THE NIGHT VISITOR
She hurried along, her heels clicking against the deserted pavement. Above, the moon leered down, smug and toothless. The city dissolved into the night haze, its buildings glinting coldly in the moon’s arrogant glow. Streetlamps fought back the darkness here and there, their light carving paths through the black. Windows blinked like spectacles perched on the faces of houses.
Ahead, a tram blazed to life, bright as a Christmas tree, rattled around the corner, and vanished into the night, melting like a ghost.
The click of her heels quickened, shattering against the walls. No, shed missed the last tram. The moon chuckled overhead.
Shed stayed too late at her friends, then stubbornly refused an escort, certain the tram would come.
Her steps slowed, then stopped. Exhausted, she dropped onto a bench and wept. Suddenly, brakes screeched, and a voice from inside the car trilled, elongated and playful, «Fancy a ride?» She shrank back, wishing to disappear. Adventures were the last thing she wantedhome was the only dream left.
A man leaned out. «Dont be scared. Ill take you wherever you like.»
The passenger door swung open, and she hesitated before slipping inside. The leather seat welcomed her, warm and faintly fragrant. On the backseat, a child slept curled against a massive dog. The beasts hot breath stirred the ringlets at her nape. She froze.
The man flashed a grin. «Dont worry, Almas gentle. Wont hurt a fly.»
«Ian,» he offered, extending a hand.
«Eleanor Whitmore,» she forced out.
He laughed. «Bit young for a Whitmore, arent you?»
In the mirror, she caught her reflectionmascara smeared, face pale under the dashboard lights. Hardly herself.
«Well, thats a matter of opinion,» she huffed.
«Teacher, then?» he guessed.
She stayed silent, lost in thought.
«Were out late too,» he ventured.
Her fear ebbed. Something about him felt familiar, as if theyd known each other for centuries. They slipped into ease, trading jokes, laughing like old friends. Alma barked softly, a stern nanny shushing them.
Then the car veered into a dark alley. Her pulse spiked.
«Just popping into the chemist,» Ian explained. «Promised Mum her medicine. Wont take long.»
It was past midnighttomorrow was Sunday. No one waited for Eleanor except a stack of unmarked papers. So they drove, the ghost-car slicing through the night, headlights cutting the darkness like a knife.
Then Ian invited her home. She wasnt surprised.
The flat was on the seventh floor. Ian carried his sleeping son gently. In the elevators eerie glow, they stole glances at each other, then laughed like mischievous children. He was broad-shouldered, tanned, golden-haired. Eleanor, even in heels, barely reached his shoulder.
The flat was immaculate, everything in its place. Ian tucked his son into bed; Alma flopped down beside him. They drank tea, listened to classical musictastes perfectly aligned. Strange, how at ease she felt in a strangers home at this hour. That odd familiarity washed over her again, as if theyd always been family, as if little Oliver were her own.
They sat in the kitchen, sipping wine Ian had poured. His voice grew thickhis wife had died three years ago. Complications. Shed begged the doctors to save the baby, their long-awaited firstborn. His mother helped now, watching Oliver when work piled up.
Ian asked her to stay till morning. She agreed, whether from the wine or something deeper, she couldnt say.
Dawn found her in his bed. A small voice whispered, «Mummy,» tiny fingers patting her cheek. Almas bulk warmed her feet. Tears sprang to her eyesshe clutched the boy, murmuring, «Mine, mine.»
Ian squeezed in, balancing a steaming breakfast tray. «Getting on well, then?» He grinned.
«Marry me,» he blurted.
Eleanor blinked. «You dont even know me.»
«I know enough. Lifes longwell learn the rest. Oliver and Alma already love you. Youll be a wonderful mother.»
Outside, dawn blushed the sky. Eleanor lay still, eyes closed, replaying the dreama night city swallowing her whole, a stranger saving her, a proposal.
She cracked her eyes open. Ian slept beside her, Oliver between them. Almas weight pinned her feet. The dog cracked one eye, yawned, and dozed off.
The alarm was hours away. Eleanor mentally planned her lessons, then drifted back to sleep. The sun chased the last shadows. High above, the moon winked at her dreams.
