The Lake House

by Christie Barlow

  After cutting the engine, Roman pulled on his waterproofs before he ventured outside and secured the boat. Within seconds he was back on the boat and drenched. ‘It’s a short walk to the restaurant but it’s brutal out there. Don’t put your umbrellas up because they won’t last two minutes in this wind. Here…’ Roman handed out ponchos. ‘You can dispose of them once inside.’

  Everyone was grateful and even though it was only a short walk across the jetty, they really were likely going to get soaked.

  Just as they were about to make a run for it, Roman stopped Ella. ‘I forgot to say, there was a man asking after you on the last crossing.’

  ‘Really, for me? Did he give you his name or why he wanted me?’

  Roman shook his head. ‘Maybe it’s something to do with the event? He’s waiting inside for you.’

  ‘Okay, thanks, see you later.’ Ella looked at them all. ‘Are we ready? Run!’ She laughed, holding her hood as she ran for her life along the jetty. They all took off and Ella ducked her head under the veranda of The Lakehouse just as a tremendous clap of thunder rolled through the air. Once inside, they peeled off the wet ponchos and Wilbur disposed of them before handing them each a glass of champagne and showing them to their table.

  ‘I could get used to this!’ Felicity beamed. ‘This is the life, champagne and fine dining.’

  ‘Here’s a copy of the set menu.’ Ella handed them out from the middle of the table. Gianni had prepared an exquisite meal and every table was sampling the same delicious food so that Gianni could ensure that all the food was piping hot.

  ‘This is food fit for a queen,’ remarked Ella, running her eyes over the dishes. ‘Oh Wilbur, Roman mentioned someone was asking after me? Do you know who?’

  ‘It’s the gentleman just walking through the doors from the bathroom now.’

  Ella stood up and glanced over.

  ‘Jeez, who is that man? He’s absolutely drop-dead gorgeous and such a snappy dresser too,’ exclaimed Isla.

  Ella was frozen to the spot, she felt sick to the stomach. She’d imagined this moment over and over in her head but had never expected it to actually happen. She was suddenly paralysed to the core.

  ‘Are you okay, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.’ Callie touched her arm. ‘What is it?’

  Ella’s intake of breath could be heard all around the restaurant. She felt like her legs were going to buckle underneath her at any time. Her pulse was racing, her heart thumping and with wide eyes Ella turned towards Callie. ‘It’s Alex.’

  Ella wasn’t sure whose jaw had hit the floor the hardest – hers or Callie’s.

  ‘What the hell do you want me to do?’ whispered Callie, under her breath as Ella let go of the chair and took a step in his direction. She could feel her whole body shaking.

  Ella swivelled her head round and whispered. ‘Act normal like you know nothing but call the police.’

  Callie and the gang were amazing, they began talking amongst themselves acting like nothing was going on and everything was normal, although it was far from it. Standing on the other side of the room, Alex wore the sickliest smile she’d ever seen. She couldn’t quite believe the nerve of this man who had stolen everything from her. How had she ever fallen in love with him? She had no clue because right at this very minute he was making every inch of her body crawl.

  ‘Hello, Ella; I bet you didn’t expect to see me tonight?’

  Ella had never expected to see him any night ever again.

  ‘I think I’ve got some explaining to do. I’ve ordered you your favourite drink.’ He bent forward to kiss her cheek but immediately Ella took a step back.

  ‘Don’t be mad, Ells. I can explain everything. Oh, and you look stunning, by the way – beautiful as ever.’

  Ella used to love it when he called her Ells, but now it grated on her.

  ‘Well that’s good, because I’m all ears, and tequila was never my favourite drink, it was yours. I hate tequila.’ She pushed the glass away from her. ‘I hate it almost as much as I hate you. You’ve stolen a lot of money from me, Alex… if that really is your name?’ Ella wasn’t holding back.

  Alex seemed to brush over it like it wasn’t of any importance.

  ‘Don’t be daft, all your money is safe. My brother’s business is on the up, thanks to you, Ells.’

  Ella raised an eyebrow.

