As I had arrived early before any clients were due, I decided to ring Jayne. She came to the same conclusion as me. I assured her though, that although it was a bit nerve racking, I could handle it and I wasn’t going to let it get to me.
Jayne was such a good friend, and knew she genuinely did care about me. She made it plain that she thought that Clare was out to scare me.
Jayne kept urging me to move back, but I told her that I decided to stick it out for the time being as I enjoyed my job and I loved my apartment. The other neighbours were brilliant and I had some good friends down here. I felt sure that eventually, given time that Clare would settle down emotionally and mentally, and after all having a GP for a husband must have its benefits in situations like these and she would have access to top notch treatment, if needed.
Jayne gave a little laugh, and said, “Yes, I suppose you’re right. But all the same, be careful.”
Little did I know that Clare’s mental state was going to escalate and how I would continue to bear the vicious brunt of it.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
As I walked into my office to prepare for the day ahead, I had a phone call from the RAC who informed me that it was just one of the starter leads that had come loose. Nothing serious and that my car was up and running fine now. The mechanic offered to bring the car down on the truck to work, so that I was all right getting home.
I was grateful and so relieved that it was nothing too serious or expensive for that matter.
However, as I waited for them to arrive, I couldn’t help but think that this was too much of a coincidence that this had happened, and that surely, someone would have had to have been under the bonnet for the lead to come loose? Surely it wouldn’t happen on its own?
When the mechanic turned up with my keys, I asked him if this was something that happened a lot, particularly to women like me, who knew very little about cars in the first place.
The mechanic said it was rare, but there are always occasions when something will happen that you don’t expect.
I thanked him, and returned to the office with my keys. My thoughts suddenly turned towards Clare, was she a bit of a mechanic on the quiet. All this was just getting to much of a pattern, and one I didn’t like.
Just before I saw my first client, I decided to take a chance and ring Neil. We might be divorced, but I had always admired his stability and level headedness in a crisis, and I felt that this was turning into one.
I wasn’t going to mention about the car. I was more upset about the mouse and how it came to find itself in my apartment, conveniently.
It was now around eleven thirty a.m. where Neil was. He did answer his phone but he was quite curt in his manner. I tried to tell him my plight, but he just shortly replied, “Get a cat!” Just before the phone went dead, I could hear muffled Russian communications directed towards him.
Neil did text me not long afterwards and did apologise, but advised me that Oksana had demanded their sexual escapades to be at certain times of the day, as she was trying for a child.
That would have upset me at one time, but not now, and I even found it quite amusing that Neil was having to abide by her ritual.
I only stayed at Alison’s one more night as Ernie hadn’t found any further damage and neither had the “rent-a-kill” man, so it looked like a once off. Ernie had managed to persuade the complex’s estate office to have the carpet professionally cleaned.
While on my break at lunchtime, I sat in the surgery kitchen and had a good scan through the local paper, under the pets for sale column, and the local pet shop’s advertisements.
I noticed there was an advert for a two-year-old female tabby, free to a good home and for genuine reasons. It said that the cat belonged to an elderly lady who was going into a home. I noticed that the address was only two streets away from where I was. I rang her number and Ivy, as she was called, said that I was welcome to call on my way home from work.
After work, I went straight to ivy’s house. I explained briefly to Ivy that I was having trouble with mice coming in off the fields. I thought that this was the best way to put it. I really needed a good mouse catcher. Ivy assured me that Rosie was very good at that, and given her young age, would be ideal.
On entering her house, I could see that Ivy was extremely fond of Rosie, but the cat did seem to take to me, nonetheless. Ivy was kindly giving me all of Rosie’s belongings and that included some food as well.
After our short conversation, I thought it best for Ivy to put Rosie in her basket. I felt a lump come up into my throat as I saw Ivy give Rosie a hug and kiss the top of her head. I assured Ivy that she would be well cared-for
As a child we had only a dog as a pet so I knew very little about cats and their behaviour and needs, apart from the obvious sustenance.
I had spent the previous evening, after Neil’s suggestion, researching on my laptop for vital information.
I had also heard, that, particularly with animals such as cats, that you should let them come to you when they feel comfortable, and not when you decide.
When I arrived home with Rosie, I opened the cat box after I had gently placed it on the lounge floor, so that Rosie could come out when she felt ready.
I then went into the kitchen to start making my tea, but also put her down some food and water and chatted away to her as I thought this might help.
I arranged to have the next day off work as Ernie had offered to bring someone from a professional firm to look at fitting a cat flap through the French windows at the back. At least it was safe from the road around the back and there were a lot of areas and places that a cat would like to explore.
Alison popped into to meet Rosie and thought she was adorable. We sat down in the lounge, and had a coffee and a chat
together.
Alison immediately wanted to broach the subject of my wellbeing which she said was of concern to her now. I decided to get one or two things off my chest.
I told her about Clare’s sudden change towards me, about the flowers, my suspicions about the mouse arriving; the car incident, all the arguments and smashing of objects, etc.
