‘Esmé? Are you awake?’
The rapping on the door woke Esmé with a start. Her mobile read twenty past midnight.
‘What?’
‘It’s Dam.’
‘Yeah, I know.’
‘There’s a bloke on the doorstep asking to speak to you… he’s refusing to go away until he’s spoken to you.’
So Andrew had found the address. She’d kill her brother.
‘Esmé, are you coming down to see him?’
‘Yeah, I’ll be two minutes.’
‘OK, I’ll tell him.’
‘Don’t let him in though, leave him on the door step.’
Silence.
‘Dam? Are you there?’ Shit, he’d gone. Did he hear that final part?
Esmé pushed back the duvet and leapt from the warm confines of her bed. Having rummaged about for clothing, she pulled a hoodie over her pyjamas, and ruffled her hair. A wet finger wiped beneath each eye removed any sleep.
The landing light blinded her as she left her bedroom. Barefoot, she plodded down two flights of stairs to find the rear view of Andrew seated on the bottom step.
‘What do you want, Andrew?’
He jumped at the sound of her voice and looked startled by the sight of her.
‘Esmé! Hear me out, please. Earlier when I said that we could…’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Please don’t do this.’
Esmé pushed past him, walked to the front door and opened it wide, sweeping her free hand in the direction of the garden path. ‘If you don’t mind, I need to get my sleep, I have work in the morning.’
‘Esmé,’ said Andrew, as he leapt to her side trying to place his arms around her.
‘Get off, you have no right to touch me.’
‘But…’ Andrew took a few steps back, giving her some space but not as much as Esmé wanted. Her desire was a large wooden door separating them.
‘No! I mean it. We’re finished. I’m not happy with the decision but I have no choice. I spent seven years with you… we weren’t even engaged in that time, that’s how serious you were about me.’ She held up her bare left hand. ‘See, no diamond ring.’
‘If that’s what you want…’
‘Andrew, no! It was what I wanted until I walked in to find that earring and now I want nothing more than to return to my bed, alone. So, goodnight.’
‘I think she’s made it quite clear,’ came a male voice from the direction of the kitchen. ‘You need to act like a well-mannered gent and do as she asks.’
Esmé and Andrew turned to see Asa casually walking along the corridor, coffee mug in hand. His face was expressionless, and his body language non-threatening but his eyes were directly on Andrew.
‘Sorry mate, but who are you?’ Andrew stepped back on seeing the tattooed features.
‘That doesn’t matter. I heard her ask politely, so now’s the time to leave.’
‘Excuse me, who do you think you’re talking to?’ snapped Andrew, his chest inflating.
Asa calmly walked to the front door and stood beside Esmé.
‘You. I’m speaking directly to you, Andrew,’ said Asa, before he sipped his coffee and stared at him over the rim of the mug.
Andrew’s jaw tightened, he was agitated by the interruption.
Esmé watched as Andrew’s eyes travelled back and forth across the tattooed skin. Asa’s casual manner was annoying the hell of him.
‘Esmé?’
She shrugged, trying to control the grin that was threatening to spring to her face.
‘Seriously, she asked you to leave and so, you need to go.’
‘Do you want to take this outside, mate?’ asked Andrew, his bolshiness finally emerging.
‘Sorry, but I’m not your mate and I don’t remember suggesting anything of the sort. You’ve been asked to leave our premises. Esmé asked you politely and now, I’m telling you.’
‘Or?’ Andrew took a step towards Asa.
The lounge door opened, Russ and Dam appeared bang on cue.
‘Is everything OK out here?’ asked Dam, coming into the hallway.
‘Fine mate, just fine. Thanks for fetching her,’ said Andrew, as if Dam was his new-found buddy.
‘See you,’ said Esmé.
‘Esmé…’
‘Bye Andrew.’ Esmé left the front door wide open and started for the staircase. ‘Thanks fellas, I’ll see you in the morning.’ She climbed calmly to the first landing determined not to look back until she was around the corner. Then she leant over the banister and peered down into the hallway.
Andrew was staring at Asa, who in turn stared back.
‘Now, me and the lads are fully aware that you’ve been parked over the road for the last few hours watching the house. We can see you’re upset. I’m sure you’ve a million and one things to discuss. But that doesn’t excuse your behaviour, OK?’
‘Hey mate, she’s my girlfriend… I can…’
‘No, you can’t. She made it clear she doesn’t wish to speak to you. In future, I suggest that you call her and make suitable arrangements to sit down and discuss your business. Harassing her at this time in the morning and making demands isn’t right. It’s not fair on her, or us.’
‘You can’t tell me when I—’
‘If I need to call the police, I will. She doesn’t need you stalking her.’ Were Asa’s final words before the heavy door closed firmly on Andrew’s heels.
Esmé watched as Asa calmly turned to the other two and shrugged.
‘Don’t ask because I haven’t a clue. I was in the kitchen making a drink but that didn’t look nice.’
‘Is she alright?’ asked Russ.
‘Who knows?’ replied Asa. ‘He’s been parked outside all night staring at the house.’
‘I’m not sure she realised,’ added Russ.
‘Which one of us is going upstairs to check she’s OK?’ asked Dam.
Silence descended on the hallway. On the first landing Esmé silently eased herself away from the banister and hastily tiptoed up the second flight of stairs.
Rap a tap tap
‘Yes?’
‘It’s me… Russ.’
Esmé climbed out of bed, wrapping her duvet around her pyjama clad body before she opened the door.
‘Hi Russ, what’s up,’ she said as casually as she could.
‘The guys were wondering if you were alright?’
‘I’m good, thanks.’
‘Sure?’
Esmé nodded, but dropped her gaze
Russ tilted his head to catch the line of her eye.
‘Need a cuppa?’ he asked, on seeing the glisten of a tear and the redness of previous tears.
Esmé shook her head.
‘Asa said you can beat him with the iron poker if it makes you feel better,’ he added.
Esmé cracked a smile.
‘No thanks, another time maybe.’
‘OK. I’ll leave you be, get some sleep and… shout if you want a drink bringing up.’
‘Cheers, Russ.’
‘Good night, Esmé.’
Esmé closed the door and returned to her tearstained pillow.