Trodds Lane

by Nick Roteman

  He did have to admit to having some slight reservations about tonight, this did not sound like just a drive to help her with her driving, but he did like her, she amused him with her observations on life so he went along with it. Auburn on the other hand having survived the trials of dressing up was now ready for some real fun.

  They set off, she rejecting the help of his map reading skills, in the general direction of Burley Village in the New Forrest, where through the internet she had found an interesting pub for supper. Unfortunately Auburn’s sense of direction was not up to the standard of her driving, and somewhere along the road to Burley she took a wrong turn and soon realised her error, but continued their journey refusing to admit she might just be lost.

  After another four or five miles, when she was about to confess she was lost they came across a sign for Lymington, and she headed that way pretending all along that was indeed her original destination. She had been there before and remembered the town seemed to slope down to the water’s edge, so it was pretty at least, although secretly she prayed it was more than just a pretty place.

  Noticing Auburn had slowed down to read the signpost Oli decided to risk her wrath.

  “Are we ok, do you need me to look at the map, I’ve got it here with me?”

  “No why, do you think I don’t know where we are!”

  “I’m not saying that I just thought...”

  He shut up, he would leave the journey to her, rather than risk an argument in the car, especially while she was at the wheel, not that he thought for a second she would lose it and drive off the road or smash into a tree.

  Still it was best not tempt fate, so he chose to look out the passenger window at the hedgerows and trees flashing by, boy she was driving rather fast. No, he would have to say something, she really had speeded up, and he was liable for any transgressions she caused, being the appropriate adult.

  “Umm, Auburn,” he said rather hesitantly. “We do seem to be speeding just a little, do remember the speed limit.”

  “Oh honestly don’t be so boring, anyway we’re nearly there.” She retorted not being best pleased with those remarks. She hoped he wasn’t going to be this boring about everything, she had plans for tonight.

  After a short pause, she added. “You have to trust me Oliver or tonight will be ruined ok.”

  Oli nodded deciding to leave it at that, it couldn’t be much further.

  More by luck than judgement, she found the tiny quay car park at the bottom end of Lymington High Street, and parked.

  Getting out she glanced around and couldn’t help noticing the Kings Head pub close by which backed onto the quay and the estuary.

  “Here we are Oli, see I do know what I am doing.” She proclaimed as she boldly marched off towards the pub pretending this had been her intended destination all along.

  “Come on!” She called over her shoulder. “Now we’re rockin’,” she added under her breath, using a Freddy phrase.

  Oli actually liked Lymington, often coming over this way on a Saturday morning for market day and knew the King’s Head quite well, so he was more than happy and perhaps more than a mite relieved she had made such a wise chose.

  For a Thursday evening it was surprisingly full already when they entered, but there were still a few empty tables and after ordering a round of drinks, they settled down to study the menu and the evening’s specials off the nearby blackboard.

  The meal was going remarkable well, and both seemed relaxed in each other’s company. What really amazed him about her was her powers of observation. She was genuinely a funny and at times witty person, possibly without realising it at times.

  He had drunk more than he usually did and perhaps it was the effects of the drink but he blurted out, “You amaze me!”

  “I do, good!”

  “Yes you just seem to notice everything; nothing seems to get past you.”

  “Huh, I’m amazing you mean.”

  “Oh god yes....Oh sorry, talking too much, drunk a little too much I think.”

  “You can observe everything by watching.”

  He nodded. “You’re so right, yes, and so succinctly put!”

  “I think I read that slogan on a t-shirt but it’s so right, so that’s ok.”

  Oli laughed happily, he was really enjoying tonight. After coffee, the arrival of the bill caused some friction amongst the two as he thought he should pay it.

  “Stop behaving just like a man,” she bemoaned. “This was my idea, my treat and you’re spoiling it!”

  Oli not meaning to offend gave in and thanked her for such a wonderful treat.

  “And thank you for letting me drive without too many comments on my ability.” She replied looking out the window rather than at him. She knew what he looked like so why did people feel the need to stare at one another, it was unnatural.

  Now onto part two of her planned evening. Although of course the plan had long since gone by the way, she was skiing off piste from now onwards.

  They were back in the car and she still had to decide where they could drive to, for some privacy. She asked for the map.

  “It’s ok,” Oli quietly said, “I know the way back.”

  “Yes but I am the driver, please let me see...”

  Auburn grabbed the map out of his hands and stepped out the car, but it was too dark, so she wandered off to find a street lamp, while he sat there beginning to get that uneasy feeling again.

  Glancing at the map, took her just a second to work out exactly where they would head for. She followed the route with her eyes, and it seemed quite straightforward. She got back in the car.

  “Everything alright?”

  She just ignored him and started the engine, and off they set.

  The hotel car park was at the rear and entered through an archway, so Tom drove through it and parked his Porsche in the shadows, facing outwards just in case. He entered the hotel through the rear entrance and headed for the stairs. He had already rung Natalie from his car, so he knew which room.

  She swiftly opened the door to his knock.

