Chapter three
Francine noticed that her husband had been waiting for her by the door when she came home.
It was prettymuch impossible not to.
"Please tell me WHY you were at my Mothers?" He sternly asked.
Francine sighed and looked to the ground.
"Well, Arthur..." "I..was trying to help you."
"Trying to help" Arthur yelled. "Trying to?"
His hands flung in the air and he started ranting.
"I thought I could trust you.," He glared at her.
"My wife of all people."
Francine placed her hands on her hips and reminded him that his mother already KNEW what happened since she was there.
"I did not tell anyone" She firmly stated.
"I spoke with your Mom about staging an intervention." she replied.
Arthur rubbed his eyebrows together. "Oh great." He thought.
"You...well, you do not know what my Father is like." He replied through gritted teeth.
"You don't think I know that?" She yelled.
"Buster, Sue Ellen, George...they all knew something wasn't right".
Arthur dismissed his wifes comment with a narrow stare.
"I dont give a damn what our friends might or might not think."
Francine tried to explain again how much she loved him and wanted to help...
Arthur calmed down ever so slightly, only because he knew Francine meant well.
She had come a long way from the loud mouthed bully she once was.
Losing a loved one (both grandparents) will do that to a young girl, not to mention her desire to change once she cut ties with her ex best friend Muffy Crosswire.
(Yes for the purposevof this story she remained the same bosdy, interferring little brat.)
Arthur felt his body tense up.
"You may have meant well Francine, honey." He frowned.
"Its just," "Well, its only going to bring up unwanted memories, that quite frankly I would like too...forg.."
Just then there was a knock on the door.
"Now of all times" Arthur grumbled.
Francine rolled her eyes.
"Dammit," She hissed, opening the door.
"KATE?" Arthurs eyes widened.
There she stood, all of ten years old, wearing a green coat and shoes.
Her face had a bruise on the side of her cheek and tears were running down her face.
Francine held her close and asked what was wrong.
"Help me Aunty please." She cried.
Arthur noticed his little sisters ankle.
"How did you get here?" He asked."You're ankle must have been too sore to walk on."
"The Bus." she wept.
Arthur felt guilt ridden. He had lashed out at his wife for speaking to Jane only to find that through her, Kate was able to come forward and seek help.
In the lounge, Kate sat with a blanket wrapped around her and sipped on a cup of hot chocolate.
Francine had a cold ice pack pressed against Kate's swollen ankle.
"What made you come here sweetie?" She asked.
"I heard you and Mom talking." Kate sobbed.
Arthur took a seat beside his little sister.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked.
Kate looked downward and frowned.
"I never see you anymore Arthur." she replied.
"You guys hardly ever visit us, except on holidays", Or with Aunty Francine parents."
Francine knelt beside Kate and placed her hands on her knees.
"You can stay here tonight, but we will need to tell your Mom okay?"
Kate nodded.
Arthur looked at his wife who was dialing Janes number and agreed, giving his sister a warm hug.
"Hey Jane." Francine spoke.
"Yes, she's here" "Oh no its fine"
"Yeah, one of us will talk about this over with you tomorrow"
"See you, take care."
"You too." "bye."
Kate felt relief when she was able to stay and then thanked Francine for speaking to her Mother.
"If I hadnt have sorta um...heard you." She blushed.
"Then I would not have come here."
Francine planted a small kiss on her nieces forehead and told her it was fine.
"I'm glad you're here." she smiled warmly.
Arthur felt really idiotic. "Im so sorry Kate." He apologised.
Francine went into the kitchen to find something to eat.
Arthur sat beside his little sister and apologized for not being around as often as he should have.
"I can't believe Dad is doing what he did to me"...he started holding back tears. "To you Kate."
Kate started crying and clung on to her older brother.
"Dont make me go back there, please Arthur." She pined.
"I am so scared of what he will do next."
"He whacked me last week with his belt." She whimpered. "For spilling juice in the hall."
Arthur gave his sister a stern look. "He won't EVER lay a hand in you again."
"So don't worry about that." He held her in his grasp.
There's no way I'm having you go back..." He stated firmly.
Arthur felt anger rise inside of him.
Hitting him as a child was one thing, but to take out whatever deep seeded anger was inside of his Father on his little defenseless sister was beyond abhorrent.
When Francine came and told Arthur and Kate that dinner was ready, they were both sobbing on the couch.
Her heart ached for Arthur whom she loved more than he realized.
