The House of Wood

by Anthony Price

  The interior of the restaurant had a rustic Italian feel to it, with lots of wooden beams and stonework around the walls. Deep green velvet cushions covered the chairs. Across the back of the wall was a perfectly polished bar; the barman was rushing from one end to the other, intent on keeping up with the drink orders. Next to that, was the open kitchen dominated by its huge clay oven; the chef hollering instructions to the other kitchen staff. Candle flames swayed in the subdued atmosphere like a hypnotist’s pendant. A rotund maître d' greeted them, looking down his nose.

  “Good evening, may I help you?”

  “Yes, table for two,” David replied. “Under the name of Cochrane.”

  Rachel watched, as the dumpy little man took his time looking through his reservation book. She hated snobbery with a passion.

  “Ah yes, this way please.”

  The maître d' led them to a secluded table at one of the windows looking out over the car park. Perfect for a quiet chat, she realised, butterflies swarming in her stomach again. It was never easy to face the past.

  “A waitress will be along shortly to take your orders. Can I get you any drinks whilst you wait?”

  “A bottle of red wine would be fantastic,” David answered for the both of them.

  And with that the maître d' was gone, leaving the two of them alone to look over the dinner menu. Rachel had started chewing her bottom lip.

  “Nervous?” David asked.

  She looked up at him. “Pardon?”

  “You were chewing your bottom lip. I wondered if you were nervous?”

  “Oh.” It was all she could think of to say. Her cheeks had turned the colour of beetroot. “Maybe a little.”

  “Please don’t be,” he replied, adding his usual clean white smile. “I don't bite.”

  Rachel wondered if he used the same smile on his patients. She smiled back. “I’ll try not to.”

  A tall, wispy haired waitress returned with their wine. She poured each of them a glass, before taking out her crisp white pad. “Are you ready to order?”

  David ordered first and then Rachel followed. The waitress dashed off in the direction of the kitchen.

  “So, you mentioned a chat?” He looked at her over the soft flame of the candle. His voice calm. Seductive. His eyes penetrating her. They were intoxicating. “Tell me why you left town?”

  Rachel was taken by surprise at the suddenness of the question. Why start there? She wondered. “I-I-I’d rather not start with me,” she stammered. “Why don't you tell me more about you?”

  “Okay.” He adjusted himself in the chair. “I had a relatively normal upbringing. Only one other sibling. A younger brother. He died when I was away at college.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Without thinking, she put out her hand and placed it on top of his. She was so drawn in by him, hanging on every word.

  “Thank you,” he said, not moving his hand away. He cleared his throat. “I graduated from college and decided I wanted to be a clinical psychologist. This is my first job. That's about it really. Over to you.”

  “There must be more than that?” She wanted to know it all.

  David shook his head. “Besides, we're here to talk about you.” The smile was back. “Why don't you start at the beginning of the story, as to why you wanted to have this chat?”

  Rachel knew she couldn't postpone the inevitable any longer. Her hands shook. The moment to exorcise her Demons had come.

  “It’s a long story.”

  “We’ve got plenty of time.”

  Outside the rain had started to fall heavily again.

  “It was coming towards the end of summer. Everything was beginning to wind down. All the senior class of Willows Peak High School had graduated; bar the odd few drop outs, but nobody really cares about them…”

  Chapter Nine

  I’d just turned eighteen. It was an amazing feeling to be finally considered an adult. Not that my parents were strict, or anything. Far from it. But being seen as an adult in the eyes of the law gave me a strong sense of freedom; I felt like I could do anything I wanted without consequence. We all did.

  I remember it was a boiling hot day. The sun beat down on my bare shoulders, as Chelsea and I weaved in and out of the shops just off of Main Street. Chelsea was doing her usual ‘shop ‘till you drop’ thing. I just followed.

  “Where’d you wanna go now, Rach?” Chelsea asked, not stopping. The multitude of plastic bags swung like a pendulum on her arm.

  “I don’t know,” I replied. My feet were killing me. “How about we go get a drink?”

