Flame

by Toya Richardson

  She shut her eyes and waited for her breathing to slow; knowing that this kind of stress would not help her or the baby. Slowly she stroked her belly and looked out to sea, wondering what she would do with her life now.

  ‘What a sorry sight you look, Amberley. I take it lover boy has told you to get lost. Am I right?’

  Amberley froze at the sound of the harsh, male voice. It was Steve, his tone full of mockery. Slowly, she rose to her feet and turned round to face the man who had destroyed her life.

  ‘You are an evil swine, Steve, and you deserve to be locked up for life for what you’ve done. Not just to me, but to all the other people involved as well!’

  Steve stood grinning at her, his eyes glazed like those of a man bordering on insanity. He moved towards Amberley but she was rooted to the spot, aware of just how close to the edge of the cliff she stood, and yet unable to move.

  ‘I told you before, Amberley, you are mine and no one else can have you.’ He came closer. ‘I am the only one who can love and look after you.’

  She shook her head slowly as he continued, ‘I only do these things to make you realise that you should be with me. Come away with me. We can get married; go back to London where we belong.’

  Inch by inch, Amberley moved away from the cliff top and back towards the path. She had her eyes fixed on Steve the whole time. She thought back to all the times he had humiliated her and tried to control her. Anger welled up inside her, anger with herself and with Steve. How could she ever have been so naïve as to think that he loved her?

  ‘Love, you call this love, Steve? You are insane and you need help. You can forget any thoughts you have of us being together ever again. You have ruined my life. I had a loving family, a new start in life and a man I loved. But that’s all over for me after what you’ve done.’

  She looked him right in the face now, no longer feeling scared but wanting to hurt him the way he had hurt her. Pointing her finger, she continued her tirade. ‘I will never, ever love you, Steve. I will not go with you anywhere unless it’s to the police station so you can give yourself up. I hope they lock you away for good and throw away the damn key. I still have one piece of Greg that you can never take from me though, so at least I have some small chance of happiness.’

  Amberley wanted to be in the safety of the village. She had to get away from him and inform the police of where he was located. However, before she could escape, he grabbed her roughly by the arm and pulled her back to face him.

  ‘What do you mean you still have a part of him, what are you trying to say, Amberley?’ He snarled at her.

  ‘I am pregnant and the baby is Greg’s. That’s one thing you can never take away from me,’ she said, smiling in triumph.

  She watched as Steve’s expression hardened and he flexed his jaw. She realised too late that she had now put herself, and more importantly her baby, at risk. She pulled away from his grip and began to run back on the path towards the village, screaming out for help as she did so.

  Steve was too fast, he caught up with her, and threw her roughly to the ground. She found it hard to breathe and attempted to rise but Steve was too strong and stood over her.

  ‘You bitch, you total whore! How could you do this to me? I can’t believe you’re carrying his filth inside you. I cannot have that, Amberley, I will not let you bring that brat into this world. Do you understand me?’ His speech was incoherent, his eyes wide with hostility and spittle flying from his mouth.

  Amberley managed to scramble free but Steve caught her again, he pulled her around and slapped her hard about the face. She staggered backwards falling to the ground once again. Everything felt as if it was happening in slow motion, too late she saw him aim a kick at her vulnerable belly. She tried to roll into a ball to protect her unborn child, but Steve’s foot connected with her stomach before she could do so. The pain was unbearable.

  ‘Stop, please, you’re killing my baby, for God sake please stop.’

  She could hear him screeching at her as he kicked her repeatedly. She heard someone coming up the path shouting at Steve to stop. After one final kick, he fled the scene. A man and woman knelt by her side.

  ‘My baby,’ whispered Amberley, ‘please save my baby.’

  She felt a crippling pain in her stomach. She called out for Greg and then she fainted.

  ***

  Greg emerged from the garage, determined to find Amberley, to make her see he wanted her and didn’t lay any of the blame at her feet. He couldn’t bear the guilt he’d seen on her face. He could never blame her for this. She was far more important to him than any gallery or painting. He must make her see that. A man shouting for help caught his attention.

