.’
‘Of course,’ Mr Cool answered. ‘There’s a nice hay barn at the far end of the paddock…’
I tossed him a smile. ‘You’re incorrigible but actually, I was asking Darrelle.’
Darrelle stuck her tongue out at Mr Cool. ‘Ha, that’s put the brakes on your sex-duction mister!’
Mr Cool looked affronted. ‘I’m not just trying to have sex, I do happen to think a lot more of Saze. You make it sound like I can’t control myself.’
Posted: 11:50 1 Sazement
SxyGrrl: I think this may be the fella for you! My sister’s still here, as is G’s son. She’s all over him. Pouting, pushing her boobs in his face and licking her lips. She fancies her chances with him. After all, he is a millionaire. G’s already had words with his son and assures me he’s not interested. Imagine it: my sister marrying my fiancé’s son.*shudders*
***
The Girl With All The Presents.
Snow had long ceased falling from the cool, sapphire sky. Daughter and Sam were sledging the slopes which stretched beyond the flat of the horses’ paddock. Darrelle linked her arm through mine as we wandered the grounds, keeping warm in cosy snow boots and her great-grandmother’s vintage furs. She introduced me to the horses, who were pleased with the carrots we offered. Their stables were large, snug buildings with a hay loft over. A line of thick trees denoted the edge of Darrelle’s land. There was a pond with a layer of ice, and an indoor swimming pool which was in the process of redesign. Darrelle showed me the hay barn of which Mr Cool had spoken, an old-fashioned draughty affair which housed an assortment of furniture Darrelle had discarded over the years.
‘Are you throwing that out?’ I pointed at an elegant chaise which was a little worn but otherwise looked perfectly fine.
‘Would you like it? Anything else catch your eye?’ Darrelle started pulling the chaise longue free from the other pieces. ‘A lot of this belonged to my grandfather and his father before him.’
I turned my attention to the remaining furniture. ‘You have lots of lovely pieces. The chaise will look gorgeous in either my lounge or the dining room.’
Darrelle smiled. ‘Help yourself. I like to change the furniture when I’m bored of it but can never bear to throw anything out, hence this lot. I really should give it to charity.’
I jumped eagerly into the assortment and selected several items while Darrelle rummaged through boxes. ‘Found it!’ She held a lamp aloft.
I tentatively accepted it, gasping at its weight. The base, carved from a cream resin-type of material was beautifully accentuated by highlights of gold.
‘They’ve been in my family for years.’ Darrelle carefully placed a second lamp on the floor. ‘Don’t tell him indoors or he’ll be livid. He wanted me to sell them. They’re just not to my taste but they go well with the chaise.’
‘Are they worth a lot?’
Darrelle, her head in another box, replied, ‘About three thousand.’
‘Pardon?’ I wondered if I’d misheard.
Darrelle straightened up and laughed. ‘They’re antique and the gold is real.’
‘I certainly can’t accept them.’
‘Why not?’ Darrelle demanded calmly. ‘I don’t want them and they’re only stuffed in a box. Someone could walk right in here and steal them.’
I shook my head in disbelief. ‘I can’t believe you threw a pair of lamps worth three thousand pounds in a box in your dusty old barn. I’m lucky to save the same amount in a year!’
‘I didn’t,’ replied Darrelle with the hint of a smile.
‘You just said they’re worth three thousand,’ I said in confusion.
Darrelle shook her head. ‘You mistook me. They’re worth three thousand each.’
I almost dropped the lamp I was holding. Darrelle really must have a ton of money to so easily discard such pricy items. I frowned, she didn’t seem to care if someone could walk into the barn and steal its wares. I felt uncomfortable. Darrelle’s world was so far from mine it was practically another planet, hell, another universe.
Darrelle, back to me, rooted through the boxes again. ‘Now, I know I have something else that would go perfectly with the new look for your room…’
‘Honestly,’ I said weakly. ‘I don’t think you need to give me anything else.’ A thought struck me. ‘Darrelle, is the furniture repro?’
Darrelle tut-tutted. ‘What do you think?’
‘Phew,’ I replied, feeling faint. ‘I thought you were going to say they were originals. I was starting to panic about my contents insurance.’
‘I can’t abide fakery, of course they are authentic.’
‘The pair of you have been missing for two hours!’ Mr Cool shouted from the barn door. He meandered through the pile of items Darrelle and I had segregated from the main bulk. ‘What are you doing?’
