Hey guys, well here's another chapter, and thanks guys for reviewing:
Kumiko Katawa: Hey, lol, okay keep telling yourself it's not true... it works with me sometimes. Erm no girl version, but I am gonna introduce a new character, just cos i feel like it. Hmm well as for the divorce, you're gonna have to see. Your story's good, thank you for reviewing so much on my story, keep going with yours, i like it so far.
Jen the Idiot: Yeah i do pity Popuri and sort of pity Rick, but i'm not sure he really deserves pity in this chapter...
GeneralDragon: Err...there's a Jack and Karen C2 community?... Cool! Thanks for reviewing.
17. Can we get through this?
Karen swung her shining new hoe against the soil again, taking out her frustration on the dirt, making huge dents in the earth as though it should suffer just as much as her. Rick hadn't left his bed since they had left the hospital that fateful day. Popuri had been little better, leaving her room only for meals. Karen had had to work overtime, dealing with the farm, feeding Rick and taking care of the chickens. She had far less time to work on the farm, and it was starting to show. She was neglecting all of her responsibilities and only doing each job as best she could manage.
Through Rick's carelessness one chicken had already died, so Karen had made the best of it, by well... cooking it. She had served Rick roast chicken claiming it was turkey, Rick was so depressed that he didn't even question it. She swung her hoe hard at the ground again, narrowly missing a mole that had popped up to see what the disturbance was. She finished hoeing the ground and sprinkled some grass seeds over the disturbed ground. She was planning to grow a big field of grass, which she could cut when it was fully grown and sell as fodder. She put down the hoe, leaning it against the doghouse that used to belong to Happy. She then picked up a sickle and began swinging it ruthlessly at the weeds. Tears trickled down as she swung; swinging harder each time until eventually she fell on the ground crying.
She put her tools away and sat on the ground, moaning. She felt like ripping her hair out, when had her life turned so bad again? She stood up and brushed the dirt off her farming outfit. That was all the farming she could manage for the day. It was about lunch time and she headed home. She put the kettle on, and took off her clothes, dumping them in the wash basket, it was almost the weekend, the two housework days. She had a quick shower and changed, and then she poured the boiled water from the kettle into a pot.
She poured herself and Rick a cup of tea and added sugar and milk, hot sweet tea was the best medicine for depression in her opinion. She then found a packet of chocolate biscuits, tea and chocolate biscuits were an even better medicine. She walked up the stairs with a tray and found Ann sitting on the bed trying to cheer Rick up. Ann looked frustrated, but she didn't have to deal with it every day.
"Karen, I'm sorry I can't cheer him up! I couldn't cheer Popuri up either!" She said sounding incredibly stressed. Karen sighed, fresh tears falling down her face again.
"Can we get through this?" Karen asked. Ann shrugged, she had no idea.
"I'm so sorry Karen, this must be so hard for you. I'm going to spend my days off helping you okay? I know you're really busy." Ann said, her big blue eyes were filled with worry.
"Thanks Ann, it means a lot." Karen told her. Ann smiled weakly, the most anyone could manage at that point in time. Ann nodded and picked the tea off the tray and handed it to Rick, who was sitting silently staring into space.
"When was the last time he spoke to you?" Ann asked, looking worriedly from Rick to Karen.
"Um..." Karen thought back. "I think it was a few days ago, when I told him the chicken had died. He said "oh"."
"Oh god." Ann said. Karen nodded, things were really bad.
"Have you heard anything about Lillia?" Ann asked. Karen shook her head, Lillia had been in a coma, with no change in her condition.
"Elli and the Doctor are doing all they can. The Doctor must have tried every medicine known around here, but really the only medicine effective enough will be time and even that may just kill her." Karen said and Ann clapped her hand over her mouth. The thought of Lillia dying so young scared everyone, it would leave a taint on the village forever.
"What about that flower her husband went to get?" Ann asked hopefully. Karen looked cynically at her.
"There was never any point of him running off over a stupid fairy tale. Flowers don't cure people, medicines and doctors do." Karen told her, looking sceptical.
"I don't know... maybe they can make a medicine from the flower..." Ann suggested.
"Anyway, as far as anyone can tell Rod Iris isn't coming back and even if he is, it probably won't be for a long time." Karen said. Ann shuddered at how cold Karen's words were.