  “Don’t be a drag. Daddy upped my credit limit.” There was a twinkle in her eye. “Victoria’s Secret has just opened up around the corner.”

  “Chelsea, we’ve been walking for ages. I need a rest.”

  “But I’m seeing Tim tonight and I want to get something nice.” She winked. “To take off.”

  “You’re such a slut.” I said, with a smile. I wasn’t getting on her case; she was my best friend. We did everything together. “This is the last shop though.”

  “Deal.”

  Chelsea sped off in the direction of the lingerie store, me limping behind her like a lost puppy. We had a strange relationship. At times I was both jealous and in awe of her. Who wouldn’t be? She had everything a girl could want. Money; her parents were filthy rich. Still are now. And nothing was too much for their little princess. The looks; her hazel eyes matched her mahogany red hair perfectly. It gave her a starlet kind of quality. Of course that meant she was used to guys fawning all over her. She just drifted through life like dust on the breeze, taking everything it threw at her in one simple stride. What did I have? Parents that didn’t seem to care less what I got up to, and average looks. I loved her all the same though.

  The shop wasn’t very big, but it was crammed with eager shoppers. The two of us darted around the place as if our butts were on fire, gathering up skimpy bits of material to try on in the changing rooms. Bargain hunting, Chelsea called it.

  “What do you think of this?” she shouted over the rack of bras. “Do you think Tim’ll like it?”

  “It looks like a piece of wardrobe from a porno shoot. Tim’ll love it.”

  Chelsea let out a girlish giggle. Sometimes it was hard to believe she was also eighteen.

  “Talking of Tim, where is he? You two are usually joined at the hip these days.”

  “That’s because he’s so gorgeous.” She whipped another thong off of the rack. “He’s helping a friend of his on some renovation job to earn a little extra money, you know, so he can visit me at college.”

  College. The real world. Everything was racing towards me at an ever increasing pace, but for some reason I wasn’t scared. The thought of leaving home was nerve racking, but at least Chelsea was going to be there with me.

  “Do you think you and Tim’ll continue, after we’re at college?” I’m not sure why I asked. I already knew the answer.

  “Probably. Maybe. At least for a while.” She paused for a second, her gaze drifting off in to empty space. “Think of all those poor frat boys I’d have to let down. We can’t have that now, can we?”

  The two of us both giggled at that. It was true though. There would be countless more ‘Tims’, when we reached college.

  After we had finished hunting, Chelsea went to try some things on. All I wanted was to get a nice cool drink, but she insisted it wouldn’t take long.

  I sat on a sofa that had been put out by the changing rooms and started rifling through a glossy magazine. It seemed like I had been sitting there for all eternity. Several other customers had come and gone in the time Chelsea had been behind the fake wooden door of the changing room. I felt awkward. Out of place.

  “Hurry up, Chelsea, it’s getting late.”

  “Almost done.”

  I knew why she was taking so long. Despite all her grit and flirty ways, underneath she wasn’t as confident as she seemed. Deep down she had serious body issues. I caught her onc
e, fingers down her throat up to the knuckles, puking in one of the more secluded bathrooms at school. Of course, she wouldn’t admit it. But I knew what it meant.

  “There you go, all finished,” she announced, as she near enough glided out of the changing room. “Let’s go.”

  She grabbed me by the arm and dragged me off to the cashier’s desk. As I stood to one side, a laugh escaped my lips. Nathan had his face squashed up against the pristine glass window. The manageress was trying to shoo him away.

  Chelsea walked up beside me, a scowl furrowing her brow. “Why does that geek have to follow you everywhere?”

  “Leave him alone. He’s a really sweet guy, if you give him a chance.”

  “He’s weird,” she replied. “Look at him.”

  By now the manageress was out there giving him a stern lecture. He was mimicking her posture.

  “You can’t tell me you two have been friends for like, ever, and not bumped uglies?”

  “Eww Chelsea, that’s gross. You can be so vulgar sometimes.”

  “It’s part of my charm.” She flicked her hair back. “So, have you?”

  “You know I haven’t.”

