Against The Odds

by Senna Fisher

  “Hello Rebecca, I am fine. Jono is driving me a little crazy, treating me like I am ill.”

  “How sweet.”

  “No it is not. He refused to let me go and do the shopping with him today. I was to stay at home and put up my feet. Gosh, does he think I am going to stay indoors for nine months? He wakes up in the night to see if I am alright.”

  “Oh Jackie. Give him a break. I mean, the man has waited so long. Anyway, he will get the hang of it soon enough.”

  “I don’t think so. He is worried that we will become like you and Clayton. He keeps saying he wants to be sure that there are no creatures. I was very bad the other night. He woke me up to ask me if I was alright. I was so angry that I told him that I thought he was my Protector. He completely freaked out. He was so angry when I started laughing. You should have seen his face, shocked horror, that his precious back might be beaten. It was too funny.”

  “You are so wicked. That is the most frightening thing for him. Oh, how could you?”

  “I will do it again if he doesn’t back off. How is Clayton?”

  “Fine. Out bonding with my father. They have been gone for hours. I don’t even want to think about what they are talking about. But it is lovely out here. I feel very relaxed.”

  “Good, you needed that. How is your Mum?”

  “Very well, she is out in the garden, talking to her plants. Tell Jono that.”

  They laughed and Jackie said, “yes, when you get back, we will have dinner, so we can torture him together. It will be great fun. Call me again, please, so I will feel sane.”

  Rebecca went to the garden to join her mother.

  “Mum, shall we cook? It is getting late.”

  “Yes, sure, start. I will join you in a minute.”

  Rebecca went into the kitchen and watched her mother through the window. Will she cope as well as her mother did? The way she accepted her life, without too much anxiety?

  While her mother helped her in the kitchen, they gossiped about Rowena’s witch friends. They laughed about spells they had tried that had gone wrong.

  “Mum, I crossed over.”

  Rebecca said it, the simple statement she had tried so hard to deny.

  “What, darling, what do you mean?”

  “That night, I crossed over and could not find my way back. That is why I do not want to do it again.”

  “Rebecca, Rebecca, what are you saying? That you died?”

  “Yes, Mum. Yes. I have not been able to say that, to myself and to Clayton.”

  “Rebecca, baby, why did you not tell us?”

  She went over and held her child. She had died? Oh my word, it had been much worse than she had imagined. The poor thing. How could this happen to my child?

  “Oh, my baby.”

  They stood there, in the kitchen, holding each together and crying. When Rebecca eventually told her mother everything, she felt so much better. Her mother, however, felt a lot worse. She had never anticipated that her daughter would go through so much.

  When Clayton got into the car with George, he was concerned. Was he wrong to have told her father? He seemed so lost now, so far away.

  “George, I am sorry I told you about this. I just think you need to understand what she has been through.”

  “Clayton, my boy, there is no need to be sorry. I am glad you told me. We would have just pushed her into doing more, when she was not ready. That would be far more dangerous.”

  “George, I don’t want to deal with this today. I want her to be ready to talk about it, to share with me or you. I can’t even imagine how she will feel when she realizes what happened to her. You know, when she was up there, she was just smiling. There was no fear, no anxiety, but her body was crying. I don’t want to push her right now. Please, can we do it some other time?”

  “Yes, I don’t think I am ready to talk about it too. Let us leave it alone. Anyway, her mother needs to know and she will not deal well with it. She has spent years feeling guilty and helpless and this has been her greatest fear. Anyway, I am too drunk now. I need time to find a way that this will be okay.”

  “Yes and I will get through to Rebecca. Thank you for listening. I have never really been able to say it, out loud before. It just clung in my mind all this time. Now that I have said it, I think I can speak to Rebecca too. Let’s leave it for now.”

  When they got to the house, they were greeted by the beautiful aroma of food and Clayton, always hungry, was ready to eat. They ate quietly, hardly speaking.

  You know, don’t you?

  Yes, she told me this afternoon.

  God, Rowena, how can she sit so calmly there, as if nothing happened?

  Because she is still too scared. She needs time. Clayton told you?

  Yes, he is devastated.

  I can see. What shall we do?

  Nothing, my dear, nothing. Clayton says he wants to deal with it, his way

  Okay, but ......

  “Can you two please stop that? You have guests, Mum.”

  “What, darling?”

  “Mum, please. Give it a rest.”

  “Rebecca tells me you went to see Nana’s house today. How was it?”

  Clayton tried to distract her, because he could tell Rebecca was getting agitated.

  “I still feel odd about seeing other people there. There are three kids who play outside all the time. They moved in about six months ago. The woman, Chloe, seems to like the house and the garden looks great. My mother would have been proud.”

  “Yes, I liked seeing the kids there. That is the way Nana always liked it. Tons of kids running around there, making a noise. I would come back from school to visit her and there would be kids entertaining her. I would get so jealous sometimes. My special Nana, and all those strangers.”

  After dinner, George and his wife went off to bed early. Rebecca thought, she is going to tell him now. I hope he does not make a scene and get all fatherly possessive. But neither George nor his wife emerged from their bedroom.

