Chapter 17 Chapter 17
Audrey
“I’m sorry.” There was no need to fake the tired, almost timid tone in my voice. I hadn’t slept and after everything that had happened I wasn’t sure if I would ever sleep again.
Not here anyway.
Phone propped between my cheek and my shoulder. I studied my surroundings. The place was full of light, every curtain and drape in the entire house was open but somehow it still looked dark. I jumped at every shadow, even ones that weren’t there.
This had once been the place I had been happiest, my haven in a world that scared me and he had taken it from me.
What was worse was that I had let him. Alone , I could see how messed up this situation was and I could be afraid. It was when he touched me that things got all muddled in my mind.
Because when he touched me, I wanted it. I craved it and my body reacted with the kind of hunger that scared me.
He wasn’t a ghost, a ghost wouldn’t feel so good pressed against me. A ghost would be easier to deal with.
A little sage, maybe a blessing or two and it would all be over. I’d much rather be haunted than stalked.
I had no idea how to deal with a human, one that seemed to be everywhere. I knew opening the curtains and filling the house with light wouldn’t make any difference. He wasn’t hiding and pressing his nose against the glass to watch me through the windows.
He was in my house, moving unseen, watching, touching.
I sucked in a shaking breath and forced myself to relax. Or at least I tried.
“Are you ok Audrey?” Johnnys voice was worried. “Hello are you there?”
Another breath, his voice was kind, worried even and that more than anything else made me feel better. Johnny was a good man. The kind of man I read about and I was about to blow him off?
Why? Because some crazy masked stalker had told me to?
“Yeah there’s just a lot going on right now. In the house and-“
“That’s understandable Audrey, I know you are grieving.” He said kindly. “We don’t have to rush anything. We can take our time. I really would like to get to know you better. If you would like that as well.”
“I’d like that but-“
I opened my mouth to tell him the truth and from upstairs something crashed to the floor. My eyes darted to the ceiling and narrowed like if I stared hard enough I would be able to see through the wood and plaster. Of course I didn’t but you didn’t need to be a genius to know what was up there.
Him.
Gabriel.
I had changed the locks, I’d searched every single room and I had flooded the house with late summer light and he still found a way inside.
Maybe he was moving around inside the walls, maybe he was in fact a ghost. It didn’t matter.
He was up there and he was listening.
“I can’t right now, I’m sorry.”
Johnnys silence was deafening which was strange because the sudden silence in the house around me was still. Like the building itself was holding its breath.
“Was it something I did? I thought-“
The pain in his voice was palpable and I closed my eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” Hell wasn’t that the truth. “You were perfect. It’s the timing, it’s all wrong.” I took a deep breath. “I’m all wrong.”
Hell I was dropping truth bombs all over the place and at the same time i wasn’t telling him anything at all.
“Then why-“
“I’m not staying.” I blurted out. “I’m going to put the house on the market.”
It just something in my heart to even say the words but deep down I knew I had no other choice. The man stalking me might be Gabriel King although I didn’t know how that was possible when he was meant to be dead but I was going to find out. I couldn’t do that here, and I sure as hell couldn’t live my life.
Bethany was right, this wasn’t the place for a young woman. This was the place you came when all your dreams were dead. I was still chasing mine, I wasn’t ready to give them up yet.
“ah ok.” Johnny didn’t even try to hide his disappointment.
“That makes senses, not that I’m not sad about it. I thought I was going to get a rare second chance.” He chuckled. “But I understand Audrey, I hope we can stay in touch as friends?”
I let out a sigh of relief. Johnny was a real man, sweet and kind and he didn’t push the issue. I had rejected him and he had accepted it.
Wasn’t that what all women wanted? A man who respected them enough to listen?
“I really am sorry-“
I was glad he wasn’t fighting for it, but a small dark part of me wondered why? Gabriel wouldn’t have given up like that easy. He wasn’t giving up that easy.
My core clenched.
“I have to go back to work, but call me if you need any help or anything Audrey. Or-“ his voice trailed off for a second. “If you , hell I don’t know just need some company in that big old house. I don’t like the thought of you being our there in the middle of nowhere. The whole situation gives me the creeps. Anyone could be watching you.”
