Half Of Rhea

The Visitors

 There was another knock at the door and they stood frozen, not knowing whether to answer the person’s knocking, or try and hide. It was highly likely, that whoever it was, had overheard their heated discussion, so hiding now would be ridiculous. Panic stricken, Rhea shook her head at Zane, motioning for him to go and get it.

“I can't open the door looking like this!” She hurriedly whispered.

“Who is it?” He desperately whispered back.

“How the hell am I supposed to know?.... I just can’t go showing my face to anyone after what you did, so go and answer the bloody door.” Rhea was in no mood to argue the subject, there would be no debating this. She looked at him sternly, trying to convey all those thoughts in one single glare.

He trudged off slowly towards the door and opened the curtain next to the window and peeked out.

“It’s Uncle Russell and Aunt Jude!”

Rhea sighed, it was Zane’s aunt and uncle. They were tenacious and inquisitive people, so avoiding them was not an option. Eventually they would just go around to the back and open the door, letting themselves in. They were a really lovely couple, who came to check in on their little family, at least once a week and it had been some time, since their last visit. Although, now was not the best time for Rhea to face them, unburdening on people she trusted, seemed the better option.

She walked past Zane and towards the door. He yelled “Wait Rhea don’t open….” But it was too late.

The two visitors stood in her doorway stunned for a moment, unsure of what to say. That moment seemed like it lasted minutes, but it would have only been mere seconds. Their eyes raked over her face and body.

“Hi Russell and Jude….” She said quietly and then looked down at the ground, then back up to their astonished faces. Jude took a cautious step forward and softly grabbed her hand.

“Are you ok honey?”

She was an older woman in her mid-50s, slightly plump with the fairest skin and the darkest brown eyes. Her curly hair framed her face as she looked upon Rhea. She lightly touched her cheek and then looked at Russell, without saying a word to each other, it seemed like they were speaking telepathically. She nodded at him and he took steps forward to be let inside. It seemed like an unspoken agreement, that they were going to get to the bottom of why this young woman was in such a terrible state, their faces etched with a deep concern.

Russell walked past the two women, whose hands remained clasped together and entered the property. “Stay here.”

Jude held Rhea back a little and asked her again “What happened Rhea? Who did this to you?” She kept her head looking at her feet, as tears started freely falling.

“Z-Zane kicked me out of the car yesterday… and then I-I asked my friend… she came after I rung her… to pick me up on the side of the road, she gave me a dress cos it w-was so hot Jude…. He hated it and then he….”

She hiccupped and stuttered her way through the explanation, but halted at the end. She just couldn’t bring herself to delve into the details, of what happened next. The pain was still incredibly raw and the bruises on the outside, had absolutely nothing on the pain and humiliation, she felt on the inside. But how was she to explain this to someone? To anyone?

She just sobbed and cried on Jude’s shoulder, as the little lady comforted the upset young woman. Unable to speak anymore, Rhea felt ridiculous standing on her doorstep, completely breaking down. That’s when they heard a scuffle inside, Rhea let go of Jude and ran into the lounge. Uncle Russell had Zane pinned up against the wall, his eyes bulging out of his eye socket, Zane had a look of intense fear strewn on his face.

“You think you’re a f*****g man putting your hands on a woman!?” A voice thundered through the space.

Rhea didn’t recognise the man holding Zane by the throat. Russell…. Docile, sweet, lovely Uncle Russell, had transformed into a very angry, scary man. His anger was palpable, he even struck fear into Rhea and she started shaking and pleaded to Aunt Jude. “Please Jude….. Please, no. I’ve seen enough of this s**t, in the last 24hours.” It wasn’t like Rhea to swear in front of others, let alone in front of people like Aunt Jude, but she had enough of the formalities at that point and was so overwhelmed and exhausted, she no longer cared.

Jude stomped over to Russell and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and looked down on his little wife.

“Russell Jones, you put that boy down right now!” She pointed her finger straight into his chest and he let go immediately, sheepishly averting his eyes from her cold hard stare.

“What the hell is wrong with you Russell?” She poked at him again.

“Aunt Jude I’m sorry I didn’t….” He was cut off by her glare.

“You. Shut. Your. Mouth.” She said slowly and pointedly at Zane.

“Don’t you think there has been enough of that under this roof? Laken is next door and could have heard!” She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, squinting her eyes like it was painful for her to think.

“You two follow me!” she pointed at the two men and then walked through to the kitchen, they followed like disobedient dogs. Rhea looked in awe at this woman. Her power didn’t reside in her size or physical dominance. She used her stern, soft aura to override everyone. No-one had the ability to ignore her, run away or even argue back.

Rhea followed behind them and Jude was standing behind the counter, putting the jug on. She turned to Rhea “Go and put that little one in the lounge honey, and shut the door so the adults can have a conversation.” Rhea nodded and took Laken away from his Great-Aunt. He looked sad “Aww but Aunt Jude I wanna stay by you!”

“Aunt will come and bring you a chocolate milkshake soon.” She nodded at him, which changed his mood around completely, as he happily ran out the door excited.