  Was this really happening? Ella felt like she was stuck in the middle of some weird dream and any second she would wake up, but somehow, she didn’t think she was going to be that lucky. She recognised his smell, the tiny scar above his eyebrow and the tattoo on his wrist. It was definitely him and this was real. She was in complete shock.

  ‘We need to talk; you can’t even begin to understand how sorry I am.’

  ‘Sorry? I thought you were lying dead somewhere, hit by a car, a train. I had no clue what the hell had happened to you.’ Ella could feel the anger rising inside and she wanted to lash out, and shake him, hit him with all of her might, and Ella had never been violent in her all of her life. The only reason she didn’t was because she was trying to remain calm until the police arrived and could arrest him. Maybe then there might be a chance of getting some of her inheritance back, at least.

  Even though her heart felt like it was going to pound through her chest at any given second, Ella had her wits about her. She was wiser now and she wasn’t going to fall for his charms or that deep, intense look he gave her that used to turn her legs to jelly. She just prayed the police would hurry up.

  Even though Ella hated tequila she was tempted to swig the whole glass back. ‘So, what happened to you?’ Ella couldn’t wait to hear whatever story he’d concocted. ‘You went to work and that was that.’

  He tilted his head to one side. ‘It’s been terrible, Ells. I must have had some sort of breakdown. All I know is, I couldn’t cope anymore. I felt like the world was closing in around me and I couldn’t breathe. Work was off the scale, the pressure of more shifts at the hospital, I couldn’t keep up with the schedule.’

  Who the hell did he think he was kidding? Ella was shaking her head in disbelief, yet trying to keep every emotion under control. He wasn’t even a doctor. Did he think she’d just sat back and never reported his disappearance to the police? What exactly was his game, because he was taking a huge risk turning up here.

  ‘I felt numb, like my life was unmanageable,’ he continued.

  Ella wanted to stand up, shout ‘Bravo, give this man an Oscar,’ but instead she said, ‘You poor thing. I can’t believe this.’ She saw Alex’s mouth hitch into a tiny smile. Did he honestly think she was falling for this baloney?

  ‘I had a breakdown, checked into a centre, had to get myself right.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that, Alex. And did you not think to ring the woman you were living with and engaged to?’

  ‘I was a broken man; I didn’t want you seeing me that way. All I can do is beg for forgiveness. I love you, Ells, and I’ve missed you.’

  ‘How did you find me?’ Ella was curious how he’d ended up here.

  ‘You’re famous, all over the news for organising this prestigious event that’s going on right here. Dolores Henderson is a huge star. I’m so proud of you! She’s a friend of yours too? It’s amazing. I always said you were destined for great things.’

  ‘No, you didn’t.’

  Ella’s bluntness didn’t deter Alex’s sob story in any way, shape or form.

  ‘I want a part of this life with you. I want us back. We were in love, about to get married. We are two of a kind, Ella, destined to be with each other.’

  Ella had a million and one questions whirling around in her head. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Callie using the landline behind the bar.

  ‘Will you excuse me for a second, I really need to use the bathroom.’ As Ella stood up a fork of lightning rocketed through the sky, lighting up the windowpanes. The thunder boomed almost instantly and the lights inside The Lakehouse began to flicker. The whole ro
om gasped.

  Flynn was quick to appear and address the room. ‘Firstly, thank you all for coming and braving the weather just to help us out this evening. We really do appreciate it. The weather warnings are severe for the next hour, so if there are any problems with the electricity, can we ask you all to stay in your seats? Hopefully that will not be the case and the weather will calm down, but we will be bringing candles out to every table, so don’t panic. Our waiters and waitresses will be filling up your glasses and your first course will be out very soon. In the meantime try and relax.’

  As Ella began to walk away, Alex grabbed her wrist. ‘What’s happened was unfortunate, but I can provide proof from the centre I’ve been staying at. I was ill, Ella. I know this is all a shock but it’s the truth. I still love you. We can make this work. I know we can.’

