Unravelled

by Jade Winters

  Unravelled

  by

  Jade Winters

  Unravelled

  by Jade Winters

  Published by Wicked Winters Books

  Copyright © 2017 Jade Winters

  www.jade-winters.com

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  COMING SOON

  BOOK LIST

  About The Author

  Chapter One

  Rae pressed her face against the cold windowpane and gazed forlornly at the small landscaped garden below. The scratchy sensation in her throat made it difficult to swallow and she fought the tears that threatened to escape.

  Lindsay warned me this could happen. Why didn’t I listen?

  If she had, at least she would have been spared the heartache and the sense of loss that once again filled her.

  ‘What if someone’s holding him captive?’ Her voice was raw, barely above a whisper yet she knew the only other soul in the room could hear her.

  She listened as Lindsay rose from her chair and moved closer. The hand placed gently on her shoulder gave little comfort.

  ‘He isn’t being held anywhere, Rae, he’s doing what cats do. I bet the little rascal found himself a floozy and he’s having a great time. He’ll be back once he grows bored of her, you’ll see.’

  ‘I know what you’re saying, but Bourbon wouldn’t go off on a whim. His idea of adventure is sitting on the doorstep, playing with a leaf.’

  Another squeeze of her shoulder and Rae turned her head to look at Lindsay, who asked, ‘You got any wine?’

  Rae nodded in the direction of the kitchen. ‘Fridge.’

  She cast a glance over Lindsay as she walked away and realised she looked thinner than a few days ago. Lindsay had always appeared healthy. Tall and slim with long, thick auburn hair and perfectly symmetrical features, she looked younger than her thirty years. However, recently her weight and the lack of a glint in her brandy-coloured eyes had Rae worried. Both were more than indicative that something was amiss. Lindsay’s return halted her thoughts and Rae reached out to accept the glass of wine, although she was not in the mood for it.

  ‘Is everything all right?’ Rae asked. For a moment, she wondered if Lindsay’s appearance had something to do with Steve, then gave a slight shake of her head. Too much time had passed since Lindsay’s divorce for it to be a factor.

  ‘Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?’

  ‘I don’t know … you seem to be more on edge than me.’

  ‘I’m hardly going to be jumping for joy when you’re upset about your cat. That would be a bit insensitive, don’t you think?’

  ‘Suppose so. But I mean if it was about Steve—’

  ‘Steve? You must be joking. Getting divorced from that prick was the best thing I ever did.’

  The mere thought of divorce caused a cold knot to form in the pit of Rae’s stomach. It remained a stark reminder of her own ex, the man she thought she would share the rest of her life with. But no matter how many times she fantasised about him coming home, she knew Greg was never going to return. Not now. Not ever.

  ‘Talking of pricks, are you still Facebook stalking Greg?’

  ‘What? No, of course not. He’s moved on and so have I.’

  Lindsay snorted derisively. ‘Who’re you trying to convince? Me or you?’

  ‘Okay, so shoot me, it’s not easy moving on after being with someone since secondary school.’ She paused momentarily. ‘No, sorry that’s not true, I should have said it isn’t easy for me to move on, because he already has.’

  Greg had met someone younger, someone who gave him the one thing Rae wasn’t prepared to. A baby. Visions of him still tormented her on a daily basis. Anguished thoughts of Greg lying beside his new young bride, rubbing his hand over her small baby bump. All the while whispering sweet nothings in her ear about how much he loved her.

  It gave her pause for thought. How many times had Greg told Rae he loved her? That he understood her dilemma? Her choice not to have children. That the trauma of her childhood served as reason enough, belief enough that motherhood wasn’t for her. In the end it didn’t matter. Greg’s commitment to her and a childfree life had been a lie. Gradually and subtly Greg had pulled away from her. At first Rae had thought it was the project he was struggling to finish that had taken its toll, had drawn him from her. How wrong she was. It turned out it was the young colleague he’d been shagging for nearly seven months.

  ‘And that’s why you transfer your feelings onto a cat,’ Lindsay said. ‘It’s not healthy. For you or Bourbon.’

  ‘That’s crazy,’ Rae said, taken aback. ‘I have not transferred my feelings onto Bourbon. Is it a crime to prefer animals to humans?’

  Unlike many people she knew, Bourbon had kept his cuteness and hadn’t lost his appeal after he’d grown out of his kitty shenanigans and fluffy ball appearance. He was the perfect companion for an architect who spent most of her days caught up in her work, clocking overtime beyond the call of duty.

  ‘In my opinion, yes. He can’t fulfil your needs the same way a human can. For starters, he can’t even talk.’

  Rae gave her a wry smile. ‘And that’s a bad thing because?’

  ‘Oh come on, you know what I mean.’

  ‘So he can’t talk,’ Rae conceded, ‘but he’s a great listener.’

  ‘Yeah and he also cleans his balls with his tongue.’

