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Great Writing - Home > Extended > Let no man put asunder - chapter 13
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Extended Work
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| Let no man put asunder - chapter 13 | |
| By LynB | ||||||
| 21 November 2006 | ||||||
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As requested. I will continue to repost this story from this point, as most of you have already read up to and including this chapter. I deleted the rest of it (although I still have it in Word), because of a situation which I won't go into, which has now been resolved. Hope you understand, and will continue to read it. Thank you. Chapter 13 “Are you sure it’s all right for me to come in?” said Steve, looking at the floor. “I know you’ve got your own problems…..” “Of course it is” she said, her eyes filling with tears at the thought of Jon’s parting shot of just a few minutes ago. “Come in, and sit down. I’ll put the kettle on!” When they were comfortably seated on the sofa, Donna put a gentle hand on Steve’s shoulder, as she gently persuaded him to confide in her. At first, he seemed reluctant to do so. He was a gentle giant of a man, who had always been told by his rather domineering father, that ‘real men don’t cry’, and, as a result, he had always found it difficult to open up and show his feelings. It had caused problems in his relationships before, but he seemed to have found his soul mate in Laura. However, somewhere along the way, things had obviously begun to fall apart… “Talk to me, Steve” she said, softly. “It often helps to talk through your problems, you know. Did Laura give you any idea that she was unhappy?” “Well, we have been arguing a bit lately, but then all couples argue, don’t they? I mean, couples who say they never argue, who are they kidding? No one can be blissfully happy all the time, that’s bullshit. Anyway, I never thought she’d leave me, though – I thought we could work it out. She stayed out really late last night, but she insisted she was at a friend’s house. She sounded so plausible, she always does. If I question her, she acts like she’s the injured party, and I end up feeling guilty. To cut a long story short, I came home from work early, because I wasn’t feeling too well. I heard her upstairs, laughing and giggling, and thought she had a friend round! Ha, some friend! I opened the bedroom door, and found her in bed with some guy I’ve never laid eyes on before. I felt like I’d been slapped! I knew that if I stayed in there, I would’ve slapped both of them, so I just shut the door again, and came downstairs. She came after me, and said she never meant me to find out like this! Shit, I’ve heard that line so many times before, it’s beginning to get boring! I told her that if she wanted him, she could get out of our house and my life, and that I wasn’t going to share her! She said – she said she’d always care for me, and never meant to hurt me. She thanked me for the good times – just how bloody patronising is that! She shoved some clothes into a bag, and said she’d be back for the rest of her stuff in a few days, then she was gone. Just like that – she let me love her for ten years, then she was out of my life!” “I’m so sorry, Steve!” said Donna, her eyes filling with tears, as she watched him struggle with his emotions. “I really feel for you. I wish I knew what to say to make you feel better!” “The strange thing is, though” he said, wiping his eyes with back of his hand. “now I’ve had time to calm down, and time to think about it, I don’t feel as bad as I thought I would. In a way, I feel relieved. Things haven’t been right for a while now. We’ve just been carrying on, trying to make out that everything’s all right, trying to make it work. In the end, she made the decision for us. I still love her – you can’t just switch off your feelings at the drop of a hat – and I thought she still loved me. Somehow, I feel a sense of failure – yet another of my relationships has crumbled. Perhaps the main reason I stayed was because I was scared of being alone again, and I didn’t want to admit defeat – especially to my dad! Am I making any sense, Donna?” “Of course you are! Actually, there were one or two occasions when I thought things seemed a little strained, but I didn’t think it was my business to comment on it. Obviously it was worse than I thought!” “That’s putting it mildly! I’m sorry, Donna, I’m imposing on you! You’ve got problems of your own, I’d better go…” “No, don’t!” she said, pulling him back down on to the sofa. “You’re not imposing on me at all! What are friends for?” “Are you here on your own, Donna?” he said, his eyes searching hers. “Jon seems to be conspicuous by his absence!” “He’s here.” said Donna, looking away from him, so he could not see the tears in her eyes. “He’s upstairs. We had a bust up, just before you came round, and he went off on one! I never know where I am with him; living with him just lately is like throwing a lighted match into a can of petrol! I can’t talk to him any more without him either flying off the handle, or bursting into tears. I know it’s not his fault, Steve, but he’s so difficult to live with at the moment. I still love him, but I don’t know how much more I can take! I know it still haunts him, the way he found Eileen, but I didn’t realise it had affected him so profoundly. When he finally agreed to see a counsellor, he opened up to her, and she managed to find out in one session what I’d been trying to get out of him for weeks! I couldn’t reach him, Steve – he wouldn’t talk to me! He still won’t talk to me – sometimes I feel so alone. I want to help him, but how can I, if he won’t let me? Just before he went upstairs, I found him lying on the sofa crying like a baby, but he wouldn’t tell me what was wrong – only that it was something Emily had said. When I pushed him to tell me more, he lost it and stormed upstairs. That was the last I saw of him!” “Do you want me to talk to him?” “No, Steve, I really don’t think that would help! If he won’t listen to me, do you really think he’ll listen to you? Don’t take that the wrong