by Peter Martin
‘Good for you love – and as a matter of fact I’ll be right there beside you.’
She smiled at him.
‘Anyway we’d better be on our way, or the removal van will get to Cliffburn before us, and I wouldn’t want to keep them hanging around unnecessarily.’
Bob helped guide her out of Tim’s old room and finally out of the house, which he then locked behind him shoving the keys through the letter box.
Maria got into the car first, followed by Bob sliding into the driving seat. As he drove off, Maria looked at the house they’d given up, reflecting on their memories.
But then before she could dwell on this, the door of the Harper household opened. Four of them standing on the doorstep - the father and mother, with their son and daughter, all making obscene gestures at them. Maria, tried her level best to turn the other cheek, but as they went by, missiles were thrown at the car. Having no intention of retaliating she looked up at Bob who just raised his eyebrows and drove on, obviously they were both of the same mind.
How she wished one of the Harper’s children would go missing, just for one day, then see how they liked it. Although in truth, it probably wouldn’t make any difference - they were such an ignorant heartless family.
Chapter 12
Bob drove all the way to Cliffburn on the motorway. The traffic was heavy from the onset, and the weather grey with patchy rain, just about summed up his mood, and he imagined Maria’s too.
They should have been excited, looking forward to this new adventure, but instead were lost in their own little worlds - their missing son and the Harper’s send off.
The tension of moving house had frayed his nerves, as he realised Maria had been forced into leaving with him. But this was to be a fresh start for them after all that had happened.
How they’d get on in North East as a family without their son, was anyone’s guess. Somehow they had to come to terms with it. He’d done all he could, by getting himself back to work and in his view had coped better than Maria. Did that mean he was stronger, or perhaps just less emotional than his wife?
She hadn’t returned to work and he wondered if this new start of theirs would end up in disaster as she still had no intention of getting a job. All that kept her going was the belief that Tim would come back and everything would return to normal once they were reunited. But as far as he could see it was somewhat of a myth, after all it was almost five months since his disappearance and the police were no nearer finding him now.
Perhaps the Harpers had indirectly pushed Maria into accepting the fact that they had to move. However, as strangers in Cliffburn, unless the neighbours were friendly, Maria might end up lonely and isolated.
Around midday they stopped off at a motorway service station for a bite to eat and a drink. The food wasn’t very appetising, dried up fish and chips and watery cups of tea, but it was a respite from their journey.
Back onto the motorway afterwards, Bob put his foot down, their destination another hour away. The atmosphere remained tense between them, perhaps her doubts were surfacing again. Although the traffic for the last lap of the journey was bad, at two o’clock they arrived at Luke’s Close, just on the outskirts of the town. The rain had stopped, but it remained overcast.
Bob had had no trouble at all finding the actual house, despite having only viewed the property twice. Number four, a modern semi-detached house, was situated about halfway down the street, as quiet and sedate as they remembered. The rear of the property was flanked by a large park, and beyond that a golf course. The surrounding properties were similar to their own, with some newly built detached bungalows at the end of the road. It seemed a better class neighbourhood than the area they had vacated in Dexford. Hopefully, the neighbours would be friendly but leave them to themselves. And no one resembling the Harpers would live anywhere near.
Surprisingly, the removal van hadn’t arrived, but Bob guessed it must have got caught in traffic somewhere. And in order to leave room for the removal van to park on the drive he parked their car on the road in front of the house.
‘Wish that removal van would hurry up. I want to get things moving,’ Maria said, staring at the house.
‘It shouldn’t be long. In the meantime why don’t we collect the keys – they’re supposed to be next door; aren’t they? Then we’ll give the place a good clean before the furniture arrives.’
‘Ok.’
Maria waited by the car while Bob went next door. He returned five minutes later with the couple who lived there, Alan and Debra Marshall, who both looked to be in their mid-thirties, but seemed pleasant enough. Alan was completely bald, obviously shaving his head, thin and of medium height. His blue grey eyes were large and looked friendly and intelligent. Debra in comparison was a plump small woman. Her long thick brown hair was worn loose. Sparkling brown eyes, made her look attractive when she smiled.
‘Hello there,’ she said with a pleasant look on her face, staring straight at Maria.
‘Hello,’ Maria replied with a half-smile.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Debra said shaking Maria’s hand. They all exchanged pleasantries.
Bob opened the front door with the keys.
‘We’ll leave you to get on, you’ll have lots to do. But we hope you’ll both be happy in Luke’s Close.’
‘Thank you Alan, I hope we are too,’ Bob replied.
‘Any time you need anything, you only have to ask,’ Debra smiled. ‘Everything should be spotlessly clean; we actually helped Roy and Angie before they left. They were so sad to leave, but they wanted to live by their daughter. Still their loss is your gain. Oh, and we wondered if you’d come round for a drink, say tomorrow night about eight o’clock, if you’re settled in by then.’
‘That’s very kind of you, we’d be thrilled – wouldn’t we love?’ Bob said, delighted their new neighbours were being so sociable with them.
‘Love too,’ Maria agreed.
