FOUR

W

ill pulled his curtain aside as Beth pulled up. He liked to observe her comings and goings from across the street. As a woman alone, she needed someone keeping a lookout for her. Beth opened the trunk of her car to unload her shopping. He would have sold this house and moved away after his brother died, if not for her.

The two of them had supported each other in their grief and become close. It was because of their closeness he kept watch over her all these months, as her abdomen swelled with someone else’s brat inside. He wanted her, he’d always wanted her, but not soiled and pregnant. She was ‘damaged goods’.

Beth walked about six feet before putting the bags down, and her hand moved around to massage her lower back. Will’s hand came away from the curtain and mimicked the movement. If she only knew how he cared and wanted to please her, she would want his hand to cover hers and bring relief. He opened his front door. “Beth, let me help,” he called out, causing her to turn and wave.

“Thanks. My back’s killing me. I thought I’d stock up in case ‘junior’ here comes early. I want Keri and David to have plenty of stuff,” Beth said.

“You know I’d help out if something happened. You mustn’t worry, and you should think again about letting me do more.” Beth unlocked the front door and walked ahead of him and placed her hand on top of her abdomen. That thing caused her pain. He had to be patient and wait till it was born and then he could get rid of it, and the other children as well. They were all a burden on her ever since Jeff died. Without them, she would be free.

It would be easy as far as he was concerned. There would be an ‘accident’ one night, when she wasn’t there. Everyone knows how thoughtless teenagers can be, and they would accept Keri had left the gas stove on. One big bang and all his problems would be solved.

Beth put her keys down on the counter. Why wouldn’t she give him a key, so he could come in and watch over her while she slept. He had suggested having a key a while ago, but she said Keri felt uncomfortable with the idea.

Keri was a strain on Beth, and strains wouldn’t be allowed. Beth stopped by the counter and peered down at his hands. He was tapping his fingers. He needed to keep busy as the tension of having her close and not touching her was taking its toll. “You put the kettle on. I’ll bring the rest of the stuff in.”

As he came back with more bags, he remembered how seven months ago he had stood near the front door about to knock. It was then he’d heard Keri talking to her boyfriend as they sat on the deck at the side of the house.

“Mum got pissed and knocked up, and has the cheek to tell me I’m too young to have you as a boyfriend, just because you’re older than me. At least we love each other. She doesn’t even know the guy’s last name.”

If Will ever found out who the father of the child was, he would make him pay. He didn’t consider himself a violent person, unless provoked of course, but there were other ways to hurt people.

Beth needed someone to help her make the right decisions. She needed strength and he would be her strength. He assisted her in putting the food away. He hated these cupboards. She should be in his house, putting food away in his cupboards.

“I went to see Christine,” Will said. He grinned as he watched Beth stiffen. He hoped she hated Christine as much as he did.

“Did she help?” Beth didn’t look at him as she spoke.

“Said she couldn’t contact Steve. Said I should let go of the idea of reaching him, as she believed he’d passed over. I have to admit I didn’t take it too well, and she asked me to leave.” The truth was, he had wanted to smash every one of her stupid teapots.

“I can’t imagine you being like that. I’m sure she understood you were upset because of your loss. If it’s any consolation, she didn’t help me at the last visit I paid to her either. I can’t blame her that it coincided with the conception of junior here. Who, I might add, is killing my back at the moment.” Beth emptied the last bag.

He didn’t want to leave. His hands wanted to touch her back and ease the pain. Wanted to touch her all over, and get rid of the thing someone else had put inside her. Beth kept looking at the clock.

“I’m sorry to rush your coffee, Will, but I have to get the kids in a minute.”

“There’s no need to explain. You do what you need to, and know I’m nearby if you have any problems.” He watched her drive off down the street. He needed to find a way to make life easier for her. She didn’t need this baby, and she didn’t need her other children. She wouldn’t understand that right now, but eventually she would see it made sense, and that her life could be so much simpler without them.