“Spring away, dear boy—spring away.” Everyone laughed at my mother as we all took turns saying our goodbyes.
“I’ll call you when I get home, okay, Mum?” I gave her a big hug and soon followed suit with my dad, Julia, Jack, and David. Seth shook the men’s hands and hugged my mum and Julia. My sister’s face was all flushed once he pulled away.
“You take care of my baby sister, and my niece or nephew you got growing inside there, okay?” I nudged Jack on the shoulder and he looked at Julia with a smile.
“Of course I will. You have no worries there.”
“I know I don’t,” I said, smiling at both of them.
Once we were both in our cars, we waved to my family and off we went. I followed Seth home as I knew I would need his help once we got back to London. About half way there we stopped off for a little break and had some coffee. Seth was all smiles about something and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what had brought on this sudden beam of happiness.
Once we got to London, I found out why. I parked my car in the usual spot, Jonathan told me about. I rang him first thing to let him know I was coming home and he said that he would bring Jerry over for me, and make sure I had my space available for when I got back. Sure enough it was there and I parked up, getting my bag out from the boot.
I met Seth by his car to say goodbye, but instead he surprised me by getting out of the Jag and pulling me in for a kiss. My goodness, I was a goner. I was not expecting that and the shock caught me off guard a little. He was gentle and sweet, stroking my cheek and nibbling on my bottom lip.
“We’re not in Cornwall anymore. I can kiss you and touch you as much as I like.” His lips were on me again and I melted. If only he realised the desire this man sparked inside of me. I was up in flames with it; no amount of water could put me out.
Cars were now gathering a line behind Seth’s Jaguar, but he didn’t seem to care. The horns were starting, but we were so lost in our kiss, it didn’t matter what was going on all around us. It was just me and him and nothing else in the world mattered.
He reluctantly pulled away from our embrace and cupped his finger underneath my chin. He rubbed noses with mine and exhaled a deep sigh. “Angelina, you smell of roses and taste of honey. How am I ever going to get along tonight knowing that you smell and taste this good?”
“Mmmm,” was all I could answer. I was in happy, dancing, Angelina land and didn’t want to leave. He giggled at my reaction, knowing full well the affect he was having on me.
“Now that, my dear, Angel,” he said, caressing my cheek. “Was worth waiting for.” He nibbled my lip again and I shuddered. All these feelings he brought out in me were like nothing I had ever felt before.
The cars were still blaring their horns and Seth did something completely unexpected. He turned to the cars, placed his hand on his heart and then bowed. It was the funniest spectacle I had ever seen. The people in the cars couldn’t help but smile at this crazy gentleman causing a tailback of traffic, all so he could give a girl a kiss.
Seth dutifully got back into his car and put his window down. “I’ll see you tomorrow if that’s okay, Cookie?”
I couldn’t help but say yes. Who wouldn’t after the romantic gesture he just made? Talk about being putty in his hands. I was so mushed up; I was practically seeping through his fingers.
“And by the way,” he said, stopping briefly. “Charlie’s didn’t really have rats, did it?”
I started laughing and shook my head. I remembered quickly what it was like when we went to retrieve his bag. He was practically shuddering the whole time he was in the place, and I could tell he really wanted to get out of there as quickly as we could.
“I thought not,” he said, waving and accelerating away.
Once I settled in at home, I was welcomed by a chorus of chirping coming from the one and only Jerry. I let him out for the rest of the day because I felt so guilty leaving him for three days.
I called my mum as soon as I unpacked and she was itching to know if Seth was with me. I of course, told her no, and she didn’t hide the disappointment in her voice. I could tell she wanted us together—like—yesterday.
As the day progressed into evening I was starting to get a little suspicious of my lovely young Jerry. I could have sworn I heard him say ‘Bollocks’, but I put it down to me just feeling a little tired. When he said it the third time though, I knew I wasn’t hearing things. I had to give Jonathan a call.
In no time at all, Jonathan answered, his cheerful voice on the other end. “Angelina, so nice to hear from you. Did you have a nice time?”
“It was great, thanks. I just wanted to ring and let you know how grateful I am to you for looking after Jerry whilst I was away.”
“Don’t mention it sweetheart, anything for you.”
With the pleasantries out of the way, I thought it was time to dive straight in. “Is there any chance you could explain to me why Jerry is cursing so much?”
“What? I don’t know what you mean.” I could hear the edge of seriousness in his voice.
“He keeps saying the word ‘Bollocks’ all the time. I can’t think of where he got that from.” Just as I said the word, Jerry as loud as anything, shouted, “Bollocks!”
“See! Did you hear that?” I could hear some rustling sounds in the background and it sounded as though Jonathan fell over.
“Bollocks!” he shouted down my ear.
“You are the worst liar in the history of liars, Jonathan. You’ve corrupted my bird now.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Angelina. Listen, I have to go.” I could tell he was panicking a little now.
“Oh no you don’t, not so fast, buddy. I have a bone to pick with you.”
“What is it?”
“Seth Jacobs.” That was the only two words he needed to hear. He went silent for a moment and then I heard him speak.
“Yes?” he asked cautiously.