‘Good, that’s wonderful news. We’ll look forward to seeing you.’ Alan winked.
‘Bye for now,’ Bob said waving from the front door as the friendly couple returned to their own house. Maria went into the new house stony faced shutting the door not too quietly behind them.
‘God, weren’t they pushy?’ She grumbled.
‘Oh come on Maria, stop complaining. They’re only trying to be friendly. Rather that, than being like the Harpers back in Dexford – eh?’
‘All right - I know.’
‘Let’s get started, shall we? We’re in for a busy afternoon.’
An hour later the removal men arrived; Maria went out to greet them with two mugs of tea.
She already knew the men wanted to return to the Dexford area as soon as possible and they wasted no time in offloading the furniture. Bob got on with putting the curtain rails up and left Maria to supervise where she wanted the various items put. She started to feel better once all of Tim’s bits and pieces had been put in his new room.
She liked the layout of the house – its hall led into the living room with an archway to the dining room, and then on to a kitchen and utility room. A large conservatory had been built on to the back of the house linking the kitchen to the back door of the garage. Upstairs the bathroom and main bedroom were at the back, the two smaller bedrooms at the front.
There were things she’d like to change, such as the carpets and decorating. But right now they needed to live with everything until the dust had settled, affording her time to mull over what she wanted to do.
By late afternoon the removal men had finally finished. Maria never dreamt it would take so much time to bring in all their belongings. There had been a whole host of niggling problems; the worst of which was getting the settee into the house. They’d had to bring it in via the conservatory, through the patio doors into the dining room and finally laid to rest in the living room.
Having already cleaned the house before the removal men had arrived, they only had to tidy up a little before calling it a day.
Maria had no intention of cooking that night, so Bob went out for a curry, which they ate on their laps whilst watching television. Afterwards Maria got their bed made up before having a shower.
While Bob was in the bathroom she went to Tim’s room to make up his bed. Job done, she stepped back and admired how crisp and clean the curtains and matching bedcover looked. Putting his radio alarm on the pine bedside table, she stood gazing at the framed photograph of him, taken on their last holiday together in Devon.
Everything had been placed in the room so as to mirror his room in Dexford, even down to the football posters on the wall opposite the window.
When Bob popped his head round the door looking for her, he had already changed into his pyjamas ready for bed. And as if weighing up her thoughts he said, ‘How’s it going?’
‘All right.’
‘I see you’ve got Tim’s room almost like it was back in Dexford – don’t you think you’re taking things a bit too far?’
Shaking her head and widening her eyes she snapped, ‘No, I don’t. If he ever comes here to us, I want him to be comfortable – I don’t want him to leave again. That’s why I’m planning to have the same carpet, and wallpaper in here. We have no idea what he’s gone through – it’s essential he feels at home. You can’t have any objections – surely?’
‘No, not at all. If that’s what you want, who am I to deny you.’ Maria could see his reaction wasn’t that bad, considering he clearly didn’t approve.
‘I’d like to go to bed now – it’s been a long day and I’m really tired.’
‘Me too.’
She felt vulnerable even though they shared the same bed and was finding it hard to drop off to sleep in a strange house. She felt hot and sticky, her pulse raced as she thought about living in this alien place. But surely it couldn’t be as bad as Dexford. She snuggled close to Bob, wanting his love and affection, which he was more than willing to give.
In the early hours she woke, sat up, dropped her head and burst into tears. Unintentionally this woke Bob, who looked up at her, scratching his head, not knowing how to deal with the situation.
‘I wish Tim could be here with us! Oh God, it hurts so much,’ she blurted out.
‘Me too, love.’ He squeezed her arm.
‘Has he really gone from us forever?’
‘I hope not, but I fear so.’
‘I won’t give up Bob, you know that don’t you?’
‘Yes, love – I pray he comes home too.’
She kissed him on the forehead, then held onto him tightly before drifting off to sleep again.
The next day a Saturday, Maria woke early, and as she stepped out of bed noticed the weather was again grey and miserable. They’d only been here a day and already she hated it. All the misgivings she had were manifesting out of control in her mind. Panic set in, and she couldn’t see a way out. The house was nice enough, and the area respectable and quiet, perhaps too quiet, she’d be lonely. But at least they were away from the Harpers. What would happen if Tim turned up at their old home, and saw strange people in the house? He’d be frightened and lost. And so the thoughts went on.
Suddenly arms encircled her waist and she shuddered from the shock of it.
‘Sorry darling, didn’t mean to startle you,’ he whispered in her ear.
‘No, no, it’s all right – I was miles away.’
‘What were you thinking about?’
‘Nothing much. The old times when Tim was small. About how happy we were. And the holidays – didn’t we have fun with him? Do you remember when he was about two or three, how he used to be frightened of the sand? How he’d cry because he couldn’t walk properly on it and wanted to be picked up. Funny wasn’t it?’
‘Yes, I remember.’
‘I wish he were here with us now, Bob.’
‘Me too. It’s awful not knowing what’s become of him. I reckon he’ll come back when he’s good and ready, and not before. We have to carry on especially now we’re up here. Let’s make a new life for ourselves here, eh?’
