A Life Plan Without You. (72 page)

“I saw that kiss.” I looked at him, smiling.

“Really, what did you see a peck on the cheek, a thank you for
falling out of a tree? We owe him more than a peck on the cheek
angel, way more, I love you stop sulking.” He was smiling as his
eyebrows rose umm he’s damn sexy.

“So you’re taking my brother out on Friday then, it's not an
intimate meal for two I hope?” I grinned.

“Umm, I think it might be, his brother is getting old, and I
need a younger model, one who puts out angel.” I whispered that bit
in his ear. “The other really old one is taking his girlfriend
somewhere nice and is dancing with her all night long isn’t that so
Andrew.” He choked on his pint.

“News to me? Well if she wants to, I’m game. We had a good
night when you two buggered off.” I smiled.

“Umm who’d have thought it, me buggering off and then you get
a relaxed Zoë?” My thigh is getting tingly it was being massaged.
Andy just laughed. “Just one in here, I have to cook the Todd-King
clan gathering their tea.” My dress slowly lifted, and one look at
his face told me he wasn’t stopping.

“I’m putting out Friday, and you will know about it too,
especially in here.” I laughed, as his finger skimmed my
sex.

“No, this is neither, the time nor the place Samuel, look
forward to the putting out old man.” I whispered in his ear. He
stopped what he was doing, with a sigh. He handed me my envelope
full of cash and coins. Andy looked at the exchange. I counted it
and gave Sam the money back again he had slipped the money I gave
him, back in the wage packet! He just smiled again and shrugged his
shoulders.

“My wages. I was let go today for being ill and Sam was
holding them whilst I played hockey.” He had stopped playing with
my leg and whispered in my ear.

“The things I want to do with you tonight, Michelle.” Oh nice
that made me smile. I wanted this to be the night then again I
wanted the same thing every night.

“The things I’ll let you do to me, too.” We got in a taxi to
Aunties house.

“We have arrived back, as requested Aunty, and we bring the
serving wench, who’s cooking for us…” Andy screamed through the
door, we opened the door to well… Their Father, he was sat there in
their aunt’s lounge and looking smug and nasty. I went through to
the kitchen they were both locked in there and the boys were still
afraid of him, why? Hell I'd had it with him now, not here and
never again.

“Are you all right, let me in?” They didn’t speak but the door
was unbolted, and the table dragged from the door. “Please tell me
what does he want?” Aunty Allison spoke.

“He’s come to take Jimmy home the boys aren’t welcome at the
house anymore. We were phoning the police but he said go on, he had
rights and the police were on his side, he has that dratted court
order. Michelle, he is very drunk be careful, please.” I went back
into the lounge. The boys, all three were terrified of him. I
dialled the number. Dennis shuffled in his seat and stared at me.
Right, as if I was frightened of him.

“Can you go next door please Aunty Liz, and fetch Dad to the
phone and quickly as you can, please.” He looked at me.

“Right, what’s he going to do bitch?” He got up and came
towards me I used the receiver from the phone as a makeshift
weapon.

“Oh I don’t think so Dennis back off and get out of here,
because I’m not afraid to hit you with this and Dad will kill you.
You’ve already smacked me and didn’t I warn you never to mess with
me again? You though were perhaps too drunk to remember the last
time you hit me? Hell, my Dad is going to kill you, that’s what he
will do. Paybacks a bitch, not me. I hadn’t told him what you did,
because you’re Sam’s father. I was giving you the benefit of the
doubt of getting your act together? Seems I was wrong, you are
incapable of any reasonable logic, a mistake on my part that’s not
ever happening again, you get everything you deserve from now
on.

As to Jimmy? He’s going nowhere with you now or any time soon.
He’s eighteen and has left college, so the terms of their enforced
imprisonment ended two days ago, when he did his last exam. Stop
your mind games with your wife and sons Mr Todd. Your meal tickets,
left the day you hit me. That though should have stopped when you
first hit your children and your wife. She should have reported you
to the police way back, the boys should do it now, you should be in
prison for what you’ve done, and believe me when Dad gets here, and
you will wish that’s where you were.

