Chapter 3: Charlene Progresses

THURSDAY

The next day Vernon was on a late shift, so John had arranged to take him to see his solicitor. They explained what had happened leaving out the details of Grahams attack. Danny had given them the copy of the will he had sent off for.

The solicitor asked Vernon some questions about his mum and dad and where they had lived. He asked about his sister, but Vernon couldn’t help there. He didn’t even know the surname of the relative she had gone to live with.

The solicitor didn’t seem to think that would be a problem and said he’d be in touch as soon as he could as he showed them out.

John and Vernon went into a café in town and had some lunch.

FRIDAY

Friday morning at ten am, John’s doorbell rang. Charlene was on the doorstep. ‘Please tell me if it’s not convenient,’ she said, ‘I can come another time.’

‘Not at all,’ John said stepping back from the door, ‘You’re welcome anytime. I can always make time for you, come on in.’ He closed the door behind her and turned intending to open his arms and leave her to come into them if she wanted to.

But the moment he turned she threw her arms around him and hugged. As he put his arms around her and returned the hug, he kissed her on her cheek. Charlene lifted her head and gave him a quick kiss on his lips. ‘Thank you so much for your patience last time.’ she told him.

‘Come and have a coffee,’ John said and led the way through to the kitchen. As he made them, Charlene sat at the kitchen table. ‘When I left last time,’ she told him, ‘I was so amazed that I’d got as far as I had. Then I started thinking it wasn’t due to me, it only happened because of your patience.’

‘I’ve been so worried that you would have decided it was too much trouble to carry on.’ As John put their coffees on the table, he smiled at her. ‘I promise you that no matter how long it takes, as long as you want to continue, I’ll be here for you.’ he said.

Charlene stood up and hugged him again. ‘Thank you,’ she said, ‘You’re lovely.’ John was delighted with her comment but even more so at feeling how relaxed she was when hugging him.

‘The problem last time wasn’t the questions,’ John said, ‘It was the massage. But that’s very important so when we continue, I’ll massage all of your back again, just like I did last time, but without any questions. I’ll only resume the questions when we’re back to where we left off.’

‘What I will do,’ John said, ‘Is whilst I massage your back, I’ll tell you some of the things I think might have happened to you. Even if they’re all wrong, it might help you realise that nothing you tell me is going to surprise me. You don’t need to comment, just listen.’

They had finished their coffees by now so John stood up saying, ‘Shall we go through?’ Charlene smiled at him and stood up too. ‘Yes, please.’ she said. John put his hand out which she took. He led her through to the lounge. ‘Make yourself comfy.’ he told her.

Charlene sat down and took her shoes off. Then she lay on her back. John sat at her side, smiled and said, ‘Turn over when you’re ready.’ She turned almost immediately. John placed his hands on her head and massaged.

‘Say go when you’re ready.’ he told her. ‘Go.’ she called out almost at once. As John moved down onto her shoulders he said, ‘From the little I know about you so far, I guess you came to live with your uncle when you were twelve.’

‘That was an age when your body was changing from girl to woman. You’ve only mentioned an uncle, no partner, so I wonder if he did things to you involving sex and your body. Or made you do things to him.’

‘Your fear of contact, particularly male contact, supports that theory. There is even a possibility that he has been bringing friends home to abuse you.’

‘It’s also apparent that since you started working, you have had to hand over all or most of your earnings to him. From that I consider it possible that he could be using you as slave labour at home.’

‘Any of those, or all of those, or variations are possible. Just remember that anything you have been forced to do is not your fault and no one will blame you for doing them.’

As John reached her head, he had felt no tension anywhere as he went down or came back. He took his hands off and said, ‘Turn over.’ When she turned John saw her eyes were wet. ‘Sit up.’ he said holding his arms out.

As they hugged, Charlene started crying. John stroked the back of her head and just held her gently. ‘Just let it all out.’ he said quietly in her ear, then he kissed her head. He held her patiently as her sobs gradually faded.

As they came to a stop, he remained holding her and stroking her head. Then after a few moments he asked, ‘Can you say just ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to this question. Did hearing me describe some of your problem make you cry?’ She hugged him tightly then said quietly ‘Yes.’

‘Thank you for telling me that,’ John said, ‘We’re not going to delve into that any further just yet, but remember you have in a sense told me a little bit about your problem, something you didn’t think you would ever be able to do. That’s an amazing leap forward.’ Then he put his hand under her chin, lifted her face towards him and kissed each wet eyelid in turn. After giving her a short kiss on her lips he said, ‘Go and swill your face, then we’ll carry on.’

When she returned, John was standing up waiting. She ran into his arms and hugged him. ‘Thank you for giving me hope.’ she said. Then went and lay down on her back. John sat at her side and massaged her head briefly before moving to her temples.

‘Say go when you’re ready,’ he told her. ‘Remember I’m going to massage down your front to your feet and back again. I’ll resume my questions when I start down. Just remember you can use ‘Stop’ or ‘Pass’ as often as you want.’

She looked straight at him, smiled and said, ‘Go.’ John moved his hands down onto her shoulders and massaged them. ‘How did you get on with the other girls at secondary school?’ he asked. ‘That surprised her she had expected questions about home. Then she felt John massaging over her breasts. She froze briefly, then relaxed as she realised it was giving her a nice feeling and his hands were so gentle. Not a bit like ... she started to think to herself before putting him out of her mind.

She lay there enjoying the feeling that was going through her. Then as he moved on down her stomach she thought about his question. ‘Ok, I suppose,’ she said. ‘I didn’t fall out with any of them whilst I was there, but I didn’t have any close friends. It was difficult not being able to invite them home.’

‘Where you close enough to any of them to discuss boys or sex?’ John asked as his hands moved up onto the front of her jeans. ‘Not individually.’ she said. Then as a lovely sensation started to go through her she looked down at where his hands were.

Amazed that she hadn’t panicked and was actually enjoying the feeling, she continued, ‘There were a group of us that often hung around together in the playground. They would often discuss their boyfriends, their bodies, and sex.’

‘I didn’t join in very much, but I listened and learned.’ As John moved down her legs he asked, ‘Did anyone every give you any sex instruction?’

‘Yes, in my last few months at primary school when I started my periods my cousin’s wife told me the basics.’

‘Did you understand everything she told you?’ John asked as he started back up her legs. ‘Not entirely,’ Charlene told him. ‘I felt embarrassed with the subject, so I didn’t like to ask questions and she was clearly embarrassed telling me, so I think she kept it very basic.’

As he moved onto the front of her jeans over her abdomen he asked, ‘So from that and what you learned from school pals, do you think you know everything you should know?’ he asked.

‘I didn’t at the time,’ she said, showing no tension at where his hands were. ‘But I’ve learned a lot more these past six years. Although how accurate my knowledge is, I have no idea.’ ‘Once we have sorted out your problem,’ John told her, ‘I’ll teach you everything properly if you want me to.’