Chapter 2
EMILIA’S COUSIN TYLER STAPLES

Years before, when Maureen’s elder sister Jade had her first baby, Tyler, he was the first grandchild for her parents and was everybody’s baby. All in the family had a share of him. Tyler was very fond of Maureen because she babysat for Jade.

Jade was a nurse and worked part-time at the King’s College Hospital in London. When she was off to work, Maureen would take Tyler to the park and allow him to romp on the swings and play with other babies; they sometimes went to the baby play group. People thought Tyler was Maureen’s baby. She would drop him off and pick him up from school. The relationship between the two was so intense that Jade sometimes almost forgot that Tyler was hers.

Maureen went out shopping with Tyler to get him pairs of shoes, and it was on one such occasion that she met Andy. Tyler was an important part of their relationship from the day Maureen and Andy met, so during her wedding, Tyler was a flower boy, and he was very happy with his role.

Tyler’s first cousin Emilia was born soon afterwards. She became his playmate despite the age gap. After school, he would go straight to Aunty Maureen’s house to play with baby Emilia. Tyler was ten and still hadn’t got a sibling; he would rather go to Aunty Maureen’s house than go home. Jade was fine with it because she did not have to think about childcare.

Tyler left home at twenty but still got in touch with Aunty Maureen and his mother, Jade. He worked in a pub as a barman and later decided he wanted to become a disc jockey. But there was too much pressure as a DJ. He would have to please his fans every night at the club with different remixes. He got little sleep before his next performance, and that made him tired. It was a challenging career.

He confided in his mate Alan, ‘I get a strange feeling every evening before I perform. It’s a horrible fear that I may not be able to perform. Fear grips me when I see the audience.’

‘Since when have you been feeling like that?’ Alan asked.

‘Hmmm, about three months now,’ he replied.

‘You fucking need a booster, something to energize you, my friend. I will get you something to take before you perform tonight.’

Alan brought some blue pills and asked Tyler to take one, which he did. He stayed composed all night and showed no sign of fatigue. He felt good even after the long night. He asked Alan to get him more of the stuff, which he took regularly as well as during the day.

Tyler was a ladies’ man. He was cocky and had mastered all the current lyrics and was able to sing them, to the amazement of all. He was not particularly handsome, but his charisma made women fall for him. It was love at first sight when he met Amanda, who became his girlfriend. It was a shaky relationship. Amanda was a quiet and thoughtful girl and wanted to get married to a responsible man. She tried her best to make things work between her and Tyler.

On Amanda’s birthday, Tyler arranged for them to have dinner at the Harvester. Amanda had dressed up nicely and looked fine. Then she walked into the lounge, smiling broadly, expecting a romantic compliment.

‘What the fuck is that? Ha-ha-ha-ha, what are you wearing?’ he shouted.

Amanda froze in fear, looking at him.

‘I don’t want you dressed as an old lady follow me out,’ he said seriously. ‘You must change out of that.’

‘That’s what I want to wear tonight. What’s wrong with it?’ she asked nervously.

‘I’m sorry, but I’m not going out with you like this!’ he shouted at her and stormed out. He did not return until morning. That was not the only time such a scene happened, and if she managed to go with him, he might ignore her and flirt with the bar girl. He would leave her sitting at the table while he chatted up girls. They all seemed to know him. Amanda tried to please him; she would ask him what food he would like, and she ironed his clothes to make him look sharp.

Amanda came to accept Tyler’s behaviour and thought it was her fault that he was like that. She even tried to be friends with the girls he flirted with. Gradually she was dragged into his world.

One day Tyler asked her to get him a much younger girl. ‘You have gone too far this time, Tyler Staples! What do you take me for?’ she calmly replied. ‘Tell me you are joking.’

‘There is nothing wrong with making your man happy. A good woman will do that, and if you love me, Amanda, you will get me what I want,’ he said, laughing loudly.

‘I can’t and I will not,’ she replied and left the room.

Tyler followed her. ‘Don’t be old-fashioned. Many women do that for their men. You can watch us if you want,’ he then teased.

‘Why, am I not enough for you, Tyler? What you want me to do is not normal. You have no respect for women, and that is evil. You had better be joking,’ she said angrily.

‘Shame on you. You are not even capable to look after your man and make him happy?’

‘I said no, I can’t.’ With that, she went to the bedroom for the night.

Tyler lived in the house but went mute. He did not talk to Amanda and did not answer or ask questions; it was humiliating. Amanda could not sleep at night and ate little food. She did not even care about the way she looked. She could not remember the last time she had her hair done. Amanda’s friend had noticed the change and had asked her, but she blamed stress from work and said she would ask for one week’s leave to go abroad.

Amanda was too embarrassed about her current situation and would not confide in anyone about Tyler’s demand. It was difficult for her, but she loved him dearly and was thinking about asking him to reconsider and compromise with her. She could not get him a girl, but she would not protest if he got them himself. She just didn’t want to know. Sadly, that was exactly what Tyler wanted her to say.

Amanda wished that one day Tyler would change and be the loving man she had fallen for a year ago, but have you heard of a leopard that changed its spots? In public he was charming, funny, polite and hard-working; little did people know his hidden side. She finally decided she wouldn’t be part of his crimes, and it was time to let him go.

Tyler rented a flat at the town centre and embarked on ways to satisfy his sexual fantasies. He desired young girls. He would go to the town to lure unsuspecting young girls to have sex with him.

Aunty Maureen was not happy that Amanda and Tyler had gone their separate ways. She wanted an answer, but she got none from either of them. It was mutual, they said.

 

A few years back Andy, Maureen’s husband, was a factory worker. He was the type who would do anything for the attention of the manager. The company he worked for manufactured washing-up liquids.

