by Carys Jones
‘Baby, how are those steaks doing?’ Isla called from the kitchen. Aiden skewered the largest steak with a knife, and clear liquid oozed onto the burning coals below.
‘Nearly done!’ he shouted back.
‘I want to see.’ Meegan came running over on her podgy legs but Aiden held his hand up sternly.
‘No, princess, it is too hot. Help Mommy with the salad.’ She looked grumpy, and then her lip started to quiver and Aiden braced himself for the tantrum, but luckily Isla intervened.
‘Want to help Mommy with the strawberries for dessert?’
‘Strawberries!’ Meegan cried gleefully, instantly forgetting her banishment from the barbeque area.
‘Thanks for averting that storm,’ Aiden laughed.
‘No problem, don’t think I can stop that one though.’ She pointed out into the distance. Aiden looked up and sure enough, silver forks of lightning were dancing across the sky and didn’t appear to be that far away.
‘I’ll just finish up here; we had better eat inside, just to be safe.’
The family were happily tucking into their steaks when rain started to lash at the windows.
‘Here it comes,’ Isla sighed.
‘Here what comes?’ her little daughter asked innocently.
‘Just a storm, honey, nothing to worry about.’
Aiden found that he didn’t have much of an appetite. Perhaps it was the heat, but he wagered that it had more to do with the uproar his mind was in.
‘Babe, are youOK?’ Isla asked, concerned over the amount of food left on his plate.
‘I’m just not hungry.’
‘Probably this heat.’ He was glad that she wasn’t going to interrogate him further.
‘Although someone can still eat like a horse!’ She rustled her daughter’s hair as the little girl proudly lifted up her empty plate.
‘I like salad,’ she told her parents.
‘Good girl, fruit and vegetables will help you grow big and strong,’ Aiden told her. Meegan raised her arms above her head, showing how big she already was.
‘Wow, you are huge!’ he laughed.
‘Nobody is going to mess with our little girl,’ Isla giggled. Aiden smiled but felt a pang of sadness wash over him. How would he feel if a man attacked Meegan? Small, innocent, beautiful Meegan. Surely any man who could raise his fists to a woman is a monster? If that was the case, then the heroic image Avalon had of Brandon White was all just a sham. How would the town feel towards Aiden if he shattered their dream of their golden boy?
‘Penny for your thoughts?’ Isla tapped his arm.
‘Penny for your thoughts!’ Meegan echoed.
‘Nothing,’ he told the two women in his life. ‘Just work stuff.’ Thunder rumbled from far away, a warning of what was to come. Meegan looked uneasy. She held her hands out to her mother, indicating that she wanted to be out of her high chair and safe in her arms.
‘Why don’t we all go sit in the lounge?’ Isla offered, hoisting the toddler out. ‘Aiden?’
‘Yeah…sorry…I’m coming.’
‘When you are with us, be with us,’ she muttered to him angrily under her breath. She couldn’t ignore the distant look he had in his eyes each night after work. She feared that something, or someone, was constantly on his mind.
The rain intensified and as the thunder grew louder, flashes of lightning began to illuminate the sky. Meegan was nestled safely between her parents, cowering in fear at each rumble. Aiden had wanted to put the television on but Isla wouldn’t allow him. So there they sat, waiting for the storm to pass. After a while, even he had to admit that it was an immense storm. Once or twice he thought he heard trees splitting as they were struck by lightning. It was so dark it felt like the dead of night. Despite the noise, Meegan had managed to fall asleep, her hand on Aiden’s chest.
‘I’ll take her up to bed,’ he whispered.
‘No, if she wakes up in bed and the storm is still raging she will be terrified. Leave her here till it passes,’ his wife ordered.
They sat in near enough silence, for fear of waking Meegan. Aiden’s thoughts drifted to Brandy. She must be terrified in her cell as the storm raged outside. At least he had Isla and Meegan; she had no one. He almost felt guilty that she was alone. No doubt the storm was bringing back memories of Brandon and that fateful night when he proposed. Aiden watched his wife. She was doing amazingly well and he should tell her more often. There was no doubt that he could be a better husband. He leant over Meegan and squeezed Isla’s hand. She repaid the gesture.