She felt awful for little Kate who was unable to defend herself.
She decided to be best to leave them to talk and spend some family time together.
"Dinners in the kitchen." She whispered into her husbands ear.
Thanks, I think we're gonna leave it tonigh hon." He quietly replied.
Arthur clung on to her hand from over the couch where he and Kate were cuddling.
"Francine." he looked into her eyes. "I'm...So sorry."
Francine smiled and felt a few tears fall from her face.
"Well you should be." She lowered her voice. "You weren't to know Arthur, Nor was I about Kate."
Kate rested her head against Arthurs shoulder while he gave his wife a kiss.
"I love you." He whispered.
"Same to you." She replied. "Even if you didn't listen to me."
Arthur brushed that aside, his male pride was not about to openly admit that he was in the wrong..not yet.
"We need to think of a way to take hold of the situation with Kate." Arthur said.
Francine nodded but agreed it was best left until morning to discuss it as Kate was fast asleep.
"Ill take her in with us" "She wont mind sleeping on the sofa in our room." he said.
"Yeah okay." Francine smiled.
"No marital business tonight for you Mister." She joked.
Arthur frowned. "Even if Kate was NOT in the room, I would not copulate with you Mrs Read."
"Not after tonight". He replied , giving his wife a sly wink.
She raised an eye brow. "Is that so?"
Her brown eyes looked at him with a puzzled stare.
"Well okay I definetly would." he grinned. "I'm unable to contain myself" he joked.
Francine shook her head and laughed. "Men, honestly."
"You are however, off the hook." "No longer in trouble." He politely informed her
Francine sarcastically breathed a sigh of relief.
"Why thank you dear Husband." She mimicked with an over the top voice of appreciation.
"Get upstairs you." Arthur ordered jokingly.
Francine giggled as she ran upstairs to have a shower and get ready for bed.
Arthur felt his little sister breathing against him.
"We'll get this sorted." He said to Kate.
"Dont you worry little sis."
Meanwhile, Francine lay in bed and spoke to Jane who had called again.
"So you called him?" she asked.
"Jane, that was not your place too."
"I was going to tell Arthur tonight..."
"Why?" "What do you mean why?"
"You bet me to it."
"Sorry but that was very intrusive." she replied.
Jane then started sobbing over the phone.
"Please tell Arthur to come on Sunday." She cried in distress.
"I cannot tell Arthur what to do." Francine retorted.
"Im sure he will come though, given the circumstances." ...she paused for a second.
"Circumstances?" Jane asked.
"Well we need to talk about Kate first." Francine replied.
"Uh...oh." Jane said very quietly. "Yes off course."
Francine sensed her mother in laws embarrassment over the phone.
"She is in a bad way Jane."
Francine informed Jane of Kate opening up to them about David and how she was scared to go home.
"She's with Arthur now." "They are both asleep on the couch together." (She lied about that part.)
There was no way her Husband was in any mood to speak to his Mom right at this point.
"Yeah we will be there.", "Sunday afternoon."
"We don't want Kate living there until we sort something out on Sunday."
"Jane" Francine hissed. "Its illegal for David to be doing this."
"Surely you see that."
"Okay okay."
"Just let us keep her for the next five days."
"I'll collect her things tomorrow and we will talk on Sunday."
Jane was crying apologetically over the phone again.
"Jane, come on."
"Its not you." "Its him but you need to understand, that Kate cannot stay in that environment."
Jane started sobbing profusely over the phone.
"Okay, yes I'll drop by." Francine replied. She felt sorry for Arthurs Mom.
"As long as its just you?" "Okay then once DW and David..have left."
She shuddered at the mere mention of his name.
"Arthur?" , "Uh he will most likely wait until Sunday."
Jane begged that her son not rip his Father to shreds.
"We will all keep it as civil as possible, wont we?." "Please Francine." she begged again.
Sighing Arthurs wife, reluctantly agreed.
"Okay." "You have my word."
"Off course I want this all to be over." "My husband needs closure before we can..."
"Have what?" Francine gasped.
"Yeah not for a few years, but when we do become parents."
"I would like to know that history is not going to repeat itself."
Francine held in tears at that gruesome thought.
"I know thats why its so important this happen." Jane agreed.
"Okay." Francine yawned.
"Well Kate and Arthur are asleep and Im off to bed."
"Night Jane."
"Love you too."
Francine pushed her head into her pillow and sighed.
