Accidentally Together

by Jade Winters

  ‘I didn’t say anything about believing you. Until I hear it from Louise’s mouth, I’m still undecided.’

  ‘Fair enough. But that’s what I want. I want you to speak with Louise and tell her she can date whoever she wants. That it’s not up to her parents.’

  ‘Was Louise’s dad aware you were a girl when he beat the crap out of you?’

  Jay stopped and caught Emma’s wrist, turning her around. ‘I’m not a girl. I may have a female body, but that’s as far as it goes.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Jay. My mistake.’ She looked up at him.

  ‘The hormones haven’t kicked in yet.’

  Emma decided to leave that one alone; now definitely was not the time to get into a discussion about transgender issues, and it was none of her business anyway.

  The pleading expression on Jay’s bruised face weakened her defences. ‘Look, I would help but you’re out of luck, I’m afraid. I’m the last person her family wants anywhere near her—after you, that is.’

  Jay touched his eye tenderly and Emma’s heart went out to him. He was just a kid. What could she possibly do to help him?

  ‘Jay, the situation I’m in means that if I contact her, I’ll lose my job. Believe me, I’m as worried about her as you are.’ Emma closed her eyes, the heaviness of her life weighing on her shoulders.

  Jay pushed his cut hands into his jacket pockets. ‘I don’t think she’s safe in that house. Her dad’s crazy, and I don’t mean that in a rude way. You just have to look at what he did to me.’

  Louise’s father had certainly crossed the line. To be fair, she didn’t know what she would do if she ever walked in on her daughter and thought a boy was attacking her. As far as Louise’s parents were concerned, she was a lesbian. They would have been shocked to find their daughter with who they thought was a man.

  ‘You think I deserved it, don’t you?’ Jay asked.

  ‘Never! I don’t believe in violence of any sort,’ she said truthfully and racked her brain for something she could do to help. Her options were limited.

  ‘The only thing I can do is have a word with my boss,’ Emma said, coming to a stop outside Lauren’s building. ‘But I’m telling you now: if I find out you’ve lied to me—’

  ‘I swear I haven’t. Just ask Louise. She’ll tell you the truth.’

  ‘Give me your number. I’ll call you and let you know what’s going on, okay? That’s the best I can do.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Jay said. He called out his number, and Emma tapped it into her phone. ‘You’re a lifesaver.’

  ‘So I’ve been told. Will you be all right?’ Emma asked, jerking her head towards his face.

  Jay prodded his eye and winced. ‘Yeah, but I’ll be even better if you get back to me with good news.’

  ‘Now go home’—Emma glanced up at Lauren’s building—‘and keep out of trouble.’

  ‘I will. Thanks for taking the time to listen.’ Jay thanked her again and walked into the dark of the night.

  Braithwaite House stood tall in front of her as Emma stepped up to the intercom. She buzzed once. No answer. Twice. Nothing. Willing herself to remain calm, she buzzed again.

  A tinny voice answered, ‘Hello?’

  ‘Lauren? It’s Emma. Can I come up?’

  ‘Not right now.’

  Lauren must have heard what Hope said and was understandably upset.

  ‘Please. I’m sorry about Hope. If you don’t let me in, I’ll start begging. Do you want strangers to see me begging in the street? Leave me a bit of dignity, won’t you?’

  Laughter crackled through the intercom, and then the door buzzed open.

  Minutes later, Emma stepped out on Lauren’s floor and her stomach did somersaults. They’d been so close to sharing an intimate moment before Hope’s arrival. Maybe fate was doing them a favour. What was the point in starting something before they solved Lauren’s stalking problem?

  Lauren’s door was ajar, which Emma took as an invitation for her to walk straight in. As soon as she stepped into the hallway, she heard an unfamiliar, fraught female voice with a thick French accent. Confused, she stopped in her tracks. Her first thought was to call out to Lauren, but she decided against it and confidently strode into the living room. Lauren was sitting on the sofa, and a short-haired woman stood over her, hands on her hips. The stern looks on their faces made it obvious they’d been arguing. Why though? And who is this woman?

  ‘Am I interrupting something?’ Emma asked, more confused than ever.

