by Karen Aldous
‘Yes do. And, please, be careful. Things can happen so quickly. Catch you unaware. I don’t want to scare you but… anything can happen to you.’
Evie searched her sister’s eyes. ‘What? Has something happened to you?
Cally sighed before clearing her throat. ‘I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you and Charlotte. I’ll start the washing up so we can get going.’
Chapter 19
It wasn’t just what Cally had said, her eyes had also clouded over and seemed… almost haunted. She was being evasive though, and Evie just had to accept her sister was reluctant to talk about it. But she was still eager to know.
After lunch, Evie filled a bag with essentials and then they’d set off for a drive to Revel, to the Saint-Ferreol lake. Evie had read about it. It was a man-made lake, a huge engineering undertaking at the foot of the Montagne Noire. Both Riquet’ and the peasant women had been involved’, providing a reservoir of water supply for the canal year-round, but, as far as she knew, as a child with her family they’d never visited. As they followed the signs to the lake, the expression on Cally’s face at lunch still played on Evie’s mind. She didn’t like to probe but wondered what it was her sister was hiding. Did she have a stalker? Evie picked up her phone and sent a text reminder to Seb headed ‘URGENT’. Cally was right to warn her to up the ante. There was no point in trying to keep guessing who he was. She set up the sat-nav for Cally to follow and pulled out one of her library books. When she turned her head to Charlotte in the child seat Cally had hired, her daughter’s eyes were dropping.
‘She’s worn out, bless her,’ Cally whispered.
‘I think it is the soothing movement of the car. She dozes off when she’s on the bike too.’
‘Lucky thing. I wish I could sleep anywhere.’
‘Me too,’ Evie agreed, although feeling her own eye lids soothed by the car. She gripped her book with one hand as she rubbed her eyes with the other. She yawned.
‘Sounds like you should join her.’
Evie forced a smile, blinking hard. ‘I’m fine. I don’t know how you cope working in clubs until three or four in the morning.’
‘I get used to it.’
‘I remember when Charlotte was tiny. Five or six times a night she would wake up. That was evil. I don’t think I could do that again.’ Evie shuddered.
‘I don’t suppose you get a chance to catch up when it’s every night either, plus the demands of a baby during the day. I think my worst nightmare was five nights on the trot. I can just about manage three. And, I get to lie in.’
‘Hmm, I’ve totally forgotten what that’s like. Do you get much of a social life on your days off?’
‘Yeah, not bad. It gets a bit boring now if I’m honest. Bit samey. Same people, places. It’s nice to come to Montpelier. More of a student crowd rather than holiday louts.’
‘We should do a job swap. You could have some down time whilst I go out and rave.’
‘I don’t think that’s quite how I work. I don’t think!’
‘I certainly wouldn’t like coming home at that hour in the morning though.’
‘No. I get a car back now. God, the risks I used to take. Barely worth thinking about now.’
‘Did you ever get threatened?’
‘You won’t believe how many times. The amount of drunks still out on the streets. That’s why I told you to be careful. And… it’s not just the drunks.’ Cally rolled her head towards Evie then hesitated.
Evie watched as her sister’s face paled. Cally rolled her tongue around her mouth. Evie swallowed, her eyes fixed.
Cally began. ‘I was… well, I’ll use the word “‘attacked”…’ by one of the barmen from my local club. I’m usually out before them, but he came out when I was collecting my jacket and began walking with me. This was a friendly guy, more reserved than some of the others, a bit strange at times – well, hot and cold – but,’ she took in a deep breath, ‘I thought I was strong. I’d walked home hundreds of times on my own, so, we were chatting. I treated him as any other friend, colleague if you like. Never made any sexual references, jokes. Actually, we were talking about his family, but…’ Evie watched her chin wobble, ‘… next thing, he dragged me into this doorway, well, an alley beside a shop. He tried to kiss me. I resisted straight away, but the thing I remember was he was just so strong, I mean so strong. I was trapped. It’s not that he was even particularly big, five-foot ten max. He held me and… ripped and… and pulled until…’
‘Oh my God, Cally.’ Evie felt bile rise to her throat. ‘He raped you?’