“Care to explain how he knew so much about my family—and not only that—he also knew where my parents lived?”
It wasn’t long before he answered. “I put my hands up to telling him about your mum and dad, but not to giving away your parents’ address. You know I would never give out that information to anyone. Ever.”
His tone was so serious, so determined, that I knew he must have been telling me the truth. Seth must have got the address somewhere else.
“Okay, keep your silver hair on. I believe you.”
“He turned up at your folks’ house?”
I sighed. “Yep, as bold as brass, carrying two great big bouquets of flowers for me and my mum.”
“What happened?”
“Well, my mother, sister, and her best mate all thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. My dad fell in love with his car, and I was left feeling completely overwhelmed.” And I was overwhelmed. I still am.
“Wow, I knew he had a thing for you, sweetheart, but I didn’t think he would come following you down to Cornwall. He must really like you. But the biggest question here is... do you like him?”
I sighed heavily down the phone and I knew he could tell what the answer was before I even opened my mouth. “Yes, Jonathan. I like him. Is this going to cause me problems at work?”
“I don’t see why, as long as you both keep it strictly professional when you are working. I could ask him if he would like someone else to take over the viewings with him if it causes too much angst between the two of you.”
“I don’t think he would go for that somehow.”
“No, me neither. You know the penthouse is going to be ready in a couple of weeks? I took the liberty of booking a couple of viewings for his apartment in Belgravia. Are you okay to deal with that tomorrow? I’ve left a message on Seth’s answering machine so he knows all about it.”
In my despair over Seth I had completely forgotten about that. “Yes, of course. That’s fine by me. Thank you, Jonathan.”
“Don’t mention it, Angeli
na. I’m not sure what’s going on between you two. It really is none of my business, but if he hurts you—”
“I know, I know, you’ll chop his balls off.” I laughed loudly down the phone and could hear the same from Jonathan.
“He told you?”
“Yes he did. I felt touched that you were defending my honour.”
“Well, it’s only what you deserve.”
We both fell silent for a few seconds as his last words sank in. “Thank you again for everything you did for me this weekend. I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it, sweetheart. Have a nice evening.”
“You, too.”
After that I rang Shelly. I knew she would want to hear all the gossip and I also wanted to hear what happened between her and Brad. The amount of gasps and squealing she did over the phone was too much. I told her to calm down, but she thought Seth was the bee’s knees after what he did.
“Brad and I did go for drinks on Friday night,” she said, after finally getting her off the subject of Seth and I.
“Oh really? Did you shag him this time?”
“Angelina, you’re disgusting,” she said, giggling down the phone. “We talked and it turns out that we both thought the other wanted something out of this, but we don’t. Once we laughed about it, we were okay. We’ve been friends for a while now and I don’t want to lose that.”
“I understand, Shelly. We’ll have to find you a distraction.” She laughed, but told me that she was quite happy being single for now.
I started thinking about that word ‘single’ for a while. It is something I have always been. Now with Seth in my life, I didn’t know what status I was in. The whole thing was new territory for me. I wasn’t sure how Seth felt about it and what his intentions were with ‘us’. I was quickly getting to that stage where I wanted to find out, but was too scared to mention anything to him. If I did, he would definitely see the cracks forming then.
“Are you okay, Angelina?” There was concern in her voice and it made me realise I must have been daydreaming a little too much for a moment.
“Yes, I’m fine thanks. Just a little tired. I’m going to have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, sure. Have a good evening.”
The minute I put the phone down, it started ringing again. I was beginning to think I wasn’t going to get any peace. Little did I know, my whole world was about to cave in.
“Angelina, it’s Jack.” His voice sounded panicked.
“Jack, what’s wrong? Is Julia okay?”
“She’s fine, listen—your mum and dad don’t know about this yet, but I found out something. He’s out, Angelina. The fuckers out!”
I nearly dropped the phone. My hands started shaking and I could quickly feel the sweat forming at my fear. I immediately began pacing the floors and checking that my door was bolted shut. I didn’t normally double lock my door, but tonight I was going to.
“How do you know about this, Jack?”
“I have a good police friend who found out. He knew about what happened and told me. The problem was he only found this out today, but Jaden was let out last week sometime.”
The sound of his name immediately had me on edge. I clutched my side, instinctively. The side that bared a scar from all those years ago.
“Angelina, do you want me to come? I can get to you in no time. I don’t mind. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“No, don’t be silly, Jack. You have yourself and Julia to take care of. She’s your priority now, especially now you have a baby on the way. I’ll be fine, honest. What are the chances he knows I’m in London anyway? It’s you and David I’m more worried about.”
“Don’t worry about David, he already knows. We can take care of ourselves, kiddo. It’s you I’m more concerned with. Can’t Seth stay with you for a while, or you stay with Seth?”
Panic was forming again, but for a different reason. “No, I can’t. He doesn’t know anything, Jack. I can’t just spring this on him. Look, I’ll be fine. I have two doors separating me from the street outside. Both are locked tight and that’s the only way in—unless he likes climbing windows in full view of everyone. I doubt he’s stupid enough to do that. Besides, he doesn’t know I’m here.”
