Chapter Twenty-Seven: Low Point
"Go to the food bank, mate. We don't give out free breakfast here...Besides you're putting the paying customers off. Get out"
This was the harsh but expected reply a drained and hungry Stephen got from a small cafe in Manchester. An old woman stood behind him with and looked like she was stunned to hear that accent come out of such a dishevelled looking man. She just tutted...
"Goodness me. Even Americans are homeless now in this country" the old woman spoke up in disbelief.
"Can I at least have water?" Stephen asked.
"No more begging. I got a living to make here, mate. Please just do one, alright? Before I have to throw you out and I really don't want to. Not in the state you're in" the cafe owner replied, looking as Stephen gripped onto his stolen walking stick.
Feeling humilated and defeated, Stephen walked out slowly. He made his way to a shop door a few minutes away and sat down. Ignoring the looks he got from the manager in there and he was expecting to be moved on again. He rested against the door and felt exhausted. People just walked past like he didn't exist and he use to be one of those people who would just walk past. He kept thinking about how his adoptive father Malcolm worked so hard to get him a good education and a good life. Only for it to have come to nothing, he kept closing his eyes from pure exhaustion.
"Get out of my shop door! There's no room for you to loiter!"
This was the expected response from the shop thus forced himself away and sat down at a nearby bus stop. He leaned against the frame and once again began to close his eyes. Hearing the sound of the person near him moving away, mainly down to his days old stench of not having washed. Nobody wanted to be around him. He did picture 'Grasmere Drive' and having a warm shower, hot meal and a warm bed but he also pictured the police knocking. No, he couldn't go back just yet.
...
Rumours have spread around the street about Leo. Jenny was far too upset to leave the pub. Daisy however did tell her about Stephen hitting Elaine and she was shocked to hear it. Stephen's sudden disappearance was another thing that got people talking. Sarah could overhear people at the factory talking about her uncle behind her back. She couldn't blame them, not when she heard what he did. She too felt his anger a couple times, he did shove her. Michael was rather embarrassed to have ever felt any respect for him. Sally had ignored both of them on purpose as she carried on her duties at the factory, though she had no choice but to talk to Sarah at some points in work.
"Sally. It's not my fault and I don't support what he did to Elaine. So drop this act around me" Sarah spoke quietly as the two women were in the kitchen.
"But your gran does. Audrey is sticking up for him even now" Sally responded.
"She's his mum-"
"So? Tim didn't support his dad when he did a similar thing. So don't go giving me that"
"That's not the same thing. And you don't know how my gran has been since all of this has came out. She won't even talk to me, Sally. She's beyond devastated and is in a state of shock, we all are. Do you think I would have allowed Bethany around him as a kid had I had any idea he could be so violent?" Sarah asked to total silence.
Sally just gave a shrug, she supposed not but still. Most people found it surprising that none of the Platt family suspected he had this other side to him. Sally just began making the cups of tea for her co-workers. Remember her days with Mike Baldwin and Greg Kelly, it was similar but not the same. She could even recall Stephen swindling Mike and Alma but that was legal. Dodgy but legal so she doesn't know where this came from.
"I'm surprised nobody noticed is all. He's never been an angel" Sally spoke up as she turned back around.
"And he's never been like this either!"
"Don't shout at me, Sarah. I'm just saying what everybody else is thinking...All those times in Milan, you never suspected anything? You know he even lied to Elaine about Gabrielle being abusive. Knowing what she went through with Geoff, how low do you have to be?"
"Pretty low yeah"
"Not like you care. I mean...You're quite happy to sleep with drug dealers and have their babies. Twice-"
"Oh wow! Just don't talk to me, Sally!" Sarah snapped; walking away from her.
...
