Leah's Story Finding Jake (2 page)

I inserted the key pushing the door with my foot the flat was just as I hoped, spotless and fully
furnished, we had seen the show flat but this was far bigger with more windows and an open airy
feel. The kitchen was huge compared with our old place it was separate and had its own dining
space. The units were white with granite work tops and a Belfast sink, the floor had been done with
slate tiles, and under floor heating throughout the flat meant no unsightly radiators.

All the walls were painted cream, if I was honest I prefer a colour but Lucy was definite about no
wallpaper, she said I should hang some of my paintings instead. I painted abstract art, some would
say it was quite dark perhaps even depressing but against a plain wall it would liven it up a bit. I was
not sure I wanted people seeing my pictures as they were part of my soul; they were another form
of self-expression a bit too personal perhaps to display. I guess no one would analyse them too hard
so I would try hanging a couple as an experiment.

The flat was designed for sharing; our bedrooms were at opposite ends of the living space with a
bathroom area plus dressing area attached to each. Both rooms were identical in size so we couldn’t
argue. Mine was painted blue, the only splash colour in the flat but it was a colour that helped me
relax. All my bedrooms had been painted the same shade perhaps it made me feel at home and
secure. Adam was unloading his sister’s car as there was a lot more to bring in, three trips and mine
was empty.

“Lucy I am ready to go back for another I won’t be long” I heard a muffled reply from her bedroom
so turned to leave; unfortunately I walked straight into Adam carrying a large cardboard box. The
box struck me in the chin as Adam was six feet and myself only five two! He swore loudly as the
bottom collapsed spilling everything across the wooden floor, to my horror I realised it was my
Grans stuff that was rolling all over the place.

I fell to the floor scrabbling around to pick everything up Adam was still cursing, my chin was stinging
but I didn’t care, Lucy joined us

“Oh God Leah all your things Adam don’t just stand there help us” he hadn’t moved an inch I looked
up angrily then bit my lip, he was staring down at me still holding what was left of the box with me
on my knees before him, our eyes met then he blinked hard finally moving to help.

Old photo’s cuddly toys, school reports, some jewellery of Grans so much of my past laid out before
me it almost made me homesick. As we packed everything away again I noticed Adam was leafing
through an old scrapbook, I didn’t want him looking down his nose at my humble beginnings so I
stood up intending to snatch it off him when I spotted newspaper print hanging out the bottom, my
heart thumped in my chest as I saw the expression of horror on his face.

My eyes closed as I tried to hold myself together but bile was rising in my throat. My Gran had put
together a scrapbook for me to look at when I was old enough. The book had photos of my mum
when she was a baby, recording her childhood growing up. I often wondered why my mum became
a prostitute her life had been so good. Selina Fellows was a bright young girl with a promising future.
The wrong crowd had turned her into a tearaway my grandfather was a vicar and she brought shame
on the family so was thrown out at the young age of 17. My gran had been heartbroken but they
never saw her again, once my granddad passed away she had tried to find her but unfortunately she
had changed her name to Lovell and hidden away. The newspaper clippings were the reports from
the night of her murder graphic and damning not something I shared with anyone.

Lucy immediately sensed my anguish. I looked at Adam who was staring at me with fresh eyes
sorrow and something else, understanding. This was not what I wanted to see, years of wanting him
to be civil then one glance at my life he was suddenly a kindred spirit.

“Adam that’s personal give it here” Lucy grabbed the book off him as she flapped it shut something
small woollen and blue fell to the floor. I stared at the little piece of history as it landed on the floor
not able to move the truth lay there in front of me but I was frozen.
“Leah what is it what’s wrong?” Adam had stepped closer to me almost touching, the movement
woke me up, I stepped away kneeling down to the floor and carefully picked up the tiny baby’s
knitted hat. I held it to my cheek still soft unworn I smelt it to see if his scent was still noticeable,
tears were falling un checked as I clung to my little brothers woolly hat .

“Leah please talk to us, what is it why are you so upset honey I have never seen you cry ever” Lucy
had knelt beside me placing her arm around me,

 

“He shouldn’t have dropped his hat he may get cold” Adam had got down on the floor too he came
up to my face then took my empty hand in his, he spoke very clearly to me

“Leah let’s sit on the sofa and have a cup of tea, you feel cold can you stand up for me” I looked into
his grey eyes mine still full of tears, I let him help me up then followed him to the sofa where he sat
me down.