  “Not even a grope?”

  “Chelsea, it’s not like that with me and Nathan and you know it.” She could be so annoying at times, especially if she had a bee in her bonnet about something.

  “It just fascinates me how a boy and a girl can be good friends without having sex.” She watched him out of the window then began nodding. “He may be a geek, but he ain’t bad lookin’ girlfriend.”

  “I don’t think of him in that way and neither does he. He’s like a…” I couldn’t think of the right word. “A brother. Or close cousin.”

  “And he thinks the same?”

  “Of course he does. Sex doesn’t have to be an issue.”

  Chelsea smirked slightly. “If you say so, sweetie.”

  The manageress had given up lecturing him. He beckoned for the both of us to join him outside by waving his arms around like a madman. He was such a clown back then.

  The late afternoon sun dazzled me as we walked in to the street. The crowds were beginning to thin. In the distance, a black silhouette darted across the sky; no doubt a blackbird getting in some hunting before the last good rays of sunlight disappeared for the evening. I don’t know why, but Willows Peak gets a lot of blackbirds.

  “Wassup, ladies,” Nathan said, strolling towards them, his battered old BMX in tow. “What’s going on in the hood today?”

  Chelsea rolled her eyes. “Stop trying to talk all gangster, moron.”

  Nathan got down on one knee. “For you my lady…” He took her hand and kissed it. “Anything.”

  She snatched it back, screwing up her face. “Freak.”

  “We’re off to get a milkshake,” I butted in. “Fancy tagging along?”

  He grinned from ear to ear. “I’d love to.”

  The three of us made our way down the street to Fred’s Milkshake Bar. I felt like I was at a tennis game, as the banter between Nathan and Chelsea shot back and forth over my head. Nothing nasty. It was all kind hearted. They continued at it all the way down the road, right up until we sat down in our usual booth.

  “Fancy splitting a Cherry Surprise?” Nathan asked.

  “You know I won’t say no to that.”

  Time seemed to fly past. I can’t really remember what we talked about. I remember it being a fun afternoon. Fred’s was where everyone used to hang out. Well, until they got their hands on a fake ID, then they migrated to Logan’s Bar on the edge of town. I always preferred Fred’s.

  After an hour had passed, a loud growling erupted outside the door, as a black Ford Falcon skidded to a halt. I could hear Guns and Roses playing You Could Be Mine through the frosted window. Chelsea’s face lit up. Two rough looking guys walked in, their muscular arms gleaming with sweat.

  “Hey Timmy,” Chelsea called out. “Over here.”

  It was a moment I'll probably never forget.

  Tim and his buddy made their way through the maze of tables, avoiding the other customers. “Hey baby,” he said, squeezing himself into the seat next to her. Without skipping a beat, his tongue slipped straight between her lips. They were like a couple of animals. The other guy just stood there, as if he didn't know what to do.

  “My God you two, get a room would’ya!” The one thing I hate is watching couples going at each other. Needless to say, they promptly stopped.

  “I told you about that job I'm working on, didn't I, babe?”

  “Yep,” Chelsea replied.

  “Well, this is the guy I've been working with. His name’s Justin.”

  The new guy, Justin, nodded his head in acknowledgement. Up to that point, I hadn't paid much attention to the two of them. I don't think I ever looked away again. The guy was stunning. His brilliant blue eyes pierced in to mine. My heart skipped a beat, as I tried to make it less obvious that I was staring at him. There was something in those eyes that I couldn’t pinpoint. He was beautiful. To me, everything about his features was perfect. His skin was a pale, pearlescent white, which contrasted with his jet black hair that was styled, so that one half of his face was covered when his head was bent forward. He also had some light stubble on his chin that framed his strong jaw. His black vest t-shirt was tight across his broad shoulders and chest. I could only imagine that underneath the clothing, was a stone solid body. Nobody had ever captured me like he did.

  “And you would be?” He reached out a hand towards me.

  I took it. “I-I’m R-Rachel.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Rachel.”

