Twelve Days The Beginning - By Jade Reyner Page 0,27
just yet. I didn’t know where else to go.” Cole’s parents were currently staying with him for a pre-Christmas visit.
“Christ, I am so glad you came here. I’ve been worried sick about you.” Elise said, still in shock at how much damage her husband had done in his drunken rage. “I tried to see you at the hospital but I had to spend the afternoon calming Dale down so that the nurses could treat him and by the time I’d finished, they wouldn’t let me come find you.”
“Oh, baby,” she walked over and sat next to him on the sofa, gently reaching out and touching his swollen cheek “How can I ever make it up to you?”
“It’s fine – honestly.” he said, “You know how I feel about your husband and what a bastard I think he is. I’ve lost count of the times it’s been me patching up your wounds and soothing your bruises. As far as I’m concerned, he got exactly what he deserved. I just wish I could have finished the job. I would’ve put up with any amount of pain to keep you safe forever.” He was almost whispering now and the passion and simplicity of his statement was too much to bear and a hell of a lot more than she deserved. Unable to hold it in any longer, Elise burst into tears. Cole pulled her to him and hugged her tight, rubbing her back gently and murmuring soothing words. She couldn’t believe that the man who had saved her so many times was looking so battered and torn and all because of her. The guilt she felt was overwhelming.
They stayed that way for a while, locked together on the sofa and rocking gently from side to side; each taking whatever comfort they needed from the other, their easy and loving relationship requiring no words as they slowly began the healing process. It would take a lot more than one night for either of them to do so but the fact that they could hold each other like this, made life for Elise bearable and, not for the first time, she wondered what the hell she would ever do without this truly beautiful man in her life.
Eventually, Elise pulled away. She needed a drink and this time she needed more than a cup of tea. Heading to the kitchen she dug out a bottle of tequila, surprised to see it still relatively full – obviously not Dale’s drink of choice then. She grabbed two glasses and poured a generous shot into each, taking them back into the living room and putting one in front of Cole. He eyed her suspiciously “I am driving, you know.”
She shrugged, “Take a cab - I’ll pay. Dale is in the hospital ‘til Sunday so you’ll have plenty of time to come back and collect your car.”
Cole regarded her steadily as if weighing up whether he could risk leaving his car at her house or not, no doubt worrying about what the neighbours might think, but the need for hard liquor obviously won out and he downed the shot in one, grimacing as the burn hit at the end.
Elise downed hers too and she headed back to the kitchen to get the bottle. Refilling their glasses, she started to feel more relaxed and returning to the living room she snuggled down into Cole’s side, loving his warmth and loving the fact that he was here – just loving him.
Instinctively, he put his arm around her and stroked her hair. He always told her that he preferred her to wear her blond hair long and as a result, she very rarely tied it back. If they had had a tiff then she would tie it back, almost as an act of defiance and Cole generally understood that if her hair wasn’t down, he was in trouble. Over the years it had become a very useful means of communication.
“I really don’t understand why you stay with that asshole, Elise” Cole said “How many times does he have to hurt you, abuse you, and humiliate you, before you wake up?”
Elise sighed. They had had this conversation so many times before and, as on those occasions, she could not explain it to Cole in any way that he would understand. She believed in the sanctity of marriage, and she owed it to Dale – whilst part of her still loved him anyway – to fight for what they had. Admittedly, today had seriously thrown