Sweet Revenge

The silence in the car was deafening and stifling. The radio was humming softly in the background, but it did nothing to cover up the awkwardness in the car. Gerard had yet to say a word to her, and they’d been driving for three hours. Sarah had expected him to break at some point; human beings naturally sought out conversation with people they were going to be spending time with. Conversation meant getting to know a person, and knowledge was a way for people to build trust. It wasn’t as though there wasn’t anything for them to talk about; in fact, the elephant in the room was probably enough to fill days of conversation, without any other topics. Michael had hurt them both, and had ruined both their lives in unimaginable ways. He had ripped their families apart, and had left them with the tattered ruins to piece back together.
“Is it much longer?” Sarah tried to ease into conversation.
“Another six hours, I’d say. Depends on traffic.” Gerard didn’t take his eyes off the road as he responded monotonously. His lack of movement made Sarah wonder if he had, in fact, spoken, or if she had hallucinated in her desperation for some adult conversation, something she hadn’t had much of in years.
“Where is it we’re going exactly?”
Gerard sighed, finally looking at her with what she was sure was an irritated glare behind his large sunglasses. She expected him to tell her to keep quiet, or snap at her for rudely interrupting his own little world, when he turned his attention back to the world and pursed his lips.
“It’s a cabin that belonged to my grandparents, which was left to me in my parents’ will when they died. We used to spend summers here when I was growing up, but I haven’t been there since I was twelve.”
“How come?”
“I think that’s enough for now,” Gerard spoke behind gritted teeth.
Sarah unconsciously tried to put more distance between her and Gerard by scooting closer to the door when she noted how his knuckles were going white on the steering wheel, and how tightly set his jaw was. She suddenly wished she was sitting in the back seat with Bilbo, who was resting his head on his paws with a bored expression.
“Don’t do that!” Gerard muttered.
“What?”
“Act like I’m going to hurt you.”
“Maybe if you weren’t so aggressive-”
“Aggressive?”
“Yes, aggressive. You won’t answer any of my questions, you won’t look at me. If I so much as open my mouth, you look like you’re going to snap. After having a husband who beat me on a regular basis, excuse me for being a little uncomfortable around a guy who’s gripping the steering wheel like he’s trying not to hit something.”
“I’m nothing like Mikey.” He spat, and Sarah congratulated herself on hitting a nerve.
“Yeah, it sure looks like it.” She scoffed.
Gerard fell silent again, pursing his lips again and flexing his fingers around the wheel.Bilbo sat up and whined, drawing Sarah’s attention to the back seat. She reached out to pet him, frowning in anger and trying to stop herself from shaking, fearing she went too far. Bilbo whined again then gave a little bark. Gerard finally looked in his rear view mirror, and then groaned.
“Alright, buddy, I’ll pull over now.”
He pulled over and stopped the car, letting Bilbo out to relieve himself. Sarah debated whether she should take the opportunity to move to the back seat while the car wasn’t moving. Maybe it would look weird, but at least Bilbo wouldn’t glare at her like she was something beneath his paw. Gerard said he was nothing like Michael, yet all Sarah had seen so far was that he was just better at holding his temper back. She was glad she could see his temperament, though. Michael had hidden his for so long, she had fallen for him before she had seen it. By then, it had been too late. Maybe it was naïve, but she had no real fear of Gerard, though. He was more in control of himself, that much was blindingly obvious, even to her. It was an irrational instinctual habit of hers to shy away from anyone, male or female, who was showing signs of frustration. She would leave, if she felt truly afraid. In reality, she was more agitated by his general treatment of her than worried about his temper. He disliked her, and it was based on more than her association with Michael. She could sense it. She didn’t know what it was, or how much he knew about her, but there was something about her that got under his skin, and it obviously troubled him.
Gerard held Bilbo’s leash, eyes unfocused while Bilbo did his thing on the side of the road. It was only three hours into their journey, and he was already losing his cool. Of course, the comparison to Mikey didn’t help, and it forced him to evaluate the merit of her accusation. He couldn’t deny that she was right about his general treatment of her. He wasn’t happy to have her around, and he wasn’t afraid to show it. He had valid reasons to not bend over backwards to make her feel like a wanted guest, when she was nothing more than an unwanted intrusion in his life. The truth of the matter was, he didn’t know how to react around her. He had barricaded him behind a wall of indifference to the world, focusing on his work and drinking his weekends away when he needed to. Sure, he’d go out and meet the odd chick to bring