Love after loss

Chapter 8 - The punch

A rage came over me

I pointed my finger at Bens chest

“All you care about is his money, I don’t give a s**t about his money”

Tears hit me

“All I want is my bloody husband back. Get out Ben, get out of my house”

He grabbed the wrist of the finger I was pointing at him with

“Be careful who you’re pointing that finger at Elle” he leaned forward and I was hit by the stench of booze

A look of rage flit across Garrets face as he stepped towards us but Stuart put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head stopping him with a smug knowing smirk on his face

“Let go of me Ben”

His grasped tightened and I heard his father shout at him to release me

‘God I always hated you’ I thought as I remembered all the times he had taken advantage of Dereks kindness and generosity, repeatedly taking loans he never paid back and then not even visiting after Derek got sick. He couldn’t even be bothered to see his brother when he was dying!

“That bar was Dereks life, he put his heart and soul into it and I will not let you have it to run into the ground you spoilt little s**t. I will run it exactly how Derek would have wanted me to, exactly how he would have. He deserves that and more. If you fight me on this I will make you regret it. It is all I have of him”

“You have everything of his” Bens grip tightened again to the point it was going to leave a nasty bruise.

“I said let go of me Ben”

“Or what” he practically spat out

I reared my free arm back and my fist come hurtling toward his face and connecting hard with his nose.

“You b***h” Ben yelled as he let go of my wrist and cupped his now bloody nose.

His mother rushed toward us grabbing Bens arm and looking at me regretfully 

“I’m so sorry Elle, I’ll take him home and he will not be contesting anything unless he wants to be cut out of another will” the last part was directed at her son with a glare in her eyes.

They made a quick exit with Dereks father giving my shoulder a friendly squeeze on his way out. After that the rest of the people gathered quickly said their goodbyes and Made their exits and I was left with just Garret and Stuart.

“I need a drink” I sighed as I flopped down on the couch.

“That’s quite the right hook you’ve got” Garret chucked as he handed me a beer

“I have been on the receiving end of that fist enough to know that Bens nose is definitely broken” Stuart replied.

“He deserved it” I gave a little laugh and took a sip of beer. 

“So what now?” Garret asked

“What now...” I wondered aloud

A few days later me and Stuart went into town to pick up some souvenirs for his kids as he was due to return back to London in a few days and as I walked quietly beside him he suddenly stopped walking. 

“I can’t leave you like this Elle. You’re not sleeping, you barely eat. And you look like absolute s**t!”

“I don’t care” I mumbled out petulantly

“Come home with me, for a little while at least. The kids would love to see you and mum would stop nagging me about looking after you”

“I can’t Stuart. The bar won’t runs itself. And I can’t just run away”

“Garret has been running the bar just fine on his own for the past 6 months. A few more weeks won’t hurt I’m sure” he looked at me worry clearly showing on his face.

“I’ll talk to him, it would be nice to see everyone” I agreed.