Twenty Six

Mark sat on the sofa watching Hollie fussing over him. She had come around the minute she’d found out what had happened and he was going to milk it for all his worth.

She looked great in jeans and shirt, but he liked her hair down and not tied up like it was just now, oh how he longed to just unfasten the clip which held her hair in place. “Now can I get you anything else?” she inquired, he shook his head then patted the sofa, “Come sit down, you’ve done more than enough Hollie, please come and have some wine” he offered, she glanced down to where he held the wine goblet. She should really get going but he was looking so vulnerable sitting there, his eyes pleading her to stay. “Okay perhaps one drink” she accepted then sat down next to him.

They spoke for a long time, about him and his ordeal and how scared he’d been and how Ingebrigtsen had taken him from the office at gun point, of how Adams had come to his rescue and of how Ingebrigtsen had escaped. “Didn’t Adams go after him?” asked Hollie frowning. Mark nodded “Yeah but he manage to get away…,I’m just worried that he’ll return” Hollie felt guilty, how could she leave him now. He really looked scared. Didn’t he? Or was he bluffing, she knew him too well, he was good at coning woman, he had managed to con hundreds into his bed. Well not quite hundreds, that was unfair but he must have reached over fifty by now. “You could stay the night Hollie, in the spare room naturally.” She stared wide eyed; spending the night with him really would be like taking her life in her hands. There was no way they could have separate rooms. He’d cone his way into her bed, she knew he would. Yet he looked so hopeful. “No be strong” she told herself. But those eyes, that expression God this was difficult, “Okay I’ll stay, separate bedrooms mind.” He nodded happily and smiled then hurried to make up the spare room.

Kate drew in a deep breath as she slowed her car to a halt; she really was taking a chance, Christian had managed to talk her into going to a motel with him “I’ll just go check us in.” he said happily, Kate gripped the steering wheel tightly as she watched him skip off inside the building.

The guy behind the counter looked up when Christian rung the bell. “Yeah?” he asked, Christian looked him in the eye, determined to pull this off.

“We need a room”

“Oh do you?”

“Yeah, we’ve been travelling for days”

“Fine, room 222”

Christian watched him reach above him for the key.

“That’ll be two hundred dollars, up front”

Christian simpered; he didn’t even have two dollars.

“What? You gotta be crazy man, it says right here twenty five dollars”

The man pursed his lips then scratched at his greying beard “Okay twenty five dollars.” Christian took a step back; “I gotta see the room first.” The man threw him the key, “Twenty five dollars mind, and don’t think of taking off.” Christian grinned wickedly as he hurried back outside.

Kate lent over and opened the door, an anxious look on her face. “Well?”

“Peace of cake.”

“Get in before someone sees you.”

He obeyed.

The room was small but cosy enough, Kate looked around then let out a deep sigh, it stunk of stale beer and cigarettes, Christian immediately threw open the windows, letting fresh air fill the room. “You hungry?” she nodded “A little.” He sent out for pizza which Kate had to pay for. Not that she minded, she was with Christian and that’s all that mattered.

Hollie undressed then pulled on one of Mark’s old t-shirts, even his t-shirt smelt of him. Hollie smiled to herself as she wondered how many women had been in her position. None! She decided, women usually tended to sleep in the same room as him, in the same bed even; she suppressed the urge to giggle as thoughts rushed her mind. The only woman who would use this room would undoubtedly be Mark’s mother, she wondered if Mrs Read knew half of what her son got up to.

A light tap on the door had her turn round, boy that was quick she told herself. “Are you decent?” he asked calmly, she rolled her eyes then got into bed. “Yeah” she replied as she pulled the sheets right up to her chin, he opened the door and stepped in. “I brought you a nightcap.” She took the drink from him and placed it onto the small bedside table. “This room looks lovely.” He glanced around then looked at her before sitting himself down. ‘God he’s wormed his way in already.’ Hollie told herself, “I just wanna say thanks.” She blinked, “What?” He smiled “For staying.” She relaxed a little, “That’s okay, we couldn’t have you being scared outa your little wits now could we?” He lent over and kissed her, a soft gentle kiss and she found herself responding. ‘No no no no no’ alarm bells begun to ring. Mark shot from the bed, his hands in the air “I’m so sorry, wow please forgive me?” She nodded, albeit a little dejectedly, she had actually enjoyed the kiss. “It’s okay.” She told him but he was now heading for the door. “No it’s not, you only agreed to stay over as a concerned friend and I almost took advantage of that, I’m sorry” he apologised once again, Hollie watched him open the door and hurry from the room. What she didn’t see, was the smug smile now crossing his face. He’d managed to make her think of him as being the perfect gentleman. Now she would be putty in his hands, or so he thought.

