"Aaron told me you were out here and I didn't believe him!" The grating tone of a frantic woman drew my attention from David. She strode across the grass towards us, her heels sinking into the grass with each step. "What are you doing out here? You know that no one comes out here!" She came to a halt in front of us and put her hands on her hips. Her dark hair was immaculately styled and her skirt and blouse let me know she had money. An attempt had been made to conceal the lines that creased her face around her mouth and up near her eyes but it couldn't hide them all.
"Mother..." David's voice was completely flat and toneless. It was as though simply being in this woman's presence sucked all of the life from him. "This is, Carrie." He gestured to me but she dismissed it with a wave of her hand.
"I don't care. No one comes out here. Why are you hanging around this place? You know I want it destroyed and it's far too dangerous..."
"Carrie, this is my mother, Gertrude, or Gertie to her friends." David continued on as though his mother hadn't brushed his initial introduction aside.
She turned narrowed blue eyes in my direction. "It's Mrs Ashcroft to you." She didn't extend her hand in greeting but instead returned her attention to her son. I could feel the hostility that rolled off her in waves.
"Clarissa Lonsdale informed me that you were splashed all over the tabloids with some new piece of trash and a murder plot. I didn't believe her at first but then I saw it for myself. So I rushed home only to find out that you had brought it here. And now I find you out here disobeying a direct order."
David's hand trembled in mine and I squeezed it softly in an attempt to reassure him but it did no good. He was furious. The anger bubbled up under the surface searching for an exit.
"How dare you speak of Carrie in that manner? I always thought you were at least civil and now I see that I was wrong on that count. What was it you were always telling me? That you wanted me to be happy?"
"Of course I want you to be happy, David. Just not with such a frumpy piece of trash. What about Erica?"
"Who is Erica?" I couldn't stop myself from interjecting. I had heard enough to last me a lifetime. David's mother didn't know me and yet she saw fit to pass judgement on me. I didn't have to take it and I wouldn't.
She turned her cold, blue eyes to me. Her lips twisted in a cruel smile as she answered. "Erica, is David's soon-to-be fiancée. Tell her, David."
I sucked in an angry breath and waited for David to answer. "That's it. I don't have to stand for this. Erica and I are never going to happen. The sooner you understand that the better. I'm with Carrie." With that he jerked me forward as he began to stride across the lawn.
I looked back over my shoulder as David pulled me after him, only to watch his mother's shocked face follow our progress. We made it down onto the gravel and David continued walking as far as the garage. His mother had started to follow us. David released my hand as he entered the garage and a few moments later I heard the sound of an engine purring to life. As the large electric door opened wide, his mother reached the place where I stood.
She never uttered a word to me, choosing to wait until her son pulled out of the garage in a sleek, black Mercedes. The passenger door popped open as it pulled level with me and I slid into the heated leather seats. His mother leaned in over me, treating me as though I didn't even exist, her strong floral perfume making my nose itch and the back of my throat burn.
"David, don't be like this. You know I only do what I do for the best."
"Was it best to blame me for Mel's death for all those years? You couldn't blame Aaron because he was the eldest son and father wouldn't have liked it. But I was an easy target, wasn't I? Was that for the best too?"
She jerked back out of the car as though David had slapped her and he gunned the engine. I barely had the opportunity to slam the door as we sped away down the drive, wheels spinning and gravel flying.
We travelled in silence for a full half an hour. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say, or even if I was supposed to say anything. What was the etiquette when your boyfriend’s mother thought you were frumpy trash?
David let out a sigh and reached across the space between us. He squeezed my thigh and shot me a quick sheepish smile. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. She's not normally that acidic. Something has obviously driven her over the edge."
I couldn't resist asking him, "Who's Erica?"
David puffed out his cheeks and shot me another sheepish grin. "She's the daughter of our next door neighbours..."
I looked at him, confused. "You have neighbours? I didn't see any houses nearby..."
"Estate. They own the estate beside my parents and when we were younger we dated for about three months but broke it off. Ever since then my mother has decided we will one day marry. She has a real issue with the fact that I haven't gotten back together with her."
"Oh..." My thoughts were in turmoil. If his mother seemed to think there was something between them then perhaps there was? I shook my head and tried to clear the negative thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. It happened every single time. For some reason I didn't think I was good enough for David. It was something I was going to have to get over, and fast.
The movement of the car lulled me into a relaxed state and it wasn't long before I felt my eyes grow heavy. All I seemed to do lately was sleep and now was no different. I steeled back against the warm leather and drifted off into a fitful sleep, filled with images of a beautiful woman who was trying to steal David from me.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"Carrie." The sound of David's voice and his hand on my shoulder as he shook me gently awake roused me from my sleep. It was dark and I squinted to figure out where we were. It quickly dawned on me that we were in the underground parking lot of his apartment. I sat up straighter and moved my neck from side to side.
Although I had slept for what felt like hours, I was still tired. He smiled down at me and clicked the buckle on my seatbelt.
"You look adorable when you sleep you know," he said as he climbed out of the car and walked around to open my door.
Smiling sleepily I climbed out and stretched. I closed my eyes as another yawn overcame me. I squealed as David's arms wrapped tightly around me and he pulled me into an embrace. His lips were soft and enticing on mine. I melted against him, my body instantly understanding its place against his. I returned the kiss, my need for him flaring up within me as it threatened to consume us both.
He laughed as he pulled away. "Plenty of time for that later. After my little surprise..."