“Lucinda put the kettle on now, plenty of sugar” she nodded obediently and left us alone. Adam was
sitting on the footstool in front of me he took out his hanky and gently wiped my face but he didn’t
speak until Lucy came in with a mug of tea. I had put the little hat in my pocket just like that night in
the car, this time I wouldn’t lose it I had proof now that Jake was real, and he was stolen just as I
thought.

The tea helped me gain my composure. Oh God what a fool I must have looked, they would be
calling in the doctor if I didn’t snap out of it. I stood up Adam looked surprised

 

“Right I will get the next lot of boxes” I patted my pocket to check it was still there grabbed my keys
and left.
Chapter 3

The next few days were spent unpacking and settling in, I hadn’t seen Adam since that awkward
moment; by the time I got back with a second load of packing he had been called away by his office.
I had to admit though he had been very kind even Lucy was shocked

“I can’t believe how sweet Ad was to you Leah, he is such a bastard with women I’ve never seen that
side of him before” I had brushed it off, after all what was he meant to do with a strange girl who
had a meltdown in front of him.

Our flat warming was two days away Lucy was kick starting my make over with a shopping trip and
hair appointment. Currently I was sat in front of a large mirror with my long straight blonde hair
hanging across my face whilst some gossipy girl was putting sheets of tin foil in it.
My hair was quite light, but not blonde enough apparently so I was given platinum blonde highlights,
a couple of inches off the length and some choppy layers to add volume. They had covered the
mirror so I couldn’t peak, after the last titivation by Marie I was unveiled in dramatic fashion

“Ta da said Lucy as I was spun round” I have to say it was a shock my hair actually looked amazing
bright blonde full hair fell past my shoulders, it was even shiny. Marie proceeded to give me styling
tips and maintenance advice;

“just rough dry it upside down and you are done, no straighteners or spray you have perfect hair for
layers it will fall naturally into place, to get shine use a serum just on the tips” I thanked her with a
huge tip, and purchased an obscenely priced Argan oil hair serum at her advice, I really was thrilled.
Next Lucy dragged me to a makeup stand in Selfridges the girl there showed me how to apply
foundation and eye shadow, my eyes were green so purples enhanced them, apparently, so that is
what I purchased, £170 later I had a new makeup bag and tools to go with it.

“Are we done yet I am starving?” Lucy frowned at me, she was having a whale of a time dressing me
up she was not going to stop until I was perfect. Clothes were our next stop; soon she had me kitted
out for work. A capsule wardrobe it is called, a mixture of skirts, trousers, jackets and blouses all to
co-ordinate with each other. I had absolutely no say over any of it, hardly got to look in a mirror
things were thrust on me then yanked off again lots of oohs and aahs then all in a bag wrapped in
tissue along with an obscene amount of shoes.

My pot of money left over from Grans house was almost depleted, I really hoped it was all worth it
then I caught a glimpse of myself in a window laden with bags my new hair shimmering in the sun I
felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

Tonight I had dance class so I had no time to unpack my things I threw on my dance kit pulled my
new hair back into its usual pony tail and shouted goodbye to Lucy on the way out. In the car park I
spotted Adam’s car, so I hurriedly walked to my Golf hoping to reach it before he got out of his car.
Of course as was usual with my track record this was not going to be the case

“Leah Hi!” I winced and turned round with my best fake smile

“Hello Adam, have you come to see Lucy?” he looked stunning as always, he must have come from
court he was suited and booted! His grey eyes pierced into mine as he gave me the once over
making me shuffle awkwardly on my feet

“I actually came to see if you two girls fancied dinner but you are off to the gym I see” easy mistake
to make I guess

 

“Actually I have a dance class, ballet tonight to be precise” Adam looked taken aback but seemed
genuinely intrigued

 

“You can still take ballet classes at your age?” I bristled but tried not to take offence after all he had
lived a sheltered life! I tried not to sound too patronising;

“Twenty two is hardly pushing up daisies Adam! besides I work as a dancer at the Palace Theatre just
as a backing dancer during certain productions so I have to keep up training, anyway I will be late so I
must go” he was standing in my way so I tried to go around him
“I would love to see a show when you are in one, let me know Lucinda and I will come to support
you” I stared gobsmacked at him
patronising bastard

“
You wouldn’t see me I would be in the background, I have been doing it for over four years so I
certainly don’t require a cheerleading squad, bye Adam see you around” I walked away hoping I put
a flea in his ear, crikey what does he think of me, one wobble over some pictures he thinks I need
support eek I must show them both how tough I really am, I patted my jacket pocket to check its
contents then drove away without looking back.

