FIRST LOVE
Chapter: 4 Revelations and Revenge.
A few days had passed since Alex had taken the pictures, and he knew that Emma, and Reuben were still going out. He had decided to let the pictures speak for themselves, and now he sat on his bed looking at them. There were only four that were his. The others were ones his Mum had taken of Emma in a new dress, and then of the garden. The first picture was of Reuben, and the other girl walking by the lake holding hands, the other three were of kisses to this other girl. He heard footfall and hid all the pictures under his pillow, then grabbed his History book and pretended to be reading.
“Alex?” It was Emma.
“Come in.” She did. These past few days had been heaven. Reuben had gotten her roses, and candy, and was treating her like a princess. She just wished she could share that with the rest of her family.
“Look what he got for me.” She had on a bracelet, a very beautiful bracelet, and he pondered not telling her, but it was better she knew now rather then later.
“Uh you should sit down.” She looked at him, and sat on the end of his bed.
“I followed Reuben to the park, and well here.” He handed her the pictures. Emma took them, looking at them, feeling her heart fall.
“No, he loves me. This is just a joke,” She said standing mad.
“It’s right in front of you sis. He is a jerk.” Emma took the pictures and ran out, and Alex decided he better follow. She ran outside and ripped them up screaming, and for once Alex was glad that mum and dad were still at the museum.
“He told me he loved me, I hate him.” She ran back into the house, up the stairs and into her room, locking the door as she cried. Alex tried the door but couldn’t get in.
“Come on Emms, let me in,” Alex said knocking.
“No, go away just go away.” She was laying on her bed, face down crying into her pillow. This was worse than when he had told her he didn’t love her. He had lied to her, and she had actually believed him. Outside her door Alex heard her crying, and was worried about her. He slid down against the wall and waited, hoping that when she calmed down she would come out so he could hug her. Then he would go find Reuben, and make him pay. Funny part was, Alex knew he was younger, but he had other ways of doing things that would make Reuben realize that messing with his sister was the wrong thing to do. He heard her crying subside, then stop, and he knocked, but she didn’t answer, and he guessed she was asleep. After getting his coat on, Alex went down the hall to his parent’s room. He got the key from his dads hiding place, which was on top of his tall dresser, and unlocked the gun cabinet, selecting one of the small revolvers. He knew how to use this one, because Rick had been teaching him, but the rule was not to use it unless dad was around. Punishment would be painful if he got caught, but this was well worth the risk. A smile formed across Alex’s face, and he also got the camera. Reuben owned a Duisenberg car, and Alex had plans for that car. After he locked the case, he went back to his room, and started on his homework, tonight would be a fun night for him.
*****
It was close to dinner, when Evelyn, and Rick arrived home. They had been at the museum most of the day meeting with the Bembridge Scholars, discussing plans to go on a dig in Egypt next January, which would be five months away. The house was quite, and smells of something good for dinner wafted its way to them. When they entered the study Alex, was waiting.
“Hi mum, dad, I uh, sort of need to tell you something, and well it’s about Emma.” They were still in a good mood, Evelyn sat next to him and he gave her a hug and kiss in greeting, while Rick poured himself some bourbon. He only drank in the evening, and not every evening, but this was something that was his reward for sitting through a day with old men who were very eccentric.
“What is it that you want to tell us about,” Evelyn asked, noticing that Emma was no where to be seen. None of them noticed that she had come out of her room, and she stood away from view folding her arms and waited for Alex to tell them. She was mad now, and it would give her good reason to yell at him for being a tattletale.
“She, well Reuben made up with her, and she has been seeing him again.” Evelyn frowned, and Rick jumped up.
“Is that where she is now,” he was ready to go down to the park, and drag her away from that boy if he had too.
“No dad just wait okay. I proved my point about him not being who she needed. I took pictures of him with another girl, and she’s up in her room, now upset, she locked her door and won’t let me in” She let him finish then ran down the stairs.
“You set him up then. He could have been with someone who was just a friend.” That made no since, not even to her, but she was mad, and hurt, and she still loved Reuben despite all this.