  ‘I need to use your phone to call for an ambulance,’ he said, out of breath. ‘A woman has been attacked on the cliffs. I’ve left my wife up there with her. I don’t want to leave them alone for long in case that lunatic comes back. It was a ferocious attack.’

  Greg turned pale; he grabbed the man’s arm. ‘This woman, what does she look like?’ he said, his voice urgent.

  The man took a deep breath. ‘Late twenties, long red hair. Poor thing, she’s out cold.’

  Kath led the man into the shop. ‘Go to her, Greg,’ she called out over her shoulder. ‘Keep her safe.’

  Greg knew it was Amberley by the man’s description. He ran as fast as he could for the cliff tops. When he reached there, the scene ripped him apart. A woman was cradling Amberley’s head in her lap. There was blood on her skirt, although he could not make out where it was coming from. The woman looked frightened and then relaxed a little when she saw it wasn’t Amberley’s attacker.

  ‘Oh thank God, I thought you were that crazy man back again. I think he would have killed her if we had not happened by. Do you know her?’

  Greg nodded mutely. ‘She’s my girlfriend.’

  He knelt down, the woman let him take Amberley and hold her close.

  ‘Please don’t die, Amberley. I love you and I need you. Please come back to me.’

  The woman put an arm around his shoulder. ‘Here come the paramedics. They’ll look after her. Hopefully they can save the baby too.’

  Greg looked at the woman, shock clearly registering on his face.

  Oh goodness, didn’t you know she was pregnant?’

  ‘No…no, she wanted to talk to me today but we…’

  ‘Would you please move, Sir, so we can check her condition.’

  Slowly, he stood up, at a loss for anything to say as the paramedics began to check Amberley’s condition.

  ‘Are you with the lady, Sir?’

  ‘Yes I’m her boyfriend.’

  ‘Does she have any medical conditions we should be aware of?’

  ‘She… she may be pregnant.’ The words felt alien on his lips.

  He noted the look the paramedics shared and wondered about it. He watched on helplessly while they loaded her onto a stretcher, then followed them back to the village and into the ambulance. He held her hand. She looked frail and lifeless.

  Amberley was taken straight to the operating theatre. Greg sat in the stark hospital corridor feeling useless. He didn’t know what to do. He blamed himself for not stopping her from leaving the garage. Instead, he had allowed her to go in a distraught state to where Steve had found her vulnerable and alone, and attacked her. He thought about the baby and guessed that was the reason she had wanted them to go for a walk.

  ‘Hey how is she, mate? Your mum called me. I came as soon as I could.’

  Greg looked up to see Keith. ‘Thanks.’ He let Keith sit him down and give him a cup of coffee. Greg placed the cup on the floor. He put his head in his hands and tried not to cry but he couldn’t help it.

  ‘She was pregnant,’ he whispered ‘I didn’t know until just now.’ Greg stood up and paced the corridor, running his hands through his hair. He then slumped lifelessly back down on the chair.

  Keith put an arm around him and tried to comfort him.

  ‘That bloody
Steve used her as a punch bag, Keith, there was blood all over her skirt.’ Greg went on, ‘I swear if I ever get my hands on him, I’ll kill him for what he’s done to her.’

  ‘It’ll be okay, mate. Amberley will pull through – she’s a fighter. You know how stubborn she is. Maybe the baby is okay too. Don’t start worrying about things just yet. Wait to see what the doctors have to say.’

  They sat in silence for what seemed an eternity; a doctor came along a short while later looking weary.

  ‘Which one of you is Miss Masterson’s next of kin?’

  Greg tensed. ‘I’m her boyfriend, is she going to be okay?’ mumbled Greg.

  The doctor sat next to him.

  ‘She received some severe kicks to the stomach. After a couple of nights rest in hospital and some time at home to recuperate, she will be fine. I am sorry, but she lost the baby, we were unable to save it. You can go in and see her now if you like but only for five minutes. She is heavily sedated.’

