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Back Brutal Save as PDF
Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. BRUTAL
  3. Dedication page
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. Prologue
  6. PART ONE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. PART TWO
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. PART THREE
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. Epilogue
  55. BRUTAL
  56. By Mandasue Heller

‘If I was to stay, I could do for you,’ Irena said over her shoulder as she looked in the freezer to see what she could use for dinner. ‘But I am to leave soon, so I cannot.’

‘Thanks, love,’ Frank said. ‘But this is going to be a long-term problem, and Yvonne needs to make some serious decisions.’

‘You can take the fourby if you want to visit her,’ Evan suggested.

‘No, it’s OK,’ Frank replied, noting that his son hadn’t offered to drive, meaning that he’d intended to stay here with Irena. ‘The nurse said she’s doped up, so I’ll leave it till she’s a bit stronger.’

‘Well, the offer’s there if you change your mind,’ said Evan.

‘I won’t,’ Frank said with finality, letting him know that he was on to his game.

13

The few days Frank had said Evan could stay stretched into a few more, and the stress of trying to keep his son and Irena from spending too much time alone together was sending his blood pressure through the roof. The daylight hours weren’t too bad, because there were plenty of jobs to keep Evan occupied, both at the farm and the cottage. But when night came around, and the three of them settled down to watch TV, his irritation kicked in all over again.

Fed up by the end of the week, he waited until he and Evan had gone to feed the animals, before asking, ‘Don’t you think this has been going on for long enough, Son?’

‘Marie will let me know when she’s ready to talk,’ Evan replied unconcernedly. ‘But I still haven’t decided what I want to do.’

‘Well, you’d best make your mind up soon,’ Frank said. ‘Either go back and make it work, or man up and tell her it’s over.’

‘And if I break it off, can I move back in with you?’ Evan asked.

‘No.’ Frank stood firm. ‘I’m sorry, but I’m not giving you an easy way out of this.’

Evan gave a sly smile, saying, ‘You mean you’re not giving me an easy way in? I’ve seen the way you look at Irena, and I reckon you’re jealous that we’re getting on so well.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Frank protested. ‘I’m only trying to stop you from throwing your marriage away.’

‘Why? You don’t even like Marie.’

‘I’ve never said that.’

‘You didn’t need to, Dad, it’s obvious. Just like it’s obvious you fancy Irena.’

‘I do not fancy Irena.’

‘Then you won’t mind if I take a crack at her if I decide to split from Marie, will you?’