A/N Thank you for the reviews travis2015. I appreciate your advice, Darkangelsnapelover and TUC for the advice. DASL, I have changed the rating to T since there is no reason to keep it M rated.
All three reviews are much appreciated as its nice to know people are reading.
Also, as much as I would like to add the back story to how Arthur became more assertive and interesting, and Francine went from the bossy little brat with a hidden kindness to sweet and more feminine, its a short story but for the purpose of this lets just say they both changed as the years went on. Due to their commitment to each other throughout high school, the chose to change and work hard at it because they both loved each other.
Chapter two (of three)
Confronting Jane
Once Francine and Arthur returned home to their one new apartment, Francine was filled with anxiety and questions over her husbands secret.
He decided not to tell her just yet...
The honey moon had been so special for them. Champagne, love under the stars and laying in bed cuddled up together discussing the past.
The night before reality kicked in...
Francine grimaced when Arthur joked about her crush on Alberto.
"I am not the one who was in love with "Capri." she playfully teased.
Arthur sighed and hushed her with a kiss.
"Well I guess you're over the celebrity blonde now huh?" She asked pulling away from the kiss.
Arthur laughed. "Well the drunken pictues of her all overt the internet kind of put me off."
"Oh remember when Molly had that crush on Dean lomax?" Francine lay beside Arthur and they reminisced about past crushes and their friends who discussed them.
"Yeah, if you are into guys in their mid thirties" Arthur scoffed.
"Hes like, forty five now." Francine chuckled.
"Yeah but I mean, Buster still loves Jessica Rabbit." Arthur replied.
Francine pressed her hands on her husbands chest.
"Muffys crush was the dark bunny." "Do you know who mine is?"
Arthur looked up at her with a confused face and two raised eye brows.
"You're my dark Aardvark." She whispered seductively.
"Oh I see my dear Francine."
He wrapped his arms around his new wife and they proceeded to take things one step further and as the evening progressed they enjoyed their moments of intimacy together. When they made love, the world and thoughts of Arthur's past drifted away...
At home.
Arthur scooped up his bride and held her over the threshold into the apartment. Thrusting open the door he helf himself back as hard as he could as not to drop her.
Francine burst out laughing.
"You're not supposed to laugh." He winced, feeling the weight of her curvy legs and big bust against him.
"Sorry, I cant help it." She replied, clinging on to him.
Once he had walked into the living room he plonked her down onto the couch.
"Charming." Francine joked.
Arthur climbed ontop of her and they lay together on the couch.
"Our new home baby." He whispered into her ear.
"Our new home." She replied, kissing him on the cheek.
Later on
Arthur studied the application pack and looked over the forms he needed once more.
Francine placed both arms around her husband's while he scanned the form to check everything was written down and signed for his ECU papers.
"So, are we going to talk now, "or should I wait two hours before you finally decide to put these papers down?"
Arthur frowned and glaced up at her.
"I told you I would tell you about it tonight." He replied. "Can we leave it at that?"
Francine sighed and went into the small kitchen.
"Fine" she groaned, rummaging through the cupboards.
She had found some noodles and shredded chicken to cook up for dinner.
They ate dinner in silence. The lights were on but the room felt dark.
Arthur wiped his mouth when he was done.
"Nice." He smiled, placing his bowl in the dishwasher.
"Thanks for dinner" he sweetly grinned, attempting to lighten the dark mood that surrounded their new living space.
Francine played around with her food.
She drank her coke slowly, with a small frown between each sip.
Arthur came and sat down beside Francine who just looked at him sadly.
He bit his lip and sighed heavily at her.
It was only fair he began their married life together as truthfuly and honestly as possible.
He held her hand and looked at into her almond eyes.
"Lets have a bath and ill tell you everything, okay?"
A smile crept across the brunettes face.
"Sounds good." She replied, placing her bowl in the kitchen.
Arthur ran the bath and stared at the water with his arms folded.
Francine placed her hands around his waist.
"I know this is going to be hard for you." She leaned her head against his back.
"Ill always be here for you." She added.
Arthur turned around and held her close.
"I know you will." "Thats why I'm telling you this..."
He held her hands and they had their first bath in heir new home together.
Arthur rested against the tub while Francine rested against him.
He kissed her head and stroked her hair.
"Arthur." She said, closing her eyes.
"I have an idea what you are going to say." "Remember, we all knew what your dad was like when you were...a kid.."
Arthur cut her off.
"YES" "But none of you knew the real David...er my dad."
Francine lay back and looked up at him.
"He is also My father in law."
Arthur nodded with a heavy sigh.
"That is another reason why I am telling you, and only you." he replied.
As he played with her hair he asked she not tell anyone, not even Buster about what happened to him growing up.
