Unexpected

by Alex Deakin

Unexpected – one man, three women and a natural desire that turns into a dangerous obsession. How far will they go to get their own way? There’s only one way to find out … ***“Hello, I’m Adam. I’m a freelance software engineer and a bit of a geek. Imogen, she’s my wife by the way, reckons I’m OCD but attention to detail’s important in my job. That doesn’t make me OCD, does it? I’ve got a twin sister, but I don’t want to talk about her … she’s a miserable bitch and she’s done nothing but cause trouble for years. Imogen gets ratty with me because I want us to start a family. What’s wrong with wanting to settle down, move into my old family home and have a couple of kids? Better than living in an over-priced, trendy flat where there’s no room to swing a cat. But to hear Imogen talk, you’d think I was being unreasonable. Then there’s Amanda. I can’t tell you too much about her in case anyone finds out. By anyone I mean Imogen, of course. But lets just say … Amanda and I go back a long way and she understands me.” ***“Hi! I’ll be with you in a minute. Passport, tickets, laptop, memory stick, credit cards … that’s it, I’m ready. Sorry, I’m Imogen. I’m in a bit of a rush. I’ve got an hour to get to the airport. I work for an international advertising agency and I suppose you could say I’m a successful career woman. The exact opposite to Adam, in fact. Bless him! He’s my steady, reliable rock. He keeps me grounded, and there’s nothing I love more than coming home to him and our gorgeous waterfront apartment.Between you and me, I’m worried about Adam. He’s desperate to have a baby and it’s bordering on obsession. I’m not saying no, but I can’t give up everything I’ve worked for to change nappies and mop up sick. In a couple of years, perhaps. Adam wants us to sell our lovely apartment and move to a grotty old house that belonged to his mother – over my dead body! My sister-in-law owns half that house but she probably wouldn’t sell it to us anyway, so I’m not going to worry about it. Rebecca and Adam don’t get on, you see. I’ve only met her briefly a couple of times and from everything Adam’s told me about her, that’s probably just as well.” ***“I’m Rebecca, Adam’s sister. Has he described me as his evil twin? Yes, I thought he probably had. As you might have guessed, I know him a bit too well. He’s married now, so perhaps he’s changed. I don’t envy Imogen, though. What did she do to deserve someone like Adam? But I don’t want to influence you. You’ll have to make up your own mind about my dear twin brother.Still, the whole time I’m living on another continent and getting half the rent from Mum’s old house, I don’t need to have anything to do with Adam or his wife. And that suits me fine.”***“You want me to say something? What if anyone finds out? Okay, if you say so …I’m Amanda and I really don’t think I should be speaking to you. I hope you know how to keep your mouth shut. Not many people know about me so if Imogen finds out, I’ll know who told her …I’m a thirty-something redhead. There again, I might be blonde tomorrow so you wouldn’t recognise me anyway. I will admit to being a bit of a shopaholic and I love pretty things. Oh yes, and I’ll do anything to get my own way.

297 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2014