Captive

Chapter Three

The dancing snowflakes gathered around her, dazzling her with their white sparkles as they twisted and turned in the air. The path ahead was completely covered and she couldn't tell where she was as her view was completely obscured by the snow. She sniffed and brought a gloved hand up to wipe her streaming eyes as a violent shiver went through her body. Nobody should feel like this on Christmas Day she thought, nobody but as the sky darkened even further, the early night time drawing in she couldn't face the thought of returning to her father's house especially as she knew she would be in no end of trouble when she did.

Everything had been fine at breakfast. There was an air of excitement, anticipation from everyone and they'd all shared warm Christmas embraces with one another. The stockings had been great fun, everyone's filled with useful items like toothbrushes, face cloths and stationery as well as one funny gift. Hers had been a book of funny quotes from Shakespeare which she knew her mum would enjoy flicking through as well. The trouble had started she reflected when they went to church.

Mark had initially said he and Dani might not come but his mom had been so disappointed that he changed his mind and announced that yes they would come along if it made her happy. Juliet wasn't too sure what to make of Daniella. The girl was tall and slender with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, as beautiful as a model. She was very sweet but also very confident, dressed in fashionable clothes and able to hold a conversation with anyone. Next to her Juliet felt small, dumpy and childish. She whispered to Mark a lot which seemed to be irritating her father as he would glare at the two of them every time she did it, but Daniella seemed unfazed by this, if she even noticed. Her and Mark were completely wrapped up in one another, constantly touching and it was a little uncomfortable if she was honest.

They all dressed for church in their Sunday best, the men in shirts and ties and the girls all in dresses with thick winter coats and knee high boots. They could walk to the church which was just as well as it had snowed again in the night and it would be hard to get the car out. Thankfully the snow held off while they made their way the five minute walk to the church and Rebecca made it just fine though Kane had offered to drive her if it was too much. They entered the large building and Juliet was surprised by how warm it was. Everyone removed their coats and she slid into the pew beside her stepmother watching carefully what she was to do as she'd not been to church in a very long time. She was so absorbed in watching everyone for clues as to whether she should be standing, sitting or kneeling that she jumped out of her skin when a hand gently touched her shoulder from behind and she turned to see Bret standing there. He gave her a warm smile and mouthed happy Christmas to her. A feeling of butterflies exploded in her stomach and Juliet smiled back at him. Bret had grown more handsome since she last saw him, filling out a little, his dark hair now shoulder length and at the moment in an elastic at his nape. His deep chocolate eyes still shone with merriment and friendliness and she was flattered he had remembered her given how many years it had been since she was here.

As she turned to face forwards though her gaze met Kane's and she was surprised by the hostility in it. He was outright glaring at her, clearly furious and she didn't like the feeling that gave her. Mark had often looked at her like that, so often that she barely noticed anymore if she was honest but Kane hadn't. He was always friendly, warm,  but this was rage and she didn't know what she had done wrong. Seeing her look at him puzzled Kane made an effort to straighten his face and she figured maybe she had imagined that look, or maybe he'd been thinking about something else and just happened to meet her gaze. She let herself sink into the service, enjoyed singing the carols and found an odd comfort in the prayers and readings which she hadn't anticipated. When the service was over she turned to see if she could speak to Bret but was disappointed to see that he and his family had been commandeered by the minister, which might have been as well as Kane was suddenly beside her and more or less steering her out of the church as quickly as possible. He didn't speak but clearly something had rattled him. Bret gave her a small smile and a wave as they passed and she smiled back.