"I promise." Francine replied.
She was nervous but also enjoying her husbands gentle touches and loved her hair being played with...
"Well" Arthur began.
"You know how I uh, used to have a lot of time off school?"
Francine rose herself up and looked him in the eye.
"Yes?"
Arthur looked down then sighed again before telling her everything as though he could not control his mouth and the words coming out of them.
Everything from the straps, to the harsh punishments he took in place of for DWs behavior.
He then mentioned the time he couldn't play soccer because of what David had done to his arm...
Francine was sitting opposite him and took everything in with an overwhelmed sense of shock and fear.
Part of her wanted to grab Arthur and hug him so tightly as not to let him go, but her heart was telling her something else.
Tears started falling from her eyes and Arthurs eyes were welling up.
"Arthur..." "I..dont." She started to sob in between her words.
Arthurs voice ached, his tears had made his throat sore.
"Just hug me, would you?" He cried.
Francine splashed the luke warm water around the bath as she gripped him tighter than ever before.
Kissing him on the neck she promised him she would not utter a word to anyone.
"Including my parents" She wept."If thats what you want."
Tears fell down her husbands back.
He knew it pained her to keep this Read family secret from her parents..
Arthurs soaking hands cupped her face.
"Thank you." he softly replied. "You're the only woman".."and only person I can trust."
They both kissed as the tears and bath water created a salty chlorinated taste in their mouths.
What Francine could not tell Arthur, was that she did plan to do what her heart was telling her to do. The beat of it against her chest felt so strong, she could not ignore him as they lay together in bed, intertwined in each other.
In order to afford an apartment of their own in Elwood city, the couple agreed on a compromise over the next eight years.
Francine had decided to work the next four years to pay the rent and the bills while Arthur studied Psychology at Elwood city University.
She had not yet decided what she wanted to do with her life. The world was her oyster with high grades in physical education and math, but she figured, since her husband knew from the time he was fifteen, what he wanted to study that it was only fair he study first.
They both had financial struggles, admitting Arthur's parents were better off, the help they could offer was minimal but still useful when Francine needed help with groceries for the two of them or a power bill..
Needless to say the weight of a student loan would weight heavy on Arthur but thankfully he could wait until he had a job before paying them off while Francine worked full time in a sports wear store. She loved to show people how to dress appropriately for events such as swimming, skiing and soccer tournaments. Showing customers the best places to visit was a passion of hers to.
So needless to say, Francine frensky Read enjoyed her job.
A few weeks later:
Francine kissed Arthur goodbye and wished him the best for his first day at ECU.
"Say hi to Jenna and Alex for me." She saud.
"Take care."
Arthur waved then he gave her a small wink.
"Will do babe." He smiled. "Miss you already."
As he walked down the road and round the corner of the street, Francine took a deep breathe then dialed Janes cell number. She could not risk having David answer the phone by using their landline, not after what she now knew about him.
"Yeah hi Jane..uh Mom." Francine said.
"Yes its nice to hear your voice too." "Uh huh, it has been too long" she replied.
"Listen would you mind if I stopped by after work today?"
"I finish at 2pm today, short shift on Mondays." Francine said.
"Great, it will be nice to see you too Jane."
"Sorry for not visiting sooner."..."Yes I'll make it up to you starting today" she giggled.
"God bless you too." "Bye."
2:30pm
Francine brushed her hair and adjusted the car mirror. She painted a dark shade of lipstick on before puckering up and rechecking herself.
Stepping out of the car, the autumn breeze blew through her air, creating more tension in the atmosphere.
This was not going to be an easy discussion.
Jane was one of the nicest people Francine knew infact all of Arthur's friends thought the Reads were great parents and easy going...
Naturally Francine felt nerves tingle as she knocked on the familiar door..
So Francine stood outside the door, different than each time before
A lovely hug from her Mother in law, did nothing as francine looked to the floof
Had she not said a word or just hold her tongue
Arthur would hold it in, so damage would never be undone
Tea and laughter was filled with tears as Francine pushed past her inner fears
"Why did you let David, do those things to your son?" "He hit him and hurt him"
"Taking the blame for things ge had not even done."
Baring the brunt of his sisters mistakes.
"The pain it has caused him, the sadness it still creates.."
Jane was left speechless and at first knew not what to say
"I dare not go against my husband"
"My generation was brought up that way"
Francine shook her head in defiance, she was most far from impressed
She argued that once you have children, you do for them what is best
Arthur was a child and so well behaved
He deserved love and attention, those things all kids crave
Jane then agreed and wept into her cup of tea
She then looked up at Arthur's wife, saying "Plesse, forgive me?"
Francine placed her arms around Jane and let her cry out her guilt and her feelings of hurt onto her shoulder.
