Thirty Days: Part One (28 page)

Marcus shakes his head.

“You’re not thinking clearly. I’ll handle it, okay, mate?”

Sitting in a white sedan, Marcus doesn’t say a word. Each breath he takes is laboured and his fingers tap against the steering wheel. Staring at his cheek, I will him to turn and face me, but he doesn’t.

“Marcus?”

“Hmmm,” he says, his eyes still avoiding mine.

“Are you okay?”

“Hmmm.”

“Do you want to talk?”

His head shakes, just as the sound of sirens comes into ear range.

“We just tell the truth and everything will be okay, right?”

“The truth is always the only way, Abigail. A lesson I wish I’d known once upon a time when it really mattered,” he spits, opening the door and climbing out. He must have removed his jacket because it’s flung through the opening onto his seat. “Abigail, this time just stay in the car and let me handle things.”

“I will.” The door closes, and he’s gone. Looking over my shoulder and out the window I don’t see much, except a crowd of people who have gathered. I’m actually not sure when these people congregated here. It could have been as early as my alley screams, or as late as right now. It seems as though everything that’s happened around us has been nothing but a catastrophe.

I sit watching blue and red lights flicker against my arm that hugs the headrest of the seat. The flickering lights come from the emergency vehicles. Watching them is the only thing keeping me from falling apart, from experiencing the panic that threatens to bubble out. Their constant timed appearance calms me. I’ve no idea how long I’ve sat staring or how much time has passed, but I’m startled when a bang comes against the window and then the door opens.

“Abigail?” a man in a blue jumpsuit and the kindest grass green eyes asks.

“Yes.”

“Hi, I’m Seth. I’m with the ambulance service. How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay.”

“A bit shocked, no doubt, after such an experience.”

“Yeah, I guess a bit. Seth, I just really want to go home. Can I go home now?”

“I’m not sure, Abigail, but what I think would be good to do is for you to come sit in the back of my ambulance so I can check you over and make sure you’re okay.”

“Can you just do it here?”

“Well, I could try, but it really would be easier in the bus. I’ll close the door, so it will be private, and my colleague, Belinda, will keep you company while we do an assessment. She’s really nice.”

“Umm. Where’s Marcus? Mr. Klein?”

“I’m not sure,” he says, taking my hand in his blue gloved hand and helping me to my feet. “Just go slowly, no rush.”

“Honestly, I’m fine. Not even a scratch. I just had a huge fright.”

“Even so, you need to be checked.”

I immediately spy Marcus talking with two police officers.

“Marcus,” I call.

His eyes connect with mine. “Abigail.” He jogs over. “Everything’s okay. The paramedics are going to make sure you’re in good health and then the police are going to come by the manor to get your statement shortly. They’ve got the man in custody now.” His hand rubs my arm and his expression offers the reassurance I needed.

“Oh.”

“Get checked over and then I’ll take you home.”

I’m loaded into the back of the ambulance and privacy is offered as promised. The examination doesn’t take very long, and before I know it, I’m in the passenger seat of the white sedan on my way back to the manor. Marcus sits quietly, his attention fixed on the road as he drives. My eyelids become heavy as we drive up the long driveway that leads to the bed I crave after tonight’s events. Marcus remains silent on the drive home and so do I. It seems that I’m going back to the Sunshine Coast in the morning and right now I’m relieved at the thought.

The Power of Dreams

After a hot shower, I retreat to my room and curl up under the covers. The clutch that caused so much fear in a moment of utter stupidity on my part rests on the bedside cupboard. Either Marcus or Grady must have put it there, because to be honest I don’t even remember seeing it after I collected it from the ground. My body begs me to sleep, but I need the comfort of my safety net, Sammy. Reaching for the clutch, I retrieve my phone. The clock reads 10:29 p.m. “It’s never too late to call Sammy,” I mutter, pressing her number.

“Hello, Abi, how was your night? I was getting worried you’d forgotten to call me.”

“No,” I reply quietly.

“What’s the matter?” she immediately asks.

“Sammy, I was mugged tonight.”

“What the fuck?” she shrieks. “Are you okay? Where are you? Does your mum know? Shit.” So many questions are fired at me, and I’ve no idea where to start. “Abigail, was Peter with you?”

“Peter?”

“Yes.”

“No.”
Who’s Peter?

“You need to tell me what happened. Oh my God, I think I’m going to be sick. Are you hurt?” The panic in her voice makes my stomach turn over.

“I’m not hurt. I just got a fright,” I reply, upset.

Filling Sammy in on the basics is all I can manage. I tell her that I was talking to Mum and found myself down a dark street. How a man grabbed me and held me against a wall and how Marcus stopped him and I got away. The line goes silent as I sit quiet, waiting for her to take the information in.

“Abi.”

“Yes.”

“Marcus who?”

“Marcus Klein, my boss.” Again the line is silent.

Sammy starts doing the same heavy breathing my mother did when I said his name to her earlier tonight. They both know him.

“Ginger.”

“Yes.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, I’m just in shock that someone tried to mug you. Oh, Dorothy, this is a new one even for you.”

“I know, right?”

“Promise me you’re okay?”

“I promise. Hey, don’t tell Mum. I’ll tell her tomorrow…I just want to go to sleep.”

“I won’t. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“Sounds good. Hey, Ginger?”

“Yes, Dorothy.”

“I love you.”

“Ditto,” she says with a sigh. “Good night, Abi.”

“Night.”