way – I’m really grateful, but he’s so unpredictable these days. I’d feel so guilty if he turned round and punched your lights out!” “Do you really think he would? Surely he isn’t capable of that!” “You’ve got a short memory, Steve. Remember, it wasn’t so long back that he physically attacked you when you tried to restrain him! He didn’t take too kindly to your suggestion that he needed help – even though you were right! It’s probably best if we just talk about everyday things, like the weather!” They both laughed, even though neither of them really felt like it. Donna felt tired and defeated, and Steve was beginning to look decidedly pale. He pressed his fingers to his forehead, closing his eyes. Donna put a gentle hand on his arm. “Are you feeling all right, Steve?” she said, her eyes full of concern. “You look a little pale!” “It’s just a headache” he insisted, giving her a half-hearted smile. “I’ll be fine! Don’t worry about it!” Just as he spoke, they both heard a cry from upstairs – it was David. Donna sighed, and clenched her fists in silent frustration. Telling Steve she would be back in a moment, she made her way upstairs. She lingered outside the bedroom door, but she could not hear anything. Trying not to make a noise, she gently pushed it open, and peeped around it. Jon was lying on top of the duvet, sound asleep, one hand on the pillow beside him. She could see that his face was still tearstained, and he seemed restless. Not daring to wake him, she turned her attention to David. He was teething, and had taken to waking up during the night. She gave him a dose of Calpol, and walked around the room with him, talking softly to him, until he drifted back to sleep. She had got off quite lightly this time – last night it had taken her nearly two hours to get him back to sleep! She went back downstairs to Steve, who sat there staring into space, thoughts of happier times crowding his mind. “Do you want another cup of tea?” she said, taking his empty cup. “I could do with one!” “Go on then!” he replied, smiling. “You’ve twisted my arm! It’s nice to have some company! Laura didn’t spend much time at home during the last few weeks, so it got pretty lonely!” “Yes” said Donna, with more feeling that he could have ever realised. “It gets pretty lonely here, too, sometimes!” “You don’t deserve this, Donna!” he said, getting up and putting his hands on her shoulders. “You’re a beautiful woman, with a lot to give! Jon ought to be ashamed, treating you this way!” “He doesn’t mean to, Steve. He’s ill – he can’t help the way he behaves. I think, deep down, he still loves me. He’s just incapable of showing it at the moment!” “I’m sorry, Donna. I shouldn’t have said that – it was out of order! Can you forgive me?” “What’s to forgive? You’re only looking out for me! As I said, what are friends for?” Before Steve could answer, the door opened, and a voice said: “Oh, very cosy! Don’t let me stop you! Carry on – don’t mind me!” “You all right, mate?” said Steve, in an effort to placate him – it did not work. “Don’t you ‘mate’ me!” he said, peering at him through half closed, red rimmed eyes. “And while you’re at it – would you mind taking your hands off my wife? You’ve got one of your own!” “Not any more!” said Steve, his eyes filling with tears. “She’s left me!” “I’m sorry!” said Jon, the tone of his voice implying he was anything but. “but that’s not my bloody problem! I’ve got enough of my own! Donna! Have you seen my tablets? I can’t find them anywhere!” “Your anti-depressants?” she said, glaring at him. “I thought you said they were a bloody waste of time!” “They are!” he snapped, sitting down on the sofa, resting his head in his hands. “I was looking for that packet of Benadryl I bought a couple of days ago! I feel like shit!” “You were sleeping when I came upstairs” she said, putting her hand on his shoulder. “What’s up?” “It’s been giving me hell all day! I’ve got a splitting headache, my eyes are itching so much I feel like scratching them out, and every time I lie down, I can’t breathe! I wasn’t asleep, I just didn’t feel like talking!” She sighed, thinking to herself that was nothing new these days. She gently rubbed his back, as he launched into a fit of violent, uncontrollable sneezing. When he eventually stopped, his eyes were streaming, and he was completely out of breath. Steve stood in the doorway, with a look on his face that Donna could not quite fathom. “I didn’t know you had hayfever” he said, his voice full of concern. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me!” said Jon, wiping his streaming eyes, and glaring at Steve. “So don’t act the concerned neighbour! Stop acting like you really give a toss! How do I know you were telling me the truth? For all I know, you had an ulterior motive! After all, you were getting very up close and personal when I first came in!” “Just what are you implying?” said Steve, his eyes darkening. “Laura has just left me, and I came round to see Donna, for a bit of moral support!” “Oh, really! That’s a new name for it!” “Jon, please! That’s enough!” “Enough? I haven’t even started! Moral support? Bollocks! Why don’t you come straight out with it, and admit that you came round here with the sole intention of giving her one!” “Why, you….” Without any warning, Steve suddenly launched himself at Jon, and within seconds, they were exchanging blows, with no holds barred. Donna begged them to stop, but to no avail. They eventually came to their senses, when she burst into tears, and buried her face in her hands. They broke apart, and stood there looking at each other, not quite knowing what to say. Steve muttered something under his breath, saying he’d better go, shutting the door behind him. Donna stood up, and faced Jon, tears streaming down her face, forcing her words out between sobs. “That’s it!” she wept. “I’ve had it! I can’t take any more, Jon! You’ve pushed me to my limit – I’ve had it with you! I can’t do this any more! No! Don’t touch me! I’m going to bed now! When I wake up in the morning, I don’t want to find you here! I want you to go! I’m sorry, Jon – I’ve had enough!”
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