Jodie's Tale

Trapped

Eileen sighed as she continued the story.
"Knight, didn't come around as much but that didn't stop him from interfering in our lives. He'd send a man to do the garden, or pay a window cleaner for a whole year. I was beginning to get irked by it. I felt guilty, that he felt guilty that his wife had mown Jodie down!

But there was something else, no-one had seen Mrs Knight since the accident. Police said there had been no reports of her getting a plane and her car was destroyed so where was she? He made out he didn't know, but if she'd left him, why on earth was he covering for her?

There was someone else in the village that said she'd seen two identical cars speed through.  But she wasn't believed as she had early dementia and people thought she was confused.  But she would say it over and over until I began to wonder what it was she saw. But then the poor love died when her boiler malfunctioned and she died of carbon monoxide poisoning. So sad.

Margot suddenly leant forward  with a look of alarm on her face,
"Eileen, you don't think, well, that HE did anything to her?"
Eileen gave a tight laugh and said
"No, of course not!"
Margots shoulders relaxed and she sighed as she leant back against the cushions.
"Carry on, sorry for interrupting ".

"So Jeremy and I started divorce proceedings, it was hard. Not only the divorce and Jodie but money was a major issue, I got a job cleaning, nearby, Jodie would sit in her pushchair watching me as I worked. I'd give her a little duster and some unbreakable ornaments so she could play cleaning too. It actually helped with her hand eye coordination.
But it was still a struggle to pay the rent on the house.  I missed a month and then two and was at my wits end,  how to come up with the money".
Seeing tears fill her sisters eyes,  Eileen was quick to reassure her, 
"Don't be feeling guilty, I didn't tell you because you had enough going on yourself,  setting up the business, I was, and am so proud of you Sis".

"Anyway a letter arrived saying that all arrears were cleared and no more payments were due, I knew straight away  who it was.  I got a neighbour to mind Jodie and marched up to Roger bloody Knights house.
I yelled at him that he had to stop interfering in my life. That it was one thing to pay for Jodies  physio, but quite another to pay my rent,  like I was his possession or something.
I was livid, Margot, absolutely livid!
Anyway he sat behind his desk,  looking like Toad of Toad Hall, and said 'I haven't paid the rent, the house was mine, and now it is yours, or rather Jodie's, it occurred to me that we don't know the extent of her impairment, I don't think she should ever be without housing. I'd have done it before but I'd forgotten I owned the house as it was bought as part of a portfolio and then wholly managed by the agents and my accounts manager. When I was told of the missed payments I of course transferred the deeds to Jodie. There is a clause that it cannot be sold, unless agreed by the trustees, I've set her up with a modest annuity payable to you now and to her once she's 18. My wife took away Jodie's future by her selfishness and I'm just making sure that she has a roof and money to live on.  Who knows if she'll ever be able to provide for herself?"

I was struck dumb Marg, I couldn't turn that down could I? Jodie would be OK after all.
But as I thanked him, he held up his hand.
"There is just one stipulation. You must never tell anyone of this.  I don't want to be bombarded with hard luck stories and begging bowls. "

I said I wouldn't,  but though I was relieved about money I couldn't help feeling I'd just got myself in more debt.

After that he pretty much backed off,  though he had arranged a maintenance contract,  so every year they do an inspection and if I need repairs I can just call them out. 
His secretary would send cards informing me that a speech and language therapist would be arriving on such and such day. Then a place at the nursery was offered. I thought they'd made a mistake;I was their cleaner! I couldn't afford their fees!
But of course it was all paid for.  I had to lie and say it was paid from her compensation. But I couldn't really say no. 
Her being with other children really helped her to focus.

Jodie actually recovered well physically thanks to the daily one on one physiotherapy. But she has a processing delay, sometimes she'll understand straight away,  other times it can be hours before it clicks what I've asked her! Being at the nursery helped her focus a bit better.
I'm so thankful it didn't affect her personality,  she's still so willing to help and quite cheerful.  The doctors were concerned that she may have extreme emotional outbursts and even challenging behaviours.
But she didn't thank heavens.
Oh, except around fruit! She is absolutely obsessed, she cannot pass a fruit bowl without having some. Even if its fake!
Do you remember those awful wax fruits Jeremy's mother sent us as a housewarming gift?
I only kept them because she'd look for them when she visited.

Margot started to giggle, "She didn't eat them?"
Eileen burst out laughing, "She did! Well she ate two before I cottoned on.
She even said they were yucky! I was so happy to throw the ugly things away finally!"
The sisters laughed for some time, wiping their eyes as they gathered their composure.

"Oh God bless her. I feel guilty for finding it funny, but I needed that laugh!" Eileen said with a happy sigh.

" Laughter through tears is my favourite emotion"  Margot quoted.
Eileen clapped her hands and said "ooh you remember the movie!"
Margot laughed and said
" Best movie of all time, let's open that wine now and watch it"