‘Scared?’ she teased.
‘As long as I have you, what is there to be scared of?’ Isla blushed.
‘I don’t mean to be distant, honey. Work is just a little heavy at the moment.’
‘Well, itsOK, it will be over soon.’ Over. The word lingered in Aiden’s mind. It wasn’t just the case that would be over, it would be Brandy’s life. He shifted uncomfortably beneath his growing concerns.
‘Aid, are you all right?’ Isla asked.
‘Yes, baby, just stiff beneath this weight.’ He nodded towards a sleeping Meegan and laughed.
‘I don’t know how she does it, but that kid can sleep anywhere,’ Isla said as she stroked her daughter’s soft hair fondly.
Once the storm had finally passed Aiden tucked Meegan up in bed and went and grabbed a cool beer from the fridge. The tension in the air had lifted, leaving a calm atmosphere, full of hope and new beginnings. He was curious about the damage inflicted by the storm but by now it was too dark to go out exploring. He curled up on the sofa beside Isla. She was already on her second glass of wine and was getting sleepy.
‘Baby, do you remember our wedding song?’
‘“You are my destiny, you are my one and only.”’ She softly sang the lyrics to the popular Lionel Richie song in response. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her.
‘Remember how much my college buddies ribbed me about that?’
‘But we did love a bit of Lionel. It was our guilty pleasure.’ Her head was rested on his shoulder and Aiden breathed in the intoxicating aroma of her hair.
‘The world always feels so peaceful after a storm,’ she observed.
‘I like it.’
‘Me too. I’m going to start painting tomorrow now it won’t be as hot. I got some manky blue, like you asked.’
‘Great.’
‘I’m thinking that will do for the bathroom.’
‘Uh huh,’ in the fading light outside stars began to pierce through the now departing clouds. Isla rubbed a hand along Aiden’s inner thigh, but it was affectionate not suggestive. He could tell that tonight, all they would be doing in bed was sleeping, and he was OKwith that. It had been a stressful day and all he wanted to do was lay his head upon his pillow and drift away to somewhere free from the pain and strife of reality.
‘You know what comes after a storm?’ his wife mused in her sleepy, drunken haze.
‘No, baby, what comes after a storm?’
‘A rainbow. A beautiful, multi-coloured rainbow that makes everything seem better.’
Aiden could sense his own rainbow appearing. If Brandy could back up her claims about Brandon’s violent nature, Aiden could save her from the gas chamber. And surely there is no greater calling than to save a life? With a new sense of purpose, he finished his beer and let sleep take hold as he lay with his wife sprawled across him. Outside, thunder rumbled in the distance, as the storm moved on; preparing to shake up another town.
Chapter Six: Superhuman?
Buck Fern lived and breathed Avalon. Nothing happened in the town without him knowing about it and he liked it that way. He felt that his dedication was what made him so good at his job. He had held his position as sheriff for a good two decades. People around town respected and trusted him. He upheld the law and helped maintain the balance between right and wrong. Buck enjoyed his job and felt that it gave his life purpose. There were two things that he did not like: outsiders, and those that questioned him.
Aiden Connelly was both of these things, which meant that Buck disliked him intensely. When he saw the young lawyer approaching the Sheriff’s Office early Wednesday morning he cursed under his breath. He knew from past experience that people from the city always think that they know best. They are quick to try and impress their fancy lifestyle and way of thinking onto the people of Avalon. But there was a system in town, and it worked. Buck had worked hard to instil this system and he’d be damned if some hotshot kid was going to try and undermine him. As Aiden pushed open the office doors Buck tensed all over and prepared himself for what would undoubtedly be an unpleasant encounter.
Aiden was relieved to find that since the storm the weather was decidedly cooler. However, as he entered Avalon Sheriff’s Department, he felt that the air grew even colder as Buck Fern gave him a frosty reception. Again, Aiden politely offered his hand to the old man, who merely regarded it and grunted. Buck was sat on a desk, rather than behind it, and when Aiden approached, appeared to be idly gazing out of the front windows of the office.