Cally nodded, her mouth trembling uncontrollably. She steered on to the trunk road and glanced wide-eyed at Evie, the rims of her eyes watering. ‘Turned into a monster, just like that. I wasn’t strong enough to get him off me.’
‘Oh, Cally.’ Evie could barely believe this could happen to her sister. Jesus. ‘It must be difficult to talk about.’ Evie scrambled into her rucksack ‘I’ll get a tissue. Pull over. You’re upset. Why didn’t you call me?’ ‘Cally, pull over. Look up there, there’s an opening. Pull in.’
‘No. I’m ok… I…’
‘Pull in, please?’ Evie’s throat burned as she peered at Cally. Her face was streaked with tears as she steered the car to an earthy surface and pulled on the handbrake.
Evie immediately leant across and snaked her arm around Cally’s shoulder, pulling her forward so they locked heads.
‘Oh, Cally.’
‘It was horrible Evie. I thought he was going to kill me. He pushed me to the ground. I know I tried to roll away but he pushed me back and punched my head… a few times…’ Cally held her temple. ‘Here.’ She leaned back and clicked the button to open the window, her eyes red and glazed. ‘That’s why I keep telling you, it can happen so quick.’ ‘It’s ok,’ she cried, ‘I’m being silly.’
‘No you’re not. This is serious, not silly. Have a minute and tell me. You need to get this out.’
‘Tissue, have you got a tissue?’
‘Evie’s hand dived into her rucksack. ‘Here.’
Dabbing her eyes, Cally sniffed and said ‘No. I’m fine. Another tissue will…’
‘Here.’ Evie passed it across. ‘Did you report him?’
‘Yes. Well, the police found me. He’d hit me across the head and left me there. I couldn’t move. Apparently he was nowhere to be found. I never saw him again, mind. And not heard any more since.’
Evie’s mouth went dry. ‘So, he could have left you for dead. It just shows how easy it is to be caught off guard. Jesus, you always look so in control. I’d never have dreamed that…’
‘I’m in a vulnerable environment, early hours, drunks… I’ve only told you this to warn you. I knew the guy too. Not well, but, yes, wrongly assumed that I was safe.’
Evie swiped her brow as her mouth hung open. ‘Oh, I…’ It was evil and she couldn’t find words, only a crawling numbness paralysing her throat. ‘The power some men think they have! And over Cally – who was so strong and nowhere near as trusting as herself.
Cally manoeuvred her rear-view mirror and cleaned smudges of mascara from under her eyes.
Evie reached for another tissue, peering back at Charlotte, fast asleep, and then studied her sister. ‘Are you ok?’
Cally shook her head as she steered a piece of folded tissue under her eye and leaned towards the mirror. ‘Yes, I thought I’d got over it, sorry, it all suddenly became so raw. I’d tried to bury it. Sorry, I didn’t mean to break down.
‘Don’t feel you have to apologise. Bloody hell. You’ve gone through enough. I really can’t imagine how you’re feeling. What a bastard.’ Evie reached into her rucksack. ‘Here these might be better for make-up.’ She pulled out a packet of wet wipes, took one out and held it between her fingers.
‘Oh, well done, thanks.’ Cally said taking the wipe. ‘It was his strength. I mean, it was all so horrible, but not being able to push him off… the solidity of muscle mass and feeling so powerless
to shift it. I imagine it’s like when an earthquake or explosion happens – the mass of debris falling on you, boulders of concrete you just wouldn’t be able to move, suffocating you.’ Cally shuddered. ‘And, ugh, then feeling so dirty. No. I wouldn’t want you to go through what I did. And Evie, abuse comes in so many guises. Don’t ever let your guard down. I know there are so many women who have gone through something like this. I’m not alone.’
‘No. I hope he’s caught. The company you work for have his details, so something must lead them to him?’
‘I hope so, before he does it again.’ Cally screwed up the tissue and wipe and tossed them into her bag. ‘I‘m ok now, let’s get going.’
‘Only if you want to, Cally. We can go home.’
Cally scooped back her hair and repositioned the mirror before pulling out on the road. ‘I’m fine. Promise.’
