Unlikely Places (14 page)

“Alex....you will keep an eye on Sam won’t you?...Let me
know if anything goes awry?”

“Of course I will....I won’t let anything happen to her,
I....I really care about her Mike”.

“She’s a success story you know”.

“I know”. I took on board his statement, she was a success
compared to some of the residents that had no desire to change their lives, I
wanted her to stay that way. Looking around the room I caught sight of the
clock propped on top of a box, realising the time I made my excuses to Mike
with a promise to look out for Sam.

Finding Sam and Josh in the bathroom, I explained my need to
leave as Lucy was staying over with me tonight. Sam offered to help me get my
stuff together leading the way into the kitchen where I picked up my tools and
headed for the front door, once out in the corridor we were face to face.

“So?”

“So?” I smiled remembering what happened last time we had
said those same words.

“Maybe we can pick up where we left off on Friday?”

“I....I’d like that”. I said moving closer in our confined
space, I tilted my head kissing her softly as she pulled me closer. I could
feel the sparks starting to fly as I placed my free hand behind her back, my
whole body was beginning to throb under her touch.

I pulled away while I still could resting my head in the
nape of her neck breathing heavy I whispered. “You’re making me crazy....I want
you so much”.

She pulled me into a tight hug. “I know...me too.....I can’t
wait till Friday”. 

I pulled away looking into her dark brooding eyes, enjoying
the closeness between us until finally Sam broke the silence.  

“What are your plans with Lucy tonight?”

“She wants to do some baking I think....so it could get very
messy”.

“Umm will you save me some cake?”

“Sure.......do you want me to put the shelves up before you
move in?”

“Haven’t you got a lot of work on at the moment?”

“I’m sure I can fit you in just mark out on the walls where
you want them putting”.

“Okay, but only if you promise to get all your work done by
5pm Friday”.

I smiled. “Okay....deal....I could pick the keys up from you
one lunch time then drop them off when you finish work?”

“Or I could just give you my spare keys”.

“Are you sure you want to do that?”

“Of course I’m sure.......I think I can trust you”. She
grinned.

“To snoop....definitely”.

Sam pulled the keys from her front pocket separating the two
sets of keys, she handed me one set, hands lingering in the entrustment of the
keys.

“Am I going to find a ‘U-Haul’ parked outside next time I’m
here?”

I laughed. “I thought we were taking it slow”.

“Only till Friday”. 

I moved towards her kissing her softly on her cheek. “I’ll
see you soon”. I left making my way back to my car, my thoughts firmly fixed on
Friday night all the way home. 

Lucy arrived just as I finished dressing after a hot shower,
Nat eyed me suspiciously as I opened the door. “Are you alone?”

“Yes....are you coming in?”

Lucy ran past me ruck sack in hand heading for the kitchen,
I could hear her in the background opening cupboards banging pans around.

“Where’s Sam tonight?” She asked moving past me.

“She’s busy working and sorting out her new flat.....I was
there earlier helping her paint”.

“Going well is it?” She grinned at me. “How longs it been
now?”

My brow furrowed at her question.

“Since you started seeing her?” She re-worded a little
frustrated.

“Oh.....I don’t know I’ve known her about five or six month’s
maybe”.

“Really you kept that quiet?......You definitely seem
happier since you met Sam.....she’s obviously good for you....I really pleased
for you Al”.

I watched her look away as she put two and two together,
before looking me squarely in the eye. “She’s from the hostel isn’t she?”

  “Yeah, but she’s not a junky or anything like
that.....she just had a bad time last year”.

“What sort of bad time?” She asked scrutinising me.

“She lost a close friend”.

The couldn’t hide her concern as she spoke. “Please be
careful Al”.

“You’ve met her Nat, you know she’s not like the rest of
them she went back to Uni, she’s got a job, a career”. I hoped she could see
what I could in Sam.

“I know.....I Like her and I’m pleased for you but....just
be careful”.     

“I will”. If she only knew how I felt, I tried to contain my
wide smile as we made our way towards the noise in the kitchen. Lucy was
working frantically with her ruck sack already unpacked, stood on a chair next
to the worktop surrounded by trays, pans and flour.

“Holy shit”. I blurted out, Nat elbowed me in frustration at
my swearing, while Lucy frowned at me from across the kitchen, they really are
two peas in a pod, definitely her mother’s daughter.

“Right I’d better be going....could you drop her off tomorrow?”

“Sure....what time?”

“Any time after lunch”.

“Okay no problem.....what’s going on with Kate...doesn’t
Lucy like her anymore?” I discreetly inquire from the periphery of the kitchen.

