Loneliness Trilogy Bundle Boxset

by Alison Cole

  "We are trying to make it harder for Millie to get to any of her targets. If we split them up, she's less effective. Lizzie is being minded by her grandparents while we are here for the day. I don't think Millie knows where they live, so...but I am still ordering a team for their house. I am calling them now," he says.

  "So, she won't quit, will she?" Tim asks.

  "No," Laslow and Marcus both answer. "Once she gets an idea in her head, it's like pulling a bone out of the mouth of a hound," says Laslow.

  "Dangerous," says Marcus.

  We begin practicing as Marcus places the call for security teams. Two hours later, we hear a knock at the studio door.

  Marcus peers through the blinds and, when he sees a tall, muscular security officer, he opens the door, inviting him in.

  "Let's go back here and talk while they practice - oh, here are the other teams. Good! I can explain the situation to each of you all at one time..." Marcus leads the entire contingent of security officers to the small office in the back and closes the door so they can talk uninterrupted. Thirty minutes later, they come out. Two teams leave right away to head to my parents' and to our house. The third team stays put as the officers move about the studio, noting weaknesses.

  When our day's practice ends, the security officers meet with all of us to explain the weaknesses they have found and how they propose to correct them.

  "Once we have strengthened everything, we will be here every day, beginning before you arrive and leaving after you leave. We will patrol the area several times a day. Mr. Hadley has shown us a picture of Millie Smythe. We will be looking out for her every day that we are here. Mrs. Hadley, after speaking to your husband, we do believe that Millie does pose a danger to you - please do not leave your home alone - in fact, do not travel anywhere alone. Allow Mr. Hadley to take you where you need to go and, if need be, allow us to escort you. As for you men, the same goes for you. Millie's attempt to break into the studio may be an escalation of her efforts to...get to you. Why, only she can say. It isn't our job to know that. Our job is to protect you lot. If you see anything that concerns you, no matter how trifling it may seem, please bring it up. We will check it out and let you know what came of our investigation. We are professionals. Many of us have military or law enforcement backgrounds and we will do everything to ensure that this studio is as safe as it can be."

  After our meeting, we all go our separate ways, thinking soberly about the security team's information. At mum's, I see the security team, walking to and fro, looking into the garden and all up and down the street for potential danger. Inside the house, I greet a happy Lizzie.

  "Mummy! Eat chicken and veg-veggies!" said Lizzie, raising her arms to me.

  I scoop her up, realizing just how much I missed her at the studio. It won't be easy being separated, but I understand Marcus' desire to make it more difficult for Millie to get to us as a family - bringing Lizzie here instead of taking her to the studio is truly safer.

  "She did very well, Johanna. She ate everything I put in front of her. I put her in bed for a nap and she slept for two hours. No nappy or clothing accidents. I can't wait to see my Lizzie-girl again tomorrow!" mum says, taking Lizzie's cheeks in between her fingers and pinching gently.

  "Thank you, mum! She looks very well, indeed! Are you ready to come back to visit with gram and grandpa tomorrow?"

  "Yes!"

  Marcus finishes talking to the security team assigned to my mum's and dad's. He gestures to my dad and sits down with him and the security officers.

  "Everything looks good here, but for the front gate. It's too easy for someone to open from the outside, so I recommend you find a way of strengthening this," the officer says.

  "D'you have any recommendations?" my dad asks.

  "Go to a good hardware shop and find a gate lock like this. We can install it for you so we know it's on correctly."

  " Sounds good. Okay. I'll pop round a hardware shop this week, then," says my dad.

  At home, I take Lizzie upstairs for her bath as Marcus meets with our security team. I expect that we will have very few issues, as we have already had a security team protecting us several months ago. After I kiss Lizzie and set her into her crib, I go back downstairs.

  Marcus has gotten a quick dinner for us and seen the team out for the night. We have a night security team now patrolling the house, so I don't feel as vulnerable.

  "D'you feel a little more secure now? I can tell you, I do. We have 24-hour security here, so when my dad confronts Millie, we won't have to worry as much. Here's some dinner..."

