by Sarah Hope
Look, this young girl must be Mrs Reynolds and the woman her mother. What’s this? Part of the photo has been folded over. Ah, her father. I bet the man who had been folded out of the photo is her father. That explains it. He doesn’t look like I thought he would. A bit soft around the edges if you know what I mean. I had expected a stern looking man, not someone like him. It just proves they come in all shapes and sizes; evil people.
A mournful meow starts me from my thoughts.
‘Sorry Freda, come on let’s get you fed.’ Looking behind to make sure she’s following I return to the kitchen and set the bowl down, ‘Let’s fill up your water bowl while we’re here shall we?’
Watching the cat eat gives me a sense of satisfaction. Maybe I should let Charlie get a dog. After all it was Ste who was against the idea and now he’s left there’s no reason I can’t relent on the decision. Charlie would be over the moon, bless him.
Right, enough daydreaming, let’s get the glass from the broken frame cleared up. Maybe I can get another frame for Mrs Reynolds’ photo tomorrow on the way to visit her in hospital.
Closing the front door quietly behind me I shake myself out of my wet coat and lean the umbrella up against the wall to drip dry.
‘Thanks for that Mandy. Do you want a cuppa?’ Popping my head into the living room I notice it’s deserted, same for the kitchen. She must have gone up to bed already. I’ll switch the kettle on and go and check.
Returning down the stairs, happy that Charlie is still fast asleep and Mandy is still attached to her laptop, just in a different location, I get to the bottom step when I notice a quiet tapping at the door.
Glancing at the hall clock I see its quarter to eleven already. Who could that be at this time of the night?
In the time it take me to cover the few steps to the door, the tapping gets louder, turning into thuds. Who on earth can it be? It’s times like this that I wish Ste had got around to putting one of those spy hole things in the door. Sliding the chain across to give me some protection I pull the door ajar.
‘Ste? What on earth are you doing here?’
‘Please Lynette, let me in.’
The rain slices through the gap in the door catching me in the eye. Opening the door I step back to let him through and it becomes evident that judging by the stench of alcohol he brings with him he’s far from sober.
I watch as he takes his jacket off, rain water dripping everywhere, and flings it onto the bottom of the stairs. Now this I don’t miss about him, always leaving his jacket sprawled on the bottom step for the kids to trip over rather than turning ninety degrees and hanging it on the peg.
‘What are you doing here?’ I repeat my question.
‘Are you not going to offer your guest a glass of wine or something stronger Lynette?’ Even through his slurring I can hear his sarcasm. Who does he think he is coming here, to my home, and taunting me?
‘I’ve not touched a drop of the stuff since Mandy was admitted to hospital. Besides I think it’s you who’s had enough of the stuff tonight, don’t you think? Come through to the kitchen before you wake the kids up and I’ll get you a strong coffee.’
He doesn’t need to know Mandy’s still awake. It’s the last thing I want, her seeing him in this state.
He follows me into the kitchen and I hear him plop himself down on a chair while I fill up the kettle.
Sniffing at the strong coffee I place in front of him, he glares at me.
‘So what can I do you for? Why are you here?’
‘Look Lynette, I want to, need to talk to you.’
‘Oh right, okay what about?’
‘Us.’ With that single word he scrapes back his chair and comes towards me.
‘What about us? I thought you’d said all you wanted to already.’
Before I know what’s happening his face is straight in front of mine, so close my stomach lurches as his warm drunken breath chokes me. He dives towards me and his lips land heavily on mine. Taken by surprise it takes me a few seconds to realise what’s he’s doing. Pushing him away, I turn my head around, trying to catch some fresh air.
‘Whoa, what do you think you’re doing Ste?’
‘Shhh, you know you want it Lynette. We fit together.’
Shocked, I have to grip the side of the work surface to stop myself falling as he pushes me against it, the edge digging into the small of my back. Before I can get away from him he grabs my wrists and pulls me closer. Through his shirt I can feel his heart beating fast as he lunges at my lips again.
