Closer
Part One
Written by Kam Carr
Kam Carr holds all copy rights to this book published 2013. closer part one 1st Edition Copyright © All Rights Reserved. Cover Art and Design by Kam carr This book is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locations are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity, and are used fictitiously. All other characters, and all incidents and dialogue, are drawn from the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, either by electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is for a reviewer who may quote brief passages in the review. This publication is presented to you for informational purposes only and is not a substitution for any professional advice. Kam Carr (2013-08-02). closer Part One
Table of Contents
Chapter one
Chapter two
Chapter three
Chapter four
Chapter five
Chapter six
Chapter seven
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone?
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you....
One step closer
- Lyrics from Christina Perri A thousand years.
Chapter One
“Angus!!” screamed the voice.
She woke up startled, the voice once more cried out. She slowly got out of bed, creeped out of her door and down the hall towards her Grandmothers room.
“Angus!!” it wasn't a scream anymore, sounded more like a cry. She opened the door and a figure was rocking in the darkness. She switched the light on and there her Grandmother stood rocking from side to side in front of the window.
“Angus?” She asked, turning round to look at Tammy; her eyes lost and the only expression on her fragile face was confusion.
Tammy felt a pang of saddness, her Grandmother was now just a shell of the woman she once was. It seemed in the last few months her dementia had gotten worse; to the point Tammy didn't reconignize the woman before her. Tammy walked over to her Grandmother and guided her back to bed.
“Where's Angus?” Her voice full of distress.
“I don't know, Gran” Tammy replied, beginning to tuck her Grandmother into bed as if she was a young child. “Who's Angus?” She perched on the end of the bed and moved a strand of brown hair from her Grandmothers forehead. It was normal for her Grandmother to ask of the where abouts of people. Normally it was her Grandfather, who had died a few years back. Or she would ask for her baby, which of course her mother was no longer a baby. But Angus? She had never heard of such a person.
She watched as her Gran's eyes widen. “It's beginning,” she growled. “It's awakening.... Just like Angus did....”
Tammy leaned froward and gave her Gran a kiss on the forehead. She didn't know what any of that meant. “Get some sleep” she smiled as she slowly got up and left the room. Tammy walked back into her room and climbed into bed. Her Grandmother was getting worse and there was nothing she could do to stop anything. Her family couldn't even afford any treatment or care. Tammy hated being poor, she couldn't even afford college, so there was no chance she would gain qualifications to make money.
Her father had been made redundant when they closed the steel factory a few months ago. They were all trying to survive on Tammy's and her mothers earnings. Tammy worked in the only book store in Ashville. Even though it didn't pay very much she got to spend her days lost in books. Her mother worked as a cleaner working very long hours. Her father now remained mainly at home to take care of her Grandmother.
Life was dull, glum and lonely. Tammy did have a few friends, but they all seemed too busy to even bother with her. Like she cared , she wasn't ready to get married or get pregnant like Rose and Jenna. In fact, she wasn't really a typical twenty-one year old. Men, in her opinion , were trouble and too time consuming. She would take a dull,glum and lonely life over being controlled by a man.
Tammy closed her eyes, tomorrow she would ask her mother who Angus was? That way when her Grandmother asked for him again, she would be able to give a more detailed answer. Finally, she drifted off into a deep sleep.
Morning seemed to come round too quickly for Tammy's liking. She made her way down to the kitchen and began to prepare breakfast. Her mother was sat at the table staring at a mug of coffee. She looked tired and defeated. But inspite of that she was strong willed and wouldn't allow anything to knock her down. Tammy figured that's where she had got it from.
She placed two slices of bread into toaster, leaning on the counter she turned to her Mum. “Gran was talking again last night” her words broke her mother concentration.
“Yeah,” she gave a smile but it never met her eyes. Tammy studied the black circles which seemed to be getting darker each day. “What did she say?”
“Calling out for Angus” Tammy folded her arms. “Do you know who this Angus is?”
Even her own mother looked confused. “No,” she sighed. “I have never heard of her speak of him before.”
“She also said it's beginning, It's awakening.... Just like Angus did....”
“That's strange” she shrugged her shoulders and stood up from the table. “I have no idea what she talks about anymore.” She bowed her head and quickly restored herself. “Right, no rest for the wicked. I'll see you tonight” she grabbed her bag and was out of the door.
The toast popped up in the toaster and made Tammy jumped. Her Grandmothers words had actually intridged her. To top it all, her mother didn't know what any of that meant. Maybe after work she would sit down with her Grandmother and find out.