  “Clayton, you look a little tired. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, a little drunk, I think. I need to go to bed, all alone....”

  “Oh stop that, we are leaving tomorrow, so it is only one night.”

  “Come, let me tuck you in, okay?”

  “Okay, but do you promise to behave, Clayton?”

  “I guess I have to.....”

  She fell off to sleep, with Clayton rubbing her back with his right hand. However, she woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep. The mood around the house had been different, a bit sad, and she knew that Clayton was trying to help her. I miss him. I can’t sleep without him tonight. She went into his bedroom and he was asleep. She climbed into the bed and curled up against him. He woke up and held her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Hmm, looking for some company. I thought you might enjoy the surprise.”

  “Yes, nice. Are you trying to charm me?”

  “Yes, no. I could not sleep.”

  “Why do you need to charm me? Have you been corrupt?”

  “Yes, I have been. I have been difficult these last few weeks. I’m sorry.”

  “Relax, it’s been okay.” He hugged her closer, “But you must sleep now or I won’t behave, okay?”

  “Okay, okay...”

  Clayton was fast asleep again. He must be really tired, she thought, because I am the one who usually falls off to sleep first.

  But Clayton was not asleep. He did not want to talk to her now because he knew himself well enough to know that he would have insisted that they talk about her experience and they would fight. Not now, I can’t fight now, he thought.

  In the morning Clayton had packed his things and was sitting in the garden with her father when she finally woke up. She realized that they were talking about her because they suddenly kept quiet when they saw her making her way to the garden.

  “Good morning. What are you are up to so early in the morning?”

  “Good mor
ning, Sweetpea. In case you haven’t noticed, it is ten already. We’ve had breakfast and your mother has gone over to see one of her friends. Go, get some breakfast and join us.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize it is so late already.” She went into the kitchen and Clayton followed her.

  “Good morning, Princess,” and he held her.

  “Now, go and sit with your father, I’ll get you something.”

  “I like this, you serving me.”

  “That’s alright because you will definitely serve me later when we get home.”

  His blue eyes were shining.

  When he brought the breakfast, Rebecca was laughing with her father. Clayton looked at her and clearly visualized himself ripping her blouse off.

  She got a shock and jumped up, clutching her blouse.

  “What is the matter, Princess?”

  “Oh, ur.. Nothing....”

  Clayton and the George looked at each other and smiled. Good, let her suffer. His mind games were just beginning.

  *****

  Chapter 25

  While they driving back, Clayton was quiet. He had learnt to shut her off and he was doing so very nicely. He wanted them to get home, sit down and finally talk. He was not prepared to let these silences stand between them. Anyway, she seemed a bit nervous about something. She wants to say something, but does not know how to.

  “Clayton, I have a confession to make.”

  “Really, what have you done?”

  “Well, it is not something I have done exactly. It is what I haven’t done.”

  His phone was ringing. Shit, she thought, not now.

  It was Jonathan, bemoaning his wife’s unreasonable carelessness about their baby.

  “She wants to go to the attic in that old house they are decorating, to ‘see for herself’ what the place needs. I mean, that is why she employs all those people to do those things. Why can’t she send someone up there?”

  “Jono, these women are really full of nonsense. Tell her that she is not to climb those stairs. I have been in that house. It is awful. It looks like it is going to fall apart any day. Jono, take control. That is much your baby as it is hers. Nonsense. Put her on the phone.”

  Rebecca was staring at him. Has he gone mad? Who would ever tell Jackie what to do? He was as bad as Jonathan. Was Jackie to stay in bed for nine months?

  “Jackie, what’s this nonsense that you are going inside the death trap attic?”

  “Hello Clayton. I’m fine thank you. I am going to have a look at the design, because I have some ideas. What’s the big deal?”

  “The big deal, my dear, is that your husband will never forgive himself if anything happened to you. Be reasonable, Jackie, that place is awful. Send someone else, okay?”

  “No, Clayton, I can’t stop living now. I am only a few weeks pregnant. What do you expect me to do? Stay at home for nine months? I want the baby as much as he does, you know that. But I am not ill or anything.”

  “Jackie, listen to me. This is not the time to assert yourself with him. Look, try to see his perspective. He can’t do anything to help, so he watches from a distance.”

  “What do you want me to do? You guys are crazy.”

  “Okay, calm down. Listen, how about this. Let someone else deal with the attic and you get the rest of the house. Or, Jono is right, they can tell you what is up there and you can work on it from the ground. Think about how helpless he feels right now. If you fight him, he will just get worse and then you will spend the next nine months in the house. Just show him you understand his fear and he will be okay.”

  “But Clay, he won’t let me do anything.”

  “Yes, because you have not shown him that you are willing to accept his help and concern. Make a concession so that he knows you are being responsible. You know he will back off. Come on, J, give the man a break.”

  “Okay, you sound just like Rebecca. Fine. I won’t go into the attic but I will go shopping and everything else.”

