CHAPTER NINE
In Contact
Half an hour later after everyone had left. Joan had finished clearing up and was relaxing in her arm chair when the phone rang. Picking it up, she heard a voice that sounded familiar, yet was unrecognisable.
"Joanie? Is that you?" said a husky voice
"Yes, that's not you is it Christopher?" said Joan, puzzled now. The only one who had ever called her Joanie was her brother, yet this did not sound like the Christopher she knew.
"I don't go by that name anymore Joanie, it's just Chris now. I'm trying my hardest to bury the old me replied the voice. Changing my name is one of the ways I'm trying to remind myself of who I was, and who I now wish to be. Did you and Martin both receive my letters? I truly am sorry Joanie, for all of the wrongs I've perpetrated against the two of you, and I really do wish to apologise".
"Your voice sounds different somehow, was that damaged in the accident you spoke of too?" said Joan.
"Yes, my voice was one of the things affected in the accident, but let's not talk about that. Can you tell me how Martin is going? Is he happy, has he found peace in Portwenn? I really messed up his childhood years, and a lot of his adult ones too, I'd like to think that he has finally found some level of contentment now that he's living near you."
"Martin is the happiest I've ever seen him. He has conquered his blood phobia, and has eventually taken to village life. He has saved the lives of so many people in this village, and the villagers have accepted him. I think it is the first place where he has ever truly felt accepted for who he is, and I think that has helped him to find a new measure of peace within himself" said Joan, who had intentionally refrained from mentioning Louisa and Phil until she could be more certain of her brother's motives.
"If that's the case, I'm glad! Martin deserves to find some measure of peace within. I don't think he's ever felt at home in his own skin, and no wonder with the treatment I doled out to him as a child. Thank you Joanie for taking him during the school holidays when he was young. You showed him how a true parent behaves, and gave him the love he needed. Without you I shudder to think how his life would have turned out. As it is, he reached middle age, before his life began by the looks of it. That is a terrible burden for me to bear, yet a burden I deserve. All I can do is hope that if an opportunity arises for me to help him in any way, that I'll be in a position to do it".
Christopher desperately wanted to ask about the woman and child he had seen living with Martin, but guessed that Joan would have mentioned them by now if she was going to, and didn't want to push anything. He would have to wait. He was only getting what he deserved after all.
"And you Joanie,I was able to reach you on your old phone number, so I'm presuming you're still on the farm?"
"No, I had a fall a while back and decided to sell the farm and move closer to the village. I kept my old phone number though".
"Old age soon gets to us all doesn't it? I'm finding it's taking me a lot longer to heal now than it ever used to, but I don't mean to complain. I had my turn at being young and I wasted the years. Now I'm a senior I mean to make the most of the years left to me. I've also downsized and moved to the country. I've sold all of my assets and used them to buy a modest home, and to pay Martin back. I've still got a mortgage, but my insurance is covering that from my accident with enough money left over for food and necessities. Fortunately I was working again as a surgeon at the time I was injured, so my insurance policy is paying out for my loss of income based on the wage I was receiving at the time of my accident. I have enough to keep me in what I need, I am certainly a lot more fortunate than many others".
"So where have you moved to?" asked Joan
"I'm not sure that I want to tell you exactly where yet Joanie, as I don't want to put you into a position of feeling you have to visit me yet. I'd like us to get to know each other again a bit better first before we go any further. This way Martin isn't stressed about my whereabouts, and you don't feel you have to visit your poor sick brother out of a sense of duty. I will say that I'm not far from your neck of the woods, and am within easy driving distance of you should you desire to visit at a later date, or if you should need my help in any way".
"Hmm" said Joan. "Perhaps you're right, Martin doesn't need to be worried about where you are at the moment, and as long as you're not likely to be popping out in front of him, I suppose it doesn't really matter if I don't know exactly where you are living at present. I will need your phone number though in case I wish to contact you at any stage".
"No problems" said Chris as he read out his phone number to Joan.
"You're right, you are close by judging from your phone number, still if you promise to stay out of Martin's way, I can live with that for the moment."
"I promise to stay away from Martin, I have no desire to mess with his life again. Should he wish to be in contact with me, I am more than willing to talk to him, but only if he desires it. I will not force myself on him in any way" said Chris earnestly.
"Hmm" said Joan. "Just make sure that you mean it, because if you aren't on the level, and are here to cause trouble for Martin in any way, I will make sure that you never, ever have the opportunity of doing so ever again" said Joan threateningly.
"I promise, I am on the level Joanie. Martin has been through enough at my hands, I don't have any plans to intentionally hurt him in any way. I can't make promises for any unintentional hurt, as there is bound to be some of that, but I have no desire to see Martin hurt at my hands ever again. I hope to some day prove this to you beyond a shadow of a doubt" replied Chris.
"Well time will tell no doubt, said Joan. Look I'm tired and need to head off to bed, but you are welcome to ring again if you want".
"I'd like that Joanie, sleep well. Maybe we can chat again tomorrow. Goodnight" said Chris as he hung up the phone.
Joan slowly placed her phone back on the receiver and went to have a shower as she pondered all that had been said that evening.
Christopher seemed to be on the level, but years of being his sister had taught her to distrust his every word. One thing was for sure, she would make sure she had thoroughly checked him and his story out before she let him anywhere near Martin and his family.
