Halversham

by RS Anthony

  “Nothing. I just think it’s sweet that you cooked for her,” he said. Corrine rolled her eyes. “Did she eat?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Did your father come back?” She shook her head. “Guess he won’t be back for a while.”

  ***

  Andy waited until Corrine had gone to take a shower, then called his father from the yard. He had no idea how his dad would react but he had to ask for Corrine’s sake. Besides, Aunt Magda said he should give his dad a chance. Andy kept her in mind as he dialed. Adrenaline pumped through him in anticipation of a war of words.

  “Andy? Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, everything’s fine. Well… sort of. There’s something I need to tell you. Actually, I need your help.”

  “What is it?”

  “Corrine’s in trouble. I mean, she’s gotten in a lot of trouble. She got pregnant three years ago but she had a miscarriage,” he said, not wasting any time.

  “Why didn’t your Aunt Magda tell me this?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe she wanted to keep it a secret. But that’s why Corrine dropped out of school. She’s kind of stressed out about staying in Halversham and she’s been asking for my help and yours.”

  “Was she raped?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. She wouldn’t talk about it. I mean, there’s so much going on here. If you saw Corrine, you’d know she’s about to lose it. She’s acting crazy, but I know she’s not. I don’t know what’s going on exactly. And I don’t have the time to explain the details, but…”

  “Slow down, son. I know what it’s like to live in Halversham. Now, what do you want me to do?”

  “Would you consider having her come live with us in the city?”

  Paul paused for a minute. “I… I don’t know. How do her parents feel about that?”

  “That’s the other thing. If you’re okay with it, you’ll have to talk them into letting her come live with us.”

  Andy’s father sighed audibly. “Andy…”

  “Dad, she has no chance of pulling her life together if we don’t help her out. If we leave her here, she’s going to become Crazy Corrine for sure.”

  “Isn’t there some other way we can help? Like pay for a psychiatrist or something?”

  “You think she can recover while living with Uncle Matt?”

  His father sighed again. He didn’t say anything for a long time while Andy waited, chewing his lips.

  “Alright. I suppose I’ve stayed out of my sister’s life long enough. I’ll talk to them when I come back, but I don’t make any promises, son. This will only work if her parents agree to it, and I will not take her under my care against their wishes. Do you understand?”

  “I understand. Thanks, Dad.” It was more than he had expected from his father—at least there hadn’t been a full-on battle.

  “Good. How’s Aunt Magda?”

  “She’s getting better. I took pictures like you told me to.”

  “Keep them safe. I’ll deal with it later. Did he come back?”

  “Nope.”

  “Good. Looks like you rattled him.” Andy shrugged, though of course his father couldn’t see. “Alright, I’ve got to get back to work. Talk to you soon.”

  ***

  Four days after Uncle Matt assaulted Aunt Magda, she finally felt better and started cooking again. Corrine retreated to her secret lair after taking care of her mother for two days. Her father had not returned since the incident. Maybe they were finally rid of the monster who had tortured them so long.

  Paul had called Andy and spoken to Aunt Magda several times in the last four days, but she was still frail, so Paul had postponed his plan to persuade her into filing a complaint against her husband. Now that she was stronger, he intended to talk to her about it tonight. All Andy had to do was stand by his phone and be ready to hand it to her when his father called. Nevertheless, his stomach was in a knot as he climbed the stairs to Mr. Milton’s that morning. The sun was rising high and it was uncharacteristically warm. He opened the back gate and let himself in.

  Mr. Milton was waiting in the kitchen. Although he’d been working for the man for a week now, Andy still got a jolt whenever he saw that face. The old man, however, was unperturbed. “So, you’ve cleaned every place I asked you to. There’s only one more place I want you to clean, and that’s the store room. You can start today but I doubt you’ll finish it. Throw away whatever junk you wouldn’t keep.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll do what I can now and continue tomorrow.”

