Ch 26. All Right Now.

Alan calls.

Chapter 26.

♀

Ten o'clock the next morning I was up and dressed. I would have liked to have an extra lie-in, but my parents were off to do some shopping down Petticoat Lane Sunday Market and I didn't want to be left sleeping alone in the house.

         "We shouldn't be too long," my mother said. "We'll get a new barrel for the lock and some bolts for the top and bottom of the door. And don't forget to put the snib up this time when we go."

         "All right, though I don't think he'll show up here in broad daylight, now the police are on to him, but I'll put the snib up anyway."

         "Any problems just bang on the wall and Ted will come out."

         "You've not told the neighbours about all this, have you?"

         "Ted knew something was up when he saw the police car early this morning. Anyway, you've nothing to hide. You've done nothing wrong."

         I made some tea and toast and sat in the kitchen for a while, but the intrusion into my house kept playing on my mind. I needed to get the distressing thoughts from my mind and decided to take the opportunity to practice my karate routines and do some stretching in the living room. The gradings were getting closer and I had not been doing much training.

         I had only been working on my katas for a few minutes when there was a knock at the door and I walked out to the hall. "Who is it?" I called, but there was no answer. There was another knock, and then another. "Who's there, what do you want?" I shouted. Still there was no answer. I heard the key slide into the Yale lock and was thankful that I had remembered to put the snib up, but then the visitor began kicking angrily against the door.

         "I've called the police," I shouted. "They're already on the way." I stood looking at the door, listening, but all was silent. I remembered he had been in the back garden and I wondered if the back door was locked. I dashed through the house and saw the back door easing open, but it was next door's cat rubbing itself against the door. "Get out, get out," I screamed and the startled cat bolted back outside. I ran across and crashed the door shut and hastily bolted it, suddenly thinking he may have already got into the house and the thought terrified me. I realised he couldn't have got all the way around the houses in time and began checking the windows, making sure they were locked, and all the time fearful that he may suddenly appear on the other side of the glass. I went back to the front door preparing myself for the worst, but hoping he had gone. If he kicked the door in I would launch an attack on him as I had done before. I thought about the razor, but I also remembered my training. I must not panic. I must not worry about him or what he could do to me. If he broke in I would have the right to defend myself and I must use all my skills to physically hurt and disable him until I could get some help. I stood waiting, but there were no more sounds outside and I wondered if he really had gone. I wanted to take a look outside, but I was scared that he might be waiting for me to do that; standing silent so he could perhaps get the advantage and jump me if I opened the door and looked outside.

         I heard a noise, a bump on the stairs. Next door, I thought. It must be next door, please God let it be next door. Timidly I looked up the staircase, but there was nobody there. I turned quickly as I heard three loud knocks on the front door in quick succession.

         "You'd better clear off, the police will be here any minute," I yelled.

         "Monica, what's the matter? Are you okay?"

         "Eddie!" I shouted in great relief. "Is that you?" Without waiting for him to answer I rushed forward and opened the door. "Did you see him? Was he here when you pulled up?"

         "I didn't see anybody. Why, what's the matter?"

         "Nothing, nothing's the matter." I looked up and down the road before looking back at Eddie. "What are you doing here anyway?"

         "I was a bit worried. I saw Dave this morning and he told me about what happened to you last night at The Alfred. You should have let me know and I wouldn't have gone off with the others. I remembered ages ago Anne said that someone was following you about, but I didn't realise that it was still going on."

         I gave a slight smile, not knowing how I should react to his concern.

         "Anyway, I found a spare provisional licence application for you, in case you forgot or didn't get the time tomorrow."

         "Just happened to have one lying about, did you?"

         "Well, no not really, I got it a while ago for Anne, but I couldn't get her interested."

         I smiled. "I would have remembered, but thanks anyway, it's really thoughtful. So how did you know where I lived? Don't tell me; it was Dave."

         "Yeah, it was, but he only told me because he was worried about you as well."

         I saw my parents' car coming up the road. "Here's my mum and dad."

         "I'd best get going then."

         "It's all right. You don't have to rush off."

         "I'll have to go anyway, I've got to go to our other yard in Essex to pick up some bits for the Cat."

         "All that way in that big van just to pick up some cat food?"

         Eddie laughed. "No it's not that sort of cat, it's a Caterpillar, it's a tracked loading shovel." Eddie smiled politely at my parents as they walked past.

