Great Expectations. - Now Complete

Chapter 35

Two weeks later.

The situation between Alexnader and his mother was grim. He now refused to even speak to her because of her refusal to let him visit his father in prison. Although this hurt, Alice stuck to her guns, with George's agreement. Life at home though, was unpleasant for everyone. Alexander was moody, angry and down right nasty to his younger sisters  and his mother. Ironically the only person he turned to was George. Alice had noticed that although the 'Dad' title was still missing, they still shared a good relationship.

Finally, after an afternoon from hell whilst George was working, Alice could take no more. Alexander had been verbally abusive to her as well as physically hurting his sisters. She broke down in front of him.

"What can I do Alexander? What is it you want?" she pleaded, "This can't go on! It's not fair on your sisters. They adore you, though at the minute, I don't know why. They don't understand why you're like this! What can I do to change the battle ground we live in at the moment?"

Alexander looked surprised at the turn around. "I want to visit my father in prison."

She looked at him, churning things over in his mind. "Right. When George comes home, tell him I've said to see if that can be organised." She looked at her son, not liking what she saw. There was too much of his father in him at the moment. "In the meantime, please can we have some kind of peace and try to allow your sisters a normal homelife, if only for a few hours?" With that, she took the girls from the room and left Alexander standing alone.

"Mum?" He had followed her into the playroom where Alice was about to sit and read with her daughters.

She looked at him, warily. "What?"

"Thank you."

"Fine." She turned away, too hurt and upset to take the olive branch that her son had offered. She began to read the book her younger children had chosen.

Alexander watched her with them for a few minutes, then walked away.

"Alexander had said he can visit Donovan in prison? Is this true?" George looked at Alice, stunned. He had just arrived home and had been greeted with this from Alexander.

She nodded miserably.

"Are you mad?" George was incredulous, "For God's sake Alice, he's 11 years old! What do you think will happen now?"

"Don't raise your voice to me!"

"Then don't be so bloody stupid!"

Alice glared at George and walked out of the room. They so rarely rowed but this time she'd had enough! She slipped into her youngest daughter's room. Kate was sleeping. Her long dark curls falling across her pillow as she lay clutching Barbie as usual. She could see the bruise across her left cheek from where Alexander had hit her earlier in the evening. She sat on the floor by her bed and folded her arms. She lay on her arms then, just watching her daughter sleep. Kate shuffled and opened her eyes.

"Mummy?" Her voice was sleepy.

"Hello baby." said Alice softly, "Go back to sleep. Mummy was just checking you're OK now."

The little girl wrapped her arms around Alice's neck. "I love you mummy. I love you millions!" She kissed her mother on the lips. "I love Laura and Louisa and Daddy but I don't love Alexander. He hurt me!"

Alice smiled and kissed her daughter on the cheek. "I love you even more millions!" she told her, playing along with their usual game. "Now go back to sleep sweetheart, or you'll be too tired for school tomorrow."

The little girl yawned then closed her eyes again. Alice smiled to herself. She took some comfort in knowing she wasn't a total failure as a parent, having three wonderful daughters that meant everything to her. She yawned, bone weary and emotionally drained. The door opened.

"Alice love?"

It was George. He saw her sat on the floor so her tiptoed into the room. "Is she OK?" he asked, looking worried.

"She seems it, although after what happened earlier on, I'm surprised she's settled so quickly!"

"Why? What happened?"

She explained to George how Alexander had lost his temper and taken it out on his youngest sister. She showed him the brusie that streaked across Kate's cheek.

"That's why I gave in to Alex," she said bittterly, "Not because I want to, but because the tension in this house at the minute is horrible! It's not fair on the girls! We have to think of them as well as Alexander."

Appalled, George persuaded her to get up and leave their daughter to sleep. Once out on the landing, he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry baby," he asaid, looking into her eyes, "I'm sorry for shouting at you and for doubting what you were saying. I know you've given this some thought."

"It's not a problem."

"Yes it is," he said, kissing her, "I should trust you. I know you only want the best for Alexander." He kissed her again. "Bedtime?"

She nodded.

He took her hand and led her to their bedroom. Once the door was shut, he moved to her and began to kiss her. His hands moved to her blouse.

"Don't" Alice moved away from him.

"Alice?" George couldn't hide his surprise. His wife had never turned his advances down before.

Alice looked at him. "At this moment in time George, I need to be left alone! I need to take stock of what's happening with you, me Alex. Everything. Then I want to curl up and sleep forever." she flicked her hand throough her hair and sighed wearily, "I've had it George. I've given so much to that boy to try and compensate for everything I felt he's missed out on, from the moment he was born. He's thrown it all back in my face! I never believed my eleven year old son could be so verbally abusive. Maybe there's more of his father in him that I would want to admit? Anyway, I can't do anymore. Thomas Donovan is welcome to him!"

"You don't mean that Alice. You love Alexander."

"I do love him, but at the moment I'm not sure I like him." she said sadly, "I'm seeing just a bit too much of Thomas Donovan in him at the minute." She looked up at George. He could see how broken she was. "I never expected to say that in his life. How  do you think that makes me feel."

"All the more reason why you and me..."

"You don't get it do you?" Alice was suddenly angry, "I don't want you. I don't want to make love. I don't want ANYONE anymore. Leave me alone!"

She turned and left the room.

Totally bewildered, George left her alone. He climbed into their marital bed. It felt strange. Apart from when Alice had stayed in hospital after giving birth, they had never slept apart in over ten years of marriage.