Three Thousand Miles To You

by Delia Longford

  Chapter 11

  By the next morning I feel much more rested and more like me. I rush into the bathroom and take a long hot shower I blow dry my hair and quickly change into today’s outfit. I head down the stairs and pour myself a coffee I take a seat and open up my laptop. As I scroll through my emails I find one from porcha with a little excitement I open up the email to read

  Hi alanna hear your home from London how was your trip? We must catch up soon porcha.

  I reply, porcha hi,

  Yes my trip was great I would love to catch up just say when! Alanna, I hit send and go back to my inbox no more emails to reply to so I shut my laptop and slide it out in front of me. KNOCK! there is someone at the door I go over open it to find a delivery guy with a little red bag “miss hart” “yes” I say looking surprised I never thought that Marco would still be sending gifts after what had happened yesterday. I take the bag from the man and ask once again “I don’t suppose you know who this is from?” “Miss I do but I was told not to say!” “Huh” “now if you would excuse me I must go” “wait” I shout “you can’t just walk off please tell me who is sending me these gifts!” “I can’t miss I would get sacked!” “just one clue please sir!” the man turns and walks over, “miss there will be a lot more of this every day in fact I have been given a load of boxes little bags flowers chocolates that sort of stuff and I have to deliver one to you each day! In time sooner than you think he will reveal himself to you” “what” I choke out, “but why?” “Isn’t it clear miss he loves you!” and with that the man is gone. I go back into the house I take a seat in the living room and try to wrap my head around all this. Why was someone going to all this trouble? Why was I the recipient of these gestures? I try to compose myself as I hold the little red bag I look inside and there is two little boxes a black one and the other white with a love heart on the front I open up the first box and what I find is a key not to a house but it looks like a key to a car I lift out the key to have a closer look and there written on the other side are the words (Lamborghini). I quickly close the box and open the other one to find a single yellow diamond hanging from a white gold chain. I smile at the sight of the necklace but wonder about the car keys. I am sure that was a Lamborghini that followed me last night and the driver must have been him.

  Who is he? I wonder as I sip coffee when it was just a few bouquets of flowers and pair of earrings I was so sure that it was Marco he was the only person I thought at the time that could possibly be doing this. Somehow now I don’t feel like there is any chance at all that it’s him. He doesn’t own a Lamborghini in fact I know that he doesn’t even like them. The time and effort that has been put into this whole thing speaks for its self I have never known Marco to plan anything in life let alone care enough about someone to go to all this trouble. I can’t lie and say that I am not a little worried about this. Although it seems like a sweet thing all these little gifts and beautiful flowers. Out there somewhere is the man that is doing this how do I know that he is not a stalker? How do I know that he doesn’t watch my house every night! Am I really sure that this man isn’t dangerous? It all seems a little obsessive to me! However I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued! A hour or so later I am cooking dinner and I am feeling a little uneasy being in the house alone so I have locked all the doors just in case! When Sophie comes home to find all the doors locked I see she is rather worried I try my best not to let her see the fear that is inside me. So instead I make her believe that my dad heard there was some weirdo on the loose and has insisted that I keep all my doors locked all the time. After all Sophie was a little judgmental yesterday when I was talking to her about Adrian black so I really hate to think what she would make of all this. I have decided not to say anything to her and whatever gifts I receive from now on I will hide them up the stairs in an old shoe box under my bed. The only thing I will have to worry about is if Sophie answers the door to the delivery guy for if that does happen I will have to concoct a story so perfect that she simply has no doubts. “Dinner smells good” “yeah it will be ready in ten minutes” “I just had the most stressful day” Sophie says holding her head in her hands “what happened” I say. “I had to go back over to Columbia today to pick up my revised schedule” “yes” “on my way out of the office I ran into Chelsea!” “Never” “yes it was the most painful conversation I think I have ever had in my entire life!” “What did she say?” I ask. “Just saying she was sorry she never meant to hurt me but she loves chace and she wishes we could put this behind us and try to move on!” “The cheek what does she thinks she is?” “I know but the worst thing is almost felt sorry for her!” "How could you possibly feel sorry for her?” “I just felt like maybe she really didn’t mean to hurt me maybe she and chace are meant to be together and that I maybe have a different path to follow!” “Sophie” I begin to say but stop myself is Sophie actually moving on from chace? Has she finally come to terms with what happened? “Sophie I think that is a really brave thing for you to do it just shows you that you are the much bigger person” “I have been moping around for weeks but somehow now I feel at peace with everything I don’t know if it was the whole New Year thing but I feel different alanna!” I am so glad” I say going over to her and giving her a hug. “I really couldn’t have got through this without you alanna!” I flash her simile. After dinner I go up to my bedroom and switch on my laptop I lay back on my bed and log into my emails I look over to right of the screen and have a quick glance to see who Is online Jessica’s name sticks out at me so I open the IM chat box and compose a message,

