A stranger' s knock

When a stranger turned up on Richard' s doorstep, he was transported into his past¼

When a stranger knocked on my front door, at 8.35 on a Saturday night, I didn' t know that it would change my life forever.

I checked the spy hole. A young woman was standing on the path and, as she looked harmless enough, I opened the door.

Hello. Can I help you?'

`Are you Richard Brown? Yes,' I said cagily.

Good!' She looked me straight in the eye. My name' s Marianne Harlow.'

Then she launched into a sob story about her boyfriend: He came home drunk, I was so scared of what he might do, I ran away.'

She shuddered and looked back over her shoulder as if she was worried he might have followed her.

If there' s one thing I can' t stand, it' s violence against women so I invited her in and then grabbed my phone. I' m calling the police.'

Don' t! Please¼ All I need is a bed for the night.'

She sounded so worried, I guessed she' d had run-ins with the law before.

Look, I' d really like to help you, but I have no idea who you are.' I reached for my wallet. Let me give you the money for a guest house. There' s one not far from here.'

Her reply was to rummage in her oversized bag, then pull out an old photograph and press it into my hand.

Coming to you was my mother' s idea. That' s her when she was 19.'

One look at that photograph tugged me back into the past so savagely, I couldn' t breathe for a moment.

Lizbeth!' I gasped. I haven' t seen her for years.' So can I stay with you?'

No! Of course you can' t stay with me.'

My girlfriend' s voice wafted down the stairs. What' s going on down there? Who was at the door?'

Nobody!' I shouted back. Stay where you are, I won' t be long.' I turned back to Marianne. I have company. You need to go home.'

I can' t!' she said and promptly burst into tears. Every time Bill lashes out, he says he' s sorry and it will never happen again, but it always does.

She pulled up her sleeve and showed me a nasty set of bruises.

You need to tell him where to go,' I said softly. A man should never hit a woman. There' s no excuse for it.'

She nodded but I wasn' t sure the message was getting through.

Please let me stay here,'

One look at that photograph tugged me back into the past so savagely, I couldnÕ t breatheÕ

she begged, but I shook my head.

I can' t. It wouldn' t be right.' I was about to open the front door when she said something that blew my entire world to pieces.

You have to let me stay you' re my father.'

If she' d hit me with a brick, I couldn' t have been more shocked.

I tried to make sense of what she was saying.

The last time I saw Lizbeth, she was engaged to Andy Platt. Isn' t he your father?'

Marianne shook her head. Mum said to remind you about Valentine' s Day.

I didn' t need reminding. Lizbeth and I only spent one night together. It was 20 years ago, but I remembered those few precious hours like it was yesterday.

She' d turned up on my doorstep in tears, a livid bruise developing on her cheek.

Andy hit me,' she' d sobbed. Can I crash on your sofa tonight?'

Of course I agreed. I' d been in love with her for ages. She was, still is, the only women I' ve ever had true feelings for.

She hadn' t wanted to talk, so I didn' t press her. I gave her something to eat and drink, made up the sofa, and then went to bed.

It was hard to sleep, but I must have drifted off because I woke up to find her climbing into bed beside me.

When she kissed me, I should have pushed her away, but I wasn' t strong enough. That night was so special, so amazing, I thought we would be together for always, but it wasn' t to be.

The next morning, Andy turned up on my doorstep, shouting and swearing and demanding that Lizbeth went home with him.

He took a swing at me, and without thinking, I swung back.

A lucky punch landed on the bridge of his nose. I' ve never seen so much blood. Lizbeth came tearing down the stairs as if the house was on fire.

What have you done?' she cried.

Minutes later, they' d both disappeared.

Icalled her the next day, but she didn' t want to know. She told me that Andy had come to his senses that he' d changed.

Soon after that, I heard they were getting married.

I left town, unable to bear the thought that my lucky' punch had lost me the woman I loved.

I joined a gym, vowing that the next time a bully took a swing at me, I' d be ready.

I gave up on romance and put all of my energies into building a successful career in marketing.

Since then, a succession of women have breezed into and out of my life, attracted by my money and my lifestyle. But none of them had touched, let alone melted, my frozen heart.

Whether I was Marianne' s father or not didn' t really matter she was Lizbeth' s daughter. I couldn' t throw her out, so I told her she could stay the night. Are you hungry?' Starving.' I nodded. Right, grab yourself something to eat, while I let my girlfriend know what' s going on.'

T hat night was so special, so amazing, I t hought we would be together for alwaysÕ

Lucy was sitting on the bed in her underwear.