One day, before he left for home, his manager called him into his office. ‘Andy, we are short of materials. I have made some orders but forgot sodium powder, and as you have a car, can you help out and pick some bags for us on your way tomorrow, please?’ the manager had asked politely.

‘Of course, Mr Stewart. I can do that,’ Andy had agreed wholeheartedly.

‘See me for some cash before you go,’ the manager said.

It was a normal summer morning the following day. Just as Andy turned a corner after the shop where he got the materials, a white van lost control as it took the sharp bend and ran into Andy’s car. A speeding lorry also collided into his car. The driver was getting away from the police for speeding. Andy died instantly.

It was a great misfortune for Maureen. Emilia was almost twelve and was the only child. They had been trying for another but with no success. Tyler went to her house every day, cheered her up, and became part of the household.

Three years after Andy’s death, Maureen started seeing a man called Ian. She invited him to the house one day for tea after they had gone out a couple of times. As the guy was settling into the sofa, Tyler walked in. ‘Who is this?’ Tyler blurted angrily.

‘He is my friend, Ian,’ Maureen had replied ignoring his rude approach.

‘Hello, my friend, are you all right? Ian forced a pleasant smile and tried to be civil. ‘I guess you are Tyler. Your aunty told me a lot about you.’

He laughed. ‘She said you will resist me. No need to be alarmed, mate. I am serious about her. She is a lovely woman,’ he said, giving Maureen a loving look.

‘Yeah, yeah, that’s what they all fucking say. Just don’t mess my aunty about, or you will have me to answer to,’ Tyler said rudely.

‘Don’t be like that, my friend,’ Ian said

Maureen made some battered fish and chips for tea. They all had dinner in silence, and as Maureen put the plates away, Tyler helped his cousin Emilia with her homework. He ignored Ian and refused to speak to him for the rest of the night, till Ian left.

That encounter did not put Ian off. He continued with the relationship, making sure he did not step on Tyler’s toes. Tyler never liked Ian and remained suspicious about him. Maureen was aware of the personality clash but regarded it as jealousy, and she was in the middle of it. To Maureen, Tyler meant no harm; he was just being protective, making sure no one took advantage of her, but she loved Ian, and that was what mattered. That was what Andy would like her to do; he would like to see her happy, and she was. No one spotted the dark side of Ian.

Ian got closer to Emilia and bought her a dog for her birthday. Maureen had mentioned that it was too extravagant for him to spend that much money, but Ian said that Emilia deserved it and called her his princess. Emilia loved the little dog and walked her every day when she returned from school. Sometimes, Ian walked with them and would hold her hands and tell her how beautiful she was.

When she was out with Ian one day, he asked her, ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’

‘No, I don’t have a boyfriend. I am too young to have a boyfriend,’ she replied, looking away from him.

‘You don’t have to be shy. How can a beautiful girl like you not have a boyfriend?’

She was silent and did not talk to him for the rest of their outing. The next day, he bought her a box of chocolates and asked her not to let her mother know. He then started to buy her clothes and gave her money and asked her to dress sexy. Emilia began wearing shorter skirts.

‘That is our secret; your mum does not need to know,’ Ian had told her.

Soon after Ian moved to live with Maureen and Emilia, Maureen got pregnant. She was not expecting that, but she was pleased after all—in fact, she was over the moon. Ian got closer to Emilia more and would stick up for her when Maureen scolded her for being naughty. Maureen did get upset about that but still suspected nothing.

Before the baby was born, Maureen returned from shopping one day to find that Ian’s clothes and things were gone. She tried to ask his friend four doors away, but he did not know where Ian had gone. Maureen was heartbroken again. What she did not understand was, they hadn’t had any argument and were even planning the night before about getting a bigger place together.

The only person who knew the mystery behind Ian’s move was Tyler. Tyler had gone round to Aunty Maureen’s after the day’s work to see her. He hadn’t seen her and his cousin for quite some time and thought he would surprise them. He had got a bottle of milk to have a cup of tea and chat. Aunty Maureen had given Tyler the spare key to the house, as he was regarded as a member of the household.

When Tyler arrived, Ian’s bicycle was there which was unusual for that time of day. Tyler went in silently and tiptoed to the living room. There was nobody there, but when he checked Emilia’s room, he saw Ian on top of the girl. He took some pictures and confronted them. Emilia was ashamed for what she had done. Tyler grabbed Ian, looked at him, and slapped his face. Ian started begging Tyler not to say anything. Tyler demanded that he leave and never return.

‘Where is your mum?’ Tyler asked and turned to see Emilia.

Ian starring sheepishly as if waiting for Tyler to change his mind.

‘Are you still here?’ Tyler snapped at him. ‘I want you to get your stuff and get lost now!’

‘Did you say now? I can’t. I must see Maureen first.’

Before he finished his sentence, another powerful slap followed. Ian stumbled and made to the door.

‘Get lost or I will crack your skull,’ Tyler screamed.

Ian went into the bedroom he shared with Maureen. Tyler went with him to make sure that he didn’t take any of Maureen’s belongings. Satisfied with what he took, he shoved him towards the door. ‘Now get lost, bastard!’ Tyler shouted after him as he watched him pick up his bicycle and peddle away.

‘Where is your mother?’ Tyler asked again, looking straight into Emilia’s face.

‘She went for shopping and will not be back until evening. She will be visiting Aunty Jade after shopping,’ Emilia answered tearfully.

‘Now, tell me everything. Did he force himself on you? I will call the police if he did.’

Emilia confessed that it has been going on for quite some time and that she had not been forced into sleeping with her mother’s fiancé.

‘How can you look into your mother’s face after doing something like this? I will never trust you again. I must tell your mother,’ Tyler said seriously.

‘No, Tyler, don’t tell her. Please!’

‘You disappoint me, Emilia,’ he said.