by Wendy Hudson
“Not really. He tries to get home a few times a year but even then the most I normally get is a dinner. It’s okay though, that’s how it’s always been and I’ve made peace with it.”
“Still it must have been hard, especially not having your Mum around?”
Lori let out a long sigh. “I guess, but once my aunt Emily took over, we were well taken care of. And I always had Scott.”
“I’m sorry, Lori. Way to change the subject. We don’t have to talk about this.”
“No, no. Like I said, I’ve made my peace. I don’t mind.”
Alex got up and headed to the bar. “Whisky?”
“I guess if I’m about to spill my guts then yes, please. A large one.”
Alex chuckled. “Two large whiskies coming up.”
“Oh, wait. Aren’t we climbing a hill tomorrow? I hate climbing hungover.”
“Um, not exactly. I had something else in mind. It’s more water based. I promise it will clear your head along with whatever hangover you have.”
“Would that explain the wetsuit hanging in my room?”
“Ah, you saw that did you? I got Jess to pick it up for you. I figured you were around the same height and build.”
“Now I really am intrigued, as well as happy I can have more whisky. Go ahead and make it a large one.”
Alex handed her the drink with a smile before getting comfortable again, curling up to face her.
Lori studied her profile in the orange glow from the fire and had the sudden urge to trace a finger down her cheek. She mentally shook herself, then took a gulp of the whisky, letting it burn its trail to her stomach before she was able to speak.
Alex beat her to it. “So how did you end up in boarding school?”
“You want the long story or short?”
“Long. There’s more whisky if we need it.”
“Good to know.” She stared in to the fire again, thinking back to those lonely years and wondering where to start. “Scott and I got passed around for a while after Mum died. My dad’s solution, was to disappear and drink in as many different countries as possible. We didn’t understand at first. We thought he was gone forever, the same as Mum.”
Alex didn’t say anything, just took Lori’s hand again.
“Our aunt, Emily, reassured us, told us he would be back once he’d ‘gotten better and got some sense.’ I don’t think he wanted us to see him so broken. He didn’t want to tarnish our image of him as our big, strong, adventurous dad who travelled to far off lands in search of magical stories and exotic gifts for us.”
“So instead, he deserted you?”
“I know, I know. It took a year, but he finally sobered up enough to get some sense, remember he had two kids, and come home. But he was never the same. I think he saw too much of our mum in us, and it reminded him every day of what he’d lost.”
“So his answer was to lose his kids, as well?”
“Yeah, that still doesn’t make sense to me, and I’m not sure he could explain it even now. He was still young and selfish, and didn’t think he was any good for us without our mum. He said she made him a father and he couldn’t do it on his own.”
“Then he packed you off to boarding school?”
“Not straightaway. He came home to claim us eventually. There was a run of unsuccessful nannies who weren’t prepared for him disappearing for days at a time on binges. Then we went back to our aunt Emily’s until we were eleven and in his mind old enough to go to boarding school.”
“Didn’t your aunt protest?”
“Of course, but she was actually my mum’s aunt, retired with her own family already grown up. Despite her protests, she knew she would struggle with two teenagers in the house again and besides, my dad was the one paying our way so he had the final say.”
“I guess at least you had Scott with you.”
“That definitely helped, although it was weird going into dorms and not having him in the next room at night. But when I got homesick or needed advice, Emily was only a call away. I guess she became my touchstone in life. Unfortunately, she passed away two years ago. I think that’s when I started realising the problems Andrew and I had. It always seemed to be Scott or Stella there when I needed to talk about it, not him.”
“You definitely find out who really gives a crap when you go through something like that.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“Aye.” Alex swallowed the last of her whisky and got up to refill their glasses. “So you don’t have much of a relationship with your dad then?”
“No. I know he loves me and I love him. We’re family so it’s unconditional. But he doesn’t know me.”
He had at least provided well and they had never wanted for anything. James Hunter was from serious money, although you wouldn’t think it given his lifestyle, drifting from country to country, depending on the story. His motto was ‘if it didn’t fit in a carryon bag, it wasn’t a necessity.’ Seems that motto applied to his kids, as well.
She and Scott both had healthy bank accounts and money in trust, courtesy of their wealthy grandparents. Their properties in London were bought outright and there were no student loans to be paid. It afforded them independence and freedom, at least given their lack of family ties.
“Anyway, I think that’s plenty of my sombre life stories for one night. Can we just sit and watch the fire die out with the last of the whisky?”
“Sure.” Alex smiled, reaching out to brush some hair behind Lori’s ear. “I’m glad you can talk to me.”
Lori placed her hand over Alex’s and held it against her cheek and closed her eyes. With one small, tender gesture, Alex had soothed the pain away and she wanted to savour the moment.
“Oh, I didn’t realise you guys were still up.” Jess stood in the doorway, breaking the spell. “Sorry to interrupt. I just needed some water.”
Alex quickly dropped her hand and moved back in the seat. “No problem, the fire’s nearly dead. We were just about to call it a night.” She got up, collected their glasses, and brought them to the sink where Jess stood filling her glass.
