Shadow of You

Authors Note:

This is my first time writing, and I am very new. I own all the characters and idea, any similarities to people or situations living are purely coincidental.

Summary

Annie Howlett is starting a new chapter in her life after the untimely death of her husband. Swearing to never fall in love again and branch out on her own in a new town, new job in Fleetham Archives but takes with her a cloud full of memories.

Eric Williams. 36. Ex Offender. Restarting his life in his old home village. Careful with the truth. He wore his lies like other men wore cologne. But when he meets Annie he realises love is dangerous because love gives him hope that he is worthy of love...

Secrets unravel in the small village of Fleetham and will Eric ever tell Annie the truth?

Shadow of You

By Laura Gilmore

Dedicated to my friends

You were my cherry blossom, and I never knew,

I thought you were my evergreen,

But it was never meant to be.

Prologue

I didn’t mean to hurt you

So why I let you walk out the door

You said that you don’t know me

You don’t know who I am anymore

You & Me- James TW

“Annie, his funeral is today,”

Harriet Owens said.

Annie Woods-Howlett sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the carpet as sunlight snuck through the half-drawn curtains. The world felt muffled, as if she were underwater, everything slowed and distant. The house echoed with an unsettling quiet, so different from the storm of shouting and slamming doors just a month before. She had barely touched the clothes on her chair, the mug left from the night before now cold by the side of the bed—a small, everyday reminder of how little had changed, and yet how everything was different.

Harriet slung her arm around Anemone as she started to cry.

“Harriet, it had to be here, didn’t it? She couldn’t even let me have control of my husband’ funeral,”

Needing no introduction to who “she” was Harriet hugged her best friend tighter.

Harriet squeezed her shoulder gently, her own eyes glistening. “You know she always has to be in charge, Annie. But today isn’t about her. It’s about saying goodbye, on your own terms if you have to.” The two women stood in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them, mingling with the scent of lilies and old paper. Outside, a car horn sounded distantly, reminding them that life, however cruel, insisted on moving forward.

“Babes, I promise you will not have to deal with THAT woman again; Do I ever let you down?”

Annie turned. Steadying herself she folded her arms, and her gaze was drawn outside as large Range Rovers arrived, doors slamming loudly and several relatives she recognised as her husband’ family emerged.

Harriet took a deep breath, steadying her voice. “Look, Annie, no matter what she does, you have every right to grieve in your own way. Let’s get through today together and tomorrow can start fresh.” Annie nodded, wiping her tears, as the unfamiliar burden of loss settled quietly between them. The soft hum of the boiler kicking in was the only sound for a moment, underscoring how changed everything now felt.

The doorbell rang; Harriet shook her head. “No, you stay here. Tea. Drink it, babes,” she added pointing at the brightly pink painted teapot on the doily covered coffee table. Before Harriett could get there Lorraine Woods, Garrett’s sister, had gotten there first, dressed in her finest Versace black dress, her slender body elongated by the long fishtail style. Her long spaghetti arms draped around her rather beefy, red faced cousin who was wearing a smart suit accompanied with a tartan flat cap.

“Oh Tarron, Georgia!” and Lorrain threw her arms around her cousins overtly, gregarious and loudly. Annie appeared at the doorway behind Harriett. Lorraine withdrew from their hug eventually and sobbing she pointed to the rooms down the hallway. Turning to see Annie her demeanour changed, her sobbing subsiding and scowled. “You didn’t want to welcome our family yourself, did you?”

Lorraines cousin gave Annie a curt nod, then turned away to mutter something under his breath about the traffic. Lorraine hovered awkwardly for a moment, her eyes flicking between Annie and the chaos of knick-knacks, before smoothing her dress and clearing her throat. “Mum’s outside—she wants to come in but she says she’s not ready to see you yet,” Lorraine announced, her tone clipped but her gaze softening as she noticed Annie’s red-rimmed eyes. Despite everything, Annie managed a polite nod, swallowing the sharp retort that rose in her throat. Harriet shot Lorraine a warning look, but said nothing, instead moving to stand protectively beside her friend, forming an unspoken barrier between Annie and the looming presence of Garrett’s family. The air was thick with fragile civility, and for a moment, no one moved.

Harriet turned to Annie and smiling said “Teas getting cold, babes, come on” and gently placed her hand in the small of her back guided Annie back into the lounge. Lorraine turned and followed her cousins into the dinning room without a backward glance, her stiletto heels clacking noisily across the parquet floor.

