Chapter 1

Carl turned off the ignition and peered through the rain-streaked window. There it was, 37 Coronation Terrace, his and Jenny's new home. A Victorian terrace house in the North of England. It looked different to how he remembered it. But they had viewed it on a bright summer's morning. It was now winter, dark, and miserable.

               What had Carol, the estate agent, said? 'A fixer-upper with bags of potential, and priced for a quick sale!' Carl nodded. She was right. It was a keen price, and it definitely had promise. He glanced at Jenny as she stirred in the passenger seat. She had fallen in love with the house the moment she walked up the front steps. She was so taken with the property they signed on the dotted line without viewing another. Three months later, here they were, moving in.

Jenny opened her eyes and yawned. 'Are we there?'

                'Yep.'

                She looked at Carl and frowned. 'Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go in.'

                Carl tightened his grip on the steering wheel. 'Are you sure we've done the right thing?'

                Jenny looked at him and smiled. 'Of course we have. It might be difficult to begin with. You're bound to miss your family, and I know you're worried about starting your new job. But things will soon settle down.'

                He nodded and patted her leg. 'You're right. I'm just being silly. Come on, let's go inside.'

Carl closed the boot and staggered up the steps with two large canvas bags. He pushed the front door open with his foot and stepped inside. 'Hey, Jen, switch the lights on. I can't see a bloody thing!'

                Jenny emerged from the darkness of the lounge. 'I can't. The fuses have gone.'

                'You're kidding?' said Carl, dropping the bags in the hallway. He removed his phone from his pocket and switched on the torch function. He then knelt next to a small wooden cupboard beside the front door and opened it. After peering inside, he looked up at Jenny. 'I thought you meant the fuses had blown.'

                'No, I said they were gone.'

                'Well, who would take them?' said Carl, getting to his feet.

                'I don't know. Come on, there's something else.'