"Oye vey."
The next morning, Arthur lay with his hands wrapped around his wife, while Kate slept soundly on the sofa bed with a warm purple blanket around her.
"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into." Arthur said, pressed up against his wife's back.
She held both of his hands tightly around her.
"Dont you worry about me Mr Read." She replied. "We will get through it."
They both looked at Kate, laying peacefully on the sofa.
"For Kate's sake." He said. Francine nodded in agreement.
For the rest of the week, Kate stayed with Arthur and Francine until the day arrived.
Sunday afternoon Intervention
The day was finally upon them. Arthur gulped while Kate held Francines hand tightly
"Whatever happens" she said, looking at her sister in law
"You will no longer be living with your Father okay?"
Kate wiped her teary eyes and nodded.
"Even if that means living with us" she sighed heavily.
Arthur was sweating, waiting for his Mother to open the door.
When Jane answered she was wiping a few tears from her eyes.
The house was warm and cozy but the atmosphere was as cold as ice.
"Thankyou for coming." Mrs read said with a broken smile.
Arthur folded his arms and stepped inside.
"Okay lets get this over with." He grunted.
Francine followed him insude, leaving Jane to embrace her little girl.
"Ive missed you sweetheart." Jane wept.
Kate hugged her Mothers waist and cried softly. "Me too Mom."
In the living room David sat on one side of the room while Arthur took a seat beside his wife across the table from him.
David was fidgety and could barely look his own son in the eye.
"Well as you can see." He said, looking to the carpet. "DWs not with us."
Francine rolled her eyes. "Off doing whatever the hell she wants again, I suppose?" She snarled.
David didn't say anythimng. Arthur rested his hand on his wifes knee.
"I'll take it from here." He quietly said.
Francine reluctantly agreed, even though every fibre within her being was itching to spout her mouth off at her father in law and scold him harshly.
"First off David." Arthur spoke sternly.
For obvious reasons he no longer caller him "Dad"
"I want a sincere and honest apology from you."
Jane walked in with Kate and sat beside to her husband, but Kate ran toward Francine.
David arched back into the couch and sighed.
"Arthur..." He had a deep croaking sound in his voice as though he were holding back tears.
"I want you to forgive me for what I did."
Kate snuggled into Francine and looked at her Dad with tear stsined eyes.
He then shook his head and sighed.
"I let what my father do to me, affect the way I treated you"
He hoped now his son would understand.
"Thats not a good enough reason for lashing out at me" Arthur spat.
"How many times was I belted or hit in the face?" The anger inside him flared up again.
Jane became a little frightened and started crying.
"Please Arthur, try to understand."
"Understand what?" He yelled.
He rose to his feet and let his father have it.
"Just because Grandpa was horrible doesnt mean you had to beat me."
" For things that my siater did" He winced at the mere thought of her. ,That nasty little.."
"Arthur." David growled. "You are not even listening to me."
"Im attempting to have a civil discussion with you." He curled his lips in anger.
"Yet again, you wont see reason." "Why do you think I hit you over the sofa huh?"
Jane gasped. "David."
"Im sorry darling, but hes not letting me explain." He replied, his fists clenched.
Francine was livid but held her tongue.
"What reason?" Arthur yelled back.
"Why would you blame your son for every little damn thing huh?". "I was a child, you were the adult."
He looked at David and scoffed.
"You're no Father."
"Look at Kate, shes ten years old." Arthur pointed to his little sister weeping into Francines chest.
"Kate sweetheart, Daddys really sorry." David looked at her with a tearful smile.
"No you're not." She screamed. "You always say that after you..." She then burst into tears.
Francine stroked Kates long blonde hair and told her it would be alright.
David shook his head at his daughter in law.
"Im disappointed Francine, I really am."
Her and Arthur both glared at him.
"What did you just say?" She asked through gritted teeth.
"Given all that your grandparents went through during the war."
That was it. Francine stood up and roared at him.
"How DARE you?" "How freaking dare you bring my family into this."
Arthur was appaulled at his Father for that and felt and overwhelming surge of protection for his wife.
Francine went to strike back verbally when Arthur clutched her hand and took over.
"Laverne's Mother doesn't even know what happened to her husband." He growled.
"He was most likely murdered in a camp." He roared.
"Dont even think of comparing that to you or Grandpa." His voice was strong and his heart pounded. Francine had never loved him more than she did in that moment.
"Francines grandparents went through hell during the holocaust".
