Chapter Twenty-Three: The Funeral
"Look I'm sorry mom for shouting. Unlock the door and stop being stupid. We can sort out the equity. We can just pay the fine and reverse it. It's no trouble, I seen people do it before" Stephen insisted as he gave his mother's locked bedroom door a rap.
"Go away Stephen before I do something I regret! You spoke to me in a manner I didn't like!" Audrey yelled from behind the door.
"Okay but you said stuff to me before that wasn't very nice. So don't act like I'm the only one with a bad mouth here"
"I never ever had a go at you over money! When I had a go at you, it was because you did something evil! I defended you to Carla...How stupid do I look now? Very stupid!"
"And I really appreciated it"
"Well you know what you can do with your appreciation...You hate me so much, don't you? I don't know how the Hell you have kept it in for so long but I wish you kept it in forever"
"I don't hate you. You're my mom and I told you years ago how I held no grudge. I just regretted the circumstances. Please come out so we can talk properly, I dislike talking to a door"
"Not a chance! Not when you're still very angry. Just go outside please to the back and stay there for a while"
"You're still scared of me, aren't you? That's what this whole lock is about. That hurts a lot. But don't forget that I could quite easily break down your door if I wanted to. But I wouldn't do that because I'm not that sort of guy. I have been a very good son to you in fact" Stephen continued.
Audrey giving a sad laugh in response. A very good son he has been until quite recently!
"Now you're the one being stupid. It's quite something that you managed a whole business career with your anger issues. When did this start? That's what I want to know...Alma did warn me I suppose-"
"Alma? That woman who was seconds away from cheating on her husband with me? She was a woman scorned, that's all"
"Don't talk about my old dear friend like that. You swindled her husband, that's why she was mad. I suppose that was a warning sign but it's fine. Because we have already talked about that" Audrey responded with another sad laugh.
"Yeah I know and when did this start? Well let's think...When mom died. My other mom that is. She told me to make something of myself and I hated the idea of letting her down. And I got too greedy in my twenties...Did you ever wonder why I had that car crash when you first met me?" Stephen asked as he began to explain where this all started.
"Malcolm said you were tired behind the wheel"
"I was chasing after an investor on the highway. Begging for my first shot and next thing I knew. I woke up in hospital...I woke up and saw you. And when you explained who you were and why you gave me up. I felt like mom was being erased from my life, it didn't feel right. And it left me numb rather than happy" Stephen began to explain.
"I never wanted to erase Joyce"
"I know but that's how it felt. That holiday to Niagara Falls when you explained about my real dad and how he was a waster. That was a lie, wasn't it? Did dad tell you to tell me that?"
"Me and Malcolm didn't want you to think badly of me. I didn't want you to think I was just some slag who got knocked up and was too scared to tell her boyfriend. I told you Geoff was the problem so you wouldn't think I was just some little floozy. I didn't want you to feel disappointed" Audrey replied with a real sigh.
"So you bigged yourself up instead? With your mayor husband and businesswoman daughter. I felt like such a mug. I'm not blaming you before you say anything, you wanted me to explain. So I am...I chased those business deals because it's what my mom wanted. Both of my moms"
"I just wanted you to be happy. I'm so sorry that I never told you that" Audrey spoke before wiping away her tears, glad he couldn't see them.
"If the death penalty was still here. I would have confessed after Leo...I've gone too far. Now all that's left is this disgusting moneygrabbing waster. I don't know who I am anymore. I've never known who I am really" Stephen admitted.
His mother unlocked the door at last as she stood there. Stephen standing still as he could see she was close to tears again.
"Ice skating champion" Audrey managed to say with a small but sad smile.
"Don't bring up the figure skating. My one little bit of happiness...I took all my dates to the ice rink as you well know" Stephen responded.
"I know. You made out it was for your girlfriends but me and Malcolm both knew. Gail knew. You wanted to be on the ice rink but it was a pipe dream. A shame because doing business got you too greedy, that was your downfall" Audrey concluded.
"I am sorry for everything"
"It's okay. Just take the twenty grand for that business investment or whatever it is. If it doesn't work, I'll pay the fine and put equity back in. Okay?"
"Yeah. Sorry for my outburst, I have a short fuse. I use to be able to control it better but I'm getting crankier to tell you the truth. Thirty year old me would have laughed in my face. I don't think he would have got along with me"
"Stephen. You do have odd ways of saying things, don't you? Just de-stress yourself out. And no, shouting at me isn't the way to do it. I won't put up with it again...Just stay calm" Audrey instructed with a very firm voice as she wasn't joking at all.
