“Don’t believe you. Come on truth Mrs.” Jeanie sat at the neatly laid table and as she brushed her hands across the crisp cloth and breathed deeply the truth was written all over her face.
“Ok. We’ve been married 3 months and I know our wedding day was a shambles and I’m not exactly great to look at, but since our wedding day he hasn’t kissed me, or touched me. He’s even stopped saying I love you.” Jeanie’s bottom lip began to quiver as she started again.
“He loves me I know that or he wouldn’t be here, but I don’t want to touch him just in case or try to hold him because it feels like I’m such a disappointment.”
James stood at the door as Jeanie finished speaking, “Ivy can you give us a minute please, “
James sat in Ivy’s seat and Jeanie looked like a patient he was seeing rather than talking to his wife.
“You honestly feel like I’m treating you like a disappointment?”
“NO I feel like I’m a disappointment and that’s why your avoiding me!” James stood up and raised his voice and as the debate had now turned into an argument he knew whatever was trying to hide had not been done well.
“How can I fucking avoid you when I see you most days at the base, if I where avoiding you I wouldn’t come home!”
“So why is it every time I come near you or try to touch you …..?You run away….if I make you feel that bad James why in gods name are you here?” Your avoiding speaking to me you don’t even look at me when you come home. I’ve been married to you for three months and you won’t even touch me what does that say James. If you couldn’t cope with this situation why are here? I don’t blame you I’m just confused.” James unable to answer his wife lit a cigarette at the back door and tried to calm down.
“Ok Jeanie please I don’t know how to say this. I don’t want to say this because I know it’s going to hurt, but I have to say it cause it’s what I’m we’re both thinking. Oh god,” Taking a long pause he pondered how to word his concerns. She was right he had tried so hard to hide his feelings that all it had done had isolated her more.
“I look at you and it reminds me of him, it reminds me of him and I can’t Jeanie.” Jeanie nodded her head and swallowed deep, “Then don’t be here James, walk away I won’t blame you. I don’t know why you didn’t on our wedding day. I’m ashamed enough of myself that I slept with a married man who turns out to be the biggest mistake of my life.
I have to deal with the consequences James because it’s growing inside me and I don’t need you to remind me everyday because I’m living it. But don’t treat me like a second class citizen either. I love you. You know through all of this I fell in love you and it kills me when your not here……but every time you’re here I want you to leave because of the way you make me feel. Whether you think it or not…I deserve more.” Jeanie opened the kitchen door ran upstairs and as she changed back into her dungarees and old floppy jumper tears began to fall.
She wanted her relationship to work, she had also grown attached to her baby and the choice between them split her heart. Running downstairs James didn’t even say a word and as she disappeared into the night he could feel Jeanie’s pain.
Standing at the back door he lit another cigarette, trying desperately to hold back the tears, “I’m making her choose.” His thought exhaled under his breath.
Hearing the commotion Irene walked into the kitchen dropping her plates into the sink she had heard everything, “You know Jeanie isn’t her father’s, and for a long time I was ashamed to say it…. I had an affair a long time ago now, I deeply regret my mistake, but never once did I regret Jeanie. Jeanie knows this as her dad told her. But you know Frank my husband loved her with all his heart and she grew up exactly like him.
James I never wanted to admit it but she’s so special, she’s only a half sister but she’s the glue that sticks this family together and in time I think after this war goes away you will understand the reasons again why you love her so much.” James never responded grabbing his coat off the hook he ran out of the door before anyone could stop him.
Irene’s words had been a blessing, the baby would be half of Jeanie and he loved that half more than anything else in the world. Irene had almost lifted a weight of his mind but Jeanie was nowhere to be seen.
Lieutenant Signthorpe was rummaging through her desk as she arrived back at the base. Jeanie rolled her eyes as over the last few months he had been another pain in her side that she had had to bare. Approaching him cautiously Jeanie started to question his intentions.
“Anything I can do for you Lieutenant.” He stood up abruptly as if he had just been caught with his hands in the till. He looked Jeanie up and down and immediately she felt uncomfortable.
“Pregnant now as well, so how are you going to get these done then in your condition?” He continued to walk around Jeanie in a circle.
Jeanie feeling a little pissed off that he was now questioning her didn’t need another man with an attitude telling her what she could and couldn’t do. “All done. Just the final few checks to do SIR.”
Before he continued he spat on the floor and as the spit dripped down his chin she was repulsed at his actions.
“You’re a pathetic little woman who obviously likes getting fucked. You have made me look ridiculous you insubordinate cunt. I fucking hate people like you who think they are better than anyone else.”
“I think you’re fucking drunk and it’s time to leave sir.” Before Jeanie finished he threw her against the wall, “Well little toy soldier I’m a fucking engineer make me leave.” Jeanie pushed him away and walked out of the door across the yard, she new Mike would be making checks and she felt compelled to find him.
“I'm coming for you. You fucking toy soldier.” He spat again and with it dripping off his arm as he wiped it away.
“What do you fucking want from me?” Heading into the vehicle compound she hoped to see a glimpse of Mike.
