Secrets of the Past (5 page)

In a quiet husky voice,
he
then suggested he sat opposite me; I was terrified, but tried to stay calm.

I avoided looking at him placing my hands on the table as I was shaking so much.

Then he added.

“So we meet again, I told you we would, now have you thought about what I said; your time is running out”.

As he spoke the shop door opened,
I looked up and
it was James, who noticed me directly and came towards me

” Hi, there
we meet
again, do you mind if I join you”

I replied.
“Of course please do”.

Geoff immediately rose from his seat saying

“Here I am just off
,
so you can have my seat”

As he did, he glanced at me with rage in his eyes. He then left.

I gave Jame
s the hugest smile, if only he
new how he had just saved me from that
awful disgusting man.

We sat
just chatting about everyday things and
then I told James I had to go.
He
replied he also had plans, so we p
arted
, and I made my way back home.

The next morning I arrive
d
promptly at work, seemed to have a spring in my step, James arrived
shortly after

Smiled,
as he
leaned over my desk’

“Hi, I will see you shortly
”,
returned with a pile of papers
, and then dumped them in front of me
.

CHAPTER FOUR

I got on with it, believe me I enjoyed every minute, but as lunchtime approached, James asked if I would like to join him for a pub lunch, I agreed immediately, perhaps with a little too much excitement in my voice.

We left and James suggested we go a short distance from the office,
to
one of the olde
r pubs in the high street. He ordered a
large salad so being polite I ordered the same.

I yearned for the big
cheese
burger the
bloke
opposite was tuckin
g into, the cheese bursting out
the edges, dripping down his lips, he had sauce on his chin
.
He looked like a workman, dirty t shirt and jeans.

We chatted and laughed so much, I realized although I had worked a long time for Ja
mes. I had not really known him that well.
He was f
un, had a very warm personality.
I became quite attracted to him.

I think something had grabbed my heart and was squeezing it. Was this love, I had never felt like this b
efore. Well once recently, Fredric
had the same effect on me, but that was just a dream.

I told him about the loss of my mum, he had also had a close death; his brother killed, in an accident, which must have been traumatic as he was only seventeen.

We talked about his life, how he had worked hard to get where he was to make his mother proud of him and make up for the loss of his brother.

We returned to work, hardly noticing James; I had a backlog of work to get on with when he suddenly appeared.
He bent over and whispered.

“Do
you want to chill out tomorrow night?

We ca
n just have a laugh, a
takeaway.”

I was up for anything that included James at th
is time, needed someone like him right now.

I suggested he came to my place
.
He agreed.

    
The next evening arrived I had picked a movie up, a comedy, thought that would brighten up his mood, then he arrived at my place and we ordered takeaway, it was a great night, we laughed and cried at the movie.

James pecked me
on the cheek when he left, saying
    “See you tomorrow
.
”

M
y heart was racing with anticipation, I just could not wait to get to work the next morning, but when I arrived, it was
as if
we had not even met the night before, he seemed busy, so I got on with my work.

During the afternoon, James came by my desk, leaned towards me.

“How about, we go out again.
”

Well I was
up for anything as long as he
was there, so we arranged to meet the next evening.

He also sa
id
.

“If you
do
n’t
mind, I never mix work with pleasure, sorry if I seemed a bit distant today, did not mean anything.
“

I just answered, “No that is fine”

I left work went home,
on the way
Eddie caught me and said he had been looking into books, to discover where the locket came from, and handed it back to me, and told me he would c
atch me and we could talk soon as he was in a rush.

I spent the whole evening deciding what to wear, preparing for my date tha
t was not until the next night
.

Then I went to bed early
to get some beauty sleep.

      When I arrived at work, the next day James had left a message that he was out in meetings all day and had left me a pile of work to get through, so I whizzed through it, the excitement of my coming date had given me a rush, and I cleared it all in no time.

That evening I prepared myself, first the long soak, then the hair, I thought I smelt great; hope James appreciates my efforts I thought.

I checked myself in the mirror and thought ‘Sweetheart you are a knockout’ go give it to him.

Suddenly I was startled
when
the bell rang again.

I almost ran to the door then stopped dead, composed myself; it was James

“Ready.”

I immediately answered eagerly.

” Yes of course
”.

I
slammed the door behind me.

We went to a little restaurant in High street called The Blue Ray
, it specializes in
Thai food, I had been to it before with Mel, the food was delicious, it was very romantic, full of couples all chatting eating happily as we entered.