A few days went by, Leo's autopsy was still being done to work out the cause of death. Stephen was still out on the streets, sleeping in public bathrooms, shop doorways and bus stops. Audrey was becoming isolated as she couldn't face the street. She didn't know where her son was as she looked through old photograph albums. It included a toddler photograph of him as he sat on Joyce's lap with a smiling Malcolm besides her. They let her keep that one before they went to Canada all those years ago. He was an awful sleeper as a baby and Audrey recalled Malcolm telling her he had an awful temper as a child. Malcolm would sometimes tell her in letters about him hitting another boy in school or something else daft that most boys did during that period. He seemed to have calmed down by the time he reached his teenage years however he was still involved in the odd fight. Nothing seemed to cause too much concern. There was one thing however that Audrey recalled Malcolm telling her about, something he did when he was fourteen (his adoptive mother Joyce was dying by that point which it what Malcolm blamed it on at the time)...
His mother's dying, Audrey. The lad is all confused and messed up, isn't he? He was walking along the river with a couple of his friends from school. One of them got a bit mouthy, said some things about Joyce and he pushed him in. The lad couldn't swim (his parents should have taught him!), how was our Stephen to know? Anyway, there's been a great confuddle. The lad's friends could thankfully swim and one of them managed to get him out. The lad's parents however had told the school and Stephen's been in the principal's office over it. He swears blind that the lad was taunting him about Joyce but the other lad claims different. He says our Stephen has disliked him for a while, something about a girl I think but anyway, that's why he claims our Stephen pushed him in. So I went down and had it out with the lad's father. He's claiming that Stephen has been joshing his lad for weeks, I mean. The lad's clearly lying, why would he hang out with Stephen if he's been like that with him? Doesn't make a lick of sense. Anyhow, we have settled it outside the school. Both lads are going to remain in school but have been moved to different classes. A mess! Stephen however tells me this lad was being nasty about Joyce and telling him that she's going to be dead soon and there's nothing he can do about it. I think any lad would have reacted badly to that bile. Poor Joyce has been kept in the dark about it. Stephen's been sitting with her day in and day out, he's devoted. Whenever he's at home, he's with her. The time is near Audrey. And I'm scared, we both are.
There were plenty of letters like that. Audrey even asked Malcolm if she could tell him the truth about the adoption once Joyce passes away but like a can in the road, Malcolm kicked it further down the road and told her to wait. Stephen was in a bad way when Joyce died and couldn't handle a huge truth. It would tear his world apart and Audrey needs to wait a bit longer. The truth was Stephen was becoming worse during that time, sneaking out at night and drinking behind his adoptive father's back. Malcolm tried his best and he managed to get him in some sort of order by forcing him to help him with his shops (he had three). It was lucky that Malcolm was a man of great strength and knew how to handle difficult things. He could handle 'his laddo' as he use to call Stephen.
The laddo is doing fine, Audrey. Really, I got him down to my store and made him stack shelves until he learns to control himself better. Once he calms down, he will get a bigger role. And if he falls apart again, he will be demoted down. I'm treating him like a bad worker at the moment. He's coming up to fifteen next year as you well know and since he's keen to drink my liquor already. We drink in small doses together, I lock it up when we are both done and get it out when he's done a good day at school or in the shop. He's angry but he understands. Joyce's funeral is coming up soon. Her parents are coming up, likely for the last time as both aren't exactly well right now. Arthur is bringing Stephen a Harrington jacket, a nice home from home sort of present. I'm besides myself honestly, I miss Joyce dearly. Stephen was speechless on the day she passed. He was on her bed, I was holding her hand. She died with her hand in mine. And I'll treasure that moment forever. Stephen couldn't get up for hours, he stayed with her until he was told in no uncertain terms that it was time to let go. I know you want to tell him Audrey but he's not ready, trust me. He's like a bad dog right now, anything can make him go berserk. The lad's lost his mother, I can't say I blame him. It's exhausting though, a teenage lad shouldn't be this difficult. I know you're going to cry on hearing this so I want to assure you that on most days, he's coping. He's still doing good in school and is a few days away from being promoted in my store. Tell me how Gail's doing anyhow, give me something else to think about.