  “That’s my girl. Just show consideration for him. This is not easy for him. I’ll get him to back off on the other stuff, okay?”

  “Okay, thanks. How was your visit?”

  “Very good. We are almost back home now. It was wonderful and relaxing. Rebecca says hello and she will call you later, privately. Put your husband on the phone.”

  “Jono, listen, she had agreed not to go in the attic but you have to forget the rules about her other movements. You stopped her from going shopping?”

  “Yes, she walks around for hours, no rest, and no food.”

  “Jono, I don’t think that is going to work. Perhaps it might be best if you went shopping, but stopped off for lunch, rest and the like. If you push her, you know she will just get impossible.”

  “I know. She has been a complete witch to me. She keeps fighting about how I am treating her like a child. I have to. I want her to relax and enjoy it. We waited so long.”

  “Yes, but nine months is a long time for her. If she is not entertained, then she will get hectic with you. It is also new to her, you know.”

  “Okay, thanks. Say hello to Rebecca for me.”

  Clayton smiled when he stopped talking.

  “You women, you always try a man’s patience.”

  “What did I do? Anyway, what is this tell her what to do?”

  “Sometimes a man has got to take control and stop the nonsense.”

  “What? Take control? Of what, the women?”

  “Yes, Princess. Otherwise you get away with murder. Now, that confession, let’s hear it.”

  “Maybe later. You are in that ‘I am the boss mood’.”

  “Playing for time again? Knowing how much I hate it? That will certainly help you.”

  He looked at her, his mind on her blouse and he did it again. He ripped it off with his mind. She glared back at him, shocked and he looked out the window.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “We’ll see about that,” and this time his mind ripped off her jeans.

  He watched her touch her belly and wanted to laugh. He looked out the window again. “Your parents are great. It is so interesting to visit them.”

  “Interesting?”

  “The way they talk to each other.”

  “Yes, nice. Clayton I am going to sleep now.”

  “Why? We are almost at your house. Trying to run away again?”

  “Clayton, stop it. I don’t want to talk to you. Go away and stop trying to get into my head.”

  He laughed and said nothing.

  When they had taken out their bags, Clayton complained that he was starving.

  “Okay, what do you want to eat?”

  He looked at her and ripped off her jeans again. She was startled.

  “I think I want a sandwich. Are you okay? You seem a bit jumpy.”

  “I am fine. One sandwich coming up.”

  She dashed off into the kitchen. Shit, he knows and he is going to do this until I confess. Damn, I should have told him that night when he was half-asleep.

  When Clayton bit his sandwich, he visualised biting into her thigh. She touched her thigh, rubbing it and he almost wanted to stop his game, because she was getting anxious. But, she just glared at him and it spurred him on. With each bite, his mind bit into another part of her. She got up and walked away. Confess sweetly, remember?

  She came back in and said,

  “Clayton, I am feeling a little tired. Do you want to go to bed?”

  “Hmm, is that an offer?”

  “Yes, I missed you this weekend.”

  She was smiling at him and she went and sat on his lap.

  “Are you charming me?”

  “Yes, do you object?”

  “No, not really. What do you want Rebecca?”

  He said softly but his mind went for a large chunk of her breast. She jumped off him.

  “Okay, you win. I have had enough. I can’t bear it. Stop it, Clayton, it is quite scary.”

  “What, Prince
ss?” His eyes were smiling. Got you.

  “Okay, I have always been able to see into your mind. From that day, okay? I just didn’t tell you. So there, I have said it, are you happy now?”

  “No, I was just beginning to enjoy myself. You confessed too soon. I am not happy. I had quite a few things planned for you.”

  “Clayton, please, stop it. I should have told you, but I didn’t. I know.”

  “Okay, but the next time you don’t tell me something important, it will be much worse. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  “Now, about that offer......”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Clayton was sleeping, dreaming of Double J and their fighting about Jackie’s movements when Rebecca woke him up.

  “Clayton, please wake up.”

  “No, I am tired. Really, woman, don’t you get enough?”

  “I need to tell you something. Please, it’s important.”

  “Hmm it better be. Another confession?”

  He was sitting up now and watching her.

  “Yes, Clayton. Before you fight about this, I want to tell you that I never told you before because I did not really want to deal with it. So, please, don’t start giving me a hard time, okay?”

  “Rebecca, no stalling, no games, just say it...”

  “I died that day on the mountain.”

  Clayton was so shocked he said nothing. He had expected she would do her usual stalling and trying to find a long-winded way to tell him.

  “Yes, I know. Princess. Tell me about it.”

  He pulled her close to him and she told him, how she felt and all the fears and doubts that went through her at the time. She had tears in her eyes and Clayton said nothing. What could he say?

  Then she said, “Clayton, how did you know?”

  “Because your body was lying in the car and you were floating above me. It was too awful. I can’t even tell you how I got the strength to get up and go to you. I called to you, but you just smiled at me. Why did you smile?”

  “I was thinking, Clayton, please answer the phone, it will just ring again. You seemed to think you were in your bedroom, the way you fumble around the table in your sleep, trying to find the phone.”