"Do you want me to cook us supper to make up for this?"
"No way. Your cooking is worse than your temper...I'll do it, thank you" Audrey replied without a hint of irony as she walked back downstairs.
...
Stephen was looking at a much younger family portrait the following day. His first day in high school. His adoptive parents looking very proud indeed. His adoptive grandmother came over on that week. He recalled a lot of secret chats, now he knows they were about 'that Audrey Potter back home'. Joyce would give secret glares over dinner as she didn't want to hear about her. He forced himself away from the photograph as he slammed it back on the table. Going downstairs to get on the phone to that investor. He noticed the Lewis Archer photograph he broke has been left on the side. Audrey never brought it up, it was petty but it could have been worse. He greeted his mother with a peck on the cheek, telling her he's onto that investor...
"Okay sweetheart. Hope it goes well...You can help me with shopping afterwards, I need to get some stuff" Audrey responded.
"No problem. Just give me half an hour"
"Take your time"
This was the last word spoke before he got onto the phone. Audrey just staring at her house phone. Today was Geoff's funeral but she was scared to bring it up despite it secretly breaking her heart. He was her childhood sweetheart and she feels so heartless. Though she couldn't bring it up, knowing how Stephen felt about it and what he did. She still wanted to go however so she went over to her house phone and seeing her son would be distracted by his own phone. She rang up the only person who had some idea into what was going on...
"Elaine. Come to the house and pick me up quickly...Please. I just need as lift to that funeral. Please. Just on my own" Audrey spoke very quietly.
"Why me?"
"You're the one with all the information. Please, just come and pick me up now. While he's on the phone and busy. Make out you're taking me shopping or something. Stephen knows I can't stand it when I don't have what I want in, he won't suspect a thing"
"Well I need to put on something black-"
"Whatever, Elaine. Just come quickly" Audrey pleaded quietly; putting the phone down.
Elaine giving a small huff as she rushed up the stairs much to Tim and Sally's confusion. They heard her open her wardrobe, take out one or two pieces of clothing and chuck some clothes on the bed. Retreating downstairs in under ten minutes wearing black.
"Oh Elaine...You gave me a flashback of my Rosie when she went goth" Sally spoke in a half-joking, half-serious manner.
"You do know it's boiling outside?" Tim asked his mother (now wearing black trousers and a black blouse).
"Yes I'm quite aware of the weather, thank you. I'm going to a funeral if you must know and supporting Audrey. I may not be with her son anymore but that doesn't mean she has to suffer as well" Elaine explained.
"And he doesn't care about going to his own dad's funeral? So you two are going on your own? What a gentleman" Tim spoke with strong sarcasm.
He got no response back as Elaine just grabbed her handbag. Making her way to her own car and getting prepared for the drive up. She gave one last at herself in one of the mirrors before driving over there. Audrey was busy herself at 'Grasmere Drive' as she told Stephen she was getting a lift into town instead from 'some old friend'. He just gave a nod as he was busy on the phone. Thus with a black cardigan wrapped around herself, Audrey waited outside. The twenty or so minutes of waitng gave Audrey time to think. She kept nervously looking back to make sure he wasn't looking. Elaine pulled up and Audrey thus quickly got into the driver's seat, telling her to just go...
"Audrey. You look petrified" Elaine told her as she got onto the road and drove away from the house.
"I'm not petrified. Just don't want my son upset. He's very upset over his dad's death as you know"
"Yes I do know but that doesn't excuse the way he speaks to people. And me having to rush you on this day is just too much. He's being selfish lately, everybody thinks it"
"Well people need to stop gossiping, don't they? I got to say that I expected better from you. You don't think he's being selfish, do you? You were there when all this happened"
"I understand, yes. But he made it pretty clear how little he thinks of me and what I think"
"He doesn't mean it. He just got a bad way of talking...What do we expect from this funeral anyway?"
"It's a pauper's funeral. So expect nothing but a prayer and a quick notice"
"It seems so wrong. Geoff was such fun as a young man...We use to sit on the docks together and talk about sneaking in with the cargo. Going to countries far away, he once snuck in but got scared and jumped back out. He was a riot, Elaine. I just didn't think he was marriage material" Audrey explained with a sad smile.
