~A moment of weakness~

How blessed I am to wake up to this loveliness each morning.  That crisp, fresh smelling sea air blowing up the hill, gently rustling the leaves in the trees at the edge of my land.  I lie in bed for a few minutes, wiggling  my toes under the duvet.

Snuggling deeper into my pillow I listen to the birds tweet and think of that sweet man of mine and the wonderful evening we shared together last night.  I giggle deliciously as I contemplate Tamara’s little drama queen episode.  Storming off in a huff, I ask you.  Perhaps she was expecting Christopher to run after her.  That thought makes me snicker.

I can’t lie in bed ‘smelling my bum’ all day though, I have to go to work and impress my boss.  I also have two things to do before that.

I have to garden…

… as gardening helps me to think and I have some things to think about.

At least I had the foresight not to garden in my undies this time.  Then again, I have slightly lost my sense of safety lately.

Rythmically pulling the weeds makes my mind wonder.  That man, who is he?  Surely bumping into him all the time can’t just be coincidence after coincidence?

He has this menacing presence about him.  Predator-like in a way.  He seems so aware of everything even though he seems to ‘pretend?’ (maybe), to be busy with something else.  It is unsettling and I feel uneasy.

Something has been mulling in my mind for awhile… could that man possibly be related to that night?  Oh my! I never thought of making a connection before.  Am I in danger?  The thought is too terrifying to contemplate.

But surely if the man was indeed involved with all that, he would have gotten rid of me by now?  I get an unsettling feeling in my stomach, there is no way I can go to work without speaking to someone about this.  But who to call?

I think of Agnes, but she would not be able to give me concrete facts.  She doesn’t even know about my past.  If I have not even told Christopher then I certianly can’t call her!  How would I explain it anyway?

I settle for Police Chief Justin Long.  He is surprised to hear from me, he jokingly admits he can’t imagine me ‘all grown up’.  I ask him if there are any new leads on the case.  Unfortunately, as usual, there is nothing.  It is as if a ghost set our house on fire.  It is as if mom’s screams were imagined.  I choke up and it is hard to ask the question I need to.

“Umm… this is hard to say, I am not sure if I am going mad or not, Police Chief.”

“Call me Justin, Police Chief is too formal for my liking.  You went through a terrible ordeal Valentia, one can expect feelings like that.  What is worrying you?”

“Well, … there is this man.  He seems to always be where I am.  Like he is following me or something?  I resolved in my mind that he was just an overzelous fan… I play music now you know… anyway, he just always seems to be there… all the time.”

“Well, the world is full of men Valentia, you don’t have a name for me?  I could run it through the database and see if anything pops up?”

“No, (sighs) I don’t have a name.  He is, well tall… and he is just menacing looking.  I feel like I am a Cape Fur Seal and he is a Great White Shark… sort of.”

“Has he threatened you in any way at all, Valentia?”

“No… that’s the thing.  He just always appears to be where I am. “

“Valentia, you need to get me a name so that I can look into this for you.  But perhaps he is just a fan, (chuckles) maybe he even has a crush on you?”

“Pfft, that is ridiculous!  Besides I have a boyfriend.  Anyway thanks Police… err, I mean, thanks Justin.  Thanks for listening.”

“Anytime Valentia, do please get back to me with a name if you can.”

Well, that only slightly helps to set my mind at ease.  Maybe he is just a rabid fan. I am upset that the person responsible for killing my family is still at large.  What if he/she is going around killing other people?  Suddenly I feel cold all over.

I am relieved to see it is time for gym, but when I get there I am not really in the mood to exercise.  I need to have a shower… because boy, does gardening make you pong!  After my shower I decide to rather learn a song before  work.

… as always, he stands close by… watching.

Reading that book and learning the new song must have paid off, because I receive a promotion at work!  I am now officially a ‘Band Manager’.  Sounds laa-dee-daa, for sure.

As I come out the theatre I am not even surprised this time when I see him standing outside… just… well, standing there.

I am famished and though those picnic baskets are enticing I think I will try my hand at grilling something this evening.  Fish it is…

Oops, I hope noone saw that?

“Hopefully noone noticed that I dropped a fillet on the ground…”

I think to myself as I pick it up, blow it off and pop it back on the grill to burn off any excess grit.  Unfortunately I get a bit over enthusiastic about burning off the grit, and the fish sets on fire! Dag nabbit!

Burnt Offerings

In a moment that feels out of character for me, I decide to steal the grill…I think I need to practice this grilling thing at home before I go public.

I think the stress made me do that!  I know I have an inherited kleptomania, but I do try to control it… well most of the time, anyway.

All clear?

I am a bit freaked out at how good I feel after I steal it!  Shame on you, Valentia!  It’s time to go home anyway.  Tomorrow I plan to find out more about that man.

Valentia does not notice that the man across the road is smiling as he watches her steal the grill.

Meanwhile… in a town far, far away…

… a little girl plots a diabolical plan of vengeance…

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