Unlikely Places (2 page)

“Mel wasn’t in court today...she still not talking to you?”
She asked nudging me from my daydream.

“No?...I can’t blame her....I’m not bothered anymore....I
think she’s moving away....so doesn’t really matter does it?”

Nat frowned at me, apparently it did matter. “Wash your
hands I need the table setting”.

Washing the paint from my hands I glanced in the mirror, I
looked tired, my blue eyes slightly red rimmed due to my recent sleep free
habits, my almost shoulder length blonde hair had turned darker with the
seasons, why did my sisters always stay so light? I had made a conscious effort
to take up jogging again lately so at least I was still in shape all the more
important considering my five four stature. I dried my hands, tucked my hair
behind my ears, maybe Nat was right I was coasting through life, I had the
freedom to do whatever I wanted, I had a great house, money, my health what do
I want to do? Vacant was the only expression I saw facing me in the mirror,
great.

I returned to the kitchen to gather cutlery and plates to
set the table, looking over to Nat I could see it was Tex Mex night, my
favourite. She always knew how to butter me up I just hoped she had dropped all
her bombshells for one day. Just as I was placing the wine on the table Rich
arrived home, I watched Lucy run over to him hugging his legs as he pretended
not to see her continuing to walk along with her attached to his right leg.

“Hey Alex, I wasn’t sure you’d be here tonight”. He quipped
as he came towards me.

“Rich”. Nat yelled at him as she brought glasses to the
table.

“What I was just saying that’s all”. He tried to look
innocent, but I knew he thought I was a fuck up he’d told me indirectly on
numerous occasions in the past I’d never really fathomed what his problem was
with me. They had been together since meeting at college, I certainly wasn’t
going to start rocking the boat telling him what a dick head he was.

“It’s not funny”. Nat looked at me with an apologetic look.

“Daddy....daddy look at my picture I drew of you”.

I got a brief look at the picture it wasn’t Lucy’s it was the
mildly anatomically incorrect one I drew of Rich with a big pink head, taxi
door ears and balding head, looking at him now maybe it wasn’t too inaccurate.

“That’s lovely chicken thank you”. He said frowning.

I couldn’t resist it. “One for the fridge I’d say.....shall
we put it up?” I said offering my hand to Lucy.

“Yeah now now”.

Heading into the kitchen I lifted Lucy up to attach the new
picture to the fridge with a spare magnet, letting Lucy down I turned to see
Nat looking at me a sly smile on her face, I replied with my most innocent
expression.

Feeling stuffed to the brim Nat dropped me home, pulling up
in front of my house I caught the time on the dash 10:17, I turned to Nat as I
reached for the door handle. “Thanks for coming with me today I really
appreciate it”.

I saw her smile in the dim light of the car. “I was worried
you wouldn’t turn up and I’d find you barricaded in your little
castle”.  

I frowned. “Castle?”

“Come on.” She smiled again. ”I bet you could count the
number of visitors on one hand since you finished renovating that house”.

I’m guessing now was not the time to tell her about Kate’s
visits over the Christmas period, instead I thanked her for diner and agreed to
call when I had been to see my probation officer.
   

After locking the front door I picked up the half-finished
bottle of red wine and a glass from the kitchen, opening a draw in a kitchen
unit I pull out my iPad. After the events of today I decided I needed to get
rid of any evidence of surveillance, turning it on I selected the folder of
photographs and notes made during my discreet observations checking its
contents before selecting delete. I didn’t want to take the risk of someone
finding them by mistake thinking I’m a stalker.

Lying in bed going over the day’s events my jaw clenching at
the thought of over two hundred hours of community service, conversations with
Nat, I had to agree with her I did need to move on with my life I just wasn’t
sure how to do it. Laying out text books on the computer didn’t interest me, it
never really had I just fell into it enjoying the solitude it allowed me after
dad had died. Although I didn’t necessarily need to work due to dads advance
planning, I had to do something or I’d probably really go insane otherwise.

I thought about my plans with Kate, hoping she wouldn’t
still feel the need to make a voodoo doll of me if the evening went well. Kate
had been my sister’s nanny for the last two years but I had spent very little
time in her company, it was only on the run up to Christmas that we started to
spend time together. Nat had asked me to paint a mural in Lucy’s bedroom which
meant me spending quite a lot of time there during the day when Kate was
looking after both Lucy and Poppy. Over the following two weeks we built up a
quite a rapport, I enjoyed her company and we agreed to meet up over Christmas
to drown our sorrows over the festive period. Although I never expected our
plans to actually come to fruition, she called me and we arranged to meet in
town. We spent a lively evening in a number of bars in an older part of the
city, followed by a late take away at my house. This was an unusual turn of
events for me as I am generally an introvert uncomfortable in most people’s
company.