  For a split second Ella actually wondered if he was telling her the truth. He seemed sincere, and if he could provide proof? But immediately her head batted those feelings away. She’d been in love with who she thought he was. He wasn’t even a doctor, the police had said so, he didn’t even work at the hospital. And surely, he could have been in touch to let her know he was okay, at least. Why was he back? Had he thought she’d landed on her feet again, mixing with the rich and famous, and wanted a part of it? Ella just had no clue who he really was. All she knew was that she no longer felt in love with this man; she was in fear of what he was capable of and she needed to take control.

  ‘Let me just use the bathroom and we can talk.’ Ella was thankful she sounded calm, as all she really wanted to do was get out of there and let the police investigate the situation.

  Her whole body was beginning to shake as she walked towards the bathroom, and the second the door closed behind her she slumped against the wall and tried to control her breathing. Almost immediately the door was flung open and Ella brought her hands up to her chest and gasped.

  ‘You frightened the life out of me.’

  Isla was standing in front of her. ‘They’ve sent me, as it may look odd if all of us pile in here. Are you okay? What’s going on?’

  Feeling shocked to the core, Ella’s whole body was shaking, and she couldn’t make herself stop. ‘What’s going on is, Dr Alex James is not dead; he’s sitting in the restaurant claiming he’s had some sort of mental breakdown, and he forgot who he was or where he was, and now he’s seen me on the news it’s jogged his memory of who I am, and he’s still in love with me.’ Ella barely took a breath.

  ‘Are you kidding me? I suppose he’s forgotten what he’s done with all your money too? Oh, and the brand-new car he drove away in?’

  ‘He said my money is safe.’

  ‘And he’s here to give it back to you?’

  ‘I doubt that very much, but that’s the only reason I’m not screaming blue murder.’ Ella held out a trembling hand to Isla. ‘Where are the police?’

  ‘Dealing with lots of emergencies due to the storm, but they are on their way. You just have to keep calm. Nothing is going to happen to you whilst we are here. We’ll sit tight until the police arrive,’ reassured Isla.

  ‘I feel sick to my stomach, I need to get out of here.’

  Suddenly the lights in the bathroom flickered then blacked out altogether.

  ‘It’s the weather, the storm is brutal. The power is out,’ said Isla, opening up the bathroom door to see Roman being blown through the back door of the restaurant by a huge gust of wind. He clutched the hood to his coat tightly and then pulled it down when he was safely inside. He shook himself, and raindrops dripped from the end of his nose.

  ‘It’s nasty out there.’

  The storm sounded menacing with the wind howling and the rain lashing against the windows.

  ‘Roman, can you take me home? I need to get out of here.’ Even though Ella didn’t relish the thought of stepping outside, she knew she had to get away from Alex.

  ‘Is Gianni’s cooking that bad?’ Roman joked, but realised this was no joking matter when he saw the look on Ella’s face and sensed something was immediately wrong.

  ‘What’s going on? Are you okay?’ He looked directly at Ella, then touched her arm.

  ‘Far from okay, I just need to get out of here. I’ll explain when I’m on the boat. Is that okay?’ Ella turned towards Isla. ‘He’s going to realise I’m not coming back in a minute, if he hasn’t already, but there’s going to be no way he can exit from the restaurant without the boat, so fingers crossed, the police will pick him up.’

  ‘The police?’ Roman’s eyes widened.

  ‘Just get her on that boat and away from here.’ Isla gave her a quick hug. ‘Now get yourself out the back entrance and message me when you are home and safe.’

  Ella nodded and quickly took a coat off a hook in the staff corridor. ‘I apologise in advance to whoever’s coat this is,’ she said, sliding her arms inside it and pulling the hood up.

  ‘I just need to slip these invoices on to Flynn’s desk for the taxi boat supplies, and I’ll be with you in two minutes. You make your way to the boat,’ Roman said and Ella nodded.

  The second Ella stepped outside, the wind was pushing her harder and harder and attempting to lift her off her feet, but she held on firmly to her hood and fought against it with all of her might as she struggled to put one foot in front of the other and clung to the rail of the jetty. In the short walk to the boat, Ella worked every muscle in her legs as the rain stung her cheeks. The eerie sounds of the gusting winds were swirling around the cliffs. As she stepped on to the boat, the water was slapping against the sides. She stumbled towards the middle of the vessel, but then steadied herself as she got used to the boat’s rocking. Soaked to the skin, she made her way to the captain’s cubby-hole, a small private area at the back of the boat, in search of a towel, and began to dry her face. Roman would be on deck in a second and he’d get her home safe and sound in no time at all.