The moment passed, and Lori didn’t know if it was the whisky or the ‘Alex effect’, but she suddenly felt lightheaded and thought bed was probably for the best. “Good idea. I think that last whisky did a number on me.”
“Aye.” Jess smirked. “I’m sure it was the whisky.”
Lori saw Jess take an elbow to the ribs as she stood next to Alex at the sink before Alex smiled her way. “C’mon, I want to make sure Frank hasn’t snuck in and set up camp in your room again.”
She followed Lori down the long corridor and into the living area of the annex apartment, sticking her head through the bedroom door, she checked the bed. “No sign of him. Looks as if you’ve got the place to yourself.”
“You do realise I actually let him in last night, don’t you?”
Alex looked down guiltily. “Busted. I guess I wanted an excuse to avoid an interrogation from Jess and also maybe walk you to your room.”
Lori smiled at the gesture. “I had a brilliant time today, Alex. Your friends are great and I can see why you love this place so much.”
Alex grinned, her dimples coming out in full force, which always pleased Lori. “Well, it’s not over yet, adventures tomorrow remember.”
“I can’t wait,” Lori held her gaze, momentarily unsure what to do next. A glance down and she knew. Leaning in she softly kissed her left dimple, before moving to her ear to whisper, “Bonne nuit et dors bien, Alex.”
* * *
Alex stood rooted to the spot a few moments after the bedroom door had closed. Every fibre in her body hummed and begged her to knock on the door, not let Lori off so easily with only a peck on the cheek.
Instead she took some deep breaths and focused on one of the landscape paintings opposite, allowing her heart rate to settle. She heard Danny’s voice of reason in her head, telling her to go with the flow, don’t rush it, and let Lori lead the way. If she wanted more, she would let
her know.
She quietly closed the annex door behind her and wandered dazed along the corridor, meeting Susie on her way to the bathroom.
Susie nodded in the direction of Lori’s bedroom. “Been given your marching orders have you?”
“Ah, Susie, don’t look so pleased. I know everything I need to know.”
Chapter 24
Sean ground another cigarette under his boot, then leaned back further into the shadows as an upstairs light in the house opposite came on. A figure he knew well pulled the curtains, blocking his view with rocket ships and astronauts.
His eyes shifted to the living room window where another figure stood, sipping from a mug, surveying the street. This one was less familiar and he immediately stood taller, jaw working to control the roar building inside.
“Bitch,” he muttered under his breath as he pulled another cigarette from the battered pack. It was the third night that week he’d watched the family scene play out. Her return from the school run, a glimpse of his sons bounding into the house, lights appearing, the flicker of the television. His return from work in his fancy car, a kiss at the front door, and no doubt a cosy dinner with banal chat about their boring days. Then his youngest son’s bedroom light would appear, along with the imposter at the living room window.
Sean wondered if the man could see him, or maybe just sense his presence. He was sure the man knew he didn’t belong in that house. He was only playing a character. He could never be their father.
The rocket ships and astronauts disappeared as the bedroom light went out. Only the faint glow in a corner of the window told him his son still slept with a nightlight. This annoyed him. He was ten, for fuck’s sake.
A moment later, he watched as she slipped her arms around the waist of the imposter at the window. This hadn’t happened before. Apart from a peck at the door, he hadn’t seen them together. The wave of rage that ran through him at the sight almost propelled him across the road to wipe the smile off both their smug faces.
He pulled on the cigarette and imagined doing it instead. He envisioned their terrified faces as he busted through the door, and made the arrogant prick in the window watch as he sliced the smile from his lying, cheating, ex-wife’s face, before bashing him over the fucking head with the mug.
That calmed him. All in good time, he thought. One day, he’d have his revenge.
He glanced upward at the glow in the window and thought about what kept him from realising his fantasy, of ending the woman who had cast him aside so easily when he needed her the most. The woman who had stolen his sons, and, with them, his life.
He made the trip south every few months. Winter was always best because he could get closer in the darkness and didn’t have to rely on hiding in a car. It drizzled around him and he turned his collar up against the wind rushing through the alley at his back.
Breaking their embrace, the imposter moved away as she reached to draw the curtains. Sean watched her pause for a moment, looking both ways down the street as if searching. His legs almost engaged, oh how he wanted to step out from the shadow. To see the shock on her face when she realised that what she was sensing was there. He wanted to make her feel the fear he knew he could instil in her, even after all these years. But his feet wouldn’t move. It wasn’t time. So long as his sons were in that house, she was safe. He wondered if she knew that was all that was keeping her alive.
Another second’s pause, and she was gone. His family shut away from him for another night.
The rush of the fantasy was still there. Coursing through him and he could feel himself harden at the thought. Taking a breath, he allowed one last glance at the house before turning down the alleyway. Tonight was the night. There was no satisfaction in watching, but until the time was right, he’d have to make do with some other whore out there asking for it.
The urge was becoming more regular. Every night he stood across from the house built it further until it was beyond his control. He had to allow himself the release. He needed it.
Time was ticking away, and he felt a surge of impatience at the situation. But he was smart, and he’d been trained well, there would be no impulsive mistakes. He just needed some calm, if only for a night.
