‘What d’you mean she’s fuckin’ gone?’ asked Tommy, the veins in his neck protruding as his anger escalated.
‘She’s found a flat,’ said Shirley who had been dreading telling him.
‘Oh yeah? Like that is it? She’s all right to sponge off me while she’s still at school but the minute she gets a job, she pisses off and finds her own place!’
‘I don’t think she meant it like that, Tommy.’
‘Well how the fuck did she mean it? Are we not good enough for her now she’s got a job at a fuckin’ solicitors?’
‘No, it’s not that, Tommy,’ Shirley cajoled. ‘I think she just wants a bit of independence.’
‘Independence, my arse! She’s too bleedin’ young to be leaving home. Didn’t you tell her that?’
‘I tried to persuade her to stay, Tommy, honestly I did. But she was having none of it.’
‘I bet you bleedin’ did, you dozy cow. You’re fuckin’ useless!’
Shirley didn’t reply. She didn’t want to inflame the situation any further. Instead she watched Tommy as he tucked into his evening meal.
‘This dinner’s fuckin’ cold!’ he complained.
‘It’s been out for two hours. I’d have warmed it up for you if you’d asked.’
‘Stuff it!’ shouted Tommy, hurling the plate full of food against the wall. ‘I’m not eating this shit!’
Again Shirley stayed silent, not sure how to react for fear of inciting him even more.
Tommy spent a few moments pacing the room before announcing, ‘Right, you’d better tell me where she’s living. I’ll go round there and see if I can knock some sense into the silly little cow!’
‘I don’t know,’ said Shirley.
‘Don’t tell me fuckin’ lies. You know! And how long have you known she was moving out?’
‘Only a few days. I was going to tell you but there never seemed to be the right time.’
‘Don’t tell fuckin’ lies!’ Tommy shouted again, emphasising his point this time by giving Shirley a smack across the face with the back of his hand. ‘Tell me where she fuckin’ lives!’
‘I can’t.’
‘I said tell me!’ shouted Tommy. He gripped hold of the top of Shirley’s dress, his fists pressing into her throat. Then he dragged her out of the chair and slammed her up against the wall. His fists pressed against her windpipe and Shirley struggled to breathe. She could smell the beer as he exhaled sharply and yelled again, ‘You better fuckin’ tell me if you know what’s good for you.’
Shirley couldn’t speak. Her throat was constricted. Instead she shook her head from side to side while her eyes bulged in her head.
‘I said tell me!’ Tommy yelled again, releasing his hold then tightening it again as he bashed her head into the wall.
The colour drained from Shirley’s face and she let out a strangled yelp. Tommy released his hold and let her drop to the ground. She could see the shock on his face as though he was afraid he’d overdone it this time.
He looked down at her, poised to strike again but also checking for signs of life. She stirred and groaned before realising that was a mistake. As rage consumed him, Tommy kicked at Shirley’s legs and back until his anger was spent. Then he stopped, breathing heavily and surveying the damage. This time she kept still, relief flooding through her as she watched him walk away.
*
Adele was shocked at the sight of her mother. She had called around early on a Saturday morning when she knew her father would still be in bed. Straightaway she noticed the red mark on one side of her face and the bruises on her neck.
‘What’s happened to you?’ she asked although she already knew the answer.
‘You don’t wanna know,’ said Shirley, downcast.
‘Has he been at you again?’
Shirley’s lack of response confirmed Adele’s suspicions and, as she noticed her mother limping, she suspected that the worst of her injuries were hidden. She was wearing trousers; something she rarely did.
‘What’s wrong with your leg?’ asked Adele.
‘What?’
‘You’re limping, Mam.’
‘Oh, it’s nothing. Just a bit of arthritis.’
‘Are you sure?’
Shirley remained silent again and Adele followed her through to the living room where they both sat down.
‘Tell me, Mam!’ Adele demanded.
‘Shhh,’ said Shirley, pointing her eyes upwards to indicate that Tommy was upstairs in bed. Then she whispered, ‘Don’t let him hear you.’
