Echoes in the Woods by Georgina Scott (ebook reader web txt) 📕

onto the floor. Pure rage building up inside of him; he got off the bed and put on his shorts. “I thought it would make you happy, her out of our lives.”

“You’re fucking delusional,” he said, grabbing her chin. “You are a fuck and a lousy one at that, you fucking little slag,” punching her in the stomach. With her body reeling in pain, she cradled her womb, “John, please, the baby.”

“Who is the father?” getting on top of her with his hands around her throat. “I won’t ask again, who is the fucking father?”

“Matthew, Matthew is the father,” he let go of her and got off of her.

“Start talking bitch or else…”

“It was Mum’s idea.”

“Keep going,” holding her throat with one of his hands, his eyes full of rage, terrifying her to the bone.

“We gave up the flat, we weren’t evicted. The idea was to get pregnant by you or Matthew, that way it would secure us the farm. She said to keep you drinking and keep you sweet so you wouldn’t notice us taking it from you. I was to keep you occupied. She said you would be putty in my hands as I resembled your wife. All I had to do was to imitate her, wear her clothes, her perfume. Look after the boys.”

“You cunt, you fucking cunt!”

“Who’s the cunt John, you’re a fucking joke,” she said in a maniacal nervous laugh.

Dragging her to the bed, kicking and screaming, Tina came barging into the room, seeing John beating her. “STOP, JOHN STOP,” she screamed running towards them, barging John out of the way. “She’s pregnant,” she said protectively covering her daughter.

“Yeah and don’t I just know it. Oh and by the way whose idea was it to visit Faith.”

“I don’t know, what you mean.”

“Yes, you fucking do. Get your stuff and get the fuck out of my house.”

“What, did you think it was my baby? Well, you’re wrong Tina. I shoot blanks, but you didn’t know that, did you?”

“John, she needs a hospital.”

“Oh, fuck off, just get out and don’t come back.”

Tina scoped up Chloe who could barely walk, with a bruised and bloody face and in severe pain, she cradled her lower tummy. She felt disorientated, spaced out and giddy, sobbing into her mother’s shoulder. Unable to speak clearly her voice raspy and sore, Tina got her in the car and took her to hospital.

***

John woke from a drunken stupor; he took a shower and headed into the kitchen. Matthew sat at the kitchen table. “I heard everything. I’ve just called Mum, she is coming to collect us. Henry and Mark are packing.”

“I’m sorry Matt, I just seem to keep making mistake after mistake. I am not going to stop you going but I wish you guys would stay.”

“We are frightened of you, Dad. You scare us. Since Mum left you have gotten worse.”

“I would never hurt you guys, you know that, Son.”

“That’s just it; we don’t, not anymore.”

“I’ll change Matt, I promise you I will get help, I promise.”

“Many times I heard you say that to Mum and nothing changes.”

They heard a car approach the house. Faith got out of the car and goes into the house. Mark and Henry took their belongings to the car, they rushed back and gave their dad a massive tearful hug and kisses. Not doing a very good job of holding back the tears, John wrapped them up in his arms and kissed them. “Be good for your mum. I love you both so much,” both boys tearfully nodded and left the house still crying in the car.

John grabbed and cocooned Matthew, wrapping his arms around him in a bear hug. “I promise you, I’ll change,” he whispered. Not wanting to let him go, they both sobbed in each other’s arms. “John, John, let him go,” Faith said gently placing her hand on John’s arm. Reluctant to let go, Faith substituted herself for Matt and took his place. “Go to the car Matt; leave me with your dad.”

Holding John tightly in her arms, “Where has the man I loved, gone?” she whispered, kissing his cheek whilst stroking her fingers through his hair. “I promise, I’ll change.”

“I hope for your sake you do, John,” she kissed him on the lips. “Bye, see you soon,” she left the house. With the boys securely in the car, she drove away.

Watching them leave with his hands behind his head, his piercing blue eyes were full of tears, heartache and desperation.

It was late afternoon when Tina entered the house and found John slumped in his chair in the living room. “Well, it will please you that Chloe has had a miscarriage.”

“Don’t you dare make it sound as though it is my entire fault? You shouldn’t prostitute your daughter.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh come on Tina, your little scheme to get your hands on my farm has been rumbled. You’re lucky the little slag is still alive. Playing my boy off against me, did you really think you would get away with it?”

“I think you are a very sad drunk, who has nothing left and all he knows is how to bully and beat up women.”

“I do hope you have come to get your stuff, anything you leave behind I will burn, now fuck off.”

“I feel sorry for anyone who comes in contact with you!” she said, storming upstairs to pack her belongings.

“Touché, bitch,” he said under his breath.

***

John spent the rest of the week house bound and drunk. George, his Farm Manager, checked on him once a day just to see if he was still alive and provided Faith with a daily report on his welfare. Otherwise he was left alone to wallow in his own self-pity.

Thursday came and went and still no improvement, Faith’s concerns were growing. Getting the boys off to school and Mitch at the surgery, before driving up to the farm she decided to stop at the food hall to get some groceries, she was dreading