Secrets of the Past (9 page)

Why did, I not just give it to Geoff, then he would leave me alone.
Why could I not give it to him?

It was Zoë’s mum, what she had told me; it had stayed in my mind.

I awoke and glanced at the clock, it was 11 am, must have slept for hours. I looked around and thought how my books had all ended on the floor and everything from my computer desk everywhere.

It must have been him, Geoff , what a pig I thought, what had I ever done to him, did not even know him, idiot, I thought to myself.

It was starting to irritate me having to keep putting my belongings back to their place.

I tidied up and started to think why Geoff kept asking where the locket was, he must have found it, it had been on the mantelpiece.
James had put it there.

Then I glanced around and thought maybe, umm I wonder could it have slipped down the hole by the side of the tile in the fireplace.

I could not quiet get my fingers in the hole so went into the kitchen and fetched a small hammer, and hit it just slightly, and a little cracked away, and there it lie.

The locket was still mine.

The rest of the day flew by and before retiring, I checked all the doors put a cupboard against my bedroom door, and put the hammer under the pillow, and eventually went to sleep.

Awoke at seven with the alarm blasting out the radio, it was the record ‘Call of the search’ by Katie Melua I lay thinking for a while. Then started humming the song, so up I jumped and got off to work, with a little extra makeup covering the marks on my face, thank god, I had not got a black eye. However, I did have a scratch, so tried my best to cover it.

I arrived at work, but James was nowhere, and did not appear all day, with no messages to say why, so I rearranged his appointments for the
day. A little
unusual for him
I thought.

As teatime came around, I thought I would shut the office and call around James apartment along the esplanade, it was only ten minutes away and I was a little worried as it was not like him.

I arrived at his home.

As I did, I could hear voices; one said,

“She must not, ever hear of this meeting, sh
e must never know about us, Ok.”

It was James.

Then I heard him Geoff again, I knew his voice.

“The little bitch wouldn’t tell me, I tried everything, she’s going to be a hard one to crack. I will call you; go see her again see if she still has it.”

Then he added.

“
She
only showed you the other day, bloody hell mate, why did you give it back, you idiot.”

    
Then the door started to open so I jumped behind the sid
e of the building. I then peeped around the wall. T
o my amazement, it was Geoff.

How could this be I
thought James did not know him
surely, he would not be acquainted with such an awful person, then it dawned on me, the locket, James new about it, that is what they are talking about, and me they are talking about me, I was suddenly heartbroken, betrayed by the man I thought loved me.

He left so
I turned when it was clear.

Slowly I walked away from his apartment he had betrayed me just like all men, there are not worth having none of them. Geoff had driven off,
so I was not worried about him, I cut through the side road by the castle into the high street.

As soon as I arrived home, I telephoned my brother
Tom asking if I could come for a few days, he was so pleased, Id would be safe with him, my big brother, and he would take care of me.

On the way to the station, I dropped my resignation into James’s office.

I needed a break; I did not want to go up to London, to live. Nevertheless, can I stay here?

I arrived at Toms and my boys greeted me with open arms, shouting Aunty Amy have you got our presents before I had even got in the door.

They were obviously talking about their late birthday gifts.

Tom ushered them out the way and hugged me, then Lisa bear hugged me, but I did not mind, these are my family who would never let me down.

Tom then said
.

“Right Amy, what’s going on, what are the marks on your face, look at you
.
”

I had to think quickly, forgot completely about the marks, should I tell him it all.

“Oh, nothing, I fell up the stairs to the flat, so stupid, caught my face on the carpet
.
” I said.

Tom seem to examine my face, holding my head to one side slightly, then muttered

“Oh Amy, you must be more careful, you’ve always been Miss Butterfingers haven’t you
.
”

I gave Bobby and Charlie their gifts, I had bought them a game boy each, with a couple of games, they were so excited when they saw them and without a thought said “Great and cool thanks” and ran off.

Tom took my bag then carried it up to my room. They had a super home, everything cream and white, so clean, Lisa must work her socks off keeping it this
good. It was stunning.

I loved Lisa she was like a sister to me, the one I never had, but always wanted, I
loved
her from the day we met. Tom was so happy with her and the boys.

Tom had to go to work for a while so Lisa and I chilled out a b
it, catching up on gossip, Lisa
still begging me to come live in London, and how Tom worried about me. However, I assured her I was fine.

My thoughts at this time’ Blimey I have almost been killed in the last day’ but if I told Tom that he would never let me go home ever, and he would get the police involved. My life then taken over.

No, I thought best to keep quiet and get on, enjoy my time here, get back to reality and look for a new job.

I enjoyed my visit, and ended up staying five days, shopping, visiting the theatre, restaurant, my timetable full the whole time as it always is when I visit with them.

