Assumptions

Chris smiles when he places the receiver in its place.  He really likes this girl. 

“Annabella” he whispers softly to himself.

“Short for Annabella” and he lets out a little chuckle. 

He was a little disappointed when she declined to have lunch with him, but at least if she’s out looking for a job she intends to remain in Bridgeport long enough for him to convince her to stay permanently.  The thought made the smile spread across his face even wider. 

His face suddenly turns solemn at the thought of work and his own current assignment.  He is not usually called upon to assist in homicide investigations, but the case appears to be drug-related and the only witness is his very close friend and also the victim’s wife,  Rebecka Swift.  It would have been a double homicide if a nosy neighbour didn’t peep through the open door and called for help. 

He took his jacket off the hall-stand and shrugged it on.  He decided to go and see Becky today.  Dr Drake phoned him earlier this week and suggested he take her out somewhere familiar.  Maybe this will jog her memory.  She was such a decent girl and it truly hurt him to see her the way she was.  Her memory deteriorated to such an extent the last couple of months after her husband’s murder and as a result of being assaulted herself that she now has the mind of a child, unable to recall any of the events that ocurred on the day of her husband’s death. 

They’ve been friends since sixth grade.  He finally mustered up the nerve to ask her out – which at that age meant nothing, except that they would sit next to each other at lunch and occasionally talk on the phone.  They soon realised they were better off friends.  Far less pressure -  and after this mutual decision they started spending far more time together than any couple at Bridgeport Secondary School.  According to high school standards, they were practically married. 

After graduation she met Dave Buchanan and for no apparent good reasons she married him.  Chris never liked him, but to avoid the risk of having his ill-feelings towards the guy misinterpreted as jealousy he didn’t say anything.  As it turned out Dave never had a steady job and Chris always saw him hanging around some of the dive bars notorious for drug raids, underage drinking and prostitution. 

It wasn’t his place to say anything and just resolved to be a shoulder for her to cry on when it all finally and inevitably goes pear-shaped.  But when she told him her husband found a job helping Frank Stellar in his campaign to run for Mayor he thought that he might have been wrong about him.  Turned out his first instincts of the guy were spot on.  He managed to get himself into trouble again – and this time put Becky’s life at risk.

He recalls that afternoon when he received the call from the control room.  He immediately recognised the address they had given him.  He tried to reach her on her cell, but she didn’t answer.  She never ignored his calls.  He knew something was wrong.  It wasn’t like her. 

The door was open and the flat was swarming with detectives and forensic scientists – which wasn’t a good sign.  He wandered through it, calling for her, until he found her lying on the kitchen floor.  She was sprawled on her side and there was a puddle of vomit under her cheek.  When she blinked the insides of her eyes were the colour of cut rubies.  Paramedics were attending to her.  He found her husband also lying on the floor, mere metres away, a single bullet wound between the eyes.

When Chris reached Becky’s home where she now lives with her parents Dr Drake had already been waiting for his arrival. 

“Hello Chris” Dr Drake said

“I was just telling Becky that you were taking her out for a few hours, and that she must listen to what you tell her, and stay with you at all times” and then he lowers his voice slightly

“she wanders off at the drop of a hat and you must keep your eye on her at all times”.

“Don’t worry Dr Drake I’ll never let her out of my sight for one moment” he assures Benjamin

“Becky will be just fine” and he turns to her

“won’t we sweetheart?”

Rebecka had gone into a little world of her own.

Chris addressed her again “Becky?”

“Yes Chris”

“I asked you a question just then, and you weren’t listening”

“Oh.  What did you say?”

“I said you and me would be fine on our day out, just the two of us”

“Yes Chris, we’ll be fine.  Look at my pretty dress Chris, don’t I look pretty today” she said a smile beaming across her pretty face.

“You look absolutely beautiful my darling” and he holds his arm out to her and she grabs on to it giggling delightfully.

Satisfied that everything was in order Dr Drake shook Chris’ hand and turns around to resume his normal work day.

“Chris?” she said with a confused look in her eyes – a little frown forming in-between them.

“Yes?”

“Where are we going?”

“Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know”

“Yes, you do.”

“Do I?”

“Think hard.  We’ve been there before.  Lots of times.  It’s a place you love to be.  It’s where you always ask me to take you.”

She went quiet, almost sulky.  Then suddenly with a little shout and a clap of the hands she cried out “butterfly world!”

“That’s a clever girl” he said “we’re going to the butterfly sanctuary”.

She giggled proudly.  “We’re going to butterfly world” she says again, but this time more to herself.

Just a few moments later they were standing at the fountain that Rebecka loved so much.  They used to sit here for hours talking and looking at people walking by.  They shared most of their secrets with the statue in the middle of it.

Then her quiet voice said to him “Chris?”

“Yes?”

“You do love me, don’t you, Chris?”

Not entirely sure where this was leading and noticing the uncertain look in her eyes he took her hands into his and replied

“I certainly do, yes”

“Do you want to know something?”

He nodded for her to continue.

“I love you too”.

Chris found he was too choked up to make an immediate reply.  It was hard for him to see her like this.  He cleared his throat and told her “that’s such a nice thing to for you to say”

“Would you do something for me Chris?”

“Of course, - if I can”.

“May I please have a propper kiss?”

Chris didn’t know what to say or do.  In all honesty the only woman he wanted to kiss this very moment is Annabella, but when he sees her growing impatient and slightly restless at his hesitation he leaned forward and kissed her softly on her cheek.

When he moved away, she caught hold of his arm and kept him there.  “Please Chris.  I need a proper kiss” she said and lifted her face up to him.

Chris was lost as to what he should do.  In her fragile state of mind there is no telling what her reaction would be if he refused.

He smiled and brushed away her request and casually said “We best get you something to eat sweetheart” and when he tried to make a move, she held him there.

“Chris!”

“Yes?”

“I’m waiting.”

The tone in her voice made him realise she wasn’t going to let this go and he leaned forward tenderly placing his lips over hers.  He was shocked by the warm softness of her skin against his mouth and the way her lips opened to his.

………

Annabella felt relieved at how the interview with Laura turned out.  It wasn’t exactly the job she had in mind, but she had a good feeling about it.  Laura seems very pleasant and little Adriano is such a happy little boy.  The whole time she was there he didn’t even cry once. 

Laura wanted her to move in right away, but remembering her date with Chris, which she wouldn’t miss for anything in the world, she made arrangements to move into the cottage on Sunday afternoon. 

She didn’t realise it was already past five and noticing the hot-dog stand she suddenly felt hungry.  She decided to buy one and take a stroll to the butterfly sanctuary across the road and have her late lunch at the fountain. 

Everything seems to be working out for her.  Soon she will have a steady income, a roof over her head and, hopefully, things will work out for her in the romance department as well.  The thought of Chris made her smile from ear to ear and little butterflies fluttered in her stomach. 

As she came around the corner, nothing could have prepared her for what she sees next.  Her eyes fixed on the scene playing itself out right in front of her.  Her body felt numb and her heart started pounding heavily in her chest. 

She snapped out of her shocked trance and quickly turned around and stopped the oncoming taxi, praying she could quietly escape before he notices her.  Tears started to sting her eyes and the lighthearted mood of earlier has now completely vanished. 

All she wanted to do was get away from the sanctuary as quickly as possible, curl herself up into a tiny ball and sob uncontrollably as she has done so many times before.