‘But it’s not the same without him, and I don’t know if that will ever change.’
‘Maria, there’s nothing else you can do. There’s no point in sitting around waiting for something that may never happen?’
The colour came to her cheeks. ‘Well, if you think I’m going to act as if nothing’s happened, you can think again.’
Bob sighed. ‘I didn’t mean that, I meant we must get back to some sort of normality. We can redecorate his room, or whatever else you want to do, for when he comes home to us. And it goes without saying that he’ll be constantly in our thoughts, but life has to go on.’
‘Does it? But I can’t forget him. He’s still with me wherever I go, and once I get his room looking like it did at Dexford, I’ll feel his presence even more.’
Bob just smiled, knowing how irrational her train of thoughts were at the moment and was frightened to comment further. And until a body was produced and proven to be Tim, she’d always harbour the thought their son would someday come back to them.
‘So what shall we do today?’ Maria asked.
‘We’ve got loads to do around the house, like putting the rest of the curtains up, and unpacking the other boxes we didn’t have time for yesterday. Then there’ll be shopping to fetch. We’ll probably be busy for the rest of the weekend.’
‘I want to get started on Tim’s room next week once we’re settled in. There’ll be the wall papering to be done, painting and then we have to order the carpet.’
Bob shook his head a little. ‘I really wish you wouldn’t insist on doing this to Tim’s room.’
‘I have to. Because I want him to feel at home, or else he’ll go again. You will help me with the wallpapering, won’t you?’
‘Of course I will,’ he promised. ‘Anyway, isn’t it about time we got dressed and ready for action – otherwise nothing will get done, and I want everything up straight for when we go out tonight.’
‘Oh, I’d forgotten. I wish we didn’t have to go. We’ll be tired, irritable and not in the mood for socialising.’
‘Come on love, we have to make the effort. They’re being nice to us – and we need all the friends we can get.’
They worked hard for the rest of the day, getting everything to their liking, except for Tim’s room, but by the time they were ready to go round to their neighbour’s house, neither of them wanted to go. Bob dressed casually in jeans and tee shirt and Maria wore jeans and a grey polo neck jumper.
‘How do I look?’ She asked.
‘Absolutely stunning.’
‘You think our hosts will be impressed?’
‘Without a doubt – I reckon they’ll be green with envy.’
‘I hope so.’
‘Should we go then?’
‘Do we have to?’
‘We do, come on now, love. They’re going out of their way to be friendly – it’s only right we treat their hospitality with respect.’
‘You’d better lead the way then.’
They stepped out of the front door into the damp cool evening hand in hand, and walked across to their neighbour’s house. Bob rang the doorbell and before the chime had finished the door was opened by Alan beaming all over his face, so keen it seemed, to have them visit.
As he showed them in, Maria felt lightheaded and very nervous, she’d be glad when it was all over. Would this be just another dreary night with boring neighbours wanting to boast, she thought?
Chapter 13
Sensing Maria’s apprehension, Bob hoped, once she’d had a drink, she’d start to relax.
‘Please go through,’ Alan urged them.
On entering the living room their eyes were drawn to the dark wooden beamed ceiling and the walls which had a wattle and daub effect, painted brilliant white. The carpet was blue and red patterned Axminster, while the furniture was dark oak, matching the Adam fireplace situated in the middle of the facing wall.
Several framed paintings hu
ng on the walls and above the fireplace. All were of a young girl, at various stages of her development from a baby to about ten. Could it be Alan and Debra’s daughter?
At the back of the room a round dining room table stood covered by a white patterned tablecloth. Paper plates, napkins, cutlery and glasses were on the table in readiness for them.
‘Please, sit yourselves down,’ Alan told them, with a gesture of his hand. They sat next to each other on the beige settee. ‘Right, what would you like to drink? We have almost everything – so what’ll it be?’
Bob had a beer, Maria a small sherry.
Alan poured, then handed them the drinks.
‘Please, make yourselves at home - I’ll just see what Debra’s up to in the kitchen - be back in a couple of minutes.’
Once he’d gone, Bob glanced at Maria sitting on the edge of her seat.
‘Are you all right love?’
‘I will be when I’m home.’
‘Me too, but let’s make the best of it, shall we? I promise you, it’ll be over before we know it.’ He squeezed her arm.
She gave him a slight smile, as their hosts came back into the room, Debra wearing an apron which indicated she’d been busy preparing and cooking food.
‘Hello again,’ she said smiling. ‘So glad you could make it. Hope you’re both hungry because I’ve made some cakes and sausage rolls, and a few other titbits.’
‘Oh, that’s very kind,’ Bob said.
After bringing plates of food in and placing them on the table, Alan and Debra remained standing.
‘I expect you’re both tired, aren’t you my dears? Moving into a new house is hard work and stressful too, don’t you agree, Maria?’
‘Yes, a little bit.’
‘Well, never mind, the worst is over now,’ Debra laughed.
‘Hope so,’ Maria said.
‘Anyway, enough of me jabbering on and on, why don’t you come to the table and help yourselves.’