Love on the Dark Side of the City

by Kennedy, Thomas

  Chapter seventeen

  “I’m off Mom” Darra said, and kissed her and disappeared out the door.

  Jane watched him clatter out the driveway with his bike as he headed in the direction of Terenure College.

  Really, she thought as she made he way back to the kitchen, sixteen is such a difficult age. He won’t tell me where he goes or who he is with. Jane fretted over him. In this day and age it seemed more dangerous to let a sixteen- year old boy out on the town than a sixteen- year old girl. The stories she heard, boys were so easy to get into trouble.

  Hailey her five- year old daughter was reluctantly making her way through her bowl of cereal.

  “Hurry up Hailey,” Jane said, fully aware that Hailey did not want to go to school. But Jane had too much to do to have to deal with Hailey today. Hailey was fit and well and would go to school. It just needed Jane to stay determined to get her out the door.

  “Jane have you seen my brown shoes?” Peter called from the bedroom.

  Jane ignored him. She was cross with him. The boyish charm that had so captivated her when they met seemed, now that they were well married, to have acquired an air of dependency. It seemed as if Peter was treating her as his mother and it really annoyed her.

  “Leave it,” she said to Hailey and Hailey put her spoon down, big eyes sizing up her mother. Hailey read her mothers mood and gave up on the attempt to get a day off school. Reluctantly she let her mother put on her coat on.

  “I found them,” wafted down from Peter in the bedroom.

  A car beeped its horn at the bottom of the driveway.

  “It’s Carmel to make the pick up. Hurry Hailey.”

  It was her friend Carmel’s turn on the school run and she would be waiting to bring Hailey and another four children, two of them her own, to school.

  Jane accompanied Hailey to the car, mainly to make sure she did not dawdle and inflict her unwillingness to go to school on Carmel.

  “Hi Carmel. Hailey is a bit off colour today. Usually she loves school. I think she is all right. Don’t take any nonsense.”

  “Don’t worry,” Carmel replied as Hailey got into the back seat and joined the other children. Immediately she perked up.

  Peter was in the kitchen when Joan got back into the house.

  “All gone?” he asked.

  Jane said nothing and he knew she was in a huff, not talking to him. He ignored her silence. “Signing over the deal today?”

  “Yes, selling my business, becoming a ‘Haus Frau.” Jane spoke to the sink, not looking at him. Her anger overcame her determination not to speak.

  “We have discussed” he began.

  “I know.” she said cutting him off and staring out of the kitchen window.

  Peter ate his cereal in silence. He too was in a rush and he had to pick up his partner Seymour. They really seemed to have so little time to talk. Maybe when Joan sold the business things would be less frenetic. Or so he hoped.

  ‘What’s wrong?” he asked between mouthfuls.

  “We never have time,” Jane said, turning to look at him.

  Peter looked up. He could see she was close to tears. He stood up and went to her.

  “Jane.”

  She turned aside and moved away.

  “Last night, I’m sorry I was pushy, its’ been so long.”

  “It was like you were turning knobs and buttons. I’m not a factory,” Jane complained. She was tempted to add that he was almost limp throughout, but could not bring herself to put him down that much. They had given up in frustration, not able to get it to work for either of them.

  “You need to relax Jane.”

  “You think you have to have a performance every time.”

  “You play tennis three nights a week and between that and your business you have no energy for me or the kids.”

  “I resent that!” Jane shouted. “I never neglect the kids.”

  “I did not say that,” Peter protested, his voice rising, but it was too late. Jane stormed out of the kitchen and had reached the stairs as he followed into the hall.

  “Jane lets not fight. Please.”

  Jane stopped and looked at him over the banisters. She sat in the stairs and Peter came and sat beside her. He took her hand and she let him kiss her hair.

  “Our life is becoming fraught” Peter said. “We had a balance between us, we were able to be in harmony. Now- a- days we seem to be full of tension and anger. I love you Jane. I don’t mean us to fight.”

  “I want you to consider my mood. I want to be in a romantic mood. I don’t want us studying books to see when I am most fertile and when it is best for you to have a son.”

  “You got those books, not me.”

  “You want a son. Darra is not enough for you.”

  “Yes I want a son. I want my natural son to leave the business to like my father did for me. I love Darra but he is your son. I would die for him, but what is wrong with wanting to sire my own son. What I want is in addition to, it is not instead of, love is not a limited thing, and it expands like the universe.”

  “You don’t seduce me any more. You just ask for sex, like you ask for a clean shirt.”

  “That’s’ not true Jane. We are married. You can’t expect seduction every few days. We have to live together. Life intrudes. We need to be loving and giving towards each other. I am tired of having to give a performance every time. I’d like you to make an approach now and then. I suppose I’d be waiting forever if I waited for you to take the initiative.”

  “I’m not a slut.”

  “You are a married woman. Chill out.”

  “We were never passionate.” Jane looked accusingly. “And I missed out when I got pregnant. When other young people were enjoying their youth I was bringing up Darra and starting a business.”