  ‘Yes,’ the dark-haired woman said without taking her eyes off Lauren.

  ‘No,’ Lauren said, looking up at Emma.

  ‘It all makes sense,’ the dark-haired woman said sarcastically. ‘Is this your new protector?’ She gestured towards Emma.

  Lauren shook her head. ‘Cut it out, Fiona.’

  ‘What else am I supposed to think?’ Fiona asked.

  ‘Nothing. That’s what. This has nothing to do with you. You are not part of my life anymore, and I want you to leave.’

  ‘I’m not going anywhere. Not until you—’

  ‘I think you’re unsettling her—Fiona, is it?’ Emma said upon seeing Lauren’s distraught face. ‘I think it’s best you do as she asks.’

  ‘You do, huh?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And what the fuck are you going to do if I don’t?’ Fiona glared at Emma, dark eyes flashing venomously.

  ‘Call the police.’

  ‘And what do you think they’ll do? Arrest me? For what? Protecting my girlfriend?’ She laughed at the surprised look on Emma’s face. ‘Idiote!’

  Lauren stood. ‘Stop, Fiona! This has gone on long enough. You are not my girlfriend. You are my ex-girlfriend! And don’t you dare speak to Emma like that.’

  ‘Emma?’ Fiona appraised her. ‘Hmm … Emma? Where have I heard that name before?’ She clicked her fingers. ‘Ahh! I remember! ’er first school-girl crush. So the star-crossed lovers meet again. If it wasn’t so pathetic, it would be sweet. Perhaps you two can sell your story to Disney.’

  Lauren walked towards the front door and held it open. ‘Get out of here, Fiona, and I swear if you come back, I’ll call the police myself.’

  ‘Is that a fact?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I ’ave a feeling I’ll be seeing you again soon when you realise she doesn’t ’ave what it takes to look after you.’

  ‘I’ll take my chances. Please go.’ Lauren pointed at the open door. ‘Now!’

  ‘Whatever.’ Fiona glared at Emma as she passed.

  As soon as Fiona left, Lauren walked back into the living room and collapsed on the sofa.

  ‘Jesus!’ Emma said, running her hand through her hair and shaking her head in amazement. ‘If I wasn’t so sure it was Mike stalking you, she’d be my primary suspect. She’s one scary lady.’

  ‘It’s all a front,’ Lauren said. ‘She’s really not that bad when she’s not acting all territorial.’

  ‘Somehow, I find that hard to believe.’ Emma sat next to her on the sofa. ‘What was she doing here?’

  ‘She wants to get back together.’

  ‘Oh okay.’ Emma fiddled with the zip on her coat, unsure of what to say but with a multitude of questions begging to be asked.

  ‘I’m not getting back with her, don’t worry about that. I wouldn’t have normally let her in but when I got back to the apartment block she was waiting outside. For a few minutes I stupidly felt sorry for her. I should have known.’

  ‘What was she giving you a hard time about?’

  ‘This.’ Lauren passed her the paper scrunched in her hand. ‘I found it when I got home. It wasn’t hand delivered this time. There’s a postage stamp on it.’

  Emma gently unfolded it and stared at the text long and hard. The page had a short message on it: I’m coming for you, Lauren. Soon.

  No wonder her ex is vexed. Shit!

  ‘Well that’s something at least?’ Emma said, looking over the envelope. ‘Mike knows he can’t get ba
ck in the building.’

  Lauren shrugged. ‘Fiona thinks he’s mentally ill.’

  The thought unsettled her. ‘Let’s not give people with mental health problems a bad name. He doesn’t have a chemical imbalance. He’s just a sicko who gets cheap thrills out of scaring people.’

  ‘It’s working.’

  ‘Only until tomorrow. Look, Lauren, about what Hope said—’

  ‘It’s okay. I wasn’t offended. She was just saying what she felt but at the same time I didn’t feel comfortable staying while you had that discussion.’

  ‘You know I don’t agree with her.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Good. I’m glad that’s settled. Now, do you want me to stay on the sofa tonight?’

  ‘Would you mind? I don’t wanna be alone.’