I warned you what did you think I’m just a slip of a girl with
a gob? Well big mistake Dennis, I have a Daddy who will kill to
keep me safe and shit safe I will be, as are these wonderful
people, they are my family now. You, you son of a bitch are going
to regret coming here today and forcing your way into my Aunties
house. All the things I said that day, I meant. I swear you had
your last warning, you need to be taught a lesson and the way you
dish out your punishments too, but by my father’s fists will be
dishing those punches. Mine aren’t strong enough to kill you
unfortunately, but his are.” He sneered, he thinks I’m joking more
fool him.

“No more, I’m taking Jimmy crap. It stops too it won’t do you
any good. Today Emma has been to see a solicitor, a proper one, not
a barroom legal expert. She can provide more than adequate funds to
look after him and in a safe home can you do that? Dennis can you
provide him with anything he needs? Food, heat, shelter, love,
money, can you do anything like that for him? Do any one, or better
still all of those things? No, don't be stupid you never did, you
can’t provide any to yourself, let alone Jimmy, and you never gave
money you just took it and without the boy’s money, you have fuck
all.

So yes, perhaps I do ring the police instead, because, as of
noon today this place and coming anywhere near Emma, Andy, Sam, or
Jimmy is off limits to you, by court order Mr Todd. So you should
thank yourself lucky, I wasn’t here when you came to the door. I
would have had you arrested for breaking the restraining order, but
I have something better than being locked away, something much more
effective at keeping you away. Wanna guess what? I will give you a
clue, he has a great left hook, but the right one can take a big
arsed man down, you, it will be like blowing a feather
away.

My dad is a better person to deal with the crap you dish out,
Daddy hates wife beaters and God help you, when he finds out you
hit me and tortured them, you pathetic piece of shit. I think I
told you that Sam has nothing to be worried about from Mick? They
really are very close Dennis, and he considers him his Son, in
fact, Sam calls him Dad. So you hurt him, you hurt me and so you
see you now have a big problem. You better run and fast. Legally
the house is Emma’s not yours, so get another of your tarts to put
you up. That won’t be as easy without your son’s wages keeping them
in that God awful cheap perfume they wear.” He looked at me with
such hate in his eyes I’d pushed him too far. I will kill to keep
this lot safe and lord help him I’m so pumped upon adrenalin or
something I feel no fear from this drunken man however, his sons
are paralysed in fear. He is getting up, quick back to the
phone.

“Yes sorry Dad, yes Dad I was shouting at someone, I’m having
a bit of bother with Sam’s Dad he just turned up and won’t leave.
Yes, yes, I know, yes, where you dropped us off at the weekend. Oh
and bring Shane please, it may take two of you to sort him out
properly, he’s there with you and his brother, good yeah more the
merrier. Dad he really hurt me, he hit me so hard and knocked me
over, he hurt me Dad he says he’s going to do it again. I’m a bitch
and I am going to suffer. No calm down Dad, I know, but calm down,
yes, I want him sorted out properly. Yes, you will have to he
doesn’t take no for an answer. See you in five minutes.” He looked
worried he looked at Sam who looked scared. He got up and was
leaving.

“No need to bother them, I’m going. You haven’t heard the last
from me, girlie.” I looked at him and he grabbed my arm. Big
mistake, I hit him with one forceful right hook and straight at his
nose. I drew blood, but he didn’t stop coming… So I smacked him
over the head with the phone and I think I may have broken the
phone. He will definitely have a headache later. He glared at me,
as if I was frightened of a drunken bully.

“Run Dennis, that’s just cost you, as to your threats towards
me? Bring it on you didn’t put up much of a fight to someone who’s
not frightened to death of you, not forgetting my dad’s gunning for
you more than anything now, I have fresh bruises to show him. Pick
which pub you want to die in because it’s coming sooner than you
think. Now don’t let the door hit you’re not drunk enough, poor
arse on its way out.”

He went slamming the door behind him the room went hot and
then dark. I woke up with a wet tea towel on my head, shoes off,
and my feet in Emma’s lap and an awful smelly thing being pushed up
my nose by Aunty and my head in Sam’s lap.