  “We met, and we became friends first. Romance crept in through our touch, through our consideration for each other. Through our enjoyment of each other’s company. Jane our love grew like a gentle plant and it did burst forth into passion. We were lovers, or have you forgotten.”

  “I get so angry,” Jane said and Peter wiped the tear off her cheek.

  “I hate selling the business, but I know it is for the best.”

  “We will have more time for each other. You won’t be in London so much.”

  “I know, but why do I feel resentful because you keep your business. Because all you want from me is a son.”

  “Jane it is not all I want and you know it.”

  “I have to keep moving and you will be late,” Jane said, standing up and giving him a kiss on the cheek as she stood.

  “We can talk again.” Peter looked at his watch. “I have to collect Seymour” he added and began to go down to finish his breakfast.

  “Don’t forget we have to see Dad tonight in the Barclay Court Hotel,” he added as he descended.

  Jane stopped on the landing. “Peter, I said I might not make it. I have the signing to do and then I have to get the legal people back to London. This is a big occasion for me.”

  “Joan, he is bringing some Russian girl for us to meet. From what he says he is serious about her. He may even marry her.”

  Jane laughed. “The old bastard.”

  “Please” Peter asked.

  “I’ll be late but I’ll be there,” Jane promised and disappeared into the bathroom.

  Peter went to the kitchen worried frown on his forehead. He was worried that some Russian tart was setting up his Dad, and he did not know what he would do when he met her.

  Peter picked up Seymour as usual and they began to discuss the business. By the time they got to the factory, Peter had parked his difficulties with Joan for later consideration. He had too many pressing issues to progress and could not let his thoughts dwell on his domestic difficulties.

  Peter’s aspiration to concentrate on business did not last more than five minutes. He breezed into the accounts office to pick up the post and any messages, to find Ellen sitting at her desk, coa
t on scarf around her head and in a distressed state.

  “Ellen, what has happened” he asked and was shocked when she turned fully to him and he saw her bruised eyes and face. She had two black eyes and was crying.

  Peter removed the scarf and revealed the scale of her injuries. Her neck was covered in dark bruises.

  “I’ll call the police.”

  “No!” Ellen replied sharply, stung by his words into a response.

  “Come into my office.” Peter led her by the elbow.

  Seymour who was sharing the office, looked up, understood there was a situation and said, as he made for the door. “I’ll be out on the factory floor, call me if you need me.” And disappeared. He was aware that there was a history between Peter and Ellen and he figured he best mind his own business. Peter would call him if needed and would know he could depend on him in all things, including discretion.

  Peter got Ellen a glass of water from the font in the office and they sat opposite each other on the conference couch. Ellen began to cry and Peter sat and let her gather herself. Eventually he put his arm around her shoulders and said, “take off your coat Ellen.”

  “I’m all bruises, everywhere,” she sobbed.

  “George?” Peter asked.

  Ellen nodded still crying.

  Peter held her, letting a silence descend, the only sound in the office was Ellen crying and the distant bumps and sawmills in the factory. After a few minutes Ellen gathered herself and looked at Peter.

  “I need help,” she spoke quietly.

  “Anything” Peter promised.

  “Our daughter Ann has run away.”

  “What!”

  “He has been abusing and terrifying her. She left a note and it said she was going to stay with a friend. She said in the note that if George contacted her she would report him to the police for all he has done to her.”

  “The bastard. When did this start? I should have been told.”

  “George works nights as a bouncer in a lap-dance club. He arrives home at all hours, usually around four in the morning. George touched her in bed that morning. I don’t think he did anything serious, but she screamed and I was able to take George to our room.

  Ann got up in the morning. George sleeps through to midday. She said nothing, took nothing, except her clothes she was wearing and went to work, early as usual. Ann did not come home from work yesterday evening. After she had left in the morning, when I went to call the kids for school, I found a note on her pillow. I nearly died.”

  “When was this?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “What did you say to George?”

  “Nothing, I was terrified. He beats me regular. I hoped Ann would come home. She must have known that George would take it out on me.”

  “And?” Peter insisted, brushing over his horror at her seemingly matter of fact remark ‘that he beat her regular.’

  “And” Ellen took a deep breath as if steeling herself for the next bit. “George came home from work this morning, very early, about four, as usual. He went to look in on the kids as usual. As you know we have a two-bedroom house and the kids all share the back bedroom. When George saw that Ann was missing he flipped. He pulled me out of bed and smacked me, demanding to know where she was. I told him there was a note downstairs so he’d go down and not wake the rest of the children. He took me by the hair and threw me down the stairs and kicked me into the kitchen. He made me sit naked on the floor while he read the note. Then he tuned up the radio and put his belt around my neck. He got a rolling pin…”

  “Did the children not come down?”

  “No, they were asleep. I tried not to scream. He kept going at me, he treated me like he was beating a dog and then... …I passed out a few times… When I woke up I was black and blue and bleeding. He was gone to bed and I was naked on the kitchen floor. I think he thought I was dead, the belt had choked me unconscious. He takes drink after his work and he had a few on him.”

  “He needs to be locked up. What did you do?” Peter struggled to stay calm and speak quietly so as not to further agitate Ellen.