  “No,” he said, startling Andy. “No, you don’t have to come for the next two days. I have something important I need to do here, and you should take a couple of days off since the county fair’s starting on Friday.” This struck Andy as odd—couldn’t he still clean the place even if the old man had to work? Besides, if it was the store room he’d be cleaning, he wouldn’t even be in Milton’s way. “Do you hear me?” the old man boomed.

  “Yes.”

  Milton headed up the stairs and locked himself in his office. And Andy situated himself in the store room after doing the laundry. This place was even worse than the attic. While the attic was dusty and had a few old, heavy boxes, the store room was larger and full of forgotten knick-knacks, tools, and broken stuff crowding the carpeted floor and wooden shelves. Andy stood with hands on his hips, staring at the room. Almost the entire floor was covered with junk except for a small section in the far corner to his right. He peeled off two black garbage bags and set to work, separating the junk into useless and useful piles. Indeed, the room would take more than a day to clean.

  Andy was sifting through a pile of papers when the doorbell chimed. His head jerked up at the unfamiliar sound—he was on high alert. A second later, he tiptoed to the hallway, crept along, and saw the shadow of a man through the curtained windows as Mr. Milton rattled down the stairs and opened the front door.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Mr. Milton whispered coarsely from the threshold and pulled the door close to his back to conceal the man outside. “I told you to come tomorrow.”

  “Like I told you at the gate, you’re going to want to see this one before the others,” the man said.

  “Did you say Russian?”

  “Yes. Exotic.”

  “How old?”

  “Old enough.”

  “How much?”

  “I’m open to negotiation. She’s in my truck right now if you want to take a look.”

  “I can’t. There’s someone here. You’re going to have to come back tomorrow.”

  “Fine. Just know I have other bidders,” the man said, turning to leave.

  “Wait.” Mr. Milton stepped out and closed the door behind him, muffling their conversation. Andy watched as their heads bobbed animatedly through the window, his stomach churning violently. What on earth was going on here?

  After what felt like an eternity later, old man Milton came back in and closed the door. Andy hid in the shadows as he climbed the stairs. The stranger slipped his sunglasses on and walked down the terrace, disappearing from view.

  Andy went back to the store room and sat on the dusty floor, dazed. His heart was racing. Who was the man—and why was he selling Mr. Milton foreign girls? It seemed more people than Emily Doyne were wrapped up in whatever sinister scheme was going on in the basement.

  ***

  Three hours later, Andy was done for the day. Although he had barely gone through half the room, the garbage bag was bursting. He washed his hands, picked up his bag, and dragged the bulging trash out. Andy wiped his dusty hands on his pants and took the stairs, dreading the call from his father. Lately, everything was throwing him for a loop.

  When he reached the bottom of the hill, he called out to Brutus as usual. Getting down on one knee, he removed a can from his backpack. He had to get home before his father called to speak to his aunt. And he had to talk to Jared about what had just happened at Mr. Milton’s. Andy pulled the ring on the can distractedly and poured the c
ontents into the bowl.

  “Brutus, where are you? Come on.” He was impatient.

  He looked up, but much to his surprise, Brutus had not emerged from behind the rock.

  “Brutus?”

  Andy slipped on his backpack again and went around the large rock. The dog was not there either.

  Andy stayed for a couple more minutes, searching and calling, but when there was no sign of Brutus, he left the place feeling dejected.

  ***

  Aunt Magda’s back door was wide open and the familiar smell of beef stew greeted Andy at the doorway. His stomach rumbled as he climbed up the steps, but one look at the dinner table and he froze.

  Uncle Matt was grinning like a Cheshire cat while dipping a generous piece of bread into a bowl of stew. Bits of meat clung to his beard. Andy’s head felt hot.

  “Hello, Andy. How are you?” Uncle Matt asked nonchalantly.

  “What are you doing here?” Andy struggled to remain calm, clenching and unclenching his fists.

  “It’s my house,” he said, smiling.

