Scandal

by Stirk, Vivienne

  Sometime later, a knock on the door startled her. It didn’t sound like a fierce knock so she knew it wasn’t Finn coming back. She didn’t answer and the knock came again.

  “Ashleigh it’s me, Father Michael. Are you alright?”

  Relief replaced some of the intense pain. Dragging herself along the floor, Ashleigh was eventually able to pull herself up in order to answer the door. Father Michael was alarmed by what he saw. Gently prising his way into the flat, he looked at Ashleigh’s pale face, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

  “Oh my goodness. What has he done to you Ashleigh?”

  “Help me Father,” she pleaded.

  Knowing Ashleigh was in need of urgent medical attention, he reached for his phone, immediately ringing for an ambulance. He didn’t care if Finn walked in now. Something in his gut had made him want to see Ashleigh after the anger he’d witnessed from Finn earlier that day. It hadn’t bothered him if Finn didn’t like him or his presence. Ashleigh was his concern and no matter what Finn had to throw at him, he’d have to deal with it.

  At the hospital, Ashleigh was given the attention she needed while Father Michael gave details to the medical staff. It was difficult to do considering he didn’t really know much about her. She needed four stitches to her forehead and three more to her head where Finn had pulled out a clump of her hair. Ashleigh had mentioned she was in the very early stages of pregnancy. Shattered by her ordeal, she found rest immediately. The nurse pulled the curtain around her and asked Father Michael if she could speak with him.

  She was a large lady with a generous smile and Father Michael warmed to her instantly.

  Taking a seat next to him she said, “Can you give us any information as to what happened?”

  “I think it was her husband who did this to her,” he began. “I’ve witnessed his aggressive nature before and there was an occasion when he pushed her, making her need stitches in her head. I brought her here for it stitching so you should have mention of that on her records.”

  “Are you certain it was him Father?”

  “Earlier today, he came to meet Ashleigh from the church hall. It was our summer fair. She’d just told me some personal news when he turned up. Immediately, he became aggressive, grabbed her and dragged her away. I didn’t know what to do, but watching her being dragged away like that was horrible.” He took a breath before carrying on. “I waited half an hour before I went round to her flat. At that point I didn’t care if Finn was there. Luckily he wasn’t. I knocked on the door, it took her a while to answer and having seen the state she was in, I called an ambulance.”

  “You did the right thing Father. Have you called the police?”

  “No. I think it should be Ashleigh’s decision.”

  “You’re right,” she said, hoping Ashleigh was brave enough to go through with it. Having witnessed domestic violence too many times to count, she knew many women were reluctant to proceed to the next stage. They left the hospital, went back to their abuser, waiting for it to happen again.

  “Did Ashleigh mention she was pregnant?” Father Michael asked.

  “Fortunately yes.”

  “Will the baby be alright do you think?”

  “That Father, I really can’t say. If she is able to get through the next couple of days without bleeding, there is every chance her baby will be fine. But,” she began, her expression changing, “with the severe bruising she’s sustained around her abdomen and ribs, I doubt it very much.” They stood up to leave. As they left the side room, the sister turned to look at Father Michael. “She’s resting now and I think she will be for a while. Go home and get some rest yourself. You can come back later if you need to.”

  Disappointment fell upon him like a blanket of despair. Having such a strong sense of protectiveness towards her made it hard for him to walk away. He had no other choice but to listen to the advice the nurse had given him. After leaving his details on the ward, he made his way home. Part of him felt he was grieving. Why that was, he couldn’t answer.

  Father Michael didn’t recognise the dark blue car parked outside the rectory upon his return. He did however recognise the silver haired gentleman waiting in it as he approached.

  “Father Lucas,” Father Michael began. “What brings you here?”

  The appearance of Father Lucas, such an important figure in the Catholic Church, presented both concern and shock to Father Michael.

  Holding out his hand he replied, “Is there somewhere private we could go?”

  “Yes of course. Please, do come in Father.” They went into the lounge. A stream of late summer sunshine filtered in through the window warming the room to a comfortable temperature. “Can I get you a drink of anything? Tea? Coffee?”

  “Yes please. I’ll have tea.” Father Michael made himself scarce in the kitchen, preparing tea in China cups he’d never had cause to use before. The tray shook in his hands as he made his way back to the lounge to face the man he felt was his executioner. Just his presence in the room felt unjust. Father Lucas didn’t drink his tea immediately. Sitting back on the settee, he waited for Father Michael to take his seat. “Do you know why I’m here Father Michael?” he began.

  “Forgive me for sounding impertinent but I haven’t a clue Father.”

  “This isn’t going to be easy for me to say. These situations never are, but …” The pause in his sentence alarmed Father Michael. All he could do was wait for him to proceed. “An allegation has been made about you and I have a duty to follow it up.”

  Genuine shock fell upon Father Michael’s face.

  “What kind of allegation?” he asked quickly.

  “We’ve received a telephone call to say you are having an affair with a married woman.”