  “Hi Nat, sorry about earlier.” He said standing there in front of her waiting. She paused for a second before she was in his arms. He stepped in pushing her back inside the room and kicked the door shut behind him.

  He kissed her passionately before holding her at arm’s length.

  “You know I wouldn’t cheat on you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you more but I have been working very hard of late.”

  “I still don’t know if I fully believe you, but keep being nice to me and we’ll see.” She replied, before kissing him again.

  They lay down together on her bed, and he held her tightly in his arms. They stayed that way cuddling for some time before she wrestled herself free of him and sat up.

  “My clothes are ruined, are you staying the night darling?”

  He nodded. “Might as well, shame to spoil a whole evening. What you got on offer babe?”

  “We’ll see.”

  “Nice!”

  They seemed to be driving in the general direction of home along the Christchurch road, so Oli definitely the worst for drink, began to finally relax, and soon nodded off. Had he managed to stay awake just a moment longer he would have seen Auburn make a sudden left turn heading for Milford-On-Sea, and that certainly would have banished his tiredness.

  She slowed down to a crawl as they reached the seafront and drove along it.

  They came to the first car park, but there were already too many other cars in situ, hogging the sea view, so she drove past.

  As they approached the second car park, she could see it was almost deserted; those who had come down to the sea front for a private night smooch had obviously piled into the first one they came across. Feeling quite excited she turned into the car pa
rk, and drove to the far end and parked facing the sea. Undoing her seatbelt, she leant across to Oli still in the land of nod, and kissed him lightly on his cheek. He stirred but slept on. A more dynamic measure was obviously required; she had better first wake him.

  Putting her hands lightly on either side of his face she pulled his head forwards towards hers and locked her lips on his. He awoke almost choking and in a panic, but she was like a limpet and hung on. Forcing his lips apart, she slipped her tongue in.

  He was awake now, desperately attempting to fight off her advances, but she was in full flow and much stronger than she should be with her thin frame. Pinned in his seat he struggled wildly, but the more he did that the more animated she became, determined to end her drought by finally have sex with her chosen man tonight.

  With a supreme effort he pushed her back, enough for her to stop tonguing him anyway.

  “Stop, for Christ’s sake.” He coughed still gasping for breath. “What’s gotten into you Auburn?”

  “Oh honestly, you’re so pathetic,” she cursed, before dropping her voice to a whisper. “All I want is you in me. It’s not difficult you know; let’s just get our clothes off...”

  “Whoa, now hang on, don’t I get a say in this?”

  “Oh forget it!” She screamed back at him, before jumping out of the car and slamming the car door shut. She stomped off up onto the path which ran along the top of the cliffs, and set off at a quick pace along it. Within a few steps, the darkness had enveloped her and she had vanished from view.

  Oli adjusting himself slowly stepped out of the car and stared in the direction she had taken but there was just darkness. He gulped in the fresh sea air, he could feel his heart still thumping; this night had suddenly turned into a nightmare. He stood there starring at nothing, at a loss as to what to do next.

  He was terrified she might harm herself, not necessarily deliberately, but alone in the dark, who knows what might befall her. This was totally his fault, he had completely misread the signs, thinking this evening was just another driving lesson for her with a meal thrown in; two friends having an evening out. How wrong he had been, he really didn’t understand the workings of the female brain especially one as unique as Auburn’s. The sad thing about tonight was he did and always had found her attractive and given time it would, well might have, turned into something more. He really had enjoyed their time together at the library; they had so much in common.

  Now he had not only managed to humiliate her, he had let her run off into the night in goodness knows what sort of mood. If anything happened to her tonight how could he ever forgive himself.

  There was nothing for it so with jaw set he strode off in the direction she had taken, praying he wouldn’t fall off the path and down the cliff face. At least the sea air had revived him somewhat although his head was just beginning to throb.

  The hospital had told Freddy he could go home tomorrow Friday and excitedly he had tried to ring Auburn but her phone went straight to voice mail. He even rang the Library in case she was there, but was informed by one of the volunteers that she was not due in until Monday, and it was Thursday night. He left her a text message, and went back to his bed.

  When Auburn had stomped off into the night, she had only meant to annoy him and fully intended returning in a short space of time. She had only walked a few hundred metres in the near pitch darkness, although as she looked down at the sea, it appeared so much lighter on the shore below, as a moonbeam, shining brightly through a gap in the clouds, played upon the stony beach.

  She came across a set of steep steps heading down to a row of beach huts and descended to take a look. She was fascinated they were all so cute like a row of pretty Wendy houses, and surely in the light of day, she would see how brightly coloured they were painted.

  She moved slowly along the row of huts and as she approached the penultimate one, she noticed the door was unlocked, as all the other huts for security had padlocks and chains fitted to them. Gingerly she opened the door of the hut just a tad and peered inside. Of course it was pitch dark inside but curiosity got the better of her and very cheekily she entered. Carefully feeling her way around the walls of the tiny hut she fell across a bunk bed or maybe it was just a sofa. A wave of tiredness suddenly hit her at that moment, and she sat down on the bunk; just for a minute.