The evening seemed to get stranger the longer it went on,
with Kate making a brazen pass at me while I was tidying up our take away
cartons. Seeing my hands were full she moved in front of me blocking my way, I
was unsure of her intentions until she placed her hands around my neck pulling
me in for a long kiss. Kate revealed her sexuality having had relationships
with both women and men, but generally preferred men for long term
relationships. It didn’t stop me trying to persuade her to see the faults of
that decision most of the night. We continued the evening slowly making our way
to my bedroom. In the morning after more persuasion, we parted but agreed to
meet up between Christmas and New Year for a repeat event which had been every
bit as fun as the first except for the nagging feeling that she wasn’t quite
right for me. She just seemed a little unbalanced it was subtle, easy to skirt
over if you’re a little drunk I’d certainly never noticed it when I was working
on the mural, it was only when we were alone. Which unfortunately for Kate
meant communications between us went dark on my side resulting in my buttering
up apology today. It was if I’m honest, an attempt at self-preservation too, I
hoped we could at least part as friends for Nat’s sake.

Saturday

After a late breakfast of banana and yoghurt I drove to the
supermarket to pick up supplies for my evening with Kate, to my surprise I was
actually looking forward to it. Deciding on wild mushroom risotto I selected
the relevant ingredients, along with numerous bottles of wine and a lemon tart for
pudding.

I arrived home to find a letter from the probation service,
informing me of my meeting with a Caroline Richards at ten am on Monday, great.
In some ways I was relieved it was out of my hands left to me I would never
have made the appointment, putting it to the back of my mind I began preparing
food for later.

Kate arrived early, bottle of wine in hand even though she
had placed her order two days ago, I followed her into the kitchen after
shutting the door, taking in her tight body on the way was she too skinny? Was
I just looking for excuses not to see her anymore? God knows what Nat would
say. The doubts were starting to creep in something about her made me feel
uneasy, I was starting to feel I had to put her off maybe feign illness.

“I brought white as you don’t have any”.

“Great”. I don’t have any because I can’t drink it, unless I
want an instant hangover from hell. “I’ve got some red open already I’ll get
you a glass”. While my back was turned pouring wine, Kate moved up behind me
putting her arms around my waist making it clear what she came for.

“I hope you’re hungry” I said hoping to distract her a
little, I picked up both wine glasses. “Follow me”. I said. “The starter’s
already out”. I said leading her into the dining room.

“Or we could skip diner?” Her voice was low and sultry, as
she placed a hand on my arse.

After all my efforts. “At least try it”. I said trying to
placate her and hide my frustrations at the same time.

She looked at me with her face twisted like she was having
an aneurism. “Don’t you want me anymore?”

“What?” Was this my fault two nights and she goes mental,
turns into a desperate housewife. “Of course I do.....I just think you might
like it”. I didn’t, I just didn’t want to have to wipe the blood from the
ceiling when her head exploded if I said no.

“It will build your stamina”. I said with a quick flick of
my eyebrows.

Our starter of asparagus and Parma ham was eaten in silence
except for Cat Stevens playing in the background, although in truth I had lost my
appetite after her outburst. Brining in the tureen of risotto I tried to
lighten the mood with talk of Lucy and the new picture on the fridge. She
showed little interest stalling the conversation, I had to broach the subject I
didn’t want this all night.

“Are you alright Kate?” I said keeping my voice even.

“Do you have any toys?” She asked, her eyes boring in to me
from across the table.

“What?...No....I don’t really use them”. I lied I did have
one, but I wasn’t about to reveal that to Kate I’d never hear the end of it.
God what was wrong with her she seemed perfectly normal at Christmas, well
normalish taking into account her weirdness.

“What have you been up to today?” I tried again hoping a
sense of normality would return.

“Mainly thinking about fucking you”. She continued to glare
at me across the table.

Holy shit she has flipped her lid, did she have to be so
brash. “I was hoping we might get to know each other a bit before we do that
again”.

“Really what for? I think I know what I need to know”.

“I see.....maybe this was a mistake....I not sure we want
the same thing I’m sorry Kate”. I stood up to punctuate the end of my
statement.

“What are you kidding me?....You’re kicking me out?” She
looked incredulous.

“No...I’m not but you don’t seem interested in anything but
sex....and that’s not what I’m looking for Kate I’m sorry”. I wasn’t sorry by
this point but I didn’t want to seem a total bitch.

Needless to say we never made it to the pudding course or
the bedroom to my great relief, Kate left in a huff storming out the house
before I could even offer to order her a taxi. Something that niggled me for
the rest of the night, I’d feel terrible if anything happened to her despite
her being a nutter. But I wasn’t about to get behind the wheel to look for her
either. After Kate’s swift departure I settled down in front of my large TV to
watch my favourite detective and medical examiner Rizzoli and Isles while
eating my way through most of a lemon tart before turning in.