  Andy took a deep breath as Aunt Magda appeared with another bowl but she didn’t see him standing at the doorway.

  “Why don’t you have some more,” Aunt Magda said, refilling Uncle Matt’s bowl as he leaned back to give her space. She, too, was smiling. Andy couldn’t believe it. Was she really happy that he was back? Had she forgotten what happened just days ago?

  “That’s enough. Why don’t you give Andy here a bowl as well? He’s been standing there staring like no one’s invited him to dinner.” Aunt Magda glanced up and bit her lip when she saw Andy, and the smile on her face disappeared. Uncle Matt went back to his stew and stuffed another piece of bread into his mouth.

  Andy shook his head and swallowed hard. “No, thank you,” he said calmly. “I’m not hungry.”

  Andy went to Corrine’s room, but as he suspected, she was not there. So he sat on her bed and stared at the door. It seemed Aunt Magda had forgiven and accepted the monster back into the fold. But why? Was she so blind in love?

  The doorknob turned and clicked open as Aunt Magda’s guilt-stricken face appeared through the crack. She entered the room, closed the door behind her, and leaned against it.

  “I know what you’re thinking, Andy. I know you want me to get away from him just like your father wants me to. I don’t blame you. Not after what you saw the other day. But I can’t just abandon him or deny him entry to this house. It’s his.”

  “You can report his violence to the police, get a divorce, and come live with us with Corrine. You don’t have to put up with him.”

  “And then what, Andy?”

  “Well, you can do whatever you want. Start a bakery, whatever. Without getting brutalized day after day.”

  She smiled and stared at the floor. “Once, years ago, your Uncle Matt beat me up real bad with a metal pipe. I was bleeding and couldn’t stand up. The neighbors found me and hid me in their farmhouse for a couple of days. They made plans for me to run away once I got strong enough. But your Uncle Matt found out. I don’t know how, but he did. He came for me, beat me up again, beat the neighbors up too, and dragged me back home. He threatened to kill me if I ever tried to run away again.”

  Aunt Magda looked up at Andy and smiled ruefully again. “I’m not like your father, Andy. He’s educated and familiar with the ways of the world. I’m not. I don’t have the means. I suppose Halversham is where I belong, among the country folks and livestock. I can’t leave this place or your Uncle Matt. And I don’t want to anymore. Once your Uncle Matt and I were madly in love, but now things are different. With a little time, maybe he’ll change again.” She shrugged.

  Andy closed his eyes and shook his head.

  “Mag!” Uncle Matt boomed from the dining room and Aunt Magda hurried out. Andy sighed and left the room after some time. When he stepped into the hall, the two were in their bedroom, giggling behind closed doors.

  Andy’s phone vibrated in his pocket—it was his father.

  “Great. Now what will I tell him?” he muttered aloud and answered the call. “Hi, Dad.”

  “Hello, son. How’s everything?”

  “Things have gotten weird.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Uncle Matt is back.”

  “Stay close to your Aunt Magda and don’t give him the chance to attack her. Now let me talk to her. In private.”

  “Erm… you can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “They just went into their bedroom. I can hear them giggling in there.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “I’m not.”

  “That son of a—”

  “I think she’s terrified of him. I spoke to Aunt Magda a few minutes ago and she said that he once threatened to kill her if she tried to run away. So she’s not going to leave him or this town. She’s kind of hoping he’ll change.”

  “Does she?”

  “Yeah. And you know what? She made him his favorite beef stew and he was stuffing his face with it when I came back just now. She really thinks she can change him.” His father took a deep breath, but he didn’t say anything for a long time. “Dad?”

  “I’m here. Look, I have a few crucial matters to address here and the contractors are threatening to walk if they’re not resolved in another week. Hold down the fort until then and I’ll fly back as soon as I can.”

  A week? It sounded like an eternity. He had been in Halversham for less than two weeks and already he had seen more than he had in sixteen years.

