In any ordinary life (In any oridnary Book 1)

In any ordinary life

Clare Stanley Midgley

Dedicated to Colin, Emillie & Mia

To my life line and my angels thank you for your support

Love you.

To Rosie – thank you so much for your patience I don’t think

I would have ever got through the book without you.

I can’t thank you enough

Contents

Chapter 1                                                                                     Chapter: 37

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Authors Introduction

Jeanie sat in her office dreaming of changes to her life. The mundane existence had dragged her down to a point that nothing except routine existed. Her father’s death had provided the perfect excuse for her to hide away.

After a family emergency and a chance meeting with an old flame Jeanie realises love has more to offer than lies and deceit. Offering security James supplies her with a plan for escape. By this time death follows her wherever she goes and no matter how she tries to escape she feels its cold finger pressing onto every last breath.

The embers of his cigarette looked like small clouds floating around the window gathering speed in the frosty air. James watched her intently until she turned the corner at the church, he could still smell the vague oily residue around the room. Taking the last drag he breathed the smoke out longingly as the room seemed cold and vacant and without her. Shaking his head he sat on the bed reminiscent of the events from last night. Imagining Jeanie’s soft skin pressed against his body he couldn’t help but feel pleasure and every inch of him pricked with excitement, she was the one. She had to be.

   He had walked away from a life that he had known just to be with her, his family had begged him not to go, but they didn’t know Jeanie like he did. He had walked away from long term relationship in which he had been supported avidly during medical school. There was no question of that but the only woman to truly see him was Jeanie.

Starring at the ceiling he remembered how sex felt in his previous relationship, but that was it, it was just sex. For the first time in six years he had made love, and it felt amazing. She had never made him react the way Jeanie did, what he couldn’t shake about Jeanie was that she played on his mind. He had imagined being with so many times, her laugh, her smile she was the first and last thing he thought about. Reaching for his shirt the damp collar smelt of her, breathing it in he smiled, he felt alive, free she had liberated him and she didn’t even know.

   Putting on his jacket he made his way the small winding stairs. Her scarf hung gracefully from the hook on the back of the door. Taking it down he wrapped it around him breathing her in deeper.

   ” Good night was it. You know Doc she’s a good girl you don’t lead girls like that astray…”

  James took hold of his hand and shook it firmly,” I know Jim that’s why I’m marrying her....”

Chapter 1

Dreaming one day her life would change and questioning her own existence was nothing new to Jeanie. With one ear reaching out to her alarm and her thoughts in sleep her sudden awakening put everything into perspective. She was waiting for her life to start.

Lying down on the bed and quieting her clock she started the day as she always did.

Tired.

   Life and existence for the past ten years had revolved around work and waking up at four o’clock in the morning was nothing more than routine.

Looking at the bleak sky and nurturing her brew her hopes began to rise with the start of a new day and as the clock ticked ahead she stepped into her normal morning habitual practices with the thought of any adventures dying in her morning coffee. As every minute passed she felt further away from the life she was dreaming about.

   The brisk November air made her shudder and as the cold crept into her veins she walked silently down the garden path. Placing her hands in her pockets she gazed at the sparkle studded road ahead and with all of her thoughts lost in the frost as she looked deep into the sky. The stars twinkled inviting her into fantasy and as the moon’s silver light lit the path ahead she followed engagingly as it lit the way ahead. As much as the moment seemed magical the reality of the harsh cold air bit hard at her cheeks and nose and as the numbness started to flood over her face it soon broke the spell.

The rows of cottages lay asleep and as she past she longed for the close comfort of her own bed. Hiding herself in the blackness and eradicating her wishes of a desired lay in Jeanie’s tiredness soon disappeared in the efforts for keeping warm and feeling her breath plus the wet condensation on her scarf it made her quicken her pace.

   Rolling up to the gates she sighed and breathed deeply as to exhale all her thoughts, as the foggy mist appeared in the air Jeanie followed in quiet contemplation as the sparkles rose like bubbles into the sky. It was indeed the start of a beautiful morning. The factory roof looked like a Christmas card and the Nordic dangles of the icicles followed in a perfect symmetrical line and as everything matched the scene it truly seemed a magical morning.

   Catching a glimpse of her reflection in the main reception window made any moment enchantment disappear replacing it with the feeling of contempt. Throwing her head back in disgust she traced the grease and oil splattered marks from her antics with pieces of machinery and wondered when the quiet little girl would ever be seen again. As she turned sideward her reflection didn’t fare any better and her feelings regurgitated her sensation of utter repulsion. Feeling the urge she couldn’t help but comment.

“Look at the state of you. If you walked down the street like this anywhere else in the world they would think you where homeless.” Jeanie often talked to herself starting as a habit created by an incredibly large family. With the amount of people vying for attention it made difficult to get a respected answer never mind common sense and having to rely on oneself for advice and talking to her reflection had become a normal morning occurrence.

   Now demoralised Jeanie knew she always had a way of making herself feel unremarkable even treating herself as if she was nothing more spectacular than a drawing pin, but what she didn’t realise or appreciated was the glow she had inside which everyone warmed to. She captivated even the impatient listener and her ability to pull everyone into a conversation and entice their imagination was the main reason why so many staff had stayed true.