‘Must be a slow day,’ Aiden mused to himself.
Buck made no attempt to hide his disdain for the young man. He didn’t even raise himself from his perch when Aiden had entered, preferring to continue to gaze out of the window until his visitor was directly in front of him. Buck Fern was being downright rude, it was childish and uncalled for but it was all the old man knew. When he didn’t like somebody, he either punched them square in the face, which, being sheriff, wasn’t the best approach, or he did his best to completely ignore them. Aiden was being annoyingly persistent which meant that Buck had to reconsider his strategy. He would have loved nothing more than to wipe the smug look of his boyish face, but he knew that he needed to restrain himself, at least for the time being.
‘We meet again, Sheriff.’
‘So it would seem.’
‘As you know, I’m currently in charge of the Brandy White case.’
‘You did mention it.’ Aiden felt his frustration growing. Dealing with Buck was like dealing with a petulant teenager, which was ridiculous considering he was a grown man and sheriff of a town no less! He was starting to think that coming to try and gather information from him was not a good idea.
‘Then, you’ll remember that I also mentioned that I’d be needing access to certain files relating to the case.’
Buck ran a wrinkled hand across his equally aged face and shot Aiden a dirty look.
‘Protocol?’ he queried.
‘Pretty much.’
‘Pretty much?’
‘I can’t disclose any information to you I’m afraid. I trust that you will cooperate with my investigations?’
Buck raised himself up from the desk so that he was standing. Aiden assumed that this movement was meant to somehow intimidate him but it failed to have the desired effect.
‘I need to have the files relating to the arrest of Brandy White, including the police report from the night of the murder.’
‘Fine, I’ll have those sorted out for you in due time.’
‘Due time? I need those files quickly, so if you can make haste, Sheriff. The trial is in just over two weeks.’
‘I’m aware of when the trial is. The whole town is. You will get your damn files when you get them.’ Aiden didn’t want to argue with the old man.
‘I also need any other files regarding Brandon White.’
‘Other files?’ Buck seemed taken aback by this request.
‘Yes, past indiscretions. Speeding fines, pub brawls, DUIs, anything like that.’
‘What are you implying?’
Aiden was cautious not to give too much away. At least not yet.
‘I need to have a clear legal history of both Brandy and Brandon. As I said, I can’t tell you much, it is all part of my investigation.’
‘Brandon never got in no trouble,’ Buck hissed at him angrily.
‘You are telling me that he was whiter than white?’ The sheriff remained silent. ‘Yeah, I didn’t think so.’
‘This town loved Brandon.’
‘So I keep hearing.’
‘That devil woman murdered him in cold blood. What more do you need to know?’
‘A lot more, actually. I’ll come for the files tomorrow.’
‘If I were you, I’d stop digging.’
‘You don’t scare me.’
‘You going to the big game tonight, Mr. Connelly?’ The change of topic threw Aiden off guard.
‘Sorry?’
‘The football game, over at the High School. Big event, the whole town comes out to give the boys some support. I expect you’ll be taking your lovely wife and daughter along with you.’
‘Are you threatening me?’ Aiden asked, shocked.
‘Heavens no,’ Buck laughed, but there was a menacing glint in his eyes. ‘I was just trying to make conversation. New kid in town, will do you good to go to the game, get in with the townsfolk. It is important to make friends somewhere as small as Avalon. You might remember that.’
‘Thanks, I will.’ Aiden was starting to become unnerved by Buck’s behaviour and didn’t want to antagonise him further.
‘I’ll be off then, I’ll be back around the same time tomorrow.’
‘Can’t wait,’ Buck called after him, sarcasm coating his words.
Aiden waved half-heartedly as he left, glad to be away, as he got back into his car and headed towards work.
‘Good morning, Mr. Connelly,’ Betty greeted him as he walked through the door. Now that the weather had cooled considerably she was back to her normal, immaculate self.
‘Terrible storm last night.’
‘Yes, it was, I think we needed it though.’
