Shiver Sweet

by H Elliston

  “He doesn’t love you,” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “No one will ever have your back like I do.”

  Something inside snapped. “Bullshit! Don’t you ever say that again. He’s in love with me. He just doesn’t know it.”

  “How can he be, sweets? He doesn’t know the real you. He hasn’t asked you to move in with him and... Hell! He doesn’t even know your real name.”

  Her huffing breath misted the driver’s side window. She raised her hand and drew a heart in the opaque patch with her finger.

  “So you wanna marry, make babies and live a fairytale life with this guy? Is that what you think will happen here?”

  She scrubbed the heart out with her palm. “What’s so wrong with that?”

  “Things like that don’t happen to us. The only people we can rely on are each other and you know that’s true. Anyway, from what you say, his heart rests elsewhere.”

  Rachel shivered to the bone. His blunt words pained her.

  “Stick to the plan, and although I think you’re head’s in cuckoo land, as promised, I’ll do all I can to help you attain your man. But I’m telling ya, those fairytale ideas in your head ain’t all they’re cracked up to be.”

  Rachel huffed, disagreeing.

  “But if you back out of tonight then...”

  Rachel squeezed the phone, annoyed that he was playing tit for tat.

  “So are we on?”

  Tears rolled down her cheek. “I really don’t like using him in this way.”

  “If she hadn’t cancelled her birthday plans, you wouldn’t have to. But she did, so it’s tough.”

  “I’m not sure how much time I can give you. Maybe half an hour.”

  “Not good enough! If it weren’t for that jerkoff trying to break in last night, they’d be in a restaurant by now and we’d have plenty of time to do the uploads. Besides, her husband shoved something in a vent, so that needs removing.”

  Rachel pictured what she’d witnessed the other day. “Shouldn’t we tell her what he’s up to?”

  “Use your brain! She’d ask how you know. Do you want to go to jail?”

  “No,” she grumbled.

  “Besides, it makes for great entertainment.”

  “Two hours tops,” Rachel said.

  “That’s more like it because we also need to find that computer. Quick.”

  “Well, I was trying to get that myself, but I don’t know if it’ll pan out.”

  “Are you sure you can get them out of the house?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. Since the break-in, I think he’s looking for an excuse to whisk her out of there. So yeah, I’ve handed him one. I think I’ve riled him up enough to come and track me down, accused him of... Never mind. I think he’ll want to show me, in the flesh, that there’s nothing between them.”

  “Good job.”

  “Not that he’d tell her that,” she mumbled. “Anyway, he’ll chase me, and he’s bound to drag her along to help.” Fresh tears fell and she heaved a sigh. “He always does.”

  “And her housemate?”

  “They’re both scared. She’ll follow like a puppy.”

  CHAPTER 3

  CHRISTA

  An hour and a full stomach later, as the last light drained out of the day, my mobile rang. I answered it.

  “Christa. Hi.” It was Brian.

  “Found her yet?" I asked. Brian’s sigh answered my question. “Oh. Sorry.”

  “I’ve driven the routes she might have taken, but can’t find her car anywhere,” he said. “And she’s not answering my calls. Does she want me to go out of my mind with worry? I'll strangle her one of these days.”

  “Calm down.” It was unusual for Brian to sound this stressed. Perhaps they’d been arguing. “So, her mobile's ringing?”

  “Yes.” His car engine hummed in the background. “Will you help me search for her, Christa?”

  “Oh, I really don’t want to leave my house empty.” I should have guessed this was coming. Is this Brian’s way of getting me out of the house in case the burglar returns? No. He must be genuinely worried that she's in a bind. Claire would never do anything by choice that might result in Brian asking me for a helping hand.

  “Please, Christa,” he said, softening his voice which always hooked me. “I’m worried she’s skidded off the road or something. She might be too proud to ask for help.”

  “You’re overreacting. Besides, wouldn’t she call a tow truck?”

  “Probably, but you know what it’s like round here when it snows. I bet they’re bombarded with calls right now.”

