The Gift- Complete

34

Arthur pov

The house was quiet. Very quiet. Even the maids weren't talking to one another under the circumstances. No words could take back what has happened and no words could help the situation. Mason was sat in Lydia's room reading. She was still asleep but he didn't want to leave her incase someone came through the window or she woke up scared and alone. I sat at the dining room table, looking at nothing with whiskey in my hands

"Arthur honey. I think you should get some sleep" Linda said as she wrapped her arms around me from behind. I didn't reply. I didn't even acknowledge her presence

"It's late. And we've all had a Tiring and eventful day. I think a good night sleep is exactly what we need. We're leaving for texas in the morning" she said kissing my cheek and then sitting next to me

"I doubt Lydia will want to go" i said

"Maybe it's exactly what she needs. A change of scenery. I hear the weather's lovely this time of year" she said

"I will talk to her about it. She can decide" I said still not looking at my fiance.

"Arthur please. Just look at me. What happened today was awful I know. But what's done is done. And all we can do now is help her through the healing process. Which sometimes means making choices for her. In this case, a holiday will do her good. She just doesn't see it yet" Linda said grabbing my hand and kissing it

"Come to bed. I miss you" she said. I slammed my hand down hard on the table making her jump back and shut up

"Lydia-Rose is my daughter. She's a fucking Shelby. Polly told me what you did. Leaving her like that. You told me she was safe. You said she was fucking safe when you knew what he was doing to her. I know why you ran. But I can't fucking understand why you didn't fucking tell me" I said through gritted teeth. I gripped the cup in my hand so hard that it smashed and glass went everywhere

"You're not well" she said standing up but I forced her back down

"Why the fuck did you stay silent and let her get fucking raped?" I asked as I cried. I watched as Linda also began to cry and sob

"I knew you would go upstairs to her. You wouldn't check the rest of the house first. I know you would forget it all and just go find her" she sobbed

"And what the fucks wrong with that ay?" I asked as I gripped her upper arm definitely leaving marks

"I was scared. I thought if you went to help her then you would forget to protect me" what a selfish bitch

"It's your fault" I whispered in her ear as I pulled her hair harshly. I then slammed her body against the wall and started chocking her. Her face was turning blue as she tried to speak and her feet dangled off the ground as tears fell from her eyes

I didn't want to stop. I saw nothing but red as I killed my fiance. But then I was pulled off and her body dropped to the floor. She gasped for air, alive

"Arthur, Arthur look at me" my brother Tommy said. I mustn't have heard him come in

"It's her fault Tom. She's the reason he touched her" I sobbed as I reached for Linda but he stopped me

"I know. And she will be punished for it. But not by you. She's your fiance. And I can't let you do something I know you'll regret" he said to me. I nodded and sat on the floor crying as Tommy walked over to Linda. He grabbed her hair and made her look at him

"You are no longer part of this family" he said as he made her stand up and dragged her away

"Where you going Tom?" I asked

"Don't worry Arthur. You can sleep peacefully knowing she will be dead when you wake up" Linda let out a shrill scream and tried to escape Tommy's clutches but to no avail. Once they left, I finished the bottle of whiskey and washed my face of the tears. Then I went upstairs into Lydia's room. Mason was sat trying his best to stay awake. He jumped when he saw me

"Sorry. Didn't mean scare ya. Go get some sleep mate" I said to him

"I don't wanna leave her" he said. Lydia began to stir and eventually woke up from us talking

"Sorry darling. We were being too loud. Go back to sleep" Mason whispered to her

"Can you both stay with me?" She asked

"Course baby" I said. We got ready for bed and then climbed in her bed. Lydia was in the middle and my arm was over both my kids as we all fell asleep

Lydia pov

I felt his hands on me. His hot breath on my neck made me twitch as I fought to get him off. His fingers wrapped around my wrists and held my in place as he used his knees to keep my legs spread

"Sshhh. You're ok" I heard a voice. Suddenly I wasn't on the top floor being held down. But i was sat up in bed with a pool of tears and sweat. Dad was sat next to me rubbing my back and Mason wasn't here. I looked around nervously trying to see him

"He went to get you some water" dad said quietly. I nodded and evened my breathing out. The moment I looked into dad's eyes, the tears fell. I saw the pain in his eyes, the sympathy he felt for me and then guilt he felt in himself. He hugged me tight as I buried my face in my hands

"I know baby girl. I know" he said kissing my head. I heard the door open and saw Mason walk over with a glass of water

"Thanks" I said when I took the glass. I looked and saw tears in masons eyes but he was trying not to let them fall

"You can cry too ya know" i chuckled. He gave me a small smile and said

"No. I'm being daft. It was you who should be crying not me" he said

"Don't be an idiot" I said opening my arms. He let me hug him and I rubbed his back as he cried also. Dad hugged us all and gave us kisses every so often. I realise that this isn't just something that happened to me. It happened to everyone but in different forms.

Dad has been effected because he feels guilty. Like he could've done something. But there was nothing he could've done. Mason feels scared because we've both been through so much and for once he thought it was all over. And now....now we all have to work together. Make eachother strong again. No matter how long it might take

Eventually, we all fell back asleep, scared and confused. But never alone