Unlikely Places
Authors: Charlotte Mills
UNLIKELY PLACES
First Edition
copyright 2014 Charlotte Mills
All
rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or in
part, without the written permission from the author. The characters, incidents
and dialogue herein are fictional and any resemblance to actual events or
persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover Design: MP
Designs
Table of Contents
Unlikely Places
Thursday
“Fuck, fuck, fuck 220 fucking hours are they fucking
kidding”. I slammed the car door quickly escaping from the icy January wind,
fishing out my phone to work out how many days it worked out on the calculator
at 7hrs a pop. “31 fucking days”. I spat out as my anger filled the car.
“Stop it!....You’re lucky it could have been much worse it’s
only because you pleaded guilty they went easy on you”.
Nat’s attempt to quell my anger fell on deaf ears. “Easy are
you fucking joking?...I only smashed up a car”.
“It was two cars and you used a baseball bat!”
“The first one was a fucking mistake, they all look the same
in the dark when you’re drunk”.
“Try telling that to the owner”.
“I did he wouldn’t listen!...Bastard”. I continued to
seethe, focussing on my recent disastrous choices.
“Stop bloody swearing you know I don’t like it.....I’m
trying to drive here”. She yelled pulling out of the car park. I considered
pointing out her choice of words but thought better of it. My elder sister Nat
hated swearing, always had since we were children, although I think she’d
become more hypersensitive since becoming a mother twice in the last five
years, I sulked in the passenger seat as we headed back to her house.
“Least it’s over now, get the hours done and then forget
about it...a few days gardening or whatever....you enjoy working outside don’t
you?”
“What’s my current job Nat?....I work on a computer eight
hours a fucking day!“
I saw her wince at my swearing. “Yes......but you like the
fresh air”.
“Everyone likes fresh air”. I said exasperated at her logic.
“Exactly so stop moaning...it’ll be over before you know it
then you go back to normal....if there is a normal for you”.
“What’s that supposed to mean”. I snapped at her, I could
tell she was getting pissed off, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“You know what it means!” She glared at me after pulling
into her driveway. “It’s got to stop!” Her eyes softened as she placed her hand
over mine. “Please Al you’ve got to let it go...move on”.
I felt my eyes well up, turning away I stared at the green
tricycle on the front lawn to avoid her eyes. I couldn’t lie to her, but I
couldn’t tell the truth either. I turned to meet her frowning eyes. “I’m sorry.....I’ll
try”. I lied, I wouldn’t, I couldn’t I had to let it run its course, it was
almost two years since our father had died, murdered actually, and that was the
catalyst in all this.
Tony Philips, aged 57 a loving father, divorced from our
slightly estranged mother. An insurance salesman, on his way home from a
client’s house in the countryside, on a dark January afternoon. A trip he had
made countless times before, this time he met another car on the wrong side of
the road – dry stone walls on either side he had nowhere to go. The other
driver survived with non-fatal injuries, but dad died at the scene in the cold
darkness. It would have been hard but I could have accepted it as an accident,
narrow country roads after dark a loss of concentration it could happen to
anyone. But for the following day we were informed that the other driver had
been twice the legal limit, he was arrested in hospital two days later.
His lawyer suggested he plead guilty due to the evidence
against him, he did receiving an eighteen months prison sentence and a two year
driving ban – where was the justice for us, he had killed our father. Drink
driving had since become my bug bear, hearing that my ex Mel had been caught
made me temporarily lose my sanity. Caught, meaning she could have got away
with it - just like she could have killed someone. She knew how I felt about
it, although we had broken up before my father’s accident she kept in touch,
tried to help me put the pieces back together. How could she do it - she had
kept her distance for a while I thought nothing of it but now I knew better,
she couldn’t face me. I didn’t intend to smash her car up or her neighbours for
that matter, it was just a crazy reaction after too little sleep and too much
alcohol, something I had to get a lid on.
Our father had always provided
for us even in his death, he was an insurance salesman after all, we had both
received a generous settlement. Nat used hers to purchase a bigger house for
her growing family and invest in her husband Richards’s publishing business. I
used mine to buy my 1930’s wreck which I then spent the next six months
renovating in to a home. I had sweated blood, sweat and tears during the
restoration with the help of Uncle Tommy, it had provided me with a focus when
I needed it the most. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms it was too big for
me on my own but I liked the area with its quiet tree lined streets. Most of
all I liked the privacy it gave me, with many of my neighbours busy working
away during the week and only surfacing to wash their company cars at the
weekend, the quietude was bliss.