‘Get off me Ste. What do you think you’re doing?’ Trying to twist my hands out of his grasp only results in him gripping me tighter. I turn my head away from his again. ‘Ste, get off, you’re hurting me.’ Pushing him back with all of my might I’m suddenly frightened as to what’s he’s trying to do and how far he’s prepared to go to get what he wants. Luckily this works and he staggers back, seemingly coming to reality, looks around the kitchen as if to get his bearings and shakes his head.
‘Shit, Lynette, I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry.’ He backs away and slumps back into his chair.
As I push my hair back and straighten my top I try not to let him see how much he’s scared me. Crossing my arms I stand there unsure whether to throw him out or what to do.
‘I’m really sorry Lynette. I don’t know what came over me.’ He looks down into his cup as though he will find some answers as to his appalling actions in there. ‘Please, Lynette, please talk to me. You know I wouldn’t have... I would never hurt you. Nothing would have happened. I didn’t mean it.’ His imploring eyes penetrate me.
‘Well, just don’t let it happen again. Drink your coffee, sober up and get going.’ I don’t know what else he wants me to say. All I know is that I want him out of here. And fast. I know he wouldn’t have hurt me, but I can’t shake off the panic I had felt.
‘That’s just it though. That’s why I’m here. I don’t want to get going.’ He drains the rest of his coffee in one gulp. ‘Take me back, Lynette. Please take me back.’
Wow, I hadn’t thought that was coming. The shock of what he’s just said hits me harder than any physical blow.
‘What?’
‘You heard me. Take me back. It’s all been a huge mistake. I love you Lynette. We’re soul mates. You said that yourself. Take me back.’
‘What about Cindy?’
‘She doesn’t matter. I realise now that I don’t love her. I never have. Not like I love you.’
‘She’s having your baby.’ I watch in utter shock as he shrugs. Shrugs. He then catches my eye and must realise how little I think of that response.
‘I know. I know. But I have kids here. I’ve got to be...want to be responsible for them. They were my kids long before her baby was even made. I want to be a proper father to them again. Not this stupid Saturday dad lark. I want to be here for them, but even more than that I want to be a part of your life again. A proper part. Let me come home. Please Lynette?’
The bubbling anger inside me reignites and I can’t stay calm with him any longer.
‘Who do you think you are? You sleep with another woman, no wait; you actually take a huge step further and shack up with another woman behind my back. You tell me you don’t love me anymore. You put all the blame on me and now you want to come back. What? Do you really think I’m going to stand here and welcome you back with open arms?’
‘I know. I know I’ve behaved badly but I didn’t mean any of it. I thought it was what I wanted. But it’s not. I realise that now. I don’t want this life. I want my old life back. Give me another chance Lynette.’
Seriously what kind of mug does he think I am? It’s now that it hits me. I don’t want him back. Ever. I don’t want him back. If he’d asked me even two weeks ago I’d have jumped at the chance to have him in my life again. But not now. I’m a stronger person than I thought I could ever be and I don’t need to live my life poring over bank statements and going through receipts wondering if he’s cheating on me
again.
‘No Ste. I won’t take you back.’
‘You don’t mean that. Look, I’ll make it up to you. Just give me a chance.’
‘Ste you heard me. No. Now if you’ve finished your coffee will you please leave?’
‘You what? You’re trying to chuck me out of my own home? You can’t do this Lynette.’
‘You’re the one that left. You’re the one who cheated on me remember? It was you who wanted the new life. Not me.’
He gets to the kitchen door and scans the room. ‘Take me back or I’ll take the house. I’ll take everything.’
Stunned, I try to draw my breath in. Did he seriously just blackmail me into taking him back?
‘What did you say?’ My voice comes out, barely a whisper.
‘You heard me. Take me back. Give me another chance. Or it’s over. Your free living. You and the kids scrounging off me.’
‘You are kidding me aren’t you? What do you mean free living? Scrounging off you?’
