The Very Thought of You

Chapter 5

The following morning, as she made breakfast, Joey was still feeling tearful. She knew she must make an effort to appear normal in front of her brother, Brian; otherwise he would start to ask questions. She was not in the mood to open her heart to him. She doubted he would believe her anyway.

"What! Powdered bloody egg again?" Brain yelled, when Joey put the plate in front of him at the table.

"S'not my fault there's a war on!" Joey pointed out. "Perhaps when it's ended, you may prefer caviar!"

"Don't be so dammed stupid." Brian growled.

"Well, I'm sorry. It's all I could get."

"Well, try a bit harder next time." Brian suggested, sarcastically.

"Have you tried cueing for an hour, getting to the front of the cue, then, being told that the eggs have all gone? It's just not funny, Brian. I do my best, but everyone is in the same boat." Joey explained to her brother.

"I suppose we haven't got any tea, either?" Brian grunted.

"I'll go and pour it! Joey said, with a sigh.

Andrew Aden, still feeling shell-shocked from Joey's revelation of the night before, made his mind up to confront Robert Cruze. Andrew felt sick and angry at the way he had abused Joey. He knew that Cruze would be 'sleeping it off' so headed off toward his home. He knocked at the door, which after a few moments was answered by a young girl of about nineteen.

"Good morning. Is Robert up yet?" Andrew asked, in a friendly manner. The girl stared at him, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable. She eventually yelled out,

"Mum, is Bob up yet?"

"He should be; lazy little bleeder!" came a very shrill voice from the scullery. The young girl signalled for Andrew to follow her and she showed him into the sitting room.

"Wait 'ere and I'll give him a shout." The girl said as she walked off to rouse her brother.

Andrew exhaled some air from his lungs and waited for Cruze to surface. After what seemed an eternity, Cruze appeared, somewhat bleary eyed and sleepy.

"Blimey, mate! What time d'ya call this to get a bloke up on a Sunday?" moaned cruze.

"Time to punch his bloody face in!" hissed Andrew as he caught Cruze by the throat.

"UGHHH!" Screamed Cruze as Andrew's grip became more intense. "What the bloody 'ell are you doing?"

"What the hell were you doing when you..." pausing to catch his breath, "when you did what you did to Joey, you bastard!" spat Andrew.

"What d'ya mean?" choked Cruze, desperately trying to free himself of the grip Andrew had about his throat. "I haven't touched the little bitch!"

"Don't come the innocent with me. You know exactly what you did!" Andrew said, now almost yelling.

"Keep ya bloody voice down!" hissed Cruze.

"Why? Got something to hide, have we?"

"Okay, maybe me and Joey did have a bit of a..." winking at Andrew, "thing going, but she was more than willing, in fact she couldn't get enough, if you know what I mean?"

"God! You're sick! You took her, didn't you? You Bastard! You took her by force! She didn't stand a chance against a dirty great sod like you!" Andrew yelled.

"I tell you, I didn't touch her, like that! She's lying, coz she's frightened that if she's knocked up her brother will kill her!" concocted Cruze.

"You make me sick!" Andrew said releasing Cruze from his grip. Don't ever go near her again or I'll kill you!"

"What are you, 'er blinking mother or something!" Yelled Cruze as Andrew left the house, slamming the front door behind him.

"Who was that?" Asked the young girl who had let Andrew in.

"None of you bleedin' business!" Her brother yelled, pushing the girl out of his way and storming back to his bedroom.

The girl had a fair idea of what had occurred. The walls were pretty thin in the house. "Poor Joey," she thought and shuddered at the thought. She uncomfortably slunk back to the scullery.

Shortly after Brain had left for work, Joey ventured into the garden to hang out some washing. The day was very pretty as the sun shone on her back making her feel sleepy. She hadn't managed to get much rest the night before. Too many faces in too many bad dreams disturbed her sleep. All accept one. This one she wanted to remember. In all her dreams, it would start as she fell into the sea from the boat 'The Summer Bay' with Robert Cruze laughing at her as she bobbed up and down in the cold, dark sea. Even though she cried out, nobody answered. This time however, a hand was held out which pulled her back onto dry land; the hand was that of the beautiful Police Officer, Charlotte.

A hand, this time, tapped her on the shoulder shaking her from her reverie. She spun around and found herself face to face with Robert Cruze.

"I suggest you keep your little thoughts to yourself, girlie. If I hear you've been talking to your little friend, Mr. Aden, or anyone else come to that, about our 'little bit of naughty', I might just have to wring your pretty little neck! But not before I tell big brother about your dirty little habits!" Whispered Cruze, close to her ear. He spat at the ground and left.

Joey, stood in the yard, wet garment in hand. The face of the beautiful Police Woman, gone, only to be replaced by that of an angry and sneering Robert Cruze. She felt her legs go weak. Heat began to travel from her neck reaching her face as black dots appeared in front of her eyes. The last thing she saw before passing out was the linen basket.

Later in the morning, Andrew made his way towards the Collins household. He knocked at the door but received no reply. He wandered around to the back of the house and saw a body slumped over the linen basket.

"Joey!" He cried out in panic. He ran towards the girl and knelt down before her. "Joey love, are you okay?" he called, patting her cheek.

Joey moaned a little and slowly opened her eyes and looked at Andrew. "Oh, God! I think I just fainted."

"What happened?" Andrew asked quickly.

Joey, with the help of Andrew, sat upright and tried to get her senses back into place. Suddenly, Robert Cruze's visit came flashing back into her mind.

"In two words; 'Robert Cruze'! Andrew, did you go and talk to him?" Joey asked with anger creeping into her voice.

"Well, I... I paid him a visit, let's say."

"Well, thanks to you, it's made him ten times worse! He came 'round here threatening me! Why didn't you just leave it alone?" Joey cried.

"But, Joey, I..."

"Just leave it, Andrew!" Joey picked up her linen basket and heading up to the house.

"Joey! You need to report him to someone!" Andrew cried, running after Joey.

"I said LEAVE IT!" Joey yelled about to close the back door, but Andrew's was too fast for her and followed her in.

"Joey, please don't ignore this. You must go to the Police. You can't let a rat like him get away with what he's done to you!" Andrew pleaded.

"Andrew, they'd never believe me and what's more, Brian will kill me!" Joey explained as the tears started to fall.

"Of course they'll believe you, Jo, why wouldn't they?" Andrew pleaded.

"They never believe girls. They'll say I lead him on, or something."

"Well, you didn't, did you?" Andrew asked.

"Of course I didn't!" shouted Joey. "What do you take me for? I'd never let HIM or any other man touch me..." Joey suddenly stopped her speech and swallowed hard. "I mean, I'd never..." Joey stopped speaking and stared at Andrew. Her face flushed with confusion.

"Joey, what did you mean, 'you'd never let any man near you'?" asked Andrew quietly a few moments later.

Joey sighed deeply. She blinked a few times and wiped away the remaining tears on her cheeks. The moments ticked by. Andrew waited for Joey to explain.

"Andrew," she said, looking at the floor. "I don't like boys; I only like... girls."