Taken at the Flood

by K. J. Rabane

  I sighed with relief and raised my glass to my lips thankful that he’d agreed I wasn’t imagining things.

  When I finally went to bed, the effects of Dieter’s generosity with the brandy decanter taking its toll on my unsteady limbs, I realised it was too late to telephone Evelyn. It would have to wait until the following morning.

  On waking, I felt reluctant to make the call, which I was sure would be answered in a voice, I would hardly recognise as belonging to my, once vivacious, wife. I waited until after breakfast and then sought the privacy of my bedroom.

  “Hullo?” I spoke tentatively.

  “Hullo, darling. How are you? And how are Dieter and Gerda? You did pass on my apologies? When will you be home? I’ve missed you so much and I have a little surprise in store for you.”

  Her voice was high pitched and excited. She was like the Evelyn I used to know. Maybe this was the turning point; perhaps things would be different now. I felt my spirits lift as I packed my case and later said farewell to my hosts.

  During the taxi ride from the airport to River Road, we hit the rush hour traffic. The taxicab crawled along the motorway hampered by the presence of patchy fog, which floated across our path, obscuring our vision, and then drifted off to disperse over the fields bordering the road. Throughout the journey, I kept a picture of Evelyn in my mind. The Evelyn I used to know with the impish grin and gleaming dark curls. The road to River House was thick with fog drifting up from the riverbed. The trees, naked, devoid, as they were of their summer foliage, rose up like spectres as we reached the wrought iron gates leading to the driveway.

  I paid the driver and picked up my case as the car disappeared around the bend in the drive. But before I’d reached the steps leading up to the front door, it was thrown open. I gasped. Evelyn said she had a surprise for me but nothing could prepare me for the nature of her revelation. I hardly recognised the face, which greeted me, framed by short, sleek, white-blonde hair.

  She threw her arms around my neck. “Well what do you think?”

  She broke away and spun around fluffing up her straightened hair with the tips of her fingers.

  “I don’t know what to say,” I began, trying to hide my horrified reaction, “You look so different.”

  “Leo and I went into town and she suggested I have a make over. I’ve always loved her hair and she said why didn’t I go blonde and, well, I thought you might like it. I’ve noticed that you find Leo attractive. Well what man wouldn’t? I thought you’d be pleased!”

  A glimpse of the old Evelyn showed then. She looked like a little girl seeking approval. I slid my arm around her waist.

  “Of course I like it, but you must understand - I love you as you are. I don’t want you to be a copy of Leonora. I agree she is attractive but it’s you I love, every bit of you.”

  She leant her head against my shoulder. I couldn’t find the words to tell her how much I detested the transformation. My wife had disappeared and I could only hope I could persuade her to revert to her former self, without hurting her feelings.

  After dinner, my new wife looked up at me through thick black eyelashes. I saw a glimpse of smouldering sensuality burning in her heavily made up eyes and reacted, as any man would to her suggestion that we have an early night, by following her trail of underwear up the stairs and along the landing to our bedroom. She lay on the bed, naked, her blonde hair resting against scarlet silk sheets, which I was certain I hadn’t seen before.

  “I want you so much,” she said, running a scarlet painted fingernail across my chest and circling my nipple.

  Our lovemaking was nothing like I’d experienced before. Part of me felt the thrill of being with a ‘new woman’ but part of me longed to find the ‘old’ one. I felt all the intensity of making love to a stranger, without the pleasure of being with the woman I loved.

  Afterwards, as we lay side by side, our passion spent, Evelyn talked constantly about Leo. She hardly slept all night and seemed overtaken by a nervous, excitable, energy, which I would have liked to attribute to her pleasure at my return. However, her frenetic manner made me wonder if she were riding on the wave of some drug induced ‘high’. This thought I hastily buried in my sub-conscious. I was worried enough without looking for trouble. But I could not rid myself of the feeling that during my absence some stranger had spirited away my wife leaving in her place a clone, like some crazy Stepford wife on speed.

