The Key by Victoria Darkins

Author:Victoria Darkins [Darkins, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marston ePublishing
Published: 2014-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

It was 01:14 A.M., and Jack was still out on his date. Carrie was trying to convince herself she had made her peace with the situation, but the longer he was out, the harder the battle raged. As they agreed, she had stayed up for Jack. If she had fallen asleep, she had a suspicion he wouldn’t have woken her and she was curious about what the night had held for him. She had wondered if Madeline would come back to the house and if she did, Carrie would have to plan an escape route. So she sat at the dining room table looking out to spot his van pulling up to see if he had a passenger or not. If Madeline did come back with him, Carrie would make herself scarce in her room with her mp3 player clamped to her ears, volume high.

Her eyes rested comfortably on the neighbour’s house across the road. It was totally immersed in Christmas lights. They had clear icicle strands suspended from their eves and every window homed either a lighted Santa, snowman or reindeer. Two outlines of hot air balloons also flickered up the front of the building. Carrie couldn’t help but sit there transfixed by the lights. She felt relaxed by the warm glow and long shadows the lights cast into the dining room. Her mind emptied. Just like a child, she sat and watched the colourful display, bathing in a warm Christmas feeling that had always evaded her.

Half an hour later Jack’s van pulled up the driveway. He was alone. Carrie remained sitting, looking over at the lights. Listening as he lowered the whining lift and then a few moments later the click of the front door.

Jack was trying to be quiet as he gently put the key gadget in the porcelain bowl by the front door. She heard him pour water into the kettle. Carrie remained passively sat at the table. She didn’t want to break the relaxing spell the lights had fixed. It was an almost out-of-body experience. He opened the living room door, then his study’s.

Carrie knew he was probably looking for her, but she didn’t want him to find her. Eventually, he opened the dining room door. She felt a draft as he was about to close it again but he stalled a beat and then came in. The buttons on his shirt had been fastened wonkily, making him look messy.

As he wheeled closer, Carrie could smell Madeline’s perfume intertwined with his aftershave. So it must have been a successful night, she thought.

He joined Carrie by the window and stared out. Carrie saw the lights reflect and multiply on his driving glasses, very pretty. She forgot she was staring.

‘Are you all right?’ His question cut through the peaceful silence.

‘Yes. Sure. Why?’

‘You're sitting in here with the lights off.’

‘Oh I was just looking over there. They’ve gone all out with the lights.’

He stared out of the window again. Carrie sensed he’d been pulled in by the light’s hypnotic power also.

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