31 Days of Autumn

by Fallowfield, C. J.

  Ellie

  ‘Mummy, need a wee wee,’ Jonas moaned. I wasn’t surprised. He’d guzzled about three cups of tea, he loved the stuff.

  ‘I’ll take you,’ Florie offered.

  ‘No, want Mummy,’ he replied stubbornly. I grimaced at Florie, then looked over at Jenny.

  ‘Stay with Florie, Oliver, and Eva. I’ll only be a minute.’

  ‘Ok,’ she sighed, knowing that it was unreasonable for all six of us to have to go to the bathroom at once. I dabbed some strawberry jam off of Jonas’s mouth with his napkin and lifted him off of his chair, sitting him on my hip.

  ‘No more tea,’ I warned. ‘And slow down on the cakes, you, I don’t want you being sick,’ I reminded Oliver, ruffling his hair.

  ‘Ssssshhhh, not allowed to say sic when people are eating, Mummy,’ he replied, his eyes wide with horror.

  ‘Sorry,’ I giggled, grateful that he at least listened to my advice. I turned around and headed across the room, kissing Jonas’s forehead, and bumped into someone as they moved from their table by the fire. ‘Gosh, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going,’ I uttered, steadying myself with a hand on his arm. I took a sudden shocked gasp when I saw the man in front of me, a man I hadn’t seen in years. ‘Zac?’

  ‘Hello, Ellie. What a surprise! What are you doing up in Scotland?’

  ‘Me? I live here. I thought you were in the Philippines.’ I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t seen him since the day I resigned from my job, flew up to Scotland, and met Dan for the first time.

  ‘I came back a few years ago, I’m doing consultancy work now. In fact, I’m here seeing a client. How are you?’

  ‘I’m great, really great,’ I nodded, trying to get over my surprise. He looked good. He’d always been good-looking, not in Dan’s league, but I doubted anyone was. But his hair had greyed a little and his physique had filled out.

  ‘You look it,’ he smiled, ‘but then you always did.’

  ‘Still a charmer, I see,’ I retorted, narrowing my eyes. I’d got over my anger of his treatment of me a long time ago, but that didn’t mean I had to gush with joy to see him.

  ‘You’re married? This is your son?’

  ‘I am. I have three children, this is the middle one.’

  ‘I’m really pleased for you, Ellie. You always wanted a family, it looks like it suits you.’

  ‘It does, thank you. What about you?’

  ‘Me?’ he shrugged. ‘Not a lot to tell. You know what a mess I was back then, I hit bottom around the time you left me. It took me a long time to get out of the hole I’d dug myself, but I’m clean now, I’m doing well for myself again. When you have no money, suddenly it becomes a powerful motivator.’

  ‘Mummy, wee wee,’ Jonas moaned, tugging my hair. Zac laughed and reached up to ruffle Jonas’s hair. In seconds, Jenny was at my side.

  ‘Ellie, you’re needed back at the table. Ollie wants you.’

  I whipped my head around to look at her, my eyes wide with surprise. She never called him Ollie, only Dan did. Calling him Ollie was the sign we’d agreed on when she was concerned for our safety. I immediately stepped back from Zac as he reached into his upper jacket pocket, my heart starting to race. What was happening? Why did she think Zac was a threat?

  ‘I’m sorry, Zac, I really need to go. I’m glad you’ve managed to get your life back on track again,’ I nodded, noticing Jenny carefully positioning herself just a step ahead of me. If I’d been surprised at seeing Zac, then Jenny pulling out the code word, it was nothing compared to seeing Chris race through the restaurant doors. I’d thought he was at home. He halted, one hand behind his back. He was reaching for his gun. What the hell was going on?

  ‘It was great to see you, Ellie. I’m really happy for you. After the way I treated you, you deserve everything you ever wanted. Here’s my number, call me next time you’re in London. I’d love to catch up with you.’ He held out a business card, which Jenny took immediately.

  ‘You have your hands full and Jonas needs the toilet,’ she stated, flicking her head towards the exit.

  ‘I was heading out, I’ll walk with you,’ Zac offered.

  ‘Actually, I’d like a word. I’ve been looking for some advice and any friend of Ellie’s is a friend of mine,’ Jenny smiled, catching his arm.