  Alanna: hi Jessica

  I tap my finger rapidly on my laptop as I await a reply Jessica: hello alanna how are you?

  Alanna: good thanks and you?

  Jessica: working hard you glad to back home?

  Alanna: mixed feelings about it!

  Jessica: really? I thought you were missing your family and friends?

  Alanna: yeah I was but I think it had more to with the fact that it was New Year’s than anything else.

  Jessica: I see. So how is your family?

  Alanna: yeah fine thanks and yours?

  Jessica: the same old routine over here Wish I was where you are!

  Alanna: ha, have you been working any events recently? Jessica: I had one the other night it was a company’s ten year anniversary party so that was worth the pay packet! Alanna: was anyone in particular there? I ask trying to seem laid back about the question.

  Jessica: are you referring to Adrian black?

  I pause as I type wondering if I should say yes or no. I go with the truth and type,

  Alanna: yes him.

  Jessica: sorry alanna but he wasn’t there actually I don’t think anyone has seen him since the New Year!

  Alanna: really what ever happened to him?

  Jessica: he will be around somewhere alanna don’t worry!

  Alanna: I wasn’t, doesn’t he have a company or something how could he just disappear I am sure he has a lot of

  responsibilities?

  Jessica: I don’t think he has disappeared I hear of him going to France a lot so maybe he went there after the new year for a bit of a break! Who knows he is a messed up bloke!

  Alanna: everyone says that but what is so messed up?

  Jessica: the way the bloke acts for one thing do you know there is not one bit of gossip or hearsay about his childhood? Or where he came from or what his parents are like!

  Alanna: maybe he is just private about things like that tell me Jessica when did you first hear of him?

  Jessica: it was about three years ago when he started his own company. All the newspapers where raving about this self-made millionaire at the age of twenty one.

  Alanna: when you first saw him did you think there was more to him?

  Jessica: I definitely thought he was different from everyone else I never expected him to look the way he does.

  Alanna: if you look past his looks Jessica don’t you see sadness in his eyes?


  Jessica: I never thought about it!

  Alanna: I can’t figure him out.

  Jessica: does he puzzle you?

  Alanna: unlike anyone else!