Alison listened patiently and then smiled gently and agreed, “Yes, I admit that Clare is strange these days, not that I have seen much of her, but don’t automatically think that it is against you,” she said trying to reassure me. “Her anger will be against Ian, which is often the case.” Alison sounded convincingly
reassuring.
“I don’t know,” I sighed. “It’s just a hunch, but I can’t prove anything.”
Just then, as if on cue, Rosie came up and began to rub her head up and down my leg and jumped onto my lap, curling herself into a ball and making herself comfortable.
“Well, someone certainly likes you, without a doubt,” Alison added teasingly. “Animals, particularly cats and dogs, love you unconditionally, and we all need that,” continued Alison.
Alison gave me a hug and said she would let herself out as Rosie was comfortable, but before she went out the door she added, “You know where I am, when you need me,” and then she let herself out.
For once, I felt quite relaxed and I felt happy with the new member of my family.
I curled up in bed that night, and Rosie decided to sleep at the end of the bed on her favourite cat blanket.
Ernie came the nest day and made sure that the cat flap was fitted to standard. Rosie was already used to one at Ivy’s, and so that was a bonus.
I arranged my appointments so that I could work with the rest of my team and had the rest of the week off.
I decided that, although I was a novice, I would turn my attention to my little patch of garden through the French doors and on the small patio at the back. My daffodils that I had planted earlier seemed a bit of a flop, but I had always been quite successful at growing pansies all year-round.
Late winter was now giving way to spring and I had noticed that there were a lot of pansies for sale, so on my next shopping trip which was the
next day, I went down to Easterly garden centre and bought some compost and four trays of multi coloured pansies.
Much to Rosie’s delight and after her greeting on my return, we went out together in the early evening sunset and began planting them out. As I did all the hard work, Rosie curled up contentedly after her meal, on the patio, soaking in the warmth on the slabs.
After my efforts at filling the two large tubs, I decided to enjoy the rest of the daylight.
I poured myself a glass of Chardonnay and sat next to Rosie, admiring my handiwork and chatting away to her, as I sat in the setting sun and feasted on the glorious view before me.
Suddenly, I became aware that I was being watched from the flat above. I slowly and controllably rose from my garden chair, and as I did so, the window from Clare and Ian’s flat slammed shut.
As Rosie and I went back inside, I felt a shiver down my spine and I couldn’t help but think that Clare was most definitely watching me.
I had a relaxing soak in the bath and then in my dressing gown, Rosie and I sat watching the television. She sat purring loudly on my lap, then she came up onto the back of my shoulder. Life could be so enjoyable, I thought, but I couldn’t cope with the constant black cloud following me, hovering around.
Chapter Thirty
The next few days passed quietly and without incident. However, I had to admit, I still felt that the historian Damocles’ sword would eventually come down on me for some unknown reason.
The following morning, I sat and had my breakfast with Rosie on my knee, purring contentedly. I gave Rosie a big hug before setting off to work.
As I locked my front door to the appointment, I noticed a young woman arrive in a white uniform with red edging. She went straight up to Clare and Ian’s apartment. She knocked and walked in. I made my way to work.
I passed Ian’s consulting room. His door happened to be open, and I was quite shocked to see him off guard as it were. He was sitting with his elbows on his desk, with his hands supporting his head.
I must admit, I was in two minds whether to knock on his consulting door or not. However, that decision was soon taken out of my hands, as he must have seen me walk past, and called out to me.
“Natasha, would you spare me a minute, come and sit down and I’ll pour you a coffee,” he said.
“Okay, thank you,” I replied.
I let Ian lead the conversation. “How are you?” His desperate eyes searching mine. I half hoped that he would enlighten me as to Clare’s behaviour of late.
“I’m okay at present,” I falsely reassured him. “How about you and of course, how is Clare? Nobody seems to have seen her recently.”
Completely to my surprise, Ian responded, “I’m just under a lot of pressure at present. Clare is acting a bit like a psycho now and I apologise profusely for the noise you have been suffering in the meantime. She’s just ‘kicking off.’ Even her mother had had enough and went back home.”
I nodded in agreement but felt slightly irritated; surely, he of all people, her husband and a doctor would know the key to her behaviour.
“So, what’s the answer?” I pressed.
“I don’t think counselling’s the answer in her mental state,” he replied, to which I readily agreed.
“I’ve had a word with Dr Ross at Pinderfields Hospital, but due to him being near retiring age, he only works part time, so I was told it will be about three weeks before he can see her; and his secretary said that he didn’t consider her an urgent case yet, which I don’t agree with,” he said, a little exasperated.
I knew it wasn’t really the right time to express my fears, especially as I hadn’t any proof, and, in my own mind, I wasn’t aware that Ian had any knowledge of any bitterness towards me as I had suspected; even though I didn’t know why. Sadly, unbeknown to me, Ian knew a lot more that he was letting on.
As I arrived through the door back at home, just after five p.m., I noticed the early spring sunshine bursting through the French doors and that Rosie had been sitting right on that spot on the carpet, having been asleep and obviously enjoying the warmth.
Rosie immediately sprang up on her legs and greeted me eagerly, she fussed round my ankles and meowed, seeming pleased to see me.