As the phone drops from my limp hand to the bed, my eyes close.

Autumn leaves floated softly to the ground. The rustling sound from the wind was musical. The smell was home.

As a cool gust of wind swirled, I pulled my coat tighter around me and made my way down the footpath, then up the front steps to our two-bedroom apartment. It was small, but perfect.

I’d had another rewarding day in my new job, and it was only a couple of hours until he was going to walk through the front door and wrap me in his arms. How I’d missed those arms. Three days was too long.

The house keys landed heavily on the table as I pulled off the boots I had been wearing for the last nine hours.

The sound of Bella’s tail smacking against wooden floor boards alerted me to her welcome home dash, in three, two, one…impact!

“Mummy’s home,” I cried out, pulling her into my arms. “Hello, pretty girl, did you miss me?” I asked. Her kisses told me she did. “I hope you’ve been a good puppy today, and I hope you stayed out of Mummy’s food cupboard,” I added, kissing her nose.

People said animals weren’t like us, but she was. She was my world…our world.

My fingers ran over Bella’s thick black coat, which was smooth to the touch. I looked into her small pug face that screamed innocence, even though I was fairly sure she was far from innocent.

“Your daddy’s coming home tonight,” I whispered, placing her on the floor as her whole butt shook with force. “I missed him too.” I sighed, walking into the kitchen. “What should we make Daddy for dinner?”

She barked.

“Yes, steak would be perfect.”

I bent down and patted her head before making my way to the bedroom to change.

The phone rang. I rushed to the lounge to answer it, almost tripping over Bella in my haste.

“Abi, your clumsiness never ceases to amaze me.”
I looked up to see the long red locks and light blue eyes that belonged to Sammy, who was waiting at the screen door.

“I guess it’s part of my charm,” I replied smiling, as the phone ceased its chime. “Oh, well, they’ll call back if it’s important. Come in.”

Moments later, I had the kettle filled, and Sammy sat comfortably at the kitchen table. An afternoon catch-up was the perfect distraction.

“How much longer now until Sir Romeo gets back?” she teased, grinning.

I looked down at my watch, 5:45 p.m. “Two hours,” I replied, giddy like a school girl.

“You guys are the perfect couple. I hope I find that one day.” Sammy’s eyes became misty.

“Can you believe I’m getting married? Like, has it sunk in yet?”

She giggled. “No, it hasn’t. It was always going to happen, though. Written in the stars.”

I gushed. Pure happiness.

We talked for what felt like hours about the wedding, our new careers, and our future. It made me see how amazing my life was. Sure, I was clumsy and sometimes naïve, but I really had it good.

“You know what I love the most about you, Abs?” Sammy asked, sipping from her second cup of tea.

“What?” I questioned shyly.

“How you can always find the positive in every situation. Seriously, girl, you’re infectious. I’m lucky to have you in my life.” Her hand reached across the table, clasping mine tightly.

I could see the truth in her words—it choked me up.

“Ditto,” was my reply.

Before long it was Bella and I alone again, and I started preparing dinner while she sat right by my feet. “You’re just as excited as me, aren’t you? Listen here, pooch. I will be the first to fling myself into his arms, okay?”

She panted, her small mouth arched upward.

“Aww…you’re smiling.”

The knife moved back and forth as I trimmed the small portion of fat from the meat.

The sound of keys jingling against the door was the only one I was waiting for. So when I heard it, I squealed, “He’s home,” almost tripping over Bella again as I dashed to the door. It opened slowly as my breath hitched in my throat.

“Honey, I’m home,” he announced, unprepared for my assault.

I leapt into his arms. “I’ve missed you,” I declared, placing soft kisses over every bit of his perfect face.

“I’ve missed you, too,” he murmured against my skin. His lips found mine, pressing hard. “I love you, Abigail,” he declared against my mouth.

“And I you.”

“Forever and always, babe.”

“Forever and always,” I said adoringly.

The steak dinner waited. The only thing he wanted was me, in our bed. Our need was too strong. Our love stronger.

I’m awoken by a kiss to the lips.

“Mike,” I moan, feeling myself pulled into reality and the memory of my ex-fiancé drifting away.

“Abigail, no, it’s Marcus. The police are here to see you now.”

“What? Huh. Where am I?” My eyes have difficulty focusing on the blurred vision in front of me.

“Come on, sleepyhead. I need you to come downstairs. It won’t take long.”

“Okay,” I mumble before closing my eyes once more.

“No, no. It’s time to wake up, come on.”

“I’m awake,” I groan, sitting upright.

“I’ll give you a minute.”

“Yep.”

My body shakes when I realise that for the first time in forever I’ve had a happy dream about Mike. Maybe the absolute shock of my almost mugging brought me to a place in my life that was filled with pure safety and happiness. A place that for so long I haven’t been able to call home. But I’m gutted when I realise that my life is a mess and now I have to face the police. If only I wasn’t
Abigail the Hexed,
life would be a shitload easier.

***

As Marcus promised, it didn’t take too long for me to give the police the information they needed. The man who tried to rob me was well-known to the police for what they referred to as ‘petty crimes’. I’d rather call it terrifying the fuck out of the innocent, but they weren’t the ones pushed up against a wall. The two officers, both middle-aged and dark-skinned, left rather swiftly. They guaranteed that the matter would be handled quickly and those words seemed to create a peaceful tranquillity in Marcus’ expression. With a final handshake from Marcus, the door closed and the silence of the night resumed.