Nat brought me back to reality with a pleading tone.
“Promise me you’ll try?....Why not go back to that counsellor again?...He
really helped you before”.
I’m sure my shoulders visibly slumped in front of her, there
was no way I was going back to Dr Miller or Dave as he wanted to be called a
super right on touchy feely freak. “I’ve got counselling as part of this thing
I can’t face going twice”. I was sure my brattyness was beginning to grate now.
“Okay okay but if you do want to go Rich would cut you some
slack with work”.
“I’ll think about it”. I had, I wouldn’t go.
As we got out the car, I held my coat closed to avoid the
cold as we headed for the side door of Nat’s large barn conversion home, she
shared with my brother in-law and employer Richard and my two nieces. I could
hear the youngest piping us on board as we entered the house. “Is she ill?” I
asked physically covering my ears.
“She’s teething!” Nat shouted above the din.
Entering the house the noise was unbelievable, Nat dumped
her bag walking off in the direction of the wailing. I headed for the sitting
room where I found my less noisy niece Lucy lying on the floor wearing the ear
defenders I leant her at Christmas, furiously colouring in. I knelt down in
front of her turning my head to see her work of art. “Very colourful”. I mouth
smiling at her, giggling she turned the book round allowing me to work my magic
on the other page containing a picture of Stinky Pete and Woody. Poppies
screaming in the distance gradually became a whimper to my great relief.
“Are you going to prison?” she said removing her ear
protection.
“No”. I tried not to sound too indignant.
“Good...I need these ear muffs”.
I smiled at her, she reminded me of Nat as a child always a
bit frowny even when she was enjoying herself. Nat walked in carrying a now
quiet Poppy talking to the child minder trailing behind her. “Thanks for
stepping in today...I really appreciate it”.
“No problem Nat”.
I look up and caught Kate’s eye as she headed for the
kitchen behind Nat, immediately regretting it as I saw a look of disappointment
on her face. She obviously didn’t realise I was here or I’m sure she would have
slipped out the back door as we came in the front.
Kate was dressed perfectly as ever in business wear,
something I always found attractive, her long dark hair held in a loose pony
tail. She kept her back to me but I knew she was angry, I hadn’t returned her
call in two weeks practically a life time after her first time venture with
another woman. I felt bad, as Nat left the room with poppy I jumped to my feet
to take the bull by the horns.
“Hi”. I said leaning on the counter in the kitchen, keeping
her back to me still, she’s really mad. “I’m sorry Kate....I should have called
you, I’ve had a lot on lately but it’s no excuse I know that”.
“No it isn’t.....I really liked you”.
Liked as in past tense, really really mad.
“I hear you escaped prison”. She said sharply.
“Yes...community service.......is it too late to try and
make it up to you?”
Turning round I scanned her beautiful coffee coloured skin,
her sharp slightly oriental features with soft, sad brown eyes and full lips. I
had found her attractive since our first meeting several years ago, if a little
highly strung but I was willing to overlook it for now.
“Are we gonna go out and then you not ring me again?” Her
nostrils flared as she let out a long breath.
Ouch. “No...I thought maybe I could cook for you one night
if you’re free?”
“You...cook!”
“Absolutely...I make a mean chilli or may be steak and ale
pie?”
I could see her begin to soften, her shoulders dropped a
little. “When?”
“Whenever you want?” I said in a light tone.
“Okay.....Saturday night......7pm...I’ll expect wine and
pudding”. She smiled for the first time, igniting a little spark within me. She
was beautiful, I liked her and I felt sure that could develop in time.
“You know where I live right?”
“Worried I’ll stand you up?......Or is this part of your
community service?” She smiled coming closer to me, keeping one eye on Lucy,
she placed her hand on my arm gently rubbing it with her thumb, instantly
dropping it at the sound of Nat’s shoes click clacking on the hardwood floor
heading in our direction. Nat was currently unaware of my indiscretion with her
nanny hopefully she would continue to be.
Nat eyed us both as she came into the kitchen automatically
flicking the kettle on, while I fiddled with my colouring pencil. “Tea?” she
offered.