  Greg got up and followed the doctor into a small room. The sight that met his eyes hurt him badly. Amberley looked so pale, hooked up to a drip and a monitor. He sat down next to her.

  ‘I am so sorry for all of this. It’s my fault you’re in this state,’ he murmured as he stroked her face, his voice on the verge of tears.

  He sat with her for five minutes, stroking her hair away from her face. The doctor came in and said it was time for him to leave.

  Gently, he bent down kissed her face, and said in a hushed voice, ‘I know you can’t hear me but I love you more than anything in this world. We’ll work this out I promise.’

  He got up, took one last look at her, and left the room.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  When Greg arrived back at the shop, the Scenes of Crime officers were already there, making a thorough inspection of the garage and the surrounding area. They explained their procedures and took his fingerprints to process for elimination purposes. He listened numbly, managing to mumble responses to their questions but all the time his thoughts were on Amberley.

  On their departure, Kath forced Greg to eat something but after a couple of mouthfuls, he made his excuses and drove straight back to the hospital. Amberley still slept heavily, an effect of the strong medication. He sat beside her in a chair and drifted off into a restless sleep.

  ***

  When Amberley woke up later that evening, she saw Greg sitting next to her his eyes closed. He slept fitfully. She rustled the bedclothes and he came awake. They looked at each other without speaking for long minutes. Greg moved to the bed and stroked her hair away from her face. He kissed her softly on the forehead.

  ‘I should never have let you go off on your own. I’m so sorry.’

  Amberley took his hand in hers and shook her head. ‘You’re the last person who should apologise. I’m the one who brought that monster down here.’

  They were silent once more.

  ‘How long had you known you were pregnant?’

  Amberley looked at the sorrow in his face and she squeezed his hand tightly.

  ‘Only a few days, I was waiting for confirmation from the doctor… I only got that a short while ago.’

  She bit her lip in an attempt to hold back the tears but it was futile. She wept heavily, Greg held her tightly in his arms. She drew in from his comfort, unable to stop the waves of guilt from washing over her.

  At that moment there was a light rap on the door, Simon walked in. Greg moved over so Simon could take his place. He held his sister close and she began to cry once more. Amberley looked up at him his face was drawn, as though he had not slept in weeks.

  ‘You didn’t have to come down,’ she said.

  ‘Yes I did, I came as soon as Kath called me. Sarah would’ve have come but…’

  He didn’t need to say anymore. Absently, Amberley touch her barren belly and closed her eyes tightly, trying to block out the pain of loss she felt. Greg’s phone went off. He made his excuses and went outside. It wasn’t long before he came back in a look of grim satisfaction on his face.

  ‘You don’t have to worry about Steve anymore.’

  ‘Why what’s happened?’ she said raising herself up in her bed.

  ‘The police have caught him.’

  ‘How…where?’

  ‘He was seen driving like a maniac and crashed not far from the Craft Centre. They found enough equipment in the boot for making several firebombs. I think we know what he was going to do next.’

  ‘At last, I hope they lock him up for good and throw away the damn key,’ she said bitterly.

  The relief that Steve had finally been caught left her feeling drained, emotionally and physically, and she yawned, her eyelids heavy. Simon bent and kissed her head, leaving her alone with Greg.

  ‘You rest now; you’ve been through a lot. We’ll talk more when you’re feeling up to it. I love you,’ he whispered, planting a tender kiss upon her lips.

  ***

  After a couple of nights in hospital, she had the all clear to leave. All Amberley wanted was to be left in peace, and to try to rebuild her life.

  Sitting eating breakfast at the cottage the following day, the silence hung over all three of them, the lack of sound was almost deafening. Looking at both Greg and Simon, she took a deep breath, her decision made. Simon could see she had things she wanted to talk to Greg about.

  ‘Why don’t you two go and enjoy the sunshine outside.’ He suggested.

  Amberley looked at the breakfast dishes. Simon placed a hand on her arm and squeezed it gently. ‘I can do these.’