  If I did agree to help him... No. I could not leave Nicola alone in the house after last night. “She’s probably at a shop, stocking up in case you get snowed in.” Or deliberately gone AWOL to get his attention without considering that he'd enlist me for the search.

  “All I’m asking is have a quick glance around, and then you might as well give me Sarah’s laptop seeing as I’ll be over on your side of town. Something to occupy her now that we’re not going climbing.”

  After all Brian had done to support me over the years, how could I say no to such a small favour? When Sarah’s dad died during my pregnancy, Brian, her uncle, voluntarily took on the father figure role. “Okay. I’ve had some drinks so I’ll have to go on foot. Phone you in a bit.” I disconnected the call.

  “What’s Brian roped you into now?” Nicola asked, flipping through a magazine in the kitchen.

  “Roped?”

  “I bet he’d like to.” She sniggered. “He seems the type.”

  “Nicola!”

  She mouthed sorry. “But I’m telling you... any excuse and he’s straight on the phone.”

  “That’s not true,” I said pointedly.

  “It is. What about the other day?”

  I frowned. “Just work stuff. He offered to get me a deal with a local company he’s been doing some consultancy work for, you know, for me to service their computers.”

  “An excuse to contact you,” she said bluntly.

  I rolled my eyes. “Anyway, I told him no.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Are you crazy? I thought you were strapped for cash.”

  “I’m getting by,” I said, a little too abruptly, the lie smothering me like a caul.

  Nicola continued eyeing me. “You’re too proud for your own good.”

  “It’s just not good to rely on other people to get me out of a rabbit hole.” Truth was, it frightened me to rely on others too much. Like a crutch, that help could easily snap, fall short or get whipped away, and I was also worried that if I let people in, they might learn about what deep, deep shit I was in financially, now made worse by the addition of solicitor fees.

  “Wanna talk about it?” Nicola asked.

  “Everything around me seems to go wrong and... Thanks, you’re so good to me, but no, let’s not dredge over my shit.” Most people spread a little mask of glitter over their problems to save face. I was no different. Who really wanted to hear about all the grit and slime of other people’s lives?

  “Wanna talk about Brian?”

  “Nothing to talk about. He does so much for Sarah and... I owe him. So I’m going to help.”

  “Not what I meant. Have you ever heard of the expression ‘can’t see the woods for the trees'? He loves Sarah, but she's also the glue that gives you two an excuse to be in each other's lives. I’m convinced you’re the reason he moved back to this town the other year. The way he looks at you... he can’t keep his–”

  “Please. Let’s not talk about this.” I dashed to the understairs cupboard and dug out my chunky boots. “I’m gonna do a quick search of the neighbourhood," I said, changing the subject, then sniffed the air in the hall. “What is that God awful smell? I can’t seem to get rid of it.”

  Nicola followed me. “It’s vile. Like piss. And it’s worse when the heating is on.”

  “Anyway, I'll give Brian that laptop and look around for Claire on the way. Then I’ll come back and sit it out
as planned.” I tossed Nicola her boots. “Put these on. I’m not leaving you alone. You’re coming with me.”

  “But my face!” She tried, in vain, to pick the green face mask off for it was already hardening on her skin. "Give me a few minutes to wash."

  I shook my head. “I know how long you take in the bathroom. You’ll end up doing your hair and make-up. Besides, we’re not going far. No one will see you in the dark and, if they do, they’ll probably just stare at your chest.” Nicola’s cleavage could easily engulf a man’s head.

  Nicola rolled her eyes and although she smiled at my comment, her face was a roadmap of displeasure. “Okay. I’ll go, but you owe me.”

  “Thanks.” While I checked the lock on the back door, Nicola grabbed the laptop from my office. There was no way I had time to wipe and upgrade the operating system tonight. Not that it mattered. I was sure Mrs Hill wouldn’t have given it to me if there were any unsuitable files on there. Besides, Sarah would likely only use it to chat on Facebook while sprawled in bed. After wrapping ourselves in coats and scarves, I locked up my office, then the front door, and dragged a reluctant mutant-ninja-turtle-faced Nicola into the falling snow.

