All Pain, No Gain

Chapter 5

Someone pinch me.

Or better yet, kill me.

Yeah I'm liking the last option better at the moment, I thought while I swished the last of my tea around the bottom of the cup.

"So, how's everything?" Andrew asked normally, as if nothing had happened, as if he had never abused me, as if he had never raped Jay.

"I should be asking you that question surely, Andrew?"  I asked, mocking a caring face, "How was prison?  Get stabbed?  Got raped many times?  I haven't since you've been gone."

I refused to call him 'Dad', he didn't deserve it.   Even Andrew was pushing it.

He let out a long sigh and rubbed his rough hand down his face, pushing his empty cup aside with the other.

"You want me to apologise?  Is that what this is about?"  He asked.

"As if you have no clue what you did to us!"  I pushed myself up from my chair using the table as I leant forward at him, almost shouting at this point, "You really don't realise how much we've been through do you?!  Do you think raping a seven year old and a ten year old is normal?  Do you think abusing your wife every night is normal?  Did you think you could just come back here and pretend nothing happened?  Well I've got breaking news for you, Andrew, you can fucking get out of this house right now if you think it's alright to waltz in here after going to prison for ten years!  The minute you got taken from this house was the minute you were made unwelcome here and the minute this family realised it didn't need you!"

I stood there, slightly panting after my long speech.  I had been on edge ever since I saw him at the hospital and that one simple statement had pushed me over.

Andrew sat there, wide-eyed.

I was in schock too.  I just swore.

"What happened to my little innocent girl?" he said softly, invitingly.

"Oh you took away her innocence the night you almost took her virginity!" I spat back at him.

He still didn't seem to understand the big deal.

'Did you not hear a word of what I said?"  I asked increduously.

"Why do you not want me home Ap?" he tried again.

"Get the fuck out of this house and take all your bullshit with you!  And don't call me that!"  I yelled at him, stomping my feet and gesturing widly towards the battered front door.

Seems like Andrew's return had expanded my vocabulary.

AS IF he didn't know why no-one wanted him back here.  How is anyone that freaking stupid?  I think even Ky and Mitch could manage that one...

The memory of Ky meeting me in the library flashed through my mind and in any other situation I would have smiled at the reminder of his kindnes.

"April, what's all this-" I turned around to find my Mum in her dressing gown, standing in the door.

She gasped as she took in our little visitor.

I rushed to her side as she started to shake and tried to turn her around and take her out of the room.

"It's okay Mum, I was just showing our unwelcome visitor to the door,"  I said soothingly, shooting daggers at the one mentioned.

"But, w-w-hy is...he h-here-"

I cut her off again as I tried to take her in the direction of the room but she wasn't going anywhere.

"Hi there Annabelle, how are you?" Andrew asked.