Secrets of the Past

by Wendy Backshall

  “What about your job.

  “Keep your job; I want nothing more to do with you” I shouted as I walked away from him.

  I actually felt a pang of guilt, not sure why.

  Eventually arrived at my place, clicked the kettle for a brew, kicked off my shoes, and sunk back into the sofa, with my mail in hand. I looked around my room, normality again I thought.

  I quickly realized the phone bill was due, so must sort that soon, as I was never one for being late with my bills. Mum had taught me that, she always used to say always pay your bills on time and your life will have no worries. I was a great saver, also had a little from mum, so had plenty until I found another job.

  I felt at home again, home with mum and dad, London was a lifetime away, Tom had been nagging me again to move there with them, but this was my home for now, I just could not leave here, I was close and felt their presence here, and I was not ready to let them go yet.

  I then remembered the locket, so found it; I was a little apprehensive but opened it anyway, just to see if it still worked. I was sitting on the chair I kept in the corner of the room, as usual the room darkened, but there was noise, laughing, people talking, I gazed around, people all around, with wine glasses in their hands, it must be a party I thought.

  I looked up and saw my father, laughing, opposite a large man with a huge stomach, he was also laughing, bopping up and down, he looked very funny.

  Just over from them a chap with white hair and a long beard, he had a very stern looking face, did not look at all happy. He looked so pompous.

  There was a woman with hair that was on top of her head in tight curls, blonde, I noticed she looked a little old to have such fair hair. She was also laughing, in between biting on a small biscuit. She had a dress on, it was huge, and it looked as though she had something stuffed up behind her bottom. I think she could have been rather large under the dress.

  As I looked at my clothing, I noticed I had on a lacy dress, with tiny stones adorning it. It was beautiful.

  Then I saw Anastasia, she glided into the room, all eyes drawn in her direction, she was so pretty, father ushered her to come to him.

  As she passed she said,

  ” Anna, go to the kitchen and help Lillian”.

  She smelt of lavender, her teeth so white, she was quite beautiful.

  I immediately jumped up and made my way to the kitchen, where a young girl stood, she was cutting small sandwiches in little triangles, and she looked up at me.

  She bowed her head.

  “Oh, I have almost finished.”

  She said, looking very nervous.

  I immediately replied.

  “Oh don’t worry about me, here I will help you.”

  She surprised with my answer.

  “No mistress you cannot, the lady Anastasia would not be happy at all.”

  I replied

  “But she sent me out to help you.”

  Lillian looked up at me again scared to death.

  “But I have finished now madam.”

  I thought it best just to watch her, and say nothing, as every time I opened my mouth she seemed upset.

  I stood a while just watching, she kept looking up at me, I realized I was making her feel uncomfortable, so I said.

  “So where do you come from then Lillian.”

  She replied nervously

  “Oh Madam, I live not too far away in a place called Corporation Street, with my mother, and four sisters and two brothers.”

  I replied.

  “But what about you’re Father”

  She whispered.

  “Oh my father he was killed four years ago, in a terrible accident, in the flourmill which he worked.”

  “Oh I am so sorry, is that why you have to work?

  She replied “Yes all my sisters have to work, to buy food and pay the rent, as mother is not well, my brothers both work at the mill.”

  She then asked to get by, as she had to go and serve the guests, so I grabbed a plate and followed her into the lounge where all the guests were.

  I offered the plate to men who was standing alone, then realized it was Fredric. My friend he saw me.

  “Oh Anna, are you well.

  I answered “Yes I am and you.”

  He replied.

  “When I am going to see you again, you did promise me you know.”

  I answered “Soon I hope, very soon.”

  I then carried on to the next man who commented on the food being delicious. Took too many sandwiches I thought.

  It was then I saw John my brother, he was in uniform, so good looking.

  They certainly did not have much back then, but made up with good looks.

  He called me over; he was with another officer also in uniform. He turned to his mate and said.

  “Well here she is my baby sister.”

  I smiled and replied.

  “Oh stop it John, I’m far from a baby now.”

  He replied

  . “You certainly are, all grown up.

  I then turned, and I walked to the door.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Glanced around quickly then stepped outside the door, opened the locket and found myself in my hall.

  A few days passed and I had decided to start looking for a new job, so picked up the local newspaper, to see if there were any available jobs, I mean I had the experience, but for now, see what options I have.

  After glancing at a few low paid opportunities, I noticed an ad it read.

  Art Gallery

  Good all rounder,

  Customer service skills,

  Good telephone manner,

  Computer literate,

  Give me a call.

  I thought that is right up my street, all my qualifications and I do admire art, not really an expert on it though, but thought phone, cannot lose anything, so I dialed the number in front of me.

  It was a man, who asked if I had all the requirements in the ad, which I told him I had, he then said.

  “Well I am interviewing next week, but was there any chance of me going directly for an interview right now, as he was available today.”

  I immediately said.

  “Yes of course, can you give me half an hour?

