Isobel

by Sheila Tibbs

  'Bloody cheek, we have more to offer than a lot of people, not as much as some!' he had moaned to Sarah when they had left her office.

  Their combined experience of caring for a child amounted to zilch, nothing, piddly-squat, but Sarah worked from home and would be the best mum ever. Sarah laughed at this, but David had continued that she had so much love to give. Sarah had joked that he had put her on a pedestal. David smiled to himself as he remembered their conversation that day. Now, however, she was going to get a little girl to channel all her love and energy towards.

  Oh yes, he was very happy indeed.

  Quickly, Sarah jumped up, bringing David back to the here and now, the panic evident on her face.

  “What if she doesn’t like us? What if she’s not happy here? Oh God, David, what if we make her more miserable and unhappy than she must feel already?” David knew they weren’t questions he was meant to answer.

  “Just give her a bit of space and time to settle in, she’s going to love you just as much as everyone else does.”

  Sarah had this aura about her; everyone who met her loved her. She had the face of an angel, and the personality to match. Nothing was too much trouble, she would help anyone with anything and always with a smile; no matter how busy she was, she would always find the time. Yes, he was absolutely sure this young lass was going to love Sarah as well.

  “What’s her name, love?” David asked.

  “Isobel. Isn’t it just divine, David? Isobel! I always said if we ever had a daughter, I would like to call her Isobel, didn’t I?

  Didn't I say that?” David laughed, yes, Sarah had suggested the name ... and a dozen others too boot, but he didn’t want to spoil the moment, so the thought remained in his head.

  “And if that bloody Mrs. Leadbetter’s bringing her…” he snapped, waving his finger in front of her.

  “No, no she’s not,” Sarah interrupted, “it’s a Mrs. Glover, and she sounded really nice on the phone.”

  “Mmm, don’t remember the old witch mentioning a Mrs. Glover, do you?” he asked, frowning.

  “What? Oh, no, but then I wasn’t really listening to her most of the time, waffling on about totally unimportant issues, and asking those embarrassing questions about our private life.

  But she might have mentioned her,” Sarah answered.

  “You mean questions about our sex life,” he laughed pulling her to him, “now let me see, what did we tell her?” David kissed her neck softly. Laughing, Sarah kissed the top of his head.

  “Not now, Romeo, I’m just too excited.”

  “So am I.” He laughed, placing her hand on his growing manhood.

  Slapping him gently on the shoulder, she said, “You get worse, I swear to God.”

  “What time will she be here?” he asked, sighing heavily as though scolded for misbehaving.

  “About lunchtime!” Sarah shouted back as she left the room.

  The car pulled into the drive and stopped. There, in front of them, stood Canewdon Manor. A truly magnificent building, that loomed at the far end of a long sweeping gravel and concrete drive. The lawns either side looked like velvet and the flowers, in an array of colours, looked almost edible. The sweet scent drifted through the open window of the car. Mrs. Glover sniffed loudly, and then looked into her rear view mirror.

  “Welcome home, Isobel, welcome home.”

  Putting the car in gear, she slowly set off up the drive toward the house. Isobel stared out of the window, the sight of the house bringing a smile to her lips for the first time since leaving London. The house seemed to groan at the sight of the little girl staring up at it. It seemed to cry 'Welcome!'

  As the car came to a standstill outside the big, wooden double doors, Sarah ran outside to greet Isobel and Mrs. Glover.

  Getting out of the car and walking round to the other side, Mrs. Glover opened the door for Isobel, before turning to Sarah and accepting her outstretched hand. Her tall thin frame belittled Sarah’s, making her appear even more childlike.

  Her stern face carried a thin smile and Sarah thought she looked really sinister in the black dress that reached her ankles. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun that perched perfectly on the back of her head and she reminded Sarah of the nannies that used to care for Victorian children and she stifled a laugh by disguising it as a small cough. Isobel climbed from the back seat, her eyes transfixed to the house. Kneeling down in front of the little girl,

  Sarah smiled.

