Hope you enjoy and as always please review
Chapter 10
Kirsten sat in her car gripping the steering wheel. She was parked outside the familiar grimy motel she passed everyday when she went to work. She steadied her breathing and loosened her grip slightly. She smoothed down the front of her t-shirt and checked her make-up in the mirror before climbing out of the car slowly. She stood wearily and stared toward the filthy building that her husband was now calling home. Her car keys grasped firm in her hand she made her way up the stairs. As she placed her hand on the rail she felt a wet sensation spread across her palm. She pulled her hand back instantly and grimaced. This was definitely the grossest place she had been. Her feet slid on a greasy substance that covered the floor as she made her way to room eighty-five. When she reached it she prayed he wouldn't be home. Home. She laughed at that. He really was living like a pig in shit. She rapped loudly on the door waiting for his answer.
Sandy lay back on his tear stained pillow. He looked around the grubby room he now called home. The walls were a dark grey colour like a prison cell, the carpet stuck to your feet when walked on so much that he had taken to wearing shoes all the time. He remembered her voice on the phone. So soft, so sympathetic, so understanding. He wondered how the boys had taken it. Well more so Seth than Ryan. He wondered whether or not it should have been him to tell them. But he doubted it would have been any better for them to hear such news from the guy who put his own wife into hospital. He heard the sound of footsteps outside hoping it wasn't his neighbour returning home to take another rollicking from her husband. He listened to them all night screaming at one another until he finally shut her up with his fists. As he listened to her whimpering he felt white-hot anger surge through his body. He was so consumed with guilt and shame. The guy standing on the other side of the paper-thin wall was him. A shadow of Sandy Cohen a few weeks ago. He listened as the footsteps grew louder and they finally stopped outside his door. He saw the shadow of two sets of feet. There was a brisk knock on the door and a cough. Sandy frowned fear surging into his throat. He peered through the window to find a large man in a wife beater and his father in law standing side by side. He stood in the middle of the room trying to think of a way out of it but his neighbour's yells interrupted his thoughts. Kirsten's tear stained face rushed through his mind, the sound of her screams invaded his ears, he could feel her ribs crack beneath his fists and he lost his breath. He'd take his punishment. He pulled the door open suddenly and he was greeted by a fist to the jaw. He looked up shocked that it hadn't come from the Mr Wifebeater. Instead it was his father in law who stared down at him, his eyes burning with fury. "You stupid son of a bitch."
"Cal, I'm sorry." He began but he was silenced a kick in the stomach again from Caleb.
"Don't apologise, Sandford. I want you to meet my friend Mike. He's wanted to meet you for such a long time. You see he's very fond of my daughter and when people hurt her it makes him angry. You see where this is going Cohen?" he asked a slight sneer curling on his lips. Sandy didn't have time to answer as he felt Mike lift him from the floor and pummel him into the wall as Caleb pulled the blinds shut and locked the door. He turned on the radio loud enough to cover his screams of anguish.
Sandy lay on the floor in a daze as Caleb lowered himself over him, "So Sandford. Did you enjoy that? Because that's what you'll be getting everyday until I put you in hospital. Because that's what you did to my baby. You hurt her and I'm never gonna let you forget it. You'll pay Sandford. You'll pay everyday till the day you die. You hear me?"
Kirsten knocked again impatiently and was about to leave when she heard a yell from inside, "Go away! I paid you already." Kirsten's breath caught in her throat at the sound of his voice. She breathed deeply before answering.
"Sandy… Sandy it's me. It's Kirsten." There was brief pause before he answered again.
"Uh Kirsten. Do you think you could come back later I'm… I'm not feeling too good."
"Later's no good, Sandy. Just… can I come in?" she asked confused. Sandy sighed not wanting her to know about his visit from Caleb but he didn't want to reject her. This may be the only chance he gets to explain. To apologise.
