Behind Mansion Walls

3: Sleepwalking In My Burning Mansion

Chapter Three: Sleeping In My Burning Mansion

Her husband invited people to show for the Gala. She tried not to cry as last night he kicked her shin. I guess no slit dress, she sighed to herself. When she stood up front welcoming everyone in. She just wanted to fall apart. She was so tired of lying but she knew the consequences. So she kept her mouth tightly shut and forced a smile.

"If it isn't, Hermione Lodge." She quickly turned around, careful for her shin and smiled.

"FP Jones." She greeted with a kiss on his cheek, then made a quick glance behind her. Hiram gave a look and her skin crawled. She had to think of something. "Gladys, you're back!"

Gladys nodded her head and kisses FP softly before breaking the kiss. "Oh yes. Toledo was great but JB really missed her brother and this handsome man." She gave FP a cheeky smile.

FP gave one back and nodded his head." Yeah... I missed them too." Hermione knew something about lying and she figured out he wasn't happy.

"I'm going to say hello to everyone." Gladys said before taking off.

Hermione started walking off when FP grabbed her arm gently. "I know you're lying, Mione." He whispered and then raised his voice. "Let's get drinks at the punch bowl." His gentle voice made her body revolt in surprise and shock.

It was something she'd never had before. They took a short stroll over to the punch bowl and she couldn't even meet his eyes. "What are you talking about, FP?"

"I know." His whispers softly, his eyes wandering hers. "You don't have to lie to me."

"I have no idea what you're getting at."

"He hurts you and Veronica, am I right?"

The wind of his question almost knocks her heart out of her chest. She can't look him in the eyes. She's frozen in fear. She turned her body around to see if Hiram was around and makes an attempt to nod. "H-how did you.." She asks warily of her surroundings.

All he says is this." Meet by Sweetwater River at three tomorrow while he's gone." Then he walked away leaving Hermione breathless what he meant.

That night Hiram uses her as a punching bag and she cries. Veronica came back after singing at the Gala. She found her mom in tears and watched as Hiram slammed the door behind him.

Xxx

While Veronica's at Betty's house working on a project with Jughead and Archie, Hermione has Smithers drive her to Sweetwater River. She knows that she could get him killed but the agency in FP's Jones voice made her rebel just this once. "Thanks for meeting here."

Hermione nods her head and still refuses to meet his eyes. "So how did you know?" She was much more forceful when she wasn't around her husband.

"There something you should know. I know because it happens to me and Jug." Hermione immediately notices his black eye and hugs him tightly.

"Gladys does that to you and your son...." FP's head bobs and tears threaten his eyes.

"It stopped when she was gone but—-" Hermione cut him off.

"But now that she's back. It started again." He nods his head and Hermione's heart breaks for him. "Oh god, FP!" She gasps lightly.

It felt so good to tell someone. Hermione found something in common with him. She just wished that it wasn't abuse.

"When?"

He takes a shaky deep breath." Ever since JB was born. JB told me before Gladys came in one day about the scars. She wears makeup to keep it hidden. I can't tell anybody about what she does and I know that Hiram does that to you and I just wanted to make sure I was wrong. Sadly I was right."

Hermione hugged him tightly. "Veronica stands up to him and he nearly killed her a week ago. I heard from Veronica that isn't getting hard for her to hide it."

"You still love Fred."

She looked at him and shook her head." And do you love Alice?"

He breathes out." It doesn't matter anymore. Gladys would kill me if I did."

His confession made her feel sick. "Hiram killed a maid that tried to save us and made us b-bury her." FP pulled her into his arms, she stiffens but slowly relaxes when he rubbed soothing circles into her back.

"Oh Mione.... I'm so so sorry."

She sniffles." So am I..."