An Unexpected Gift Read Free Page B

happened, had she told them of
it. Not wanting them to see her bruises Caitlin had managed to convince them to
stay in Hampshire and to come up on Christmas Eve. Otherwise her devoted
parents would have driven up the moment she had told them. She had done her
level best to play down the gravity of the situation.  
    As
much as she loved them, the thought of four days cooped up in the tiny
apartment, with her parents filled Caitlin with doom. She knew how her mother
liked to fuss over her. She would be ten times worse than Kerrie. "Hurry
back," said Caitlin, kissing her friend goodbye.
    Kerrie
hugged her tightly. "I'll be thinking of you. Say "hi" to your
parents for me. Be good now!" Then, with bags laden to the brim with
gifts, she swept out of the apartment.
    As
soon as Kerrie had gone, Caitlin slumped onto the settee once more. Her boss
had signed her off work for a week and she didn't have to go back now until
after New Year's Day.
    From
the settee, the view of the River was breathtaking. Over in the distance, in
the skyline, she could see the famous Gherkin. The dark, silent river only had
a few boats on it today. This was one of the few places in London that afforded
such an amazing view. She knew she was lucky to be living here in the heart of
it all. Christmas wouldn't be so bad. And with so many places and shops to
visit and walks to be undertaken, her parent's few days in London would be over
before she knew it.
     
    Just
as they had promised, Caitlin's parents drove down from Hampshire on Christmas
Eve to spend a few days with their only child.  Her mother’s face visibly
crumpled when she set eyes on her daughter. She steeled herself to put on a
brave face but inside she was torn to shreds, wondering who would do this to
her little girl. Her father had been a tower of strength. Inside, he had
seethed with bitter rage unable to put a face to the man he imagined attacking
his daughter that night. The truth was, he couldn’t get the picture out of his
head. He had been angry that Caitlin hadn’t phoned him right away. She had
waited until the next day to tell her parents the disturbing news. But his wife
had managed to calm him down enough so that when he first saw Caitlin when they
arrived at the flat, Roger Quinn held his daughter tightly, comforted her no
end and cherished her dearly. He wanted to put a name and a picture to the man
who had attacked his girl but as yet Caitlin had told them there was no further
news from the police.  Being the pragmatic man that he was, he bought with
him two rape alarms, “one as backup” and insisted that Caitlin carry these
around with her at all times.
    On
Christmas Day, her mother had produced her usual amazing Christmas feast which
they had completely pigged out on. And on Boxing Day her father treated his
family to an unforgettable meal at Terence Conran’s Chop House which was just a
short walk away from the flat. Afterwards the three of them had gone for a long
walk along the river, enjoying the sights along the river as they walked along
the cobbled streets of Tower Bridge.
    They
had tea and cakes at one of the little cafes in St Katherine's Docks, watching
the magnificent moored yachts dotted all around.  
    It
had become slightly foggy and the darkness that started at around half past
three in the early afternoon soon enveloped the tiny streets, save for the
lights from shops and restaurants that glistened like shiny jewels in the
impending darkness. This was the other extreme of London weather and although
Caitlin loved London in the summer, winter truly was one of her favorite times of
the year.  She loved the thought of nights drawing in, the turn in the
weather, the countdown to Christmas and everything that went with it.
    But
now she would forever associate Christmas with the brutal attack that had come
out of nowhere and shattered her already fractured life. A life that she was
trying to get back on track again after the mess it had become with