BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY (26 page)

“Arggh .. you crazy bitch!” she
screeched.   Her hands frantically mopping up the wine
stains.   “This dress is designer it cost five thousand dollars!”

“Get a refund, you were robbed”

Belle stood and clapped.

“Well done my darling.  You missed that in your
homework Chiara, I’m Carries Aunt.  That would be Isabella Hamilton, again
for those of you who haven’t read the file!  Whilst we are discussing the
file, you had better add my resignation to that too.  I can’t work with
someone who clearly has no ethics.”

“Belle don’t be hasty.  You are doing a
fantastic job in LA.  The project will grind to a halt without you!”

“Save it Nico, I think it’s in both our best
interest to part ways.”

“We have a contract Belle” he tried to warn.

“Indeed we do.  I’ve been in this business a
long time.  It pains me to say it but let’s say since you were a child but
to cut to the chase.  I refer to section 11 clause 4c.
I reserve the
right to terminate within ninety days without prejudice or penalty and retain
all artistic control of my designs and strategy.
”

“What on earth?  What a crock of shit!  I
never agreed to this!”

“Your people Nico, they were too busy protecting
your
right to end
my
employment if necessary that they forgot that I
might just want to walk away first!  TSK TSK” she tutted

“School boy error”

She linked arms with Carrie and as they walked away
from the table.  Nico moved to follow them.

“No don’t Nico, you’ve said enough, leave me alone”
Carrie warned.

She turned to Gino, leaned over and spoke to him
face to face.

“Ask your mama this Gino when you next speak with
her; ask if she still remembers a west of Scotland saying – Malkie – because if
your son ever comes near me again this is what I am going to do to him!”

Carrie held her composure until they sat in the car
for the short journey to the Inn.  Jay was driving; he had insisted on
their safe return to the Inn and could hear their every word.

“What an asshole Belle, he really fooled me.”

“Me too Carrie but its Chiara to blame for making
this such as circus.  Spiteful little cow.  Playing games.  Now
Carrie, will there be
room
at the Inn for me?  I was planning on
staying at the Devanti’s”

“I’m sure Terri will have a room.  If not you
can bunk in with me, plenty of room there”

“Okay, what I need darling after all that drama is a
wee brandy.  So tell me, what did you say to Gino before we left?”

“I just told him if his low-life son ever comes near
me again, I am going to
malkie
him!”

“Ha ha Carrie, only you could threaten to head butt
a billionaire!”

Terri had once again been a god send.  She had
another room for Belle and Carrie declined joining them for a nightcap. 
Her Aunt and Terri seemed to hit it off.  Belle was already discussing
off-season promotional activity ideas for the Inn.  Normally she would
have liked to watch her Aunt at work but not tonight.  She wanted privacy
to chastise herself for falling for someone like Nico.  It was bound to
end disastrously but she hadn’t expected it to hurt so much.  A background
report of all things.  She told him everything about her, the only thing
she had omitted was her bank balance.  Her heartbreak over losing Rob she
hadn’t glossed over but wanted him to know why she wasn’t out dating.  The
support of a loving family had gotten her through all of the dark times but
that wasn’t listed on his report.  Just names, dates, occupations all in
black in white.  But to leave her sensitive information where his scheming
bitch of a sister could access?  That carelessness she couldn’t
forgive.  Trying to humiliate her in front of the other guests had taken
planning and Carrie was glad she gave as well as she got there.  Merry
Widow what a paradox.  She was anything but merry.  These last few
days with Nico she had begun to feel alive again but not merry.  The
beautiful tulle dress of last night lay over the sofa where she had carefully
placed it after it had been discarded on the floor during their passion. 
She had shared her body and mind with him and it hurt.  Her Cinderella
moment shattered.  She had felt so special.  The full make over
treatment in preparation of the commerce dance.  A designer dress and
wearing jewellery that was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The
only thing missing now was the pumpkin.  She couldn’t look at the dress
and stuffed it away in the wardrobe, out of her sight.  Her phone was
building up with missed calls from Nico.  She hit the reject button, again
and again before turning it off.  The bastard wouldn’t get a chance to
humiliate her again.  As she scrubbed her face free of the make-up she
felt disgusted that she had been so fooled. 

A fitful night’s sleep and she awoke at dawn. 
The scent of the roses and peonies still filled the room.  No early
morning walk for her today she needed to get away from the Cape put some
distance in from the place.  She wrote a note and posted it through the
door for Belle to read when she woke.  She didn’t want to alarm her with
her disappearance.