  Father Michael’s jaw dropped. “But that’s absurd!” he protested, rising from his chair. “Who’s made such a claim?”

  “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to mention any names.”

  Father Michael sat down in despair. This situation could have serious consequences to his future as a priest.

  “Please tell me you don’t believe it Father.”

  “Whether I do or don’t, I have to follow things up.”

  “This is total madness. Who am I supposed to be having an affair with?”

  Taking a small book from his pocket, he flicked through a couple of pages, glasses perched on the end of his nose as he read his scrawl.

  “Does the name Ashleigh Watson mean anything to you?”

  The colour drained from Father Michael’s face. Real anger fed through his body for the first time in a long time.

  “Finn!” he said, more to himself than to Father Lucas.

  “I’m sorry, what was that?”

  “Finn Watson is married to a young woman called Ashleigh. I admit I do know her, she joined the church several months ago and helps out at fund raising events.”

  Removing his glasses Father Lucas went on to say, “So how do you see your relationship with Ashleigh?”

  Trying to stay calm, Father Michael took a seat opposite. Taking a deep breath he began.

  “Ashleigh is a very gentle person. She recently married her husband, Finn, who hates the church and everything it stands for. I’ve witnessed aggressive behaviour from him towards Ashleigh on several occasions, both verbal and physical. Ashleigh has spoken to me about him several times about his change of mood.” Father Lucas sat listening attentively as Father Michael fed him information. “A while ago, he attacked her at home, pushing her so hard she hit her head on something, cutting it open. She was too afraid to go to the hospital so I took her. It needed a few stitches but fortunately, he never found out. Then today, shortly after we’d finished with the summer fair, I went to talk to her because she was looking a lot happier than she’d done of late. That was when she told me she was pregnant. I’d just asked her how Finn had reacted to the news, her reply being she hadn’t had a chance to mention it. Then boom. Finn appeared from out of no-where, demanding to know what sh
e’d told me. I refused to tell him anything. Not my place I said. He then grabbed Ashleigh by the wrist and dragged her out of the hall. There were witnesses to this also.”

  “If you give me names, I’ll go and ask them.”

  Reliving the events was horrible for Father Michael. He couldn’t possibly begin to imagine what Ashleigh had gone through at the hands of an angry husband.

  Father Lucas toyed with his beard as he made notes in his small book. He knew Father Michael had more to say.

  “About half an hour after it had happened, I couldn’t stand to sit back and do nothing, so I went round to her flat.”

  This caused Father Lucas to raise an eyebrow.

  “And how did you know where she lived?”

  Father Michael felt nervous now when he thought about what he was going to say, hoping it didn’t make him sound like a guilty man.

  “I dropped her off near her flat after the time I’d taken her to the hospital?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I didn’t think she was in any fit state to be using public transport. She’d had a nasty bang to her head and she’d had stitches.”

  “How many times altogether have you visited Mrs Watson at home?”

  Now a little agitated he replied, “Where’s this leading Father?”

  “Just answer the question please.”

  Nervously he said, “I don’t know. I think it was once more before that. Yes it was. I remember now. Ashleigh hadn’t been in church for a few weeks so I went round to her flat to make sure she was alright.”

  “I see.” Putting his pen in his mouth, Father Lucas added, “Did you at any time feel you were becoming too involved in her life?”

  “No never. We chatted several times. I felt there were things she needed to talk about. I wouldn’t say I was more involved with her than I’ve been with anyone else.”

  “Have you ever taken anyone to hospital before?”

  “No, but this was necessary.”

  “Couldn’t her husband have taken her?”

  “She was terrified of him. She wouldn’t have gone at all had it not been for me.”

  Father Lucas stood up at this point, putting his note book back in this jacket pocket.

  “I will have to make a written report of everything you’ve told me.”

  “And then what?”

  “It’ll be up to the church to decide your future.”

  “My future? But I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “I hope for your sake you haven’t but like I said, I have to follow up these allegations.”

  Father Michael became desperate as Father Lucas began to walk out of the room, totally ignoring the cup of tea he’d had made.

  “Where do I stand now as far as the church is concerned?”

  Father Lucas turned round. The watery blue eyes looked kind and deeply sorry for this young priest who stood before him awaiting his fate.

  “Another priest will be sent to take over for a while. In the meantime, you’ll have to stay away from the church, the rectory and more importantly, Mrs Watson.”

  “You mean I’ve already lost my job?”

  “No you haven’t. You’ve just been suspended until further notice.”

  Father Michael was beginning to feel he was in a bad dream.

  “But Father, the church is my life. I’m innocent.”

  With his back to Father Michael, Father Lucas just held a hand up to acknowledge the subject was closed. He saw himself out, leaving Father Michael to sit alone, totally alone.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Father Michael stood by the window, watching Father Lucas’ car pull away. The anxiety he felt at that moment brought every bad memory he’d ever experienced in his life to come flooding back. He’d felt the church was his protector but yet here he was, feeling as though he was waiting to be executed. All he’d done was help a friend during her time of need. Just like he’d been helped all those years ago when he’d hit rock bottom.