It was Saturday afternoon Lucy and I had done all we could to make the flat party ready. We had
borrowed a spare fridge from an empty flat to stock with bottles; we had purchased numerous bags
of ice and had half a cow’s worth of beef ready for our new top of the range barbecue. We had been
blowing up balloons for the past hour, my ears had popped and we were in the midst of a fit of
giggles

“Lucy I can’t do anymore I have run out of gas unless you fancy using your arse instead” we cracked
up again obviously high on helium but in great spirits for the party, then Lucy spoilt my mood

“Leah I hope you don’t mind but Adam invited himself; he is bringing Rob oh and his on off girlfriend
Natalie. She is such a stuck up princess but I said you wouldn’t mind” I stopped laughing I knew she
had deliberately invited him so she could check out Rob so I let her off. As for Adam well he would
hopefully have his hands full with Natalie so he should leave me in peace

“No worries, there are some hotties coming from Uni aren’t there? I am in the mod for fun tonight”
she grinned at me

“Oh a couple yes Todd is nice and of course your number one fan Chris is coming, they are bringing a
few friends, so I am sure someone will tempt you. By the time I have your make up done and you’re
wearing the new dress, you will be fending them off with a cattle prod” I was pleased Chris was
coming he was a dancer very straight, someone I had a few drunken fumbles with, he was always
attentive, not boyfriend material but just what I needed at the moment. Tonight would be fab I
sorted the IPod out so we had some decent tunes for dancing later, then went for a shower.

My hair was easy to do myself, Marie was right a blast upside down then a touch of shine spray and
it looked lovely. Make up was a harder job, I had a go at it but looked like an Essex girl so scrubbed it
off and shouted for help. Lucy had it sorted within minutes so that my eyes stood out and my
cheekbones looked enhanced. My eyelashes were actually quite long with mascara on; I could at
least manage that bit every day for work.

I went to get my dress from the wardrobe it was a tiny bit of cloth, very short but my legs were long
and toned so I didn’t mind them exposed. I wasn’t altogether happy about showing my boobs
though, they had been my nemesis, the only block to becoming a professional ballerina one look at
my 32 D’s and my tutor just said

“No darling breasts are not for the Bolshoi” so I used to wear unflattering bra’s to try to squash them
down, not very successfully I might add. The dress was a struggle to get on but once I did I blushed, it
really didn’t look like me in the mirror. I looked sort of sexy but not at all comfortable I bent down to
slip on a pair of high heels, now I felt worse, so exposed I wanted to cross my arms or wear a cardi.
Lucy waltzed in, she had on tiny shorts and sequin vest top, ridiculously high stilettoes and big
bouncy curls, how come she always carried sexy off so easily.

“Lucy you look stunning” she shook her head at me

“Girl if I look stunning you should think of a better description for yourself Wow flipping Wow Leah
you will knockout everyone tonight they won’t believe it’s you, stop trying to cover yourself up will
you” she grabbed at my hands to stop me folding my arms then dragged me off to the kitchen to
pour me a large glass of punch.

“Down it Leah do whatever it takes to settle your nerves, you are not going in that room to hide
away or change your outfit so don’t even think about it” How did she know what I was thinking, too
many years together.

I decided to sit on a bar stool so I didn’t feel quite so visible, noises outside the door meant our first
visitors were here, knocking back my drink I pasted on my happy face. My face slipped when first
through the door was Adam looking stunning as usual. With him was a girl who should be a catwalk
model, long red hair perfectly sculpted features and legs to die for. Tagging on behind was the
gorgeous Rob he was an Italian stallion and Lucy’s face lit up when she greeted him;