The letters gradually got better in the years to come. Stephen got the so-called promotions in his adoptive father's shops. He worked his way up to being junior manager alongside Malcolm as a teenager. Stephen seemed to have learned a way keep his anger under control at last. He began to get a thrill from gaining more money and higher positions in his father's business. Malcolm did still have concerns as he began to stay out very late and sometimes came back with bruised fists. He seemed to be getting involved in street fights (not anything professional, just random bar fights or something similar). Though Malcolm deemed that better than the years before where he would take his anger out on him and sometimes the house. He didn't really tell Audrey about these because it would only upset her and cause concern. He stopped telling her any worries actually and soon stopped writing to her altogether until that car crash in 1988. When he thought Stephen was going to die and he thus got Audrey to come over to say goodbye in case the worse happened. Audrey looked at the photograph, Stephen was already in business by then. A small business but it was his own and he was so proud, he eventually made it big with 'Kbec' a year later. He was already thirty-one when she met him, she missed out on his teenage and young adulthood which was before he learned to hide his anger. He was the perfect gentleman when she met him again, she recalled her first moment in seeing him in that coma. How she felt her world was crumbling apart, how his recovery made her the happiest woman alive. Even more so when he made out he held no grudges and understood. The truth was he heard about Alf Roberts and his history in Manchester, he thought he might be able to get something out of his birth mother but he never let her know it.
...
"I don't know where he is" Audrey told Daisy the following morning (after another sleepless night of worrying and crying).
"He's been gone for almost a week" Daisy replied in disbelief.
"Yes I know that. I don't know why you have come round anyway, Stephen doesn't know anything about this. I'm deeply sorry for Jenny but we have no more information to give"
"How do you know?"
"Because he's my son and he tells me everything. He's gone for a city break somewhere like I told the police"
"You know he hit Elaine, right?"
"He never hit her"
"Yes he did. She told me...Unless you're saying she's a liar. But I seen the bruise so I don't think she is. You're clearly just protecting him but the moment I see him, he's in trouble"
"You stupid girl. You really think he will give you any information. I'm sorry but not everything is as simple as that, Daisy. I know Jenny wants answers and my son is an easy target. But he knows nothing...Nothing!" Audrey shouted in panic as she kept a grip on the handle.
Daisy seemed unconvinced as she just gave her a look. Thinking this over, perhaps he doesn't know anything. Though she also knows that his deep interest in the whole Leo and Teddy business felt odd. Which is when it clicked as Daisy recalled him telling them something else.
"He does actually. He told us that he spoke to Teddy on the phone and that he told Jenny not to contact him again. Why would he say that if he knows zilch?" Daisy asked in an even more convinced tone of voice.
"To spare Jenny's feelings I imagine"
"What? Telling her that Teddy wants nothing to do with her and neither does Leo is sparing her feelings? That's some messed up logic right there"
"He doesn't know anything. He hasn't saw him in person for months. You and Jenny are just overthinking this"
"No we aren't. We aren't making this up"
"I'm not suggesting you are. I just think you're clinging onto the last bit of hope you have left. And that just happens to be my son. Now just go please and if he does come back, you won't dare talk to him or I'll phone the police and report you both for harassment" Audrey replied while looking down.
She was feeling awful for all these lies but she felt protective. Purely down to all those missed decades. Her heart ached for over thirty-one years for him and when they did reconnect, they only spent a week or two together yearly. Sometimes less than that. This was the longest time she has spent time with him and she was overattached as most mothers who barely had a year with their son before would be.
"Like anyone would want to harass him. He's creepy" Daisy insisted.
"Bye Daisy"
"Bye Audrey. Good luck to you...You know, If I ever produced something like him, I would be mortified" Daisy spoke.
Audrey retreated back inside and didn't catch Daisy's instant regretful face. Yes, she really does think that but she felt awful for saying it to Audrey's face. The young woman walked away with a sigh.
...