home for the night, but relationships were out of the question. He was terrified of what he’d be, from what he’d seen as a kid. He avoided relationships like a plague, and kept his socialising down to minimum. So, yes, maybe he had a way to go when it came to dealing with people, but comparing him to Mikey was a step too far, though. Mikey was deranged, a monster in every sense of the word, and it stung to have those words spoken to him. He had no way of responding to them in a calm, collected manner so he would just keep quiet. He wasn’t going to explain himself to her. If she wanted to believe the worst about him, it was all the better for him. Maybe she would ask to leave and give up her crazy idea of him being able to protect her somehow. He led Bilbo back into the car, slamming the door shut and getting back behind the driver’s seat. He glanced at Sarah, who was staring out the window with a determined glare that spoke volumes. She was ignoring him, and she wasn’t going to let him get to her either. He wondered how long her determination would last for, and he prayed it wouldn’t be for long.
Sarah kept quiet for the rest of the journey, unwilling to try to start a conversation again. Gerard didn’t want to be civil, and she wasn’t going to waste any more time cajoling him into being a decent human being. That would require compassion he obviously wasn’t willing to show. Instead, she thought about Charlotte, the only person in the world who meant something to her anymore, other than her parents. She thought about their parting, and willed the tears not to well up as the memory came to her mind with sharp clarity.
“Mommy, why are we at the airport?”
Charlotte’s hand was gripping Sarah’s tightly, her wary eyes looking around the strange, crowded place. She stayed glued to Sarah’s side, walking in step with her mother who refused to let her fear and anguish show through.
“There’s someone I want you to meet. Two people, actually.”
“Who, mommy?”
“Your grandparents.”
Charlotte’s untrusting expression gave way to a childish smile, one that was full of excitement. She had never met Sarah’s parents, but had always remained curious about them. She had asked many times why they never visited, and why she was the only one in her class that had no grandparents that came by. It was necessary for Sarah to keep away from anyone associated with her past, and it included her parents. There was the odd phone call, but anything more was out of the question.
“Yay!” Charlotte squealed with delight, jumping up and down excitedly.
They had agreed to meet in the airport, for convenience and safety. The more crowded the meeting place, the less dangerous it was. They were likely to be unnoticed by the people rushing to get to their destinations. They were to meet at the check in area, which was as far as Sarah could go without a ticket. They were already waiting when Sarah and Charlotte arrived, deep in whispered conversation, and unaware of Sarah’s arrival.
“Is that them?” Charlotte asked loudly, pointing at the middle aged couple.
Charlotte’s excited voice boomed in the busy airport, loud enough to stop the couple in their tracks and look around for the source of the noise. Their sad smiles mirrored, and it was with cautious steps that they breeched the gap between them. Her mother was the first to make a move, pulling her daughter into a teary hug.
“Hi, mom,” Sarah choked out, unable to fight the intensity of the moment.
“Hi, baby girl,” her own mother rasped, clearly as emotional as Sarah.
Her mother pulled away, shot her daughter a swift smile, before drawing her attention to the smallest person in the group.
“And this must be my grandbaby.”
Charlotte giggled, and didn’t wait for an invitation before she let go of Sarah’s hand and engulfed her grandmother in a hug.
“Hi, dad,” Sarah hugged her father, who didn’t speak for fear of crying while Charlotte got acquainted with her grandmother.
“Are you coming to stay with us?” Charlotte asked, looking from her grandmother to her mother, unaware of what was about to happen.
Sarah took in a deep breath and knelt down to face her daughter.
“Baby, you’re going to go stay with your grandparents for a while. They have a lovely place in Spain. You know Spain, don’t you?”
“It’s in Europe!” she gasped.
“Exactly, baby. It’s sunny, and hot, and you’re gonna have so much fun with your grandparents.”
“Aren’t you coming, mammy?”
“Not this time. There are some things I have to take care of, baby.”
“Is it to do with the bad man everybody is talking about?”
Sarah’s eyes widened. She had been keeping Charlotte in the dark about what was happening, not wanting her daughter to live in fear, like her mother. Or, she had tried to, at least. She thought about saying the obvious lie, but she knew that it was useless. Charlotte was more in tune with what was going on than she’d anticipated, and lies were not going to be the answer.
“Yes, baby, but it’s nothing for you to worry about. I just want to know you’re safe, okay?”
“But I don’t want to go without you.”
“You have to, baby. It’s only for a short while, okay? You’ll be back here before you know it.” Sarah cupped her daughter’s cheek to calm her down, in an effort to avoid a public meltdown.
