Page 53 of Quiet Longing

Seconds later, she was in front of me, the towel she’d been clutching forgotten and fallen to the floor as her fingers went tomy face. I winced when she gently touched my cheekbone then my jaw, her eyes etched in sadness as she studied my split lip. I wanted to tell her to go away so I could wallow alone, but I was also too addicted to the caring way she searched me, checking for where I was hurt.

I expected her to ask questions, demand I tell her who did this to me, but she didn’t. Instead, she stepped back, her expression full of compassion. I was so close to breaking, and her quiet presence was a balm to my chaotic emotions. “I’ll go find a first-aid kit and grab you a change of clothes.”

With that, she left, and I finished undressing before stepping under the hot spray, wincing when the water lashed at my hurting face.

13.

Charli

My heart was in my throat as I hurried upstairs to my room, quickly changing out of my swimsuit before I went in search of medical supplies. My hair hung wet and tangled around my shoulders, but there was no time to dry it. Rhys was hurt, and I couldn’t focus on anything until I knew he was okay.

The sight of him battered and bruised shocked me to my core. His handsome face all bloody and swollen had my stomach knotting itself with nausea, my nose stinging from pushing back the tears that wanted to fall.

Hurrying to Derek’s room, I rummaged through Rhys’ backpack to find him some clean clothes. Then I was on the move again, this time headed for the bathroom. I found a first-aid kit in the closet next to the sink and was on my way back to Rhys when I passed by my uncle’s office. The door was ajar, and it sounded like he was on the phone to someone. I’d never heard him so frustrated.

“I just think it’s time you told her the truth, Lou. She’s old enough now. She deserves to know.”

Lou? Was he talking to my mom? Her name was Louise, but lots of people shortened it to Lou. And what did he mean, she deserves to know? Who were they talking about?

“Listen, Jo is just really upset. Having Charli here is bringing up a lot of memories, and she really feels it would be beneficial to get everything out in the open. I don’t want to fight with you about this again.”

Wait a second. They were talking aboutme?

I couldn’t hear what was said on the other end, but Uncle Padraig sighed wearily. Peering through the gap in the door, Isaw him sitting at his desk, his phone held to his ear with one hand while he held his head in the other.

He looked stressed and exhausted, and my mind reeled. From what I could piece together, he was trying to convince my mom to tell me something she didn’t want to, and it also had to do with the fight they’d had all those years ago. I’d always thought they’d fought over money, but that wasn’t it. It was somehow about me, and a hollowness filled my stomach. I just couldn’t imagine why they would’ve possibly fought over me.

Also, what did Aunt Jo have to do with it? Bringing up memories? It didn’t make sense.

Remembering Rhys was still waiting for me, I made a note to call Mom and ask her what exactly was going on before I continued downstairs. When I reached the shower room, Rhys was standing by the sink, hands braced against it as he stared at the floor, a towel around his waist and another about his shoulders, covering most of his torso. He looked weighed down, his shoulders sagging under the heavy pressure.

“Hey,” I said, stepping past the threshold and lifting the first-aid kit. A shiver trickled through me, and I couldn’t tell if it was due to my damp hair, what I’d overheard Uncle Padraig saying on the phone, or the awful sight of Rhys’ injuries. He had a split lip, one of his eyes was swelling, and his right cheek was dark with bruising. There was also a nasty looking cut on his temple.

“Rhys, you’re still bleeding,” I gasped, stepping close. “Let’s go sit down somewhere so I can patch you up.” I gently touched his hand and motioned for him to follow me.

I walked out and sat on one of the lounge chairs by the pool. Rhys sat next to me, and I quickly opened the dark green box. I searched for some bandages and something to clean his cuts with. My stomach twisted all the while.

“Whoever did this to you,” I began, my throat thickening with emotion. “I hope—”

“It was my dad,” Rhys blurted, and my eyes flashed to his. They were endlessly blue and full of shame. I wished to say so many things, make him see the shame was his father’s to carry, not his. But I didn’t say it because he was leaking tension, and I didn’t want to upset him. I needed to check his injuries.

I swallowed past the painful lump to ask, “Where is he now?”

“Gone. He won’t be bothering me again.”

“How do you know?” My voice was soft, quiet. I felt like if I spoke at a normal volume, I might spook him. He’d close himself off when everything inside me was begging to be let in.

Rhys looked away for a moment. I poured some antiseptic liquid onto a cotton ball and dabbed at the blood on his temple. The sharp, medical smell stung my nose, but Rhys barely flinched when I gently pressed it to his wound. His eyes returned to mine, and suddenly, gone was the shame. Now they were full of determination.

“I let him hurt me. I didn’t fight back because he came at me right in front of the hotel’s CCTV cameras, and I wanted it recorded.”

Hearing this, tears welled behind my eyes. I wanted to cry for him because I cared about him a lot, and the idea of him letting himself be beaten … It didn’t bear thinking about.

Finally, he continued, “I wanted it on camera so I’d have leverage. My dad has a record, and if I go to the Guards with the footage, he’ll do time. I told him that was exactly what I’d do if he didn’t sign the divorce papers and agree to all of Mam’s terms.”

“Rhys, my goodness,” I breathed, my heart swelling. He let himself be beaten to a pulp so his mother could get her divorce? It was a dangerous thing to do, not to mention risky. If his dad was the sort of man I imagined he was, then he might not respond well to blackmail.

“That was very brave of you, Rhys, but please don’t ever do anything like that again. These injuries will heal, but they could’ve been worse. He could’ve put you in the hospital or …” I didn’t finish the sentence because I honestly couldn’t bear the thought of Rhys dying. I’d only known him a short time, but he meant so much to me already.

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