Chapter 12

As Quinn explained the new tunnel plans, Creedy could feel eyes on him from the different men. Many of them had patted Creedy on the back, agreeing that they would have done the same had Eddie touched their wives. Others, who had been told Rosie threw herself at Eddie, stared at him menacingly.
Shaking himself back to Quinn's orders, he smashed the rock in front of him, unveiling all his anger upon it.
Nothing had been the same since that night, people looked at him differently. People who didn't know the truth about what had occurred now believed he had some sort of violent streak. Even the kids weren't as playful with him.
As much as he hated to admit it, even Rosie wasn't the same with him, they hadn't made love for a week now. Creedy was worried she also believed he had gone mad.
Pounding in the wall, he slipped suddenly and cut his arm, staring at the blood pouring out of his arm , he continued smashing his way through, faster and faster until he felt Quinn grab him.
"Dave, you're not proving anything. Come on , let's get you to Ma."
Creedy allowed Quinn to place a protective arm around him and lead him to the old woman.

"Lord, what have you done now? I can't be patching you up every week, Creedy." Ma's smile cheered him a little. Sitting down, he noticed the look Quinn threw to Ma as he left, and waited for the pity to roll.
"So.. how's things?" Ma smiled and began washing his arm down, Creedy stared at his feet.
"Same as ever."

Ma held back the urge to hug him til he suffocated; she had never seen him look so lost.
"It will get better son," she soothed. "People need to stop listening to idle gossip and have the balls to ask you what happened. They know you're not crazy. Heck if you hadn't got there first I would have beaten him to a pulp. Trying to take advantage of a wee lass like Rosie, it's unthinkable."
Creedy's eyes stayed on the floor; he didn't even wince as Ma picked the rubble from his cut.
"You know he had the cheek to turn up here and ask me to clean his wounds! I gave him a good hiding with my brush, told him to scat, the nerve of him."

Securing the bandage tightly she stroked Creedy's face. "David Creedy, what is to do with you, you've never let people get the better of you before!"
"It's not those bastards. I can deal with them. I can't deal with a distant wife though."
With that Creedy rose and staggered out of the room, returning to smashing his wall.

Rosie held her stomach, that feeling was hitting her again. Sure enough her stomach was growing, and she knew she couldn't hide it from Creedy any longer. At first she had been furious, after watching Tina give birth she had decided against that experience. Little did she know with watching Tina's baby enter this world, her own was developing within her. Tina was insistent she was around 3 months now, and had been explaining how Rosie should take life easy.
Rosie smiled and stroked her stomach again.
"Tina.." Rosie had been waiting to ask her this all week and decided she couldn't hold back. "Did you still make love when you were carrying?"
"Oh yes!" Tina's eyes shone. "It's good for the baby, it's healthy. What with you enjoying yourself, and feeling fantastic, also feeling loved, the baby will be comforted too!"
Rosie looked doubtfully at her stomach, "It won't hurt it will it?"
"God you're still wet behind the sears aren't you? No, the baby is very protected. As long as Creedy is fine with it, then there's no reason why not!"
"How do you know all this?"
"Ma knows a lot about life Rosie, you should ask her questions what with her having a good few years on us!"
Ma laughed as she entered the kitchen. "Only a year or so. What are you two doing here? I told you to take the day off Tina, see to that child!"
"I never get a look in. Tommy always hogs him. I caught him the other day showing him how to use a pickaxe. Anyway, ours won't be the baby of the community anymore, will it Rosie?" Tina looked at Rosie expecting to see her smiling, but to her dismay she saw Rosie looked shocked.
Ma caught the glance and frowned, "Rosie? Are you -!". Stepping back Ma took the child in. "Well I never - you would think I'd have spotted that. It's obvious, you're glowing! Well this is wonderful!"
Rosie smiled, "Thank you Ma, nobody knows yet, though I would prefer to keep it to myself."
"Is this why you have been ignoring Creedy?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Ma flustered. "I mean to say, well he mentioned feeling… oh Lord, here's me and my big mouth!"
"He thinks I'm what.." Rosie looked genuinely upset. "I haven't… have I?"
Ma frowned again, "He's having a bit of a tough time settling that's all. People are giving him a cold shoulder after the Eddie incident, you haven't told him you're expecting have you?"