Stephen had resorted to taking leftover food from cafe tables for the next couple of days. He picked up a half-empty pepsi can and a half-eaten sandwich. Going to a corner and consuming them both, feeling so low as he did so. He walked down the Manchester streets afterwards, people moving away as he walked past. He was dirty and smelled pretty awful. A week and a bit on the streets does that to people. He could only wash his face and hands, which wasn't enough of course. This is why he made the choice to walk to 'Grasmere Drive' and hope his mother was alright. He was taking a risk but he couldn't cope anymore. He was exhausted, unclean and hungry. He however didn't want to ever return to the street. His leg still had that bandage on it and he gripped onto that walking stick as he still limped. He walked on and on, taking short cuts and other things. He put his head down as he reached his mother's drive, it must have been around seven at night by the time he reached her door. He knocked on it again and again until he saw his mother looking out the window with the curtains slightly drawn. When she saw him, she quickly pulled them back down and retreated to the hall. Unlocking the door and finding him in this state...
"Oh...No. Stephen, you haven't been out on the street for this entire time. Have you?" Audrey asked in shock as she examined him.
"I...I was s-scared to come back" Stephen muttered back.
He looked like he could faint right there from exhaustion. Audrey moved to the side to let him in. She watched as he removed his jumper and shoes, he was clearly feeling as bad as he looked. Audrey didn't intervene until she watched him limp towards the stairs.
"Oh God...Stephen, come on; we'll help each other up" Audrey suggested.
"I know you hate me"
"No. Hate is the not the word. I feel sad for you, that's what I feel. I know you're poorly. And I'm sorry"
"I'm not poorly"
"Yes you are. You always have been, haven't you? Come on now, get a shower and then get to bed. Use my bed, it's bigger. I don't mind using yours for the night, come on" Audrey responded gently.
She watched him go into the bathroom and shut the door. She breathed in before retreating to her own bedroom. Puffing up the pillows and sorting out the quilt and blanket. Her bed was much warmer than his own and she really didn't care if he used it for tonight. She shut the curtains and made it look cozy and ready for sleep, like he was a child really. Thus Audrey sat on the bed, waiting for him to get cleaned up and whatnot. She heard the shower go on for maybe six or seven minutes, then it turned off. Afterwards, nothing. No movement besides the cabinet opening and shutting. Audrey suddenly had a thought as she knocked on the bathroom door, asking him if he was alright.
"No" Stephen spoke back with little emotion.
"Come out so I can see you. You're all clean now, get your vest and trousers on. You have stuff in your room, don't you? Come on please"
"I'm tired"
"I know"
Audrey stepped back as he opened the door. He had her medicine in his hand as he stepped out. She looked shocked as she tried to grab it back, suddenly worried he was going to do something to himself. He wasn't alright, he was tired and now he's got these.
"What are you doing with those?" Audrey asked shakily.
"There's no way out. I just want a warm bed, okay? I'm scared the police will come and there's no quick release if I get caught. This is my quick release"
"Stephen-"
"I'm sorry mom. I tried but I came back here so I could be in a warm place. My mom told me as a teenager that she'll be there when I'm an old man. I think I'm older enough now. I want to see her again"
"No. No! Don't do this to me...I'll get in trouble for knowing anyway. You're not thinking with your head. Please don't" Audrey cried.
"You won't get in trouble. I'll write one of those notes-"
"Stop it! The police don't even know it's you...All you have to do is stick to your story. And they won't suspect a thing, you're not suspected"
"It's only a matter of time before they do the math. I promise I'll wait for you too. Mom won't mind if we save an extra seat"
"Why does it to have to be tonight? Nobody even knows you're here, you're safe. You're safe with me" Audrey spoke with more tears coming down her cheeks as she wouldn't let the medicine bottle go.
"Maybe one night-"
"Yes. Just give me back the bottle and go to sleep. You'll feel differently in the morning. You're overtired" Audrey reasoned, taking the bottle as his grip was less tight now.
She walked to the bathroom and placed the bottle back in the cabinet. Watching as he walked to his own bedroom and got into his own bed. He fell asleep much to her relief but she was scared. Richard had similar ideas but Stephen only wanted to go alone at least. That's the thing she could credit him with but she didn't want to lose him, she doesn't want him to die. What decent mother does?
...
TBC