  The next morning I awake much earlier than Sophie so I can be the first to get the door. I pace up and down waiting. I can’t contain myself I wonder what today will bring. Sophie rushes down the stair and to my relief she says she is running late for a shopping trip with her mom. She opens the door and I run over looking outside to see if there is anyone there. As Sophie jumps into her car I can hear the sound of another car pulling up I bite my lip and I try to wave off Sophie quickly so I don’t have to explain anything today and my plan works Sophie starts the engine and drives out of the driveway. I wait in the doorway hoping see the small fair haired man I saw yesterday. As I watch him walk up the drive I feel my heart beating a little fast is today the day I find out who he is? “this is a good sign” the man says laughing, “miss hart I think you know the drill by know I have a little something for you” I don’t say a word instead I just stand there looking at this man. With a smile on his face I see him holding a white box. “This is for you” the man says handing it to me. “What is it” I ask. “I have no idea it’s just something he wants you to have” “sure why else would he send it?” I say a little sarcastic. “The box you gave me yesterday was keys to car a Lamborghini.” “I knew this guy was rich but a Lamborghini!” “Sir I am a little confused he sends me keys but there is no car what is this man all about?” “Miss As I told you yesterday I really can’t tell you anything about him he will let you know who he is when he is ready until then you have to receive all the packages.” “Ok then” “there is one other thing I was supposed to ask you today” “are you happy?” “What?” “he wants to know if you are happy” “you can tell him that no I am not happy I am sick of all the secrecy and the gifts really I can’t be bought” “miss I know this must be hard for you but the way this guy feels about you is really special he has never did anything like this in his life and I think he has been waiting all his life for you!” “All his life how old is he?” “What?” “I said how old is he?” “What does that matter?” “I really hope he is not some old weird guy that’s trying to buy younger girl affections!” “Miss he is most certainly not an old weird guy!” “Now I really have to go I do have other deliveries you know besides you!” After I watch the guy leave I go back into the house. I lock the door behind me and take a seat up at the kitchen. I Put the box on the counter and start unwrapping the outer packaging. When I remove everything from the outside and I am left with just the box underneath. It’s very clear to see what I have been given. A blackberry as I open the box I discover inside there is a little white envelope just like the ones on the flowers. Inside there is a note witch reads “I don’t have your telephone number so here is a phone that only I have the number of please wait for my call” I take out the white phone from the box to see that it has already been charged up. I begin to search through the phone to see if there are any more clues as to who this is! I look in the messages there is none. I look through the contacts but also there is none. There are no pictures no emails no nothing on this phone it is just a blank canvas. I lean back in my chair still not really taking all this in. it was hard enough when it was just flowers and things I was receiving but now that this man has sent me a phone I begin to think that this is getting more serious.

  I try to do a few things around the house to distract myself from checking the phone every few minutes. I have already cleaned the kitchen and the living room. It’s only after one so I grab my purse and off course my new phone and head out the door. I make sure I lock the door behind me still with that feel of uneasiness. I take a drive along the costal route and park my car halfway along the beach. Whenever I feel like I need to think this is always where I find myself ending up. I walk along the beach looking out at the water. And with that I feel immediately a sense of clam. I make my way further along the beach where there is a little white hut that’s sells cold drinks and ice creams but in the cold bitterness of winter I decide to get a hot latte and a cinnamon waffle. I sit down at the nearest bench next to an older lady she is sitting alone with a little black dog at her feet. Her face seems emotional as she stares out at the sea. I feel that maybe I am making her feel uneasy so I turn away and begin to eat my waffle. But somehow I am still drawn to this lady I don’t really know what it is but I feel like maybe she is familiar to me. I pick up courage and turn to face her “excuse me mam are you ok?” the woman turns to look at me but does not answer so I decide to take a different approach I say “I just love the sea don’t you?” the lady looks again but still no answer. “Do you come here a lot? I always seem to find myself here whenever I have something on my mind is there anything on your mind mam?” “I only come here when I need to think back” she says in a rough voice. “Do you want to talk?” I ask moving a little closer. “No!” “You are just like him always talking shut up go away leave me alone!” I jump up in surprise I walk away but I glance back to her she really looks familiar but I just can’t place her anywhere!

  Driving home I turn up the radio so loud I can’t hear myself think. But after the day I have had that’s really all I want just now not to hear my thoughts for they will be overtaken by the looming phone call I am so impatiently waiting for. As the car comes to halt at the red light. I take a glance in my rear view mirror. What’s that? No it couldn’t possibly be? I turn my head around and have look out the back window of the car and yes what I see is what I thought it’s a black Lamborghini. I pause and think is this man following me? Am I in danger? As the light flashes to green I push my foot down as far as it will go on the gas pedal. I try my best to doge my way through the midafternoon traffic all the while keeping one eye on the black shiny car that’s I getting ever so close to me now. I just manage to catch the next light but the car behind doesn’t. I whizz round the streets and start to go up the hill if make a left turn here I can take a shortcut to my house. I make the turn and there it is my little brownstone cottage style house with a white picket fence and Red blossoming roses climbing up the outer walls.my house is a little tired looking but certainly that’s part of its charm. I pull into the drive and Sophie’s car is not here. So as quickly as my feet will carry me I run into the house lock the door and breathe a sigh of relief.

