Jennifer

By Sally Miller

Jennifer, a contemporary, literary novella, tells the story of Jennifer Lexmark, a young woman seeking work and independence in a quiet country town but finds it is anything but quiet. Secrets are unlocked, and her life is turned upside down by a kidnapper, a new love, and the choices she has to make to do the right thing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Oct 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524517809

Sally Miller

Sally Miller grew up in Adelaide, close to the beach, and then lived in Tasmania. Books were introduced early into Sally’s life, and from there, she developed a love of writing as well. Her writing has been inspired by a life full of varied experiences such as working on the land, splitting scallops, the travel industry, being a restaurateur, and then nursing in mental health. Sally and her husband traveled around outback Australia with their three daughters before settling on the Gold Coast of Queensland. This is Sally’s debut book.

Book preview

Prologue

Jennifer packed the remaining things in the back of the car before heading across the street to Dave’s house. It was time to say goodbye.

I should be more excited than this, she told herself. After all, it had been a month since she’d seen her family. A month since she’d seen the sea.

Dave was rostered on the late shift and was still asleep when Jennifer knocked. Eventually he shuffled down the hallway, his hair a mess and with tears, albeit only the remnants of a yawn, in his sleepy eyes. He opened the door.

Don’t look so sad, Jen. A weekend away isn’t that long, he said, trying to be more encouraging than he actually felt as he welcomed her inside. I’ll see you in a couple of days and besides, your family will be hanging out to see you.

I know, I know, Jennifer said. I’d best get under way. It’s a three-hour drive and I want to be there before dark.

They moved together, holding each other tightly, the kiss they shared only adding to Jennifer’s reluctance to leave.

I feel the same way, Dave said, reading her thoughts.

They kissed again and parted, with Dave – on Jennifer’s insistence - heading back for more sleep, while she turned and walked slowly to her car, giving herself a private pep talk along the way. By the time she was in the driver’s seat, she felt more at ease. If not jumping for joy, at least she had her priorities in order.

Furthermore, the truth was that no matter how much Jennifer would miss Dave, she was eager to catch up and spend time with her family. There was so much to tell and she pondered where to begin. Pulling the seat belt across her body, she started the engine and checked the rear view mirror.

What she saw sent a chill racing up her spine. At the same time, a hand reached across her face and firmly covered her mouth. There was no chance to scream.

I just want to talk, he said. I’m going to take my hand away. Please don’t scream.

Jennifer froze, recognising a face that had frightened her once before. She read the intent in his eyes, yet was also struck by a sense of vulnerability in him. It was in the way he said ‘please’.

What the hell do you want? she asked quietly, defiantly, glaring at the face in the mirror. Maintaining eye contact, Jennifer tried to release the seat belt clip and reach for the door handle. The man pushed down the lock on the door.

Please, he repeated, and this time the word was filled with anger and desperation. He pulled a knife from his belt and showed it to Jennifer. The shiny blade glinted menacingly and she gave up all thoughts of resistance.

I don’t want to hurt you. I just need you to do what I say, he said.

Jennifer nodded.

Drive.

The man lowered the knife from view, but its image remained vivid in Jennifer’s mind. Tears streamed down her face as she reversed out of the carport and drove away. Passing Dave’s house, she prayed he might instinctively understand that something was terribly wrong. She willed him to open the door or look out of the window.

Neither occurred and, as the man kicked her seat, Jennifer wondered if she would ever see Dave again.

Later

Jennifer was tied to an old wooden chair, the ropes tight around her wrists and ankles. Her head sagged. Night sounds of owls and a bellowing cow in the distance further disturbed a fitful and uncomfortable sleep.

Slowly lifting her head and opening her eyes, moonlight shone through a window and lit the sleeping body of her abductor. He was on a mattress, facing her, the knife by his side.

Hours had passed since he forced her to drive to an old and abandoned farmhouse on the outskirts of Paterson. He assured her she wouldn’t be hurt as long as she did as he said. So far he had kept his word.

Despite the gravity of the situation, once again Jennifer found herself questioning the demeanour of her kidnapper. Throughout the ordeal he had seemed more apologetic than threatening, as if he were as much a victim as Jennifer herself.

Resolving to remain as calm as possible was easier said than done. Jennifer worried about her family and knew they would be worrying too when she didn’t arrive home. As for Dave, he had no reason to suspect anything was wrong. He simply expected Jennifer to be back in Paterson after the weekend.