  “Hello, Isobel, I’m Sarah, and that’s David,” she pointed to where he was now talking to Mrs. Glover. “We are so glad you’ve come to stay and we hope you will be very happy here.” Sarah stared at Isobel and a frown found its way across her forehead. Isobel somehow looked familiar, and as quickly as the thought appeared, logic told her that it was impossible and it disappeared just as quickly.

  Isobel looked at Sarah, her blue eyes burrowing into her; the sun caught her long black hair, giving it a bluish tint.

  “Thank you, I’m sure I’ll be very happy here, in fact I know I will.” She flung her arms around Sarah’s neck and hugged her. The house groaned and Isobel looked up at the house over Sarah’s shoulder and continued, “it feels like home already.”

  No-one saw Isobel’s sweet face momentarily change to the hideous being of every person’s worst nightmare.

  •

  Sarah was pleased to climb into bed. It had been a long and exhausting day, but she had enjoyed running around after Isobel. It was like all her dreams had come true at once.

  David walked into the room, his body still glistening from the water droplets left from his shower. He looked so handsome, his dark hair, broad shoulders and strong arms. Sarah felt the familiar stirring inside, even after all these years together the longing for him was as intense as the day they had first met. David looked at her and said, “Well then, make-believe mum, how're you feeling after your first day of parenthood?”

  Sarah smiled. “Oh, David, it’s all I imagined it would be.

  Isobel is such a good girl. She’s been no bother today has she?

  And she’s so pretty too, don’t you think? Her long black hair is so thick and the colour is like that of a raven, almost a bluish tint to it... and her eyes, the deepest sapphire blue I think I've ever seen, and…”

  David laughed. “Wow! Slow down; don’t forget to breathe, love.”

  Sarah smiled and threw a pillow at him.

  “Yes, she is beautiful, and yes, she was very well behaved, and you,” he went over to her, “are glowing and more beautiful than I think I have ever seen you look.” He bent and kissed her, before climbing into bed.

  “It’s funny though, I’m sure I’ve seen her somewhere before. I feel I know her and she seems to know this house. She’s had no trouble finding her way around; don’t you think that’s strange?”

  “No, not really. She’s young and she likes you. That’s where the feeling of knowing her comes from. I think you’re both comfortable with each other, nothing more, nothing less.” Turning to her he said, “But I do think that social worker was a bit weird though, what was her name?”

  “Mrs. Glover,” Sarah answered.

  “Yes, that’s it. Strange woman if ever I’ve met one, the way she fussed over Isobel. Not how I’d pictured a social worker to act, and the way they looked at each other when they thought we weren’t looking. It was like they could read each others minds.

  Real eerie that.” David shuddered at the recollection.

  “Don’t be silly, they have obviously spent a lot of time together, and she probably wanted to know Isobel was feeling okay about being left with us. I thought she seemed quite nice, eccentric maybe, but nice.”

  Sarah lent over, turned off the bedside light and yawned loudly. She laid her head down and could feel the comfort of sleep seep into her body, relaxing her every muscle. Her eyes closed.

  •

  Sarah felt David lower himself on top of her, and she responded sleepily. She could feel his hands car
essing her breasts and her nipples hardened. She parted her legs and felt David slide between them, his erect member penetrating her. She sighed heavily, bringing her hips up to meet him. They moved together, the rhythm increasing with their passion; Sarah felt they were as one and she smiled. David kissed her neck and moved his lips down towards her budding nipples, biting gently.

  Sarah felt him lift up; pushing his hips down and, for the first time, opened her eyes and looked up at him. The scream froze in her throat. The hideous being lying on top of her, inside her, wasn’t David. Its long, unkempt black hair stuck to its face as it stared down at her. Its yellow eyes bore deep in to her soul. It arched its back and laughed.

  Sarah screamed, sitting upright in bed. She began thrashing her arms around as if to beat the creature off of her.

  David woke, he grabbed her arm and Sarah screamed again.

  “Hey, hey it’s me,” he said, “what’s the matter? Are you okay?”

