Laura by jk irving (books to read in your 20s TXT) 📕

knife and thrust blindly it went into his chest I forced it deeper I felt the blade grinding against ribs somewhere amidst the screams and blood he fell to the floor silent except for the gradual slowing of his rasping breath, I raced to the phone and dialled 999, they took my details and arrived shortly afterwards the paramedics came straight into the kitchen and began attending to tony, they took him straight to hospital telling me only that he was in a bad way, the police asked if there was anyone to look after charly so I called me mam and dad, they came immediately, she told the police I couldn’t have taken anymore of his abuse, the police took me down to the station to make a statement. I was taken to a small interview room and a lady officer came in she asked me to tell her everything, I told her it all from beginning to end, she seemed to be very sympathetic, you are a battered wife laura you should have left earlier I tried to so hard but he always found me I was arrested and placed in police custody until my parents found me a solicitor, sitting in the cell gave me time to think about what I had done, as I was pondering a police officer came in the charge was murder….tony had died in hospital. My solicitor followed shortly and I just repeated my story, he said he would go for a man slaughter charge as it wasn’t premeditated . I was to appear in court in two weeks time my soliciter was trying for bail the time when a blur it was time for court everyone seemed so solemn I was seated in a glass box I could see tina and my parents they were smiling at metrying to convey reassurance my soliciter was fantastic he told them my story far more eloquently than I could ever have done my gp stood as a witness with my records, the jury was made up of mainly women to which I hoped would go in my favour, they retired to come to a verdict. It took them four hours to find me guilty of manslaughter I was slightly relieved but had to wait for sentencing,…another night in the cells. The next morning arrived and I was taken to court the judge looked sternly at me and started to speak i never heard a word he said I was in a world of my own..numb..I heard him call my name “I have decided your sentence will be two years probation on condtion you attend counseling” I was astounded I looked over to my family they were crying I was led out to a room downstairs where I had to sign a lot of forms then I was let out. My parents were waiting the first thing I wanted to know was how was charly mam didn’t seem to hear she just replied she was missing me. I went to their home and tried to sleep my mind was reeling with what I had done I had killed him. Me and tina sat talking for ages the next day, she asked if I was moving back to the flat I told her I couldn’t face moving back there I had to sell up and move on I put the flat on the market the very nex day it was sold within a few weeks, I started looking immediately I didn’t want to impose on my parents any longer I found a house near them it was perfect. My offer was accepted within amonth. Family and friends rallied around me and helped me move in. mam said you should consider going back to work soon. The day I was dreading…me and charly all alone I put her to bed and sat on the sofa I started to think about tony why had he been the way he was I felt so guilty taking a life but the outcome could have been so different, it could have been me and then what would have happened to charly, the next day we went to meet tina we went for a coffee then some retail therapy, I bought a blouse ad hand bag and some clothes for charly, whille we were out I told tina I didn’t want to work full time maybe well pop in the job center, there wasn’t much barring a part time receptioist at a part time garage so I applied as it wasn’t far from my home and the hours suited perfectly, I got the job asfter a brief interview, I started work the following Monday. My job was answering the phone and taking appointments i got on really well with everyone I still hadn’t met the boss as he was on holiday for 6 weeks. I went back to work on the Monday morning and just sat at my desk when I heard a voice “black no suger please” I looked around and standing was a gorgeous looking man “put the kettle on love” he came and sat in the office we talked about the job all I could do was nod I couldn’t belive how he was making me feel I went home that night thinking about the boss I never even got his name. the next morning I went back to work full of the joys of spring as I got in I saw him sitting at my desk “coffee?” I asked him yes please I didn’t get your name he said laura I replied, and yours? Mike he said. Mikei thought to myself.. That suited him well, he made me laugh and think how different he was to tonys the weeks went by we got closer eventually Mike me asked me out I did not know anything about him, was he married , did he have a partner, I needed to ask him all these questions.I had a good talk to him and he was single ,”now will you go out with me’ I said okay and we arranged a date. My parents looked after Charly and Mike and me went to the local restaurant, I had a real good time , then we got a taxi home and he walked me to the door and asked if he could come in for coffee I said “maybe another time my parents are at home”.I knew eventually I would have to tell him everything that had happened to me , would he still feel the same way about me, time would tell. I thought if he asks me out again I would tell him everything, we kissed goodnight and he left. The next day I went to work and Mike was waiting for me he said he had enjoyed the date and asked if we could go out again. He was my perfect man I did not want things to go to fast I had not told him about Charly yet. The days passed and we spent a lot of time together, we had arranged a meal at my house and I decided to tell him everything. He arrived at seven he was always punctual. We proceeded to have our meal and Mike said what a good cook I was. We went into the sitting room and sat on the sofa and cuddled up.I needed to tell him everything I looked up at him and said Ihave something to tell you, he put his hand over my mouth and said he knew everything he needed to know I just blurted it out “Mike I have a two year old daughter her name is Charly” he just looked at me and said he had always wanted a family. And could not wait to meet her I had told him about my daughter I still had to tell him about Tony. The day came to move in with Mike and everything went smoothly all my furniture fit in great. My parents looked after Charly for me while Mike and I got settled in . We got her back in the evening and Mike settled her down to sleep, they got on really well it was if they had been together for a long time, Charly was going to love this house, it had a big garden and an apple orchard. The shops were a car drive away but I did not mind.Weeks went by and I started looking after Mikes business affairs and did not relize how much money he had, he had lots of other business but he never told me much sbout them. The next couple of months we got on really well and Sunday evening was really special. We would order in a meal, we were just finishing up when Mike said would you like to go on holiday, I was really excited and of course said yes “Where are we going, “Mike said how about China” I was thrilled, we were going for a week ,I asked my parents if they would look after Charly as I thought she was to young to travel. Mike had already booked the holiday, we were going next week. We got to the airport and I was very excited Mike had told me it would not be very long before we were there, we arrived at the hotel and it was very posh, the room was just what I had expected. The beds had flowers strewn all over . We spent our time sightseeing and lazing on the beach, we decided to go to one of the local markets, I loved rummaging about in them, we came to a stall that sold statues and I rather fancied one of them Mike said I will buy it for you, I was thrilled I loved buying presents for everyone, Mike carried the statue and decided to have an inscription onit he took it to a stall and I waited at the café for him, Mike brought it back and had inscribed with all my love Mike I was thrilled .We went back to the hotel as we were leaving the next day. Mike packed his case and I packed mine, I decided to put the statue in my case Mike said it would be better off in my hand luggage as it might get broke in transit I totally agreed//We arrived at the airport the next day and went to check in I put my hand luggage through sfter Mikes it went through the scanner and Mike walked ahead of me suddenly one oftheairport official took me to one side and asked me to accompany him to the office, I looked for Mike but he was no where to be seen I went into the office and felt very alone. They started asking me questions but I could not understand them I asked for someone to interpret in walked in Julie and she asked me what had happened , they revealed my bag and took out the statue, they broke it open and inside was white powder which I later found out they were drugs I was looking for my partner Mike he was bound to be worried,she checked my flight and told me Mike had boarded the flight and was on his way back to Britain, I could not believe he had gone and left me. What was I going to do .I asked if I could make a call to the british embassy snd get someone over to help me,Iwas placed in a holding room till someone came,I did not have to wait long the door opened and in walked a very stern looking man he sat me down and opened a notebook.He asked me to tell him everything that had happened,I explained what had happened and he just shook his head.Iasked what he thought of my situation,we they believe me