I tried to sound as calm as possible, but I was terrified on the inside. I had managed to bury my terror a long time ago. I had been living perfectly well, without any incidents these past eleven years. I wasn’t prepared to go back to that.
It suddenly dawned on me that Seth’s entering into my life and now Jaden’s release from jail was all too parallel for my liking. It felt as though I had a warning sign ricocheting around my head. I had let Seth in and now look where I am?
“I don’t like it, but I’ll have to take your word for it. You do realise once your mum and dad know—”
“Yes,” I said interrupting him. “They’ll probably be down here like a shot. I know they are going to have to be told, but could you please tell them that Seth is looking after me? I know it’s a lie, but they won’t worry about me if they think I am with him all the time. They’ll probably want to leave me alone then.”
“I don’t like lying to them, Angelina.”
I could hear the frustration in his voice and it killed me to ask this of him. “I know, and I’m sorry, Jack. Please, just do this for me?”
“Fine,” he sighed. “Only because it’s you. Listen, I’m going to have to go. I’m outside the house and freezing my butt off here. I haven’t told Julia yet. I wanted to let you know first. Expect some phone calls shortly.”
We said our goodbyes and I found myself slumped into the sofa. I could feel a lump forming in my throat from the unwelcome memories now swimming around my head. The last time I cried was that night. I cried so hard and so much that I vowed I would never do it again. I would never put myself in a position of grief like that—ever.
About twenty minutes later I had a very panicked Julia on the phone. I told her I was fine, that I had Seth with me—liar—and that the flat I was staying in was like Fort Knox, so I was as safe as houses.
A further twenty minutes after that my door buzzed. I looked at the camera and found it was Jonathan, so I let him in.
“Let me guess why you’re here,” I said, after unlocking the door.
“You can’t blame Jack, Angelina. He’s just concerned for you. We all are.”
I noticed he had a bag with him and immediately I understood his intentions. “You can’t stay here.”
“Oh come on, Angelina. Jack would beat the shit out of me if he thought you were left on your own.”
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Jonathan. What happened was a long time ago. Besides, he’d be stupid to come after me again. It will only send him back to the same place he’s just been released from.”
I knew that was a lie. In court on the day of sentencing, Jaden—with one eye shut—did a sign of a shooting gun in my direction. He’s had eleven years of plotting my demise. I just hoped that prison had managed to rehabilitate him since then.
“I’m worried about you.” His face was so soft and sincere that the anger I had built didn’t last long.
“I know. I appreciate it, Jonathan, I really do. But you have to think of this logically. What would people think knowing that you stayed with me tonight? I already have Hyacinth and Victor out for my blood; I don’t want to give them reason to think I’m sleeping with the boss. They’ll put two and two together and come up with, ‘she’s sleeping to get ahead’. That’s just not happening.”
“Hyacinth and Victor?” He looked completely confused, which caused an unexpected laugh from me.
“Daniela and Timothy,” I explained, giggling.
“Bollocks.” Jerry had obviously heard Jonathan’s voice so decided to give him the only welcome he knew how. I looked at Jonathan, pursing my lips. He looked sheepishly down to the floor like he’d just been caught in the cookie jar.
Cookies—I must not think about cookies!
“See, you’ve corrupted Jerry.” Jerry quickly flew from his cage towards Jonathan, giving him what looked like a little peck on the cheek. “He likes you.”
Jonathan smiled and looked at him. “Well, Jerry and I have become firm friends.”
“I can see that.” I turned away and headed for the sofa. I felt exhausted all of a sudden. Especially now the phone was ringing again. I looked at it and saw it was coming from home. I told Jonathan it was them ringing and he just nodded his head and carried on playing with Jerry.
“Hey, Mum,” I sighed.
“Angelina, darling—I’ve just heard. I’m so worried about you. Your father and I want to come and see you.”
I knew this would happen. “No, Mum, I’m fine. I have Jonathan with me now and Seth will be back in a minute. Don’t worry about me.” I looked over at Jonathan’s shocked expression. He pointed to the door to ask if he should leave, so I waved my finger at him to stay. I would explain in a minute.
“I don’t like it, but okay. Are you alright?” I heard her sigh and could feel the parental concern seeping in from one end of the line to the other. It made me feel as guilty as hell knowing I had put her in this position.
“I’m fine—really I am. Are you and dad okay?” I could hear her sarcastic laugh.
“We’re fine. Just worried about you, that’s all.”
After about five more minutes of trying to convince my mum I was fine and in safe hands about a million times, I was able to hang up. I told her that I would call every morning and every night so that she knew I was okay. That seemed to settle her nerves somewhat.
“You should have told me Seth was coming; I would have left straight away, instead of arguing with you about it.”
I was going to tell him he wasn’t coming, but I had lied this much. Another one wouldn’t harm. “It’s okay; he won’t be here for another hour or so. Shall I make you a cup of tea?”
“That would be lovely.”
I was busying myself so much in the kitchen that I almost missed “Angels” playing in my bag. Jonathan looked up at me questioningly as I searched through my bag again. It would seem no matter how big or small an item is, I can never seem to find anything in it. Eventually I got it rooted out and pressed the button to answer.