I almost laughed. Oh how right he was. Anybody could be watching me but only one person WAS.
Gabriel King.
Who was dead.
“I’ll be fine but thank you. I’ll remember that.”
We ended the call, and the silence was wrapped around me again. Suffocating, deafening.
I hated it.
“There.” I snapped to the silent empty room. “Happy now? I ended it.”
Nothing moved but it felt like the house took a deep breath and relaxed.
I didn’t relax. If I was going to be free then I would have to do exactly what I had just told Johnny I would do.
I had to sell this place.
The home I had always dreamt of coming back to and making my own. I’d always dreamt of raising a family here.
A family? A crooked smile curved my lips as I jumped up from the stool and headed back upstairs. I was too young to think about children yet. I didn’t even have a boyfriend and I never would here. Any man who was interested wouldn’t be for long with my stalker hanging around.
Half way up the stairs , my phone rang again. Glancing down at it I smiled. A real true smile.
“Duncan.”
“Hey chick.” His familiar voice filled my ears. “Still living with the hillbillies? Bethan said there’s no electricity or phone signal.”
Trudging upwards I rolled my eyes. “It’s the countryside Duncan, not the eighteen hundreds and the power went out once because of a storm.”
His laughter was mocking but good natured but that was Duncan all over.
“Bethan said you were coming with us to the Halloween thing?”
In the bathroom doorway I paused. “Yeah.” My eyes darted around.
Something was wrong here. I was the only person living here so the bathroom should be exactly how I left it. But it wasn’t.
“Good, good cos we have missed you. Please tell me you are coming home soon. Friday nights just aren’t the same without you Audrey. Who else would need me to hold their hair back when they threw up?”
I giggled. “I’m coming home.”
There was a pointed silence. “You are? When was this decided?”
“You don’t need to sound so shocked or disappointed Duncan. I thought you wanted me home.”
“I do, there’s work coming in to the agency that I just can’t do. Please tell me you’ll be home in the next few days-“
“It’s going to take more than a few days to pack up and sell the place but I can work from here.” I said in a rush. “So if you need me to do anything just send the details over.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” Lifting the shampoo bottle, I brought it to my nose. It wasn’t my shampoo bottle , this one was expensive looking made of green glass with a burnished bronze lid. “Send it over and I’ll take a look. Be good to -“ I sniffed and froze.
Apples.
Fucking apples.
He had been in here and changed all of my toiletries to things that smelled like apples. What was up with that?
What was his fascination with apples?
“I’ve got to go but email the details ok and tell Bethan, that i am not wearing underwear as a costume to this Halloween party ok?”
He laughed. “Sure I’ll tell her but-“
“Yeah I know she will pick something scandalous anyway.” I rolled my eyes. “See you soon Duncan.” I ended the call before my temebling fingers.
He had been in here and changed everything. He sent me apples, he wanted to smell like apples,
What was up with that.
But I already knew why. It was because the first time I had seen him he had been standing under the apple tree.
That’s where this whole thing had started, all those years ago.
Under the apple tree.
Three and half hours later I was sat in the tiny coffee shop, nursing my coffee and waiting.
I’d been waiting for half an hour which meant he was already thirty minutes late. It was one of the things that bothered me the most. Lateness.
I was always, miss punctual.
“Audrey.” The velvet voice punctuated my thoughts and I blinked up at him in shock. Strange that he had been able to sneak up on me, I hadn’t heard the little bell over the door tinkle.
“I can call you Audrey right?”
Scooting my chair back I tilted my head up to stare at him. “Of course Mr King?” I arched an eyebrow in a silent question.
Sure, I had called Mr King. Mr Michael king but that wasn’t who was standing in front of me.
“Or-“
Yanking out the chair opposite me he folded his frame into it. “Adam.” He thrust his hand out over the table for me to shake. “Adam King. Unfortunately Michael had some pressing business to deal with and couldn’t come himself, I hope that’s ok?”
He didn’t look like he cared if it was ok or not. There was an almost bored look on his face. His eyes shifted to the side as a couple slid into the shop and out of the rain that had been falling steadily since this morning.
