Touched (29 page)

Jenny lifted her head. She looked bewildered.

‘How did you know?’ she said.

‘I just heard something about him. From a friend. I was worried.’

Jenny pulled away from him and leant her hands on the kitchen worktop, head bowed.

‘It wasn’t his fault, it was mine,’ she said in a small voice.

‘How do you work that out?’ said Tess. It was a few moments before Dan remembered that he had to repeat the question.

‘Well he took me out, the second time, to this really expensive restaurant. It must have cost a fortune. And he sent me flowers, lovely ones.’

‘So? What happened?’

Jenny straightened up and wiped her eyes, then started making the tea.

‘Nothing,’ she said, ‘forget it.’

Dan caught her hand and made her put the mug down she was holding. He took her gently but firmly by the shoulders and turned her round.

‘Jen, what happened? Tell me.’

He saw that she wouldn’t look at him, wouldn’t risk eye contact.

‘Everyone say’s I’m a prick tease,’ she whispered, ‘All tease and no delivery…I deserved it.’

‘Oh no,’ said Tess, ‘The poor kid.’

‘Jen,’ said Dan, ‘You have a right to do what you want. No means no.’

Jenny shook her head.

‘Dan, will you give that girl a cuddle. She needs it,’ said Tess, quietly.

He did.

‘Did he hurt you?’ he asked.

She nodded into his chest.

‘Why didn’t you go to the police?’ he said.

‘Well, as he said, it was my fault. I got him so het up, gave him all the signals, what did I expect?’

Dan stroked her head.

‘You did nothing wrong. It was him. He’s done this before.’

Jenny looked up at him again sharply.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ she said.

‘I didn’t know until today, I promise. I just found out myself,’ he said, ‘and you really should go to the police.’

‘Dan!’ said Tess urgently, ‘there’s someone at the kitchen window!’

Dan turned sharply to look. He saw a brief flash of something pale that could have been a face but then it was gone.

‘What is it, what’s wrong?’ said Jenny, looking alarmed.

‘I thought I saw someone outside,’ said Dan, ‘just for a moment. They seem to have gone now.’

Jenny shivered.

‘I keep thinking I’m being watched,’ she said, ‘ever since… well, you know. That’s why I keep the chain on.’

Dan nodded.

‘Dan the chain’s not on,’ said Tess. ‘Fiona went out, remember?’

‘The chain’s not on!’ said Dan, letting go of a startled Jenny and rushing out of the kitchen across the hall.

He had just reached the door when it burst inwards, hitting him in the face. He staggered back, blinded by the blood, shock and pain. Another blow made the world flash red.

*

He couldn’t work out where he was at first.

He was on the floor but not his floor, this one had black and white tiles. T
he pain from his nose was intense, his head throbbed. He got on his knees, trying to work out what had happened, where he was, how long he had been there.

Then h
e heard a twisted, angry voice, seemingly in the distance.

‘You little bitch!
You wouldn’t give it to me but I bet you open your legs for lover boy there! Were you going to the police about me, Jenny? Were you and him plotting? I bet you were you dirty little whore!’

Jenny!

He was in Jenny’s flat. And that was Alex Curry.

Dan staggered to his feet. Through the blood that streamed from his forehead, he could see a black-clad figure in the kitchen. Jenny was cowering and backing away from him, her hands in front of her. The figure was holding something in his right hand; Dan
couldn’t see properly but knew it had to be a knife. Tess was stood to one side, looking horrified.

The black figure suddenly jerked his arm forward. Dan caught the flash of light on the blade. Jenny brough
t her hands down, catching the knife’s blade. Blood spurted over her clothes. She screamed but held on.

The man cursed
and pulled back. Jenny held on for a moment but she had to let go, Dan could only imagine the pain, and this unbalanced Alex, who staggered back.

Dan
had to do something, there was no one else. He lurched to his feet and towards the kitchen but everything seemed to be happening in slow motion.

He knew he was going to be too late.

‘You slut, you whore!’ Alex shouted and lunged forward again. As he did Dan saw Tess step between him and Jenny.

Alex stopped.
Dan knew that he could see her; it gave him time, a chance.

‘But…
I killed you,’ Alex said, then added: ‘And I will again.’