  “I’ll have to talk to her myself,” Paul continued. “But if she decides to stay with him, then we’ll just have to take Corrine with us to the city. And they better agree to it. I don’t want her to be a part of that dysfunctional family any more than she does.”

  Andy didn’t know what to say. Was his father finally taking charge and committing to being involved in their lives?

  “Alright. I’ll keep an eye on things until you get back.”

  “Thanks.” His father paused briefly. “I appreciate what you’re doing there.”

  “Sure. Will you…” Andy hesitated.

  “What?”

  “It’s just, my birthday’s this week.”

  “Yeah, I know. Listen, look after your aunt, okay?” Andy sighed and dropped his gaze to his feet. His father probably didn’t even remember the date he was born. “And make that list of where to go. You wouldn’t mind if we brought Corrine along, would you?”

  “No, I wouldn’t.”

  “Great. Make the list, then.”

  “Well, my mind’s kind of set on Crete at the moment,” he said, but his father had already ended the call.

  Andy stared at his phone and sighed. Try as he might, he couldn’t fit his father into a specific quadrant anymore. It was easier back in the day, but lately, his father had been sending mixed signals.

  Another peal of laughter came from the bedroom and he shook his head. He went to the kitchen and ran out the back door, letting it slam behind him. The sky was turning dark as Andy jogged up to Corrine’s secret place. He had to tell her about her father’s plan. Although Corrine had yet to answer the three questions he had asked her to think about, it didn’t matter. Andy was sure she’d reveal everything now that Paul had agreed to help.

  Corrine was drinking water from a cracked soup ladle when Andy stepped in. “What are you doing here?” she asked when she saw him.

  “Nothing. Just thought I’d come visit you.”

  “Come in then.”

  “What do you do here all day?” he asked, sitting on the floor.

  “Cook, eat, read. I even stopped killing rabbits because of you.”

  “So what do you eat now?”

  “Potatoes, corn. Whatever’s cheap.”

  “How can you afford them at all?”

  “Sometimes I gather them in the forest. Or I take my mom’s money. She knows I do.”

  Andy shook his head and watched as she shrugged.
“Your father came back today.”

  “Is that why you’re here? Because my mom and dad are back together and you’re feeling like a fool?”

  “You knew this would happen?”

  Corrine snickered. “Of course. It happens all the time. The woman is crazy. They’re probably pounding each other right now.” Andy closed his eyes and rested his head on the wall. “What did you expect, Andy? That she’d run to the police and free herself from him?”

  “I just don’t understand why she’d do this.”

  Corrine put the ladle away and sat facing him on the floor. “They’re not good people. I told you. So quit trying to help them.”

  “Did you think about the things I asked you?”

  Corrine dropped her head and stared at her nails. “Yeah. But what’s the point? Your dad will never take me in.”

  Andy nodded. “I have something to tell you.”

  Corrine’s head shot up. “What?”

  “I’ve been talking to my dad about taking you to the city with us.”

  “And?”

  “Well, he agreed.”

  Corrine’s eyes grew wide. “Are you kidding me?”

  “Nope,” Andy said, drawing satisfaction from her expression. “He said he’ll talk to your parents and take you with us. He’s coming back in a week, I think. And guess what? Once all this is settled, you, me, and Dad will go on a nice long holiday. Possibly to Europe.”

  Corrine’s jaw dropped and she looked like she was about to explode. “Andrew J. Monaghan, you better not be fucking with me,” she said, barely restraining her delight.

  “I am not messing with you, Corrine. It’s true,” he said, shrugging.

  Andy wasn’t prepared when she let out a long shriek of pure pleasure. She got up and danced around the hut, stomping her foot and laughing until she was out of breath. Andy watched her silly dance and laughed too. Finally, when she was tired of screaming and dancing, she plopped next to him, breathing hard.

  “Oh Andy, I knew you’d rescue me from this hell-hole.”

  “Not so fast, missy. My father will still want to know the details.”