"Did you never think to tell him you were pregnant?"
"No. I got scared and I knew my father would have belted him. I didn't want to cause him any grief so I began to ignore him and hid behind closed curtains for nine months. When I gave birth to Stephen, I remember my father belted me around the head and told me to take the brat away. He only lived with us for a month and my father kept getting more angry because he kept him awake" Audrey spoke with another sad smile.
Elaine could only imagine the hurt that sixteen year old Audrey went through. Well it was a rough start and she supposed Geoff had a rough end to go with it. She of course didn't know what Audrey knew.
"I didn't know Stephen lived with you for his first month. I thought his adoptive parents took him straight away" Elaine replied with general interest.
"Well there was no point in telling him the finer details. But yes, I got out my chest of drawers and a blanket. Put him in there while I tried to to arrange things with the Reids next door. He slept badly and I thought it was my fault...I was still in my school uniform for goodness sakes. I didn't know about babies, I wasn't even the babysitting type" Audrey reminisced.
"So there you were in your gymslip with a baby in a chest of drawers. I take it that it was your father who made the move quicker?"
"Well he was always going to go. Sometimes my father would get in a temper because Stephen was crying. So I use to take him outside to the garden and rock him while looking at the stars. Telling him it's alright, he's going to a proper mum and dad soon. I was a right state on the day I did give him up...I would sometimes go out into the garden just to hear him cry next door" Audrey confessed with fresh tears coming down.
"And Geoff had no idea?"
"No. He once demanded to know why I stopped speaking to him and I just wept. Running away back home. I use to call round on the Reids all the time, I use to hate Joyce secretly. Seeing her with my baby. She was really lovely to me but she had my baby so I hated her. I know it wasn't her fault but I did, I hated her"
"I wouldn't tell Stephen that"
"No. Stephen worshipped her...He would always sing her praises and it would hurt. But I knew the score. I once saw her with him when he first got out of his pram, she made him hold onto her hand. And I had Gail with me by that point, she was in her own pram. And I was so angry for no reason on seeing her...I just shouted some insult at her which I forgot. She thankfully was very understanding and didn't hold my odd outburst at her against me"
"You did take Gail to see him sometimes, didn't you?"
"Yeah I did. I think my constant presence was starting to drain on her and she likely jumped at the chance to move away to Canada with Malcolm. To get away from the mad teenager that I was. I think I even cursed her maybe...Malcolm calmed me down by saying it was his idea and that I should focus on Gail instead" Audrey further explained.
Elaine pulled into the crematorium soon afterwards and parked up. The funeral would be shortly but they still had time to sit in the car for a while.
"And Gail's turned out to be a wonderful lady. You raised her very well" Elaine spoke as she tried to make her feel better.
"Well I didn't actually. My mother did most of the raising"
"You were young and did your best. Stephen does honestly love you, he told me that and meant it"
"He's damaged"
"What do you mean?"
"He's broken. Look, Elaine. It's private anyway, it's between me and my son. I'm sorry for even saying it"
"Audrey. You know you can talk to me as a friend, forget my history with your son. Woman to woman. If he's done anything-"
"No, honestly. He's been fine with me for the most part. He's got a temper sometimes but he's never laid a finger on me. Not ever. That's why I think Sarah overreacted. He wouldn't do that"
"Okay. Well we get best go over there so they know he's got people coming. It is awful"
...
The two women went shopping on the way back. Audrey's shopping put into Elaine's carboot. Elaine pulled up outside of Audrey's and the sound of the opening and shutting of the car door is what brought Stephen out of the house. Audrey giving him a nervous smile but he wasn't happy again. That investment idea was gone and now he was left with twenty grand and nothing to do with it. Elaine could sense his anger as she got out of her own car and stood besides Audrey for support.
"What's going on here? In fact...Don't answer that. You been to his funeral without telling me, haven't you? You two aren't subtle with your black outfits and your last-minute shopping. Did you think it wouldn't be obvious from the minute you stepped inside the house" Stephen began while looking straight at his mother.
"H-How did it go? I mean...The investment?" Audrey asked as she tried get onto a different topic.
"Badly. Very badly! So now I'm left with twenty grand for the rest of my life as you have released equity and I'm going to be left with nothing!"
"Don't talk to her like that, Stephen!" Elaine interrupted in disgust.