  ‘Bye, Zac’ I mumbled, not looking back as I virtually ran towards Chris. ‘What the hell is going on?’ I hissed, unbelievably angry.

  ‘I’m not at liberty to say, Mrs. Davenport, but don’t worry, we have everything under control.’

  ‘Mummy,’ urged Jonas, grimacing. ‘Really need to go.’

  ‘God, he needs the toilet, what do I do?’ I asked Chris. He clicked his fingers and Rod, one of the doormen, appeared.

  ‘Accompany Mrs. Davenport to her husband’s office, then pull the fire alarm on the wall opposite. Lock yourself in and type in the code. Don’t open the door for anyone but Andy, Mr. Davenport, me, or Jenny, got it?’

  ‘Yes, Sir,’ he replied.

  ‘Chris, what about Florie, Jenny, Oliver, and Eva?’ I suddenly felt close to tears. Four of my loved ones were back there and something serious was happening.

  ‘Just trust me, Jenny and I have it under control. Do as I ask, now,’ he urged. I felt helpless as I was ushered out of the restaurant. The biggest part of me wanted to run back, but common sense told me if we were all in danger, we were better separated, we stood a better chance apart. I felt tears rolling down my face and barely registered the loud noise of the fire alarm ringing as Rod pushed us into Dan’s office, suite 14 on the ground floor. I quickly headed to the bathroom and undid Jonas’s jeans and sat him on the toilet, holding him as I tried to fight my tears, wondering if they were ok.

  ‘Done, Mummy,’ Jonas called, looking up at me strangely as I sniffed. I tidied him up, wetting a facecloth to wipe his hands clean. ‘Watch TV?’

  ‘Sure,’ I nodded. He raced into the bedroom. Dan had turned it into a comfortable meeting area for when he saw clients, so Jonas scrambled up into one of the armchairs, remote already in his hands. I heard Rod talking to him, then the sound of cartoons. I clung to the sink and tried to take some calming breaths, grabbing another face cloth to wipe the streaked mascara from my face. I heard my phone ringing and snatched it out of my bag. It was Dan.

  ‘Baby, where are you?’ he shouted over the sound of an engine.

  ‘Your office with Jonas and Rod. I got separated from Oliver and Eva. What’s happening?’

  ‘They’re ok, Jenny already has them in the server room, which is as secure as my office. I’m with Andy, we’re a minute away from mooring up there. Put Rod on for me.’

  ‘No,’ I shouted, my whole body starting to shake. ‘You tell me what’s going on. I don’t even know if Florie’s ok or why everyone freaked out over me running into Zac.’

  ‘Ellie, I don’t have time to argue. Florie’s fine, one of the staff is taking her home. It seems like it was a false alarm, but the team wants you out of there as soon as possible, just to be sure.’

  ‘What was a false alarm, Dan? What the hell is happening?’

  ‘Ellie, put Rod on now! I won’t ask again,’ he bellowed.

  ‘If anything happens to my children, Florie, Jenny, or Chris because you’ve hidden things from me, so help me God, Oliver Daniel Davenport,’ I hissed, beyond furious with him. I stalked into the lounge and thrust the phone at Rod. ‘He wants you.’

  ‘Sorry, Mrs. Davenport,’ he grimaced, taking it and disappearing to the bathroom. I quickly picked up Jonas and pulled him onto my lap, wrapping my arms tightly around him. Why was it so dark in here? The curtains were still open, but instead of daylight and the view of the loch, all I could see was black. I didn’t like this at all.

  ‘Mummy,’ moaned Jonas. I looked down at him and sensed the fear on his face immediately. He was upset because I was, he was so in tune with my emotions.

  ‘It’s ok, darling. We’re just going to sit and watch some TV until Daddy
comes to meet us. Oliver and Eva are coming too, ok?’ I smoothed my hand over his hair and kissed his forehead, gently rocking him as I tried my best to calm down. I didn’t want him upset, no matter how I felt. I looked up as Rod came back out and handed the phone back to me.

  ‘Mr. Davenport’s mooring up. Chris is outside to escort you and Jonas down to meet him.’

  ‘Rod, I’m not going anywhere without Oliver and Eva.’

  ‘My instructions were clear,’ he objected.