"Karen, I think you need a break." Ann told her. Karen nodded and raised her eyebrows. She was silent for a minute, trying to bottle up all her feelings, but there was too much pressure, she was about to explode.
"Of course I need a break! But I can't have one as long as Rick is being a lazy arse and Lillia is half-dead can I? And you don't help, you say you will but you won't. You're busy enough as it is without our problems! So of course I need a break, but I can't have one. Rick start talking because I know you can hear me... you... you..." Karen shouted. All her feelings had come out in one big burst and she was breathing fast, trying to calm down. Rick just continued to stare into space, completely unaffected, making Karen burst into tears. Ann stared at her in pity and then hugged her tightly, and Karen just cried into Ann's shoulder.
"Things aren't going to get better for a while, are they?" Karen said when she emerged from Ann's shoulder.
"No." Ann admitted. "But we'll manage somehow... we always do."
Karen spent the weekend cleaning up the house, with regular intervals of crying and screaming into a pillow. Things weren't getting easier and Lillia's condition wasn't changing. Karen was sick of Rick making her feel miserable, so that night she had decided that she would take him to the inn and leave him there to be social and relax. It was a bad idea. Rick came back completely hammered, he began trying to pick a fight with Karen, he blamed her for his mother's illness and he kept calling her "slut" or "whore".
After a night of abuse she slept on the couch, ready to hurry over to the farm as quickly as possible in the morning. Tired and angry she drowned the plants with water, almost hacked down the apple tree and hoed up her entire field so no one could walk through it. Finally, exhausted, she collapsed on the ground near the river. She took off her trainers and flexed her sore toes. She pulled of her damp, warm socks and dipped her feet into the lake. The cool lake chilled them immediately and she let out a relaxed sigh. That was better. She wiggled her toes in the water, letting the relaxation seep over, what was she going to do? She sighed again, but this time not with relaxation, with anger.
How could Rick have changed so much, so many different times? In marriage he had become as bad as he was when she and Jack were dating. Jack and her dating... That seemed like such a long time ago, it was so far away. She had been had been happy then, that had been the best year of her life. She clenched her toes together hard, hearing the bone click, reminiscing never helped anything. She pulled her feet out of the water and allowed them to dry in the warm summer air. She then slipped on her socks and shoes and continued working on the farm.
Karen hadn't realised it was dark yet, she had been too busy trying to repair her farm, but ended up damaging it more. She tiptoed into the house and quickly dressed for bed. She found Rick collapsed on the bed, snoring loudly. She breathed a sigh of relief and slipped into bed, jumping as Rick stirred.
"What time do you call this Karen?" Rick demanded angrily. She smelt alcohol on his breath and began to panic, he may be scrawny but when he was drunk he was dangerous.
"Um... well... midnight... but... I can explain..." Karen stuttered, darting out of bed and backing against the wall.
"Can you really? You..." He started, then he began shouting violent abuse. She cowered in the corner, like a small child, frightened and defenceless.
"I'm sorry... I just... worked late at the farm..." She told him weakly. Rick sneered, despicable in his drunken rage.
"Oh really. I knew I should never have let you take over your ex-boyfriends tip." He said smirking. Why was he smiling?
"Why...why?" Karen stuttered, rocking back and forth in the corner. Rick laughed, she knew why. Seeing her unprotected gave him power, her weakness made him strong, he was in control now.
"Why don't you apologise to me?" He said feeling under the mattress. She frowned, why was he looking under there?
"I'm sorry." She told him meekly. He chuckled and pulled a shining silver knife from the mattress.
"You know, that doesn't quite do it for me... why don't you beg... yeah... beg for your life." He said stepping over to her. Karen stared at the knife, the metals glint shining in her eyes. Karen went onto her knees, tears trickling from her eyes.
"Please Rick... don't... please." She pleaded her voice high and squeaky. He smiled, savouring her weakness. He watched the tears with satisfaction and knelt down in front of her. He wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled.
"Okay, sweetie, I won't kill you." He said casually, putting down the knife. "Why don't you get into bed and I'll go and put this knife downstairs."
