Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2021 10:16:27 +0000 From: Isuccum Subject: What came next 7 What Came Next A sequel to `The Valley Cottage' Only one more chapter to go after this. Please consider giving Nifty a help to keep this site open and free. Simply click on the Donate' button Chapter 7 Martin woke before me in the morning and managed to get out of bed without disturbing me. When I did wake up, he was lying on the bed, dressed but with his eyes closed. He must have sensed I was looking at him, because he opened his eyes and smiled at me. Then he asked, "Did you get lonely last night?" "What do you mean?" "I go to bed by myself and wake up with this sexy boy lying next me with his hard-on poking into my leg." "You said you wanted me to stay," I replied somewhat indignantly. "When?" "Last night, after you had that nightmare." "What nightmare? Are you making things up?" Martin asked. "No. You can ask my parents. You were crying out and screaming as though you were being beaten. I came running through and tried to comfort you. My parents came in too." "Seriously? You're not having me on?" "I wouldn't joke about something like that. It was horrible for you. I could tell. You were very upset. Plus I was naked and my parents were watching me trying to comfort you. I wouldn't make that up." "I believe you, because I trust you. But I don't remember it at all." "Mum will let you know that it's true. She will say something before either of us can say anything," I told him. I got up and put my gown on to go have a much needed pee. Then I brushed my teeth and washed up before going back to my own room and getting dressed. Once I was ready I got Martin, and we went downstairs in search of breakfast. With the disturbance in the night, Dad had let me sleep in later than usual, so we had missed the normal breakfast time. Mum was waiting for us. She had heard us moving around upstairs and had already got some bacon and eggs on the go. She didn't let me down, either. "Good morning, boys. Martin, how are you feeling after that last night?" she asked "Morning, Mum. Martin doesn't remember any of it," I said. "Morning. Sorry I don't know," Martin answered. "Oh well, perhaps that's for the better. Your breakfast's nearly ready, and by the time you've finished, we'll need to leave to get your things from the house," Mum said. "We'll take the pick-up to make sure we can bring everything you want." "Thank you. I don't know what would've happened if it weren't for you all," Martin said. We ate up and cleared away and then went out to wait by the pick-up for Mum. While we were sitting on the tailboard, Will came past with one of the tractors with a back hoe attached to it. "Hi, guys. How're you both doing?" "Okay, I think. What're you doing with the back-hoe?" I asked. "Your dad wants to split the middle pasture into two. He needs to put a water trough in the second part, and I get to dig the trench for the pipe to lie in," Will said. "Why's he splitting it into two? Won't that make them too small for the cows?" "I think I heard something about getting some sheep," Will said. "I'll have to grill him when he comes in for his meal," I said and smiled. "Nah, I don't think grilled father tastes too good," Will said and chuckled. He started the tractor up again and trundled off toward the middle pasture. Mum came out before we could discuss any of what I'd just learned. I thought I wanted to ask Dad directly about getting sheep, so I didn't raise the subject with Mum as we travelled to Martin's house. When we arrived there were a couple of other cars in the yard and some people standing around outside the house. Martin seemed to perk up a bit. As soon as the car stopped he was out and moving as fast as his wounded body would allow, calling out, "Bethany!" His sister turned, and her face lit up in a smile when she realised it was Martin. Then the smile changed to concern and she ran to him. "Slow down! I'll come. What did he do to you?" she cried out. "I'm getting better. Are you okay?" "Yeah. I'm fine. Rosie's parents are letting me stay with them. The police won't let us stay in this house for now." "Have you seen Mum or Dad?" "No. I know Mum didn't beat you or anything, but she must have known what Dad was doing and didn't try to stop it. I didn't want to see them till I knew you were okay. I was worried I might say something that would make it worse for you. I just wish I had been home, but with the change in plans, I went straight to Rosie's house and we took off the next day to see the college and all. When I got back I found out some of what happened. I'm sorry I didn't come to see you in hospital, but we didn't even know which hospital you were in. The police wouldn't tell Rosie's parents anything." Bethany got all that out in almost one breath. "It's okay. I don't mind you not coming to visit in the hospital. I don't think I was much good in there, anyway. But I'm getting better. At least I can walk now, and almost see as good as before. I think it will all be okay once the swelling goes down completely." One of the people in the yard – a police officer – approached us. "I'm sorry to interrupt you two. Perhaps you can spend some time after you have got what you need. We do have to get this done and then go back to our normal jobs." "Yes. Sorry. What are we allowed to take?" Bethany asked. "You can take anything from your own bedrooms and any clothing of yours that might be in the laundry. For anything else you'll have to ask. We also have to make an inventory of what you take and have each of you sign it," a man standing next to the police officer said. "And who are you?" Bethany asked. He held out an I.D. card. "I'm Michael Morten, from the Social Services. Normally I would be getting just a bit of your clothing for you to take to wherever you were being housed, but as you are not going