  ‘Well, let me be clear. I don’t care what instructions you’ve had. Unless you plan on manhandling me out of this room, I’m not going anywhere without my children and if you’re too scared to tell that to my husband, I’ll tell him.’

  ‘I’m just trying to do my job, Mrs. Davenport,’ he sighed.

  ‘So am I, as a mother,’ I muttered stubbornly. He nodded and headed towards Dan’s office and the door out. I heard a loud clunking noise and seconds later, Chris strode in.

  ‘We need to move, now,’ he bit. He’d never been anything but polite to me and I’d never seen him look angry before, but right now he looked furious.

  ‘Not until I see Oliver and Eva.’

  ‘God damn it. I don’t know who’s more stubborn, you or him,’ he muttered, reaching up to press his earpiece. ‘Jenny, where are you? … No, proceed as planned. We’ll be with you shortly.’

  ‘I told you, I’m not going anywhere,’ I glared. He looked over his shoulder at Rod and nodded. I jumped as there was another loud noise and daylight suddenly started filling the room. I squinted, then screamed as I felt Jonas being pulled out of my arms. Seconds later, I felt weightless as I was tossed over Chris’s shoulder.

  ‘Extraction via exit B,’ his voice announced.

  ‘Jonas,’ I cried as Chris started striding towards the French windows out onto the garden.

  ‘Rod has him and he’s right by my side. I’m sorry, Mrs. Davenport, my instructions were clear. Jenny is already on her way to the cabin with Oliver and Eva, there wasn’t time to bring them back up here or to argue with you.’

  ‘Put me down, I can walk, and let me carry Jonas, he’s upset,’ I moaned, hearing him start to cry. Chris was running now, blades of grass flashing past as I dangled limply over his shoulder.

  ‘We’ll move faster like this,’ he retorted. ‘And next time I give you an order, I expect you to follow it. That is if Mr. Davenport doesn’t bloody sack me.’

  I was on the point of hyperventilating when I heard Dan’s voice and the grass changed to decking.

  ‘Get them in, thanks. Rod, I’ll take him. I’ll ring you when we’re all safely home.’

  ‘No problem,’ came Rod’s voice as I was unceremoniously dumped on the back seat of the boat.

  ‘Switch,’ shouted Chris. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the dizziness that hit me after being upside down for the last few minutes. I shot back in my seat as the boat roared to life and skimmed forward over the water. I wasn’t even wearing a bloody lifejacket.

  ‘Mummy!’ I heard Jonas sobbing and looked around to see Dan holding him, sitting next to me, with Chris steering us back towards the island.

  ‘Where’s Jenny, Oliver, and Eva?’ I cried, looking around frantically.

  ‘Hey, calm down,’ Dan urged, grabbing my hand. ‘They’re safe, they’re with Andy up ahead in the other boat.’

  ‘Don’t you dare tell me to calm down,’ I snapped, ripping my hand from his and snatching Jonas off him, pulling him to my chest. ‘It’s ok, baby, it’s ok. We’re going home.’ I rubbed his back as I glared at Dan. He ran his hands over his face.

  ‘Ellie, don’t shout at me. There was a perceived threat and the team took action. Everyone’s safe, we can talk when we’re home and in private.’

  ‘We’ll be talking alright.’

  I didn’t object when he pulled out a life jacket for Jonas and helped put it on, then did mine for me. I just focussed on calming Jonas down, pointing out the various sites we knew so well along the route. I marvelled at children’s capacity to get over being upset. He was giggling and laughing long before we pulled up at the jetty, whereas I was still seething. I didn’t take Dan’s hand when he offered it, or his attempt to take Jonas off me. We walked in silence, side by side up to the house, and I set Jonas down on the floor. Oliver came running from the playroom when he heard the door and threw himself at Jonas, hugging him tightly. Seconds later, they were screaming, chasing each other around the lounge. I swallowed a lump of emotion as I did a visual check that they were both ok, then ran through to the playroom. Jenny was holding Eva, who was crying. She shook her head as I came near.

  ‘I’m sorry, she’s ok, just a bit startled with all the commotion. Here, take her.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I whispered, kissing Jenny’s cheek as I started to cry again. She passed Eva over and squeezed my shoulder.

