Sliding Doors

by Karen Klyne

  The weather the following day was in complete contrast to Saturday. Gemma fitted the door gasket on the dishwasher, and Reece sat at the kitchen table watching her every move. It didn’t take her long, and she completed the job with easy expertise as if she’d done it many times before. She smoothed the rubber thing down and closed the door.

  “Nice close fit. That should do the trick.”

  Gemma seemed happy with her work. Reece was utterly dumbfounded. Under normal circumstances, they’d have called a plumber who’d probably have said they needed a new dishwasher. It was kind of reassuring to have someone in the family who could carry out these repairs. It could save her a fortune. “Well done. Thanks, Gemma.”

  “Believe me, it’s my pleasure. I love doing this kind of stuff.”

  Reece believed her. She saw the look of satisfaction in her expression, and it made her just a little sexier.

  The rain continued to beat down in torrents, but in spite of this, they had a good day together and played board games with the children. It had been a wonderful weekend.

  In such a short time, they’d developed a nice routine. Well, it was nice for her…whether Gemma felt the same was a different question, but she did seem contented, more than she had in years, really. Perhaps she should let her loose on all the other things that needed repairing. There was a long list, and if this was Gemma’s passion then she wouldn’t come between them…meanwhile, Reece had developed a passion of different sorts.

  ***

  At the beginning of the week Gemma reminded her that she’d like to visit Faz in hospital. Reece promised to drop her off and pick her up as Gemma wasn’t sure how she’d feel going in there again. She finished her surgery early and arranged for her mum and dad to pick the children up from school whilst Reece drove Gemma to the hospital.

  Reece pulled up in the hospital car park and opened her door. “I’ll come with you and make sure you’re okay, then I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

  Reece held the entrance door open for Gemma, and they walked toward the receptionist. It wasn’t one of the regulars she’d seen before.

  “Hi. I’m here to see Fazan Malik.”

  The woman looked down at some paperwork in front of her. “Can I take your name?”

  “It’s Gemma Tennant.”

  “I’m afraid Fazan Malik is no longer with us.”

  Gemma ran her hand through her hair. She looked distraught.

  “What…what’s happened to her?”

  “Let’s see.” She pulled out a file and opened it. “She left you a letter.” She unclipped the letter attached to her notes and handed it to Gemma.

  Gemma took it and stared at the envelope. Reece hoped it wasn’t bad news. She put a hand on Gemma’s shoulder. “Shall we go and sit down over there?” She didn’t wait for an answer but guided Gemma to some chairs on the other side.

  Gemma was as white as the envelope that carried the letter.

  “Something’s happened to her, I know it.” She rubbed her hand across her brow.

  “Open it.”

  Gemma ripped it open and unfolded the sheet of paper. She scanned it first, then read it out to Reece.

  Hello Sis,

  Sorry I am not here to greet you, but things moved on very quickly. I have been moved, and they are taking me to a centre where apparently, I will be more comfortable. Do not worry, my social worker and legal adviser tell me that things are progressing nicely. They are ninety percent sure I have a good case and odds are that I will be allowed to stay in the country indefinitely.

  They won’t permit visitors, though, and I think it is best if you do not try to contact me.

  I promise you, either way, I will be in touch. It will not be long before we are sipping champagne together.

  I am sure things will work out for you, but do not forget what we talked about.

  See you soon.

  Love always,

  Faz xxxxx

  Gemma put the letter down on the table and stared at her hands. She picked at a loose bit of skin at the side of her nail.

  Reece picked the letter up and read it. She didn’t understand the “Sis” bit but supposed that’s how close they’d become. “Gemma, she sounds positive. Ninety percent is quite high.”

  “I suppose so. I just wish I could have seen her before she left. And why can’t she have visitors in this new place?”

  “Listen, I only saw Faz a couple of times, but she seems the kind of young lady who can look after herself.”

  Gemma nodded. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Reece drove her back home in silence. She didn’t know what to do or say. She knew how much Faz meant to Gemma. She’d been there for her, and they’d become attached, obviously like sisters. Gemma was quiet for the rest of the evening, and after they’d eaten and settled the children, she excused herself, saying she was tired. A little later when Reece passed her door, she heard Gemma crying.

  She knocked and went in and was relieved when Gemma leaned into her embrace right away. There weren’t any words that wouldn’t sound like platitudes, but being able to hold Gemma this way, to comfort her when she was hurting, felt right in so many ways.

  When Gemma had cried herself out, she tucked her in bed, kissed her forehead, and let her sleep. As much as she would’ve like to settle in beside her, they weren’t there yet.

  ***

  It was the weekend and school holidays had begun.

  Gemma sat at the table looking thoughtful. She lifted her head and looked across at Reece. “How long will Val and Keith be supervising me? Will they be here throughout the holidays?”

  “Not unless you want them to. Actually, Mum said she feels redundant. She thinks you’re coping admirably.” Reece laughed. “She thought you’d be a wreck and need her guidance.”

  “Is she disappointed?”

