Freeing Alex (32 page)

We soon pull up outside of the hotel; James leans over and
kisses me softly, “I’ll call you later.  Remember I won’t be home tonight?”  He
says, his deep voice is hushed.

I shrug my shoulders, I don’t want to speak to him, and I
know that if I do I’ll probably break down.  Inside I feel twisted, churned,
there’s a lump in my throat that I can’t swallow.  I take a deep breath, a huge
breath.  “I’ll miss you – lots.  Please think about what I said…please.”  I’m
fighting back the tears and practically begging him to give this up.  If we’re
to have any future together I need him to be there at night, whatever happens
to me in the future whether it's with James or anyone else I’m not going back
to a life of being on my own day in and day out, to a life of being expected to
keep house.  My life is different now, with or without James it is so far
removed from where I came from.  The money’s great but it’s not just about
that, it’s about being wanted for who I am, not just
someone
at home and
certainly not as a punch bag.

“I’ll think about it, but I’m telling you now, I
will not
be a kept man and besides which, I quite like my job,” He pauses “you’ll be
okay tonight, won’t you?  Make sure you lock the doors, front and back, and put
the chain on the front door.  Take your phone to bed with you, and the panic
button.”  He issues his instructions whilst looking at me with those intense
eyes of his.

“Okay, okay – I’ll make sure everything’s locked.”  I huff,
wishing him out of the car before I let the waterworks loose.

He climbs out and looks back at me, “See you tomorrow
morning Blossom, I’ll try and get back for 10’ish.”

I watch James walk into the hotel, my heart feels so heavy
watching him go, leaving me.  I wring my hands and breathe deeply, doing my
utmost to keep the tears at bay, I know I can do it, years and years of
practise have taught me how.  Doesn’t do me much good, holding it all in, I
know that, but I can, I can do this!

“Straight home?” Archie asks, snapping me out of my
thoughts.

“Please, thank you Archie.”

We continue our journey in silence, we have truly had a
wonderful few days and now I feel that it’s ended flatly, what an anti-climax! 
I’m returning to an empty home as Anna, my daughter, is still at the house in
California for another week with her best friend, Katie.  The house is one of
the two holiday homes that were left to me by Maggie, the other being the villa
in Tuscany that we have just returned from.

Archie soon pulls up outside my large Chelsea home.  I don’t
wait for him to open the door, I can’t be bothered with the ceremony and anyway
why do I have to have my car door opened for me?  I’m perfectly capable of
opening it and letting myself out, there is no reason whatsoever that Archie
should do this for me, well not in front of my own home anyway!  Or maybe it’s
just me, am I just being totally awkward and obtuse?

I slowly walk up the steps that lead to my shiny black front
door, stroking the paintwork as I put my key in the lock; it’s so very, very
smooth.  Before I’ve had chance to turn the key, Muriel – my newly employed
housekeeper opens the door from inside, “Mrs Drake, good to see you pet.  How
was Italy?”  She gushes.  I like Muriel, I liked her when I first met her only
a couple of weeks ago.  She reminded me a little of my Mum although unlike my
Mum she’s very slim and very fair, the palest blonde hair and ice blue eyes.

“It was good thank you.  Has everything been okay here?” I
ask as I follow her back to the kitchen and see that there’s a pot of tea made.

“Everything’s been fine pet.  I’ve just finished for today
so I’ll sort myself out and then I’ll be off.”  She removes her apron and
starts to pull all of her things together, ready to go.  “Your laundry’s all up
to date, washed and pressed, I’ve hung the clothes that need to be hung on the
outside of your wardrobe, I don’t do going in people’s cupboards and drawers,
and everything else is folded on your beds.  Mr Aconi‘s things are in the room
he’s using, at the back?  I’ve cleaned through and also did the windows, inside
anyway; you’ll need to arrange a window cleaner for outside.  I haven’t done a
meal for you today because I didn’t know what you’d be wanting, I hope that’s
okay?” She rambles off what she’s done and what hasn’t been done looking for
reassurance.  I nod, to be frank I really don’t care if she’s made something or
not, the way I feel now I really couldn’t eat anyway and to top it all I’m
going to be here in this bloody house on my own!

“You’ve done a great job, thank you.   Are you sure you
won’t stay for a cup of tea?”
Please, please, please stay
I will her to
say yes.

“Sorry pet, I can’t this afternoon, I’m meeting my daughter,”
she frowns “maybe we can have a catch up tomorrow?”  She offers as she places a
hand on my arm.

“Not to worry.”  I sigh.

She gathers her things together and starts to leave, “See
you tomorrow.” she calls as she walks along the hall and to the front door
passing Archie as she goes.

“Do you want these taking upstairs?” Archie calls as he
stands in my hallway with two suitcases, he looks rooted to the spot, as if he
won’t move inside my home until told to.

“Please, if you don’t mind that is?” I call back, walking
towards him, “The room on the front, to the left.”  I indicate towards the
location of our bedroom.

He trudges off upstairs with the cases as I start about
pouring a cup of tea from the pot that Muriel left.  I’m standing at the island
flicking through a free newspaper when Archie returns.

“Will that be all Mrs Drake?”  He stands in the hall and
asks.

“Archie, please call me Alex!”  I look at him firmly, he
smiles clearly ignoring what I’ve just asked.  “Do you want a cuppa, before you
go?” I ask looking at the pot, I really don’t want to be on my own, not just
yet anyway.

“If you’re making.  I’ve nothing planned for the rest of the
afternoon.”  He says as he walks into my kitchen.

“Is Sam keeping you busy?”  Sam, the concierge at the hotel
was overjoyed when he learnt that we’d taken on a driver.  I initially employed
Archie to ferry me around as I have a fear of driving in the city but as the
concept developed and blossomed James and I decided that he would best employed
by the hotel rather than me, thus giving our guests an additional service of a
chauffeur if they wanted to tap into it.

“Yes, he is”.

“Sit down Archie.”  I flap my hand towards the stools dotted
around the island.

He pulls a stool out and sits resting his hands on the
granite surface.  “Tea or coffee?” I ask as I pull two mugs from the cupboard.

“Tea please, milk and two sugars please.”  He’s very softly
spoken but I can imagine him being hard, if he had to.

I pass Archie a mug, “I’m glad you’ve settled in,” I smile
as he takes the drink from me.

“Was that your housekeeper that left as we arrived?”  He
asks as he takes a drink of his tea.

“Yes, Muriel.  She started at pretty much the same time as
you.” 

“She’s very familiar, although I don’t think I know her,
just something about her, her eyes and her hair, so very fair.  Oh, ignore me;
she must have one of those faces.”  He frowns, I can see that he’s thinking
deeply, he stands as he finishes his tea, “I’d best be off then Mrs Drake
unless there’s anything else you need me for?”

“No, you’re fine Archie, you get yourself off,” I I stand to
show him out, “and please, it’s
Alex.” 
I reiterate yet again.

He smiles as I walk him to the door and wave him off.  I’m
on my own….