  Emma took hold of Lauren’s hand, the softness of her skin sending her back to the intimate moment they shared earlier. ‘Of course not. Go and have a hot bath. I’ll guard the fort,’ she said and leant over to kiss her on the cheek.

  Lauren turned and their lips met in a brief kiss.

  ‘My brave hero,’ Lauren whispered, stroking the side of Emma’s face with her hand.

  A smile played on Emma’s lips. ‘You know heroes normally get more than one kiss in the movies.’

  ‘Are we in the movies?’

  Inching her face forward, Emma said, ‘If we use our imagination we can be where ever we want to be.’

  Their lips met again and all the years of heartbreak and unfulfillment dissipated. They were together again, yet a barrier still obstructed their path.

  Emma pulled away from the kiss and slumped back on the sofa.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Lauren asked, disappointment evident in her grey eyes.

  Emma stared up unblinkingly into the air. ‘Nothing’s wrong. I just don’t think you’re in the right frame of mind at the moment to take things further. I feel like I’m taking advantage.’

  Lauren grinned. ‘Don’t be silly. I know exactly what I’m doing.’

  ‘Even so … Go on, go and get in the bath,’ she said giving Lauren’s knee a rub.

  Emma watched Lauren in silence until she disappeared from the room. All the while wishing she could rewind time to just a few minutes ago. She wanted desperately to feel Lauren writhe and surge beneath her. To taste her sweetness. To …

  She fought to keep her horniness under control. Emma wanted Lauren more than anything but the circumstances had to be right. If she slept with Lauren and Lauren left, Emma doubted her heart would ever recover.

  Why can’t I be strong enough to just go with the flow?

  Until the situation with Mike was sorted it would have to remain a fantasy.

  Damn you, Mike Foster!

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lauren let out a long yawn and stretched her legs. She hadn’t slept straight through the night in ages. All because of beautiful, sweet Emma.

  She had enjoyed her rallying speech; it had encouraged Lauren to take up the sword and go to battle with an invisible enemy. Reaching over to her bedside table, she scooped up her mobile phone and switched it on. The first thing she noted when it came to life was that it was 9:00 a.m. The second thing was several messages from Frankie. Worried something was wrong, she called him.

  ‘Frankie, is everything okay?’

  ‘Your phone was off,’ he snapped.

  ‘Sorry, had a stress—’

  ‘I couldn’t get hold of you, Lauren, I told you before about this.’

  She pushed herself into a sitting position. ‘I said I’m sorry.’

  ‘I was worried. I thought something had happened to you.’

  ‘I’m fine.’ Her tone softened. The stress from her life seemed to be filtering into the people closest to her.

  ‘I came round. Why didn’t you answer your door?’

  ‘I turned the ringer off, I just wanted a peaceful evening with Emma and no disturbances,’ she said.

  ‘Emma? Did she stay the night?’

  Lauren could hear the disapproval in his voice and it immediately got her back up. Lately, Frankie had got in the habit of interfering with her life, something he hadn’t done in all the years she’d known him. If anything, Frankie was one of the most laid back people she’d ever met.

  ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, she did. I got another letter.’

  ‘What did it say this time?’

  She relayed the message to him, and his voice was forceful when he said, ‘That’s it, you’re coming to stay with me, and I won’t take no for an answer.’

  ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to, because I’m not leaving here—’

  ‘I’m starting to think you’re taking this matter too lightly.’ He gave a bitter laugh. ‘You’ve had a break-in and two threatening letters and you’re telling me you want to stay there?’

  ‘If you’d let me finish. I think I know who the stalker is.’

  ‘What! Who? How did you find out?’

  ‘It’s a long story. Can we meet up for lunch and I’ll tell you all about it? I’ve got a busy morning ahead.’

  ‘All right. I won’t say another word about it until I hear your side of things.’

  ‘I’ll see you at midday?’

  ‘Yes sure. There’s a place called Gavan’s near the South Bank. I think you’ll like it there.’

  ‘Sounds great, I’ll Google the address. See you then.’