Karen nodded obediently she slipped into bed and Rick kissed her on the forehead, his touch making her sick. He took the knife downstairs and when he came back he slipped into bed. He kissed her on the cheek and whispered, "Goodnight honey," into her ear. Her eyes widened with rage as he rolled over and began to snore loudly.
The next morning she woke up and blinked, remembering what had happened last night. She was surprised she had managed to sleep at all, but she guessed that was the miracle of being completely exhausted. Rick then knocked timidly at the door, smiling sheepishly.
"Good morning honey, how are you feeling?" He asked, handing her a cup of tea. She accepted it and placed it on the coffee table next to her, her hand shaking as she did so.
"It depends, how are you feeling? Like stabbing a knife through me?" She asked daringly. Rick nodded, accepting her words with remorse.
"I guess I deserve that."
"You guess?"
"Yes, I do. But please, Karen, honey, you're not going to tell anyone." He pleaded. Karen looked at him, her eyes full of wonder, was she going to tell anyone? What if Rick got drunk again, he would attack her and if she told the people of the village they could protect her. But then again, if she told people, they would know her problems, know her shame and Rick might become more violent. She weighed the odds in her mind, looking into Rick's innocent blue pools of eyes. They weren't the same eyes she'd seen last night, not the same eyes that hadn't given a damn about her.
"I... don't know." She breathed. She saw Rick's pleading smile falter.
"Wha.. what?"
"If you do it again... I'll tell the whole village... but if you don't... fine." She told him. He smiled thankfully.
"You have my word, I won't do it again." He said grinning. She nodded, unsure of his word, if he got drunk again he wouldn't control himself.
"Uh huh." She said weakly. Suddenly the phone rang and Rick jumped to answer it, trying to avoid the awkward silence that would follow his and Karen's conversation.
"Hello?"
"Hello Rick, this is Dr. Mason. Lillia has shown signs of waking up, she opened her eyes this morning. She's out of her coma, if you and Karen would like to come see her..."
"Of course we would." Rick said, sounding elated, Karen knew from his voice, Lillia was awake. Rick smiled and gave Karen a thumbs up sign and Karen nodded.
"We'll be right there." Rick told him and with that he hung up the phone.
"Get dressed, we're going to see Mom." He told her. Karen opened her mouth to retort something rude about him ordering about, but she decided against it, after all Lillia had just come out of the coma. Karen nodded and changed, watching Rick as he smiled like a child after receiving the best gift he could ever hope for on Christmas.
They arrived at the hospital and entered the room where Lillia slept peacefully. Her skin was pale and she was barely breathing at all. She looked so fragile, like a delicate butterfly lying on the ground.
"Hey Mom." Rick said softly, placing the bunch of roses he'd bought in the glass vase by her bed. Rick then bent down and kissed his mother on the forehead, and he smiled when he saw her eyes open. Lillia smiled her blue eyes twinkling, making it obvious she was feeling better.
"Hello." She said softly, her voice hoarse from not using it for a while.
"We were afraid we'd lost you for a moment there." Karen said with a smile. Lillia blinked, the news didn't surprise her, but it worried her. What if she'd died and left her two children fatherless and motherless, she couldn't bear the thought.
"I'm glad you didn't." Lillia said, squeezing Rick's hand gently. Rick smiled, happiness filling him to the brim.
"So how have you two been?" Lillia asked kindly. Rick and Karen exchanged worried glances, not good.
"Oh you know fine," Karen lied, "found it hard without you though."
"Well I'm glad you've been managing." Lillia said with a smile. Karen pursed her lips and nodded, how could she tell her mother-in-law that her only son had been abusing her? Just then Popuri ran in happily, and dived into her mother's arms.
"Mommy!" She shouted happily, kissing her Mom on the cheek. Karen smiled happily at the scene, the children united with their mother, but she knew she didn't fit.
"I'm gonna go get some fresh air and leave you guys to talk, I've got the chickens to feed and the farm to take care of, so I'll get back to you later." Karen told them. Rick smiled, obviously appreciating that Karen hadn't told his Mom about their problems. Karen gave him a weak smile back and headed to do her daily chores.
When she arrived back home, Rick was spread out on the couch reading a newspaper, he smiled at her when she entered. Karen nodded, noting his presence before getting ready for bed.