to temporary housing and both of you have got people to stand guardian for you, we can allow you to choose and take what you want." "Thank you. And who are you?" Bethany asked a rather stern looking woman standing behind the two men. "I'm your parents' solicitor. I'm here to witness what you take, to protect you and your parents." "So, are you going to be trying to get them off doing this to me?" Martin asked, his concern and anger clearly evident in his voice and manner. "No. I'm not their defence council. I will look to their welfare, including seeing that their property remains safe until it has been decided if they are going to be prosecuted or not. The CPS have not yet brought formal charges against either of them," the woman said. Martin turned to another girl and a woman who just had to be her mother, the likeness was so remarkable. "I guess you are Rosie and Rosie's mum?" he asked. They said they were and Martin said, "This is my boyfriend, Rick, and his mum." The two mums moved closer and shook hands, expressing pleasure at meeting each other. Rosie's mum asked Morten if Bethany would be allowed to take her bed, and if so, if they would be able to come back later to collect it once transport had been arranged. Morten said it would be allowed, but there would be a problem with coming back later as there needed to be witnesses to record exactly what was taken. Mum overheard this and interrupted. "Give me a moment. I'll just make a call and see if we can't help you." She fished her mobile out of her bag and tapped away at it as she walked a little bit away from the rest of us. After a short conversation, she put her phone away and said, "We'll have a little lorry and some muscle here in about twenty minutes. They will help you take the bed." "Oh, thank you so much," Rosie's mum said. "We've had to give Bethany an air mattress on the floor for now. I'm sure she'll be much better off with her own bed," Rosie's mum said. "Not a problem. These two have had a raw deal and need all the help, comfort and encouragement we can give them," Mum said. "By the way, you're all welcome to come and visit anytime. I'm sure Martin will enjoy seeing his sister before she heads off to university." The group moved into the house after the solicitor had unlocked the front door. "I'm afraid we'll have to go as a group so that we can be witnesses that nothing was taken that is not listed," she said as we piled in the front door. "Bethany, you go first. You're going to have to get a lot more than me with the bed and all," Martin said. Bethany led the way upstairs to her room with Martin and me bringing up the rear, as Martin was not as fast as the others. Bethany went straight to her wardrobe and pulled out some carry-alls and a couple of suitcases. She started with her clothing, leaving some that she was not that interested in behind. This left room for her laptop and some other items from her desk that she thought she'd need. She also took a couple of pictures and all the photographs she had on her walls. I helped to carry the suitcases down and was glad when I got to the front door to see Will arriving in the three and half tonner. One of the other employees, Joshua, was with him. Will parked the truck and they both got out and greeted me. I showed them the way up and they manhandled the bed down to the truck. This was followed by Bethany's desk and chair and her dressing table. While she had her own room at Rosie's house, she didn't have any furniture in it. Joshua hadn't seen Martin before but knew the story of what had happened. When he saw Martin, he first showed shock and then concern; his eyes were glistening with tears. He was only a couple of years older than Will. He was a hard farmer but also a real softie and compassionate person. I could see he was struggling to keep control and as soon as he managed to bring himself under control he stepped over to Martin and said, "If you need anything, just ask. I'll do what I can to help you." Martin was taken aback a bit as he had never met Joshua before, and he wasn't too sure how to respond to this kindness coming out of the blue from a virtual stranger. I also looked at Joshua in a new light. While I knew all four of the employees, I had only really spent time with Will. The other three, all in their twenties, hadn't come into contact with me much. I knew their names and greeted them when I saw them, but I'd never gone out and worked alongside any of them other than Will. Once all of Bethany's stuff had been listed and loaded onto the lorry she insisted on helping Martin get his stuff together. Mum had thought ahead and brought a number of cardboard boxes to help carry what Martin wanted. He was really pleased to find his mobile phone still on his nightstand where he had left it. He had forgotten to put it on charge the evening before, and it ran out of battery while we were still having some fun on his bed, before we moved outside to the shed. When Martin had taken everything he wanted from his room he turned to Bethany and asked, "Would you mind if I take that photo of us that's on the sideboard in the dining room?" "No! I've got one that's similar anyway," Bethany answered. He then looked at the solicitor and asked if it would be okay for him to take that photo. We all had to go downstairs and see the picture he was talking about before the solicitor would give her approval. She did and made sure it was listed on the inventory as having come from the dining room. While she did give an air of being stern, she also showed some compassion towards Bethany and Martin and encouraged them to take as much as they wanted from their own rooms. Once everything was packed up and loaded, Will and Joshua left, following Rosie and her mum, with Bethany riding in the truck to direct them if they lost contact with the other car on the way. We climbed back into the