  He agreed.

  After coming of the phone I thought my god, I have to get ready, find something to wear, and I will never make it, panic set in.

  Nevertheless, I shot up bathroom first, threw on my dressing gown, opened the wardrobe and grabbed my smartest outfit, checked the makeup, and hair, then started searching through my papers for my CV.

  Oh, I thought he can only say no, worth taking the chance, never know, I was the first to go for an interview, and it could be fate.

  So off I went, rushing along the High street, the address was only a few hundred yards from my place, on the corner of the esplanade.

  I arrived at the building, it had large old doors, I composed myself and rang the bell, my heart fluttering, the door opened and there stood in front of me a very good looking guy, around thirty, brown hair, dark eyes, and a gorgeous smile.

  He said.

  “Hi there I presume you are Amy?”

  “Yes.”

  I nodded, and entered, he ushered me to an office at the back of the vast building, enormous paintings hung around the walls, and they were everywhere all around the floors, a beautiful statue stood in the centre of the room.

  He then said.

  “My name is David Carter, nice to meet you.”

  He invited me to sit, and then asked for my CV, he glanced at it for a while, as he did, I studied his face, and he had crumpled his forehead, stunning I thought.

  “Well you seem to have what I am looking for, but why did you leave your last job, or are you still employed there”.

  I replied, “No, I have left recently, wanted a change in my life.

  He then, said, “What do you know about art?

  I cleared my throat, trying to think, how I could answer, then Dicke
ns came to mind, I had learnt so much on my searches about Rochester, and other things about the local area.

  Therefore, out it all came, I gasped for breath.

  He then stopped me and said.

  “No I mean have you studied art.”

  I had to admit the answer was no, but I was very interested to learn and willing to attend college to study anything I lacked in experience”.

  He then said

  “How soon can you start?”

  I replied excitedly

  “Right now if you like”.

  “That is great”

  He got up and started shaking my hand. “

  The jobs yours on a month’s trial, what do you think is that ok”

  “He then said, I did mean right now.”

  I thought, unusual. However, agreed it was fine.

  He then said.

  “I know we have only just met but I have to leave you for a while, I will not be long.”

  “Just familiarize yourself with everything, answer the phone, you will find any available appointments in the book there, is that all right?

  I was trying, to act professional.

  I answered.

  “Yes of course no problem.”

  “Oh he said before I go, this here is your office.”

  I Open, the door, leading off his office.

  Wow, I thought it was enormous, even bigger than James office, back at the solicitors.

  Mr. Carter said goodbye, and left, I started having a nose around, some beautiful objects everywhere, the telephone rang so I rushed to answer it, and said

  “Hello, River Art Gallery.”

  A man then replied is “David about”.

  “He is at a meeting right now. Can I help you?

  I whispered.

  He replied, “Just tell him Martin called, and get him to return my call immediately he gets in, thank you and cut off.

  I wrote the name and time down For Mr. Carter to return his call, then entered my office, yes my office, has a ring to it I thought.

  I sat at this large antique desk, with great big drawers, a laptop computer stood alone, well that and a phone. I glanced out the window, and could see a garden, a little overgrown, nevertheless very pretty, as the flowers were all blooming.

  I felt like all my dreams had at last come true.

  I then went into the gallery to look upon some beautiful art works, sculptures, large and small, paintings stood covered around the floor area; I felt I had stepped back in time again.

  My mind returned to the interview, I had not even asked the salary, the working hours, but thought who cares, this is right up my street as the saying goes, I must keep this job, show Mr. Carter I can do it and do it well.

  This is my new beginning I was praying for, the past months my life had changed so much, now it was time to look ahead, to a new future, and get on.

  Mr. Carter returned shortly after, and we discussed the procedures of the job, I also asked about my hours and salary, which I thought I had misheard as it was over a thousand a year more than I had been earning at the solicitors.

  Mr. Carter also told me I was to call him David and he would call me Amy, which I agreed was far less formal, David also showed me around the building, pointing out very expensive pieces, and remembered to show me the alarm system, that had been installed recently.

  He told me sometimes I would attend art exhibitions elsewhere as his secretary. Keep notes, I was very excited. I gazed at him admiringly at his dark looks, his manner; he seemed so gentle and kind.

  Perhaps at times, I embarrassed him as he looked away.

  I returned home at six pm, it was a Saturday, but David had told me that would only happen, every so often, my working hours were only five days, all other would be overtime. I was thrilled.

  Sunday came and went, got a few jobs out the way, and then it was Monday morning I was a little apprehensive but excited at my new job, and off I set for work, arrived promptly and David opened the door once again.

  He gave me my instructions, which included an awful lot of typing, but I did not care so I got on with it, to do it record time. I wanted to show David he had chosen the right person for the job.

  David spent a lot of time showing clients the artwork that was everywhere. Some of the art I wondered why people were attracted to it, as some was not so nice. He also spent hours on the telephone speaking to galleries, buying in artwork; he was a very busy man.

