The Lake House

by Christie Barlow

  Preparing for the worst, Ella took her chance. She lunged forward and pressed the red button with all of her might.

  They were both hurled forward with force. Alex lost his footing and rolled out on to the main deck. Ella’s head smashed against the window, and she felt a sharp pain followed by a dull ache, then a trickle of blood running down her face. Alex was dazed and Ella attempted to stand up. He was shouting at her but all she could do was concentrate on locking the door to the glass cabin. Her fingers fumbled as she placed the fallen key in the door and turned it. Alex’s face was now pressed up against the glass, his fist thumping against the door.

  Trying to calm her beating heart, she saw the lights on the water moving closer and closer. Soon, they were at the side of her. Much to Ella’s relief she saw the coastguard, the police and Roman. Thank God! All Ella could do was fall on to a seat and cry.

  Within seconds the police swarmed the boat and arrested Alex. He stared at her through the glass as they took him away on the other boat. Ella’s whole body shuddered, and she cursed the day he’d ever come into her life.

  Taking a deep breath, she stepped straight into the arms of Roman, who held her tight. In shock, Ella sobbed and sobbed.

  ‘It’s okay, I’ve got you,’ he murmured, kissing the top of her head softly.

  Standing there, Ella felt mentally and physically battered and pulled away when she heard a voice.

  ‘Please can you confirm your name?’ There were three policemen standing at the side of her. Immediately one wrapped her up in a huge foil-like blanket. She could feel her whole body shaking uncontrollably.

  ‘Ella… Ella Johnson.’

  ‘Hi Ella, I’m Sergeant Moss, you’re in shock and we are just going to take a minute to sit and get a warm drink inside you.’

  Roman placed her hand in his and led her to the middle section of the boat. Another police officer handed Ella a drink whilst Sergeant Moss sat opposite her and twizzled the knob on the top of his radio. Roman never let go of her hand.

  ‘I can confirm Ella Johnson is found and we are going to be heading back to the mainland in a couple of minutes. Please can you have an ambulance waiting on shore to take Ella to the hospital?’

  ‘I don’t need to go to hospital, I’m fine.’ All Ella wanted to do was go home and sleep off this nightmare.

  ‘You are going to hospital and I’m coming with you,’ reassured Roman. ‘No arguing.’

  ‘I’m too cold to argue and my head hurts.’ Ella lifted her hand to her head and felt the stickiness of the blood. ‘My head really hurts.’

  ‘You’ve got a nasty cut and will probably need stitches.’

  Ella closed her eyes, feeling dizzy and a little nauseous.

  ‘Try and keep your eyes open Ella, we need you to stay as alert as possible.’ With the boat rocking up and down on the water, Roman slipped his arm around Ella’s shoulder. ‘Rest on me but keep those eyes open.’

  ‘I’ll try.’

  ‘You will try, because I’m not sure whether you’ve got the gist yet, Ella Johnson, but I kind of want you to stay around.’

  ‘Sir.’ Roman looked up at the sound of the police officer’s voice. ‘Do you know how to drive this boat?’ asked Sargent Moss.

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Okay, can I ask you to take the helm? We will sit with Ella whilst you get us back to shore.’

  As Roman walked into the driver’s cabin, something caught Ella’s eye on the floor. She bent down and picked up a mobile phone. She stared at the screensaver – a picture of herself and Alex wrapped up in each other’s arms on their very first date. It seemed to her he was completely disturbed and had no clue what was real or not. And whilst she might have lost her inheritance, tonight she had very nearly also lost her life.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ella woke up and for a second wondered where the hell she was, until she saw the wires protruding in every direction and saw that she was hooked up to a machine at the side of her bed, bleeping away.

  Thankfully she’d stopped shivering and knew she was lucky to be alive. Ella remembered arriving at the hospital and after she’d undergone some tests the doctor confirmed she had mild hypothermia. She had a line of stitches across her forehead and a vague recollection that Callie had been by her side at some point, but her head hurt that much, she’d just drifted off to sleep.