The shop was quiet—as always. Tammy was sitting on the sofa next to the shop window reading a book. She was in complete charge this afternoon as her boss Mrs Waters had needed to go out of town till tomorrow.
Tammy loved reading, she loved all the Bronte classics; Emma, and Little Women-- were her two top favourites. It was a shame she would never get to visit where these master pieces had been written.
It sucked being poor, Tammy had a funny feeling she would never actually leave Ashville. She would end up like her mother and one day her Grandmother. This wasn't a life, she felt, just excisting. Maybe that's why she loved to get lost in her books.
The shop door bell rang and Tammy jumped. Her eyes looked over at the man standing in the doorway. His tall lean frame gracefully walking in, her eyes looked up to her face. He was beautiful, breath taking beautiful. His strong jaw, sculptured cheek bones and nose. Pink full lips and a mass of jet black hair.
Tammy slowly got up off the sofa. “Can I help you?” She managed to say, her eyes still fixated on the perfect stranger.
He looked over at her. “No” he snorted. “Wrong store” with that he turned on his heel and matched out of the book shop. Tammy quickly ran to the door to watch the stranger walk down the street. Who was he? He was new, that she was sure of. Tammy doubted very much she would see him again. He was just passing through, like many others did.
The stranger had now vanished and her eyes turned to the house whi
ch sat up on the hills looking down on the town square of Ashville. The people who lived there were like the royal family of Ashville. But yet, no one knew exactly who they were. They didn't mix with anyone, they just handed out donations to local causes.
The house intridged her, she wondered why they would hide away from everyone. There had to be a secret and Tammy would love to find it out. She shook her head and stepped back into book shop, back over to the sofa and carried on reading her book.
That night she got in from work and headed straight to her Gran's room. Her Gran was sat in her chair staring out of her window. She had a perfect view of Ashville country side.
“Hey, Gran” Tammy smiled, crouching down on the floor next to her Gran's feet. “I was just wondering who Angus is?”
Her Gran's head whipped round in Tammy's direction. “Angus?” she whispered, her eyes went wild. “They are back!” She stood up and glared at Tammy. “Their boy has awaken.”
Tammy stood up and grabbed hold of her Grandmother's hand. “What?” she laughed, none of this made any sense. “Gran, what are you trying to say?”
“Angus...He died” she started bursting out into tears. “He died”
Tammy felt really bad now for even asking anything. She pulled her Grandmother into her and hugged her hard. Tammy vowed she would never ask her Grandmother about this Angus anymore. The whole thing had filled her inquisitive mind. What was all this awakening of age? Although, there was a chance this was all in her Gran's imagination.
Tammy made her way down stairs after making sure her Grandmother had calmed down. Her father was in the kitchen sorting out dinner. Obviously, her mother was working late again.
“Something came for you today” her Dad pointed to an envelope sitting on the side.
“Really?” Tammy said surprised as no one ever wrote to her. She picked up the ivory envelope and began to study it. The hand writing was neat.. Miss T. Miller.
Tammy stuffed the envelope into her jeans back pocket and decided she would read it later. The sun was still out, so she decided to grab a blanket and sit outside and do some reading before dinner.
The sun beamed down on her pale skin and she tried to get lost in her book. The envelope felt like it was burning in her pocket and she was now itching to read what was inside. She placed her book down and retrieved the ivory envelope, she quickly tore it open and pulled out the white card.
It was an invitation. An invitation to the Ashville manor--- the house on the hills. She jumped up and ran inside the house.
“Dad!” She yelled, she waved the the card in the air. Her Mother had now returned from work and was sitting at her favourite place at the table. “Mum, look!” She slammed the card down in front of her Mother. “They have invited me to their home?”
“Who?” Her Mother began to read the card.
“Why would strangers invite me to their home? No one ever sees them?” She thought out loud.
“Like I said,” a ghostly voice appeared in the kitchen, Tammy's eyes fell on her Grandmother standing in the doorway. “The boy has awaken of age....”
Chapter Two
According to her Grandmother awakening of age occurred to boys when they reached twenty-one. After that she didn't say anymore. So, Tammy had been invited to 21st birthday party for a complete stranger that didn't even mix with anymore.
She was curious that was sure, but more curious to see who lived in the house and what it looked like inside. Her mother had obviously told her to dismiss anything her Grandmother had told her. There was no way Tammy was going to turn down the invitation, this was the first excitement she had felt in whole life. How was she going to get through the next few days? Saturday felt like a long time to wait.
Her boss Mrs Waters had been shocked by the invitation. She had lived in Ashville for over 50 years and not once had she seen something like this. This only in fueled Tammy more.. She wondered who else had been invited and wondered what this boy looked liked. If he looked an inch like the perfect stranger, she would be in her element.
