Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Chapter 51: The Stallion.

"Get her ready Evelyn!"

"For what reason you're so ashamed you never want to be caught anywhere near her... in public."

Stella turned her head to look at what her sons had been calling a vegetable for the past three weeks. She felt a tad bit of sympathy but Stella needed to use Mandy to get to Austin.

"We're going to see Mandy's daddy!" Stella grinned excitedly. Her sister stared at her as if she was cuckoo.

"Everyone's life is alright the way it is. Why do you suddenly want to pretend you care about Mandy, she probably knows nothing and she has not asked for a father... she is happy with me here."

"I'm not taking the vegetable away from you for goodness, I'm just taking her to visit her daddy. She will be back not like she could suddenly stand up and run off." Stella chuckled, she thought the last part sounded funny. It seemed her sons nickname for Mandy was growing on her too, how odd. Stella knew deep down the boys were very much adequate. Mandy is a vegetable.

"How could you—" Evelyn muttered looking back at Mandy. She rubbed her blonde hair trying to console Mandy for her lack of a mother.

"I'm sorry Mandy... you have a senseless mother and a womanizing father."

"Austin is not!" Stella defended.

"Who does not know that in this town? Austin is honestly too much. Yet you want to introduce him to my dear Mandy, that womanizing prick might molest my little girl. I could never trust a man who is known for sleeping with anything that wears a skirt. For goodness sake, he even shagged Jane Kennedy the blind girl."

"Who are you to listen to gossip?"

"It is not gossip, Austin promised Jane marriage only to shag her and leave for America. When he returned, he pretended he did not know her. Jane was distraught... I'd know because even her family had asked the church to pray for her when she was in distress."

Stella was shocked.

"I reckon Jane Kennedy is blind not ugly."

"Is that all you can think of?" Evelyn sighed. "You're to blame for all this."

"Don't be ridiculous!"

"For every woman Austin has hurt, you behind it. Just remember that!"

"Please...!" Stella replied clicking her tongue.

"Also I hope you know you aren't the only older woman he has eyes for so quit having expectations. Austin sleeps with anything with a skirt even Hilda's mother, Mrs Westbrook."

"Stop telling me this nonsense!"

"It is not nonsense, I want you to know exactly the monster you created."

Stella felt curious. "Did Hilda not move to Manchester?"

"She did, she moved with Austin. He had apparently changed and was ready to settle...you know what I'd like to see? A woman who will change that walking disease."

Me, Stella thought.

I broke him, I will mold him again.

"Is she aware about her mother was with... Austin?"

"Yes, but she forgave him because she loves him. She cut off her family for Austin. Heard he was quick to leave her."

"Mhmm... poor Mr. Westbrook."

"Well I'm glad he died in his younger days. This would have been awful to witness. What do these women see in that little boy?"

"He is not a little boy!"

"He will always be a little boy. I will always see him as that seven year old that cried and threw a tantrum because his twin sister couldn't come to his all boys boarding school."

"That was cute!" Stella smiled.

"It was." Evelyn admitted.

"Well you seem to know a lot about Austin..."

"His mother and I have been long time friends, I reckon. I was present at the twins christening." Evelyn shrugged. "So sad he grew up to be this..."

"Well, I'm enjoying this brief history lesson my dear sister but my carriage is waiting for me and I need Mandy dressed in her best article of clothing..."

Evelyn glared at Stella.

"If you do not want to then fine I will dress her but how to I get those cranky funny looking fingers through the sleeves. I did not realize it was this tough..." Stella paused. "Don't be grumpy now, I will bring her back right in time for supper."

"If you hurt her Stella..."

"I won't."

"Please don't say hurtful things, Mandy can hear. She is human, she has feelings and—"

"Yes yes ofcourse, I'd know she's human since I pushed her out of my own vagina."

"Did he invite you over?" Evelyn asked out of curiosity.

"He decided to ignore my humble letter so I assume he is having a hard time processing it all. Once he see's Mandy he won't be able to deny it. Suppose he is in denial and needs to see Mandy eye to eye."

"You have unrealistic thoughts my sister. Have you thought about the tantrum the Cunning-rat will throw once he rounds out? The whole town will know. Your boys are old enough to understand. Your husband will be hurt..."

Stella bit her lip and crossed her arms.

"That's a risk, I'm willing to take... for the sake of love."

"Aha...love..." Evelyn chuckled.

"I will tell Henry the truth, that the father of the boys is a homeless man who begs next to a church in Nottingham."

"Good because you know Austin will reveal all your secrets for you. He is like a ticking time bomb! When he gets angry, he is simply unstoppable..."

"Austin would never hurt me, I'm different. No one understands Austin the way I do." Stella said confidently, putting a strand of her blonde curls hair behind her ear.

