Love Returns

by Ronni Meyrick

  “Yes, bare with me for a moment.”

  Marion went to get Flick and everyone followed behind, they knew who he was. Marion and Claude were still in the dark.

  “Here you go, Ms Bromwell,” he handed her a set of keys.

  “I don’t understand, what are these for?”

  He pointed to the courtyard and Flick walked out, with everyone behind her.

  “Oh my God, it’s a car! There must be some mistake, I haven’t brought a new car.”

  “Perhaps there will be some documentation inside,” he suggested as he left the courtyard and got into a waiting car.

  Flick went to the brand new VW Golf, and opened the driver’s door. She looked high and low for a note, and then she checked the boot. There were another dozen red roses in the boot with a letter.

  My darling Flick.

  You were moaning about your car not being the same since the incident. I know it was only seven years old, but I wanted you to have this for you and the girls. Please don’t slap me in front of everyone.

  Happy Valentines Baby.

  Love Ali.

  Xxxxxx

  Flick turned an stared open mouthed at Ali. Suddenly she came to her senses and ran to her throwing herself into her arms. She then jumped and wrapped her legs around Ali’s waist. She kissed her fully on the mouth in front of everyone. “Ali this really is too much. I can’t accept a gift like this, it’s far too expensive.”

  “Think of it as a whole load of presents rolled into one.”

  Marion cleared her throat and Ali put Flick down.

  “Ali has brought me a new car as a Valentine gift.”

  The girls and Steph laughed, “we know!”

  “I didn’t,” Marion said with a laugh.

  After lunch Steph left, and Marion and Claude stayed.

  “I need to ring Frank and tell him I won’t be in for a while. What with Chelsea’s leg, I can’t leave her home alone.”

  “Why don’t you go and get what things you need from your house, and come and stay here. At least Chelsea will have her own bathroom here.”

  Marion turned to face them, “I believe we might be able to help on the work front, Flick.”

  “How so?”

  “Claude and I have discussed it and we want to stay until Chelsea gets better. We can stay home with her while you go to work. We will take Annabelle to school too. So you won’t have to pay out for a childminder.”

  Flick went and kissed them both, “you really are the most sweetest people going.”

  “That’s if Alison doesn’t mind us being here of course?”

  “Mum, you two are, saints, and I’d be happy to have you here, for as long as you want.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  The spring and part of the summer seemed to pass with no time at all. Chelsea’s leg was now healed and was getting stronger every day. They spent all their time at Ali’s now, as it meant that Chelsea could use the pool to rehab her leg. Even though the girls and Flick were at hers a lot more now, they didn’t always stay over, it was easier for the girls to go to school from Flick’s.

  When Marion and Claude were in the country, they would take the girls on lots of different outings. The only one that Ali and Flick had gone on was, the trip to London Zoo. Ali’s Mum was coming to Britain a lot more as she wanted to spend as much time as possible with the girls. Flick an Ali’s relationship had really developed, and Ali was surprised how much she was enjoying the whole new dynamic of a family life.

  Charlie and Christi were always guests at dinner parties, along with Steph when she could get the time off work. Flick, Ali and the girls, had become a regular once a month feature at Frank’s house too. His kids and Flick’s got on really well, the girls had even joined a cheerleading squad with their new friends. They loved it, but there were some limitations. Chelsea had to be careful with her leg, but the doctor thought that it had strengthened even more because of the activity.

  Belle was too small to do the more dangerous tricks, and had often whined about not being able to compete fully with the others. Ali had taken pity on the young one, and together they had started to create their own lifts and tricks.

  Flick an Ali had been able to spend a lot of time alone together too. They went out on the bike nearly every weekend. Flick always playing the hot biker chick game and dressing to the nines. Ali couldn’t resist her in leather and always had trouble controlling herself until they got home.