"Sure. The door's unlocked." He answered wearily. Kirsten pushed the heavy door open to find Sandy in ball on the floor. His hair was matted against his forehead and he was clutching his stomach. He coughed loudly and she watched as the blood spurted through his fingers, "I didn't want you to see," he said croakily. Kirsten stood transfixed not knowing what to do. He was almost unrecognisable. His nose was bloody and a large bruise had formed over the entire left side of his face. She felt sick to her stomach.
"Sandy?" she asked incredulously. She paused briefly a realisation coning to her, "My dad was here." Sandy could only nod as his body quaked in pain and fear. He thought he would be lying there until the next day when they came back to give him a second helping. Kirsten placed her purse on the dresser and dropped to her knees next to him. "Look at you." She said and ran her hands across his face. He pushed her hands away.
"Don't please don't." he saw her eyes flash with hurt, "I don't deserve… just don't," he pleaded softly. Kirsten sighed.
"I know you don't but I can't just leave you here," she got up from the floor and went into the bathroom. She held a cloth under the cold tap and returned to her place on the floor. Sandy was propped up on his elbows. She positioned herself behind him and placed his head on her knees. He closed his eyes as she dabbed his face clean. She could see the damage more clearly now. Three large cuts scarred his face and the bruise covered his left eye and cheek, "You're a mess," she said resignedly. Sandy laughed softly.
"Yeah. I have been for months now." He admitted. Kirsten closed her eyes.
"I thought you loved me." she said lip quivering.
"Oh baby I did. I still do. More than anything."
"Then why would you hurt me?" she asked tearfully. Sandy pulled himself up trying to ignore the fact that room was spinning out of control. He looked into her eyes full of pain, confusion and most of all loss.
"Oh baby, I don't know. I think I had a breakdown or something… I'm gonna see a doctor or… a shrink or I'm gonna put myself in a mental institution with Oliver." He said trying to make a joke. Kirsten shook her head jadedly.
"Don't try and joke about this Sandy."
"I'm sorry. It's just… we've lived in Newport for what… fifteen years? And I've always hated it, then Jimmy Cooper moves next door and… and the whole thing… and then your dad and Rebecca comes back and I finally get o say goodbye and… and you drive her away and… " He paused again trying to catch his breath, "It's no excuse. I just cracked. It was too much. You were always the breadwinner and the decision maker and I guess the power of… oh baby I'm so sorry the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you or the kids. But I did and I deserve everything I get." Kirsten frowned.
"So all of this was because you didn't like the area you lived in? You tortured me because of Jimmy Cooper's crush and the fact that I was jealous over you and Rebecca?" he voice rose with each word. Her chest tightened as her husband nodded sadly.
"I know Kirsten… I know… I'm sorry." He laid his head on her lap and wept, "I'll do whatever you want me to do. I don't care… I'd kill for you Kirsten. Please tell me…" Kirsten replied her voice firm and unforgiving.
"You're never getting me back, Sandy. But… you still have the boys and no matter how much they hate you right now they both still love you. They miss you. You have to try with them. Then I can begin to forgive you." Sandy looked up tearfully.
"I told you. I'll do whatever you want. I promise." Kirsten nodded and got off the floor. Sandy tried to get up too but he winced in pain, "I'm fine. Just go," he said. Kirsten bent down and threw his arm over her shoulder.
"Come on." She said sagging under his weight. She helped him across the room to the bed. He sat down gingerly and removed his arm from her shoulder. Kirsten spoke first, "So about your mom." Sandy nodded his face creasing again in sorrow.
"Yeah?" He said, "At least she's not in anymore pain," She took his bloody hand and squeezed it tight.
"I'm really sorry for your loss. And we'll all be there for the funeral."
"It's next Wednesday…"
"I know…" Kirsten interrupted him, "You already told me." Sandy sighed realising he was trying to keep her with him as long as possible. She let go of his hand and rose from the bed, "I'll talk to my dad." She said and closed the door behind her. She made her way as quickly as she could down the slimy stairs and rounded the corner just in time to heave into the bushes. She retched a final time before leaning back against the building sobbing quietly.
Please R&R