Audrey turning back around with tears falling down. As she took out her two shopping bags from the boot. Trying to walk past him but he wouldn't budge as she couldn't get to her own front door.
"I'll talk to her however I wish to. What are you doing here anyway? Because you're really starting to look desperate, Elaine. I thought I made it clear how little I want to do with you and your shrill voice!" Stephen snapped.
"That's rich coming from you. I was here to help your mother because unlike you, she hasn't done anything wrong to me. And so what if she's been to your father's funeral. She has as much right as you do. You made it clear that you didn't want to go so you didn't go"
"What business is it of yours? Go on, mom. Go inside...I'll deal with this" Stephen spoke as he moved out the way at last.
His mother looked worried but Elaine told her it was alright. Stephen however looked beyond angry. He didn't like her even talking to her because of what she knew. Audrey felt her son gently but firmly grab onto her hand as he made it clear he wanted her inside the house. Audrey walked into the house with her shopping as she made her way into the kitchen.
"I can't believe how you speak to her. She was crying today...telling me how hard it was for her to give you up. How proud you made her when she reconnected with you. And you repay her by treating her like she's a burden or whatever you think she is" Elaine started.
"Don't put words into my mouth. You leave my mom out of this anyway. You're just a very desperate woman who's willing to do anything to stay in my life. Just like Gabrielle"
"Well thank you very much. And I feel stupid for defending you against Tim now I know he was right. You are a nasty piece of work"
"And you're an imbecile"
"You know what. I'd rather be an imbecile as you so kindly put it than a nasty little mummy's boy who blames everybody for his problems. And you know what, maybe you did have a motive for killing your dad. Greed" Elaine dared to speak up.
Stephen panicked slightly at her suggestion. As he gave her a quick but hard slap across the face without really thinking. He stepped back as he watched her feel her face in shock. A small red mark left behind as she gripped onto her car door handle and got in. She was too shaken-up to reply or even look at him again, she heard him walk away and slam the front door on his way back in. Elaine thus drove away despite her hands being very shaky. He was losing control now.
...
"Your mum's back, Tim" Sally began as she watched her car pull up outside the house.
Though she wasn't getting out quite yet. She felt as if she's gone back forty years ago. She knew Tim would be mad but she didn't want him involved, she didn't want him to face Stephen's anger because he would probably win. Elaine opened her handbag and got out her blusher. She began to apply it to the small bruise quickly as she heard the front door open. She couldn't exactly hide her sadness however and she didn't even want to do this. Elaine just hated conflict and knew this would cause a bucketload.
"Mum. What's going on? You look pale" Tim spoke as he opened her car door and held her hand as she got out.
"Nothing" Elaine responded while looking down.
"Elaine. You look awful. Please tell me what went on...Did you see Audrey and go to that funeral?" Sally asked as she chimed in.
Elaine looked up and the bruise was still visible enough. She soon felt Tim wrap his arms around her as tears fell down. She couldn't lie about this, he hurt her truly. She just wanted it to go away. She now didn't want anything to do with him and was only helping Audrey out.
"This was him, wasn't it?" Tim asked just to make sure.
"Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you...Why do I always attract these type of men? I must be a walking target" Elaine cried into her son's shoulder.
"You are not the problem. You have never been the problem" Tim assured her.
Sally could sense he was itching to go over and give him a smack back. She couldn't blame him. Though he was holding it in for his mother's sake as he led her to the couch and wanted to know what exactly happened. What led up this? Stephen has never hurt a woman before (or at least that was the impression). Though he was crossing lines he never use to cross.
"I just told him I thought he was being selfish. He was just shouting at me and Audrey. Going on and on about money and things. So I told him that he did have a motive for killing his dad. I provoked him-"
"No. You don't hit a woman over words. I'm sorry, mum but no. You don't hit a woman because she got a bit mouthy. I swear down I'm going over there and I'm going to give him a proper pacing" Tim responded with his hands clasped together.
"He's been nasty to you for a while, Elaine. But Tim, do think about this. He's got his mum living with him. I don't think we should go there, Audrey doesn't deserve to see it" Sally spoke up.
"No. You're right...I'll wait for him when Audrey's not there. I'm not letting him get away with this. I won't hit him in front of Audrey because unlike him, I don't like seeing old women in distress. I will however hit him" Tim promised through gritted teeth as he thought more and more about it.
...
TBC