The cup jerked, spilling coffee over my jeans as I jumped with shock when a loud knock came from the front door.
Damn!
I stood and pulled my jeans away from my legs. The wet patches cooled quickly. Grabbing a damp sponge from the sink, I dabbed it against the denim.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
Hold ya horses. I’m coming.
I growled under my breath. Throwing the sponge back into the sink, I walked to the front door being careful not to walk into any new cobwebs. I’d tried to get them all with the vacuum cleaner earlier, but each time I’d spotted a spider it had seen me first and sprinted for the nearest crack in the rotting timbers.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK. I grabbed the loose doorknob, wrenched it and angrily opened the door. “Gee, have some patience will y…” Open-mouthed, I stared at black eyes.
Black?
“Hello, I’m Kevin. I’m here to ask you if you’d like to pur…”
A loud crash from within the house stopped him.
“Oh no!” I ran back through the house. In the centre of the lounge was a pile of chandelier pieces, the ladder and a grey and white striped furry object that twitched.
“Tabitha! You wretched cat! Now look what you’ve gone and done!”
At a chuckle from behind, I spun around on one foot, “How dare y… Oh!” Having turned so fast, I found myself gravitating towards the floor. I would have hit the newly cleaned wooden floorboards hard if my intruder’s quick reactions had not stopped me. Instead, I found myself cradled in his arms as he leaned forward and scooped me up.
They are black!
I looked into his eyes realising that I had not been mistaken. He looked down at me; his arms held me in a steady grip. When he smiled, I saw his front left tooth had a tiny chip. I was mesmerised, wondering how it had broken.
“Are you okay now?” His warm velvet voice slipped through my thoughts as he placed my feet back on the ground with infinite care.
“I’m fine,” I stood, brushing my clothes straight with my hands, determined not to look into his eyes again. “The wretched cat has ruined the chandelier. I’ll never be able to afford to have it repaired or replaced.”
“Never mind, it’s only a materialistic object. At least you weren’t broken irreparably.” I couldn’t help a sideways glance, then instantly regretted it as he caught me looking and winked.
“What did you want me for… What was your name again?”
He straightened himself, then held his hand out towards her. “My name is Kevin Saunders. I was here to ask if you’d like a demonstration of our latest vacuuming system.”
I shook his hand. “Julie. No, thanks. My vacuum cleaner works just fine.”
“Yes, I can see.” From the look he cast around the lounge, I knew he wasn’t impressed.
“It’s an old house. I’ve only just bought it and moved in. The last owners died and nobody has been living here or caring for the property in the last 12 years or so.” I felt an odd need to explain to him. “I bought it for a bargain and that was probably because nobody else wants to live so far away from civilisation when winter snows hit.”
“Ah. I understand. That’s why the outside looks as if it could fall over in the next gust of wind. And why the inside looks like something from The Addams Family. I fully expect to see Morticia and Gomez walk in through those swing doors.” He nodded his head at my pride and joy. The perfectly matched swing doors leading to the dining room were made of natural wood. I had polished the rich wood and cleaned the glass only this morning. Restoring the house to its original condition was my one aim in life. It was damn hard work and I realised to my vexation, the doors were covered in cobwebs again.
My sigh must have been clearly audible as Kevin patted me gently on the shoulder. “Don’t worry dear, I have just the answer for you.” I watched as he left the room and strode up the hallway. Then I listened to his grunt of effort as he struggled to open the front door. Within seconds he was standing in front of me again, a look of confusion etched across his brow. His eyebrows almost drew together as he asked, “Is there another way out, the door handle appears to have come away from the door.” He proved it to me by holding the whole handle out for my inspection.
“Oh no. Not again.” This time, I heard my own sigh. “That’s the third time this week the door handle has come off.”
“Do you have a toolbox, I can put it back on in a jiffy,” he smiled.
“No. Sorry, I don’t have a toolbox.”
“A loose screwdriver somewhere perhaps?” The brows rose a little.
“No. Sorry, I don’t have a loose screwdriver either.”
“Hmm. Oh well, never mind. Can you direct me to another exit and I’ll bring my vacuum system inside and demonstrate its abilities for you?”
“No. There is no other exit.”
“No other exit? No back door?”
“No back door.”
“Okay. Don’t worry, I’ll simply climb out a window.” He turned and looked at the windows running along the length of the lounge. “Don’t tell me,” I heard him muttering.