" She never knew her maternal grandfather" he was taken away from her Bubby in Auschwitz. "
Francine had tears in her eyes. Talk on that subject would always be a raw one.
"Did Oliver ever lash out?" He spat. "Did Laverne every lay a finger on either of her daughters?"
"Her Bubby was never traced, yet did you see Francines Mom strike her because of it?"
He waited for his father to answer. He had nothing.
"Yeah, thats what I thought." Arthur sneered.
"Dont you EVER talk to my wife like that, or use her family in any of this." He scolded.
David was about to respond when Arthur continued
"Why do you think we didnt visit at Christmas?" "Newlywed and all huh?"
He huffed.
"I enjoyed spending my first chanukah with my lovely wife" he folded his arms.
"As a matter of fact", " we'll be doing it again this year." He stated.
Francine smiled at Arthur.
He had not only defended her honor but was proud of her heritage aswell and embraced the Jewish culture fondly.
David felt wretched but didn't apologise to his daughter in law or properly to Arthur.
He looked over at Kate. "I cannot change the past." His voice quivered.
"I can, however start over." He walked uptowards Kate and was inches away from Francine.
"Get away from us." She yelled, pushing David away.
David held his own and grabbed ahold of Francine by the arms. He started to shake her.
"Dont you tell me what to do." He roared. "This is your fault.. you..."
Arthur lunged forward and punched his Father in the face, knocking him backwards onto the floor.
Jane fell to her knees and cried, while Arthur wiped his fist and held his rather shaken up wife tightly.
Kate approached her Mother and gave her a hug.
"Its only a matter of time Mom.." Arthur said. He had a tight grip on Francine, who was trembling.
After seeing Davids seething temper force him to grab Francine like that, Jane feared that Davids desire for violence against anyone he saw as weaker than him, would only get worse.
Arthur looked over at his Father who held himself up and wiped his bleeding nose.
"Get out." He ordered. "NOW." David scowled.
Arthur shook his head adamantly.
"Not without Mom and Kate."
David hinted for Jane to get up and say something, instead she stood up and held onto her daughters hand
"David, I can..can't do this anymore."
Kate and Francine both gasped.
Arthur closed his eyes and heaved a sigh of releif.
"Finally."
"Jane" David begged. "Think about what you are doing "
"I know what Im doing." She replied. "I'm looking out for my children."
She looked at Arthur with tears in her eyes.
"That I should have done a long time ago."
David started getting angry again and spat some of the blood from his mouth onto the floor.
"This is THEM talking, not you Jane." David pointed toward Arthur and Francine.
"Have I ever once laid a hand on you?" He questioned.
"Hes tugging at your heart strings Mom." Arthur said, walking toward her.
Jane cried and held her two children close.
Francine stood away from David and stood beside her husband and his family.
"Wow, despite everything he put up with, Arthur is such a lovely man.." "My man."
Her thoughts were interrupted by Arthur can Kate giving her a big hug
"Come on you" he softly said. "Lets go."
Kate thanked her "big sister" as Arthur led her outside..
"Our work here is done, for now." Francine smiled. "Im sorry he didn't give you an apology."
Arthur was no longer concerned with that.
He had three very important females in his life to protect.
"I cannot believe he said those things to you..." Arthur cringed at the thought of what was said.
She looked up at him with sad eyes. "Yeah it hurt." "Its over now though." She sighed in releif.
Arthur held his wife protectively around her waist.
"When he shook you like that...I saw red"
Francine kissed him on the porch in gratitude.
"You defended me and stopped your Dad from hurting me."
He held her close and kissed her on the head.
"Its what any decent husband would do, for the woman he loved"
She looked at him with a few tears in her eyes.
"To the moon and back." She smiled.
Arthur wiped the tears from her eyes and cupped her face with his warm hands.
"To the moon back." "My Francine."
Things progressed pretty quickly after that confrontation.
Coming up in the next chapter!
Was the ending a soppy one? A little.
Fair? Yes Good?
Well you be the judge
Mixer and red eye *cough cough* please review.
I checked and rechecked this chapter from start to finish. Please dont let there be errors.
TBC in an Epilogue to Arthurs Secret
I cannot help myself. Argh
I wish I were able to write shorter yet descriptive chapters with intriguing plotlines the way Darkangelsnapelover, TUC and DM can. Oh and Clickticktack?
Awesome story on Arthur he has, okay sounding like yoda now, I am haha!