  My neighbour Harry’s curtain twitched. He owned the other half of my old Victorian house and was a pretty good neighbour. Not bad looking either, save for the slight geekiness. I waved, but Nicola hid her face and crunched through the snow past his window. Moonlight bounced off the white snow drifts and bathed the undisturbed path in a radiant light.

  On reaching the end of our street, a teenager came whizzing round the corner dragging a younger boy on a makeshift sledge. Caught unawares, I jumped sideways to avoid them and whacked Nicola with the laptop bag. She squeaked out a little yelp, lost balance and took a tumble, plonking butt-first into the snow.

  I reached down. “You okay? Sorry.” I tugged her by the slender wrist to her feet.

  She rubbed her bottom and shot a waspish stare at the passing children. “Fine.”

  Thick snow fell all around us, blanketing what few dark patches of the landscape remained, as we trudged along in search of Claire’s red car. What few vehicles braved the slippery roads rolled forward at a snail’s pace, their headlights casting halo-fuzzy cones along the street.

  “This is no good,” Nicola complained ten minutes into our search, irritation pulsing off her like a sonar. “Sorry, Christa, but phone Brian and let’s head back. Claire might not even be in this area and I’m freezing my ass off.”

  I glanced up and down the streets, thinking. “Okay. I’ve done my bit.” I pulled my mobile out of my coat pocket and dialed.

  Brian answered quickly. “Hey!”

  “We can’t find her. Sorry. Where are you?”

  “Parked outside your local shops. Figured I’d see if she stopped here on the way.”

  “Stay where you are. I’ll cut through the alley and walk to you. Has your sister arrived yet?”

  “Erm. Well...”

  His reluctance to answer made my stomach cave in. “Erm isn’t an answer.”

  “She’s kind of got... car trouble.”

  There it was. I stood bolt upright. “Sarah’s home alone?”

  “Yes.”

  I had to keep my cool. Brian loved Sarah and would never leave her alone purposefully. If it weren't for my unsettled nerves from last night, it wouldn't have been such a big deal. After all, Sarah was thirteen. “Look. I know you’re worried about Claire, but the whole point of Sarah being at your place is so she’s safe.” Not only from burglars.

  “I know, and I’m sorry things haven’t gone as planned. But I’m also worried about you, you know.”

  Something twigged. “Is that why you phoned me for help? To get me out of the house?”

  “Of course not!” His overly-dramatic voice did little to squash my theory. It charmed me how deeply Brian cared.

  "Thanks. But I'm a grown woman. Anyway, I’m not alone.”

  He didn't respond straight away. “You’re not? Oh, do you mean Nicola or...”

  “See you in five.”

  “W-wait. Hold on!”

  I ended the call and turned to Nicola who battled to stop her long, curly hair from sticking to her green mask. “Follow me.”

  We turned left down the next street, trudged through a snow-thick alleyway and came out into the local pub’s icy car park.

  We walked across it and picked up the pace on the less slippery surface at the other side. Then, suddenly, tyres squealed as though braking on ice. This was followed by an immense bang and the crumpling of metal.

  “Holy crap!” I shrieked, eyeing Nicola. “That didn’t sound good.”

  Nicola geared into panic mode. "Come on." She hurried me around the corner where a car, the left side of its bonnet crumpled against a stone wall, belched steam into the winter night from its radiator.

  “Oh, my God!” I slid to a stop and slammed my hand on the mangled bonnet. I stooped to look through the front window as Nicola raced to the driver side. A dark-haired man sat behind the steering wheel, his face partially obscured by the deflating airbag.

  I knocked on the bonnet to get his attention. “You okay? Are you injured?”

  Nicola yanked the door open. “He’s alive.”

  I rounded the car and stood at her side as the man raised his unshaven face. “Christ!” he said, running a shaking hand across his eyebrow and finding a trickle of blood. “Damn, stupid weather.”

  “We’ll call an ambulance.” I fumbled for my phone and pointed at him. “Don’t move.”

  “How do you feel?” Nicola leaned across and unclipped his seatbelt. “There. Is that more comfortable?”

  He nodded and swung a leg out of the car.