“Emma, listen to yourself,” Evelyn tried.
“I’m not going to stand here for this. I’m going to see him.” She started away and Rick grabbed her.
“Let me go now,” She screamed struggling to get away from him. He hugged her tight, not to be mean, but to be support for her which she needed, and when the fight ended the tears and soul wrenching cries took its place. Evelyn came to them, and they held her together, and Alex left to do what he needed to do.
*****
Reuben’s house was on the other side of London from theirs. It was an estate, not as grand as their own, but nice enough. Alex arrived as it was just getting dark, and was glad to see that the car was ready for him. It was parked off to the side of the house, and he had woods close by, so that he could hide. He had to decide what he wanted to shoot, because he guessed he would only get in four good shots before someone would come out of the house. He decided that the tires would be the first to go, just the two on his side, then he would shoot out the passenger window, as well as one of the mirrors. He got the gun ready for use, and aimed, and took his first shot, hitting the first tire, which went flat. Then he got the second one and the Window, and the mirror and ran his butt to the woods, and climbed a tree so he could see. His main target was the first one out of the house, and Alex knew a flash would get his attention and hoped there was enough sun to get the picture to come out. He heard Reuben yell for his dad, and laughed taking a few shots for Emma’s satisfaction, then he heard barking, and a large dog came running out to his tree. Alex gulped, this was very bad.
*****
With Emma so distraught over the pictures. Neither Rick, nor Evelyn had noticed Alex missing. Right now Emma and Evie were in the bath.
“Mum, my heart hurts so bad,” Emma said turning to face her mum. Evelyn wiped a tear away from her face.
Telling her about the car, and had the pictures, that made her laugh, and feel better. Her mum was right, life would move on, and she would find a better guy, one who really did love her for her. Tonight their parents had gone out, leaving them alone at the house. Right now they were playing chess, and for once Emma was winning.
“Oh man not my rook,” Alex said, as she took it, adding it to her collection of Ivory chess pieces.
“So sorry, but it’s high time I got to beat you, and mum gave me pointers,” she said, grinning at him.
“Mum, no wonder, she beats us all the time. Oh great now me, dad, and Uncle John will just have to gang up on you girls,’ Alex said.
“You know you won’t win,” Emma responded.
“Make your move,” she chimed. He groaned, and did, and she won in one fair swoop. He groaned again, as she danced around the room.
“I won I won,” she sang.
“Okay, so you won,” He grumbled. It was then, that they heard someone knocking on the door.
“Looser cleans up,” she said, and ran down the hall, to the front entry way. She unlocked the door, expecting it to be Uncle John, most likely, because he was always locking himself out. When she opened the door, she didn’t even have time to scream, as Reuben pulled her to his body, and she could smell booze on him, and cigarette smoke.
“Now where is your brother little whore?” he asked.
“I’m not going to tell you.” He held her tighter, and pulled out a knife.
“Oh yes you will.” She screamed.
“Alex run,” she yelled before Reuben pushed her down. He kicked her hard once, right in the gut.
“I’ll deal with you later.” He walked off, and Emma cried out, as she tried to take a breath, for he had kicked her in the stomach, and it hurt a great deal.
*****
In the study Alex heard Emma scream, and yell for him to run. He was half way up the steps, when he looked back and saw Reuben. He tried to go as fast as he could, then felt Reuben grab him at the back of the shirt.
“Hi there little buddy,” Reuben said slinging Alex over his shoulder. Alex kicked him hard, and Reuben dropped him, causing him to fall painfully down the steps. Despite the pain, Alex got up, and ran into the front hall where Emma was now sitting.
“Get up we have to get out of here now.” He pulled her to her feet, and went through the hall to the left as Rueben came out from the one on the right. They ran as fast as the could, and got to Uncle John's room, and closed the door locking it just as he started to bang on it.
“Oh Emma come on now, I was just playing around,” Reuben said trying to sound sorry.
“Baby I’m so sorry about what I did. It was stupid and insensitive of me to even talk to another girl when I’m with you. You can come with me to the states just like you wanted.” His pleading was beginning to work, and she went to unlock the door, but Alex grabbed her.