“Erg that stinks, Aunty Allison please tell me he’s gone? The
speaking clock isn’t going to rescue you.”

“So, all that was for show?” I smiled and Aunty was
grinning.

“Sorry yes I didn’t want Dad involved yet, but after today I
really don’t think he’s going to take no for an answer and
certainly not off little old gobby me, but tomorrow you do
everything I said. He’s been getting bar room legal advice from
been there, had it done to me fellas. Most of which is true he only
wants Jimmy, to get you all to go back with him because Jimmy is
his meal ticket.

Which you’re not doing because it will be worse than before a
lot worse, thanks to me. Don’t get me wrong
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will sort it if it comes to it. I have had enough of him. Tomorrow
you need to apply for and get a restraining order, and you don’t
let him near you ever again. Then start divorce proceedings, please
Emma as soon as you can. I’m sure the boys will sort the finances
out?” I got up to make our tea.

“Right dinner let me do something I know I’m good at.” I
stumbled as I rose and Sam held me tightly. I gave him a hug back
and kissed his cheek. I left them to their talking and Aunty came
in to help me.

“How did you get so wise on law matters? Darling girl, are you
not frightened of him? You were very feisty and your courage was
unbelievable.” I looked at her. She looked so worried bless
her.

“I'm not courageous, I just know I have a Dad who loves me
enough to kill for me, and he will. Dennis messed with the wrong
person, bad luck for him. I think the legal stuff stuck in my mind
because Mum and Dad went through the same thing a while back. Becky
and I went with Dad to stop with Gramps we thought it was just a
jolly holiday at Gramps and it was he was great there. After a
week, Nana Dunn got a solicitor to get us back home with Mum,
because she needed to keep us with her for the finances and
stuff.

I’m not an expert I listen and remember things and they either
come back and bite my bum or they help someone. So sorry about the
phone thing? I figured when my dad had him the other night and he
went, he would do the same again but adding Shane to it made Sam
look more worried, when his dad looked at Sam’s face, he knew I was
serious.” She hugged me and went to calm the others down. Sam came
looking sick and so worried.

“I didn’t keep you safe. I couldn’t move baby and he could
have killed you I’m so sorry, please forgive me Mi cielo and don’t
leave me please.” He fell at my knees crying and begging me not to
leave just holding my legs I just cradled his head in my hands,
tears flowing down my cheeks. He sobbed into my legs, clinging on
for dear life.

“Upstairs please Sam now, I’ll be up in a minute. Please, for
me please?” He got up, kissed me with salty tears in the mix, then
he did as I asked. I went in to see the others.

“He’s in a state again you all need to be seeing someone, who
can help you handle all this stuff. Can we order food in? I promise
to cook for you all again.” Aunty nodded and shooed me to see Sam.
I went to the bedroom and he wasn’t a mess he was wrecked. I held
him close as he sobbed he really cried, belly cries. I didn’t know
what to do, so I just waited for him to talk to me. Eventually he
did, I had thought his dad had sexually abused him, so I was ready
for the worst-case scenario.

“He’s hit me Michelle, he hit me so hard and so many times the
last time I didn’t have any feeling for hours, then I had three
days of headaches and the bruises were horrid, all over my body. We
didn’t see him for a week after that attack he’s nearly killed me
more than once. He’s thrown me down the stairs he’s held my hands
over the cooker, over the kettle. He has hit and stomped on and
hurt most places on all of my body. He has a friend called ‘Old
faithful,’ he gets used a lot, and he attacks us when we sleep. He
hits Mum too he likes to hit us he seems to need to hit us… I just
want him dead.

Baby, he is a monster. I see him and want to run and hide like
the four year old little boy I was when it all started. I can’t
remember a day were he hasn’t done something to me or at me. The
night he smacked you it brought it all back, I couldn’t move to
help you he was hurting you, and again I was that same four year
old watching him hit Andy, and I could do nothing. Andy was
battered and…” He was sobbing, but went no further with the Andy
thing.