  Lying there in her own private room, Ella had no clue what time of day it was, but hearing a soft knock on the door, she looked up to see the nurse walking towards her with a hot mug of tea. ‘How’s your head this morning? Would you like some painkillers?’ she asked, looking at the chart. The nurse kindly helped Ella to sit up and plumped up her pillows.

  ‘Yes, please, it’s like a dull ache,’ replied Ella, sipping her tea.

  ‘You’ve had quite an adventure, haven’t you?’

  ‘One I could have done without,’ Ella said as she closed her eyes for a brief moment.

  ‘We need to keep you in for the time being. You’ve had a huge wallop and we just need to err on the side of caution.’

  ‘What time is it?’ asked Ella.

  ‘Just gone 9am.’

  The door opened and Ella looked over to see Roman walk into the room holding up a carrier bag and wearing his trademark smile. ‘I was going to bring you flowers but apparently that’s not allowed, so I’ve brought you fluffy PJs and socks… plain white trainer socks, even though I was tempted to bring monster socks and a bobble hat to keep the heat in. And I also brought these…’ He pulled out a huge bar of chocolate, a flask of tea and pile of magazines.

  Ella was impressed. ‘You’ve thought of everything, thank you.’

  ‘Callie sorted out the PJs. I’m here until 10.30am, then Callie is going to take over the second shift.’

  ‘I have just the best friends,’ Ella smiled and took the carrier bag off Roman and immediately opened the chocolate and offered some to him. ‘Thank God for the PJs.’

  Pulling her blankets around her chest, the nurse checked Ella’s pulse, temperature and noted them down on the chart at the end of her bed before leaving the room, while Roman sat down on the blue plastic chair at the side of her bed.

  ‘That was quite a night. I don’t even know how Gianni’s food went down.’

  Roman was looking at her with such admiration. ‘You are amazing.’ He smiled warmly at her. ‘And I mean amazing, pressing the emergency button, locking yourself in the cabin.’

  ‘I must have been bad in my past life,’ she joked, while taking her painkillers from the small plastic cup the nurse had just handed to her. ‘I don’t feel amazing and I know I don’t look amazing. I don’t even want to go near a mirror.’

  ‘War wounds, a few stitches. They will soon be gone.’ There was silence for a second. ‘Ella, this is all my fault. I left the key in the boat, which I know is a complete no-no, and if I hadn’t, you wouldn’t be lying here. I’m so sorry.’ Roman looked troubled.

  Ella reached across for his hand. ‘Honestly, don’t worry about that. I think it was a blessing in disguise, this way the police caught him, thankfully.’ She took a sip of water from the glass on her bedside cabinet. ‘You know, I’d never thought I’d ever set eyes on him again, and there he was, as bold as brass, sitting in The Lakehouse without a care in the world.’ Ella took a breath. ‘For a second I actually thought he was going to drive us into the rocks,’ her voice faltered, and she felt the emotion well up inside. Roman leant across and laid his hand on top of hers. ‘But he didn’t, and you were so brave. Have the police been back in yet?’

  Ella shook her head. ‘I just want to know who the hell he really is and why did he come back a second time?’

  ‘To chance his arm? Who knows how these people tick? It’s beyond me. But he’s arrested now and hopefully charged.’

  ‘Let’s hope so. How have I managed to get myself kidnapped at my age?’

  Roman gave a little chuckle. ‘It does sound funny, being kidnapped at your age.’

 
‘It’s just all so strange. The day he went missing, I was completed devastated, I thought he was dead and my life was over. And then the police discovered he’d lied about most things, maxed out my credit cards and conned me into handing over my inheritance. And now I actually wish he was dead, which is certainly not good-spirited of me.’

  ‘In these circumstances I think I’d feel exactly the same.’

  ‘I lived with this man for over a year and I don’t even know his proper name. He was caring, loving and always made me feel like I was the only girl in the world. I felt lucky to have found him but now, looking back, it wasn’t like that at all and I’m not feeling at all lucky now.’

  ‘I honestly don’t know what to say, except it’s not your fault. These kind of people are professionals. I bet when he saw you on the TV organising an event for the world-famous Dolores Henderson, he got greedy, thinking there was another con opportunity. But you already saw him for what he is.’