I' m sorry, but you need to leave,' I said. I have an unexpected visitor.'

She tried to argue, but I said: It' s too complicated to explain right now.'

On her way out, she spotted Marianne. I see¼

Isn' t she a bit young for you?'

It' s not what it looks like. Please, just go. I' ll explain everything tomorrow.'

Moments after she' d left, the doorbell rang again and I thought Lucy had forgotten something.

But it wasn' t Lucy it was Bill. All six feet and 15 stone of him.

I' ve come to fetch Marianne.' He tried to barge his way past me but I stood my ground.

Not so fast! I need to ask her if she wants to see you.'

He wasn' t in the mood to listen

and forced his way inside.

Marianne!' he shouted. Your mother told me where you were. Come out now or I' ll hurt your sugar daddy.'

You' ve got it all wrong,' I said. I' m not her boyfriend.'

Really?' he asked in a voice that oozed mockery. Then who the hell are you?'

Instead of waiting for my reply, he took a swing at me.

But I was ready for him. I ducked out of harm' s way and aimed a kick at his groin.

He dropped to the floor like a stone, just as Marianne appeared.

Sorry,' I said. I didn' t want to hurt him but he went for me.'

I expected Marianne to go to him, the way her mother had when I broke Andy' s nose. Instead she ran to me, flung her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek.

Thank you!' she said. I' ve wanted somebody to do that for ages.'

Then, ever so calmly, she gave Bill his marching orders.

We' re finished! I never want to see you again. If you come back here, my dad will make you wish you' d never been born.'

Bill eventually skulked away.

As soon as he was gone, Marianne grabbed her bag.

You' re not going after him, are you?' I gasped

She laughed. No way. I' m off to buy a decent bottle of plonk so we can celebrate.'

Over the next couple of hours, Marianne told me more about her life.

I didn' t want to end up like Mum, working two jobs to support a lazy husband, but I couldn' t seem to stop myself. After Mum got divorced, we had a long chat.

She begged me not to make the same mistakes she' d made. She told me to get rid of Bill and find somebody who was worthy of my love.

When I said I didn' t know how and that I was scared of him, she told me about you. She said, if anyone could sort

Bill out, you could, and that she wished she' d chosen you rather than my dad. That' s why I came here.'

I thought you said that I was your dad,' I said softly.

Marianne hung her head, I only said that so you' d let me stay. I' m really sorry. I was scared I didn' t know what else to do.'

Luckily I managed to see the funny side. Well, you had me all right. So, what will you do now?'

Go and stay with Mum until I can find somewhere else to live.'

Then I asked the question I' d wanted to ask for hours.

Where' s your mother living these days? Is she still in Exeter?'

Marianne nodded. I' ll catch the early train tomorrow morning.' She paused and looked me in the eye. Unless you want to give me a lift? Mum, would love to see you again.'

My heart lurched. Did she say that?'

Not in so many words, but she' s been following your career for years. That' s how I knew where you lived.'

I shook my head. I can' t¼

It' s been too long.'

Marianne didn' t try to press me, which was lucky, as I wouldn' t have known what to say.

She left the house the next morning before I woke up.

When I stripped the spare bed, I found she' d left a note under the pillow.

Thanks for helping me. Sorry for leaving so early, but I'm useless at goodbyes. This is Mum's number. Call her some time. I know she'd love to hear from you.

I stood there for more than a minute, unable to move.

Then I put the note in my shirt pocket, next to my heart, and went downstairs to call my girlfriend.

I' m sorry, Lucy, we can' t see each other any more. It' s not you it' s me.'

Is it something to do with that girl from last night?' she demanded.

Kind of,' I said.

She gave me an earful and I couldn' t blame her, so I waited until she ran out of steam and apologised again.

I didn' t mean to hurt you, but I need some time on my own while I get my life sorted out.'

After that, I sat down to make the most important phone call of my life. A call I should have made two years ago when I first heard that Lizbeth and Andy had finally split up.

Those few seconds, while I waited for her to answer, seemed to last a lifetime.

When a familiar voice said hello, I couldn' t speak. All I could do was sit there, grinning like a fool.

Hello,' she said again. Is anybody there?'

Hi, Lizbeth. It' s Richard. Can we talk?'

When she said yes, I knew I was the luckiest man on earth and all thanks to a stranger knocking on my door one evening.

ÔM um told me about you. She said if anyone could sor t Bill out, you couldÉ T hat s why I cameÕ