  Marcus has heated some vegetable soup and grilled bread. Along with the hot tea, this fills me and makes me feel comforted.

  After my shower, I am downstairs with Marcus when we hear a now-familiar horn blaring at the back gate.

  "Not going out, Jo. I'll let security handle this. I will, however, look at what's going on, if you'd care to join me," Marcus says.

  Sure enough, our neighbors pour out of their houses, irritated that "she" has come back. The security guards converge on her car and the knot of men. We watch from the kitchen window. The activity outside cause our motion detector lights to come on, making it easy for us to see what is happening. Neighbors yell at Millie; Millie gives as good as she gets; security guards make her shut up and listen to the neighbors. Oh, and because the guards know what Millie looks like, they know she's up to no good. They ask her to tell them why she is there - and, of course, she refuses. They make her leave. I suspect that the only thing that does make her leave is their promise to call the police. She guns her car's engine and pulls away, threatening to run over some of our neighbors.

  "Stay inside. I need to find out what they all said," Marcus tells me.

  After putting on a jacket, he lopes to the gate and confers with the neighbors, apologizing to them. The security guards tell him what happened. Five minutes later, he is back inside.

  "She wouldn't say why she came by, so I suspect she wanted to stir up more trouble now she's out of jail. Our neighbors are rightfully upset - it's a school night and kids have gone to bed. I'm calling dad," Marcus says.

  After he finishes talking to his dad, I learn that Andrew has not yet spoken to Millie. He is waiting until he finds out if Millie is going to cooperate with the vicar's rules.

  I really don't want to say anything against Millie, so I hold my counsel. However, I have my doubts that she will comply with the vicar. Besides...

  "What's tomorrow's date?" I ask.

  "August 23rd, why?"

  "Oy! I completely forgot! I have a midwife appointment at four-thirty tomorrow afternoon!"

  "No worries. We've been pretty occupied here, so I'm not surprised you forgot," Marcus says. "I am taking you. Just call your mum and let her know."

  "How could I forget that?" I mutter to myself as I storm off to the phone.

  "Mum? I just remembered that I have a midwife's appointment late tomorrow afternoon. We'll pick Lizzie up when I'm done, okay?"

  "Oh, that's fine. We'll play games with her after she eats. We bought some children's books for her, so we'll read to her," mum says.

  "Thank you! I forgot, and I don't know why," I say.

  "Well, look at what - who - you've been dealing with. It's no problem, sweetheart. Take care of your appointment and Lizzie will be here when you finish."

  "Thank you, mum."

  We leave practice thirty minutes early so Marcus can get me to my midwife's appointment. I am close to halfway through my pregnancy and the baby is growing fast.

  "Everything is developing just as it should be. You're at a good, healthy weight, by your account, you're eating everything you need and, save for the stress with your sister-in-law, you are sleeping well. Try not to let that family situation stress you out any more than necessary. Continue to eat as you have; drink lots of water and milk and continue taking your vitamins. You'll start feeling Junior wiggle before too long! And I will see you one month from now," Gwen says. After she give
s me a hug, Marcus and I leave.

  We are on the way home for only a block or two before Marcus swears.

  "What?"

  "Check your wing mirror. Do you see Millie's car back there? Marcus asks.

  I check - and yes, I do see her!

  "That's her and she's getting closer!" I tell Marcus.

  "Damn. Hang on, then. I'll try to get us away from her as fast as possible," Marcus says, accelerating quickly. He turns down side streets, attempting to lose Millie so we can get to my parent's house to pick up Lizzie.

  Millie hangs on, following us. I check the wing mirror, telling Marcus how far away she is.

  "Two car lengths. Now, three. Damn, back to two!"

  "If this were a lighter traffic part of the day, I could move more quickly, but as it is now, I am afraid of hitting someone and hurting them and you!" Marcus says.

  I glance at him. He is sweating.

  "Ahhh! Finally!" he shouts. He accelerates, putting several cars' worth of distance between Millie and us.