  She awoke with a start, rudely shaken awake by the hand of a police woman.

  “Come on now, wake up Miss!”

  Auburn opened one eye then the other a scream upon her lips, at the sight of a stranger touching her, but somehow controlled herself.

  “What happening, who are you?” she demanded sitting up and grimacing, she felt stiff, it was a most uncomfortable bed.

  “I am WPC Harris, are you Auburn Grimley?”

  “I am Jennifer Grimley to you, but in answer to your question yes I am.”

  She stood up forcing the WPC to move backwards to the door, and stretched, “This bed is most uncomfortable, you must tell the owner.”

  WPC Harris kept her eyes firmly fixed on Auburn, she was extremely annoyed with this stupid woman.

  “Do you know,” she began her lecture. “We have spent the last few hours searching for you?”

  “No how could I!” Auburn retorted. “I’ve been asleep, until you rudely woke me up!”

  “We were about to get an air-sea rescue helicopter out, do you know how much that costs? And what if we had had a real emergency while looking for you?”

  “I fell asleep, I was upset, ask that Oliver Gregson it’s all his fault!” She replied in a typically petulant way. How dare a stranger rudely wake her up; this was not the way to start a day.

  “Ok,” WPC Harris agreed, attempting to calm herself, she had been trained to deal with awkward people or those with diminished I Qs, and here was definitely one.

  She forced a smile. “Let’s go back up to the car park, shall we, we can talk better there.”

  She backed out of the hut and after making sure Auburn was following, started to walk back along the narrow path past the other beach huts to the steps that transgressed this track and led back up to the cliff path.

  Auburn was amazed at the sight that greeted her when she stepped back into the car park. It was a hive of activity for so early in the morning. There were several police cars, and even an ambulance, also some men in brightly coloured overalls and thick walking boots, with sections of ropes draped over their shoulders, and of course a group of onlookers staring at her and talking animatedly. Several flashes and clicks went off, from various people taking a quick picture of her on their mobiles.

  “What’s going on?” she asked in all honesty.

  A man in a suit walked up to Auburn and nodded at the WPC.

  “Thanks Harris, I would like to talk to her now.” He said as he turned to Auburn.

  “Please come with me, perhaps we can talk over a cup of tea. Don’t suppose the café has done so well so early in an age!” he chuckled.

  He ushered her away and towards the café, which served the car park. Although in truth it was no more than a permanent static home in size, and was a self -service only, it nevertheless had a captive audience and did a roaring trade. Through the melee emerged Rachel closely followed by Oli.

  She immediately wrapped her arms around Auburn and hugged her. “Are you alright, we’ve been so worried, ever since Oli rang Moira and she rang me? Poor you, are you frozen?”

  Oliver had stopped a few feet away and looked on sheepishly.

  Auburn tried unsuccessfully to untangle herself from Rachel but failed.

  “I am fine thank you. Why so many people, not for me?” she asked nervously as she glanced about her, but Rachel held tight keeping her arms around her protectively.

  The man in the suit moved in introducing himself. “I’m Sergeant Ryan, I was just taking Miss Grimle
y away from all of this for a brief talk.”

  “Oh sorry, I was just so worried,” she said reluctantly unwrapping her arms from around her.

  “Oh Auburn wonderful news, Freddy’s home later today, great hey!” Rachel whispered.

  Auburn’s eyes flitted from Rachel to the police officer and back to her but also sneakily took in Oli. This was all too much for her, too many people crowding her.

  Auburn shook her head fiercely, pushed Rachel away from her, and stepping back from the Sergeant let out a scream. Just one long loud scream but it seemed to succeed as the whole carnival was brought to an abrupt halt, as if everybody assembled in the car park had been at that instant suddenly frozen in time.

  She took a further couple of steps backwards and stopped screaming.

  “That’s better, thank you, but please leave me alone. There’s just too much...”

  She shook her hands in the air, “Too much everything!”

  She glanced at Sergeant Ryan. “Tea you said, thank you, I’ll take that.” She said calmly. “But please can we go somewhere quiet.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Freddy’s much awaited taxi showed around 2pm that day and with a kind hand from the driver helping him in, they set off for his home.

  Freddy closed his front door and exhaled, he was so happy to be back; hospital was not on his list of places to visit. Tom had been, no lets be honest, Tom was a bastard he was well aware of that but it was like a drug, and he quite understood why Pete jumped and dropped everything anytime Tom called him. But enough was enough, no more.

  He called out Auburn’s name more in hope than expectation but there was no reply. He hadn’t the energy to go up to Rachel’s so he rang her, but her mobile went straight to voicemail and he didn’t leave a message.

  There was nothing for it he made himself a strong cup of hot chocolate and took that into the living room. Plopping down onto one of his couches, he put his feet up on the coffee table and drifted off.

  The incessant ringing of his house phone finally galvanised him into standing up a trifle too speedily. He cursed aloud and fell back onto the couch in agony.