Evie fiddled with her fingernails, still studying her sister’s face. Thoughts of the stalker and what his intentions might be crossed her mind. And thoughts of Seb when he’d gripped her throat – how strong he was, how she’d felt and how much she still feared that.
Cally followed the sat-nav instructions whilst Evie flicked mindlessly through her book. A passage caught her attention but she couldn’t concentrate. She bent back the ear of the page.
‘So do you know if they’re still looking?’ she asked as they got onto the main route to Revel.
‘I did ask but they virtually laughed in my face. So frustrating. They’ checked out his flat but he’d already gone. They’ suspected he’d escaped by boat. A boat was reported stolen. I insisted a female officer take a swab in case they caught him but I’ve never heard a thing.’
Unable to imagine anything worse, Evie would certainly up her guard. Keep the house locked up. ‘I don’t know what to say, it must have been awful. And now, you must be so scared walking home.’
‘It was and I am. So, I wouldn’t want you to go through it. It doesn’t bear thinking about what little Charlotte could suffer.’
Evie shuddered as though metal spikes had been injected into every one of her vertebrae. ‘After hearing your experience I will definitely inform the police. I feel quite sick. Hopefully, they can catch him outside the house.’
‘I would. Don’t leave anything to chance. Don’t let anyone hurt you.’ Cally said as she turned the steering wheel, following the sat-nav’s instructions in the background.
Evie raised her eyebrows and gave a nod. ‘I won’t. I feel safer with you here but I shouldn’t have left it this long. I shouldn’t have relied on Seb either. I will just get it done.’
A long thread of invisible silence weaved through the air as it struck Evie just how slow Seb had been to respond. Why hadn’t he bothered to sort it? Even if he was busy, he could have got one of his team to organise it. Or even asked her to get it done and bill him. Well, that’s what she would do. She had to get out of the habit of relying on him.
‘I was caught out, it could happen to anyone. Don’t just assume it will never be you – take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.’
‘I was just thinking about it’
‘And, Seb. I mean, he should have been straight on it if he had your interests at heart.’
Evie slapped her hand on her knee. ‘You’re absolutely right. I’m going to get it done and just tell Seb to pay.’
‘That’s the spirit.’ Cally parked the car and switched off the ignition. ‘I really hate the fact that he completely controls your life,’ she said, opening the car door. ‘Learn to take control.’
Evie nodded. Cally was direct but now she understood why. She’d had to adopt a no-nonsense response to everything. She had learned to protect herself, rely on herself. She wasn’t anyone’s puppet, unlike Evie.
‘That’s what I plan to do,’ Evie said, realising they had arrived at the lake. She gasped as she glimpsed the sparkling lake at the foot of the Noire Mountains. She breathed out, hoping that, for now, they could forget this conversation. Cally seemed to find it really hard to talk about, and although Evie now had so much to think about, she thought it would be good for them all if this afternoon they just had some fun on the beach. She grabbed her bulging rucksack and turned to her daughter, whose eyes were now half open.
‘We’re at the lake, sweetheart, the beach.’
Cally opened Charlotte’s door and bent down so the little girl was looking down at her. ‘Do you want to hold Auntie Cally’s hand? We can run on the grass to the beach.’
‘Beach.’ Charlotte repeated, blinking her eyes and not quite registering.
Evie stood behind her sister and rested the rucksack on the ground. ‘Yes, we can have a paddle in the water.’
‘Paddle.’
‘Oh, bless her, she’s still half-conscious,’ Cally shuffled back slightly as she levered herself up.
‘Beach.’ Charlotte suddenly sprang to life.
‘Haha, come on, little lady,’ Cally said, bending back down and undoing her seat straps. ‘Let’s go have some fun.’
‘Give me the keys. ‘I’ll get the bucket and spade and the rug from your boot and find somewhere to sit.’
‘Cool, we’ll come and find you.’ Cally grabbed the bucket and spade and raced off down the track with Charlotte.