  Once they ended up making love in a field. Ali had been bitten to bits by mosquitoes that day, and ended up going to the hospital as she couldn’t stand the itching. Flick thought this was hilarious, as she had to apply ointment to Ali’s arse cheeks for a week. But Ali could now see the funny side, and always joined in with Steph, Charlie and Christi’s teasing.

  As Ali sat at her desk remembering everything that had come to pass over the last couple of months, she couldn’t help but laugh and be extremely thankful with everything in her life.

  “Knock, Knock.”

  It was Flick, she had brought Ali lunch. The company had expanded so much in six months that, Ali was swamped with new personnel files.

  Flick walked in and sat in front of her desk. She was a regular lunchtime visitor now. The word about their relationship quickly spread through the company, and they had taken a lot of tormenting. But things had settled down now. Ali put her pen down, and smiled at Flick as she picked her sandwich up.

  “So are you coming over tonight, babe? I want to spend the night with you?” Flick asked.

  “I would love to, but I’ve got another report to write, and they need it first thing in the morning. But we’ll shoot for tomorrow night. I can’t wait to get you naked, Flick, you drive me crazy, you know that don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I did have an inkling,” she replied winking at her.

  Flick was surprised that the physical side of their relationship, hadn’t dwindled over the last six months. She still wanted Ali, every time she laid eyes on her. Sometimes they couldn’t even wait to get to bed. Flick remembered four nights ago when they had made love in the front room. God that orgasm nearly rocked the house. She smiled to herself and refocused her attention on Ali.

  “Well I’ve got to get back to work, darling. I’ll come up before I go home okay?”

  “Can’t wait, see you later, sexy.”

  Ali was under no illusion that Flick was the love of her life. She had been thinking of a way to, make her and the girls a more permanent fixture. She wanted to ask them all to move in with her, but she wasn’t sure if Flick would agree. The girls probably wouldn’t want to change schools either. Each girl now had their own bedroom at Ali’s. They had all been to Ikea and brought new furniture and paint for them to stamp their own styles on their rooms. Ali had then gone out and brought TV’s for the bedroom walls, but Flick drew the line at games consoles in their rooms.

  She said that they would be up half the night playing on them. So they now had the TV in the dining room, for games and Flick and Ali had the main lounge one. It was also decided that it wasn’t a good idea for Belle to have her own bathroom yet. She was still too young.

  Chelsea’s birthday was coming up, and they had talked about what kind of present to get her. She was going to be fifteen and about to start all the work for her exams. Ali and Flick had decided on a laptop to help her with her studies. But there were rules as to what she could do on it. It was Ali who had come up with idea, and Flick was more than happy to agree with them.

  Chelsea wasn’t allowed to go on to any social networking sites, or games sites, until she had showed Ali or Flick her homework. Flick had smiled and pointed out to Ali, that she was slipping into the role as a parent with ease. Ali with her and had to agree. They were just waiting for Chelsea to blow up now, when she heard the terms and conditions of her present. That was going to be the test for Ali.

  ###

  Later on that night Flick was at home when her mobile rang.

  “Hello”

&nbs
p; “Ms Bromwell?”

  “Yes, who is this please?”

  “This is DCI Jones.”

  “How can I help?” She asked surprised.

  “I’m afraid that Thomas has escaped from prison. We’ve found items in his cell that, point to his destination. He’s coming to London after you I’m afraid. He found out where you live by using the electoral register, on the Internet access he had inside.”

  “Oh my God, you’re joking. Please tell me you’re joking!” Flick rambled beginning to panic.

  “I’m afraid not. There is a local Police unit on its way to you and your family, you need to pack some things for all of you. We can put you all in a local police safe house, but if you have somewhere you can go where he is not likely to find you, I suggest you make the arrangements”

  “That won’t be a problem. We can go and stay with my partner for a few days, until this is all sorted out.”

  “Good I’m on my way up now. Can I meet you there to discuss everything?”

  “I can’t see that being a problem,” Flick gave him the address, while she checked that both doors were, locked and deadlocked. “How long has he been out?”