  “Hey, hey!” I said, lowering my mobile. “You shouldn’t move.”

  “Yes, he should.” Nicola frowned at me. “What if the car blows up?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It’s a crash, not a bomb. And I can’t smell fuel.”

  “I’m fine,” the man insisted. “J-just a bang to the head.” He glanced up at the sky, twitched and groaned. “I couldn’t tell which was road and which was... Just snow flying at me.”

  “You’re lucky you’re in one piece,” I commented. "This town is a minefield of danger when it snows. Are you from here?"

  "Kind of." He pushed up off the seat and paused as he caught my gaze. A haunting look filled his dark slitted eyes.

  I tilted my head. Did I know him? No.

  “Th-thanks, but don’t bother phoning for help.” He shifted focus to Nicola, frowned, then used the door for support and hauled himself up.

  “Why not?” Nicola asked, steadying him as he staggered out of the car.

  “There’s a big pile up in town."

  "Really?"

  "Yes. Every ambulance will be headed there. I’d be waiting for ages. Besides, nothing’s broken.”

  Reluctantly, I pocketed my mobile. “You sure? I mean... you should get checked out.”

  “I’m fine.” He waved a dismissive hand with greenish dots tattooed on his knuckles, then studied the crumpled mess of his car. “Guess I’m on foot from here. Damn.”

  “Well. At least let me help you with that cut on your head.” I grabbed a tissue from my pocket and dabbed blood off his eyebrow. “It looks pretty bad. You might need stitches.”

  “Where are you going?” Nicola asked.

  “What will you do about your car?” I said, giving his eyebrow one last dab.

  He leaned down into the car, grabbed a box of sticking plasters and a mobile phone from the footwell. “Meeting a friend.” He shut the car door and locked it, never again meeting my eyes square-on.

  “Plasters,” I said. “You came prepared.”

  “Oh, err... yep.” He pocketed them. “Thanks for your help. But I need to get going. I’ll arrange for a tow in the morning.” He limped away, glanced back at us once with an unreadable frown, then cut tracks in the snow toward the pub we’d just passed.

  “Poor guy,” I w
hispered.

  “Did you see the way he looked at us?” Nicola commented, then touched her cheek. “My facepack. Jeez. No wonder. I’m a human monster.”

  “You do look scary,” I giggled, although it was more the way he didn’t look at my eyes that struck me. “He’s embarrassed.”

  “Come on." She tugged my coat sleeve. "I don’t wanna be on these streets any longer than I have to.”

  “Nor do I.” Strange, weird evening... and damn that Claire and her stupid mission to get Brian’s attention! On the one night I needed to stay at home... Grrr. The plan to defend my house was already falling apart.

  CHAPTER 4

  CHRISTA

  A horn beeped outside the local shops. I scanned the poorly-lit street, spotted Brian’s car outside the closed Post Office and headed over while hanging up my mobile. For some reason, Sarah was not answering my calls.

  Brian grinned at us through the window, then leaned over to open the passenger door. “Hop in,” he said, then slotted his mobile in its holder on the dash.

  My heart rapped a double beat as I opened the door wider to climb in his Freelander. That old sting of guilt from our teen years never went away. “Brrr...” Once I shut the door to keep the heat in, a fresh masculine scent wafted around me. Nicola climbed in the back.

  I handed the laptop to Brian. “Mission accomplished.”

  He placed it on the back seat, and then swept concerned eyes up and down me. “The roads sure are bad, aren’t they? You look terrific. I thought you’d cancelled your meal out?”

  “I did. Th-thanks, but...” I glanced down at myself. I didn’t look great at all. He was just being polite. My long dark-brown hair tinted blonde on the ends was tangled and wind-swept, and the last time I’d glanced in a mirror, my mascara was smudged.

  Brian’s gaze locked on mine while he slid the back of his hand down my cheek, in a companiable way. “So, I finally got in touch with Claire. God, you’re frozen. Stay in here and get warm. In fact...”

  I angled my head, drawn into his lingering gaze. “In fact what?”

  Eventually, he looked away and put the car in gear. “You’ll warm up in a minute.”