  All too soon I was to discover my analogy was not so very far from the truth but it was too late to alter the course of events. With hindsight I should have made a desperate attempt to divert of the torrent that was about to engulf us. But hindsight, by its very definition, is wisdom after the event and I was still waiting for it all to happen.

  Chapter 12

  The week after I returned from Germany, Evelyn developed a heavy cold. She was running a temperature and her body was wracked by coughing fits which left her weak.

  I rang Alan Henderson. “It’s me. How are things going?”

  “Fine, Boss. No problems this end, everything’s ticking over nicely.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. I need to spend some time at home. Evelyn’s not well and I thought it might be an opportunity to take a few weeks off. Maybe do some gardening ready for the winter, walk the dog you know the sort of thing. I’m going to keep away from my study for at least three weeks, rest my brain and spoil myself.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll keep in touch, enjoy yourself.”

  After making sure Evelyn was tucked up in bed with a hot drink and a pile of magazines, I let myself out of the back door with Tinker scampering about excitedly at my heels. The October air was crisp and clear and I took a deep breath whilst flexing my muscles in an attempt to relax. The past few months had depressed my spirits and I needed a lift. I heard the flapping of wings overhead and looking up saw ducks flying in formation above my head. Tinker jumped high into the air as I reached the river path at the bottom of our garden.

  “Down boy, you’ll never make it, even you can’t jump that high.”

  Barking excitedly, he bounded ahead of me into the woodland bordering the path. I followed as he went deeper into the trees, his nose pressed to the ground sniffing the earth before he raised his head and scampered out of sight.

  “Tinker, here boy,” I called, unable to see or hear him. Then from the depths of the trees, I saw a figure emerge.

  “Hullo. I thought it might be Evelyn.”

  Leonora stood in my path wearing an ankle-skimming black woollen coat, her hair falling over her shoulders like a silken wave.

  “Evelyn is in bed. She has a heavy cold,” I explained, as I heard Tinker barking in the distance.

  “Would you mind if I visited her?” She was looking past me into the distance, her eyes not meeting mine.

  “Not at all. I’m sure she would welcome a visit. The back door is open.”

  “Thanks,” she said, and was gone.

  I followed in the direction of Tinker’s excited bark and saw him with two dogs, which I recognised as belonging to Henry and Josie. They were licking each other and sniffing nether parts as they renewed their acquaintance. Then I heard the cracking of twigs nearby followed by heavy breathing as Josie parted the brambles and stumbled into my view.

  “Oh, it’s you! That explains why the dogs suddenly ran off.” She held her hand to her side. “I’m out of condition, too much good living and not enough exercise.” She smiled, as she leant against the bark of a tree. “How are you both?” she asked, once she’d caught her breath.

  I felt uncomfortably aware that Evelyn and I had neglected our friendship with Henry and Josie of late and was determined to make amends. “I’m OK but Evelyn has a cold and is staying in bed. Though I’m glad I’ve bumped into you. I’ve decided to take a well-earned rest from work and was hoping you and Henry would come over for a meal one evening, what about a week tomorrow? That should give Evelyn enough time to recover. Make a note of it - let me know if it suits you both.”
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  “No need. I can tell you now. Henry and I would be delighted. It’s far too long since we’ve spent time together. We’ll look forward to it.”

  “Good. See you at eight on the nineteenth then. Give my regards to Henry.”

  I called to Tinker and once more took the direction of the river path leading away from our house. I wasn’t anxious to return whilst Leonora was visiting, as I had the oddest feeling I’d be intruding, a feeling, which I resented.

  Tinker was happy to enjoy the extended walk and some time later both he and I returned to River House exhausted and content at having enjoyed the fresh air and each other’s company.

  Opening the back door, I led Tinker to his food and bed in the utility room and kicking off my boots opened the door into the hall. I heard laughter coming from our bedroom and realised with a sinking heart that Leonora was still visiting.

  “Darling, is that you?”

  I’d been hoping to creep into my study unheard. “Coming,” I answered, reluctantly.

