One of a Kind

Chapter 4: Robert

It was early December and Jennifer and Alex were doing some last minute present buying, but as they walked through the town, Alex had an uneasy feeling they were being watched. He turned quickly to catch his would-be stalker; but there wasn't one.

He laughed at the stupidity of it all, but wrapped his arm tighter around his wife's shoulders all the same. His daughters shouts brought him back to reality, 'daddeeeey!!' She shrieked hanging on his trousers, he bowed to her 'princess Charlotte' he said in a posh accent, making her giggle. Jennifer smiled at them both and leant gingerly up against the wall. She was heavily pregnant with their second baby and the weight was starting to take its toll on her back; Alex picked Charlotte up and sat her on his shoulders. 'Giddy up pony!' She squealed, kicked her dad in the shoulders, Jennifer shook her head sympathetically at him and followed him as their 6 year old daughter led him towards the toy shop.

'No sweetie, we need to get a present for Nanny Carol remember?' Jennifer said quickly to save her husband. Charlotte laughed and nodded enthusiastically 'I think nanny would like that pony toy!' Jennifer laughed quietly at her and took Alex's hand.

'How about some earrings?' Charlotte nodded and squirmed to get down from her dads shoulder, which were a good 5 feet off the ground. He firmly took hold of her and made a whooshing rocket noise as her lowered her to the floor. She grabbed her mums hand and pulled her into a shop with a pretty window display, as they opened the door, loud rock music pounded out and Jennifer quickly shut the door 'how about that one?' Jennifer pointed to a shop across the shopping centre with long strips of diamonds hanging in the window. Charlotte dragged her over to that shop while Alex ran behind them; worried about his wife. They went inside and the music was much quieter, 'it sounds like princess music!' Charlotte exclaimed excitedly jumping up and down, 'it sounds like music that very kind and pretty princesses listen to' Jennifer whispered 'like me mummy?' Jennifer hugged her 'yes Charlotte, just like you'.

Charlotte let go of her mums hand and hurtled across the shop to where the earrings were 'wait darling!' Jennifer called, the alarm in her voice raising slightly, she was very protective of Charlotte; she was their first child after all. Alex took her hand as they went over to the earring section where Charlotte was looking intently at everything. Jennifer squatted as best she could beside her, 'which ones do you like the best?' She pointed her tiny finger and a pair of diamond earrings cut into the shape of hearts with a tiny round ruby in the middle 'wow, nice job Charlotte!' She blushed and turned the other way, running off again. Alex was looking at the necklaces when Jennifer called him, 'ready babe?' She asked as the shop assistant put the earrings in a tiny bag 'mm, coming' he muttered, he turned to go but stopped, 'go on without me I'll catch you up in a sec' she kissed him and took Charlotte outside and into the card shop next door. Alex smiled mischievously and picked up a diamond encrusted treble clef necklace and took it to the till. 'Could you box it up?' He asked 'sure'...

He came out and turned into the card shop and he felt someone staring at his back, he turned and shivered, 'must be going mad' he muttered under his breath as he went inside. He could see Jennifer from the door; although the shop was packed he could see her lovely blonde hair (she was quite tall compared to most women), he made his way towards them, knocking into a man in a long black coat in the process. 'Sorry mate' Alex said cheerfully, the man turned round and glared at him 'watch where you're going, clumsy git' he snapped and stormed out the shop. Alex shrugged in confusion and went to Jennifer, 'I just saw the most horrid man' he said 'did you?' She laughed 'what was he like?' He scratched his head and said 'he was quite short and he had short black hair' Jennifer stopped cold 'did he have a beard?' Alex looked at her oddly 'only stubble' the colour drained from Jennifer's face. 'He's found me.' she hissed 'We need to get out of her, NOW.'

They strode towards the exit but as the were getting close, the man stepped out from the shadows and pinned Jennifer to the wall by her throat. Alex tried to get him in a headlock but the mysterious man winded him, which sent him crashing to the ground 'mummy?! Daddy?! What's happening?!' Charlotte screamed.

A crowd was gathering round them and a woman in the crowd phoned 999, Jennifer struggled to get away, but he was trying to strangle her; and he was determined. 'YOU RUINED MY LIFE!' he shouted tightening his grip 'I didn't love you like you loved me' she gasped. Alex got up slowly and kicked the back of his knees, then brought his elbow down on the back of his head smashing the man's face on the hard tiled floor. 'Robert' Alex snarled, but his attention soon turned to Jennifer who fell to the floor, purple hand prints round her neck.

The woman who had phoned the emergency services pushed through the crowd and knelt by Jennifer's side. Luckily, she wasn't unconscious but she was having trouble breathing. Two paramedics burst through the crowd who were slowing beginning to disperse away, and walked Jennifer to an ambulance that was waiting outside. Two tall, stocky policemen followed and handcuffed Robert, an assistant took the criminal from the chief and pushed him towards the police van not too far away. After the initial shock he sprinted after his wife and caught them just before they closed the ambulance doors...

Jennifer rubbed her neck self-consciously but Alex held her hand encouragingly. 'It was a long time ago and he's in prison now'. Carol awkwardly removed the diamond and ruby earrings she still had and loved 5 years on.