I made my tea, an appetising ham salad, and sat down to watch the news, with Rosie nestled round my neck like a cushion. When I had finished and washed up, I said to Rosie, “Let’s go and sit on the patio and enjoy the sunset.”
Rosie raced over to the door with me, and spread herself out, soaking up the evening sunshine.
I had brought my two pottery tubs when I moved out from Neil’s and last weekend I had purchased two large trays of multi-coloured pansies from the garden centre.
“Right,” I said to Rosie as I lugged everything on to the lawn nearby.
That evening was thankfully quiet upstairs, and I had to admit that these outbursts of Clare’s were happening less often. It went through my mind that maybe the specialist that Ian had managed to get to see her, had prescribed some sedatives. Whatever; it seemed that things were calming down. I couldn’t help but wish that the next three weeks would pass rapidly and that the doctor who was seeing her would let us all have a break from Clare.
Before I retired to bed, I gave Jayne a call, and discussed one of our regular topics which had now become Clare. Jayne was relieved to hear that the problems seemed to be abating.
The next day passed without incident, and had been quite fulfilling. One of my long-term clients had made such terrific progress that she had decided to try and “give-it-a-go alone.” It was always a good moment to be able to see someone take charge of their life again.
Rosie looked pleased as usual to see me, and greeted me as usual and her loud purring was like a song to my ears. I chatted away to her, as I always did, especially at tea time.
“Right Rosie, my little bundle of joy. You are going to have a treat as well. You can have some tuna steak tonight, I told her.
After tea I rang Grace to arrange another evening out. I decided to sit out on the patio again for a few minutes, making the most of the lovely evenings we seemed to be having now, and taking in the glorious aroma of the gardens and the countryside.
As I was sat outside, Mary came out too with a mug of tea in her hand. This wasn’t a sight I often saw. She had her time taken up more and more with George, and so I thought that maybe she was so exhausted in the evening, that perhaps she just relaxed in front of the television. I could tell when it was on by its volume, because of her lack of hearing these days. I didn’t mind. I’d rather listen to that than Ian and Clare fighting.
Mary was saying that George was going into hospital for a few days, for a hernia operation and that it would also give her a bit of a rest. The surgeon was going to come for him in the morning and she was going to visit George later in the evening. I offered to take her to see him.
I had managed to re-arrange my schedule to take Mary that evening.
After arriving home for work, I had a quick shower and gave Rosie her tea and a cuddle, before I set off for the hospital with Mary.
I briefly popped in to see George for a few minutes, but he was still very sleepy, so I went and bought myself a coffee and sat and read a magazine until visiting time had ended.
Mary offered me a drink at her flat when we arrived back but I turned her offer down, and thanked her, saying I should be getting back, and that Rosie would be waiting for me. Rosie was pleased to see me.
Rosie was an extremely well-behaved companion, and there were very few “accidents”, but I did notice as I went to close my thick cream velvet curtains, that there was a slight trail of muddy paw marks by the cat flap, despite the mat next to it. I pretended to tell Rosie off in a scalding manner, but that little girl look and the usual brushing against my legs, made me pick her up and cuddle her. It was only slight, so I managed to clean it up and I washed Rosie’s paws. I just thought that maybe she had been mousing and had accidently been in some earth around the su
rrounding fields. I had no idea of the horror that would greet me the next morning.
I decided to get ready for bed and read my book and Rosie sat at my feet. Despite the occasional rumblings from upstairs from Claire and her stamping about, I did drift off.
I must have been extremely tired as I had overslept. I called the surgery to explain and said that I would be slightly late and contacted my first client with my apologies.
The sun was streamlining through the French doors and I decided that, as I had managed to rearrange my client for later that day that I would leisurely have my cereal and take five minutes have it on the patio. Rosie came and sat at my feet.
As I sat down on the garden chair, I almost dropped my cereal bowl as I caught sight of the destruction before my eyes. One tub of my pansies had been completely flattened, as if it had been sat on and most of the stems had been snapped in the process. The other pot had been forcefully set-upon, the pansies had been dug up, the soil scattered over the patio and this one had a crack right down one side.
I stood there for a few moments, absolutely stunned and my immediate reaction was just to scoop Rosie up in my arms, and once dressed, set off.
I couldn’t help but glance up at Ian and Clare’s upstairs windows on my way back through the door. I saw the sitting room curtains, pull forward slightly, but I couldn’t see who was looking out, and then they were pulled shut again.
I immediately dressed and rang Ernie and distraughtly asked him if he could give me his opinion, especially with him being a gardener too. Ernie didn’t take long to come, and as I opened the door, I just couldn’t help but burst into tears. Ernie stroked my arm, with compassion and he tried to reassure me.
“Try not to upset yourself Lass. Go and pop the kettle on while I have a good look and see what I can do,” he said kindly.
My hands shook and I tried to stop the tears, hot and stinging, running down my cheeks. Stupid as it may sound, I think my reaction was one of shock also. I would have been extremely annoyed had it been an animal that was responsible, but this just seemed too much like a coincidence.
Through the Dark Keyhole Page 12