  Rae laughed despite herself. ‘That’s not technically true. He’s neutered.’

  ‘Make a joke out of it all you want, but you can’t hide in your shell forever. You’re forty-eight Rae. You’ll have to move on sooner or later. Wouldn’t it be better to do it now, while you’re still young enough to enjoy a bit of mind blowing—’

  Rae rolled her eyes. ‘There’s more to life than sex—’

  ‘And cats. Come on, let’s sit down,’ Lindsay said as she settled on the plush sofa. ‘You’ve been standing at that bloody window for ages.’

  Rae glanced out of the window one last time before she made her way to the sofa and placed her glass on
the coffee table. She picked up her cigarettes and extracted one before crumpling the packet and dropping it back on the table. Lighting the cigarette, she inhaled deeply and exhaled the grey swirling smoke. She had given up smoking twenty years ago, but it seemed to be the only thing that soothed her nerves recently.

  ‘As sad as it is,’ Lindsay said, pausing only to drain her glass before tentatively continuing, ‘you may have to face the reality that he’s … dead.’

  ‘You’re probably right,’ Rae flicked the cigarette ash in the ashtray. ‘He’s most probably been run over by some heartless speeding lunatic who’s left him squashed on the road like a piece of rubbish.’

  ‘I didn’t say he was dead, Rae. I just meant it’s a possibility.’ Lindsay’s voice conveyed her frustration. ‘Look, he’s microchipped, isn’t he? I’m sure if someone found him on the road they’d take him to a vet.’

  ‘Yeah, you’re right. I’m overthinking as usual. My therapist warned me about that. She called it forecasting. Pity it’s only negative outcomes I dwell on.’

  Rae crushed her cigarette in the ashtray and reached for her glass, taking a small sip as Lindsay refilled her own. ‘So, anything new on the work front?’ she asked.

  ‘I’ve got a job interview on Monday.’

  ‘Really? Where?’

  ‘Sunrise Care Home, the one on Carberry Avenue.’

  ‘That’s great!’ Rae tried to sound enthusiastic, but it fell flat, even to her ears.

  ‘Yeah, the job centre set it up for me.’ There was a hint of displeasure in Lindsay’s voice. ‘I’ll probably have to clean up sick and God knows what else …’

  ‘I know it’s not ideal, but it’s a job at the end of the day.’ Rae kept her reply as neutral as she could. It wasn’t a job she herself could do but as the saying went, beggars can’t be choosers.

  Lindsay nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders and knocked back the rest of her wine.

  ‘Well, fingers crossed,’ Rae said. ‘Talking of work, I need to get back to mine. Do you mind—’

  ‘Of course not. Don’t be silly, it’s fine. Kim will be wondering where I am anyway.’ Lindsay placed her glass on the table and started to get to her feet. ‘We’ll catch up tomorrow. You might have some good news about Bourbon by then.’

  Rae flashed a tight smile. ‘I hope so.’

  They walked to the door and exchanged a brief hug. Lindsay’s blurred figure receded into the encroaching darkness and Rae remained standing in the doorway, straining her ears, convinced she’d hear Bourbon coming towards her, his little legs racing to make it inside before the door closed.

  But there was no Bourbon.

  With a heavy heart, Rae walked back to the living room and collected up the glasses and empty wine bottle. She placed the glasses in the sink and threw the bottle into the recycling bin, before making herself a cup of chamomile tea.

  Turning out the lights as she went, Rae made her way upstairs to her study. She switched on the light on her desk and placed her tea on the side table. Pulling out her chair, she switched on the computer before sitting down. Her computer hummed evenly, a morose sound to the lonely hearted. Now more than ever she wished she were a drinker and could lose herself in a bottle.

  The sketch on the screen looked askew and she toggled it into the right position. Her latest project—a design for a shopping centre—was due to be presented to their clients tomorrow.

  With a sigh, she scanned the image for the ridiculously tiny numbers on the sketch, to ascertain if she had missed a measurement and if the numbers added up to the correct dimensions. She carefully looked over it, thankful to find everything in order. However, the deafening silence that filled the room turned the atmosphere into a suffocating void, in which Rae soon found it impossible to focus.

  Deadlines, Rae, deadlines! Rae opened her desk drawer and took out another packet of cigarettes. She pulled off the wrapping and lit one. Taking a long drag, she eyed the photo of Bourbon she kept on her desk.

  ‘Come home, fluff ball. I miss you so much.’

  She’d barely finished speaking when a mighty crash echoed downstairs. She jolted and placed her hand on her heart to still its insistent thudding. The noise had come from the alleyway; possibly her little companion had knocked something over. A surge of hope filled her as she stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and rushed to the overlooking window.

  Rae drew the blinds and opened the twin aluminium framed windows. The crisp night air grazed her face and hair like the frigid hand of a ghost. She peered out into the darkness and tried to identify the dark corners where Bourbon could be hiding.