  I feel the car turning left, then right and left again. I look back - no sign of Millie.

  Marcus sighs deeply as he pulls into the car lot at the police station.

  "Come on! I think she'll find us before long!"

  I grab Marcus' hand and we run into the station to report what is happening. It takes a few critical minutes, but finally we convince the desk sergeant of what is happening. He begins to take a report when someone runs in.

  "Oy, there's someone out there yelling for 'Marcus.' She's dressed in a minister's collar!" someone shouts. "She doesn't look happy, either."

  "You stay in here and file this report. I'll deal with her," Marcus says to me. An officer goes outside with him, where they talk to Millie.

  I wait for several minutes after I finish giving the officer my report.

  "Can I call my mum and let her know it's going to be a while? I don't want her to worry," I tell him.

  "Go right ahead. Do you need to use this phone?"

  "I have my cell phone, thank you." I step away from the desk.

  "Mum? We're going to be late for Lizzie. Millie found us after our midwife appointment and chased us through Saint Albans. I'm waiting for Marcus to find out why she chased us down and, as soon as we are done here, we will go for Lizzie," I tell her.

  "My God, be careful! Can an officer escort you?" mum asks me.

  "I'll ask. Thank you, mum. I love you."

  I wait for another thirty minutes. Marcus finally comes out alone. We leave.

  "Where's Millie?"

  "Still inside. When I told the officer that I have hired several security teams to watch over us, he was right interested. He told her she has to stay so he could explain things to her and so we could get to your mum's without harassment." He sighs. "Jo, I'm calling dad after we've eaten and put Lizzie to bed."

  "Good. This latest incident scared me. If she had caught up to us, what was her intent?"

  Marcus huffs out a harsh breath. It's not quite a laugh.

  "You're not going to believe this, Johanna. She claims that she wanted to 'talk to us' about God and His love! That she wanted to help us correct the path we are on - but, as she talked, it became crystal clear that she meant she wanted you to correct your life path. She wants you to leave, and for me to raise the kids without you in my life. I told her that we love each other and are committed to each other, that we married in the Church of England. That went straight over her head - Jo, she is fixated on this idea that you are a slut." He looks straight at me and I see fear in his eyes. "It's claiming today that she wants to 'save' you. Tomorrow, it'll be that you're a danger to our family and that you have to be dealt with harshly. I think she's becoming more and more of a danger to you and our children, so this is why I want to call dad and get him to talk to her - soon."

  "I won't object. That is frightening! Just how is it that she wants me to live?"

  "Drop your music career. Find a job in a shop, put the kids with child minders and work in a shop all day long. In short, deny who and what you are - an artist."

  "No. No way. I will continue doing exactly what I am - practicing, learning and composing new music, putting out CDs and putting on concerts."

  After we bathe Lizzie and put her into bed, we go back downstairs and sit on the couch.

  Marcus rings his dad up.

  "Dad? You're not going to like hearing this, but Millie found us today after we left Johanna's midwife appointment. We tried to get away from her, but she caught up to us at the police station. Johanna filed a report while I talked to Millie with an officer there. She claimed she wanted to bring us closer to God - she meant Johanna. What she wants Johanna to do is to drop her music career and find a job in a shop or office somewhere and deny her creativity. No, we aren't having that. D'you know when you're going to talk to her?"

  I listen to Marcus' side of the conversation. He puts his phone on speaker mode and sets it down so we can both hear his dad.

  "I had hoped to wait a few days to see if she would cooperate with the vicar. I believe he talked to her today and told her to stop her actions. It looks like she isn't going to stop, so I will talk to her tomorrow. I will also go back to the vicarage and talk to the vicar, because I want to find out what he told her she could do. Don't confront her. Just do as you have been doing and try to stay away from her. I will tell her she cannot try to contact you - you and Johanna should decide if you want a court order that keeps her away from you."

  The next day, we are at home after practice. Marcus' dad rings us up, telling us he will be at the back gate in a few minutes. Marcus lets him in and brings him into the house and I heat water for tea.