"If you say so... I suppose I'd advise that if Austin does not expose you to Henry then there is no need to reveal the boy's father. That homeless man could be dead by now. Have Henry take the kids then you can live with your Austin..." Evelyn replied rolling her eyes, her sister was not exactly the brightest...

"You've always been a smarty pants, Evelyn. That is a good idea!"

"Mhm..."

"Yes, I should keep quiet that way Henry can take the kids. I reckon Austin doesn't know how I got pregnant again. He just assumed his brother was suddenly fertile again..."

"What will happen when Austin demands to stay with Mandy?"

"I did not think that far unfortunately...but you make some great points."

Stupid, Evelyn thought.

"Let's get Mandy all ready to meet her daddy!"

"Alright then."

"I'm so anxious, Eve!"

"As you should be."

"Comfort me!"

"Comfort you with lies? You're going to provoke a predator and he is going to rip you to shreds. That! My sister is the unsolicited truth. When he does rip you to shreds please bring my little girl home. May I remind you, he is known to be a woman beater so expect it."

Stella gulped down.

She smiled, as she touched her pearls.

—

"Master Austin you have a visitor.." One of the housekeepers told him.

"Who is it?"

"Stella Ward..."

"Jesus Christ!" Austin cursed, putting out his cigarette into the ashtray. The day had been going well, Merrigold had done her work and stayed out of his way. As much as he wished things could go back to the way they once were. It was fine, he found comfort in this new setup. Merrigold had went to visit her brother and Thomas. Austin did not want to think about what they were up to. He did not want to care. He would not care. He was settling right back into his old personality. Noted, some people just did not appreciate his sweet side and therefore he'd never be weak enough to display it.

Walking down the stairs and taking at least four turns. He was greeted by Stella holding a handkerchief and wiping the little girl's drool. He looked the little girl up and down, she looked odd like... William's mental brother Edwin. People with Down syndrome were always hidden off from society. It was something to be embarrassed about. Seeing a Down syndrome in public was rare, families hid them and pretended they did not exist. Luckily Austin was close enough to the Gallagher's to be able to witness Edwin's strange condition.

"Are you excited to see daddy because I sure am?" Stella said.

Austin felt his whole body shut down. He felt cold. His mind was playing so many scenarios. He could not think properly.

"Stella...?" He called his voice gruff. He did not move from his spot, he refused to come any closer. She turned to look at him with a smile. Her red lipstick disgusted him.

"How are—"

"Why are you here? What is this?" He asked harshly not giving her time to finish her sentence.

"I want you to meet your daughter, Mandy."

Austin laughed. "Get out, take that thing with you."

"But—"

"Out of my face Stella, take it with you. Do not—" he paused hyperventilating. "Do not start with me! I'm not in the mood..." his eyes turned to look at the little girl with her tongue out, she continue to drool even more.

"Mandy, this is Daddy. He is chasing us out. Daddy is very very bad."

He felt some sort of sympathy but it left as soon as it had came.

"LEAVE BEFORE I—"

"She is fifteen." Stella interrupted.

Austin felt sick.

"Good to know, get out!"

"Did you even read my letter?"

"Stella get out and push that thing out with you before I do it myself!"

"Daddy is embarrassed of us Mandy!" Stella said calmly. With that Austin marched towards Stella, all the anger he had been holding finally coming out. Strangling her against, the wall. She quivered not being able to breath. Her feet off the floor. His hold on her neck, made her pearls make marks on her sensitive skin. Her eyes glassy with tears.

"I will kill Stella, I will kill you. I beg you do not start with me, you won't like the outcome. I will leave you lying in a ditch. I will never love you, be it we have a kid together or not. Be it whatever situation all I feel for you is disgust and—"

"Austin no!" Mrs Brown pleaded when she noticed Stella beginning to pass-out. Austin immediately let her go, like a kid caught doing wrong. Stella fell to the tiles crawling she coughed and coughed catching her breath. Tears immediately streamed down her cheeks.

Mrs Brown only felt sympathy for the little girl that sat there unmoving as if unaware of anything around her.

"I'm sorry Mrs Brown. Please never allow her in this compound." Austin muttered immediately marching out. Going into the stable, to take a horse... he wanted to get out of that place. As of immediate effect. He saw Merrigold and Thomas eating peanuts and giggling in the sun. He did not care... he walked past them. Once he had sadled the horse on his own. He was off. He did not know where he was going but he needed a breath of fresh air. The black stallion was strong, fast and responsive. The death of Avalon had saddened him but in that moment, he felt he had found a new favorite. He only cared for his horses, he wanted to only care for his horses like in the past. Caring for humans had been too much for him to handle.