"Umm, Karen..."
"Hmmm?"
"Thank you."
"Mmmm." Karen replied absent-mindedly. After she was all washed and changed she headed into the kitchen to cook their dinner, she found Rick cooking them spaghetti bolognaise and smiled appreciatively.
"How come you're cooking?" She asked setting down the place mats on the table. Rick smiled sheepishly, stirring the pasta sauce.
"Well it's the least I could do, Kar. I know I've been a jerk this week and I hope we can forget it." He said hopefully. Karen thought for a moment, knowing she had to forgive him. But she didn't want to, he'd been so different, so evil the past week.
"Sure." She said shrugging, forcing down her wish to yell at him. He smiled and dished up the pasta, handing her a warm plate. They sat down at the table and began to dig in.
"So erm... Dr. Mason says Mom can be released in a couple of days, so we're gonna need to take care of her at home for a while, so I was wondering if you could wash the sheets in her room." He asked. Karen swallowed the pasta down hard and nodded, gritting her teeth.
"Sure, I'm... um... glad she's coming back."
"Yeah, but I need to ask you a huge favour... I mean I know I haven't been the best husband but..."
"You don't want me to tell her about our problems, don't worry its fine I..."
"No, I know you won't do that... it's not that... I um... I need you to stop working at the farm for a while... just until Mom has fully recovered, so you can... you know take care of her." He said timidly, Karen's face remained blank. She willed herself to say something, but she couldn't, the anger was taking over.
"Karen?"
"Hmmm... no sorry Rick, I've put too much work into the farm to let it go again, I'm sorry but you're going to have to take care of her yourself. It seems to me you have far more free time than me, so you do it. I'm busy Rick." She told him, trying to keep calm. His face twisted in anger. He looked like he was about to say something but changed his mind, he just pointed at the door.
"Gladly." Karen told him and she headed out of the door. She headed angrily out along the street, breathing in the warm summer air muttering under her breath. She heard the door slam and saw Rick head off somewhere, probably the hospital. Well what did she care if he ratted on her to his dearest mother? She snorted and kicked a stone along the road, she wondered if she should go to church and talk to Carter, but she just couldn't tell him that her marriage was failing. She couldn't think of one good moment they'd had since they walked down the aisle, even the marriage had been a failure. Why did she marry him? Was it really better than dying along, she shrugged, it was possible.
She headed over to the farm and sat it Jack's old home, the only place where the memories were truly good. She remembered the times when she'd had dinner with him there, the times she'd truly messed up the relationship, but he'd always saved it. He'd been the stability that she needed, the person she could trust, it wasn't like her life hadn't been stable. In fact it had been so stable it was monotonous, a continuous boring routine. But with Jack life had been exciting, but safe and good, like a flame contained on the wick of the candle, still fiery and passionate, but more beautiful because it had no rage, just dancing.
She smiled, sitting on the dusty floorboards, all the furniture she had loved was gone, stolen by the people she loved. She gulped, she felt happy and sad at the same time, her life lay in utter turmoil, but she still had the good memories. They were so good and yet so painful, she could never get back what she'd lost. She sighed, breathing in a mouthful of dust and choking. She stood up and headed outside, she was so proud of the work she had done, the farm was almost as beautiful as it had once been. But to her it would never be as beautiful, not without him.
She then headed over to the church, this time not to see Carter, but someone more special to her. She sat in front of the gravestone, the one that lay over no body. It shone in the moonlight, filling her with tranquillity and pain. She read the name on the tombstone, running her hand over the carving.
Jack Hunter, 1984-2005. Kind son and loving boyfriend, nothing will replace you in our lives.
Karen frowned, nothing will replace you, she read it over and over again.
"If I really ever believed that, then why did I marry Rick?" She asked the tombstone. "Why can't anyone replace you? I don't want to miss you anymore."
She gulped, her throat sore, if nothing could replace him why did she even bother. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Carter, he looked solemn. She gasped, maybe he'd heard too much.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" He asked, Karen looked down, he'd definitely heard too much.
"Want?"
"Well even if you don't want to tell me, I'm sure you'll feel better if you do."
"I don't know."
"Well even if you don't, what harm can it do telling a friend your troubles."
"Depends how trustworthy the friend is..."