“I don’t know she’s been a bit off lately...she’s got
problems with her boyfriend I think?”

“I didn’t know she had one?”

“Yeah they’ve been on and off for the past two years or so I
think, from what she’s said”.

“Oh right”. Really, that’s news to me I thought she said she
was single at Christmas.

Nat ventured into the kitchen to kiss Lucy on the head.
“Okay see you tomorrow sweetie”.

Pulling me into the hallway towards the door. “I’m really
happy you’ve met someone...I was considering putting your profile on an
internet dating site....do you think it might be serious?”

“I don’t know?....I hope so”.

“So when are you seeing her again?”

“We’re spending next weekend together”. I felt myself
blushing at the thought of it.    
     

“Really it must be going well....see you tomorrow...don’t
eat all the cakes they’re for a school thing”.

After seeing Nat off I headed back to the kitchen to see the
devastation Lucy had already created. We busied ourselves with several hours of
cupcake and biscuit production before settling on the sofa to watch ‘Despicable
Me’ with a sample of our biscuits, leaving the cakes to cool till tomorrow
before decorating. 

Sunday

Lucy woke early as usual turning on the TV to watch cartoons
while leaning on me letting me snooze a little longer, after a breakfast of scrambled
egg on toast we played on the x-box till midday. Getting back to work in the
kitchen decorating our wares from last night’s baking, opting for frosting and
edible flowers. When we had dined on our masterpieces once more we showered,
dressed and packed to go back to Nat’s. Before leaving Lucy gave me a cake box
informing me they were for me and Sam, touched by her gift I decided to call
Sam as I got back to my car, to ask her if she was too busy for
cake.  

“Hey...how’s it going? Are you at the flat?” I asked as I
started my car. 

“No...I was earlier doing a bit of sorting out...I’m back at
the hostel doing some stuff for work....what are you up to?”

“I’ve just dropped Lucy off at my sisters with more cakes
than you can shake a stick at”.

I smiled at her warm laughter in my ear. “How did it go?”

“Ummm pretty good I think....in fact I have a sample for you
to try”.

“Really”.

I could hear the excitement in her voice. “I thought maybe I
could drop them off if you can take a short break from your paperwork?”

“Oh I’m sure I can fit you in....are you coming over now?”

“If that’s okay?”

“Sure is....I’ll keep my eye out for you”.

As I pulled up in the car park, the back door was already
open I could see Sam leaning on the door frame, picking up the cake box I
headed off towards her.

I smiled at her still wearing her painting clothes. “Hi”.

She took my hand just as she did yesterday leading me up to
her apartment, shutting the door gently she turned to me. “So is this a booty
call...with cake?” She asked quietly.

I laughed. “Maybe?” I put the box down pulling her into my
arms. “Well, there is a bed just behind us”.

She looked at the single bed then back at me. “It’s a bit
small and.....anyway I’d probably be too noisy”.

“Really?” I took in a deep breath and blew it out. “You’re
not making this easy are you?”

“Oh...so you like screamers then?”

I felt my face blush. “So you’re a
screamer?....Well....maybe not 85Decebells but a little is good don’t you
think?”

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Sure....I’m just
making a mental note for future reference .........so let’s have a look at
these cakes”. 

She took the lid off the box exposing four chocolate cup
cakes with chocolate frosting and daisy flowers on top. “Wow these look great
are you having one?”

“Not for me thanks I’m a bit caked out after my role as
official taster”.

“Ummmm...lovely say thank you to Lucy for me”.

I looked at her with frosting around her lips struggling to
resist the urge to lick it off, realising the only way was to leave I made my
excuses before my desire got the better of me.

“Well I’d better let you get back to work....I’ve got to do
some exercise after all the cake I’ve eaten today”.

She looked over at me while sucking frosting off her
fingers. “Not working today?”  

“No thought I’d have the day off”.

“I see...a flying visit is it?”

“Yeah...just to make sure you get your sustenance for the
day”. Or was it me that needed my Sam ration for that day. I moved to her
kissing her on her cakey lips before heading for the door, turning to smile at
her cake filled mouth before saying good bye and heading off down the stairs to
the car park.

On returning home I changed and headed off to the Arboretum
for a lengthy jog to work off the numerous cakes and biscuits I had eaten over
the last two days. Followed by a hot bath and early night to prepare myself for
the next few days of heavy computer work.

Wednesday

After working lengthy hours over the previous two days I
decided I needed a day away from the computer, putting my plans in to action I
packed my car with tools heading for Sam’s flat. En route I shopped for a
suitable bottle of Champagne, congratulations card and flowers which proved
more difficult – what do I want to say. Finally deciding on red tulips as a distant
memory reminded me they symbolise a declaration of love in the back of my mind,
I hoped she was also privy to this information.