Checking furiously Signthorpe grabbed Jeanie by the throat pushing her into the side of the truck door. He draped his body over forcing her to gasp for breath.
Feeling his stinking breath on her neck she started to fight and as she kicked out he seem to revel in her distress.
“I’m going to fucking show you what a proper soldier feels like,” as he finished his sentence he punched Jeanie in the ribs and as she fell to the floor he lifted her up towards him with her hair.
Vying for her freedom Jeanie head butted him and crawled under the vehicle to look for safety.
“You fucking bitch. You are fucking going to pay for that.”
Jeanie still holding her side slipped around the back of the adjacent truck. Desperately trying to find freedom she squoze through the small gap between the back fences. As she stood on the foot plate she wanted to scream out for Mike but she needed to get away from the Lieutenant first.
Jeanie could feel her heart beat louder and louder in her ear the worst thing was she couldn’t see or hear him.
“Where the fuck are you.” As she moved slowly around the vehicle she checked the side of the truck. She could smell him; his aftershave lingered in the air making her panic.
Signthorpe crawled underneath and grabbed her leg and as he pulled her down he’d seen her coming. Jeanie’s head hit the floor with a thud.
Squinting and dazed blood pored from her brow and as she fought to come to her senses she felt him crawl over her body ripping the buttons off her dungarees. He pulled her clothes down and as he lurched his body on top of her and leaned in her ear, “Ready for a real soldier.”
Jeanie still trying to pull herself together felt the pain of him on top of her and as she started to kick and scream as much as she could, Signthorpe placed his hand over her mouth and took off his belt. He tried to bind her arms together but with Jeanie struggling and screaming he hit her again this time with the buckle. The end sliced her flesh again and once more she winced with the pain.
Grabbing his arm she tried to free her other hand from his grasp.
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“Fucking hold still you bitch.”
Taking her opportunity she hit him with her elbow and as she felt the slight release she knocked him side wards she turned over on her stomach. Dragging her body out from under the truck she made it to her feet and as she ran away a noise shattered the silence and within seconds Jeanie fell to the floor.
Blood poured from her right shoulder and as she gasped with the pain she felt the hole run deep.
Signthorpe had gone from raping her to wanting her dead.
As he pulled his shirt over his shoulder and walked towards her Jeanie cried out with the pain dragging herself to her knees.
“Fucking run bitch and I’ll kill you were you stand.”
“Help me please…someone help me.”
“Fucking bitches like you need putting in there place.” Jeanie desperate for help felt the blood drain from her left shoulder and as the rain poured it gathered around her like a red river.
Bullets fired again and again.
Please help me someone for the love of Christ please help me.
As the pain intensified Jeanie lay struggling to breath. Paralysed the blood ran from her body and on seeing Signthorpe standing over her, she knew she had to make one last stand if she was ever going to survive.
He rested his foot on her throat looking pleased with his masterpiece. She saw his amusement at her bullet ridden body
” Get out of this one bitch.”
Jeanie felt powerless as he licked the blood off the side of Jeanie’s cheek. She knew she was dying.
Running his fingers down her broken body Jeanie saw her last attempt at life. Jeanie grabbed his gun.
Still struggling and refusing to give up she stretched and placed the gun under his chin, as he grasped at it she fired.
Signthorpe fell backwards into the gutter, his body twitched and jolted at the violence of his death.
He’s dead he has to be
Jeanie tried with all her might to drag her cold wet, lifeless body towards the main compound, as she moved the blood trail started to become more apparent. Unable to move any more Jeanie lay face down on the floor only able to whisper.
Hearing the commotion and desperately trying to find his way through the mass of vehicles Mike appeared from the side of the compound seeing two bodies on the floor he met the Lieutenant’s body first.
“Fuck Jeanie. JEANIE!!.”
Mike started to scream in panic hearing Jeanie’s faint whispers from the floor. “Help. Help someone fucking help me,”
The disorder had sparked an early return for John and noticing the private screaming he stopped the car. Seeing Jeanie’s body on the floor the horror started to play out in his mind.
Kneeling at her side he checked her pulse, she was motionless and the stillness of her actions frightened him more, “Wake up baby come on Jea wake up. I know you fucking hate me but at least wake up to tell me” John held her in his arms and screamed to the private, “Go and get a medic.” Jeanie’s eyes fluttered
“Fuck. Jeanie baby come on helps coming.” John took his Jacket off and placed it over her trying to keep compression of the fluid which was now flowing out of her stomach. John held her tight trying to stop the stem of blood. Her skin was cold and clammy to touch and John could feel his heartbeat in his throat he couldn’t let her die.
James had seen the gathering at the gatehouse thinking a fight had broke out he sauntered over to the crowd. Mike frantic bellowed out his name following Mike’s voice he instantly knew
“Jeanie, Jeanie….John what the fuck has happened?” As he reached her the amniotic fluid had started to gush out.
“James she needs you think, she’s going to die come on. James get a fucking grip please.”
“She needs surgery or she going to die. Keep compression on the wound and we need to get her into theatre.” John took Jeanie’s weight and picked her whole body up from the floor.
“James you fucking set it up, Mike make sure we get her there.”