   Her father’s sudden death had impacted her life more than she cared to admit and in more ways she couldn’t get away from the fact that she was her father’s daughter. The mirror had never reflected it however; inside both were joined at the core. She missed him more these days especially now the dark nights had started to draw in. Jeanie had always been close to him even starting the business with him but his contradictory standards always confused her greatly especially when one minute he would say run for freedom and the next saying I can’t manage the company without you. Jeanie was in the middle, she was always caught in the middle and after his death her fate had been sealed and looking through the glass wasn’t going to change that.   

   Gathering herself together she opened the door to the downstairs reception and she could already hear Eric bellowing his orders. Jeanie cringed at these mornings and had regularly scorned Eric for his nonchalant attitude towards her staff.

Climbing to the platform she mischievously put her head around the door waiting for her next scolding for being late for fourth time this week.

“Good morning to you. You grumpy old bastard!” Slinging his head around he quickly slammed shut the window.

“And what time do you call this fucking place doesn’t run itself?”  Jeanie knew his bark was worse than his bite and she also knew he was digging for a reaction. Taking off her coat she walked to her desk purposely avoiding looking directly at him. Looking at the papers Jeanie never rose to his commands knowing it would frustrate him more. As Eric hit his boiling point she smiled under her scarf and with the muffled reply gave chase to his temper, “around 4:30am why?”

   Ignoring her comment he walked towards the door with his mumblings getting louder as he made his way around the gantry.

“Number seven has thrown a piston you cocky little shit and don’t give me any grief today as I’m ready for you!”

Mornings wouldn’t be the same without him and he had made her feel like a daughter even providing her with that security after her father’s death. Eric supported her through her dark days and missing her dad was easy especially when his name was in huge letters down the side of the building. Thriving on the sarcasm and non specific morning’s banter with him was no different to any other day.

Sitting down in her dad’s chair her feelings of emptiness began to rise again and as she starred out of the office window she sighed heavily wanting at least some direction instead of the catalyst of routine which set out in front of her. The wind howled around the building as it started to snow and she wished for her dad. Gazing out over the frost covered hills made it seem as if time had stood still and feeling like an onlooker in her own life the world seemed to spin without anyone really knowing her existence. She had almost become a passer-by in her own life. 

As the darkness engulfed the morning the emptiness seemed to echo her responsibility. However hearing a loud bang and Eric’s voice jolted her straight back to reality

“Shit number seven!” 

Jumping out of her seat she made her way down the steps to the shop floor and as she walked past the rows of lockers and down the side of the building the roar of a fully fledged working plant was at her feet and in her control. She didn’t feel in control.

   The petrol heater in the back masked the noise of Eric still shouting behind her and with the warmth hitting her face she tried to forget about the emptiness that rested inside.

Just another day! 

Disappearing under the press she pacified her feelings of escape but all she could think about was her nice warm bed and the sound of her seven sisters snoring and nattering in the background. Jeanie thought about them a lot and regularly worried mainly about how she was going to feed them.

   The cold floor and the smell of oil filled her senses and as she climbed underneath the resentment at the situation flooded back into mind.

“Yep it’s ok for me to get covered in shit but no Jeanie comes to work and looks like a tramp and smells like one too. ” As she twisted the bolts she bit down hard grinding her teeth as she forced the metal the turn and as they dropped out one by one she couldn’t help but think of her family.

   Jeanie loved her family unconditionally and the only reason she had kept going for this long was because she cared about them so much. Having two older and five younger sisters often made Jeanie feel out of place especially when none of the others had even taken a remote interest in the business. The difference was they where all incredibly beautiful and she knew she stuck out like a sore thumb. Stepping into her fathers shoes had been a difficult role to play and tinkering with the piston didn’t put her mind at ease either.

Jeanie’s thoughts wavered to her main concern Ivy. Her older sister had become her confident but being heavily pregnant and ill made Jeanie’s life even more complicated. A baby in the house was good news but all she could concentrate on was that it was another mouth to feed.

   Ivy had rejoined the family over a month ago and had moved in temporarily whilst George her husband was away. Jeanie understood completely that coming from such a large family and living nearly a hundred miles away must have made Ivy feel isolated. Having her home felt like more pressure and she knew she had to make the plant work. Ivy had become the defining muse she needed to focus her efforts on and the business had to make money or else all of them would be destitute.

The oil dripped down her face and along her brow causing her hair to act like a sponge soaking up the small puddle which was now beginning to take shape. Whilst Ivy played on her mind she continued to feel uneasy knowing something would happen soon if not tonight.

  Ivy had become more than a big sister and she was afraid of loosing the only confident she’d had. Ivy knew she would do anything for them and in her efforts to make her sister feel welcome Jeanie had given up her room and bed awaiting the imminent arrival.

   Trying to forget and trying hard to concentrate she ploughed ahead there was nothing else she could do after all she couldn’t have the baby for her. The only thing she knew was routine and today couldn’t be any different.