“No thanks”. Kate said. “I’d better be going.....see you tomorrow
Lucy”. She winked at me while Nat’s back was turned before picking up her
jacket turning on her heals and disappearing down the hallway closing the door
quietly to not wake the beast.
“So when have you got to pay the fine?”
I place my colouring pencil behind my ear. “Next
week....I’ll go in and pay it”.
“Doesn’t seem much really for two cars”. She said slamming a
cup down in front of the kettle.
“What are you so angry about?......It wasn’t your car?”
She spun round to face me. “Is there something going on
between you and Kate?”
Busted, I frowned to hide my shock at her question.
“No....we were just chatting?”
“That better be all you were doing, I can’t lose my
child-minder because you can’t control yourself....she’s not into women anyway
you’d be wasting your time”.
“Exactly....so what’s for tea?” Relief spread through me, I
couldn’t lose my only ally. I watched as she still eyed me suspiciously.
“Finish your colouring in and you’ll find out”.
Returning to the colouring book I saw that Lucy has already
finished it for me, Stinky Pete was now black with orange hair, lovely.
Apparently we had moved onto paints now. I settled in next to her selecting a
paint brush from the pot. “So what are we working on here?”
“It’s you in prison”. She replied without even looking up.
“But I’m not going to prison”. I said trying to hide my
hurt.
“Dad said you should go after what you did”.
“Did he....well that’s nice....I’m going to paint a picture of
daddy”. I pulled a piece of paper from the pile, starting with a great big fat
pink head with sticking out ears and receding hair line. “So.....how’s
school....still beating up all the boys?”
“Not all of them....just the stupid ones”.
I giggled. “Well that’s okay then”.
“Al can you give me a hand in here?” Nat called out
from the kitchen.
“Sure”. I returned my paint brush to the now gunky water,
and made my way to the kitchen. ”What can I do for you chef?”
“Nothing...I just wanted to talk....drink?”
Shit. “No thanks...is this the big sister....time to sort
out your life talk?” I studied my sister as she carried a box of vegetables
across to the cutting board. She was taller than me by some four inches,
something she had lorded over me since we were kids. One inch for every year
she was older than me, her blonde hair was longer and her slim figure had
bounced back for a second time after giving birth to Poppy just seven months
ago.
“Don’t you think it’s time....you have no life, no
girlfriend, you do a job you don’t really like so you don’t have to see
anyone....don’t get me wrong your good at it, but is it really what you want to
do for the rest of your life?”
I leaned on the worktop next to her frowning at her verbal
shredding of my life. “No....of course not....but”.
“But what?...You need to get out more....meet people, find a
girlfriend it’s been a long time since Mel”. Selecting several peppers from a
box in front of her she began cutting around the stalks before removing them.
“Worried I’ll turn into one of those crazy old cat women
that stink of piss?”
“Well I wasn’t but”. Her eyebrows raised at me. ”You must be
lonely though in that big house?”
“It’s not that big.....the words pot and kettle come to
mind”. I said looking round.
She looked up from chopping peppers. “Yes but there are four
of us that live here not one....I just want you to be happy”.
That last statement prevented me from meeting her eyes. Was
she right? Was I lonely? Maybe a little, since dad and Mel. I’d gotten myself
into a routine detached from the outside world concentrating on work, sleeping
and my newest little side line investigating a certain drunken driver. But I
had still found time for a little fun along the way most recently with lovely
Kate.
“You have a photography degree you don’t use....you could
set up a dark room at home”.
“Maybe...I have thought about it...I’m just not inspired to
do anything it’s all digital now anyway”.
“So?...You’re good with computers”.
I nodded in agreement, should I tell her about my penchant
for surveillance and photographing drunk drivers, or to be exact my ex Mel just
in case she turned out to be repeat offender. How else would I know she was out
during my drunken smash up, it’s not like she would need the car for another
year anyway due to her ban. I probably would have gotten away with it if Mel’s
asshole neighbour hadn’t videoed me stumbling around in his driveway swinging a
baseball bat. I thought I was being so discreet creeping around like a ninja,
at least in my head, the reality unfortunately was very different evidenced by
his lawyer I looked like one of those wobbly giants from ‘It’s a Knock Out’
tripping over fresh air every few steps.