‘Just that. We brought this house on my wages. I’m the one who worked all of our married life. Everything belongs to me. You have to take me back if you want to keep it.’
‘Don’t you dare Ste. I worked too. I only quit work when we had kids. To look after them. And even then it was at your insistence. You may have been the one earning the wage, but without me looking after the kids you couldn’t have even gone to work.’
‘Last chance Lynette. Or you’ll have a fight on your hands.’
‘No. You cannot blackmail me Ste. Get out. Get out of here. I don’t need you anymore. I won’t even need your money soon. I’m going back to work. Now get out.’
‘If that’s the way you want it. You’ll be hearing from my solicitor.’
The door bangs behind him and I sink to the floor. He can’t do this. Can he? Not that I need his filthy money. I’ll finish this refresher course and get a job and then I won’t need to take anything off him. I’ll show him.
I roughly swipe at the tears falling and pull myself to standing. Walking back through to the lounge I notice that he’s left his jacket, dry now, still in a crumpled heap on the bottom step. Grabbing it I open the door and fling it out and listen as it lands with a light but satisfying thud on the front lawn. It suddenly occurs to me that I don’t know how he will get back to his love shack. He obviously hadn’t driven here. Judging by the stench of alcohol on his breath anyway. Looking around I think I notice a figure walking down the road. Blinking the rain drops out of my eyes I look again, but the image has been swallowed up by the pouring rain. Closing the door on the weather, and on him, I get a start when I realise I am not alone.
‘Mum, guess what? Oh what’s the matter? Why have you been crying? Who was that at the door?’
The concern in Mandy’s voice warms my heart and, you know what, maybe everything will be okay. We’ll show him. Family life will carry on without his support.
‘It was nothing. I...um...I was just checking I had turned the light off at Mrs Reynolds’ place that’s all.’
‘Why have you been crying Mum? Have you had a call from the hospital? Is Mrs Reynolds okay?’
‘Yes, yes. No, I’ve not had a call. It’s just been a long day. That’s all. I never did ask you. How was it at your father’s place? Was she there?’
‘It was okay. To give him some credit I think he had tried hard to make us feel welcome. He’s got all the gadgets he could have, so Charlie was in his element. She was out when we got there but she came back for lunch. That was weird.’
‘What’s she like? No, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.’
‘She’s an idiot. How can anyone get together with a bloke who’s cheating on their wife? I don’t get it. I mean, he’s done it once now. Does she really think he won’t do it again? She’s thick if you ask me.’
I can’t help but give a little smile to myself. In a way I guess I should feel sorry for her. Yes, she’s got my husband and I should hate her for that. And I do. I guess. Not like I did when he first left me though. I kind of pity her more now. And if I’m brutally honest I’ve settled well into our new life. With him not being here there are no rows. Life in this house is peaceful now. I don’t need to worry about what I say to him. Or how many times I go and visit Mum, or for how long.
I think the kids have felt a change for the better too. Charlie, not so much, he’s always been the happy go lucky type and hand on heart I don’t think Ste walking out has had much effect on him. Apart from the fact that he actually spends a whole day with his dad once a week, which is a marked improvement from the snatched half hour here and there when Ste could fit in a trip to the park or even just a mere acknowledgement of his son on the rare occasions that he was home for dinner. No, he definitely sees him more now. Ste makes sure he dedicates a whole day to his kids now.
Mandy definitely seems more chilled out now. She spends a lot more time downstairs instead of holed up in her room trying to avoid an argument. No, I have a lot to be thankful of to this woman. Funny that. The way things turn out. Change completely. And it’s true that things do normally work themselves out. In the end at least.
‘Anyway, what were you running downstairs to tell me about?’ Looking down at my daughter curled up on the sofa next to me, her head cocooned in the curve of my arm, I realise she’s fallen asleep. With a contented smile on her face.
Chapter Twenty Five
Enid
Straightening my aching back I say a final thank you to the man who allowed me to hitch this ride and shut the car door. So, this is it then? The home of Aunt Teresa.
