The police arrived surprisingly quickly, approaching Rose, who hadn’t moved from my step. When she had been moved to the car, I opened the door and spoke to the responding officer. She asked for the door footage and gave me some information on where we would go from there.
“Honestly, she needs psychiatric help. The woman won’t let go and I’m worried for my wife and daughter. She’s just not getting it. I yelled in her face and she stayed on the step!”
“We’ll take her for an assessment and update you when we have something to say,” she said, giving me a card with victim resources listed on it.
As I sat down on the sofa, Rambo well and truly ruined for the night, I thought about Haz. I’d let her have one good night’s sleep before dumping this latest saga on her. Fucking Rose. I’d been working so hard on myself in counseling. I had an emotional affair and caused so much damage to people I loved. Haz and I were uncertain, I’d lost Mick’s respect, Belle tolerated me, and I was pretty sure Sean wouldn’t brake if he saw me crossing the street. I had to make amends to everyone. Self-recognition was brutal. It hurt worse than guilt and seemed tojust add more guilt. I’d caused a great deal of suffering for the people I loved. And for Haz, the suffering extended to fear. The work I was doing was painful, but I kind of liked that. I wanted some pain so that I could feel what I’d inflicted on other people.
My counselor wasn’t impressed with my desire to inflict pain on myself but assured me that feeling like I was serving some kind of penance was healthy. I just had to be careful not to flagellate myself to the point that I became depressed or despondent. I couldn’t be a functioning, loving father and husband if I was constantly whipping myself. It was a delicate balance, but I felt like I was maintaining it.
I stretched out on the sofa, knowing I probably wouldn’t even move to the bedroom tonight. I was anxious and stressed. Maybe some Rambo wouldn’t hurt after all.
Chapter 21. Harriet - Burns from the afterlife
My weekend away was amazing. I actually slept, had fun with Belle, and reconnected with Rod and Jane, who had appointed themselves honorary grandparents. Blake called several times a day and texted but kept reminding me to just have fun and ignore his calls if I was relaxing or didn’t want to speak. Counseling was helping both of us, but we still had a long way to go.
The day I returned home, Blake dropped the Rose bomb on me. This woman was unhinged and we had a serious discussion about moving. Shelley said it was important to reconnect outside Rose and parenting discussions, so we were also trying to spend time together as a family. At first, it was difficult biting my tongue. So many delicious opportunities arose to throw Rose in his face, but I shut them down. Now, they didn’t seem to come as frequently, and it wasn’t because I was holding myself back. It was because they just weren’t entering my head as much. There was a growing feeling of peace, despite the ongoing stress about Rose.
Blake was looking haggard and tired. I know he was afraid for us, but he was also so disappointed in himself. He brought home recommended reading and worksheets from his therapist, which he did diligently when I was napping or doing something with Immy.
Sean had visited a few times and there was still no thawing between him and Blake. I told Shelley that I was nervous that if Blake and I did build a new start together, Sean’s animosity would be difficult to navigate. I wasn’t about to tell my brother he wasn’t allowed to have those feelings. He was entitled to them, and I was grateful for his protection of me.
Shelley said that the fallout from infidelity doesn’t just affect the immediate partners. It can spread to the workplace, broader family, and friendship groups. Blake had learnt that the hard way. I found myself softening toward him. He was hurting, that much I could tell. Whenever we spoke, he never referred to his feelings, which I appreciated, but he was going to have to if we could move forward. Actually, “move forward” was the wrong term. We had to start something fresh. The old us was tainted by Blake’s actions.
After dinner, we had settled in for a game of cards (a new activity for us), when Blake’s Ring doorbell app pinged. It was Leo. Blake let him in, and he stood in our living room holding a piece of paper.
“Hey guys, hope little Immy is keeping you on your toes. I received this yesterday and thought you might be interested. Colin’s will was released. He’d attached a letter to it.” He offered me the letter.
To Ms. Rose Fennech, Ms, Loretta Swan, and Mr. Leo Cranwell,
Re: Estate of the late Mr. Colin Eric Fennech, proprietor and retired gentleman.
I, Colin Eric Fennech, changed my will recently. I am of sound mind, as attested to by the attached letter from neurologist Dr. Minh Au.
To Mr. and Mrs. Leo and Jacqui Cranwell, I leave 25% of my estate. You have both stood by me for decades, even in the difficult times. Your kindness toward my wife Lorraine has never been forgotten. You are good neighbors and kind people.
To Ms. Loretta Swan, I leave you $5 so you cannot contest my will. By including you, I have ensured you cannot argue legally that I have “forgotten” you. I knowwho and what you are—the biggest regret of my life. Have the life you deserve.
To Ms. Rose Fennech, thank you for offering to care for me, though I do question your motives. I leave you $1,000 as a thank you for your care. As you are not my daughter, I leave you nothing else. I am infertile due to a childhood accident. I have always known this, as did my wife Lorraine. Lorraine was not the one unable to have children; I was. She accepted me and loved me, no matter what. I paid your mother so that you could live a comfortable life. Your mother’s actions are not your fault, but I am not your father so I will give you nothing more.
I leave the rest of my estate to the Motor Neuron Disease Foundation in honor of my dear wife Lorraine. May the funds help them reduce the suffering of others.
Yours truly,
Mr. Colin Eric Fennech
I shoved the letter to Blake, astonished. So, Colin changed his will before he declined. Crafty old bugger. Rose wasn’t his daughter? I felt a very short-lived pang of sympathy for her, that is, if she hadn’t known the truth from her mother. The house would be sold! Rose inherited nothing!
“Wow,” Blake said softly.
“I know,” Leo agreed. “I said to Jacqui yesterday that it’s like bloodyDays of Our Livesin this street. We are stunned that he included us. I mean, we’ve helped him over the years, but it’s sad that he considered us such close friends. We didn’t really socialize, just chatted every now and then. We feel bad accepting it, but Jacqui says it will really help Ben and Lucy with their families, so we’re going to take it and honor Colin in some way.”
“You deserve it. You two are always there for people,” I praised him. “Always.”
“I guess the fruitcake will have to leave now,” Leo said excitedly. “Then you two can stay!”
I looked at Blake. We’d discussed this a bit, and while fear of Rose was a motive to move, so was gaining a fresh start.
“Any word on Rose?” Leo asked. Blake had told him about the doorbell debacle because as much as I loved Leo, he was a busybody and no doubt would have seen the police that night. “Yeah, she was put on a psych hold and released to her mother. I’ve heard nothing more but she’s not been home. They won’t tell me anything beyond when she was released from custody. Charges were pressed, but she’s not considered well enough to face them right now.”