Arms full, Evie exhaled with determination. The breeze rushed to her face, but it was so welcome. She peered around before squeezing the key to lock the car. It was amazing to think all this was man-, or, of course, man- and woman-made, two centuries ago. She then checked around her for unwelcome followers, her paranoia increasing. Poor Cally. It was madness to think Evie had lost her own, so fundamental, basic instincts and that she had relinquished so much power to Seb. She couldn’t even think for herself and organise or pay for what was her right to feel safe. Particularly as it was his fame which created the danger in the first place. There was little point being in a relationship if he couldn’t help when she needed it. And in a normal relationship he would be there every night. But then, theirs wasn’t a normal relationship and it was up to her to do what was right for her and Charlotte.
‘Yes. Things are going to change.’ she asserted aloud for all to hear, taking a few more steps along the path. Hearing a car, instantly she glanced back. A 4x4 very similar to Ben’s pulled up beside her sister’s car. Immediately she recognised him as he waved from the open window. She stopped, her stomach somersaulting with pleasure. Ben stepped out of the car.
‘Hi,’ he said, ambling towards her with his alluring smile and curls whirling in the breeze. With her blood suddenly rushing so fast, she could barely stand.
‘Hi. What are you doing up here?’
‘Seeking some peace and doing a recce at the same time. I thought I’d skip the bar and come up and get some of the script done. I haven’t had a chance to read your notes yet. What about you? Where’s Charlotte?’
Evie pointed through the pine trees to the beach. ‘Down there with my sister.’
‘Oh, yes, you did say she was visiting. It’s a beautiful spot, don’t you think?’ he said, tucking a folder under his arm and rolling up his white linen shirt sleeves.
‘Yes, what I’ve seen so far. I’ve not been before. Another of Riquet’s wonders though.’
Eve admired his firm brown calves as they fell into step following the path through the shade of the trees to the beach. Even casual shorts gave him irresistible appeal. The temptation to slip her hand into his was also irresistible.
‘Yes, I thought it would be a great spot to include in the footage. It’s my sanctuary, away from the crew.’
‘Well, I’ll find a spot so that we don’t disturb you.’ Her gaze met his, instantly melting her.
‘Not at all,’ he said shaking his head. ‘I don’t mind beautiful intelligent women disturbing me, for a while at least. I must get some work done. I’m working on the script.’ He held up his file.
The brooding gaze he gave her sent her whole body tingling, creating goosebumps on the surface of her skin.
Exhilaration fused with guilt. These feelings were far deeper than those she had for Seb. ‘That’s very kind of you to say but I don’t want to prevent you from working. I now appreciate how valuable it is to get time to yourself.’
‘Yes, I expect having a child and a partner to run around after takes up much of yours. No doubt he helps you out.’
‘Ha! I should be so lucky. What? He’s never here.’ Immediately she swung her head to the lake. There it was again, her mouth on full throttle. How did Ben manage to make her open up like that? ‘His job takes up so much time. That’s why I wanted to live here instead of London, so at least we can get outdoors more when he’s home.’ It was a partial lie. She was now convinced Seb was concealing his dirty laundry.
‘What does he do, if you don’t mind me asking?’
‘He’s in the music industry and has so many demands on his time.’ Evie rushed off again but managed to hold back details. It was so difficult when people asked, especially as it was the one main condition Seb had insisted upon. It was so hard not to be totally honest with Ben. And as he read her face now, she was sure he could sense the tension. She had to deflect the subject. ‘To be honest, I don’t know what we have in common really. I like music but I like a quieter, slower pace of life while he enjoys buzzing around the world. What about you?’
‘I enjoy a mix. It’s great to be busy travelling and exploring, doing a bit of renovation, but part of me loves nothing more than to stretch out on a sofa and enjoy a good film.’
Evie immediately imagined him sprawled on that sofa with her cuddling up to him for company.
‘Mmm, I suspect you get much of your technique research carried out watching how other directors work.’
‘Absolutely. I don’t know what your other half does, but I’ve also worked on music videos. They are fun to do and not so restrictive as drama, or storytelling. And I also learnt some different camera techniques from doing them.’
Entering an expanse of sandy beach, Evie caught sight of Cally and Charlotte, stripped down to bathing suits and splashing around. She waved and put a thumb in the air, hoping Cally would realise this man she was with wasn’t the stalker. Though Cally had probably guessed just looking at his stature.
