12. Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Natalie
B eing back at work feels weird. My face has healed a lot over the past two weeks but there is still some bruising left. I know that there are rumours spreading through the village about Al’s arrest—and most of them are correct—but nobody at work has said anything directly to me about him or about the bruising. I’m sure I have Sheila to thank for that.
“Nat do you have a moment?” Tommy’s voice calls out from behind me. I frown. It’s unusual for Tommy to seek me out. He’ll always say hello or stop for a chat if we cross paths in the hotel but I report directly into Marisa the Operations Manager, and Tommy never undermines his managers.
“Sure,” I reply, wiping the dirt from my knees as I get up.
“I won’t take up a lot of your time,” he grins when he reaches me. This is a man who gets better looking as he gets older. I know plenty of the younger staff—male and female—who fancy the pants of him. Unluckily for them he’s happily married and nothing and no one will get between him and Ella.
“That’s okay. I’m almost done.” I point at the pile of nettles I’ve pulled from the ground.
“Good. Listen,” he rubs his neck, “Sheila mentioned that you’re looking for a flat. You may have heard that Ella and I recently moved to a cottage nearby.” I nod. Tommy and Ella lived in a flat on the top floor of the hotel but after yet another fire alarm that forced them to evacuate the hotel with their baby they decided to move out. At the last Heads of meeting Sheila presented the plans for the flat which is being converted into a fancy suite.
“Well, that means my small flat on the top floor is empty and if you want to stay there temporarily you can. We’re not starting the construction work until next summer so there’s no rush. And there is someone around twenty-four hours. The entrance is monitored by CCTV and alarmed during the night.” Sheila must have told him what happened.
He gives me a kind smile and I feel tears fill my eyes. I’ve looked at a number of flats over the last few days but the thought of living alone and the fear of Al finding me has stopped me from signing a tenancy agreement. Instead poor Matt has to sleep on the uncomfortable camp bed.
Al has been cautioned that if he violates the non-molestation order there will be serious consequences for his court case and his bail may be reconsidered. Matt called a solicitor friend from Birmingham who put us in touch with a colleague in Carlisle, who’s supporting me with the case.
At the initial hearing the Crown Prosecution Service pushed for an indictable offence which was granted so now we’re waiting for a trial date at the Crown Court. My solicitor thinks it will probably happen early next year. That is a long time with Al being free to go after me.
“Tommy, I don’t know what to say—”
“No need. Just think about it and let Sheila know if you want it.” I would hug him if it wasn’t highly inappropriate. Staying in the flat certainly would eradicate the fear of Al getting to me. There are way too many people around during the day and Seb, the night manager, and his team would keep an eye on me. Tommy would make sure of that.
“Thank you!” I whisper. Tommy gives me an encouraging smile and heads back to the hotel.
I fish my new phone from my pocket and type a message to Matt:
Me
I have amazing news! Get ready to celebrate.
This is turning into a good day.
The mist hangs low in the air as I drive along the dark lane towards Matt’s house. My mind is still swirling from today’s therapy session, my third one. My GP managed to find me an emergency spot with a therapist and Jackie’s been a lifesaver, helping me navigate through this mess. She was delighted when I told her about the new flat. She’s been encouraging me to move out of Matt’s place, not because she thinks Matt is bad for me but because she wants me to take the time to heal. Just like Matt does.
The thing is, as long as we live together, the temptation to fall back into a relationship is almost too much. We’ve been good though and nothing’s happened since that night at Halloween, but he’s making it tougher and tougher. With his kindness, his caring manner, that cheeky smile—he’s just so… Matt.
I pull up outside his house and grab the small paper bag from the passenger seat. I bought some éclairs from Cherry Pie bakery to celebrate. The more I thought about the flat this afternoon, the clearer it became that this move could be the answer to my problems—at least for now.
As I fiddle with my keys when I get to the door a voice slices through the mist, chilling me to the bone. “Nice evening, isn’t it?”
It’s my nightmare coming to life. I fumble with my keys, desperately trying to fit the right one into the lock. My hands are shaking so badly I keep missing.
“You could at least have the decency to face me after you got me arrested,” Al hisses, his voice dripping with venom.
My panic rises as I finally manage to get the key into the lock. I turn it, push the door open, and call out, “Matt!” But the house is dark and silent. In my panic I drop the bag from the bakery on the floor.
Before I can shut the door, Al forces his way inside. I stagger back, retreating towards the stairs. Egon and Venkman dart down the steps but when they see Al they bolt into the living room, leaving me alone with him.
I flick the light switch beside me, and for the first time, I get a proper look at him. He’s dressed neatly, hair perfectly in place, but his face is twisted into that grotesque mask of rage that he wore when he attacked me before.
“Matt,” I try to shout but the sound escaping me is barely a whisper. Where is he?
“Is lover boy not around, bitch?” Al sneers, taking a few steps closer. I try to remind him about the non-molestation order, but the words won’t come out right. All I manage is, “I have a non-mol… order.”
He laughs, the sound cold and cruel. “I’m going to prison anyway. Got fired, too. What difference does it make if I get a year or so more? You ruined my life already.” He’s edging closer and I can feel the bottom step behind me.
“Touch her, and you’re dead.”
I glance over my shoulder, relief flooding through me. Matt’s standing at the top of the stairs, still in his sports clothes, sweat dripping from his hair. He must’ve been on the bike, music blasting in his ears—that’s why he didn’t hear me come in.
“What’s this, are we trying to act tough?” Al smirks, but there’s uncertainty in his eyes. He’s not as sure of himself now.
Matt starts down the stairs, his eyes never leaving Al. When he reaches me he gently moves me aside, placing himself between us. “Try me, arsehole,” Matt says, his voice like ice.
The tension in the room is suffocating. For a moment I think Al might actually leave but then he does something stupid. He pushes his luck.
“Go on, hit me,” Al taunts, stepping closer to Matt. “You want to beat the shit out of me just because I touched her once?”
“More than once,” Matt replies, his voice steady, his eyes burning with anger.
“So what? She’s a lying little whore. She had it coming,” Al snarls.
That’s when I see the dark, dangerous flicker in Matt’s eyes. He takes a deep breath, his fists clenched at his sides.
“I’ll tell you what you’re going to do,” Matt says, his voice low and controlled. “You’re going to walk out that door and fuck off back home. I’ll call the police and they’ll make sure you understand what it means to violate that notice. If we’re lucky they’ll revoke your bail. But if they don’t and I find you anywhere near Nat again I’ll make sure it’s the last time.”
Al’s face twists with rage but he doesn’t move. He’s waiting for Matt to slip up, to lash out and give him the reaction he’s looking for. I realise what he’s trying to do, he wants Matt to hit him. He wants a reason to drag Matt down with him, making things even worse for me.
“Al please go,” I beg, stepping forward and reaching for his arm to turn him towards the door. But he recoils like I’ve burned him.
“Don’t touch me bitch,” he hisses, and before I can react he lashes out. His hand strikes me hard in the shoulder, sending me tumbling backwards.
I lose my balance, stumbling over a pair of shoes. Everything happens in slow motion. I reach out for Matt but he’s too far away. My arms flail helplessly as I fall, and then with a sickening thud, my head slams into the bottom stair.
Everything goes black.