  ‘Thank God, they’ve arrested him.’

  ‘They’ll soon find out his real identity and at least you’ll have some closure. It doesn’t help losing your money, though.’

  ‘But I have my life.’

  ‘That’s it, focus on the positives.’

  ‘I came to Heartcross for a fresh start and it’s all gone wrong again.’ Ella let out a sigh.

  ‘You aren’t thinking of leaving, are you? Because if you are, you really do have brain damage!’ teased Roman, giving her a warm smile. ‘And look how far you have come in the past few weeks. Every event manager in Scotland would have wanted your gig, and it’s going to be one of the glitziest nights in showbusiness.’

  ‘No pressure!’

  ‘And apart from that, I don’t want you to leave. I’ve kind of got used to having you around. If you leave you will be missed.’

  ‘But you will have a quieter life.’ Ella tilted her head to one side and gave him a lopsided smile.

  ‘Maybe I don’t want a quieter life.’ Roman didn’t take his eyes off her for a second. ‘Last night, when I saw the boat was leaving, I can’t even describe the feeling in the pit of my stomach. I felt physically sick. All I kept thinking was, if anyone hurt you, I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.’ Roman paused and took a deep breath. ‘I want you in my life, Ella Johnson, and I know we’ve both been through the mill, but I’m hoping we can look after each other.’

  Ella narrowed her eyes and smiled. ‘Are you asking me out on a date, Roman Docherty?’

  ‘I am indeed.’

  Ella looked him right in the eye. ‘Only on one condition.’

  ‘Anything.’

  ‘We don’t go on a boat.’

  Roman laughed. ‘Deal.’

  Hearing a knock on the door, they both looked up to see two of the police officers from last night standing in front of them. ‘Can we come in?’

  Ella nodded; she was hoping they’d discovered the real identity of Alex James and they were going to lock him up and throw away the key.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ Sergeant Moss asked.

  Ella swallowed back a wave of sadness that threatened to wash over her. When she spoke her voice slightly wobbled. ‘I don’t know why, but when people ask me how I am, I feel like bursting into tears.’

  ‘It’ll be the shock,’ replied Sergeant Moss.

  ‘But I’m doing okay, I have a scan booked in later and if I seem normal, hopefully I’ll be allowed home.’ She crossed her fingers in the air.

  ‘Do you want me to leave?’ asked Roman, respecting Ella’s privacy.

  She shook her head and took his hand.

  ‘Have you found anything out?’ asked Ella, looking towards the policemen.

  ‘We have. Dr Alex James went by numerous names – we have a list as long as our arm – but his real name is Wayne Ridgeway.’

  Ella raised an eyebrow. ‘Not so glamorous as Dr Alex James.’

  ‘Funnily enough, he was from a very rich family, one of five children, but it appears he was into petty crime and was a disappointment to his own parents, who left him nothing in their will, so he upped his criminal activity. This man has been reported by women all over the country and he aims big. He scours the newspapers and the TV news for accidents and deaths, and then suddenly appears in that area, and you know the rest.’

  ‘And once you’ve handed over the money, he’s gone.’ Ella knew she had been well and truly taken for a ride.

  ‘He always used a profession that would make him appealing to women – Doctor, Lawyer, Vet – giving the impression he had social status and financial security. He was a dangerous man and knew exactly what he was doing, he covered his tracks well.’

  ‘Didn’t he just.’ Ella blew out a breath. She knew she’d been a fool, blinded by what she thought was love, but the only good thing to come out of this situation for her was that it was over. She felt a huge relief. Of course, she was sad she’d given her heart to the man, but now there would be no more love or head space wasted on him. He was gone and she was here. This was her time now.

  ‘I suppose there’s no chance of me getting my money back?’ asked Ella, already thinking she knew the answer to that question.

  ‘Never say never. We are looking into every scenario to try and make that happen. As soon as we know any more, we will let you know.’

  As soon as the police left Roman asked her how she felt.