Rubbing her Mother in laws back she assured her this was NOT her fault.
Jane wiped her eyes and asked Francine if Arthur knew she was here.
Francine bit the side of her lip and pressed her hands firmly down her knee legth skirt.
"Uh well not exactly." She replied.
Jane seemed concerned about that.
"You haven't told anyone else about David have you?"
Francine shook head.
"No." She adamantly replied.
"Arthur had me promise." "Not even my parents know."
Jane poured another cup of tea while Francine played with her earrings.
This was something she had always done since she started wearing jewellery.
Now though, everytime she saw Oliver and David sit together with a glass of wine, discussing life and varioys topics including Davids culinary advice followed by laughter and hugs, Francine would know the truth and not be able to grin and bare it.
"I know you'd like them too know, wouldn't you honey?" Jane asked.
Francine nodded her head.
"Its just, my parents always thought of you guys as family already." She replied.
"Thats true." Jane smiled with a tiny sigh.
"My Mom always knew I'd end up a Read." Francine said with a broken smile
"That lovely friend of yours" She always said. "A good boy, a nice boy.." Francine mimicked her Mothers tone of voice.
This made Jane laugh a little.
She then planted a tiny kiss on her daughter in laws cheek.
"I really am glad Arthur has you in his life." She said warmly.
Francine smiled and stood up. "Thank you Jane."
"Like it or not, he's stuck with me for life." She laughed trying to lighten the mood.
As they proceeded to part ways, Francine ask that they arrange an intervention.
Jane knew this day was coming.
Sighing she explained that David would agree, ONLY if Arthur was willing to be civil and that she hear him out.
Francine hid her inner fury and complied with a bright "Yes."
"We need to resolve this as soon as possible."
Jane agreed. "Id like that too." "Im so impressed with how mature you've become sweet heart."
Francine felt her heart swell. "I just want my marriage to work." She replied with a small smile.
"I love Arthur so much."
"We have to be open and honest as possible." She felt tears behind her eyes.
Thid HAD to happen.
"I love him too Francine." Jane said biting her finger nail a little sheepishly. "Despite what happened."
Francined nodded her head. "Off course you do." She agreed.
As they hugged goodbye Jane asked that Francine not speak to DW, as the fourteen year old little rebel was giving them enoygh issues already.
"She knew and so did Kate." Jane informed.
Francine figured that. "Yeah, Arthur didn't need to tell me." "I thought his own sister's would have witnessed some of it."
DW was favored growing up and now David and Jane Read were paying the ultimate price.
A daughter of fourteen coming on twenty, smoking, stealing and cutting class to play various mind games of the heart with the tibbles who folowed her lead..was creating friction between David and Jane which only led to arguments between DW and her parents.
What a joy it will be having Dora Winifred as a sister in law. Francine winced at that very thought.
Kate hid behind the living room door. She had listened fo Francines conversation with her Mom, while rubbing her swollen ankle.
The ten year old girl, hobbled upstairs before her mother got wind of her presence.
Her black eye had recently cleared up but the little girl would constantly wait under her bed, fretting that Daddy would find a reason to punish her for something when he came home...
As Francine left she was outraged as she drove home.
"Civil?" She seethed. "After what that pig did?"
"Hear him out?" She growled to herself...
After a heavy sigh Francine stepped out of her car unsure what to do.
She didn't want to break her promise to Jane but she knew Arthur would not take a confrontation with Father lightly and rightly so. Her duty was to her husband first. Not to mention the fact, she completely agreed that her Husbands resentment was justified.
This intervention was not going to be a smooth one..
When Francine returned home, the sun was setting and the lights were on.
"Arthur must be wondering where I am" She said to herself whilst opening the door
When Francine opened the door she thought it best to tell Arthur the truth later and say she was kept late at work doing stocktake before dinner...
That was a thought that never made it past imagination, for standing on the other side of the doot was Arthur with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed underneath his glasses.
He had been standing in wait for some time now.
"You" he glared. "Have got some explaining to do."
Francine looked at him and her face went bright red...
Okay so Arthur found out Francine had spoken with his Mother.
Kate clearly needs to be taken away from that home of hers and only her older brother and his wife can help.
Then there's the intervention and Arthurs reaction to both Francine's meddling and facing his Dad properly about his abuse for the first time including finding out the real reason why David Read is the way he is...
Will it end happily? Or in divorce? Plus what will become of Kate and DW?
Find out in the last chapter (including epilogue)
Confrontation and Revelations.
Sorry if ther poem was a bit all over the place. I like to add some poetry into the story to add a more emotional and descriptive effect. Helping people with poetry is what I like to do (even if some take it and claim it as their own. (Lucy *cough cough*)
Anyway please review.
Thankyou xxxx