Annie took a shaky breath and glanced at the clock above the mantelpiece, its ticking suddenly deafening in the hush. “We should go,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. The two friends gathered their things, pausing only for Harriet to straighten the collar on Annie’s jacket and offer a small, encouraging smile. As they made their way to the door, Annie hesitated, casting one last look around the cluttered room—a silent farewell to the fragments of a life now lost. The day ahead loomed dauntingly, but together, they stepped out, resolved to face whatever awaited.

//////

A feeling of sorrowful dread filled her belly. Like a lead balloon she collapsed into the back of the funeral car, shuffling her supermarket bought skirt over her black sheer stockings. Annie closed her eyes tightly trying to prevent the overwhelming flood of emotion. Not wanting to encourage it she tried desperately to pull other images to the forefront of her mind. Harriett appeared a second later and settled next to Annie she then placed her oversized handbag on the empty spot beside her to avoid any unwanted guests joining them.

The cars all began to slowly pull away and took a twisted, turning journey over the valley heading towards the crematorium. The cortege crawled slowly upwards along the step roads past emerald-green hills and dove-grey stone farm buildings.

The landscape outside blurred past the window, rain drizzling down the glass and turning the world into streaks of grey and green. Annie felt the chill seep into her bones despite the thick wool of her coat. She couldn’t help but notice the contrast between the solemn hush inside the car and the bustle of the world carrying on, indifferent, outside. Harriet offered her a tissue, her silence a gentle anchor. The hearse pulled away, tyres crunching on the wet gravel, as Annie squeezed her friend’s hand—grateful for her presence, even as words failed her.

Annie was increasingly made to feel like an outsider by Garrett’s family. After his funeral the Woods family WhatsApp group grew suspiciously quiet. Not even their 15-year-old Percy Jackson obsessed niece was posting funny memes in the chat. She had stared at her decrepit for an hour, waiting on anyone to call- in particular a call from her potential future employer.

Harriett impatiently broke the silence.

“You have a serious addiction to impatience, babes” she said, Annie looked up abruptly. “That thing won’t ring until its ready, come on. You haven’t even started packing babes” Harriet said pointedly her eyes drawn to the empty boxes and photos still hanging on the walls. “You’re moving out in two weeks...”

“I think I broke it,” Annie said ignoring Harriet, fixating on her mobile, panicking. “I’m sure yesterday I had diet coke in my bag and oh damn it-”

Harriet reached across the table snatching up the phone, she glanced over it hastily then pushed it into the pocket of her leather jacket. “It is fine. We need to focus on you and getting you out of this house. For good.”

“I can’t move house properly until I know about the job, his family are ignoring me, Christ even my cats have abandoned me,” Annie added mopingly staring at Mia and Pips empty cat baskets.

“Oh babes they never use those things anyway, they have not abandoned you.”

Harriet’ leather jacket buzzed and Annie dived at her friend but Harriet was quicker and answered it before Annie had chance. Harriet grinned.

“Annie Howletts PA,” Annie rolled her eyes. “Yes, aha, oh I am sure she would be thrilled to start on March 3rd, I’ll get her to phone you back to confirm.” Harriet hung up and beamed at Annie.

“Harriet Owens!”

“You got it babes, now can we please, please start packing!”

//////

March 20th 2024 12:32

The city had always been home. Noisy, busy never stopping for a beat and a thrum hummed through her veins like tramlines of the city. Annie threw her gaze across the familiar outline of half built tower blocks and gigantic hotels. Each time she looked out the window she swore there was a new building rising from the ground adding to a collection of vast steel stalactites glaring changes were staring at her from all angles.

“Miaow, Moaw!”

///

Annie was packing away her old life. The house sold sign had barely gone up before Annie was packing her life away to move to a new place where she could escape the old memories trapped in the walls of 1262 Holywell Green. Even her cats were ready for the move, Mia had settled on a wicker basket full of DVDs and Zip was playing in a box full of foam peanuts.

And before Annie knew it foam peanuts were littering the floor, swishing away was the little panda-esque Zip looking rather pleased with her efforts. Mia, midnight black, was curled up lazily barely paying attention to the world as it unfolded around her. Annie was convinced when they arrived at the new house Mia would barely have noticed.

“Zip!” she scolded as peanuts went flying everywhere, luckily the now tipped over box contained few items. Annie shuffled the peanuts back in, picking up the photo frames and cold shock ran through her like an electric current. Staring back at her was Garrett on their graduation day fifteen years previously. Tears threatened to overwhelm her and she hurriedly pushed the photograph deep inside the box.

“Annie, there isn’t much room left. Think it will have to be two trips, Annie?”