“
Hi Belle

I’m going out today.  I just need
some time away from everything to try and clear my head.  To try and gain
some perspective from it all.  Will be back in a few hours and to book an
earlier flight home.  Reality beckons.  Sorry for abandoning you this
morning.  Try not to worry.

Love

C x”

She had always intended on going to another
lighthouse and today seemed to be the best day to try.  That morning with
Terri she had picked Portland Breakwater Lighthouse which was also known as Bug
light to visit.  It was an unmanned light house but again surrounded by
another park.  As she had told herself at Portland head if it didn’t feel
right she would turnaround and come back.  The large tote bag had enough
room for ‘Rob’.  Her notepad with the details of the lighthouse and she was
ready to go.  The sky was a dark grey at this early hour and she hoped it
would lighten up.  She pulled on her jacket for some warmth over a light
jumper and jeans with her comfy converse. 

“Good Morning Charlie”

“Good Morning Carrie, the sky is a bit too dark for the
beach today.   You be careful you don’t get caught in the
downpour.  There are some umbrellas by the door if you need one.”

“Thank you Charlie, I’m not going to the beach just
out for a little while but I will take one of the umbrellas.”

Carrie drove for a short while then pulled over to a
diner.  She couldn’t concentrate on the unfamiliar roads especially as the
rain was now a downpour.  The wipers were frantically keeping pace to
clear her windscreen. 

“A coffee please” she ordered with the waitress and
turned on her mobile phone.

Beep, beep, and beep as it announced the missed call
notifications.  She turned the sound off.  Wow fifteen missed calls
and all from Nico.  I guess he didn’t heed her warning of no contact.

“I’m sorry Carrie; I guess you are pretty pissed off
with me.  Please let me explain”

It would take more than a call or text for her
forgiveness.  She didn’t know who she was mad the most at herself or
him.  Just now it was a close call.  Her phone began to vibrate as
she still had it on silent.  Nico.  She hit the reject button.

The rain continued to fall in a slow steady torrent
and Carrie stayed in the booth of the diner.  The waitress had refilled
her coffee cup and seemed to sense that she wasn’t one for chatting
with.   She couldn’t call or text her sister it would be the middle
of the night back home.  Maybe a walk through another park and lighthouse
would be her escape plan for today.  The distraction she would need before
going back to her humiliation.  The rain never bothered her either; it was
a gentle reminder of home. 

It was time to go to the lighthouse.  She
left a generous tip for the coffee and appreciation for the lack of intrusion
from the waitress.  She pulled up the hood of her jacket to shield herself
from the rain as she ran to her car passing a few trailers that were parked
up.  The lighthouse was only a short journey away.  She suspected
that it would still be raining but she at least wanted to see the lighthouse
before returning back to the inn.  This lighthouse also had a museum but
today she wasn’t inclined for any additional culture and just wanted to walk
around the park a little.  To take in the sights and sounds of the
area.  A distraction from her racing mind as she berated herself again and
again for being so foolish over Nico.  When they had their date she told
him they moved in different worlds.  Last night’s escapades at dinner were
like something from a soap opera.  Of course culminating in her throwing
wine over Chiara and a slap to Nico.  It was indeed a soap opera
cliché.  Was that what her life had become?

The turquoise blue sign post directed her to the
car park for the South Portland public landing lot.  She parked and
grabbed the umbrella along with her bag.  During her research of the area
she had learned that this lighthouse was not what you would expect.  It
wasn’t a white and red candy striped like others but it was a lot
smaller.  The design similar to a Greek monument.  A long walkway
towards the structure of the lighthouse itself.  It was called Portland
Breakwater Light but due to its size it was also known as the ‘Bug
Light’.  She could see open parkland surrounding the lighthouse with
benches scattered throughout.  She guessed on a sunny day the park would
be busy but at this time the rain put paid to that.  There were few people
around at this early hour.   She walked past the sign for the South
Portland Historical Society and Museum at the entrance to Bug Light Park. 

You couldn’t escape the memorials to the war
effort for WWII when acres and acres of land had been used for
shipbuilding.  At that time thousands of people had worked
here.   Along the walkway you could see for miles and miles of
Portland Harbour where the bay once again was bustling.  On a clear day it
would be lovely to visit and picnic but today wasn’t for anything like
that. 