  “Jesus Christ, Rach,” Chelsea piped up. “You sound like such a frickin’ retard.”

  Tim was the only one at the table that laughed. To be honest, I'm surprised he came up for air long enough. Even to this day, my cheeks still go red at that memory. That is, when I decide to let myself think about it.

  “Well we better get going,” Justin said, tapping Tim on the shoulder. Even his voice was mesmerising. “We gotta get to Old Man Marley’s hardware store to pick up those supplies before he closes, or my old man will have my balls.” He tipped his head towards me. “Pleasure to meet you, Rachel.”

  I just shot back a dumb smile, as if to say ‘likewise’. I couldn't speak. Never in all my life, had I expected a guy to have that kind of power over me. Part of me was unnerved by the sensation. I tried to ignore it.

  Chelsea and Tim finally parted. She was like a kid at Christmas after all the presents had been unwrapped. She turned to me as the door closed. “God, I'm glad I bought that underwear. I think I'm going to need it tonight.”

  My brain didn't register the part about the underwear. “Where are you going again?” My reasons for asking were more than just curiosity.

  “We’re going to catch a horror flick at the cinema and then probably grab a bite to eat at the diner. Why do you ask?”

  Nathan had stopped slurping the last dregs of his milkshake. He looked at me with his inquisitive eyes. There's a reason he became a police officer. “Why do you need to know what they're doing tonight? It's Saturday. I usually come over for DVD night.”

  “I know, but I was hoping we could give it a miss for one night.”

  He pushed the empty glass away from him across the table. He didn't once look up. “What else did you have in mind?”

  “Well,” I began, turning to Chelsea. “I was hoping I could go with you and Tim to the cinema.”

  Chelsea looked puzzled. “Why would you want to come with me and Tim? I thought you hated being the third wheel.”

  “I was hoping you could ask Tim to bring Justin along with him. You know, make it a foursome.” I had never been a forward, or pushy person in my life. I don't know what came over me. Even Nathan looked bemused.

  “So, you like him then?”

  “He seems okay. I guess.”

  Chelsea was over the moon “I was hoping that you would. I'll see what I can do.”

  She
slid out of the booth and rushed out the door. Nathan put his baseball cap on. I'd forgotten he was there.

  “You going?” I asked, feeling a little guilty for brushing him off.

  “Yeah, Pa’ll wonder where I am if I don't get home soon.”

  “Are you okay about us skipping DVD night?”

  “It’s cool. I've got things to do anyway. We can do it another time.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Well, have a nice time, pretty lady.”

  “Bye, Nate.”

  I watched him wheel his bike down the road, as I sat alone in the booth. There were so many things that we could, and should, have done differently. But we were kids looking to have some fun. What do kids know? Instead of going after him, I sat and waited for Chelsea to return, hoping for an answer that would make my dreams come true.

  ***

  The beginning of the night couldn’t have gone any better. As a group we decided to go and see Hitchcock’s Psycho, which was playing at the cinema on Main Street. The others had seen it, but I hadn't. Not that it mattered to Chelsea anyway; her and Tim spent the majority of the film making out. Justin and I didn't. I sat next to him and shared some popcorn. A few times during the film, I flinched; his strong arm wrapped around my shoulders, letting me know he would protect me. I felt safe with him.

  After the film had finished, we spilled out onto Main Street and made our way to the diner. The air was close. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. The stars sparkled like cats eyes.

  As it was getting late, the diner wasn't very busy. It was one of those fifties diners where the waitresses bring out the food trays on skates. The interior was full of silver seats with red leather covered cushions. There was a jukebox on every table and the walls were adorned with icons of the era; there were the likes of Elvis, Buddy Holly and James Dean watching the customers stuff their faces full of greasy food. It was nice. Fun. We ordered two baskets of cheesy fries to share and a Cola each.

  “Where are you guys working again?” I asked, wanting to know more about this stranger that had come into my life.

  “We’re at that old place up on the hill,” Justin replied, taking a handful of fries. “My father bought it for a steal and wants to fix it up. He thinks he can flip it and make a few bucks.”