Jeanie lay lifeless in John’s arms. She looked more like a rag doll than a woman, her pale skin translucent against the stark corridor lighting almost emphasised the lack of life she had left.
John felt her heartbeat weaken until he felt nothing but his own. His heart pounded louder as they rushed through door after door.
Jeanie saw light after light as she lay unable to move.
James and John slid Jeanie’s body onto the table and Jeanie tried to speak under her breath. In the effort to speak her breath disappeared, James ushered John and Mike out of the room knowing it was a fight against time to save her. A couple hours later he emerged, “Get her sisters and her mum we need blood.” Without a second thought they both disappeared down the corridor,
James was grappling to save her life and as he tried to repair her he tried to forget this was his wife.
John arrived at the cottage still covered in Jeanie’s blood. As he tried to wipe it away he couldn’t believe what had happened. Irene flung open the door and spat with contempt at the sight of John
“Why the hell are you here?” she then noticed his coat covered with blood and the look on his face suggested more, “Irene Jeanie.”
He didn’t need to say more, gathering her daughters within minutes they where out the door and arriving at the base.
Sat in rows they waited and as the blood flowed through into the clear glass bottles she couldn’t help but think of her beautiful talented girl.
Ivy couldn’t sit still her agitation was written over every expression. John he held out his hand hoping for her to extend some comfort. Sitting together hand in hand they both desperately waited for any news on Jeanie and the baby.
The waiting room began to feel claustrophobic and with it Mike paced back and forth with his hands placed on the back of his head. Unable to comprehend the wait he made his way out of the make shift waiting room. The area had been cordoned off and soldiers gathered around him waiting for any news. Returning he spoke to John, “Sorry sir but your needed.”
John excused himself and soberly made his way to the courtyard, “Sir we need you to identify.” Putting his hands in his pockets he walked sombrely to the garage.
Signthorpe’s body was lay on a clean white board on the floor and as John lifted the blanket he could see Jeanie had killed him by a single bullet to the head.
Sitting down in the chair at the side of the oil drum he rested his head on his now crossed fingers. Nodding he needed another look he needed to understand.
Lifting the cover back he saw Signthorpe had been hit several times. The scratch marks bore deep down his chest where Jeanie had made her last efforts to get away. John wiped his brow he didn’t understand why this would happen.
Questions had also started circulating as to why Signthorpe would want to kill a member of his unit. Unable to concentrate thought’s returned to Jeanie and his baby.
He loved her more than she realised and the thought of his baby dying and Jeanie along with it was something John couldn’t come to terms with. As the rain came down the whole base was sombre. Mike had returned to his side John unable to speak John lifted his head,” Can I speak off the record Sir.” John nodded and sat back, “This piece of shit has been around here a couple of times scoping out the joint and asking after her. I never thought anything of it, but there you go. I didn’t realise he intended to do this Sir. I just thought he was well you know after Jeanie, she’s a bitch sorry sir but I love her as if she was my own sister sir and this is just fucked up.” pausing for thought Mike continued,” Sorry if I’ve been out of turn, I just think it’s fucked up beyond belief Sir……..”
John stood up and walked outside in the rain Jeanie’s blood still stained the compound and even the rain seemed to avoid the spot where she had been lay.
As he knelt to the floor something glinted in the corner of his eye and as he reached into the puddle of blood Jeanie’s wedding ring came out. Putting it into his pocket he made his way back towards the medical win
g hoping for news.
The room was silent and the usual sound of seven women was no where evident. Taking back his seat at the side of Ivy he leant in close, “Heard anything yet?” Ivy shook her head.
“Maybe you should go and take those clothes off John?” he sat back and rested his head against the glass, “Not yet…..I can’t.”
Another couple of hours past before James appeared and behind him rolled Jeanie with an array of tubes and machines attached to her. As the family watched James set himself ready for the questions, “I’ve done what I can luckily Jeanie’s a fighter. I know what you’re all wondering and I’m sorry….the …...” James paused and gathered himself together his voice breaking knowing the argument they had before she left.
“She had a little boy, but he was very weak and I’m sorry. John I’m so sorry. Irene Jeanie really needs you. I need to go back…… John can you follow me please.”
James swallowed his tears and as he led John into the theatre, the baby was tiny and already struggling to breath, “John this is your son, I’m sorry the bullet pieced his foot but he’s...…struggling to breathe”
“Thank you I know but thank you can I hold him before he ….”
John sat in the chair at the side of the infant and as the baby was placed in his arms James couldn’t comprehend the devastation. The inconsolable the pain and anguish James witnessed was something that was too much to bear. John sat with the baby boy unable to pull himself together. He had just experienced the worst thing for any parent the death of their infant and there was still the possibility that Jeanie may not make the night.
As James left the room tears began to flow he was supposed to be strong and as he hid away in the store cupboard he slid his back down the wall trying to gain composure.
He couldn’t loose both of them, he just couldn’t. Why did this happen? What had Jeanie done? Why shoot a woman who was pregnant?
As the questions circulated around James mind a tap on the shoulder brought him to his senses, “Yes….Sorry I mean….. Yes Sir”
In any ordinary life (In any oridnary Book 1) Page 16