She decided to walk out to the lighthouse. 
The walkway was made of large flat sand coloured blocks with a fence, a few
steps then you could walk around the edge of the lighthouse.  No one else
was out there.  The wind had begun to pick up and the rain was pouring
down.  She pulled the hood up closer around her head the umbrella
forgotten in the car. 

This would not be the day for scattering of any
ashes.  It just didn’t feel right excluding the poor weather.

It was a beautiful lighthouse in a different way
to Portland Head but she couldn’t appreciate it and decided to return back to
the inn. 

Thirty minutes later she was back in the same
café.  She needed to use the bathroom after all that coffee and to try to
dry out a little.  She was probably procrastinating and looking for
excuses.  The waitress recognised her from earlier poured her a
coffee.  It was 11.30am and still too early to call or text her
sister.  She checked her phone and there was another text from Nico.

“Carrie, I’ve told you I’m sorry and I need to
see you.  I’m coming over to the Inn we need to sort this face to face.”
It was sent twenty minutes ago.  Oh well he would have wasted journey as
she was miles away.

A fact that was being explained at that very
moment by Belle.

“Nico, I think you are a little late for a
apologising.  Carrie isn’t here.  She has gone out for the
morning.  Charlie said that she hasn’t gone to the beach as she usually
does but out for a drive somewhere.  Here she left me a note if you don’t
believe me.  Now she is going home early too.  I would guess to put
as much distance as possible between you both.”

“Belle, I know I have been a fool.  But I
asked for that report before I knew Carrie.  I met her that morning and I
was caught, hook, line and sinker.  I was curious and just had to find out
more about her.  It was never intended to be discussed publicly like
that.”

“I warned you in LA how fragile she was and look
what you have done.  That and your nasty sister Chiara.  God help her
if she crosses paths with Carrie again.”

“I’ve dealt with Chiara already and she knows
she was foolish to create a scene like she did last night.  I just want
explain this to Carrie, I will never let anyone hurt her again.”

It had finally stopped raining.  Carrie
left the diner as it was time to return to the Inn.  She tipped the
waitress again and left with a sad smile resigned to her fate.  Distracted
she began to weave between the parked trucks towards her car not really paying
any attention to her surroundings.  Dodging some puddles here and
there.  She felt a thud in her back and it sent her sprawling forward onto
the ground.  Her hands reaching out to break her fall scraping along the
tarmac.  The tiny shards of gravel breaking through the skin, tearing and
bleeding as they embedded into her flesh as she landed heavily.  She
pulled her right arm in to protect her body with her bag as she crashed to the
ground.  The wind knocked out of her.  A pain shot through her wrist
and left arm where she had taken the brunt of her fall.  She pulled
herself up on her hands and knees quickly turning around.  As the
adrenaline surged she ignored the pain flowing through her body.

Behind her stood a man in the shadow of a parked
truck and it was obvious that he had pushed her when she walked passed
him.  Fear trickled through her but she didn’t show this.  It was no
accidental jolt that knocked her to the ground.  It was deliberate. 
Her eyes were anxiously moving identifying everything of his appearance. 
She was 5ft 6” in height and he towered above her and was at least 6ft
tall.  A white male of slim build but dressed in scruffy, dark clothing of
jeans and boots.  His hair short and greasy.  His eyes were spacey
and he looked like he was on drugs or something to intoxicate him.  He
wasn’t that old either, early twenties she guessed. 

She looped her hand through her bag and felt in
her pocket for her car keys.  The keys brushing against the tender
scrapped pad of her hand making her flinch.  She tried to move her hand in
a fist with the keys as protection as they slipped between her
fingers.   Every self-defence tip that her Dad insisted on her
knowing flashed before her in determination that she wouldn’t be a victim. 
Leaving home for university he had wanted her to have the knowledge to empower
and protect herself over any situation.  A self-defence course taken years
ago was now a blur. 

“STOP!” she shouted. “Stay away from me!”  

Think Carrie, think!  Vulnerable areas his
eyes, throat, groin and knees.  Protect your personal space, come on come
on.  She coached herself her goal to keep him at arm’s length.

“Don’t come any closer” she warned holding her
arms out moving into a triangle shape in defence trying not to flinch as he
moved closer completely ignoring her shouts.  Her palms open with the
fingers on each hand spread, elbows pointing to the ground

Everything that she had been taught five years
ago was trying to assimilate in her mind but she was trying not to panic or
show any fear as she tried to concentrate.