Kate lay in bed next to Christian, she loved watching him sleep. He always slept the same way, on his stomach with one arm gripping his pillow; they had made love, not once but twice. She had been taken to heaven each time but now sadly she knew they would have to part. She had wanted to go on the run with him but he had put his foot down and refused point blank to take her, she had sobbed and he had comforted her.

She thought of her past, which had always included him, she thought of one of the first arguments they’d ever had and how he’d gotten the better of her once again…

The storm clouds had gathered that Sunday afternoon, Thirteen year old Kate had gone to the lake and was sitting on the embankment when Christian had come across her. The high school dance had been a disaster. All he’d had to do was keep out of trouble but no. Not Christian, trouble just seemed to follow him around. “I’m sorry” he said as he sat down, she moved away.

He stared at he,r “Katy I said I were sorry.” This time she glanced at him, her face in a frown, “I wanted to dance Chrissy I wanted to look real pretty and have all those jerks look and say wow Katy looks beautiful!”

“But you are beautiful Katy.”

“Yeah but I wanted them to say it!”

“Why?”

“Just because…Well it’s a girl thing!”

“A girl thing?”

“Yeah!”

“I don’t understand.”

“Well you wouldn’t would you…you’re real dumb sometimes”

“No I ain’t! I said you were beautiful didn’t I? Were that dumb?”

“No Of Course not But that’s you saying it!”

“Don’t I count?” He looked a little hurt.

“No you don’t coz you’d say anything”

“No I wouldn’t!”

“Yeah you would”

“Why?”

“Coz you’re always trying to please me!”

“What? No I ain’t”

“Are to…you only agreed to go to the dance coz Georgia couldn’t go with me!”

“I thought I were helping you out”

“Well you didn’t did you…you and Joey managed to get yourselves thrown out for starting a food fight right there in front of the Principal!”

Christian smiled. Obviously reliving the night,” it were great to see all those jerks with jello all down them you must admit that Katy” he coaxed, she wasn’t amused, “Not when I ended up with jello all over me Chrissy…and right when Mikey Bryant were about to ask me to dance”

“Bryant…what’s he got to do with this?”

“Oh Chrissy…you ain’t got a clue have you?”

“Oh you don’t like him do ya…he’s a nerd”

“No he ain’t!”

“Is to”

“Chrissy don’t be mean…I like him he’s cool…way cooler than you and I’m gonna marry him one day!”

Christian saddened. “Wow…I always thought we would get married.”

She laughed heartily “You gotta be kidding…I wouldn’t marry you if my life depended on it…so you can just get that thought right outa your head! I’m gonna marry someone with real prospects…a doctor or a lawyer…not someone who well I don’t rightly know what you’ll be when you grow up!”

Christian frowned. “I could be a doctor or lawyer” he corrected, she laughed again. “I doubt it…Chrissy you’re a real dumb-ass...Doctors and lawyers are all brainy and well you don’t exactly fit into that category do you? Not like Mikey now he’s real brainy…he’ll be a Doctor or something like that.”

Christian pouted; he hated the way she spoke about Michael Bryant.

“Shut up about that jerk…you’re really doing my head in!”

Katy knew she shouldn’t have pushed him but he had ruined her evening,

“Mikey Bryant Mikey Bryant Mikey Bryant”

He covered his ears and closed his eyes, trying to blot out her words but she continued continued that is until he pushed her. He’d only meant to push her away but she had lost her footing and gone straight into the lake. He laughed as he watched her struggle back out, “I’m sorry” he sniggered, she stared at him. “I hate you Christian! I really hate you! I don’t want you coming around my house no more I don’t want you talking to me and I wont and never will marry you or have your babies or live in a little house in the country with a white fence around it do you hear me? You and me are not soul-mates and never will be!” she called as she marched away soaked through to the skin.

“Penny for them?” asked Christian, Kate frowned at him and he moved away a stray strand of hair from her face.

“I were just thinking that’s all.”

“Oh? About what exactly?”

“You and me”

“Kate not that again, I’m not gonna drag you into my problems”

“I just wish it was over”

“So do I babe, so do I”

Kate frowned as she got out of bed, Christian watching her dress.

“We better make a move Chris; I gotta drop you back in town before it gets light”

He glanced through the window, “I want you to go first, I’ll stay here for a while”

“No!”

“It’s for the best Kate”

“No!”

“Yeah, honey please don’t do this”

“I don’t wanna go Chris, please let me come with you?”

He shook his head “You know I can’t, I don’t want you getting caught up in all this, please I’ll get in touch as soon as I can”

Tears began welling up in Kate’s eyes making them even bluer than normal. Christian pulled her into his arms and kissed her, “Go, quickly before we both get caught!” He told her firmly; she hovered by the door “Go! Go go go go” she blinked and turned the handle. “Kate” he said her name. She turned to face him once again. “I love you” he said, his voice low and sincere “I love you to” she told him at last, opening the door. She left.