  Sarah looked at him, his face now replaced the awful image that had just been there, and she began to immediately cry.

  “Oh, it was horrible.”

  “Sshhh now, you’ve had a bad dream, love, that’s all. Can I get you a drink of water or something?” He reached over and turned the bedside lamp on. The light instantly illuminated the room, casting the usual shadows. Sarah felt too afraid to get out of bed, fearing the creature was still there, hiding, and her eyes frantically darted around, searching. She felt dirty, violated. Had it really been just a dream?

  She felt moist between her legs and felt ashamed. Sliding out of bed, she walked to the door and, without looking back, she said, “No, its okay, David, I’ll get a glass of water, you go back to sleep.” She quietly closed the door behind her.

  As she approached the stairs, Sarah could hear music coming from Isobel’s room. She stood by the door and listened. Suddenly, she heard the same hideous laugh she had heard in her dream; she burst into Isobel’s room fearing the child could be in danger. The room was empty though, apart from the sleeping child.

  Sarah quickly checked that the French doors at the far end of the room were locked and then looked out on to the balcony, shielding her eyes to see through the thick glass. There was no-one there.

  She walked over to Isobel, and re-arranged the covers to keep her warm. She could still hear music, and looked around. There on the little dressing table, at the foot of the bed, was a small wooden music box. Its lid was open. The nursery rhyme 'Girls and Boys come out to play' softly played.

  A memory stirred in her mind and was forgotten as quickly as it was remembered. Sarah shook her head lightly, closed the lid on the box and the room was once more in silence.

  'How did that start playing?' she thought. Quietly, she left the room and closed the door. Isobel opened her eyes and a yellow glow bore into the darkness, illuminating her evil face. She laughed and the air in the room turned cold.

  Chapter Three.

  The autumn sun shone through the kitchen window. Sarah looked out at the garden, a sight that always warmed her heart. But this morning a cloud hung over her, a cloud that carried upset and dread.

  She hadn’t slept last night, not after her horrific nightmare. She shook her head to dispel the image that had tried to plague her continuously. David and Isobel came into the kitchen holding hands and laughing. Sarah forced herself to smile as she kissed them both on the cheek and then asked Isobel what she would like for breakfast. A minute later, Sarah placed a bowl of cereal in front of Isobel and smiled.

  “Did you sleep well, honey?”

  “Oh, yes, thank you.” Isobel answered, and looking up at Sarah she continued, “Did you?”

  Sarah turned away. “Yes thank you, Isobel. David would you like some coffee?”'

  Why did she ask me if I had slept well? Maybe I woke her after all when I went into her room,' she thought.

  Looking up from the morning paper, David nodded his acceptance of coffee, and then turned to Isobel. “And what have you got there, darling?” His eyes had travelled to the small and scruffy book she was holding.

  “It’s my photo album, would you like to see?” Eagerly Isobel jumped from her chair and rounded the table to stand next to David.

  “Yes, honey, that would be lovely.” He placed his arm around her shoulder and gently pulled her to his side. Slowly Isobel laid her album on the table and opened it to the first picture.

  “This is a picture of my mum, before she became ill.”

  David looked at the photo. She looked sad and frightened. Her pale complexion and sad, haunting eyes stared back at him. David shuddered; it was like she was calling to him. Forcing himself to smile he said, “She’s beautiful, Isobel, you’re like her you know, the same pretty face.”

  Isobel smiled back, “And this is my dad, before he went away.” She fingered the photo gently, outlining the picture in front of her. Again David shuddered, the man staring out at him, his face was almost identical to Isobel’s, only older. The same jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes, eyes so cold looking, they made the hairs on the back of his neck stand to attention. His smile was twisted and bitter. David thought to himself that this man would be a force to be reckoned with. He forced himself to look away and, keeping his expression from Isobel, he looked over his shoulder to Sarah.

  “Hey, love, come and see Isobel’s parents.”

  Sarah turned to the table, the forced smile still painted on he lips and the coffee pot in her hand. She looked over David’s shoulder and froze. The coffee pot slipped from her grasp and smashed on the floor, spraying hot coffee everywhere.