“Cheers Dad, that’d be great,” Annie said casting a glance around the now bare walls. “Dad- its going to be okay, isn’t it?” she asked apprehensively. A suitcase and few boxes still stood silent against the walls of her living room.

The house felt emptier than ever as Annie zipped the final suitcase shut, its echo bouncing off bare walls. Sunlight filtered weakly through the dust-speckled windows, illuminating the scattered remains of a once-busy home: a forgotten mug, a lone shoe, a half-burnt candle. Most things were packed away ready to go but each object seemed to tug at her heart, yet she moved steadily, driven by the knowledge that she had to let go to move forward.

“Annie we can put more stuff in Alex’s car- he says he can make more room.” Harriet said wandering into the living room, her curly raven-black hair curled up into a messy bun. She shooed Mia out of the basket of DVDs, Mia hissed angrily and ran out up the stairs. “Damn it! Come back you little -” catching Mr. Howletts eye Harriet adjusted her tone, even at 37 no one swore around ex-headteacher Mr. Howlett.

Harriet returned with Mia in her arms, scratches all up her arms and handed her to Mr. Howlett who had the cat basket ready. Annie hovered nearby, quietly folding the last of the living room and stacking boxes by the door, it was almost time.

Together, with a final sweep of the room, she prepared to leave, hearts heavy yet hopeful for what might lie ahead.

////

The drive felt interminable, each bend in the road drawing Annie further from everything familiar. When they finally arrived in Fleetham, the rain had let up, leaving the air damp and heavy with the scent of wet earth.

Fleetham was a small collection of cottages, large farms and a huge former stately home which was proudly promoted as Yorkshires number one wedding venue. A small village was just what she craved, and the chance to explore each little footpath and meandering road was calling her name. A fresh start.

Annie had her phone on her lap monitoring it closely while her dad drove. Harriett and her boyfriend Alex following behind them in his white Lexus.

“Take the next right,”

They pulled up to a steep hill and gently drove downwards passing fields, farmhouses and several cows clustering beneath the one solo tree found in many fields.

Annie tried to focus on the passing scenery out the window, but each field and fence post seemed to blend into the next, her mind swimming with memories of home and the uncertainty of what awaited her in her new life. She wondered if the village shop would stock her favourite biscuits, or if the sound of owls at night would be enough to lull her to sleep in this unfamiliar place. Her heart and head had to move on, wallowing in her might have been was futile, and with every mile they travelled she came closer to leaving the past behind.

“It’ll rain soon,” Simon said glancing at the heavily clouded sky. “Text your mother tell her to bring the washing in,”

“Dad- we’re like 100 miles from Didsbury, how do you know it’ll be raining there???”

“Annie I know these things, just text her.”

They drove to the very bottom of the hill and the lane curved leading to a single long row of Yorkshire stone built cottages each one with a different brightly coloured door- no numbers but each one had its own name plaque.

“Which one is it?” Simon asked slowing the car down and turning off the engine.

“It is,” she said flicking through her email app. “Earlsheaton” she said “ummm…. Light blue door”

“Ah there,” he said. Pointing to a house one door over next to one with a vase of sunflowers in the window. “Right, lets get you in. You have your keys?”

“Harriet has got them- I kinda figured she would beat us here given you know” she teased

“We had a sat nav I don’t always get lost, remember I am your father I know things,” her Dad protested.

“Dad you couldn’t remember how to get back to Manchester without us which is why Harriet is here helping,”

Annie stepped out, blinking rapidly to clear her mind, her shoes sinking slightly into the gravel as she surveyed the modest village before her. Rows of stone cottages huddled together against the persistent drizzle, their windows aglow with the soft amber light of late afternoon. She gripped her bag a little tighter, nerves fluttering in her chest, knowing this place would soon become the backdrop to the next chapter of her life.

They began to unpack the car. Annie felt excitement and trepidation begin to consume her as she cracked open the boot noisily. “Hmmm,” she thought looking at the loo roll- her dad was right best thing to get out first- that and a kettle and her box of Sainsburys Finest earl grey tea bags.

Mr. Howlett rolled his eyes, but a slight smile played on his lips. “I’ll have you know, Annie, in my day we didn’t need sat navs or Google Maps. We just had a good sense of direction and a bit of luck.” Annie laughed, shaking her head as she grabbed her bag from the footwell. The air outside was fresh, tinged with the faint scent of rain on stone, and the quiet that fell over the cottages felt comforting after the bustle of the motorway.

“First things first,” Mr. Howlett said. “Put that ruddy kettle on,”