  He understood that Father Lucas had a duty to follow up these accusations. All he wanted was justice and the backing of the church. If he didn’t have that, he had nothing. The thought made him shiver. There wasn’t anything he could do about the situation for now. He was desperate to see Ashleigh again not caring if it made his dilemma worse.

  Finding a light jacket to wear, a thought struck him. Perhaps if he hadn’t have befriended Ashleigh in such a way, she wouldn’t be lying in hospital. But then again, he hadn’t asked for things to turn ugly either. It had gradually happened, leading him to the conclusion that, given Finn’s unbalanced behaviour, if it hadn’t have been himself being used as a scapegoat, Finn would have no doubt found himself some other mug to accuse.

  He tried to shut things from his mind during the drive to the hospital. No matter what was going on in his life, he knew there was no way he’d turn his back on Ashleigh. He just hoped that he would be able to convince her of what she needed to do.

  The ward was quiet when Father Michael arrived. Before going to see Ashleigh, he went to see the nurse who’d been on duty earlier in the day. She saw Father Michael approaching and went towards him.

  “Father. Please could you step this way a moment?”

  He was led into the small room he’d been in earlier that day. It was only just big enough for them both to fit in but it was comfortable enough. Taking a seat himself, the nurse perched herself on the corner of a table.

  “How is she?” he asked.

  “Not good Father. We’d already noticed severe bruising on her stomach so knew her husband had used that area as a punch bag. Later this afternoon, Ashleigh was in a lot of pain and shortly afterwards, she began to bleed, losing her baby.”

  “Oh no. The poor thing.”

  “We think she was only five weeks pregnant and she’s been told about the loss.” Taking a breath she went on. “The bruising is very extensive and shocking to see. We asked Ashleigh if she knew how it had happened and she said her husband threw her to the ground, kicking her repeatedly before leaving.”

  The thought of Finn’s actions made Father Michael want to beat him to a pulp. Not the thoughts a priest should have.

  “Has her husband been to see her?”

  “No. She hasn’t had any visitors apart from you.”

  Father Michael realised at this point he didn’t know anything about her parents. Perhaps he should ask Ashleigh about them. She could do to get them involved.

  “How long do you think you’ll keep her in for?”

  “Possibly a week. It could be a little less. It really depends on her recovery.”

  “What about counselling? Will any be offered to her?”

  “It depends whether she’ll accept any Father. Yes, usually we do offer it in domestic violence cases and miscarriage. But again, it is down to Ashleigh and whether she wants to go down that road.”

  Father Michael pondered with his own thoughts for a moment before saying, “And the police? Will they be involved?”

  The nurse shrugged her shoulders. “Truthfully, I don’t know. Ashleigh can only do what she feels is the right thing to do.”

  “It’s crazy,” Father Michael added.

  “You know that, I know that but you’d be surprised how many incidents similar to Ashleigh’s are brushed under the carpet.” Glancing at her watch she stood up from the edge of the table. “I really must be going Father. Patients to see,” she said, with a glint of a smile. Before she left the room, the nurse looked at Father Michael. “You could always try talking to her to persuade her to go to the police.”

  Scratching his head a little he replied, “I think I’ve done enough damage.”

  “How do you mean?” she asked with a frown.

  “Her husband has reported me to the church for having an affair with her.”

  Genuine shock showed on her face. “That’s absurd. All you’ve tried to do is help.”

  “I wish it was that simple.”

  She could tell by his body languag
e, this situation he’d somehow found himself in was taking its toll on him.

  “What will happen to you now Father?”

  “I’m suspended from the church and need to find somewhere else to stay for now.”

  “And Ashleigh? What about her?”

  He studied her face, seeing the trust in her eyes, knowing what he was about to say wouldn’t go any further.

  “I’ll stand by her if she’ll let me; persuade her to go to the police. And, I’ll try to make her see Finn for who and what he really is.”

  “Well good luck with that Father.”

  “I think it’ll take more that luck sister.”

  They left the room together. Just before Father Michael went to see Ashleigh, the nurse touched his arm gently.

  “I really hope everything works out for you Father. You’re doing a splendid job.” He didn’t answer, just smiled.

  He hardly recognised the small frame lying in the hospital bed. If it hadn’t have been for the name above her head saying who she was, he would have walked straight passed. Ashleigh was lying on her side with her body curled up slightly. As Father Michael pulled up a chair, moving it closer to her, she made no attempt to acknowledge him. He’d felt nervous about this visit, one he’d been unsure of how to deal with, but now he was here, all his fears vanished.

  “Ashleigh,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry it has come to this.” Her mouth opened but words failed to come out. One of her arms lay on the top of the covers with fingers clenched into a ball. He took that hand in his own, uncurling her fingers a little. For a brief moment he sat quiet, just with his hand holding her tiny one. Her eyes searched his, haunted by the day’s events. “Ashleigh, you may not feel like talking about things but Finn needs stopping.”

  A single tear slid down her face as she whispered, “I know.”