Arriving at the flat I could see Sam had been there several
times adding a more homely feel to the place, with a small dining table, chairs
and two seater brown leather sofa. Moving though the rooms I found Sam’s
markings on the walls indicating shelf locations with little love hearts
instead of crosses, making me grin like an idiot. I set to work drilling and
fixing the shelves in the bathroom adding the bathroom mirror to complete the
room. Next the sitting room shelves were fitted, with television and DVD
installed ready for use. With my task was complete I tidied away, wrote the
congratulations card with the message -

‘Congratulations on
your new flat and job – I knew you could do it love Alx’

Propping the card next to the bottle of Champagne and vase
of tulips on the kitchen worktop, I hoped it wasn’t too much. After putting the
keys on the worktop I left the flat, walking back to my car I thought ‘love’
I’d written love–was it too soon. I was sure I was pretty much totally in love
with her, and I was almost sure she felt the same way, but there was always
that slight doubt, I didn’t want to ruin the friendship we had built up between
us. I tried to block out the uncertainty, thinking she would be too busy
looking at the shelving and flowers to worry about the wording in the card.

Thursday

My phone woke me from my slumber as it vibrated across the
night stand I managed to grab it before it fell off the end. Seeing the caller
display I smiled as I groaned in to the phone.

“Hey you”.

“Morning”. I automatically replied in a slightly hoarse
voice I hardly recognised.

“Thanks for putting the shelves and mirror up...when did you
come round?”

“Yesterday afternoon...I wanted it to be a surprise so I did
it when I knew you’d be at work”. I realised then I had missed an opportunity
to spend more time with Sam, I should have gone round after she’d finished work
requiring her help to hold the spirit level or something, dam it. 

“Very sneaky...thank you for the champagne and flowers
you’re lovely you know that don’t you?”

I could feel myself blushing. “It wasn’t too much?”

“No not at all.....it’s in the fridge ready for tomorrow night....I
can’t wait to see you to thank you a bit more.....personally”.

“Really?....I can’t wait to see you too”.

“So?....Was that the word love in the card?”

Shit. “Maybe...is that bad?”

“No......does that make us lovers?”

“I..I think I’d like that”. I said honestly, hoping for
reciprocation.  

“Me too....god....stop it or I’m coming round there
tonight”.

“You would be if you did”. Really, did I just say that out
loud?

Her giggling filled my ear down the phone. “I didn’t know
you were this dirty?”

“Neither did I.....it must be you”. I said feeling the heat
from my face.

“I hope so”.

Umm time to change the subject. “So is tonight your first
night in the new flat?” I turned to look at the clock realising the radio will
go off any second. 

“Yeah....I’ll probably do a bit more sorting out but mainly
I’ll be thinking of you”.

“Stop it...or you’ll have a visitor”. I said turning the
radio down.

“Are you still in bed?”

“Yeah....I was working late last night”.

“Will you be finished for tomorrow?”

Hearing the concern in her voice I tried to sound confident.
“Yeah…..I should finish it today or tonight”. I said stifling a yawn.

“Good.......so what are you wearing?”

“Umm that was a swift change of subject…….I’m not sure I
should answer that”.

“You’re naked aren’t you?”   

“Maybe”.

“I’ve got to try and go to work now....with that thought in
my head”.

I laughed. “You shouldn’t have asked....what are you cooking
tomorrow?”

“You’ll have to wait and see....nuts I’d better go.....I’ll
see you tomorrow...about half five-six?”

“Okay see you then have a good day....bye”.

Diving back under the covers thinking only of Sam and our
weekend together, I could feel the throb between my legs hoping I wouldn’t need
to wait too long now. After spending an hour daydreaming and listening to the
radio I dressed in pj’s, fixed a bowl of muesli and headed for the computer.
The sooner I got started the sooner I could see Sam, with that in mind I worked
until early evening with only a couple of welfare breaks for food and
beverages. I took a well-earned break at six to eat pizza and doze off to
series three of ‘The Closer’. My phone woke me for the second time that day,
this time it was Rich asking me if I was on track to finish the book by
tomorrow, I assured him it was 99% done it just needed a final tweak before
sending it to him either tonight or tomorrow morning. Now under pressure I went
back to work for a further four hours to make sure I kept my promise. By eleven
I was done, flicking off the email I celebrated with a hot shower before dozing
off to Brenda Lee solving another tricky case.