“Are you nuts, He just tried to hurt you, and me,” Alex said, his voice shaky
“But he was just mad Alex, he is a really nice guy.” He couldn’t believe her.
“Emma use your head, he goes out with another girl, and kisses her, and then hurts you, and in more than just emotional ways,” She sighed.
“Forgive and forget,” she said.
“Not when he means to hurt you,” Alex said still holding her back.
“Alex let go of me,” she responded, annoyed now.
“Emma let me in,” he said sounding like he was about to cry.
“Alex he needs me,” she said starting to panic.
“He is lying, watch. Hey Reuben how’s your car?” Silence.
“I bet all the boys at our school will be laughing their asses off when they find out me, a little 11 year old boy, who took out your favorite toy,” Both of them jumped when he began to bang on the door.
“Let me in you little brats, or I swear, so help me to god I’ll kill both of you.” Emma had never known he had so much hate in him, and it scared her to death. She remembered a time in her past, when she had locked herself in her room, and her father had broken the door down with an ax, and beaten her until there was barely life left in her. Until now she had not remembered that. She screamed and ran into the bathroom closing that door. Alex was caught off guard, and ran to her.
“Emma?”
“Don’t let daddy hurt me,” she said sobbing. Alex was totally freaked out now.
“I’m going to get a gun Alex, and when I get back I’ll shoot your knees out. You're such a smart little boy,” Reuben called out. Alex heard him leaving.
“Emma we have to go.”
“Noooo.” she cried. He gulped, and knew that it would take Reuben time to get to any of his dads guns. He took a big risk, and went into the hall where the phone was, grabbing it off the hook, ringing to the Restaurant. A man answered.
“I need to speak to The O’Connell party of two, please hurry.” Alex waited pacing and listening for Reuben.
“Hi sweetie,” came his mothers voice.
“Mum come home. Reuben’s drunk, and he’s got a gun, and Emma is freaking out, and hurry up.” He said, panic thick in his voice. At the restaurant, Evelyn’s smile drained from her face.
“Okay baby is he in the house?”
“Yes and Emma is totally, I don’t know mum, she said to protect her from dad. But he went to get a gun because I told him if he ever came round I would shoot his knees out, and he wants to do it to us..Mum hurry.” Alex tried not to cry, but this was scary. He heard a shot go off, very distant, but Reuben would be back.
“Mum hurry I have to go he’s coming.” Alex hung up before she could get a word in, and Evelyn dropped the phone and ran back to the table where Rick was just pouring wine.
“We have to go now. Reuben is at the house, and Alex says he means to hurt them.” Rick helped her get her coat on and they left a generous tip, then they left to go home and save their babies.
*****
In his Uncles Room, Alex was doing his best to get Emma to listen to him.
“Emma its okay but you need to let me in before Reuben gets back. We will break out the Window and jump, and run into the woods.
“Alex I’m too scared.”
“Please, because if you don’t open the door, he will get me, and I really want to live to be an adult.” That helped her make a decision, and she opened the door, and shut it, just as they heard Reuben calling out to them to let him in.
“Come on guys let me in and I won’t hurt you all that bad.” He was mad at these kids, mad that they had parents who loved them, and mad at the little boy for poking fun at him. It was lesson time, and Ruben didn’t care about how much trouble he would get in, he wanted revenge, and he would get it.
“Hiding isn’t going to help you two,” Reuben said. Emma was crying again, and Alex looked for something to break the window with, and found a part of a weight his Uncle had. He through it and the stained glassed window shattered.
In the hall, Reuben heard the glass breaking.
“What are you two up too,” Trying to jump out, and escape me, well it won’t work.” He ran down the short flight of steps and out, seeing Alex, and shot, missing by a long shot.
“Is that the best you can do,” Alex asked, realizing that maybe he could stall this jerk until their parents got home. Emma was in the bathtub with her ears covered in hysterics, and Alex wanted to help her, but right now he had to deal with this bozo.
“I’ll show you.” He took another badly aimed shot, and the bullet ricocheted, and Reuben nearly got hit, and Alex howled.