Rhea put Laken on the couch and sat next to him. The last 48 hours had been so overwhelming, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be a part of the conversation currently taking place in the kitchen. She snuggled into Laken and watched some Finding Nemo. After 10 minutes she resigned herself to the fact that she had to go into the Lion’s Den.

She pushed the door ajar and heard Zane speaking. From the tones of the conversation she could tell that the three of them were speaking in a civilised way.

“I’ve been under so much stress keeping this family together and she took off with her mate all day.” He had an incredible amount of conviction and sadness in his voice. Even Rhea nearly believed it.

She walked into the room and there was no longer the look of outrage on their faces but instead there was a look of pity and was it understanding? NO it couldn’t be. She took a deep breath and sat down staring straight at Zane.

“You know that is not true.”

With Russell and Jude’s attention turned towards Rhea, they missed the small look of satisfaction on Zane’s face.

Zane continued his sob story, complete with tears and accusations of a loveless, tired mother and partner, who did nothing but gain weight.

Rhea sat there in shock, completely dumbfounded. She looked at the two other people who sat there, who she thought would be her allies. The two people she had hoped might help her get out of this situation.

“Do you believe him?” it was the first time she spoke after his explanation.

“Well dear, it is very unlike Zane, he’s never ever done this before. Maybe you two just need a break from everything. Times are tough.” Jude had sad eyes, as she looked upon Rhea imploringly.

“It’s not your fault Rhea but maybe if you two spend more time together talking and if you don’t let Laken sleep with you every night, you might have more time with Zane.” Russell nodded towards her.

“You know Zane’s had a rough childhood and I think, just having that reassurance from you will help in your relationship.” Jude reached out for Rhea’s hand.

Rhea sat there like a statue. How could she explain the psychological games, the control, the threats and the terrible state of Zane’s relationship with his own son? She couldn’t. At the end of the day these people were his family, not hers. She nodded but knew deep down that she had just lost another battle.

“Thank you Aunt, I love my family so much. This will never happen again.” Zane grabbed Jude’s other hand and kissed it apologetically.

“And definitely pull me into line if I’m an asshole Uncle.” He smiled at Russell and shook his hand.

“I respect a man who isn’t afraid to stand up for someone in trouble or who is hurt but I promise you won’t find that here.” He kept kissing Russell’s arse and Rhea felt like throwing up. His manipulation she was aware of, but this was a whole new level.

They sat and finished their hot drinks, while Jude and Russell gave helpful advice on things they can and should do. They definitely agreed with Zane that Sage was not a good influence and her mother was a no good, pot smoking hippie. Crystals and dream catchers were the work of the devil and it’s no wonder the father of Sages kids had taken off. Rhea had a glassy look over her eyes and tuned out the conversation trying to appear interested. With only the odd nod or murmur of agreement at her disposal Rhea sat defeated again. The emotional rollercoaster of ups and downs, moments of strength then weakness came in waves.

Jude and Russell got up and hugged them both, feeling happy and like they had just resolved this young couples issues in 55minutes, over a cup of tea. Easy. Done. They left, not knowing that they had just made this situation, so much worse.

“I told you not to open the door.” Zane turned to Rhea spitefully.

“You blatantly lied.” She lost her confidence and her conviction. She just couldn’t believe what had happened.

“And I will lie to anyone that you tell. As you can see I’m quite convincing.”

She stood rooted to the spot. How can someone be so cruel? Right now she had many more problems than solutions. What if no-one believed her? Her mind raced with all the possibilities and what she could do but her exhaustion held her back from coming up with any answers.

“Yes you are convincing, but the thing is both you and I know the truth, and eventually it’s going to eat you up on the inside. Your truth will come out and everyone will see you, exactly for who you are.”

She raised her bruised chin in the air and looked down her nose at him. He had not broken her yet. He lunged at her, and she coward backwards. His laughter filled the air. This man was like Jekyll and Hyde, one minute apologetic and the next a psycho.

“No-one will ever believe you.” He slyly drawled out.

She realised then that maybe no-one would believe her, but that only meant she would have to do this on her own. After coming to terms with that fact, she nodded inwardly. ‘I can do this by myself.’

He walked back into the lounge, leaving Rhea there to contemplate not just her injuries, but her life, goals and what she hoped for Laken. This was not it, this situation had been escalating for months and now it had reached its crescendo. Something had to change and he was not going to make any changes, so it came down to her own motivation to get out of there.

She thought about her family and sat back at the table. They had drifted apart over the years, her parents had despised her relationship with Zane. This only created a rift that, even now, she was still too ashamed to ask them for help, for fear it would only be chucked back in her face. Even with the horrible situation she was in, she was still a proud person. She had pursued this family life, without their support and had given so much effort for it, that to take it back now, would have made her look foolish.

She sighed, she was foolish and she missed her family so much. To tell them what happened would open a floodgate of family members, Uncles and cousins that would fight Zane, beat him and make him regret ever touching her. The thought of that made her feel a small glimmer of euphoria.

“I will not put anyone else in danger, I will do this myself.”

She drank the rest of her tea at the table. There was hope and there was determination in her face. She would heal, she would get stronger, she would plan and save money for her great escape.