  “Around about four hours we think.”

  Flick called to the girls and told them to pack some clothes, but not to pack any school uniform They wouldn’t be going until Thomas was caught. There was banging on the front door and Flick went to open it. She opened the letterbox first and asked, who it was.

  “PC Hanbury,” came the reply. “I’m with two other Officers PC Henty and PC Punter.”

  “Can I see your ID cards please?” The cards were passed through the letterbox one by one.

  She let the Police Officers in, and locked the door again. She finished her phone call with DCI Jones and then called Ali.

  “Baby, we’re coming over. There’s a problem here, I can explain everything when I get there. But don’t let anyone in until I’m there okay? Not even if they say they’re Police.”

  “No worries, darling. I’ll cook us all something to eat. See you in a bit,” Ali said anxiously.

  Flick turned to one of the PC’s, “so what’s the plan then.”

  “Pack some clothes, we’ll take you where ever you think is safe. By the sound of it, that would be your partner’s place.”

  “Correct. My girls are upstairs. I’d like it if you could come and talk to them with me about this.”

  The PC gave orders to the other two officers. One was to stand at the back door, the other at the front. They would be locked out and were told that If they saw anyone they were to call it in straight away. The two women headed upstairs and called the girls into her bedroom.

  “We need to talk,” Flick said guiding them to sit on her bed.

  “Its Thomas, isn’t it?” asked Chelsea.

  “Yes, he’s gotten out of prison and is in London. We’re going to be going to Ali’s for a while okay?”

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t feel safe anywhere else, Mum.”

  Annabelle started crying. She walked to the window and pulled the blinds up. The Policewoman went to get her away from the window. But the girl’s posture had changed. She was stood frozen rigid to the spot.

  “What is it child?”

  “Thomas is outside, he’s hiding in the bushes across the street.”

  The Policewoman radioed her colleagues downstairs, and told them to search the bushes. The PC walked to the window and moved Annabelle back. Thomas saw her and took off. She radioed through the direction that he was running in.

  “Okay, pack your bags as quick as you can. We need to get you out of here.”

  “No arguments from me,” Flick ran to her wardrobe and pulled down a suitcase, she threw it on the bed and began throwing clothes into it.

  Within half an hour they were ready to leave. They heard over the radio, that Thomas had escaped again, but the officers who had chased him had managed to get the details on the number plate, of the car he was driving. That was useful information, and a message was sent out to all the police officers on duty to be on the look out for the car.

  Flick and the girls were led to a waiting unmarked car. She’d given her car keys to an officer who was going to move it to the Police compound for safe keeping, and then get the keys delivered to Ali’s.

  After twenty minutes they pulled up in Ali’s Courtyard. Flick phoned her and asked her to open the front door, so they could get in quickly. One by one they ran into the house. Each greeted with a hug and kiss from Ali.

  “What’s going on, babe?” Ali asked obviously panicked.

  Flick couldn’t speak, so she threw herself into Ali’s arms and broke down. Ali held Flick in her arms while she cried. She stroked her hair and back hoping that it would help soothe her a little.

  “Girls, why don’t you take your things upstairs, I’ll come up and close the blinds in a second,” Ali said smiling at them.

  The girls did as they were told. Ali led Flick into the lounge and sat her down, while she went and poured them both a large drink. Flick took hers into shaking hands, “right, come on what’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  “Thomas has escaped prison, he knows where I live. He’s in London, Belle saw him out of her bedroom window before we left.”

  “Come here,” she took Flick in her arms and held her. “You’re safe here with me,” she promised her.

  Flick sat and stared into her drink. The girls came into the room and asked if they could have something to eat and drink. Ali smiled at their manners and instructed them to help themselves.

  Thinking about what Flick had just told her, and remembering their conversation about why Thomas and Flick split up, Ali became angry. She shot up from the sofa. “How dare he! How fucking dare he! Who the hell does he think he is? He is not coming up here, and threatening my, family. He has messed with the wrong person.”