“You damn brat I’m out of bullets.. Oh lets see I bet I can find an ax in the tool shed, and chop you into bits just like Jack the Ripper. Don’t go anywhere little brat. He went around the house, and Alex ran out and down the steps locking the door, then back up to Emma. He was so scared, more than when he had been taken by Imhotep’s men.
“Emma get up now, we’re going up to the Attic to hide.” She kept crying, but he got her out of the room and they ran to the other part of the house and up to the Attic just as they heard glass breaking.
“Shh, I know you’re afraid but he doesn’t or won’t know we moved, and that buys us time for dad okay?” She nodded shaking, matching his own shaking, as they heard Reuben start yelling for them. It was a far away yell but one that was scary for both of them.
*****
As Rick pulled into their drive he turned off his lights in the car, and stopped it at the entry, just as Jonathan arrived. He got out and quickly told Jonathan what was going on, and tried to convince Evelyn to wait for the authorities, but she refused.
“Those are my babies in there Rick, I’m going with you.” She left them standing and they caught up to her. When they got to the house it was pitch black, and Rick drew his revolver and gave one to Jonathan. The front door was standing wide open, and Rick stepped in hearing a taunting voice calling out “Where are you, when I find you you’ll be sorry.” That was a true statement, however it would be Reuben who would be sorry not his children. Jonathan and Evie followed him in from behind, and they went into the parlor.
“Oh well your not on the bottom level, and not on the Second so what’s on the third?”
“Evie stay here, Jonathan you too.” It was best to let Rick handle things, and as hard as it was not to go help out, one person stood a better chance of sneaking up on this guy, than three.
*****
In the attic Alex had hidden his sister in a steamer trunk, and was now hiding behind an old statue, waiting. It wasn’t a long wait as Reuben arrived at the entry of the attic.
“I bet you little punks are up here, naughty to play hiding, and I’m good at seeking.” He started up the stairs and suddenly he was pulled back and sent flying against the opposite wall. He shook his head, and then the lights came on, and the face he saw was enough to make him afraid.
“I’m sorry, I was just toying with them sir,” Reuben said as Rick stepped closer to him.
“For all the pain you have caused my daughter I should rip your head off, and make you pay for it, but the authorities are on their way as we speak, so I’ll let them take care of you.” He turned to go up to get his kids, when his head felt like it was going to split into. He felt dizzy, and spun around catching the shovel that Reuben thrust at him, and ripped it out of his hands. He lifted Reuben up by his shirt, getting ready to have some of his own justice when Emma came downstairs.
“No daddy don’t hurt him,” She hit at Rick, and Alex grabbed her.
“Give him a good one dad.” Evelyn and Jonathan arrived at that point as well as the Constable. Rick dropped the boy on the floor, and turned, Emma was already in her mother’s arms sobbing, and Alex was standing next to them shaking. So Rick lifted him into his arms, and they left the Constable, and his men to take care of Reuben.
*****
An hour later Rick saw the authorities out, and locked the door. In the morning he would call someone to fix the damaged windows. He walked into the parlor where Jonathan sat, and felt tired, and old. Why was it, that things kept happening to test them? He was too tired to thing about that, and right now he wanted to go be with Evie and the kids.
“I’ll lock up when I’m done here,” Jonathan said. Rick nodded and walked up to the second floor, and down the hall to his and Evie’s rooms. Both Alex and Emma would be staying in their bed tonight, and most likely more, until they again felt safe. When he entered Evie was reading a book with both children on either side of her, asleep.
“I guess it’s good that I got us an extra big bed,” Rick said, trying to be light hearted, but failing miserably.
“How is she?” Evie put her book down and eased first Alex to the mattress, then Emma, who whimpered.
“Shh, your safe baby,” Evie rubbed her back, until Emma was calm, then scooted out from in between them, and stood, walking over to her husband. He gathered her into his arms, and she gave a shuttering sigh.
“She said she remembered why she didn’t trust men. Her father came in one night in a rage, and killed her mum, then tried to kill her, all of this brought that to the surface, and It’s going to take her a long time to trust any guy again.”
