Page 65 of Cuts Like An Angel: Part 3

“It’s my house, and I am your mother.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. This woman wasn’t his mother. She might have looked like him, maybe they had the same nose and the same eyes, but beyond genetic resemblances, there was nothing motherly about this woman. “You’re just the woman who gave birth to me,” he said, not quite believing he’d finally said it.

“Yes, and what an awful mistake that was. I was trying to help you, if you must know. But it seems whenever I try and do the right thing, you throw it back into my face. Just like your father.”

“I don’t need your help.”

Maria turned to look at the door. William copied her. Rosie was standing there, first aid kit in her hand.

“Give us a minute,” he said.

“Do you mind if I stay?”

“Yes,” Maria said.

“No,” William said at the same time.

“You see?” Maria said, pointing a finger at Rosie like Rosie being there made her point. “You’re besotted with her. Lost. You men are all the same; get your dicks hard, and all thought goes out the window. You do know what her parents told me about her? She lies to you, William. She takes you for a ride and you let her because you want to get your knob wet. Like all men. And you’re naïve. I know you can’t help that part, but I’m not. I see through her shit.”

“Hey …”

William put his hand up to stop Rosie. It wouldn’t matter what she said to his mother, she’d just twist it. “You hear what you want. See what you want. How do you know they aren’t lying to you? Huh? You’re just jealous. You see I have something good and you want to ruin it because you’re sad in your own miserable little life.”

“My life wasn’t miserable until you came along.”

The words stunned him for a second, and he felt Rosie moving closer to him, wanting to protect him, but this was nothing new. Just the way she said it had changed. “Say what you want. You brought me into this world. That was your choice.”

“You know she’s crazy, right? I mean, crazy that she has been in institutions.” Maria laughed. “Probably why you two get on so well. Live in your own delusional world together.”

“I don’t know what my mother told you--”

“I’ve seen the paperwork,” Maria said. “Accused your father’s colleague of molestation.” Maria looked Rosie up and down in slow movements, starting at her feet, going all the way to her head and back down again, and as she did, her lip curled at the edges. “You think too highly of yourself, Love.”

“You need to watch what you say …”

“Or what? You’ll hit me again? Did he tell you that, Rosie? That he likes to hit women?”

“You’re twisting shit.” He clenched his fists to his sides almost like he could feel that night when he’d snapped … when he’d lost it. When he’d gone to the bridge.

“They put her in the looney bin, William. I’m telling you, this girl ain’t right in the head.”

“You know nothing about me,” Rosie said. “Nothing at all. My father--”

“Your father told me all about you. How you used to throw yourself at the men who worked for him. How you’d come down the stairs in short skirts and no knickers on. Oh, yes, Girly. I know all about you.”

Rosie stepped forwards, but William caught her and winced as she made contact with his arm.

“Shiiiitttt.”

“They’re lying.” Rosie said. “They are … William …”

“Don’t,” he said, clutching his arm. “Don’t bother to reason with her. It’ll just make you mad.”

His mother was like that kid in the exorcist film, all dark and twisted with eyes so full of hatred and anger. She had nothing but filth and lies to spew from her lips.

“You know she had a baby, right? She’d been screwing one of the lads at school, got herself knocked up and when he realised what she’d done and wanted nothing to do with it, she tried to pin it on one of her father’s businessmen. What kind of self-respecting girl does that? How old were you? Thirteen? Fourteen?”

Rosie breathed hard. “It was his.” She sucked in a sob as she spoke, her voice quivered. “It was.”

“Probably fortunate the baby died.”

“Mother …”

“Well … it’s the truth.”

Rosie’s face was red, her eyes wide and pink. Her cheeks were wet. William reached for her and she went to speak, but all she managed was to heave. She covered her mouth with her hand and darted out of the room.”

William had no words for his mother. Nothing at all. He met her hateful gaze and saw her … maybe saw her for the first time in his life.

Maria scoffed a laugh. “You don’t have it in you, lad. Now, give me my remote.”

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