“No! I’m not going. I wanna stay with you!”
“Charlotte, listen to me! You have to go! This isn’t a discussion. So, I want you to promise me that you’ll listen to your grandparents and behave yourself!”
“No!” Charlotte roared, throwing herself at Sarah and wrapping her arms around her mother’s neck with an oxygen-depriving hold.
“Charlotte, calm down! It’s only for a short while. You’re gonna have fun with your grandparents.”
“I don’t want my grandparents. I want YOU!” Charlotte sobbed, refusing to loosen her lock an Sarah.
“I have to go now, baby. I love you, okay? Mommy loves you, and I’m gonna come back to you.”
“No! You’re not going, you’re not going!”
Sarah looked up at her parents, beseeching them to help. Her mother wiped away silent tears while her father bent down to pick Charlotte up, who began to scream and lash out as Sarah untangled the child’s arms around her neck. Sarah gave her daughter one last kiss on the cheek.
“We’ll take care of her, Sarah,” her mother promised.
Sarah nodded, giving her mother a goodbye hug.
“Mommy, don’t go! Don’t leave me, mommy!” Charlotte screamed, holding her hands out for her mother, while people stared at the commotion she created.
“I’ll come back for you, baby. I promise.” Sarah whispered.
“Sarah, just go! She’ll calm down when you go.” Her father urged her.
Sarah nodded, looking at her daughter one last time before she turned away. Her heart tore into a million pieces as Charlotte's screamed pleas followed her, ringing in her ears and causing her a pain she’d never felt before.
The car came to a stop, bringing her out of her daydream. She realised with a flush of embarrassment that her cheeks were wet. She wiped them away quickly, unsure if Gerard had spotted her tears or not. She turned to face him, and though he acted like he hadn’t noticed, she could see his awkwardness in his body language.
“I’m going to pick up some stuff. You want anything?”
“Uh…no, I’m fine.”
“Okay. I won’t be long. Wait here!”
Gerard took the keys out of the engine, out of sheer habit, and made his way into the supermarket with a brisk pace. They were about a forty minute drive away from their destination, maybe a bit less, if Gerard really put his foot down on the accelerator. He was nearly out of gas, and he made a note to make sure he stopped by the gas station just down the road before he forgot. He picked up some essentials, then quickly stocked up on frozen foods and canned stuff, just in case they were stuck in the cabin for longer than planned. He had seen Sarah’s tears in the car, much to his awkwardness and guilt. He wasn’t sure what it was about, but he was certain that he had a hand in it. He didn’t want to feel guilty. She was a spoiled brat, who probably used tears to get people to do what she wanted. He wasn’t going to let her little show in the car get to him. He refused to ‘soften up’, just so she could feel better about intruding in his life. He threw the items into the cart with a careless impatience, except for the cases of beer he knew he’d need to get through the coming days, or weeks. He was eager to get to the cabin and down a few beers before he began their ‘training’ the following day.
The silence continued when he came back to the car, stopping for gas before they drove on for another forty minutes straight. Sarah was glad to be able to finally stretch her legs when the car parked outside a wooden cabin. It was only then that Sarah wondered if the place would have working electricity, and a useable shower. Gerard opened the boot, pulling out his duffle bag and a few grocery bags. Sarah picked up the rest and followed him to the door. There was a note taped to the door, along with a key. Gerard gave the note a quick read before unlocking the door.
Sarah was a little surprised to walk into a large open plan living room and kitchen area. The place was warm, and she could tell the central heating had been on recently. There was a modern television with a DVD player in the admittedly nicely decorated living room. She brought the bags into the Kitchen, where Bilbo was now eating out of a new plastic dog bowl and was overjoyed to see there was a microwave and a working fridge and freezer.
“I thought you hadn’t been here in years?” Sarah questioned, perplexed by how well-kept the place looked.
“It gets rented out, so an agency takes care of the place for a percentage cut of the rent. I called them yesterday to get it set up,” Gerard explained, not looking annoyed, for once, at her questioning.
He unpacked the groceries, leaving Sarah to explore the rest of the cabin. It was a three bedroom place, with a modern bathroom that brought a smile to Sarah’s face. When she went back into the kitchen, she was met with the sight of Gerard holding a beer.
“Do you want me to make something?” she asked.
“Knock yourself out,” he replied, taking a sip of beer and walking out of the kitchen.
“This is gonna be a lot of fun,” she muttered to herself.

Notes

hey guys,

Hope you enjoy the update!

I'm gonna do a little self promotion here, which I forgot to add to my update yesterday. I just posted a new one shot fic Cinderella, She Seemed so Easy for your reading pleasure. Please read if you can spare the time.

Lyra