“So does this include me? She saw me ready to do damage to Reuben,” He said still holding her, needing to feel her close.
“No, she knows you wouldn’t hurt her. She told me she was sorry for hitting you, and wanted me to relay the message.
“And Alex?” he asked, as she pulled away a bit.
“Also pretty shaken up. He wants you to teach him how to use your guns.” Rick sighed.
“Violence isn’t what I want either of them to learn from this,” He said lowering his head and kissing her on the lips.
“I know. I was thinking that we should pull them out of school and take them on vacation. I’ve been so busy lately with the museum, and you with your work, that we haven’t had the time we needed to be a family, and this is needed family time. We need to get them out of London so they can heal.” She said looking up into his blue eyes, with her hazel ones.
“So we can all heal.” She nodded and came back into his arms about to kiss her when Emma cried out.
“No mum.” Evelyn came to her side.
“It’s all right sweetheart, daddy and I were just talking, I’m right here baby,” Evelyn said stroking her long blond hair. Rick came over and knelt down, and Emma reached out and took his hand holding it to her, as if it were one of her bears, needing his touch. He was her father, and she knew that he would never hurt her, would always keep her safe, as he had done this night. Rick stayed where he was, until her iron grip on his hand lightened as sleep took over. He looked up and over her. Evelyn was back in bed holding Alex, who had come awake when his sister had. cried out.
“Why does all the bad stuff happen to us mum,” Alex asked, very much awake, very much in need of answers. Evelyn rubbed his back as she spoke.
“Not everything that happens is bad my sweet boy. I know we have been through a lot, but we have seen more good times then bad.” He sighed.
“Are we cursed?” he asked her. She held him closer.
“No honey, I know that it feels that way, but we are not cursed. It seems like more bad than good happens, because we remember scary things more than the not so scary things,” Evelyn said in effort to explain things. Her talking woke Emma, who snuggled against her, then Rick joined them.
“How do we forget what’s bad?” she asked them both.
“We don’t forget, we just learn from the bad.” Rick told her. She hadn’t noticed him get in bed, and jumped, then snuggled with him.
“I’m going to be a nun,” she told him, in an all serious tone.
“Emma, I know that this is the worst way to have to experience your first love,” he said, as he gathered her closer to him. ”But not all men, guys, are bad news. You have to learn how to judge people, and your mum and I need to help you with that. We were both too busy to even see that he was as dangerous as he was.” He felt her tremble.
“Shhh, I’m right here,” He kissed the top of her head.
“Why do guys hurt girls?” Alex asked. Evelyn answer this question for them.
“There is an easy explanation for that, and it is never right for anyone to hurt people, not me or your father, or you or Emma. I’m not sure why this happened to you two, to all of us, maybe Reuben has always felt hurt inside of him. Sometimes when people hurt, they hurt others.”
“But he was so nice, then he got mad..and and...He wanted to kill us,” Emma said beginning to cry again. Rick sat up and lifted her, cradling her in his arms.
“I’m so tired of hurting inside daddy,” Emma said trying not to cry.
“I know honey but when you keep the sadness and the hurt in you, then you will hurt more. When you cry, you let all of that hurt out, and then you can begin to heal.” She cried then, and Alex moved so his mum could get closer. Evelyn pulled him into her arms, then leaned into Rick’s, and together they gave comfort to Emma.
*****
A month passed, and the O’Connells had just returned from the French Riviera. It was rainy as they walked back into the manor, and it was good to be home. Emma had healed under the love her family, and had even met another guy, one who was just fun to be with, and one she decided to write letters to, her pen pal. She had decided that she wasn’t going to date for love, that mum had been right. Evelyn had told her, that she needed to be a kid, and just have fun, that when the right time came, love would sneak up on her, and it would be a good love. For now all the love Emma needed was here in this house, with her Uncle and her brother and her parents who had helped her too see that even the worst of experiences could be overcome, as long as there was a family there ready to give love, when it was needed, and that was the strongest and best love, and for now that was more than enough to sustain her and keep her happy.
THE END