What if she doesn’t want me here? The thought creeps in suddenly. It hadn’t occurred to me before. But now I’m actually here, standing at the end of the short path leading to her front door it scares me. She might not want me. I don’t even know if she knows about Mum. Or about Father being caught and thrown in jail. Even about me. Did Mum tell her I was pregnant? I know they write, no, wrote to each other regularly. But she wouldn’t have been able to write to her for a while. Not while Father had her locked up in the house.
Gosh, she might not know anything. I don’t know what’s worse? If she doesn’t know anything then I will have to tell her. But how? How can I possibly begin to tell her about it all? About everything that has happened this past year?
And if she does know about it. About my baby. About him being taken. About the way Father treated Mum. About him killing her. Then she probably won’t even want to know me at all. Why would she?
I’ve been so stupid to think she would welcome me into her house. I wouldn’t. Want to know me, I mean, or put me up. Not after what I’ve done. It’s all my fault. This stupid, horrible mess. It may as well have been me who killed Mum, not Father. After all it was me who started this ball rolling. Wasn’t it? If I hadn’t got pregnant in the first place Mum wouldn’t have died trying to get to me.
I don’t even deserve Aunt Teresa to even speak to me, let alone help me.
Wiping the newly sprung tears away I turn and begin to walk.
‘Enid?’
Turning I see Auntie Teresa, stood there in her doorway.
‘Sorry.’ Before I even get the word past the lump in my throat she has ran down the short path and taken me in her arms. The strength of her arms around me tells me everything I want to ask of her.
Forcing my eyelids open I see Lynette and Mandy sitting by my bedside.
‘What are you two looking so pleased about?’ It’s so lovely to see them both I feel myself smiling despite the aching in my body.
‘How are you feeling Mrs Reynolds?’ Mandy’s sweet face looks at me, hoping for an answer I can’t truthfully give her.
‘I’ll be fine Mandy. Don’t you worry about an old fool like me.’ I try to catch Lynette’s eye but she suddenly seems preoccupied, staring and nodding at the doorway. ‘Am I boring you Lynette?’
‘No. No, of course not.’ It’s good to see her smile; I can feel life is turning around for her. That she’s le
arning to accept her changing circumstances. ‘We have to pop out for a bit. We’ll be back in a minute.’
‘Oh. Oh, okay then.’ Charmed I’m sure. Though to be honest I don’t know how long they were here before I woke up. Bless them, they might have been waiting for me to wake up for a while. I can’t grumble, though, feeling a bit better today I had hoped for a bit of a natter. Still, I may as well get a bit more rest before they get back. I feel so tired. Constantly tired at the moment. Apparently it’s quite normal. My body working overtime to heal itself or something.
Opening my eyes to the quiet mumbling by my bedside, I try to focus on the three figures at the end of my bed.
Oh good, Lynette and Mandy true to their word have come back to see me. Who’s that though? A tall man with black hair and familiar blue eyes. I know him, I’m sure I do.
Oh God.
‘Peter.’
###
Thank you for reading my book. I hope that you have enjoyed it, if so if you could please take the time to place a review on Amazon I would be very grateful.
If you have enjoyed reading ‘A Locket of Memories’ you might like to check out another of my books, ‘Izzy’s Story: Life After Separation’ which is Book 1 of my new series ‘The Happiness Club’.
‘Izzy’s Story: Life After Separation’ follows Izzy and her two children, Ava and Samuel, as she begins the difficult journey of life as single mum.
When Izzy and her husband, Matt, separate, Izzy is forced to move herself and her children into her brother’s bedsit in the town where she grew up. She has to tear Ava and Samuel away from the friends they have made at school and playgroup, quit her job and leave everyone and everything she has grown to love.
She struggles adjusting to her new life relying on state benefits and experiences the emotional rollercoaster of life as a single parent. She finds herself doubting herself, unsure how to rebuild her life for the sake of her children, and she fears she is failing them.