  Flick and the girls were at her side in seconds calming her down with cuddles.

  “You called us your family, Ali,” Belle said.

  “Well you are my family, just like Claude and Mum. I care as much for you, guys, if not more,” she lifted Flick’s chin. “And I love you with all my heart. I won’t let him get near any of us. Right I have things to organise, he won’t be getting in here, he won’t have the chance.”

  Ali kissed Flick and then went in search of the yellow pages. She found the number for someone who fitted electronic iron gates. She made some inquiries and booked them to come first thing. They argued at first but then she offered them a extra £200, if they came and done it tomorrow. Next was a security company, to fit motion sensor cameras on the walls at the front, on the front gate and around the property at the back. They were coming tomorrow to sort everything. They would also fit a visual intercom with the front gate.

  “Ali, we don’t need all of this, the Police will be here,” Flick tried to reason with her.

  “I don’t care. It’ll make me feel better having everything done. I need to call Frank and Gerald and let them know what is going on. Then I’ll call Mum and Claude and tell them not to come over, until he has been caught. I’ll try and get hold of the kid’s head-teacher. I think I’ve got his number here from when he was setting Chelsea’s homework when she broke her leg.”

  There was a knock on the door, and the Police Officer that had come with Flick answered it, It was DCI Jones. He walked straight over to Flick.

  “Would you like a drink, DCI Jones? I’m just about to put the kettle on. I would offer you something stronger, but you’re working.”

  He followed her into the kitchen where Ali was just about to call Frank and Gerald.

  “DCI Jones, this is my partner Alison. Ali, this is DCI Jones from Cardiff,” they shook hands and Jones stood there looking at Flick and Ali. “Yes, DCI Jones. I now bat for the other team,” she said it in a tone that made Ali laugh loudly. They all joined in.

  Flick made all the drinks. She then poured herself another stronger one. They all went and sat in the lounge, to talk about what had
been found in Thomas’ cell. Ali needed to make some calls, but Flick needed her more at the moment. There was one call that she couldn’t delay, Flick would need to be strong without her for a couple of minutes.

  “I need to call Mum quickly before we start this. I don’t want them in the country, while this is going on.”

  Ali dialled her Mum’s number. “Hi, Mum, were you planning on coming over this weekend? well don’t, we have a situation over here.”

  “Is everything okay, Alison?” Marion asked sounding worried.

  “No. Flick’s ex has escaped prison, and is looking for her. He is already in London. You, and Claude stay there and we will call you later.”

  “Okay, darling, if you think it’s best. Speak to you later.”

  Ali returned to the lounge and sat with her arms round Flick. They both listened, as DCI Jones listed what had been found in Thomas’ cell. The list included a lot of things that involved Flick.

  Ali felt sick at the end of the list. He wanted to beat her to a pulp, cut out her tongue and gouge her eyes out, and if that wasn’t enough, he was going to then shoot Flick in the head at point blank range. Well he wouldn’t get the chance.

  Before DCI Jones left, Ali explained to him about all the extra security that was going to be fitted tomorrow. He was impressed that Ali had managed to organise everything so quickly, and approved everything she had told him about.

  As Flick showed DCI Jones out Ali called Frank and Gerald. She explained the situation and they fully understood that she had to put her family first. They told her that she and Flick were to take as much time as needed. She had thanked them profusely, and reminded them she could access her work email from home should something major come up.

  Ali cooked them all something to eat, but it seemed that everyone had lost their appetite, and just picked at their food.

  At about 10:00 p.m., the girls went to bed. Ali and Flick put a film on, and cuddled up to watch it. Flick fell asleep half way through, and Ali didn’t have the heart to wake her, so they spent the night on the sofa. Flick was in between Ali’s legs, It wasn’t the most comfortable position in the world, but at least she had her sweet darling Flick in her arms.