  Something moved. Rae could see it shift in the darkness. During the day the shade from the oak tree blanketed the narrow cement walkway, but at night it caused an ominous shadow over the area. Still unable to make anything out, she considered going outside to check.

  Just then, a gust of icy wind pulled the clasp from her reach, slamming the window outwards and then against her arm. Rae yelped. She snatched her arm back and held it against her chest. The windows banged against the frame in the wind and once she had ascertained there was no serious injury to her arm she reached out to stop them.

  She again heard a scuffle in the dark shadow below and craned her neck to look sideways, hoping to see Bourbon bolting from the bin shoved against the wall. Instead, she saw a bulky figure dressed in dark clothing. It was too dark for her to make out whether it was male or female. However, it stumbled and staggered from the bin, heading straight for her back door. Rae gasped and jumped back out of sight. She slammed her hands over her mouth.

  She waited, but there was no knock, no rattle of the door handle. In some strange way, that unsettled her even more. Why would they walk towards her back door and not try to open it? What did they want?

  The security light automatically turned on. Rae slowly pushed the window open and leant over to look down below, straight into the grotesque scowl of a filthy homeless man who had his head cocked upward, staring straight at her.

  ‘What do you want?’ she demanded, shouting against the wind.

  He grimaced, revealing brown teeth. ‘I’m looking for a garden tap. I’m thirsty. Thirsty, thirsty.’ He carried on mumbling as he moved away from the back door and studied the wall hidden behind the plants for the outside tap.

  ‘The tap doesn’t work,’ Rae called down. She expected him to skulk back into the night but he stood there looking up at her, like a lost soul. Her heart went out to him. How in this day and age could a grown man be without the basics of life?

  Without stopping to think she said, ‘Wait there. I’ll be right down.’

  Rae grabbed her purse from her bag and withdrew the cash inside, ninety pounds in total. She made her way downstairs, turning on the lights as she went. She opened the fridge door and pulled out a bottle of water before making for the back door.

  Rae halted for a moment, drawing in a few deep breaths before she opened the door and came face to face with the man. He looked a lot bigger than she’d originally thought he’d be. He towered over her like a giant. Instinctively, she wanted to throw the bottle and money at him and slam the door but that would be childish. Instead she tentatively held out the water and money to him.

  He looked down at her hands and then back at her face, causing her heart to race anew. He did not move. In fact, he looked puzzled, as if contemplating something. Something like robbing her possibly, or worse. There I go again, predicting my fate.

  For several moments the two of them remained still, staring at each other. Rae could see tears welling in the man’s bloodshot eyes. Suddenly he moved towards her and she involuntarily jerked back and waited for the inevitable attack.

  Instead, the man mumbled something incoherent, snatched her offerings and took off limping towards the gate, slamming it shut behind him.

  Rae inhaled deeply as she quickly stepped back into the security of her home and bolted the door shut. It’s okay, he’s gone. He didn’t hurt me.

 
; She leant against the cool oak door, counting down the seconds until the swell of panic loosened its grip on her.

  Chapter Two

  Lindsay released a heavy sigh as she sat waiting on the bed. Tired as she was, she could no longer ignore the signs: the peeling wallpaper, the ever-increasing lonely nights, the constant concern about bills and payments.

  She knew it was the cost of her decision, the price she had to pay for following her heart. But she had been certain at the time, convinced Kim was the one, that they could make it work and Kim loved her for who she was.

  Lindsay watched as Kim entered the room with a towel snugly bound around her toned body. Kim looked at her for a moment and then turned away towards their shared wardrobe. She loosened the towel, allowing it to drop to the ground before reaching to open one of the drawers. The sight of Kim’s naked body, the golden tone of her skin, her small firm breasts and narrow hips always managed to excite Lindsay. But sex was the furthest thing from her mind now.

  Kim pulled out a pair of lace knickers and slipped them on, followed by a matching bra. Their appearance meant one thing only—she was going out for the evening, again.

  A heaviness settled over Lindsay. Not long ago they would have gone out together, would have shown the world they were one. She glanced around the room. The cheap pine furniture and clapped out blinds formed the antitheses of how she had envisioned their life together. A far cry from the life she’d left behind with Steve.

  She had been young, and very gullible when she’d married Steve. Being pregnant with her eldest son Jake had been the main reason, with Katie following fifteen months later. A great deal of her time had been spent caring for them, while Steve carried on as if he were still a bachelor. Although she loved both children dearly, she still felt she was missing out on life.

  But when she’d met Kim things changed. Kim had made things fun again. She’d been a breath of fresh air in a world that revolved around routines, responsibilities and fixed commitments. Oddly enough she seemed to have found herself back in the same situation she’d sought to escape before. A reluctant partner and two children with a life anchored to Norton Road, possibly for the rest of her life.