Adele stared back at her mother, waiting for an explanation. Eventually Shirley gave in to her demands. ‘I suppose it’s best you know,’ she said, sighing. ‘He’s not happy about you going.’
‘I knew it!’ Adele interrupted angrily, feeling guilty that Tommy had taken things out on her mother.
‘Shhh,’ Shirley implored again before continuing. ‘The way he sees it is that you leeched off him while you were at school and then buggered off once you could afford it.’
‘That’s rubbish!’ stormed Adele, lowering her voice when her mother put her finger to her lips. ‘I left because of him; because I can’t stand the way he treats us all. Just look at what he’s done to you. It isn’t right, Mam.’
‘I know, love, but he’s done his worst. He’s calmed down now he’s over the initial shock.’
Adele wasn’t naïve enough to believe that Tommy was hurt because of any feelings he had for her. The most likely reason for his anger would be because he’d miss the money that she paid for her keep. Then there was the contribution she made to the housework. Not for the first time, Adele was tempted to offer her mother a place at her flat. But she resisted. It was time to be selfish now. She’d spent her life in sufferance because of her mother’s past mistakes; so had Peter. And she’d had enough. Although Adele cared about her, she knew that she would drag her down. Besides, she reasoned to herself, there just wasn’t room. It was only a one-bedroomed flat.
After a few moments’ thought, Adele asked, ‘Did you tell him where I’m living?’
Shirley flashed a half-hearted grin. ‘No,’ she said. ‘Why d’you think he went to town on me?’
Adele inhaled sharply, raising her hand to cover her mouth at the shock of her mother’s words. ‘Oh, Mam. I’m sorry,’ she said.
Shirley just shrugged.
‘How bad is it?’ Adele asked.
Shirley lifted her top, revealing a mass of bruises on her back, and Adele fought back the tears.
‘Are your legs the same?’
Her mother nodded.
‘Oh, Mam,’ Adele said, her voice shaking. ‘You don’t have to put up with this. You could report him to the police?’
‘No. It would only make matters worse,’ her mother replied despondently.
Adele rose from her chair, ‘I’m going to have a word with him. This isn’t on!’ she said, nodding her head angrily towards her mother’s bruises.
Shirley was upon her before she reached the door, grabbing at her arm to pull her back. ‘Please don’t, Adele. It’ll only make things worse.’
Adele stopped and stood in silence for a few seconds before walking back to her seat. ‘What will you do?’ she asked.
‘Don’t worry about me, Adele. I’ll be OK. He’ll be all right now he’s over the shock of it. He’s already sorry for what he’s done. In fact, he brought me a takeaway home last night; chicken curry and rice, my favourite. It shows he’s thinking of me, doesn’t it?’
Adele looked at her mother with a confused expression on her face. She couldn’t understand her at times. Her husband had given her a severe beating and yet she was grateful for the smallest sign of reconciliation.
Adele was tempted again to put her mother up at her place. But what was the point? She knew only too well what would happen. He’d find out where they were then come round to fetch her mother back. He’d turn nasty and violent and, if that didn’t work, he’d beg and plead and promise to treat her better. And her mother would go. Adele might be able to save her from him for a short while but she couldn’t save her from herself. Meanwhile, Adele would have all the stress and hassle of putting up with both of them.
Her mother had made her decision. That was clear. She might complain about Tommy but, despite all his shortcomings, she loved him. It was an odd kind of love and one that Adele would never comprehend. Shirley knew him and all his faults and yet she accepted the way things were.
At a loss as to how she could help her, Adele eventually let her switch topics while they drank tea.
When it was time to go, she hugged her mother and gazed at her with a strange kind of admiration. Despite Shirley’s weaknesses, she had stood up to Tommy and refused to tell him where her daughter lived. Adele felt thankful for that at least. She also felt confident that Shirley wouldn’t let him know, no matter what it took to keep her address secret. Perhaps her mother didn’t need her quite as much as she had thought.