Get out of this situation Carrie, Get out! 
Her mind was screaming in her head.  Don’t be a badass hero.  Things
are different here versus home.  Back home it wasn’t common to have a
gun.  Did he have a gun?  Oh hell where did that thought come
from!  Did he? Get that thought right out of my head!  Fight or
flight the adrenaline surging through her body was preparing her. 

“Give me the bag bitch, I want your money and
the keys for the car” he ordered.

Hell no!  Rob was in that bag.  She
didn’t care about the car or the money but Rob.  The material things could
be replaced but he couldn’t.

She didn’t see his next move coming.  His
arm swung back and his hand slammed across her face.  The backhander made
her yelp as it connected with her cheek shocking her with the force.  A
blinding light flashing behind her eyes with the power of the blow making her
stumble. 

“I know you have money, seen you throwing it
around town.  Now hand it over bitch or I will seriously fuck you up!”

Her arms weren’t long enough to connect with his
face to try and reach for his eyes or throat in defence.  But she also
wouldn’t put herself in any further danger by moving closer to him.

“Fuck Off,” she screamed at him her accent
changing from its normal soft tone to brusque Glaswegian.  He probably
wondered what the hell she was saying. “I’m not giving you anything”

The haven of getting to her car forgotten as he
would be on her before she took a step in that direction.  The parked
truck had offered her attacker protection from anyone intervening as their
altercation couldn’t be seen from the diner.  She had to draw him out away
from the shadows. 

“I will cut you up bitch, now hand over the bag
or I will teach you a fucking lesson”

She saw the glint of metal in his hand.  He
reached out to grab her shoulder, his thin fingers digging in and she yelped in
pain as he tried to pull her closer.  She could smell alcohol on his
breath as his face drew closer to her.

“Give me your fucking bag bitch!” Spittle
forming as he shouted at her.  She twisted trying to pull out of the grip
he had on her shoulder.  She flung her bag to the side.  Distracted
he watched the bag bump and slide to a halt a few feet away.

“Fuck you,” she screamed.  His grip
loosening as he moved to go for her bag.  Before he could react she raised
her right leg and kicked with all her force at his knee.  All the pent up
rage and frustration centred as she delivered her own blow.  Taking him
completely off guard he crumpled to the ground dropping the knife.  His
knee smashed with the force of her kick.  Immobilising him as he tried to
stand. 

“Arghh, you fucking bitch” she quickly kicked
the knife away.  He grabbed her leg and tried to pull himself up using her
body as leverage but she kicked out at him again and again.  Ignoring the
pain as it was her weak foot too, the one with the pins securing everything
back in place after her fall at home.  He caught the sleeve of her jacket
pulling her down and she used the momentum of falling to crash her head into
his face.  This was her last chance to get away from him.  She heard
the crunch as her forehead connected with his nose.  Blood spraying out
and she jerked back to avoid it but splatters landed on her arms and
torso.  He let go and she fell back quickly scrambling to her feet. 
Her head ached with the force of connecting bone to bone.  Sending a wave
of nausea through her body. 

There are statistics that say screaming rape or
calling out for help and no-one will come to your rescue.  Or people will
watch you being attacked; too scared to help you or they just don’t want to get
involved.  The statistics tell you to shout fire.  People always
attend to the shout of fire.  Today she was alone in the car park, no
strength to scream or shout out or call fire.  In this situation she did
the best thing to gain attention.  Her attacker lay moaning on the ground,
his knee buckled and blood pouring from his nose; all down his face.  The
adrenaline that pushed her through the attack was gone and she was feeling
shaky.  She knew she couldn’t walk back to the entrance of the diner for
help.  During their altercation they had moved out from the shadow of the
trailer and were now in sight of the diner.  She picked up a rock from the
ground and flung it high towards the diner.  Homerun – smash it hit the
window and drew everyone outside.

The waitress who had thought this was going to
be another boring Monday was soon shocked into action.  She comforted the
distraught stranger who was crumpled on the ground, helped her to her feet and
back inside.  A blanket was placed around her shoulders to try and stem
the shakes racking her body. 

“Tea, please can I have some tea,” Carrie asked
for.  The tears were pouring down her face but she was completely unaware
of this.

“That’s okay honey; we will get that for you
now.  Don’t you worry, the police have been called and I think paramedics
too.  We need to get you patched up dear.”