  "I spoke to the vicar. He's going to talk to Millie and let her know that he's releasing her from her posting at the church. The day after he does this, I will talk to her and tell her she has to return to the United States - that, until and if she changes her beliefs and becomes more tolerant of those who are different, she cannot be around our family. I do not like pushing her away, but what she is doing is escalating her actions against you, Johanna. What if it had been just you in the car when she was chasing you? I wonder that, and I get sick chills down my spine," says Andrew.

  I pour the tea and allow it to steep. Once it's done, we each take a cup and sip the hot brew. I fold my hands around my cup, trying to warm myself again.

  "Andrew - dad - do you expect our situation to get bad before she leaves?"

  "Honestly? Be glad you have the security teams. Marcus, would you get a team for your mum and me, please? Once I talk to Millie, she will see me as allied with you and against her," Andrew says.

  When I hear Andrew's assessment of the situation, I get cold all over again.

  Marcus wraps his arms around me when he sees me shivering.

  "I will be talking to her just as soon as I know the vicar has dismissed her from the church. After this, she will have little choice but to return to the States."

  Andrew finishes his tea and puts his jacket back on. Marcus goes to the gate and opens it so Andrew can leave.

  "Oh, my God, it's going to get worse?"

  "Temporarily only. Dad wants to require Millie to leave within days, not weeks. He'll pay for movers to load up her belongings. It's not like moving house from here to London, so she will need to move quickly. Once she is on a flight and flying over the Atlantic, we are safe," Marcus says.

  I grab onto those words.

  "What about Robert Smythe? Will he go with her?"

  "My guess is yes. They have an...odd...relationship, one in which Millie cracks the whip and Robert responds. I have no idea how he is a social worker if he helps people to facilitate changes in their lives. All I know is that, as strong-willed as she is, she needs him. And he needs her."

  I shiver again, this time from revulsion.

  At the end of practice, Tim tells us we are going to begin working on the Scotland and Ireland tour, which begins only a few months from now. Finally! Something not con
nected to Millie that I can look forward to! I dance around the studio, feeling much happier than I have felt for days. Marcus joins me dancing and the boys begin laughing.

  At mum's and dad's, we gather Lizzie and her things.

  "Well, you look much happier! What happened?"

  "We're going to be getting ready for a short tour around Scotland and Ireland! It's not long at all, but it's something to look forward to!" My voice rises into a high falsetto as I sing out the last words. "And Andrew is going to be talking to Millie sometime this week and telling her she has to leave the U.K. if she is not going to stop hassling me for being a singer. I confess, mum, that makes me very nervous."

  "It would make me just as nervous, luv. Just keep the security teams in place until we know she has gotten onto a plane and is in the air - that's all I ask," mum says.

  "We plan on that," says Marcus as he loads Lizzie's nappy bag.

  At home that evening, Marcus gives Lizzie her bath and I make dinner. I have been craving Spanish food, so I dive into my cookbooks for dinner entrees I can make quickly.

  Marcus comes downstairs whistling after he tucks Lizzie into bed and reads her a bed time story.

  "Smells good! What are you making?" he asks me.

  "A quick Spanish meal - I have been craving Spanish food all day long. It should be ready presently, if you would set the table for us," I say.

  We tuck into our meal - and it is good! Just spicy and heavy enough for me to enjoy. We wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen, finishing just as Marcus' dad calls us.

  "Hullo, dad! How are you? We're actually feeling pretty good - Johanna and the band are planning a short tour for shortly after the baby's born. And, how are you liking the security team?"

  "Good - you need something other than family strife to think about. And I have some news to report - the vicar has revoked your sister's posting at the church as of last evening. I drove to her home - Robert had just left for work. She was highly, highly upset. We talked about what the vicar said to her and she still refuses to understand that her positions and actions against certain groups are unwelcome and perceived as potentially threatening. I brought up her following you to the police station and she said she only wanted to 'give Johanna the opportunity to develop a relationship with God.'