‘They’re for Saze.’ Darrelle grinned. ‘You’re always telling me off for buying new stuff but hoarding the old.’
Mr Cool pointed at the lamps. ‘Darrelle,’ he scolded. ‘That’s precisely why I do. You were supposed to take them to an auction house.’
‘You’re not having them,’ Darrelle replied. ‘They’re Saze’s now.’
Mr Cool pulled me to him, kissed me and turned back to Darrelle. ‘I can’t complain, a princess deserves beautiful things. As soon as the snow’s been cleared from the roads I’ll hire a van and sort this little lot out.’
14:10
‘Hello, Mr Entrepreneur,’ I giggled into the phone.
‘Hello yourself.’ It sounded as if Mr Nice was smiling. ‘What happened last night? Would you rather blub it out over a glass of sparkling? Come to mine tonight, or I can come to yours? The girls won’t mind another night together.’
I remembered his light-weighted-ness and took the phone upstairs to “my” bedroom to spill the details. ‘I didn’t even know Andrew had been released,’ I finished. ‘The police could’ve warned me.’
‘That’s why I asked Sam to get you to call me last night,’ said Mr Nice. ‘I knew.’
‘How did you find out and I didn’t?’
Mr Nice sounded uncomfortable. ‘Kelly told me. She came round here, crying all over me.’
‘So you’re speaking to her now?’
‘Definitely not,’ said Mr Nice quickly. ‘She was actually looking for you.’
‘Why?’ I asked suspiciously.
‘She was worried Andrew had gone to see you.’
‘Well, he had.’
‘No,’ stressed Mr Nice. ‘She was thinking you and Andrew were together.’
‘What is she, thick?’
‘Apparently Andrew told her he still loves you,’ confided Mr Nice. ‘He’s really been messing with her head.’
‘Oh, I feel for her,’ I said sarcastically. ‘Like I did when she was waving a knife in my face.’
‘She’s obsessed with him, she has that kind of personality. Once she wants something she won’t rest until she has it. She was like that with me once.’
‘Are you sticking up for her?’
‘No,’ Mr Nice replied simply. ‘I’m warning you.’
‘That your wife is a nut?’
‘Estranged-wife,’ Mr Nice said hollowly.
‘How long will the decree-absolute take?’
‘The whole thing’s set to take about six months.’
‘It’s a long time isn’t it?’
‘No, not to end a relationship which spanned seventeen years it isn’t. Is Sam there? I’m missing her. Tell her I’ll call her so make sure her phone’s charged.’
Posted: 13:00 0 Sazements
***
Darkest Night.
‘The main roads have been cleared.’ Mr Cool stamped his
feet on the door mat. ‘The lane looks manageable but I think we should leave now if you want to go home. The roads will be icy before long once the sun goes down.’
‘I’ll round the girls up.’ I laughed at Darrelle’s downturned expression. ‘I can’t stay another night but I’m truly grateful for everything.’ I hugged her tightly. ‘It’s been wonderful, you’ve spoilt us rotten.’
‘Tomorrow,’ Darrelle said. ‘We’ll bring the furniture and help you arrange it. Maybe I’ll eek it out so you have to put us up. I like having you around, it’s better than just the two of us rattling around in this old house. Feels like a perfect family home with you both here.’
17:00
Daughter wandered into the kitchen as I poured myself coffee, thinking about Mr Cool.
‘Can I phone Dad? I haven’t spoken to him for ages. Is he going to see me tomorrow?’ she asked.
I contemplated telling Daughter Mr Him was ill. After all he must be sick in some way to behave in the way he had. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Why not? I want to speak to him. He’s my dad.’
I shook my head. ‘You won’t be able to talk to him because he’s not at home.’
Daughter pouted and folded her arms across her chest. ‘Where is he?’
I pulled out a kitchen stool and perched on it uncomfortably. ‘I’m afraid he’s been arrested.’
Colour fell from Daughter’s face and I beckoned her to me, wrapping my arms around her rigid shoulders. ‘He threatened me with a knife,’ I said softly.
Daughter’s brown eyes pooled with tears. ‘Dad wouldn’t do that.’
‘He did. That was a police helicopter at Darrelle’s.’
Daughter shook her head fervidly. ‘No it wasn’t. You’re lying!’ She yanked herself free, eyes flashing wildly. ‘The helicopter was for Darrelle’s neighbour… she told me… you’re a liar!’
‘I’m not. He attacked me before but I didn’t tell you.’
Lies Love Tells (Eastcove Lies Book 1) Page 19