  Amberley and Greg stood looking at the garden for a while, and then Amberley turned to face him. She could almost feel his love for her. Holding his hand, she spoke softly to him. ‘I want to go back to London for a while, Greg, how do you feel about that?’

  She watched him closely; his countenance was calm and untroubled. Amberley sat down on one of the garden chairs. She could sense Greg’s presence behind her, and felt his hands as they gently held her shoulders. She leaned into his touch. He sat down on the chair next to hers.

  ‘Amberley, I want you to hear me out okay?’

  She looked at the sincerity in his eyes and nodded wordlessly.

  ‘I don’t want you to go. I love you and need you here with me. We’ve both lost a child and need to go through the grieving process. Being in London on your own, isn’t going to help.’

  ‘But,’ she began to protest. He held his hand up to her.

  ‘As much as I don’t want you to go, I also know how stubborn you are. If you feel it’s the right thing for you to do, then you must go.’

  ‘It doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving you, Greg. I want to make sure my staff are okay and to help oversee the takeover. I also need some space to get my head together.’

  ‘I know you haven’t and you have to do what’s right for you. Look,’ he said taking her hand in his and stroking it softly. ‘I am going to be tied up with my business for a while. Let’s just let the dust settles and then we’ll face it together.’

  ‘Thank you, Greg,’ she whispered, as she brought his hand up to her mouth and gently kissed his palm.

  ‘Take as much time as you need. When will you go?’

  ‘No time like the present.’ Amberley knew it was the only way to deal with this otherwise she would lose her nerve and not leave.

  She kissed him intensely, savouring every part of him. As they broke, she held his face tightly in her hands, memorising every part of him. Slowly she rose from her chair and went inside to pack. The sooner she could make a move the better.

  Greg followed her inside. He hated to see her like this. He wanted to get down on his knees and beg her to stay and he would if he thought it would do any good, but he knew her too well. The more he tried to plead with her, the more she would push him away. An hour later, she was ready to go.

  ‘Are you sure this is wise, what about your injuries you could make them worse? Why don’t I come back with you?’ Simon said gently, i
n one final attempt to get her to change her mind.

  ‘I will take frequent breaks and I’ll call you each time I stop. And you need to be here for things that are required by the Craft Centre, if I’m not here. This will work itself out, please stop worrying.’

  He squeezed her fiercely, kissed her on the cheek and went back inside, leaving Greg and Amberley a few final moments together.

  ‘Make sure you drive carefully. Let me know when you get there.’

  ‘Thank you, Greg, I know this is hard for you too but we’ll get through this. I… I just need time to process everything.’

  He pulled her close and kissed her passionately, his hands wound in her hair deepening the kiss. They broke breathless, love and sadness mirrored in each other’s eyes.

  ‘Go,’ he said hoarsely, ‘any more kisses like that and I’ll have to keep you here.’

  ‘I will never stop loving you, Greg,’ she whispered through her sobs.

  ‘Me neither, you drive carefully.’

  Shakily, she got into the car and drove off at speed, never once looking back at the lonely figure outside the cottage. Once out of sight, she pulled into a lay by and sobbed until she could sob no more. In her heart of hearts, she had wanted him to beg her not to go but it was too late to turn back and London beckoned.

  ***

  By the time she reached her apartment, it was dark. It had taken her many hours to get back, encountering a bad traffic jam on the motorway. She sent a quick text to Simon and Greg to let them know she had arrived safely.

  Walking into her flat seemed alien to her now. Compared to the homely cottage, it was sparsely furnished and cold. It didn’t feel like she belonged there any more. It was as though this part of her life had ceased to exist. Exhaustion came over her and she collapsed, fully clothed, onto her bed.

  The next few days were filled with finalising the Hawson project and helping Simon and Sarah pack up their belongings. They were due to go to Cornwall permanently the following weekend.

  ‘Are you sure you’re going to be okay on your own in London?’ Simon asked her, while they sat eating dinner.