A Fractured Echo

Chapter 9

In the days since Christmas, I had remained a refugee in Constance's guest room. Numerous factors conspiring to prevent my return home. Even with the lock fixed, the damage to the rest of the room was so significant, it was going to take maintenance some time to repair. Add to that, Cheryl still hadn't surfaced, which made arresting her a little difficult. The police weren't actively searching for her as it was a fairly low-level crime and not a good use of their resources, but the two house managers were watching out for her so they could notify them as soon as she was back.

Calling Ruby, the day after the bank holiday to finally thank her for the Christmas gifts, which I'd not opened until Boxing Day night, I filled her in on what had happened. She insisted that I take an extra week off just to recover from the shock, and she was adamant about paying me still. I wasn't convinced that it was absolutely necessary, but it was very much appreciated. Having nearly two whole weeks to bounce around at my own leisure would be a novelty, having not taken more than a few days break from the café since I'd started working there.

The only drawback was rattling about in a house where I felt very much like an intruder. Constance urged me to 'treat the place as my own', but it was a mindset that I struggled to get into. Even when presented with a front door key attached to a luminous green fluffy pompom, it felt wrong to allow myself to come and go as I pleased. I spent a lot of time on the top floor, hiding in the tranquillity of the vast space that was temporarily my bedroom with its mismatched period furniture that somehow just seemed to fit perfectly. When I'd arrived back here, Jackson had dutifully carried my belongings upstairs and placed them by the antique armoire. It was a beautiful bit of furniture that dominated the room that had been given a soft grey chalky coat of paint which enhanced the grain of the wood, so it had a distressed vibe. Not wishing to get too comfortable in my surroundings, I'd refused to unpack anything other than the few items of clothing that I'd been able to salvage from the bleached pile. At least half of my clothing had become a casualty to Cheryl's malice, including the majority of my underwear. I'd had to bite the bullet this morning and hit the sales to replenish my stocks on a shoestring.

Returning to Notting Hill with a couple of tell-tale brown paper carrier bags with blue writing on them, there was satisfaction at my successful shopping trip. I'd been able to at least pick up a couple of pretty bras and matching knickers for a knockdown price, plus some more functional pieces, along with extra leggings, tops and a couple of cardigans. They would tide me over until I had more funds in the pot to replace the rest of it.

A knock on the door sounded; echoing around the room a lot more loudly than had probably been intended. Thinking it was just Constance, I yelled over my shoulder, "Come in."

Continuing to sift through the garments from my shopping expedition, I was in the middle of sorting through the array of underwear scattered across the bedspread when an embarrassed cough sounded from behind. Spinning around, I was confronted by an embarrassed looking Jackson as he perused the lingerie strewn around in full view.

"I...err...umm...shall I come back later?" he stammered, a slight blush creeping across the apples of his cheeks. Having not seen him since I'd been delivered back here on Christmas Day, due to his job and the renovations on his own house, I was curious as to what brought him here in the middle of the day.

"It's fine. There were more of my things were damaged than not." Sighing with an apologetic shrug, I wasn't sure why I felt embarrassed, it wasn't as though I was the one who had sabotaged my clothes. "What can I do for you?"

"I...err..., I mean..." His blue eyes were trained on my hands as he answered. Glancing downwards, the source of his distraction became clear as I realised a dark blue floral bra and matching knickers were still gripped in my hands.