She glanced across at her abductor, peacefully asleep on the mattress. She shifted her position, feeling the strain and reminded of the ropes he had used to bind her. She remembered how he apologised, how he couldn’t risk Jennifer escaping while he slept.

Jennifer resorted to deep breathing - breathe in one, two; breathe out three, four - and wondered how she had come to be in this situation. It wasn’t as if trouble had never found her before, but this was extreme and in complete contrast to her previous life in Somerset. That life seemed so long ago.

Trying to stifle a fresh surge of tears, Jennifer closed her eyes and cast her mind back to where this had all begun, just a few short weeks ago.

Chapter 1

Mum, where are you? I got it! The new job. A full-time job.

Three days after celebrating her twenty-first birthday, this was the news for which Jennifer Lexmark had been waiting. Excited and beaming, she’d almost skipped out of her boss’s office after accepting a full-time position at Marshall & Hay’s sister law firm, Jenkins, Marshall & Hay.

The interview had taken place about eight weeks earlier and Jennifer had performed well. She wished hard for the job to be hers, and for the chance to strike out on her own.

She enjoyed the busy life of a legal secretary, dealing with clients, assisting the solicitors with research, documents and reports, transcribing information and coordinating case preparation. There was always a phone to answer, an appointment diary to maintain, court dates and depositions.

Jennifer had joined Marshall & Hay just over a year earlier and had acquitted herself well. This was her first proper job and while she would have preferred full-time, at least part-time allowed for plenty of time at the beach. She also earned extra dollars helping out in her father’s workshop, where she picked up many invaluable skills. When it came to cars, the only thing her brother Jack could do better and faster than Jennifer was change a tyre.

Many of Jennifer’s former schoolmates hadn’t enjoyed as much luck in finding good jobs, or any jobs at all for that matter, and she appreciated her good fortune. She was also convinced that being a generally positive person had helped.

Jennifer ran through the house in search of her mother, Diane, eventually finding her in the bathroom, leaning over the bath and wiping it clean with a lemony liquid.

Did you hear me, Mum? I’ve been offered a full-time position, Jennifer said. Citrus vapour rising from the clean bath tickled her nose and she stifled a sneeze.

Diane laughed at Jennifer’s enthusiasm. Her daughter’s eyes were wide and bright and her smile was full and showcased her beautiful teeth. The braces worn between the ages of fourteen and sixteen may not have been much fun at the time, and had demanded a significant cost from her parents, but as Diane gazed upon Jennifer now, her smile was worth every cent.

That’s fantastic, Jen, she said, peeling off her gloves and giving Jennifer a big hug. Your father will be so happy for you too. Congratulations.

This time Jennifer couldn’t hold back a sneeze and let out a big one. She dragged her mother by the wrist, away from the bathroom and the fumes.

Diane and Michael Lexmark had married young, virtually straight out of school, and Diane was only eighteen when she gave birth to Jennifer. Their relationship was like that of the closest sisters. They were confidantes, sharing their feelings and all the major and minor moments of their lives. Only occasionally did Diane need to assert her maternal authority.

Theirs was also the kind of connection that made it easier to solve or help out with any problem that might arise within the family. It was also this closeness that was going to make Jennifer’s next announcement all the more difficult.

There’s a small hitch, Mum, she said, her smile fading. The position is in Paterson, at Jenkins, Marshall & Hay.

Paterson was a thriving rural centre, a country town that had grown into a small city, and Jenkins, Marshall & Hay was a large firm catering for an ever increasing clientele, including major land owners. That being the case, moving to Paterson would never have crossed Jennifer’s mind had not a full-time position in the Somerset office gone to someone else.

The ‘someone else’ was Melissa, who was a few years older than Jennifer. Tall, with long red hair that complemented her attractive features, Melissa constantly grumbled about her figure, but Jennifer thought her curves were in all the right places and she dressed to suit them.

Melissa had also started work at Marshall & Hay about six months before Jennifer. She also worked part-time. Her husband James ran his own marketing business and Melissa helped out. She seemed happy with these arrangements and so Jennifer was surprised to hear she had applied for the full-time position. She cried when Melissa was offered the job, but refused to wallow.

