Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“At the moment it’s bandaged up, but the doctor will need to wire it in a few days when the swelling goes down.” She gives us a firm look. “It’s imperative that she doesn’t talk at all.”
“Understood.” I nod and squeeze Nathan’s bicep. “Thank you so much.”
“Don’t thank me, I’m just the messenger. The doctor will be back shortly. He would have been here to explain the procedure, but he has another emergency to attend to.”
We don’t waste another second to enter the room where his mother lies on a hospital bed, railings up either side, leg bandaged and propped on a pillow, face bandaged so much all we can see is her eyes, nose and top lip, all of which look swollen.
When she sees us her tired eyes light up and she immediately begins to hum, eager to speak. Nathan rushes to her side and whispers, “Don’t you dare talk. Don’t say anything.”
A sob wracks her body and tears spill from her eyes. I stand by the door, too scared to move to her for fear of hurting her.
Nathan takes her hand. “You don’t need to say anything. It’s done. He’s done. Okay?”
She nods slightly and closes her eyes, still sobbing. My own eyes fill with tears so I turn away to give them a moment of privacy as their bond of mother and son finally takes form, a bond lost for such a long time.
‘Dear Nathan and Gwen,
I am uncertain where to start. I am afraid you won’t read this because I know I do not deserve forgiveness from either of you, especially you, my son. My son whom I should have protected. My son whom I failed, whom I lost because of my selfishness and fear.
I just want you to know that I didn’t know and I didn’t plan on all that happened. When you left me with my beautiful grandchildren, my husband arrived on the doorstep with three men I didn’t recognise. They pushed their way into your house and the men set about looking for something. I didn’t know what was going on. All I knew was fear. Fear for my grandchildren playing in the living room.
My husband wouldn’t speak, so I took the babies into the garden and waited. Whatever he came for, it wasn’t for me or the children. I hadn’t seen my husband since before the trial, but he had been watching me and waiting for an opportunity to enter your home.
I protected him by not calling the Police. I protected him by not telling you and my shame forced me back to him. Not because I wanted to be with him, but because I had to know what it was he was looking for.
The men left with a DVD and threatening glances and I saw the DVD in one of their hands. I acted as though nothing had happened. I will never forgive myself for that.
Well, I found the DVD just now. I am uploading it to the Police right now. I am writing this letter as the percentage gets higher and higher. The Police are waiting for it. I won’t waste time driving it down there, though I will if I have to.
I just want you both to know that I didn’t know. I was blind to that because I refused to believe it. That does not mean I wasn’t at fault because I was. I didn’t protect any of you when I should have.
When you accepted me into your family, that first night we ate dinner together and you allowed me to help bathe and put the kids to bed, I have not felt happiness like that since before Caleb fell ill. I didn’t want to lose that. I do not ever want to lose that but I know I may have to and that’s okay. I understand.
So I gift to you something I should have given to you so long ago - Caleb’s ashes. They belong to his fiancée, his son and his brother and his niece.
I apologise for everything. Every single thing that has befallen you because of my life choices.
I wish you both all the happiness and joy in your lives away from the poison spread through me and my husband and our family. You’re lovely people and, son, I am so proud of you for becoming the wonderful man and father you are today, despite your upbringing and lack of role models. I am SO proud.
Call me anytime you like, both of you. I love and miss you all. Genuinely, I love and miss you all so much. You were correct in saying love is the only believable thing, Guinevere. I wish I’d learned that sooner.
Yours truly and honestly,
Patricia Victoria Weston (Soon to be Kipling again after my divorce is finalised. I’m filing as soon as my solicitor allows it.)