Sunday

I couldn’t help but think I had dodged a bullet with Kate
the more I thought about it, I just hoped that she wouldn’t feel the need to
share the events of last night or Christmas with Nat. After an early jog to the
Arboretum and back I settled in front of my computer to continue with the
latest book I had been given to formulate. I immersed myself in the work in an
effort to keep occupied, preventing thoughts of Kate and my impending
appointment with my probation officer tomorrow.

Monday

I woke late after a restless night, realising I hadn’t set
my alarm, not that I had needed to set my alarm for some time now, I saw the
time 8:42am. Shit my appointment was at 10:00, I dragged myself to the shower
quickly dressing in smart casual clothes, did I need to make a good impression
with my probation worker. Wasn’t it too late for that? I settled on dark grey
trousers, white shirt and brown boots. I ate a light breakfast to keep my
stomach from rumbling whilst hopefully not making me barf.

Arriving at the probation office I took out the letter
finding the name of my assigned officer, I found the receptionist on the phone
making notes as she spoke. She eyed me frowning gesturing to the letter in my
hand, I opened it offering it to her.

Putting her hand over the receiver she spoke softly. “I’ll
let her know you’re here”. She pointed to the seats behind me.

Of the four chairs, two were already taken, they were like
bookends neither made eye contact. On the left a young woman in leisure wear.
On the right a mature man although smartly dressed he looked like he had slept
in a skip unshaven and wrinkled, Hobson’s choice - I sat next to the young girl
in case the man smelt as bad as he looked. Big mistake as I got closer, too
close to abort I saw the stains on her clothing followed by the unmistakable
smell of baby sick, lovely I discreetly placed my hand over my nose to stifle
the smell.

Luckily I was first to be called in, the receptionist
pointed to the corridor. “Second on the right”. 

“Thanks”. I knocked on the door looking at the plaque reading
Probation Officer Caroline Richards. Entering the room I saw a mature woman
wearing an undersized black skirt suit retrieving files from an overstuffed
filing cabinet as she took her seat behind her desk she offered me the seat
opposite. Looking at a file open in front of her she looked up at me.

“Miss Alexandra Philips, criminal damage, I see its alcohol
counselling and community service, you’ve never been in trouble before?”

“No”. I shook my head focussing on the upside down paperwork
in my file.

“But you have had a bit of a time of it, you father died in
a car accident, you had counselling for five months...did it help?”

Where was she getting this information, I looked at her as
my frustration built. “Yes all better”. I shot back sarcastically.

She frowned returning her gaze to the paperwork in front of
her. “I see you doctor prescribed you medication for depression and sleeping?”

I glared at her. “I haven’t taken any in over a year”.

Taking off her glasses she really looked at me for the first
time. “I sorry if this is difficult...but we have to make sure your put in the
right placement.....to do that we need to ask these questions”.

“Of course...I’m sorry”. I berated myself for being so rude
I needed her on my side after all.

“I think we’ll get you started on your counselling then
finalise your placement, is that agreeable?”

I nodded in concurrence, anything to get out of here.

“I’ve got the details here for your sessions with a Mike
Green, he works at the YMCA in town, your first session is on Thursday evening
7 – 8 o’clock, and Mike will keep a record of your attendance and send reports
to me”. She handed me a wad of paperwork. “There’s also a leaflet and other
information on community service, if your employer needs to confirm any of the
details of your counselling or anything give them my number”.

“It won’t be a problem....I work freelance from home....how
many sessions do I have to attend?” I asked cringing at the thought of
counselling.

Referring to her file again. “There’s ten hours put aside
but if we feel it necessary it could be increased”.

Is she kidding ten hours, what am I going to talk about for
ten hours. “Who makes that decision?” I ask feeling slightly panicked at the
thought of it being increased.

“It’ll be Mike Green mainly but he will consult with me and
we’ll make a joint decision”.

“Right....okay...thank you”.

I got up to leave with my paperwork in hand, heading back
out to the waiting room I could see the dishevelled skip dweller was still
waiting he seemed to be weeping as I left. I wondered if the acrid smell of
baby sick had finally made his eyes water.

As I was in town I took the opportunity to pay my court
fines at the council offices across town, what is it with these places they
seem to draw the freaks out of the woodwork, myself not included of course.
This time there was a short black man/woman I’m not sure which arguing with the
man at the counter about how much he/she was going to pay. Until a big daddy
type security guard towered over he/she as the fine was paid. The clerk seemed
quite relieved when I paid in full without any hassle as I had already seen the
security I decided it was best, no need for any big daddy splashdowns or pile
drivers today.