  “On the contrary. I think she’s just baffled by it all and maybe a bit frightened, too.”

  “Frightened? Does she think I might hurt Callum and Mattie?”

  Reece shook her head. “No, she doesn’t. She thinks you’ve changed, but she can’t understand the changes.”

  Gemma shrugged. “Who can?” She sighed and something Reece couldn’t identify flitted through her eyes before she seemed to shake it off. “Will you be taking any time off?”

  “Yes. The surgery’s closed all week, but I do have to work at the hospital on Wednesday and Thursday.”

  Gemma seemed to perk up. “That’s great. We can start making plans then. Maybe Sea Life Adventure one day, and if it’s good weather, Hadleigh Castle, Belfairs Wood Park, and I know they want to go to Kids Land.”

  Reece raised her eyebrows. “I’m impressed.”

  “And don’t worry, I can take them to Kids Land on one of your working days. I know it’s not your thing.”

  “Thanks, I’d appreciate that. I haven’t mentioned it to the children yet, but Mum and Dad said the little boy next door to them is having a party, and they’ve been invited. It’s on Thursday.”

  “Great. A day all to myself will be nice. Thank you, little boy.”

  Did she miss having time alone? Was she growing resentful? Reece tried to find anything like that in her expression, but she seemed fine. “They’ll stay over, so maybe we could eat out on Thursday night? We could try that new restaurant, Au Revoir. I’ve heard some great reports.”

  Gemma’s face pinkened. “Sounds good. Is it dressy? Because there’s nothing remotely suitable in my wardrobe.”

  Reece held her hands up. “No idea. You can check on the website. Anyway, you’ve got a credit card, so go and buy whatever you want.” She thought of the way Gemma tugged at her clothes and never seemed totally comfortable. “Maybe you should change your whole wardrobe.”

  Gemma’s eyes lit up. “I might just do that.” Her shoulders slumped. “Thanks. Only—”

  “Only what?”

  “Well, I’m not happy using your credit card. I don’t f
eel I’m contributing.”

  That statement was certainly out of character. “Don’t be crazy. You put in more hours work than I do. It’s yours as much as mine.” She meant it, but she wasn’t sure if Gemma believed her.

  Gemma nodded but didn’t look convinced. “At the moment, I don’t really have a choice. Still, at least I know what I’m doing on my day off.”

  “Do you like clothes shopping?” If so much about Gemma hadn’t changed, she never would have asked. But these days it seemed like she needed to get to know the woman living in her house.

  “I love it. It’s my favourite pastime, particularly for power tools.”

  Reece shook her head at yet another inconsistency. Gemma was full of surprises. At the back of her mind, she had a feeling of dread. What would happen if the bubble burst? Hopefully, nobody had a pin.

  Chapter Eighteen

  So much had happened in such a short time. There’d been a mixture of feelings on Alex’s part. She’d discovered that she liked being with the children. There was lots of fun to be had, fun that she hadn’t experienced before. Then there was the disappointment and sadness when she’d been to see Faz. She’d never imagined that Faz would be whisked away so quickly. She’d been her only ally until now, and she almost felt as though she was missing a limb. In her letter, Faz sounded positive, but there was something bugging Alex, something she couldn’t puzzle out. However, Reece had been supportive, the way she always was. But in the letter, Faz reminded her to search for answers. The problem was, she hardly ever had the time, or she was too knackered, or maybe she was plain enjoying this life. She had to find answers whatever decision she came to, and she was sure she’d have more time over the coming week.

  And what a week they’d had. Loads of adventures and everyone seemed to be having a great time. When it came around to Wednesday, she was almost relieved that she’d have a bit of a rest. Off they went, just the three of them, and she’d let Callum and Mattie loose in Kid’s Land. There were loads of supervisors around to look after the children, but all the same, Alex grabbed a coffee in the café and took it to the table by the window which overlooked the play area. For a while she was on tenterhooks when she saw Mattie and Callum on the giant slide. It was only made of plastic, but all the same she didn’t feel happy until she’d seen them both come down safely. Mattie was accompanied by one of the helpers, and the children waved at her through the window. She laughed and waved back. After about fifteen minutes of her heart being in her mouth, she began to relax.

  She opened her iPad and continued looking at news articles she’d found the other night. Both were similar, but one struck her as being identical to her own situation. The woman drew the conclusion that she was living in an alternate reality, that she’d gone through some kind of sliding door that slipped her into a world that looked a lot like her own but wasn’t. In her case, it was opened, two people crossed through in different directions, and then the door slid shut firmly behind them. She thought back to the sound she’d heard on the beach that fateful day, and it gave her chills. The story gave her hope, even if the article was from ten years ago, and now she had terms to search for so she could find out more. Instinct told her she was on the right track.

  Someone banged on the window and brought her back into the real world. Callum and Mattie stood there giggling their little heads off. Alex tapped her watch. Callum mouthed “One hour,” and waited for her response, his cheeky little smile making her laugh. She nodded and waved them away.