  ‘Don’t have a go at Dan. If you can thank me, thank him. Everyone did what they needed to do to keep you and the children safe, and you are. Zac being there seems to be a random act of coincidence, he was seeing some clients, ok?’

  ‘Thanks,’ I nodded, wiping my eyes before kissing Eva and sinking down into the sofa.

  ‘I’ll go and watch the boys until you’ve had time to talk.’ She smiled and headed out, nodding at Dan, who stood leaning on the stone wall separating us from the original part of the house.

  ‘Ellie,’ he sighed.

  ‘I’m sorry I snapped at you. You just have no idea what it was like. One minute I’m enjoying a nice afternoon out, then I’m suddenly separated from two of my children and no one would tell me what was going on.’

  ‘I get that, but that’s what will happen every time we think you’re in danger,’ he said softly, walking over to sit next to me. ‘Let me have her,’ he urged when Eva wouldn’t stop crying. I kissed her again and passed her to him, and he settled her on his chest, one hand on her bottom. Within seconds, she’d piped down, which made me cry again. She had a much closer bond with Dan than me. ‘Hey, she’s upset because you’re upset. Come here.’ He lifted his free arm and I automatically snuggled under it, tucking up against him, breathing him in as he squashed me against his hard body. I felt Eva’s hand in my hair, so I looked up and smiled at her. She grinned back, her green eyes looking happy again as I held her tiny hand in mine and kissed it.

  ‘Talk to me, Dan, before I lose my temper again.’

  He filled me in on the blanks, that Zac had been one name that he’d thrown out as someone who might be pissed off enough to get back at us, so he’d been put on the facial recognition system at all Davenport properties and on our security team’s too. The team had already pulled a basic file together on him. Dan had sent Chris to follow us, with Jenny’s knowledge, to school, then up to the hotel, with no idea that Zac was even there. It had been Chris who’d recognised Zac, then warned Jenny, which is why she’d shot over. Being out of range for their earpieces to work, he’d gone out to reception to call and alert Andy, resulting in Andy and Dan hotfooting it in the two boats to come to the hotel, with emergency lockdown being instigated. I had no idea that Dan’s office, and his server room, were so heavily protected. They were state-of-the-art panic rooms, with steel floors, ceilings, walls, and doors hidden beneath the normal looking facades, not to mention the steel shutters over the exterior windows. While I’d been locked in his office, Jenny had taken Oliver and Eva to the server room by reception, while Florie was escorted out with the rest of the guests to the fire assembly point. Chris had been left to question the guests and Zac, who it seemed was genuinely a consultant up from London on business. Chris had checked out his story with his clients, who were also outside waiting for the all clear. Andy had suggested that we all be evacuated back to the house just to be on the safe side, using the event as a training exercise to see how the team measured up.

  ‘Please don’t fire any staff,’ I pleaded. ‘I refused to listen, I was so upset.’

  ‘Any man who’s brave enough to toss y
ou over his shoulder deserves a pay raise, not a firing squad,’ Dan laughed, making Eva giggle. ‘You didn’t spank Chris, or grope his arse, did you?’ he teased.

  ‘No,’ I blushed, ‘but I might have been rude to him and to poor Rod. I need to apologise.’

  ‘Don’t worry, they get it, you’re a mother wanting to protect her children. But no matter how hard you may find it, if something like this ever happens again, I’m telling you that you have to trust them and do as you’re told. You may know what’s best for our children, Ellie, but they know what’s best for all of your safety.’

  ‘I was so scared, I just hated the thought of us not being all together.’ I buried my face in his shirt, shivering at the thought of it.

  ‘I was scared too and I hated that I didn’t have any of you,’ he whispered, kissing the top of my head.

  Damien Daniels

  I chuckled as I sat in my plane seat, heading back to London. Christ, that had been a thrill and a half. For a moment, I thought I was done for, but his team hadn’t even realised that I had two identities, that’s how distinct and verifiable they were. Close shave it might have been, but I’d seen up close two of the security team in action. Jenny’s first instinct was to protect Ellie, then the children. Chris was the one in charge and he was a force to be reckoned with. He was seriously built and fast on his feet. We just had to hope that he wasn’t in attendance in London on Friday, as that could cause an added complication. I smiled at the attractive air hostess as she wheeled the trolley down the aisle.