  Now and then when David leaned over me to explain details in paperwork I was working on, I felt his breath on my neck, it made me weak, I had only felt like this when I first met James. I also loved the aftershave he wore.

  I felt we were becoming closer each day, I imagined all sorts of romantic things happening, that he would sweep me of my feet and ask me to marry him, buy me gifts, and we would live in the country and have horses and dogs, and children of course.

  As I learned more about David, he told me he had only ever had two special women in his life, but they had both let him down, and he had not dated for over a year, but he was so busy anyway, he hardly had time.

  I imagined myself as his girl, he was gentle, softly spoken, gorgeous looking, I know I was falling in love with him, and I had noticed a few special moments when his hand brushed mine and he had become a little embarrassed.

  However, I it did not seem like he returned the compliments, so felt he was just being nice to me.

  The weeks began to fly by, I was very happy, I had told Tom my brother about him, not that I was in love with him, but he was my kind hearted boss, I told him about my job, how it was so different, Tom was very pleased for me.

  I had also told my friend Mel about him, and she had met him when we had lunch one day, and gave me her approval, she agreed he was quite a catch, Mel and I still had our chatty nights in and I would go to her mums for dinner occasionally on a Sunday.

  Life could not have been better for me, well until the day, I met James, he was heading towards me one Saturday, I tried to avoid him, but he was upon me before I could walk another step. He said

  “Hi how are you, I have missed you terribly, I know I made a terrible mistake, will you ever forgive me.”

  I replied.

  “James please, I am very happy with my life, my new job, everything, you must just get on like I have.”

  He replied.

  “Can we meet sometime, perhaps I can buy you lunch or a drink, I would like to explain, and it was a misunderstanding I assure you.”

  Before he could stutter out another word, I stopped him.

  “No James, nice to meet you again, I must go now, and rushed passed him”.

  I left him with his mouth hanging ajar, unable to speak, but I did not care, my thoughts went back to that awful man Geoff, and James was part of that, and I would never forgive him, ever.

  I would never forget how awful that time was and James I trusted him, and he betrayed me. He knew Geoff all the time, but did not tell me.

  My only question was ‘Why when he had the locket in his possession to show his uncle, why he didn’t give it to Geoff then.

  I just carried on with no more thoughts of James or Geoff, got on with my daily chores, and was contented as anyone could be, just awaiting the day, maybe David would ask me for a date.

  There was a knock on my door one day when I was about to pop out, as I opened it there stood a man, youngish about thirty,

  He said.

  “May I speak with you, my name is Paul Davis, and I understand you have something belonging to me.

  I replied.

  “But I do not know you, who are you again?

  He replied.

  “I am Zoë’s brother, can I come in for a minute.”

  He looked ok, so I let him in, and we made our way to the lounge, where he sat and said.

  “You did know Zoë didn’t you?

  I replied.

  “Well not really, she was just an acquaintance, not a friend, why?

  He then sa
id.

  “You know she died?

  I nodded yes.

  “Well she gave you something I believe, and I have now come to collect it.”

  “But what is it” I asked.

  He then said.

  “The locket, do you still have it?

  I answered.

  “But I was told to keep it, and never give it to anyone, not even you, even Zoë’s mother told me I was to keep it.”

  At this answer, he suddenly changed and said.

  “Go get it now, it is rightfully mine, and I want it now.”

  “But I no longer have it, I lost it, or someone stole it, as I had a robbery.”

  He did not look at all pleased with my answer again, immediately I finished speaking he jumped across the room, and pushed my head backwards.

  “You better not be lying to me bitch, who broke in the place then?

  I was shaking, “It was that Geoff bloke.”

  He then said.

  “If I find you been lying to me I will come back and kill you, he then hurried from the room, leaving me sat there. I went to the door and checked he was gone, just caught the back of him slamming the front door.

  As before, I put it to the back of my mind and got on.

  Will this nightmare ever end?

  Then I was working one day, at the gallery, we had a delivery, so was unwrapping some paintings, David had not arrived in to the office yet.

  As I had just got to a large painting, the woman in it was very familiar to me.

  It was Anastasia, as I unwrapped more, she had a velvet dress on, to the floor, her hair hung in ringlets, and her eyes were glistening, like glass.

  Just as I remember her. Surely not I thought this could not be her, as I sat thinking, the door opened it was David returning.

  I sat mesmerized by her beauty.

  He immediately said.

  “Oh wonderful, they have arrived, and I see you have found her.”

  I answered.

  “David she is so beautiful.”

  He agreed, holding it to the light.

  As he did, I noticed a locket around her neck, it was my locket, I knew at once.

  David then said.

  “Are you alright Amy?”

  I replied. “

  Yes of course, where did you get it?”

  “Oh, Martin, had it stored at his gallery, Martin said, it had been there a many years with others, it had got damaged in a fire years ago, mainly the frame as you can see.”