  Thankfully, much to Ella’s relief, she heard the engine fire up and the boat began to move.

  She quickly shut the cubby-hole door behind her and made her way up the centre of the boat towards Roman. But as Ella stared at the figure at the helm, her heart hammered against her ribcage as she recognised the man’s physique. ‘Alex,’ she muttered. ‘What the hell are you doing?’ Ella’s voice was fraught, her knuckles were white as she gripped the seat hard.

  Alex spun round and pulled down his hood. ‘Let’s take our own trip down memory lane, shall we Ella? We were so good together and we can be again.’ The menacing look on his face shook Ella to the core.

  ‘You are deluded. The only reason you’re back is to try and screw more money out of me. Everything was a game to you.’ With all of her strength Ella was mustering up for a fight. ‘And what the hell do you think you are doing? The police are already on their way, so you won’t be getting far.’

  For a moment Alex’s face seemed to soften. ‘We just need to talk. You just need to listen to me.’

  ‘And stealing a boat is going to make me listen to you?’

  ‘I had no choice! I saw you running from me. That’s not kind of you, Ella.’

  Ella recognised his choice of words. When they had been together he was always telling her how kind he was, how he’d do anything for anyone. Now, he was trying to manipulate her into thinking she wasn’t kind.

  ‘Is lying about your identity being kind? Lying about your occupation? Pretending you work at the City Hospital when you don’t? It beggars belief that you would walk out of that hospital entrance dressed up as a doctor, pretending you were something you weren’t.’ Ella was not holding back. ‘And here was me, believing every word. You made me love you, you used the death of my parents to get close to me. You planned it all and stole my inheritance, and now you’re back… for what? Because you think Dolores is going to give me money, or I’m suddenly going to be rich and famous? Who are you, Alex, and what are you? Because you are not a decent human being!’

  Ella could see his knuckles turning white as he gripped the
steering wheel. ‘You were an easy target.’ He looked over his shoulder. ‘I sat at that bistro for weeks, watching you. Think what we could do together now though.’

  ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

  ‘Flynn Carter, millionaire. Dolores Henderson must be worth a few bob, too. I want in.’

  ‘In on what? You are delirious, sick in the head – these are my friends!’

  This was a man she’d once shared her life with and what she thought was a future, and now she wished with all of her heart that she’d never clapped eyes on him.

  Alex pushed the lever and the boat picked up speed, crashing furiously against the waves. Ella’s life actually passed before her eyes. She felt dizzy, scared, but knew somehow that she had to get off this boat.

  Ella looked towards the cold black water that was thrashing against the boat. She had no clue how far away from shore they were, but all she could think about was saving herself. She screamed as the boat jolted and hit the jagged rocks.

  ‘Just take me back, Alex! Everyone will already be looking for me, they will have seen the boat sail away!’

  But Alex wasn’t listening, his face had darkened.

  Something in the distance caught Ella’s eye; lights bouncing towards them, another boat. Alex was driving the boat so hard, she was struggling to stay on her feet as water splashed over the sides. She took another look over her shoulder and couldn’t gauge how far away the other boat was or whether it was actually heading in their direction, she just prayed it was.

  Remembering the emergency stop button that Roman had shown her the first day she sailed across the river, she looked towards the dashboard. Her heart dropped as she realised this was a different boat but as her eyes frantically flicked up and down, she finally spotted a red round circular button.

  ‘You didn’t have to call the police, we could have worked this out, and because you’ve done that you’ve given me no choice.’

  Ella looked into the distance. It was pitch black, but she could just about make out the coastline and realised Alex was heading directly towards the rocks. Ella edged her way forward and remembered Roman had told her not to press the emergency stop button if you were going at some speed, as it would throw you off the boat like a rag doll. Ella decided she’d rather take her chances with that than at the hands of Alex or being smashed against the rocks.