"He's very trustworthy." He assured her.
"Then no harm." Karen said sighing. Carter kneeled down next to her and gave her a hug. "You promise you won't tell a soul what I tell you."
"I promise."
"You're not gonna like it."
"Okay."
"You promise you won't overreact?"
"I promise." Carter told her again. Karen took a deep breath and told him exactly what had been happening. She watched his face twisting in anger and pity, she swore she could see a tear in his eye. When she finished they sat in silence, Carter with a sorrowful look on his face.
"Karen I am so sorry."
"Why?"
"I should never have married you." He told her, he looked so guilty. Karen laughed gently.
"I didn't know he'd do this, if I didn't know you couldn't know. I mean, sure if I'd thought about it I probably could have guessed but... I just thought he'd changed." Karen told him with a sigh.
"Karen, I have to tell someone."
"No. You promised." She shook her head panicking.
"What if he does this again?" Carter asked, worry in his eyes.
"Then I deal with it." Karen said trying to sound calm, but inside she wondered the same thing.
"What if he tries to kill you?" Carter asked, sounding even more worried. Karen opened her mouth to say, "so what life's nothing without Jack" but she realised how melodramatic that would sound.
"I told him that I wouldn't tell anyone, but that if he did it again I would. I stick to that." She told him. Carter sighed, seeing that he wasn't going to get through to her.
"Well if you ever need a place to stay, my church is always open." He told her, opening his arms wide and gesturing. Karen smiled, he was so caring, like the father she'd always needed, better than her own father who wouldn't stand up to a fly. He could give her advice and care about her feelings, but her father had always been too timid to help her.
"I'd better go, Rick'll be wondering where I am." She said shaking as she stood up. Carter smiled weakly, unwilling to let her face her abusive husband.
"Good night Karen." Carted said kissing her on the head, she smiled and turned to walk away. "And don't worry, we will get through this."
"Goddess, I hope you're right." Karen told him and she headed out into the unfeeling night. She arrived home and found Rick asleep on the sofa, "good" she thought, she wouldn't have to sleep in the same bed as him that night. She slid into bed and eased into her dreams, where there was no pain and best of all, no Rick.
The next day she washed Lillia's sheets and did all of her chores, today was the day they would pick up Lillia, they were planning to have a party for her that night in the inn, and after that they hoped things would go back to normal. She had to leave the farm for that day, which seemed okay as she'd harvested all her pineapples. After they were ready they headed over to the hospital and picked up Lillia in the wheelchair. She looked frail and weak, but she had a big smile on her face that showed she was definitely better.
They wheeled her home and helped her get ready for the party, letting her sleep in her freshly made bed for a while. Then they headed over to the inn, when they walked in, all the mineral town members leapt out shouting "surprise", which probably wasn't the best idea since Lillia was still weak. But she survived the fright and was wheeled over to the table. All the drinks were on the house and there was an entire table filled with food. Lillia may not have been able to see the people of mineral town that often due to her condition, but she was missed nonetheless. Karen smiled, Lillia was probably one of the most popular members of mineral town, partly because the people felt sorry for her but mainly because they'd never met anyone with a kinder heart.
The evening went well, everyone laughed and had a good time, it was the first time in ages that Karen had felt remotely happy, maybe even borderline cheerful. The only thing to spoil her evening was Rick, drinking too much and becoming rowdy, Karen could see this upset Lillia too. Ann shuffled over to Karen watching Rick worriedly.
"Karen... I didn't really want to tell you this... but I'm guessing now you already know... Rick's been coming down here a lot since Lillia's coma and... well I think he's become an alcoholic." Ann said worriedly. Karen nodded, the news didn't shock her at all, so she just nodded.
"I know." She said calmly surprising Ann.
"You do?"
Karen nodded.
"Well um... I got you these..." Ann said holding out some leaflets. Karen took one named "so you're a drunk" and swallowed.
"A rehab centre." Karen said, so it had finally come to this. Ann saw her face and placed her hand gently on Karen's shoulder.
"This is just if things get any worse Karen... don't worry you probably won't need them." Ann said, trying to sound reassuring. Karen nodded, but she couldn't see how things could get any worse. Karen heard the shattering off glass and turned around to see Rick holding a broken glass bottle. She gaped at him wide eyed.