  Chapter 12

  That night as I lay in my bed with my new blackberry under my pillow for safe keeping. I think of the lady that I saw today at the beach. How familiar her face looked. The way she spoke as if real pain was in her voice. I have never in my life met that woman before so what was it about her that got me so interested was it that she reminded me of someone?

  I am back in my car only this time there is no way out the black Lamborghini has me trapped. I look desperately for a way out but the car is so close to me it’s hard for me to see any which way I turn around and look out the back window only to see there is a long grey wall. I am trapped there is no way out. I look down at my lap where my phone is and to my horror there is blood everywhere. All over my hands on the seat next to me. Basically the car is filled I try to get out but the wall is restricting me from doing so. I climb over onto the other seat where there is no wall I push open the door and the white blackberry begins to ring. Filled with terror and my hands stained with blood I answer the phone. “Hello” I say in a shaken voice “alanna!” I hear a harsh voice say. I cannot speak my lips are frozen. I turn around to see the door of the other car open and the person who comes out is not who I expected! I wake suddenly with sweat pulsing from my body. I sit up straight and try to shake off the feeling I have. What was that? I look down to make sure there is no blood only to see my hands shaking to violently. I place my hand on my chest and feel it beat much too fast. What is happening to me? Why am I having dreams like this? I think that all the worry and dread about whom this mystery man is. Is really starting to take its toll on me. I look over to my alarm clock and see that it is
5.30am. It’s much too early to get up but I need to use the bathroom after the dream I just had. I open the door switch the light on and look at myself in the mirror. The reflection I see is a mere shadow of the girl I used to know. Her big brown eyes have lost their sparkle and with big black circles underneath. Her face so pale and emotional how could someone who loved her put her through so much? I get back into bed and try to fall asleep once again and wish that the dream doesn’t reoccur. When I wake up at 7.30am all I feel is dread. Am I in for another day like the one I had yesterday? Something inside of me is telling me to be scared. I feel as if there is something about to happen. I get out of bed like it is a chore. I slowly walk down the stairs and slump on the couch. “Alanna are you ok? You look terrible” Sophie says with a concerned look “yes I am alright just had a bit of a rough night that’s all” “did you not sleep or something?” “I had a nightmare” I say. “Oh for heaven sake what was it about?” I search for something to say it’s not as if I can tell Sophie the truth knowing the way she will act. “I can’t remember” “that’s the worst kind when you wake all sweating and heart beating fast oh gives me the shivers just thinking about it”. “What do you have on today” I ask changing the subject in case I slip up and tell Sophie everything. “My dad needs some help at the hotel today” “that will be different you haven’t worked there in a while” “I know but I always feel a little strange whenever I do” “being the bosses daughter it must be hard for them to take you seriously?” “I always feel like I have something to prove” “it’s hard huh?” “It’s a job for sure” Sophie makes us both breakfast and then leaves for the city. As soon as Sophie is out of the door I make sure I lock it behind her. I take the white phone out from the pocket of my silk robe. I have look to see if there is any messages but there is none. I fancy another cup of coffee so I go over to the pot and pour myself a cup KNOCK!!! “Oh crap” I shout out loud. The knock came as such a shock that I dropped the cup and the coffee pot and they are now laying all over the floor in a million pieces. I carefully step over the broken glass and make my way over to the door. I open the door and there he is the same little fair haired delivery man for the third day in a row. “Miss are you alright?” he says. I look down at the ground and pull my robe a little tighter. “actually all this has kind of started to take its toll a little bit” “you don’t say for what it is worth I am sorry miss if this has caused you any inconvenience” “I know you are just doing your job but to tell you the truth I am scared of all this!” “Why are you scared?” “Last night I felt as if I was being followed by someone” “Miss I can assure you that on one wants to hurt you or cause you pain in any way!” “Is that right?” “I used to be a cop so do you really think I would be delivering these packages to you if I thought that you were in any type of danger?” “No” I say. “Today all I have for you is this letter.” I go back into my house and sit up at the kitchen ignoring the mess that lies on the floor I open the plain white envelope to read.