Seeing the twins pleased me, they were growing so fast. I had to get back home though, get on with my life and put all recent events in the past.

My train pulled in the station at one pm on a Saturday, the sun was shining, another beautiful day.

I heaved my large bag off the train and made my way out the station, not looking ahead, I bumped into someone, it was James, and he wa
s as surprised as I was.

He immediately spoke
.
“Amy where have you been, I have been calling your mobile, phoning your place, where have you been, you
have been gone for days
?

I replied
.

“Why what do you want, am I not allowed to go anywhere, after all we are not dating or anything
.
”

He looked surprised at my reply.

“Why what’s wrong, have
I done something to upset you, if I have please tell me”.

“Yes James you have, you betrayed me, now get lost,
how come you never told me you knew Geoff, I never want to see you again.”

James replied
.

“W
hat about your
job
.

“Keep your job; I want nothing more to do with you
”
I shouted as I walked away from him.

I actually felt a pang of guilt, not sure why.

Eventually arrived at my place, clicked the kettle for a brew, kicked off my
shoes,
and sunk back into the sofa, with my mail in
hand.
I looked around my room, normality
again
I thought.

I quickly realized the phone bill was due, so must sort that soon, as I was never one for being late with my bills. Mum had taught me that, she always used to say always pay your bills on time and your life will have no worries. I was a great saver, also had a little from mum, so had plenty until I found another job.

I felt at home again, home with mum and dad, London was a lifetime away, Tom had been nagging me again to move there with them, but this was my home for now, I just could not leave here, I was close and felt their presence here, and I was not ready to let them go yet.

I then remembered the locket, so found it; I was a little apprehensive but opened it anyway, just to see if it still worked. I was sitting on the chair I kept in the corner of the room, as usual the room darkened, but there was noise, laughing, people talking, I gazed around, people all around, with wine glasses in their
hands, it must be a party I thought.

I looked up and saw my father, laughing, opposite a large man with a huge stomach, he was also laughing, bopping up and down, he looked very funny.

Just over from them a chap with white hair and a long beard, he had a very stern looking face, did not look at all happy.
He looked so pompous.

There was a woman with hair that was on top of her head in tight curls, blonde, I noticed she looked a little old to have such fair hair. She was also laughing, in be
tween biting on a small biscuit. S
he had a dress on, it was huge, and it looked as though she had something stuffed up behind her bottom. I think she could have been rather large under the dress.

As I looked at my clothing, I noticed I had on a lacy dres
s, with tiny stones adorning it.
It was
beautiful.

Then I saw Anastasia, she glide
d into the room, all eyes drawn
in her direction, she was so pretty, father ushered her to come to him.

As she passed she said,

” Anna, go to the kitchen and help Lillian
”.

S
he smelt of lavender, her teeth so white, she was quite beautiful.

I immediately jumped up and made my way to the kitchen, where a young girl stood, she was cutting small sandwiches in little triangles, and she looked up at me.

She bowed her head.

“Oh, I have almost finished
.
”

S
he said, looking very nervous.

I immediately replied
.

“Oh don’t worry about me, here I will help you
.
”

She
surprised with my answer.

“No mistress you cannot, the lady Anast
asia would
not be happy at all.”

I replied

“
But she sent me out to help you.”

Lillian looked up at me aga
in scared to death.

“But I have finished now madam.”

I thought it best just to watch her, and say nothing, as every time I opened
my mouth she seemed upset
.

I stood a while just watching, she kept looking up at me, I realized I was making her feel uncomfortable, so I said
.

“So where do you come from then Lillian
.
”

She replied
nervously

“Oh Madam
,
I live not too far away in a place called Corporation Street, with my mother, and four sisters and two brothers.
”

I replied
.

“But what about
you’re
Father”

She whispered
.

“Oh my father he was killed four years ago, in a terrible accident, in the flourmill which he worked.
”

“Oh I am so sorry, is that why you have to work?

She replied “Yes all my sisters have to work, to buy food and pay the rent, as mother is not well, my brothers both work at the mill
.
”

She then asked to get by, as she had to go and serve the guests, so I grabbed a plate and followed her into the lounge where all the guests were.

I offered the plate to men who was standing a
lone, then realized it was Fredric. M
y friend
he saw
me.

“
Oh Anna
, are you well.

I answered “Yes I am and you.”

He replied
.

“When I am going to see you again, you did promise
me you know
.
”

I answered “Soon I hope, very soon
.
”

I then carried on to the next man who commented on the food being delicious. Took too many
sandwiches
I thought.

It was then I saw John my brother, he was in uniform, so good looking.

They certainly did not have much back then, but made up with good looks.

He called me over; he was with another officer also in uniform. He turned to his mate and said.