  ‘Stupid. I cried for that man, thinking he was dead at the time. I endured that gut-wrenching pain in the pit of my stomach. All that wasted energy.’

  ‘But now you are back in control.’

  ‘I feel relief it’s over and I never have to look over my shoulder again. I hope he serves his time and Karma slaps him with a huge sentence.’

  ‘Karma always comes back to bite you on the bum.’

  It was approaching 10.30am and so far Ella’s room had been like Chester station at rush hour. ‘It’s like the hokey-cokey in here – one in, one out, shake it all about,’ teased Ella, but secretly she was pleased that everyone was coming to visit. ‘There’s no chance of me getting any rest,’ she joked as Callie walked into the room.

  ‘Don’t be cheeky!’ replied Callie, hovering at the end of the bed.

  ‘Here, have this chair, I was waiting until you got here.’ Roman stood and gestured to the chair. ‘I’ve got to get to work. I’m on the late shift tonight, so please drop me a text after your scan and I’ll be back in tomorrow.’

  ‘Of course, and thanks for all this.’ Ella nodded towards the chocolate and the magazines. ‘Curtesy of Hamish.’ He leant across the bed and kissed her softly on the cheek. ‘And don’t go getting into any more trouble whilst I’m gone.’

  ‘I’ll do my best.’

  Ella knew that Callie’s eyes were firmly fixed on her when Roman left the room. She perched on the end on the bed. ‘What’s going on between you two? I know that look.’

  ‘What look?’ Ella was trying to play it cool but then beamed.

  ‘Are you…?’

  ‘We are going on a date and that is all I’m saying.’

  ‘Yay! I’m so chuffed for you. Honestly, you make the perfect couple and the way he looks at you! Roman was beside himself last night when he saw the boat sailing off.’ Callie told Ellie how he’d hurtled back inside to see if Ella had stayed behind, and when they realised Alex had disappeared, it was all hands on deck. Roman had been blown around by the winds as he’d single-handedly tried to pull the speed boat from the back of the bay, but thankfully the police and the coastguard had turned up. ‘Honestly, Roman was like a superhero, he jumped on to their boat and took over – he was going to save you, no matter what.’

  Listening to Callie, Ella felt that magical flip in her stomach. This time it wasn’t one of dread or fear, but the first flush of love. She knew she was falling for Roman more and more by the hour, if that was at all possible.

  ‘And Flynn gave me this to show you. He passes on his best and said he’ll pop in later with Julia, but look at this.’ Cal
lie delved into her bag and placed the magazine on Ella’s lap. ‘Turn to page sixteen.’ Ella opened up the magazine and, as instructed, turned to page sixteen.

  ‘Oh… my… God…’ Ella strung out the words. Her eyes were quickly scanning over the article. ‘I didn’t even know there was such a thing. Waiter of the month Ella Johnson is a huge asset to The Lakehouse restaurant situated on the outskirts of the River Heart. Her natural yet charismatic style and extensive knowledge of wines and food left our very own food critic Tiffany Downs sincerely impressed.’

  Ella beamed as she read over the article and studied the pictures of her going about her merry way in the restaurant. ‘And where did they get those photos?’

  ‘Tiffany spoke to Nancy – apparently they know each other from old – and Nancy had taken lots of photos on the day she came to film the TV news,’ replied Callie.

  ‘Waiter of the month? This was my first day at work!’ Ella still couldn’t believe it, Tiffany Down had praised her and The Lakehouse to the hilt. ‘I feel like I should prepare a speech.’

  ‘Not only is Gianni over the moon, but so is Flynn, who hasn’t stopped polishing your halo. He’s posted a copy of this article all over the restaurant’s social media channels, and he’s as proud as punch. You are smashing it, girl.’

  ‘I’m actually speechless, I feel so emotional,’ shared Ella, giving a satisfied smile. Apart from the fact she was currently lying in the hospital bed, Ella was full of positive thoughts. Since arriving in Heartcross she’d experienced the feeling of being able to conquer the world. She was surrounded by a community who had welcomed her with open arms and encouraged her to be the best she could possibly be, and she wasn’t going to let any of them down, including herself.