His mind was set. Someone would pay for what she had done. He’d probably be doing some other poor bastard a favour. Head down, he stalked towards his car. He’d have his fun tonight and be gone before his sons sat down to their breakfast in the morning.
Chapter 25
By Sunday lunchtime, Alex’s Defender was packed and the girls were heading off on their water adventure. After breakfast, Jules and Katy had headed home to feed their own animals and all four guys had passed, citing that they’d done it before. The truth was they were heading back to bed to nurse their hangovers.
Lori had watched with Frank at her side, while Alex packed wetsuits, towels, life jackets, and helmets, but she had still refused to tell her where they were heading.
If it was possible, Susie had been even frostier with her, barely mumbling a good morning at breakfast before leaving the kitchen to get ready, and not appearing again until they were about to leave.
As the smallest, Susie had been forced to sit in the childlike seat in the boot, which only deepened her dark mood. She only spoke when an opportunity arose to get a dig in at Lori or Jess. If Alex noticed, she didn’t say anything.
They were on foot now, Alex led them over fences and across a sheep-filled field that gradually declined downhill to a wide, shallow river. It was crystal clear and barely ankle deep so Lori was unsure exactly what water adventures they were going to have.
Stepping out onto a couple of stones, she voiced her uncertainty, “Are you sure wetsuits are really necessary? I mean, where exactly are we heading?”
“All in good time, Lori.” Alex held out her gear. “You’ll just have to trust me.”
Realising she would have to change in front of Alex, she grabbed her gear, and bagged a bit of privacy behind a large tree, much to Jess’s amusement.
“I can’t believe you went to boarding school and are still shy getting changed around the ladies.”
Lori stuck her head around the tree. “Well, you see my problem is that after last night, unfortunately, I now know you lot aren’t ladies.”
Everyone but Susie laughed along with Jess.
“What. You mean because we’re all lesbians, you think we’re going to perv on you? Please. Get over yourself,” Susie said with a sneer.
Gail raised a hand. “Um, how many times do I need to remind you all? Straight girl here too.”
Lori pulled her wetsuit up over her torso and stepped out from behind the tree, determined not to bite. “Actually, it was only Jess I was worried couldn’t resist, but come to think of it…” She winked at Jess before turning her back to Gail. “Straight girl, could you zip me up please? It seems to be stuck and I’m not sure I want any of these lesbians near me half-naked.”
Everyone broke into giggles apart from Susie. She looked between them all, snatched up her own wetsuit, and stomped behind the tree without another word, leaving them to stifle their laughter for the sake of peace.
Lori took her wetsuit boots and lifejacket and headed to a rock by the water to put them on. Turning her back, she gave the others privacy to change. After the incident in the bothy that had left her blushing scarlet, she didn’t want to risk a peek at Alex and give Susie any ammunition.
“Okay, so what’s this grand adventure? Because I can’t see very much water?”
Alex stepped gingerly into the frigid river, sucking in her breath. “Follow me.”
The cold was a shock at first, but the neoprene boots made it bearable. The women moved slowly and took care over the rocks in the shallow water. The banks on either side of them soon heightened and created a narrow path upstream.
Alex led the way as the water rose to knee height, she stopped at two large rocks that seemed to act as a kind of doorway, blocking their view ahead.
Lor
i didn’t know what lay beyond, but she had a feeling it was special.
“Welcome to the Devil’s Pool Pit,” Alex declared as Susie brought up the rear.
“No way.” Lori was delighted. She had heard of this place but never ventured out to find it, always short of time or eager to hit the road after a climb.
“Yes way. I take it you’ve heard of it?”
“Of course. I’ve seen it mentioned on websites but never thought I’d get to check it out. This is so cool. Are there really waterfalls?”
Alex looked pleased at Lori’s excitement. “Aye, they’re at the end. We haven’t had much rain so the water should be low enough for us to make it through okay. We’ve all been before so should find our way easily enough.”
“Cool,” Lori grinned. “Well what are we standing around for? Let’s go.”
Her enthusiasm seemed to be infectious and, even though the others had been there before, they seemed just as excited as she was.
Susie visibly shivered. “I can’t believe you’ve dragged me out here again.”
Jess gave her a playful shove. “No one dragged you, Susie. In fact, why don’t you just head back to the car if you’re going to keep that face on you the whole time?”
She pulled a face and pushed past them all. “C’mon, let’s just get there already.”
They slalomed through the rocks either side, and the water turned almost black the deeper it got, only the dark red colour of the smooth rock ledges below the surface was visible, forming their path. The water quickly rose to waist height on Lori and Jess, chest height for rest.
Lori felt her way carefully, conscious of slipping. She didn’t fancy a full on dunk under, no matter how hungover she was. Periodically, they stopped to clench and unclench their cold, stiff fingers, which were unprotected in the icy water, while Jess took pictures with a compact, waterproof camera.
Eventually, the deeper water gave way as they approached a natural dam. The foliage scaling the cliffs of the gorge became thicker and hung all around them. It had the effect of insulating the gorge to create the kind of muffled quiet you would find at the top of a mountain.