  “I stayed up and got myself together. I washed, put some clothes on. And then in the morning I got the children off to school.”

  “What?”

  “They are safe at school. He goes to work at noon and then won’t be home until well past midnight. Then I came in here, I did not want to be around when he woke up. I know he’ll start again. When he was beating me, I told him I had checked for Ann at her work and it turned out she had never started at where she said she was going to work. We don’t know where she goes every day. George was beside himself.” Ellen paused and looked earnestly at Peter.

  “Now I’m afraid if he finds Ann first he will do her serious damage. Her note said he sexually abuses her. In his present state he might go all the way. Its so terrible.”

  Ellen began sobbing in earnest while Peter stroked her hair and tried to calm her.

  “This morning, I left George a note that I was ok.” She continued, “ I wrote that I would search for Ann today and talk to him tonight.” She sobbed, “It was the only way I could think to keep him calm. I think that note will keep him on track for another day, but if I can’t produce Ann by this evening I will be killed.”

  “Now, now” Peter said stroking her shoulders as she became even more agitated and began to tremble.

  He let her calm again and then suggested, “Ellen you need to take your children and go to a Woman’s Shelter. Ann is eighteen and she has the right to leave home. We will find her don’t worry, but she can’t be put back into her home with George, you know that.”

  “I know, Ann has done the right thing, it’s the consequences for the rest of us.”

  “Go to a Woman’s Shelter and we will sort George out,” Peter insisted.

  “No,” Ellen said, straightening up. “I have worked for all my life for my home and my family. A lunatic will not drive me out of my home. George is right most of the time but not this time. I’ll not be hit anymore and I’ll not leave my home.”

  Peter took Ellen by her two hands and they his soft look made her smile through her tears.

  “My father wouldn’t let us marry,” he said sadly.

  “Its’ not your fault Peter. I made my bed and I have to lie in it. George took me on when I was pregnant with your child and he’s been a good husband until lately. It’s the drink and the gambling make him crazy.”

  “No you don’t have to accept his behaviour,” Peter contradicted. “You can get a barring order on George. Change the locks and keep him out until he is prepared to come back on your terms.”

  “A barring order. How can I do that?”

  “Leave the detail to me. I’ll ring the firm’s solicitor. I’ll also get one of our carpenters to go out with you and change the locks. If George leaves the house he won’t be able to get back in.”

  “He’ll break in and kill me. He’ll beat me to death and the kids if they get involved. I won’t risk it.”

  “You have to make a stand Ellen. Otherwise he will beat you for the rest of your life and he may kill you. He may abuse the kids. Maybe he felt he could come at Ann because she is not his natural daughter, but you have to be sure.”

  “He makes us all sleep naked,” Ellen said with half a blush.

  “That’s’ it. He is power mad. He will abuse your children. He needs help. He needs to realize what he is doing is wrong. Don’t you think so?”

  “I am afraid so. He has started hitting our little girl like he started on Ann.”

  “Are you going to wait and see what he does or are you going to take control Ellen? This is a crucial time. You have to decided now or be forever at his mercy.”

  “He’ll kill me. He’ll beat me so hard.”

  “Ellen. Ann is not going back into your house whatever happens. Do you think George will just accept that?”

  “No, he will lose it. He wants Ann to do what he says like the rest of us do.”

 
‘Then for your sake and your children’s sake you have to take a stand.”

  “I’ll not leave my house.”

  “Get a barring order. Tell the neighbours. If he is seen they will call the police”

  “The shame of it,” Ellen said, beginning to realize the neighbours would know.

  “The women in your neighbourhood. They will understand. They will support. You have to assert yourself Ellen. Take control now. Otherwise he will ruin all your lives.”

  “Will you do it Peter? Arrange it. I don’t know how. Please, for me.”

  “Of course Ellen. We are family in one-way and connected in so many others. You know you can rely on me to the death. I would never let you down.”

  “He married me when you would not.” Ellen said, beginning to cry again.

  “Hush. We are where we are. Now it is about what happens next. You have to be strong.”

  “Ring the solicitor,” Ellen said reaching into her bag for a tissue. “He treated me worse than an animal. I am finished with him. He can crawl back but I will not take it anymore.” She now spoke firmly, her anger coming through and overcoming her fear.

  “Good” Peter said, going over to the telephone. First he rang the solicitor and arranged to take Ellen to see him immediately. Then he rang Seymour on the factory floor. “I need a carpenter to change some locks and security men for a twenty four hour cover on a house for a week until I get things sorted.”

  “Ellen?” Seymour asked.

  “Yes,” Peter replied and knew he could rely on Seymour to back him up.

  “Tell them to wait until about four this afternoon, so George is gone to work,” Ellen said, now in command of her emotions. “I will ring him later today and say I will have some news on Ann later this evening and he is to go to work. That will get him out of the house.”

  “There will be a security presence on the door for a while. I’ll pay don’t worry. Once he gets the message he should stay away.”

  “Thank you Peter.”

  “Tell me about Ann. We need to try and find her. Talk me through everything you know. I suspect George will try to find her. We must get there first.”