Chapter 10

Though all her other children had replied to Claire’s email, there had been nothing from Elizabeth, and Claire felt the loss. Each day she had hoped for something the next day, but there was nothing from her.

“I’m worried about Peter,” she said over coffee that morning. “From what the children say, he seems very depressed.”

So he damn well ought to be, thought John, though he said nothing, but massaged her shoulders and back.

“D’you think I should write to him?” she asked plaintively. “See if he’s changed at all?”

“If it makes you feel better,” John said, “it can’t do any harm.” Secretly he did not believe that. He wondered if after all that Peter had done, and his lack of any remorse for his violence, he could ever change.

After lunch Claire spent the afternoon writing a letter to Peter. When it was finished she did not show it to John but sealed it and took it to the post box. He felt excluded for a moment, then berated himself: this was a letter between a married couple, and they had a right to privacy.

She also sent the letter as an attachment to his email address. She waited all week for a reply, though admittedly without much hope.

She filled her time mainly in the garden. The first three days were blessed with sunny periods, but Thursday was wet and she gave up for the day. Friday morning was the weekly shop. After they finished putting the shopping away, she looked out from the living room as yet another shower speckled the window, and admired her handiwork. The garden looked beautiful and cared for.She hoped Elizabeth would approve.

The doorbell rang after lunch on Friday. John wondered if this would bring more suffering and pain as he trudged to the door, steeled himself and opened it, keeping well clear of the arc it would make as it opened. On the step stood a young woman with a rucksack, and John saw immediately who it was.

“You have to be Elizabeth, Claire’s daughter!” he said with a broad smile. “Come in, come in! You will make her day!”

She smiled uncertainly. “Y-yes, how did you know?”

“Sweetheart, you are the spitting image of your mother when she was your age! My family were looking at a photo of your mother from back then. I’ll show it you later, but come through. Claire!” he shouted. “Here’s a visitor for you!”

“A visitor? For me?” came Claire’s voice from the living room. Who...”

By then Elizabeth had walked though the doorway. “Hello, Mummy,” she said as she dropped her rucksack.

“Lizzie? But how? When? Oh my darling!” and the two fell into a tight embrace. The tears flowed down Claire’s cheeks, and they were joined by Elizabeth’s as the two wept with happiness.

“Oh, Mum!” her daughter whispered.

“So good! How?” sniffed her mother.

“As soon as I got your email, I applied for some holiday time. Dad paid my fare. I only get today and the weekend, I’m back at work on Monday.”

John made tea, what else could he do? He brought it to them, who were now seated together on the sofa. He served them and then left them alone.

“I had to come and see you, you need to know that your family has not totally deserted you. But John’s face! Did Dad really do that?”

“Yes, my love. It’s a lot better than it was. Your father pushed the front door open violently and it hit John in the face, then he fell back and cracked the back of his head on the wall. But, Lizzy, while he was unconscious, Thomas kicked him. He’s got bruised ribs and other injuries.”

“You mean his privates?”

Claire nodded. “Oh Lizzy, I’ve had lovely emails from Mary and Philip and even a text from John.”

“It took a lot of argument to get Mary onside, Mum: that newspaper cutting clinched it. She didn’t believe you until then. Charles has been wonderful, he’s so balanced and sympathetic. She’s very lucky to have him. Oh, and there’s trouble in Thomas’s household, Sharon has had enough. She lost all respect for him when he carried on with his shit about John being a philanderer who deserved all he got. Then Mary showed her the press cutting.”

Claire was silent for a moment or two, then, “Perhaps it’s genetic.”

“Genetic?”

“Haven’t you noticed how like your father he is? I think they’re both insecure, and thus they’re jealous. Everything is a threat to their relationships. Thomas behaves just like his father about Sharon, and my visiting John tearing a hole in my relationship with your father is a real threat to Tom as well. I’m sure he’s frightened that Sharon will find someone else and leave him.”

Elizabeth’s eyes opened wide. “Mum, you’re right! I never thought of that. Trouble is, Sharon isn’t going to put up with what you had to contend with. Her tolerance is at an end now.”

Claire sighed. “It’s a shame that his jealous efforts becoming so violent will bring about exactly what he’s terrified might happen.”

They paused to drink their tea.

“John seems nice,” Elizabeth said. “Very calm and welcoming. D’you think he’ll let me stay?”