  'It’s him!' she thought. 'It’s him! That man, that horrible beast from my dream. God help me!' She began to shake violently all over, even her teeth were chattering. David jumped up and grabbed hold of her.

  “Sarah, whatever is the matter? Here, sit down, love.

  You’re shaking and you’ve gone deathly white.”

  He sat Sarah down, she looked at him, the tears trying to escape, but she fought to keep them at bay.

  “Isobel, love, can you get Sarah a glass of water please, while I clear up this coffee, there’s a good girl. Now, mind your feet on this broken glass.”

  Isobel walked to the sink, looked out on to the garden and smiled. No one saw her. After Sarah had stopped shaking and the colour returned to her cheeks, David led her upstairs to their room, leaving Isobel to get washed and dressed.

  “Would you like to lie down for a while, love? You scared me there for a moment,”

  “No, no, I’m fine, David, honestly. I don’t know what came over me.” She tried to laugh.

  “I do,” he said, “It was that bloody photo of her dad. My God, what a nasty piece of work he looks, made me shudder. I hope I never meet him, don’t look right in the bloody head,” he whispered.

  Feeling herself relax slightly because David too had felt uneasy at the photo, she agreed with him, and she felt happy that she didn’t have to explain her reaction to him, not yet anyway. She had to get her own head around the fact that she had dreamt of making love to a man she had never seen before, let alone a man who turned out to be the father of the little girl they were now looking after.

  David was right, he was a mad looking man and she knew from her dream that he was pure evil.

  Chapter Four.

  In the village, it was a typical Saturday morning. Villagers bustled around getting their shopping and the children played on the village green. Teenagers hung around outside the small café, with nothing better to do.

  Sarah walked into Goodwin’s, the butchers. Mrs. Goodwin smiled warmly. She was a large, jolly woman, with permanent rosy cheeks. Her large bosom rested on her stomach and seemed to dance when she laughed, shuddering her whole body as well.

  “Good morning to you, Sarah, what a lovely day it is today. Now, what can I get for you my dear?” she beamed.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Goodwin, it is indeed a lovely day.

  Can I have three of your finest pork chops, please?�
� Sarah smiled back, feeling happier in herself now that she was out in the fresh air.

  “Three you say. Why? Expecting a visitor are we?” Mrs. Goodwin enquired.

  Sarah laughed. “No, not really. I’m surprised you haven’t already heard ... David and I are fostering a little girl. They’ll be here in a minute; you’ll be able to meet her then.”

  “Why, how lovely. Jacob, did you hear that? David and Sarah are fostering a little girl! Come out here! Sarah said David would be here in a minute with the little mite!” she called over her shoulder to the cutting room out back.

  Jacob Goodwin had lived in the village all his life, as had his father and his father’s father. And so it went on, generations of the Goodwin’s had lived in Canewdon since time began, or so it seemed.

  David and Isobel came into the store a minute later.

  “Morning to you, Mrs. Goodwin. I’d like you to meet Isobel.” he smiled.

  “Why, good morning to you too, David, and this must be Isobel? My, aren’t you a pretty one.”

  “Jacob, come and meet Isobel!” she shouted back to her husband. Jacob came through to the shop front carrying a meat cleaver.

  “Morning to you, Sarah, David.” He smiled, looking over at Mrs. Goodwin, then continued, “now what you hollerin' about, woman?”

  “We’d like you to meet Isobel,” Sarah said gently, pushing her forward.

  “Isobel, say hello to Mr. Goodwin, his family are one of the oldest in the village.”

  Isobel looked up at him. “Really. Then I’m very pleased to meet you, Mr. Goodwin.”

  Jacob looked at the pretty face smiling up at him and smiled.

  Suddenly, the smile froze. 'Did her eyes just change colour?' he thought. Before he could dismiss the question, her face seemed to change in front of him. He looked up at Sarah, David and his wife; they were all smiling at him. They hadn’t seen her. They hadn’t seen her face change to that ... gruesome thing.