In the moment
that it took Dan to get to them, he saw Alex plunge the knife into Tess.

Then Dan was on him.

‘Tess, no!’ he shouted, wrestling with Alex, trying to reach the knife. Alex was forcing it though Tess, through her hands, through her body, trying to get at the cowering and bleeding Jenny beyond.

Tess looked into Dan’s eyes.

‘I love you,’ she said. ‘I don't want to go’

She went limp.

Dan found new strength, twisting Alex away from the women. The knife caught on the handle of a cupboard and sprang from his hand, clattering on the floor as both of them fell backwards, Alex on top of Dan. The impact drove the breath from Dan’s body; he struggled to get free, but then the weight was gone and he heard heavy footsteps running away.

By the time
he scrambled to his feet to follow the hall was empty, the shattered front door hanging open.

He turned back to the kitchen.

There was just Jenny, curled up on the floor in the corner, her hands over her head, blood pouring from them.

Of Tess there was no sign.

He leant down to Jenny.

‘It’s me,
Jenny, it’s Dan,’ he said, ‘He’s gone, let me help you. Let’s look at those hands.’

She pushed him away at first, then
seemed to realize who he was and let him see. He winced when he saw the wounds; he knew he had to stop the bleeding. He looked around, after a few moments he found some clean tea towels in a drawer. He bound them as tightly as he dared around her hands.

Only then did he
use his phone and called the police and for an ambulance.

A
nd after he had made the call he looked all around the flat.

Th
ere was just Jenny and him, no one else.

The tears flowed down his cheeks. He slumped to the floor on his knees and sobbed uncontrollably.

Epilogue

Today

Dan finished his hotpot and took the plate through to the kitchen. As he did, the strains of the familiar theme tune told him that Coronation Street had just finished. He made sure he put the paper he had been reading in the bin. There was a big article about the trial of Alex Curry, due to start the next month. Now wasn’t the time to open up that wound; it would be bad enough when it happened.

‘Sorry if it was a bit burnt, I couldn’t turn the knob back,’ she said
, as he walked through to the lounge.

‘It was fine, honest.’

‘Even the black crunchy bits?’

‘Especially the black crunchy bits.’

She giggled and unfolded her legs from the settee so there was space for him to sit next to her.

‘Do I get my kiss now?’ he said.

‘Hmm…let me think…’

Dan pushed his bottom lip out.

‘Hey that’s not fair!,’ she said, ‘You know I can’t resist that.’

‘I know,’ he said, grinning.

She carefully put her arms around him and drew him close. Their kiss was long, tender and intense, neither wanting it to end. At last, as if from a secret signal, they pulled apart.

‘You see, that was worth waiting for, wasn’t it?’ she said.

‘It certainly was.’

‘I love you so much, Dan,’ she said.

Dan kissed her again.

‘I love you too, Jen,’ he said, brushing a stray blonde hair from her cheek.

‘Good, isn’t it?’

‘Amazing. How are the hands?’

She held them out, palms up. Both were heavily bandaged.

‘They're not bad,’ she said, ‘
A bit sore today. I’ll be glad when the operations are finally over. Every time they seem to hurt more.’

‘You’re a brave girl,’ he said, gently touching his fingertips to hers, ‘not too much longer now.’

‘I know. And I’m going to really need two good hands,’ she looked up uncertainly into Dan’s face, ‘when the baby comes,’ she added.

Dan’s mouth dropped open.

‘You mean…?’ he said.

‘Yes I mean, you
numpty!’ she hit him gently on the nose with her bandaged hand.

‘Oh Jen!’ he said, taking her into his arms again, ‘Wow!’

‘You’re not angry?’ she said, ‘I mean we weren’t planning this or anything.’

‘Angry, Jen it’s wonderful! I couldn’t be happier.’

Jenny smiled contentedly and settled into his arms.

Later

Dan lay in the darkness, waiting for Jenny’s regular breathing to tell him she was asleep. Once she was, he padded quietly into the lounge, shutting the doors behind him.

‘Hey?’ he said and waited.

Even though the room was empty and silent, Dan knew that he wasn’t alone.

And that was enough.

It was always enough.

I believe that friends are quiet angels who sit on our shoulders and lift our wings when we forget how to fly. - Unknown