Thankfully, the tiny amount of money she had managed to save had paid for a new dress. She had thought about buying a card and present, but had no idea what to get. So, she had decided she would explain this at the party. Surely no one would take offence. What do you buy someone you have never met?
***
This whole thing is waste of time, he thought as he stared out of the window. He watched as the cars pulled up and girls wearing their finest dresses entered his home. All of them smiling and itching to take a look at the strangers who lived here. If only they knew the real reason behind their spontaneous invites. All of them would go screaming for the hills.
He turned to leave the room, it was time to host his gathering. He made his way to the banquet hall, his parents had gone over the top. Of course, it had been decades since one of them had to do this degrading event. All their hopes and dreams laid at his feet, like he would be able to change centuries of hell. His own father couldn't do it and his Uncle had died trying. There was no ending to this hell and why couldn't they see it.
He entered the banquet hall, the girls were all in awe of the antique furniture and the grand paintings. The smell of them burned his nose and he could feel himself flinch. This was pain full, just like his father had described. At the end of the day, this was how his father had met his mother. So, it couldn't all be bad.
He grabbed a glass of wine off a waiter and downed it. He started to scan the room-- who's first? He thought. His eyes moving from one girl to the other. None of them seemed interesting to him.
His eyes fell on a dainty girl; dressed in a blue dress, her brown hair in a loose ponytail. He had seen her someone where before. Ah, yes the book shop. He started to study her, her pale skin was flawless and she was staring at a portrait of his Uncle. Her dress didn't look very expensive and her shoes were falling apart. Poor thing! He would leave her for last.
“Well,” his father placed a hand on his shoulder. “Anyone?”
“Please!” He snarled. “You make this sound like a easy thing to do. It's taking all my strength to not drain the room.”
His fathers eyes narrowed. “Keep your voice down” he hissed. “None of them should know our secret until one has been choosen.” He rubbed his brow in frustration. “Do you not remember what happened to your uncle? One slip up and we will all be danger!”
“Yes!” he hissed back. “I have heard the story a million times.”
“Good” his father now patted his back. “Do what you have to do... Let's get this over with quickly. Your mother is relying on you, Dante. Don't let her down!”
He handed his father the empty wine glass. “Fine” he snapped abruptly. “I'll do this quickly” he gave a sly grin and matched over to the book shop girl. As he passed-- a few girls would stop mid- sentence and stare at him. Dumb girls! He thought, he was designed to do that. He hated being watched and made to feel like nothing. The girl was still looking at the painting, surely by now there was nothing more to look at.
He gave a cough and the girl turned to face him, her tiny face taking him in. Just like she had done the last time they had met. It had made him feel uncomfortable then too.
He held out his hand, “hello” he smiled. “I am Dante Renaldo,” her mouth opened but no words emerged. “I believe we have met before.. You are?”
“Tammy” she mumbled, her eyes never moving from him. “Yes, we have met before in the shop I work in.”
“I gathered that” he looked round the room. The party was over, he'd had enough now. His eyes looked back to Tammy. “Well, we don't have to get to know each other now--- we have plenty of time for that.” He back away slightly from her, her eyes wide with wonder. “Enjoy!” He turned on his heel and matched back to his Father. “Her” he grunted.
A massive smile appeared on his Dad's face. “Good” he sounded pleased. “I'll deal with it.”
Before Dante disappeared from the room, he looked
back over his shoulder and at Tammy. Yes, she would do. She wasn't bad looking herself and her smell didn't burn his nose-- that was exactly what he was looking for!
***
Tammy walked home from the party, well if you could it a party. Tammy stopped outside her run down little house, a car she never seen before was parked outside. She pulled her keys out of her bag and walked up the steps to her front door and let herself in. A few voices were coming from the living room and she was pretty sure she could hear her mother crying.
Sat down next to the stairs were a couple of tired looking suitcase. Was someone leaving or someone staying?
Tammy made her way into the living room, her mother sat on the sofa in floods of tears, her father by her side trying to give her some comfort.
Tammy could feel someone standing behind her. She slowly turned round, a tall well built man with the exact same features as Dante with thick black hair was smiling at her.
“Mr and Mrs Miller” his voice low and slightly husky. “I'll be waiting in my car.” He slowly made his way out of the room.
Both her parents eyes were on her now. Tammy was getting the feeling she wasn't about to like what she was told. “Who was he?”
Her father stood up. “Look, we had no idea this was going to happen.” He was speaking very fast and Tammy began to feel very uneasy. “He has come here to ask for your hand in marriage.”