pick-up and headed home. On the way Mum said to Martin, "Bethany is with some good and caring people. I got a chance to talk to Rosie's mum about her going to university and she assured me that they would make sure Bethany was taken care of as best as they can. She said not having to go out and buy bedroom furniture will be a big help." I'm sure she was trying to re-assure Martin that Bethany was going to be alright. It was very clear to us all that the two of them shared a strong, close relationship. Mum and I did most of the carrying to get Martin's stuff into his room. Then he and I spent some time getting it all put away where he wanted it. The picture of him and Bethany went on his bedside cabinet where he could see it while lying in bed. I knew he'd have some emotional needs, but at fourteen I didn't really understand all that he'd struggle with. Having that picture seemed to help him. Sometimes I'd come into his room and he would be sitting on his bed, holding the picture, with a soulful look on his face. I tried to comfort him as best I could, but it wasn't enough. Martin had been with us for a little over a week when we were told that his parents were to be charged both jointly and individually. The joint charges covered neglect and child endangerment. Martin's dad was also going to be charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, unlawful imprisonment of a minor and cruelty towards a minor. The joint charges were going to be heard first. After a verdict on those, his father would appear separately for the other charges. The Crown Prosecutor came to speak with Martin, who insisted on having me or one of my parents present. My dad immediately said he would be with Martin. By the end of the first interview, the prosecutor said that it was apparent Martin had some emotional issues as well as the physical and he would put in a request that Martin be allowed to testify by video link and not have to be in the court room in front of his parents at all. Martin seemed relieved about that when he told me. The nightmare he had had the first night with us plagued him a couple of times a week. He'd always wake up in the morning with no recollection of it at all. Mum and Dad did what they could to comfort him, but I could see they were becoming increasingly concerned. When there appeared to be no improvement towards the end of the holidays, mum took him to see the doctor. A course of counselling was advised. Before the counselling could begin, the trials of Martin's parents began. Dad took Martin into town and stayed with him while he waited to give his testimony. He was in the same building but in a part that was not accessible from the court's public areas. While he was waiting one of the staff made sure he and Dad had drinks and were kept apprised of how the proceedings were going. Dad said Martin was very strong and gave his testimony clearly and honestly. His parents were both found guilty on the neglect and child endangerment charges. The judge ruled that their parental rights over their children be removed and the children placed into the care of the social services. They were each sentenced to six months in prison. Two weeks later Martin's father was back in the dock to answer to the more serious charges. Martin again was asked to testify by video link, and Dad supported him by taking him and staying with him. It was at this trial that the abuse his father gave him was shown in greater detail. The jury took less than an hour to agree unanimously to a guilty verdict on all charges. Bethany had been in the courtroom for the whole trial, and she told us that the judge in passing sentence had said that if he had not heard it under oath and seen the pictures of the injuries sustained, he would never have believed a father could do that to his own flesh and blood. Having been found guilty on three charges the judge sentenced him separately for each one giving him a total of fifty years in prison with the sentences to run consecutively. I must have looked a bit blank when Bethany was telling us this. She explained that it meant he had to complete the first sentence before he could start the next one, and that meant that he probably would serve at least forty years before he could possibly be released. "How do you feel about that?" I asked both of them. Bethany answered first. "I've got mixed emotions. I hate what Dad did to Martin, and I'm disgusted that Mum did nothing to try and stop him. But they still are the parents I've lived with all my life. I still have some love for them, even though I've lost all respect. When Mum gets out in a few months, I'll not got back to live with her unless I have no other option. But Rosie's folks have told me I'll always have a place with them, even when I go off to university." "I never want to see that man again. I know he's my biological father, but in the short time I've been with you, I've had more love and fathering from your dad than I ever got from him. Mum I'll have to think about. That she didn't try to stop Dad hurts a lot. She could have called the police and got him taken away before he beat me till I couldn't see or chained me up like some wild animal. That's going to be hard to forgive, and I can't see me ever forgetting it," Martin said. "Martin, you'll always have a home here with us. No matter what you decide in the future, you're welcome to live with us as much as you want," Dad said as he came into the room. I think he'd overheard some of the conversation we'd had, because he added, "The counselling you're getting will help you to get things into perspective and give you a base to make your decisions on. For now, don't even try to think what you should or shouldn't do. Just work on getting better, and know we all love you and care a lot about you." I looked up to Dad with tears shining in my eyes and mouthed a silent "Thank you."