We followed the waiter to a table in the corner, ordered our meal, which was delicious. We chatted as we ate, and I was just so comfortable with James.

As the evening wore on, he
checked his watch and said

“Blimey
do you realize what time it is
.
”

A
mazed
three hours had flown
by.

Therefore, James paid the bill and off we went,
stopping for one drink at the wine bar before James walked me home.

As we got to my door, he said

“If you don’t mind I won’t come in, as I have to get up early tomorrow
, I’ve had a great time.”

I blushed as he said the words.

Thought he must have assumed I was going to ask him in.

Quite unexpectedly, he leaned forward towards me,
his lips touched mine,
and his
breathe on my neck
as he passed
sent quivers through me.

He ran his chin
along my neck
, which sent quivers through me. T
hen
he
reached my
lips
he had the taste of wine,
but then I pull
ed away, as I thought of his girlfriend.

” James I do not think we should
.
After
all, it’s not long since Rebecca.”

He replied
.

“Of course I shouldn’t, so
sorry”

H
e
apologize
d
and left me standing there.

He rushed down the pathway, turning the corner into the street.

Of course immediately I thought
,
what is the matter with you girl, should have just gone with it.

Why say anything to the man of your dreams, her loss, and your gain.
This Rebecca cannot be much to let him go.
I
climbed the stairs thinking’
No, I was right to
keep
him
hanging on a knife-edge, until I am ready for a change.

In the past, I had given in to men, and they used me, then threw me away, so this time I am going to make sure this is right, boy did I think it was.

Off to bed I
lay
dreaming, I had not blown it wi
th
James, imagining allsorts as we girls do.

It was my day off
and as I was tidying up I came across the locket, it had been a few days since Zoë had given it to me, and I had almost forgotten it.

I decided to open it once more, just checking this was a dream, but it happened immediately, the room dimmed, the tunnel of light.

The fire was burning, but needed more coal on it.

I just sat; no one was around, just taking in my surroundings. Eventually rising to my feet, I had noticed a photograph in a frame on the table, so I picked it up, it was a picture of a girl, she actually looked like me, different hairstyle, old-fashioned clothing.
I was back there again.

I also realized my dress was heavy and looked down at my clothing; I had a dress on which were heavy cotton, and an apron all frilly, hate high necks, it was itchy.
I pulled at the collar but it would not budge.

I noticed the cat on the windowsill purring at me, so ap
proached it.
Stroking it gently.

I sat, glancing out the window,
below, the street looked dirty,
and
grey,
people rushing by,
women
in thick
high-necked
dresses with lacey shawl
s
, a
woman
pushing a weird looking pram
, and a
pair
of dogs going through some rubbish at the kerbed edge.

I decided to have a look round, could not hear a sound, so assumed everyone was out, I crept quietly into the hall, as I did glan
ced at the mirror as I passed, M
y reflection, startled me, my ha
ir, ringlets hanging like tubes, like when I was a kid.

It was quiet, clear
,
so decided to look in her room, the woman Anastasia.

I opened the door slowly
, her room was very pretty,     
and the
bed had lace a
dorning it to the floor, in white with large pink flowers
.

A dressing table antique in dark oak, a brush and mirror lay on top, jewe
ls, hung across the mirror.

I opened her wardrobe, it was large, with huge doors, and they were heavy as I tried to open them
.
Huge beautiful dress
es, hung in a row.

There
a letter
lay
, Anastasia Shelby, thought I would just take a peep, should not have done, they were private, but
could not resist the temptation.
It read:

My Dearest Anastasia

My days are long now, I so wish we could be together,

As you know, I have another life, where people depend on me to tell the truth and fight their cause.

Kin, who do not understand me, but depend on me.

I miss you and Anna so very much.

I am also so proud of our son; he has exceeded all my expectations.

If only we could be together always, on my recent visit to London I picked up a gift for you, I will bring it on my next visit, also little Anna I managed to get her a beautiful writing set for when she starts the school, she will be so delighted, I know.

I will be arriving in Rochester on May 4, I will come directly to you, and perhaps you can prepare us dinner, for 3pm.

From the day we met that spring, I have loved no other; you alone took my heart, and will always be I honored to have met you.

I will bring you a rose, perhaps a yellow one this time, I think I have given you every color there is, to me you are a rose, your beauty, kindness is always with you, and I love you.