"Hey Karen, about you refusing to be a good house wife... If you're not gonna be a good one then I don't need you." Rick slurred.
"Rick, not here." Karen hissed, it was too late, everyone was staring.
"Yes here. I want everyone to hear what a bad wife you are... so I'm gonna teach you a lesson." He slurred again, swaying on the spot. He took the glass and swiped it hard across Karen's arm. She stood for a moment, she couldn't feel any pain. Had he missed? But then she saw his smirk and the fresh blood on the bottle. She then looked down at her arm and saw dark red blood pouring from a deep wound on her arm. The room began to sway, she was losing blood fast. The blood was pouring down her arm, and she watched nauseously as Ann was placing a cloth over it. Carter stood up and walked over to Karen, patting her back.
"I'm sorry Karen, I'm going to tell everyone the truth. Doctor, could you please take Karen to the hospital and get her cleaned up. I'm sure Elli will fill you in later." Carter told the doctor. Karen frowned woozily, Carter tell the people of mineral town? She knew it was bad but suddenly she couldn't remember why. She blacked out and fainted on the ground.
Karen woke up in her old bed in her old bedroom, she looked down at her arm and saw it covered in bloody bandages. She looked around the room, it had been turned into a guestroom and it was all redone. The once bare walls were covered in flowery wall paper and pink curtains covered up the old windows. The floor was now covered in pink carpet instead of plain wooden floorboards and there was plenty of new pretty furniture. Karen wondered when her parents had had this done, they hadn't told her. Then again, she realised, she hadn't spoken to her parents much since the wedding, she'd only ever passed them on the streets. Even then they'd only said "hello" and "how are you", even when she visited the store they never seemed to have time to chat. She rolled over, her arm still painful, she wondered what had happened after she left. With an annoyed sigh she realised Carter had told them everything, but she guessed it was easier than her telling them all and evealing the horror that happened behind the closed doors of the Iris household. She wondered how Ann and Popuri would react, the fact that Karen hadn't told them. She heard a knock on the door and her parents walked in followed by Ann and Popuri.
"Hey Karen sweetie, how are you?" Sasha asked, her mascara was smudged from crying. In fact all their eyes looked worn from crying, even her dad's. She smiled to see they all cared so much.
"I'm fine, better than I look anyway." Karen said, looking down at her bandaged arm. Her visitors smiled and all took seats somewhere in the room.
"Karen, Carter told us everything. Now we're not going to accuse you for not telling us but... we need to help you now that we know." Ann told her. Karen looked worriedly at everyone, they were all nodding in agreement.
"What... what are you gonna do?" Karen stuttered. They all looked at each other and handed Karen the leaflet. Karen looked at them gaping.
"The rehab centre." She said worriedly. The others nodded, Karen flicked through it and found the price.
"Its way too expensive, we could never afford this..." Karen told them. They all nodded.
"Well we checked it out last night. We can afford to pay for the centre, but not for the whole journey. So last night we called Jack's parents..." Ann said, Karen frowned, how many other people knew.
"Jack's parents know..." Karen whined.
"Yes they do, but they care for you Karen, you remember what they told you. When Jack died you became like a daughter to them and it turns out they're actually really well-off..." Ann told her.
"Yeah really, really rich." Popuri chirped happily. Ann coughed and Popuri closed her mouth quickly.
"See it turns out this rehab centre is really near to their house, in fact it's only an hour away. So they offered to pay for you guys to get there and they said you can stay with them as long as you want." Ann told her smiling. Karen was awed by Jack's parents' generosity.
"Yeah, so it'll be like the honeymoon you never had... except with a husband in rehab..." Popuri said frowning. Karen smiled, it gave her a warm feeling inside to know that people cared and everything was going to be okay.
"Wow thank you guys, that sounds... so great! When do we leave?" Karen asked, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
"In three days, it's all booked and ready." Sasha told her. Karen grinned, soon she would be free of Rick, soon her life would be good again and soon she'd be on holiday. She smiled, this was the best news she'd heard in a long, long time.
Yeah, i didn't have the heart to kill off Lillia, see, she's not dying! I decided instead to send Rick to rehab... which I personally like better.
