The Fractured Wife

Chapter 16

“What a lovely surprise Grant,” Jane said as she opened the door to see her nephew standing there. “What do we owe the pleasure?” Jane asked when grant sat down on her couch in the living room. Jane in the chair across from him as she waited for Grant to start talking.

“Auntie Jane, I need your help and Uncle Stefan’s help for something for my mum,” Grant started saying looking down at his hands. “ What can you tell me about what’s going on between mum and Lucien?” Grant asked as he looked up to see his aunt twiddling her hands. “I asked mum if she liked him and she denied it even tho I know when she’s lying.” Grant continued. “ After what my father did all I want is my mum to be happy as she deserves it, but why would she something that could be good for her?” Grant stopped speaking as he was feeling confused and felt tears threatening to escape his eyes. 

“Grant your mother and you boys have gone through hell and you all have survived. You remember the day that Conan almost got hit by that car and Lucien saved him? Your mother has always put you boys first and makes sure that you and Conan have everything you need or want before she even starts thinking about herself.” Jane told Grant as she moved to sit beside him on the couch and putting her arm around his shoulders. “Your mother is very confused this now about what she needs to do and what she wants to do. Lucien feels the same and he wants the best for your mother, you and Conan. Do you know that your mother hasn’t spoken to Lucien since that day because she didn’t want to upset anyone,” Jane said as she wiped a stray tear away from Grant’s face. 

“She deserves the best and she has always been there for me and Conan,” Grant said as he let the tears flow after hearing what his mother has been doing. “ I want her to be happy and safe like she has been doing for me and Conan. Do you think if she started to Lucien again she would be happy?” Grant asked looking up at his auntie with hope. “I want you to help me get Lucien and my mother together,” he said with new determination in his voice. “I need your help to do that tho as I can’t do this on my own.”

“We will help but it will be difficult as there are things that they both have to deal with before they can face each other but we can start slowly. What did you have in mind?” Jane said before Grant continued with his plan. 

“I’m going to go and start the ball rolling now, thanks,” Grant said and after leaving his aunt’s house he headed over to Lucien’s house.

Standing at Lucien’s front door Grant was a little bit nervous as he hesitated before knocking on the door. He stood there after knocking but there was no answer so he knocked again but louder this time. 

“Don’t think anyone is home,” said a voice behind Grant making him jump and spin around. “ Dude!! What the heck man don’t scare me like that!” Grant shouted at the man behind him holding his hand up to his chest.

“What can I do for you, Grant? Is it good if I call you Grant?” Lucien asked looking at the young man in front of him. He couldn’t stop the laughter rolling out as he remembered the look of fear on Grant’s face when he turned around. “Yeah that’s fine but actually it’s you I need to talk to about my mum,” Grant said straightening his back and looking at Lucien.

“ Does your mum know you’re over here? You better come in then,” Lucien stopped laughing and moved around grant to open his front door before stepping inside, beckoning Grant to follow him. After they had sat down Lucien offered Grant a soda which Grant accepted. “ Thanks,” Grant said when Lucien had returned with his drink. Lucien watched Grant take a gulp of his soda and after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, he leaned his elbows on his knees. “ So Grant, what is it that you want to talk to me about?” Lucien asked Grant waiting on Grant telling him what was going on.

“I am here because I think my mum likes you and I’m here to see what your intentions are with my mother. She has been through hell with my father and this is her fresh start with myself and Conan. I don’t want to see my mum hurt anymore and I’m worried that you will hurt her just like my father.” Grant said looking straight ahead avoiding looking at Lucien. 

Lucien looked at the boy sitting on the couch and sat back as he could tell there was more than what grant was saying. “What else do you want to tell me?” Lucien asked quietly as Grant fidgeted in his seat. “You know I may be a stranger but it looks like you need to talk to someone,” Lucien said encouragingly to Grant who gave him a lopsided smile.

“It all began….”Grant started to say to Lucien with his head bowed. He has always needed someone to talk to, but he always thought that he needed to be strong for his mother and brother. This wasn’t going to be easy but he needed to be free of his guilt and finally feel free. 

“I didn’t know when it began, but we were not happy when we lived with my father as he was always drunk and he was a mean drunk. My mother tried shielding me and Conan as best as she could but I heard and saw more than she wanted me to see. I remember my father was always shouting or cursing at my mum and us. I remember being woke up during the night and heard shouting downstairs and my mum crying. She was pleading my father not to come and wake us up,” Grant closed his eyes as he relived the memory before continuing,” She was hysterical, I got out of my bed as quietly as possible and opened my bedroom door and saw my father holding my mother and shaking her. I wanted to go and protect my mum but I was frozen to the spot. I couldn’t move and all I could do was watch. My father had pushed my mother to the floor then grabbed her hair as she screamed. My mum had tears running down her face and she had a black eye that was dark purple and swelling fast so her eye was closed. She stopped screaming as she didn’t want to wake me or Conan up. My father was in a frenzy as he kept hold of my mother’s hair he kept punching her anywhere he could get his fist at. He let go of her hair and she fell onto the floor in a fetal position but my father had no control he started kicking her and saying that if she got in his way again then it would never see us again. You see after that night my mum made it her mission to do all she can to save me and my brother but we were trapped till the day my father turned on me and my brother.” Grant stopped as he wiped tears from his eyes with the back of his sleeve. Lucien sat watching Grant as he explained what they had gone through before they arrived here. He has never wanted to kill someone as much as he wanted to kill the man that was responsible for hurting the woman and the boys he cared more in the world. He wanted to make sure that they never saw that prick again. He silently waited on Grant to continue with his story.

Grant sat there and looked up at Lucien and noticed the white knuckles as he sat on his chair listening. His eyes were dark and he looked like he was fighting to keep himself calm. “Look man I’m sorry I shouldn’t be telling you any of this. I’m sorry,” Grant said as he stood and headed for the door. Just as he got to the door he heard Lucien gather his emotions till they were controlled and asked for Grant to continue with his story.

Grant sat down again and then started telling his story again. “That day started off like any other day. my brother and I stayed in our rooms getting ready for school and trying to be as quiet as we could be as our father hadn’t left for work yet, we were sitting on my bed as Conan always got ready in my room so that I could protect him if my father decided to turn on him. Like I said we were sitting on my bed ready when we heard the front door slam and we both relaxed a little till we heard the car drive away. We grabbed our bags and ran to the kitchen where mum had our breakfast ready. After we had breakfast we both gave mum hugs before we went to school. I always dropped Conan off first as his school was on the way to my school.” Grant stopped as he took a few mouthfuls of his soda, before continuing. “When I got home from school and after picking up Conan, my father had come home early and was currently shouting at my mum because there was a dirty cup in the sink. I couldn’t take it anymore and shouted as loud as I could to leave mum alone. He turned and it was like he was the devil. His face was crimson and his cheeks were puffed out like he was proper seething. His eyes were popping out of his head and everything. He started storming towards us and then my cheek hurt and my head spun to the side. My father had hit me. My mum started running towards me but he had punched her as well so she fell. Conan was crying behind me scared shitless. I couldn’t let him hurt my little brother so I pushed Conan further behind me. my father was crazy and grabbed me and continued to beat me and get to Conan. When he had run out of energy he left saying he was going to the pub. After he left we huddled together in case he came back, That was the last night we saw that SOB as we ran that night.”