The weather was bipolar right now. Which was fitting because my emotions was all over the place as well.
“Of course Mr King, can I get you anything?” I motioned towards the counter and the line that was forming there.
“Call me Adam. Michael is the only one of the family that likes to be called Mr King and no thank you.” Steepling his hands together, he studied me. “You wanted to discuss something with us I believe?”
“Yes.” I stuttered around the lump in my throat. My tongue felt thick and dry in my mouth. “Michael, mr King offered me a cash price for my grandmothers house.”
Was I really doing this? Selling my dream and letting one man, drive me away from what I had always wanted?
“I see, we can go higher if needed. We would very much like to buy the property.”
I did a double take. Was he really offering me more money? Michaels offer had already been higher than market value and yet here was another King offering even more money without even breaking a sweat.
“No.” I stumbled over the words I said then so quickly. “That’s not what I asked you here for. The offer is very generous and I want to sell-“
“But?” Dark eyebrows slammed down over his rich brown eyes. “There was a but at the end of that sentence right?”
My polite smile slipped. “What will happen to the house?”
“Do you really care?” The concept seemed strange to him.
“Yes.” I answered honestly. “It’s been in my family for generations. I need to know it’s going to be looked after and not bulldozed to be replaced with apartments or something.”
Adam king continued to stare at me. “We have no plans to knock it down. It will have a caretaker, one who will look after it and guard the history of the place.”
I frowned. Guard the history of the place? What a weird way to phrase things.
“Ok.” Under the table my fingers knotted together. Why was I suddenly feeling unsure of this? It was the right thing to do.
Wasn’t it?
“How soon?” My voice shook.
“How soon can I have the money in your account?” Adam cocked an eyebrow. “I could have the money there in seconds but there’s certain legalities to deal with first. Which I can get our solicitors to start today. Question is how long do you need to vacate?”
“I’ll need to pack and - I don’t know but I would like to be back in the city by Christmas.”
His lips twitched. “Thats still several months away but I think we could make it work. It will take us a while to find a suitable caretaker anyway so you can just stay until they have been found. It’s been your families business for generations anyway right?”
He laughed at a joke that I just didn’t get.
Noting my silence he frowned. “We will pay you of course. By the time you head back to your real life you will be a very rich woman indeed Audrey.” He stood up quickly. “We will be in touch and a deposit for both the house and your services will be with you soon.”
“Services?”
Towering over me, I noticed the squareness of his jaw and the thick corded muscles of his throat.
“It was a pleasure Audrey.” He turned to leave.
“Gabriel.”
Adam froze but didn’t turn around. He didn’t really have to. I saw the way his spine stiffened.
“Is he?” Shit what was I going to ask? How could I word it so I didn’t piss this clearly dangerous man off. “Is he ok?”
“Ok?” Adam’s chuckle was sardonic. “That really depends on what you class as ok.” Slowly he turned to me. “I know you two have history but leave the past where it belongs Audrey. If you know what’s good for you then you will let leave that particular ghost alone.”
Well that was cryptic but he hadn’t said he was dead.
“I don’t think he will let me.” I whispered.
Adam’s eyes widened just a millimetre and then he sighed. “Michael would tell you to just stay away but when it comes to my little brother I don’t think that’s the issue. Gabriel isn’t -“
“Dead?” I whispered.
Adam looked around like he was scoping out for some threat and then his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Oh Gabriel is gone. The boy, he was died. He was sweet, you know. The best of us.” He shook his head. “Please-“ finally he met my eyes.
“I won’t tell anyone he’s alive.” I whispered because that’s what that look was asking me. “But why-“
“It’s better if you don’t know Audrey, he cares for you probably more than he cares about anyone or anything else but Gabriel is broken. It’s best for the world if they think he’s dead. When you leave here it would be best for you as well. Leave the past behind you.”
Without another word he walked away and this time when he pulled the door open the little bell tinkled and made me jump.
Gabriel king wasn’t dead. He was my neighbour. My stalker.
But what the hell had happens to him that his own family had faked his death and what did it have to do with me?