‘Well, I cannot bear the heat. Plays havoc with me! Oh, before you go in, you have a visitor in there waiting for you.’
‘A visitor?’ Aiden was intrigued.
‘Yes, Father West arrived about ten minutes ago asking to see you. Edmond is out of the office for the morning and it didn’t feel right leaving a man of God to wait out here on the sofas. Hope you don’t mind. I’ve given him a cup of coffee. Would you believe that he takes two sugars?’
Aiden thanked Betty and headed into his office, puzzled at what this impromptu meeting with Father West could be about.
As Aiden entered the room Father West rose to his feet and extended his hand in greeting. They shook hands vigorously and exchanged pleasantries. Aiden was thankful for the gesture after his uncomfortable encounter with Buck Fern. Even dressed down in jeans and a blue shirt, Father West’s dog collar still gave him away. Aiden noted again how devastatingly handsome he was. He couldn’t help but wonder what had made him choose this particular path in life. He was certain that priests could not enjoy the company of a woman until they entered into marriage and, looking like he did, Father West would certainly find temptation around every corner. Aiden toyed with the idea that perhaps, if the two men managed to strike up a friendship, he may one day be able to ask him what drew him to devote his life to God. He was genuinely curious.
‘So, to what do I owe this pleasure?’ Aiden asked as he settled himself behind his desk.
‘How are you settling into town?’
‘Fine,’ Aiden replied, bemused. Surely Father West had not troubled himself to come into his offices just to enquire about his wellbeing?
‘I was glad that you came to church on Sunday.’
‘We never normally go. But, a new start and everything, can’t hurt to have God on your side.’
Father West smiled. ‘It will be good for you and your family to meet people from around town. Your wife must be feeling quite isolated.’
A shiver crept up Aiden’s spine as he feared that he had grossly misjudged Father West. The next thing he knew, he would be offering to stop by his house and keep Isla company during the day and one thing would lead to another…
Aiden cursed himself for being so childish.
‘Perhaps she may like to join the gardening club that a few of the
local ladies set up?’
‘Yes, might be good. We need to start looking into nurseries for our daughter.’
‘I could recommend a few.’
‘That would be great.’
Aiden watched Father West drain his coffee cup and sensed that the priest wanted to say something more.
‘You enjoy working here?’
‘Sure do.’ Aiden was growing tired of the constant questions regarding his life. ‘Edmond is a great man, I’m enjoying working with him immensely.’
‘Didn’t you say that you were handling the Brandy White case?’ Bingo. Father West was here to dig.
‘Yeah, I am. It is an interesting one. Have you been over to Eastham to see her yet?’
‘No, but I will as soon as I can.’
‘She would really appreciate that.’
‘Yes.’
‘I imagine she is in a very dark place.’ Father West merely nodded. ‘You knew her well, didn’t you, Father?’
‘She attended church regularly when she was younger, yes.’ Aiden couldn’t help but notice that Father West was blushing profusely.
‘Wasn’t it you that had her mother sanctioned?’ The dynamic of the conversation had changed, placing Father West in the hot seat.
‘Yes, many years ago. Janice Cotton. Poor woman had truly lost her way, sad that she never returned. You can only hope that wherever she is, she is doing better than she was.’
‘Indeed.’ Aiden was still unsure as to why Father West had come to see him. He felt uneasy quizzing a priest but continued nonetheless.
‘And weren’t you the priest who married Brandy and Brandon?’
‘Yes, I was.’ Father West looked sad. Or did he look guilty? Aiden couldn’t tell.
‘How well did you know Brandon?’
‘Not very well.’
‘It seems like he was very popular around town.’
‘Yes, he was.’
The two men sat in silence for a moment. Father West was struggling with a number of things, least of all his conscience. Aiden Connelly had barely been in town five minutes, it would be foolish to assume that he could trust him. Yet Patrick West had always prided himself on being an accurate judge of character. His instincts had almost always been right, sometimes to the point where he found himself resenting the profession he was in. Too many people came and sat before him to profess their love and devotion to God whilst hiding a multitude of sins.