  The line fell silent. It felt strange having so many people pull her in different directions. At home, alone in Paris, life was simpler. She had her daily routine and no interference. Not even her parents hassled her when they visited. In the last few days, it was as though she had become a child again. Pushing all thoughts of Frankie aside, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and went in search of Emma.

  ‘Something smells good,’ Lauren said, tracking her to the kitchen, where she was making breakfast. She walked over to the hob and peeked at the frying pan sizzling with several slices of bacon. Bacon butty, my favourite.

  ‘Good morning. Did you sleep well?’ Emma asked, coming up behind her and handing her a mug of coffee.

  Lauren felt guilty admitting the truth—she had slept well—because Emma looked tired and apprehensive. ‘Like a newborn baby on her mother’s bosom.’

  ‘Okay, if that works for you. So what’s on your agenda today?’

  ‘I’ve decided to go to the police.’

  ‘You have? That’s great!’

  ‘And then I’m going to see Mike—alone.’ Lauren held her hand up to silence Emma’s protests. ‘This is something I have to do for my own peace of mind.’

  ‘But—’

  Irritation trickled in as it normally did when someone tried to tell her what was best for her. ‘There are no buts. I’m going to his workplace. What’s he going to do in broad daylight in front of a load of shoppers?’

  ‘You seem pretty calm about all this.’

  ‘I am now that I know who my stalker is. Mike isn’t a threat to me. There’s no reason to think he’s capable of anything beyond threatening me from a distance.’

  ‘Do you fancy meeting up later?’

  ‘Can we leave it until tomorrow? I’m going to see Frankie. I don’t know how long I’ll be.’

  Emma turned the gas off and removed the bacon from the pan with a fork, placing them between buttered slices of white bread. She handed a plate to Lauren. ‘Oh, okay. Give me a call when you’re ready.’

  ‘Please don’t spend the day worrying about me,’ Lauren said taking a bite of her sandwich. ‘Everything will be fine.’

  She hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.

  ***

  Lauren stood patiently in line, waiting behind an irate man moaning about the long queue. They had been queuing for over forty-five minutes while a bored-looking policeman with blond curls took details from a woman complaining about kids creating havoc in her neighbourhood. He showed as much interest in her story as he would watching paint dry. He wo
uld no doubt show her the same courtesy when it was her turn, but she didn’t care. Not anymore. She was after one thing from the officer; after that, knock on wood, she would never have to see the inside of a police station again.

  Another half hour passed before Lauren reached the police officer.

  ‘How can I help?’ he asked, barely glancing at her.

  ‘Someone I used to go to school with is stalking me.’

  ‘Has he threatened you?’

  ‘Yes.’ She withdrew the notes from her pocket. ‘He sent me these. I think he’s the same person who’s been stalking me since I was at school.’

  ‘You think?’

  ‘Yes, I think.’ She gave him a summarised version of events that dated back to her school days, then she explained the coincidence of the letters arriving after she’d bumped into Mike following her return to London after a fourteen-year absence.

  The officer nodded, and to Lauren’s surprise, he seemed to buy her theory wholesale.

  ‘What information do you have on this person?’

  ‘Well, I know that he works at Tesco in Lewisham.’

  The officer wrote down the information, along with Mike’s name. He then gave her a crime number and contact details. This was the dynamite Lauren needed to show Mike she wasn’t messing around. She clutched onto the paper as if her life depended on it.

  ‘Someone will have a chat with this chap. In the meantime, if he bothers you again, contact us using these details.’

  ‘When will an officer go to see him?’

  ‘Shortly,’ he said.

  It was clear he didn’t want to lock himself into a timeframe. Her complaint was probably the least of his worries when there were far more serious cases to deal with.

  ‘Okay, thank you.’

  Stepping outside into the bright sunshine, she exhaled a deep breath. That wasn’t as bad as she’d thought. She actually felt quite positive about the encounter. Emma was right. Things had changed. One down, one to go.

  Lauren took a cab to Mike’s workplace, not because she was fearful of being exposed on the street, but because she wanted to get the confrontation over with as fast as possible. She didn’t even know whether he was at work that day, but it didn’t bother her. If he wasn’t, she would return every day until she finally spoke to him.