  I noticed two spots of colour on my wife’s cheeks, as soon as I opened the door. She looked flushed and excited. Leonora was sitting on the side of the bed facing her. “Darling, Leo has been keeping me entertained in your absence.”

  “Yes I can see that,” I answered, unable to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. I saw that Leonora didn’t miss it, although Evelyn didn’t appear to notice.

  “A few moments ago I needed to use the bathroom and guess what? There was the most enormous spider sitting on the cold tap.”

  “Oh no!” I raised my arms in mock horror and she laughed.

  “I know, I know.”

  “I expect by now Leonora is aware of the terror you have of the poor little creatures,” I said, trying to make amends for my previous sarcasm.

  “This one wasn’t little. Was it Leo? Tell him.”

  “No it wasn’t little,” Leonora answered, but she did not turn around and stayed with her back to me.

  “Leo was so brave,” Evelyn continued, “she came into the bathroom when I cried out and just bent down, picked it up in her hand and flushed it away.”

  “Saved me the honour, eh, Leonora?”

  She shrugged and stood up, facing me at last. “It was nothing,” she answered, her eyes meeting mine. “Anyway I must go, Lucas will be wondering where I am. I hope you’ll soon be better,” she patted the mound of bedclothes covering Evelyn’s legs.

  I recovered some of my good manners and showed her to the door, thanking her for her visit.

  “It was my pleasure,” she said. “Call me anytime Evelyn wants to see me.”

  I closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Why did I always feel disturbed in her presence?

  When Leonora had gone, I carried two bowls of hot stew, which our new housekeeper, Mrs Bates, had left in the kitchen, up the stairs to our bedroom and sat at her bedside whilst we ate our meal.

  “Who told you about Mrs Bates, darling? She’s a real treasure. I don’t know how we’ve managed without her.”

  “Josie. Mrs Bates is her housekeeper’s friend. Apparently, she’s a widow and the family she was with recently moved abroad so she was looking for employment.” I took a deep breath. “By the way, talking about Josie, I met her in the woods today when I was out walking with Tinker.”

  Evelyn flicked over the front page of her magazine as I continued, “I’ve invited them for dinner this coming Saturday actually. I thought you’d be better by then. It will be nice to see them both again. What do you think? We could ask Mrs Bates to stay over and cook for us. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

  My wife’s reaction took me completely by surprise. She flung the magazine down to the floor, inhaled deeply, her breath hissing through her teeth and with flashing eyes, she replied, “Mrs Bates may not mind, but I certainly do. What were you thinking of? Inviting people to our house, without even asking if I minded.”

  I looked at this person whom I no longer recognised, neither in appearance nor in demeanour, and my mouth dropped open. “I didn’t think you’d mind for heaven’s sake. Josie is your friend after all,” I answered, trying to deflate her inexplicable anger.

  “I don’t want to see anyone, especially not Josie.”

  Her breathing had returned to normal but her eyes flashed with an unhealthy light.

  “I don’t understand. What has turned you against Josie? I wasn’t aware you had quarrelled and I know she is unaware of any animosity existing between you.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it. They’re not welcome,” she fumed.

  Anger at her unreasonable manner welled up inside me; I’d come to the end of my tether. There was a limit to my patience, especially as I saw Evelyn isolating Josie in favour of Leonora. The unfairness of the situation and her unwillingness to explain drove me to reply, “As far as I am concerned, Evelyn, Henry and Josie will be coming to dinner next Saturday. And I will entertain them, with or without you. I hope you’ll see sense and join us but make no mistake they will be coming,” And with that I left our room and to my shame slept in the spare bedroom for the first time since our marriage

  On the Friday before the proposed visit by the Dangerfields, Evelyn tapped at the door of my study. My resolve had crumbled since our disagreement, but although I’d returned to the marital bed, the atmosphere between us was frosty and I found working on a project was a way of putting some distance between us both.