"Well no, I wanted to make sure everything was OK, I didn't want him to get excited over nothing. Why are people giving him a hard time, that pig deserved it! Oh no! I've barely noticed him, I've been so wrapped up with the baby."
"I think he needs a hug, sweetie"
The words were wasted as Ma watching Rosie tear out of the kitchen.

Once in the wash room Rosie rounded on a group of women idly chatting about the recent events.
"What are you all gossiping about?" Rosie knew damn well it was Creedy, and was ready to set the record straight.
One hard faced miss stormed forward. "If you must know, your dysfunctional husband, tearing about beating people up because he can't control his slut of a wife!"
The girl reeled back as Rosie's hand went across her face.
"How dare you! My husband defended me. Nothing more. Eddie tried to rape me - did you know that?"
It was clear from the expressions of the women who had gathered, that lies had been spread.
"He did what?"
"Oh no lass!"
"He deserved what he got!"
There were murmurs of agreement. Rosie stood surveying them all. "I'll thank you to pass on the word, because I'm damned if you spiteful lot are making my husband feel bad because of gossip!".
Rosie turned on her heels and began to walk off. Leaving several women raging inside.
"I can't believe we believed gossip over Creedy. When has he ever laid his hands on anyone, sure hasn't he been the father to many of the children who lost their own?"
Rosie smiled to herself, certain that the gossip would be fixed for good, and headed to her room. Opening the door she looked around and found her husband lying asleep on their bed.
"Dave Creedy!" she shouted, "it's the afternoon, how dare you be lounging around while I work my fingers to the bone!"
Her heart sank as Creedy turned and looked at her, there was no laughter in his eyes.
"Sorry darling, I hurt my arm, Quinn sent me away. I just wanted a quick lie down."
Rosie walked over and shoved him onto his back, "Don't you dare be serious with me, you've never been yet."
Creedy had to smile at that, and hugged her to him, frowning when she pulled back.
"Dave, I've something to tell you, and I don't want you to get all angry because I didn't tell you before! I realise my attention hasn't been on you at all this week and I'm so sorry. I owe you all the love in the world after all you do for me. But I think I can give you something to cheer your spirits."
Creedy remained silent.
"So… yes, erm I've been very busy this week. I've been preoccupied with something else."
"Something else?" repeated Creedy. "Very good, David" Rosie smiled patting his head, pulling her finger away as he tired to nip at her finger.
"I've been fussing over…. our child."
Creedy looked from her eyes to her stomach, then from her stomach to her eyes.

People eating downstairs jumped at the sudden howl of joy from above them. A few minute later Creedy burst in with Rosie in his arms.
"I'm going to be a dad!" he bellowed.
As if the incident with Eddie had never occurred, the hall came alive with noise, everyone congratulating the couple and many apologising to Creedy for their beliefs regarding Eddie.
Ma watched from the sidelines, pleased Creedy was himself again, noticing his protective arm around his wife.
Theirs was a love she admired, and she hoped this baby would help them forget the terrible events of the week before.
Suddenly she felt herself pulled into a hug by Creedy himself. "Thanks Ma." he whispered and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry I was miserable… I'll make it up to you. You know I love the bones of you!"
"How will you make it up to me, sweetheart?" Ma smiled and Rosie appeared at her side.
"Well I'll tell the wife I'm working and I'll take you flying. I've honed my superhero powers and find that flying is the best way around."
Ma laughed as Rosie punched him in the arm. "See Ma" he showed his arm to her, "Unharmed, a true hero is what I am."
Creedy then waited to Rosie wasn't looking and rubbed his arm better. Winking at Ma he led his wife by the hand to Quinn who had just heard the news and wanted hugs from both his friends.