         "Everything all right, darling?"

         "Yes, Mum, I'm fine." I said, not wishing to alarm my parents further.

         My parents went into the house giving no indication of approval or disapproval towards my apparent new friend.

         "I'm off then," Eddie said. He handed me a piece of paper with his telephone number on it. "Look, if that bloke does show up round here and you can't get hold of your boyfriend, then give me a ring. I don't live far from here and I can drive round in minutes."

         "Thanks, Eddie, but I can look after myself. I'll keep the number though," I said with a grin.

         "I can keep in touch if you give me your number."

         "Sorry, Eddie, my parents won't let me give out the new number."

         "Of course, stupid of me. Well don't forget you can call me if you have a problem and can't get hold of whatsisname."

         "Alan, my boyfriend's name is Alan."

         "I'll see you then," Eddie said and he turned to walk off.

         "Eddie," I called out after him. "Thanks."

         He looked back at me. "That's all right, any friend of Anne's is worth looking after. If her friends get to like me, then who knows what could develop and I might get her back."

         "You mustn't forget that she might be pregnant, Eddie."

         "Yeah, yeah I know."

         I looked at him as he walked off to the van. I felt sorry for him. He was lost without Anne, like a small puppy-dog wandering about looking for its mother. I walked into the living room to turn on the television just as the telephone began ringing. I walked over, but was still a bit hesitant.

         My father looked in. "It's all right, I'll get it," he said.

         "No, it's okay." I picked up the handset and held it to my ear, but didn't speak.

         "Sorry."

         "Sorry! I'll give you something to be sorry about, Alan."

         My father gave a smile and walked out.

         "I'll call over to see you later."

         "I'm really, really, annoyed with you, Alan."

         "My dad got held up so I had to go to Heathrow to pick my grandparents up. I thought I would easily get back, but the plane was hours late. They didn't get through customs till gone ten. I'll make it up to you, Monica, I promise. I've got a surprise for you."

         "And how are you gonna make it up with two broken legs."

         Alan gave a laugh. "No need for violence. I'll see you later."

         "Do you want dinner?"

         "That'll be nice, if your mum don't mind."

         "Mum," I shouted through. "That scrounger's on the phone again, after one of your Sunday dinners."

         “He’s very welcome,” my mother said. “Anytime he likes, it’s always good to see him.”

         Alan arrived for dinner and we all sat at the table after the meal drinking tea and talking but after a while the conversation changed for the worse as we spoke about my tormentor.

         "Well, if you want, I can stay here for a few weeks. I don't mind sleeping on the sofa for a while, and if he shows up again I'll soon sort him out."

         "I don't think that'll be necessary," my father said.

         I laughed. "No, it's like Fort Knox here at night now."

         "It shouldn't have to be like that," Alan said.

         "Anyway," I said, while staring over at him.

         "What?"

         "Surprise, where's my surprise?"

         "Oh yeah." Alan's jacket was hanging on the back of the chair and he reached into the pocket, took out a miniature carrier bag and passed it over.

         "Oh, it's from the jewellers. My kind of surprise. This is really exciting." I took the box out of the carrier bag, opened it and stared at the sparkling ring.

         "Alan, this looks like, like an engagement ring. Alan, is…"

         "Yes, it is." He smiled at my ecstatic expression before looking at my father. " May I have your daughter's hand in marriage?"

         My father gave a laugh. "Of course you can, we would be very happy with that, but shouldn't you ask her first?"

         "I can't while she's crying."

         I jumped up and ran around to Alan and threw myself into his arms, almost knocking him off his chair.

* * * * *

         The following day I met Anne at the burger bar with a huge grin across my face. We sat with a coffee chatting while waiting for the place to open. I kept tapping my fingers on the table while we talked.

         "Will you stop doing that, it's so… Arhhhh." She grabbed hold of my hand and sat staring at the ring. "You're engaged! You've gone and done it at last." She let go of my hand and looked sternly at me. "And what about the party, young lady?"

         "We're not having the party for a few months, but I've got the ring, that's the important part."

         "You've got him, that's the important part, but I hope you two are not planning to get wed before me."

         "No, that's not going to happen, we're planning for next year sometime."

         "I'm so, so pleased for you." She held out her arms. "Come here and give us a big hug."

Ch 27. All Right Now.   (18+) The stalker off to Yorkshire. #1996618 by Bruce.