  “Darling.” She stood in the doorway. The roots of her blonde hair were beginning to show dark against her scalp. “I’m sorry I was so pig-headed about tomorrow. I want you to know I’ll help all I can.”

  I stood up, crossed the room and taking her by the shoulders bent and kissed her cheek. “It will be all right, I promise.”

  My father once told me to never make a promise you couldn’t keep. That was my mistake. How was I to know - it was simply a dinner party with old friends, what could go wrong?

  Chapter 13

  Mrs Bates arrived early on the Saturday morning, carrying a small travelling case, which she deposited in the bedroom at the end of the corridor leading off our upstairs landing. During the week, she had filled the freezer with a selection of homemade dishes in preparation for the weekend and she’d insisted we leave all the arrangements to her.

  Evelyn, finding she was at a loose end, said she was going to take Tinker out for a walk. When I suggested I join her, she replied, “No, don’t worry, I thought I’d call in on Leonora. I know Lucas will be in town and she’s on her own.”

  “Fine,” I replied, switching on my computer monitor. “I’ve plenty to get on with, see you later.”

  I was lost in concentration until I noticed it was nearly three o’clock. I heard Mrs Bates humming to herself in the kitchen and I remembered she had put a sandwich down on the desk earlier but I’d been so lost in my work I’d left it untouched, as was so often the case, once I started working on something.

  Hastily making short shrift of the sandwich, I took the empty plate into the kitchen. “Have you seen my wife about, Mrs Bates?”

  “No, sir. She’s still out, I think.”

  “Do you need any help?” I asked, as she opened the fridge door and removed a large casserole dish full of seafood.

  “No thank you. Now don’t concern yourself, Mr Hope, everything is running like clockwork.”

  “And you’re sure you don’t mind serving the meal?”

  “Not at all. Now away with you and leave me to my dishes,” she said, flapping a dishcloth aimed in my direction.

  I couldn’t relax. I thought of ringing Leonora but something stopped me for I didn’t want it to look as if I was fussing. Evelyn knew when our guests were due to arrive and I’d have to trust her to return on time. Nevertheless, when the hands of the clock spun around to seven o’clock, I was beginning to think I’d have to entertain Henry and Josie without her.

  I was in our bedroom changing when I heard the front door slam and the sound of footsteps running up the stairs. The doo
r opened and Evelyn stood in the doorway. She was breathless as if she’d been running and was holding a carrier bag tightly under one arm. “I’m sorry I’m late. You go on down. I’ll have a quick shower and change. Leo has let me borrow a dress. I’m sure you’ll like it.”

  I noticed two spots of colour on her cheek; her speech was high pitched and she seemed excitable. The result of an afternoon spent in Leonora’s company, I thought dismally, then decided that perhaps she was just looking forward to the evening, nothing more.

  The doorbell rang as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

  “Henry, Josie, come in. Glad you could make it. Evelyn won’t be a moment. She’s just changing,” I said.

  I ushered our guests into the sitting room, which led into the conservatory and poured our drinks. The river at the bottom of the garden sparkled in the moonlight. We could see the reflection of the trees lining the pathway like sentries.

  “I love this house. The view from here is breath-taking,” Josie said, walking to the window. She turned, as the sound of running feet met our ears, I think Josie was the first to gasp for she was facing the doorway and caught sight of her before either Henry or myself.

  “Hullo everyone. Sorry I’m late. It’s so good to see you, Henry. I’ve really missed you,” Evelyn said rushing towards Henry, swinging his chair to face her and kissing him full on his lips.

  Her blonde hair was seriously in need of repair. At least an inch of jet-black roots showed beneath a froth of spiked up fringe. Her makeup was heavy and didn’t suit her delicate features but nothing had quite prepared us for that dress. It was black, what there was of it. The bodice opened in a deep V to the waist. Her breasts, struggling to remain inside the flimsy material covering them, looked as if they were about to escape as she bent to kiss Henry. The skirt of the dress was short with slits to either side, which opened as she teetered on impossibly high heels. Once more, I felt I was looking at a stranger.