  She bookmarked another story. It wasn’t quite the same as hers, but there were similarities. Someone simply knew they weren’t where they should be, that although they had the memories, they felt like they belonged to someone else. One person even described the very same sensation she’d had, of the memories overlapping and superimposing themselves over one another at random moments. She continued her research and came up with people who’d written books about the subject but had no real evidence to back up their findings. Still, the information was what she needed, and it put to rest any lingering doubts that she was the one in the wrong.

  The hour passed by quickly, and when the children arrived in the café, they were starving, so they had a snack before leaving for home. It was a good day for everyone and to her surprise, they both fell asleep on the sofa in the afternoon. For the rest of the day, Alex searched, read, made notes, and became more excited by what she found. She wasn’t crazy. This was a thing that really could have happened.

  ***

  The school holidays were packed full of action and adventure. There was only one day of torrential rain, and they spent that in the aquarium. The children loved it, and Reece and Gemma enjoyed it as much as the children. It was the best school holiday she could ever remember, but then she had to go back to work for a few days.

  Gemma had taken the children to Kids Land on Wednesday, and they had an absolute ball. They couldn’t stop talking about it and telling her how much she’d have loved it. She knew she wouldn’t, but it was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves so much. And Gemma seemed to have enjoyed it just as much, which was a wonderful change from life before.

  When Thursday came, her mum and dad arrived before she’d left for work. Gemma had helped the children pack their overnight bags, and they were ready and waiting. They were excited about the party they’d been invited to. In fact, they were excited about everything and related all their stories of the week to their nan and pops.

  Callum managed to take a breath in between his accounts of the week. “We’re still going to the match on Saturday, aren’t we, Mummy?”

  Gemma winked. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Dad’s eyes widened. “You’ll be bored out of your mind, Gemma.”

  Gemma shook her head. “Not likely. I really enjoy football.”

  Callum punched the air with his fist. “C’mon, you Shrimpers.”

  Reece grimaced. “Shrimpers?”

  Callum dropped his arms by his side. “Oh, Mum, that’s what Southend are called.”

  “Oh.”

  Her mum picked up their bags. “Come on, you two. Look lively, we’ve got a party to get ready for.”

  Callum and Mattie threw their arms around her and Gemma in turn and waved as they went out of the door.

  Reece left at the same time. “See you later, Gemma. Have fun on your shopping spree.”

  Gemma laughed. “Don’t worry, I intend to. What time tonight?”

  “The taxi is picking us up at seven.”

  In a way, she wished she was going shopping with Gemma instead of work. She’d quite like to sit outside the dressing room whilst she tried her clothes on. Although she’d prefer to be on the inside watching. Get a grip. You have teeth to fix. That certainly brought her back into the moment.

  It seemed like a long day, but when she got back from work, Gemma was nowhere to be seen, though the car was in the drive. She could smell a strong scent drifting from above. She breathed in. It smelled like Seville oranges. Divine. Rather than think of that, she hurried to get a move on. She took a shower, chose an outfit, and went downstairs. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d been out for a nice dinner together, and she smiled at the giddy feeling.

  She’d put a bottle of Crémant de Loire in the fridge and removed two glasses from the cupboard. She heard Gemma coming down the stairs and twisted the cork. She turned around as Gemma walked through the door. She forgot her task, let go of the cork, and the sparkling wine fizzed over the top of the bottle.

  Reece laughed and held the bottle away from her clothing. “Sorry about that. I lost concentration.” Gemma looked amazing in a black jacket with a pink camisole beneath it. They were matched with a pair of shiny black leggings tucked into black ankle boots. It made her own outfit look uninspiring. When she found her voice, she spoke. “You look terrific.”

  Gemma blushed. “Thanks.” She looked Reece up and down. “You scrub up pretty good too.”

  “I feel drab by comparison.�
��

  “Don’t be daft. You look good in brown.” Gemma stared at the bottle. “Are you going to pour that or use it to clean the floor?”

  Reece tore her eyes away from Gemma and poured the wine. She passed a glass to her. “Cheers. Here’s to a pleasant evening.” They clinked glasses.

  They skimmed the surface of their day in light conversation, and when they’d finished their wine, they grabbed their coats, and headed toward the front door to the taxi waiting outside.

  Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant. When they got inside, Reece was delighted with her choice. It was a stylish restaurant with plenty of ambience. She gave her name, and the hostess greeted them and showed them to a table in a small alcove.

  Gemma glanced around. “This is lovely.”

  “I like it too. Let’s hope the food matches the setting.”

  The waiter came over with menus and a wine list and explained that there were also a number of speciality dishes on the blackboard. He said he’d be back shortly and left them to it.

  Reece scanned the wine list. “Do you have a preference?”

  “I think I’m going to have a steak of some description, so I’d like red, please.”

  “I’ll join you. Shall we have the Saint-Émilion?”

  “Nice choice.”

  The wine waiter took the order and returned with the bottle. He poured a little in Reece’s glass for her to taste. “Excellent.” He poured some for Gemma and more into her glass.