In fact, so focused did Jennifer become on finding any positives arising from the situation, she almost didn’t hear the firm’s partner and top lawyer, Graham Marshall, explaining that if she wanted it, the same position as the one offered to Melissa had become available at the firm’s Paterson practice. When at last the impact of his words struck home, Jennifer was sure of her response.

Yes! she said excitedly.

Later, with reality settling in, Jennifer admitted her concern about Paterson being more than 300 kilometres away, with almost twice the population of beachside Somerset, and a completely different environment to the one in which she had grown up and understood so well. Her mother thought the same.

That’s a long drive up and back every day, isn’t it? she asked warily, feeling bad news coming.

Yeah, you’re right, Mum. Paterson is too far away to commute every day, Jennifer said, taking a deep breath: So, I’m going to have to move there.

She waited for what her mother might say; watching as Diane clasped her hands together and brought them up to her mouth, her thumbs against her lips. They were such a close family and Jennifer knew her parents would be upset.

Oh, Diane said, trying to hold back tears. She’d always known this day was coming. Even so, now that it had arrived didn’t make it any easier. She had to be strong.

Well, I suppose you need to consider it and you have been looking at getting your independence. It won’t be the same here without you, she said bravely.

Jennifer embraced her mother, feeling the weight of her head on her shoulder.

Things were changing.

Chapter 2

What do you have in here? Jack asked as he helped load the heavy suitcases into his big sister’s VW Beetle.

Only seventeen, Jack looked older because he was tall, well-built and athletic. His eyes were the same blue as Jennifer’s and he shared her love of the ocean. It was all part of the lifestyle in Somerset, ingrained in them.

A keen surfer with the talent perhaps to one day pursue a professional career, for the time being Jack was concentrating on completing high school with the best marks possible. He was also involved in other sports and it was no surprise that he was popular with the girls.

This wasn’t just down to his good looks, sun-bleached hair and surfing skill. Mainly it reflected the fact that Jack was decent, respectful and never let popularity go to his head, not even when Jennifer let it slip that some of her girlfriends had mentioned they wished Jack was a little older.

I have to take all my things, Jack. You can handle it, Jennifer said, teasingly squeezing his biceps.

I might be able to handle it. I’m not so sure about your car, he replied. Jennifer shrugged and laughed.

Brother and sister had always been close. Growing up they clashed only rarely, with one notable exception when Jack left a small army of dead crabs in Jennifer’s school lunchbox. She repaid him by locking him in his wardrobe for an hour.

I’m going to miss you heaps, sis, Jack admitted as Jennifer returned with the last of her things.

Me too.

They hugged. Jennifer rested her head against Jack’s strong chest and said: I’ll be expecting a visit from you really soon. And it won’t be long before I’m back to see you.

She kept her head down, fearful that if she looked Jack in the eyes she would start blubbering. Plus she still had to say goodbye to her parents. When the time came, Diane succumbed almost immediately and gave Jennifer heartfelt and tearful hugs and kisses.

Don’t be too sad, Mum. I’ll be home for a visit before you know it. Thanks again for coming with me to Paterson to look at the cottage. The curtains you’ve made up are fantastic. They’ll look great in my room.

Jennifer’s new employers had arranged her accommodation and she was thrilled with the charming cottage. She was so glad her family had come with her on the long drive to Paterson a week ago. Today, however, she was travelling alone.

She turned to find her father Michael standing with his arms outstretched. He’d been working in the shed and had hardly spoken to anyone that morning. He pulled Jennifer close, squeezed her tight and kissed her forehead. His little princess, as he fondly called her, had grown up and was going out on her own. It wasn’t easy letting her go.

I love you. Please be careful, especially on the road. And don’t forget, if you need anything, and I mean anything, call us, he said, holding her face in his hands.

Jennifer took a deep breath and hopped into her car. Backing out on to the street, she allowed herself a last look and a wave out of the window to her family, all still standing on the edge of the road. There was nothing else to do but drive away. Also, she still had one more place to visit.

A few minutes later, after parking the blue Volkswagen, Jennifer sat on a timber railing that surrounded a large grassed area. The railing’s white paint was worn where people had picked at it. From this perfect spot, just above the beach, Jennifer stared out to the ocean. Then she closed her eyes and tilted her head back so her hair flowed down her back. She breathed in the sea air, felt the