Home Run - Chapter 12

[Tea Lady]

Now I know I said this would be the last chapter, but it isn't. It was a bit too long, so there is another chapter to come. Thanks JHyde for the help.


Chapter 12

Nico has been peering out of the lounge room window for the last twenty minutes, waiting impatiently for an airport taxi to pull into the driveway. Ruth, on the other hand, has been sitting nervously at the kitchen table, continuously sipping lukewarm tea and fixedly watching the clock on the wall. If truth be told, Ruth is scared. Scared of seeing George again. Scared of the news he will surely bring with him, from Cyprus. Reality is about to come crashing down on her. She has the sudden urge to run, but run where? She does not know.

Just as Ruth is about to rise to make yet another cup of tea, there is a shout from the lounge and Ruth hears Nico rush to open the front door. But she does not move from the kitchen and simply listens to the joyous reunion between father and son taking place down the hallway. It warms her heart, she can not deny it, but she does not want to see it and she closes her eyes for a second.

“Hello Ruth,” George says softly, walking into the kitchen. He throws his travel bag down to the side of the table, Nico excitedly following his father. It is clear that George expects Ruth to rise from her seat at the table to great him, but she does not; so he bends down and places a kiss on her flushed cheek. His rough stubble grazes Ruth’s soft skin a little as he pulls away from her.

“Hi…George. Would - would you like tea?” She sounds ridiculously proper but she cannot help it. All of a sudden, she can not think of a thing to say to him. Fortunately for her, Nico is happily filling the uncomfortable silence which has fallen over them, with tales from his recent days out in London.

“Yes. Thank you Ruth, that would be nice,” says George at long last, and he gives Ruth a half smile, attempting to alleviate the tension.

As she makes her way to the sink to make the tea, George takes her seat at the table and sits chatting with Nico.

Ruth can hear their conversation and then, out of the blue, Nico asks his father the question she cannot ask herself. “When are we going home, Dad?”

Ruth almost drops the kettle in the sink.

Turning his body to address both Ruth and Nico, George, with absolute conviction says, “We are all going home tomorrow.” There is an expected squeal of delight from Nico as he jumps up from his chair and hugs his father.

There is such an intensity to the gaze Ruth throws at him that George instantly looks up and gives her his full attention. She is still standing at the sink, clutching the half-filled kettle in both hands. “George, when did you decide this? Why - why didn‘t you tell me?” Ruth’s voice is raised somewhat.

“Why does it matter?" George tries his best to smile, to lighten the moment. “Our home is Cyprus, yes? There is no reason to stay in this awful city a moment longer Ruth!”

Protesting, Ruth’s voice rises further, “But George, we have nowhere to live…”

“That is all sorted!” George interrupts. He reaches down to his bag and pulls out a bundle of documents. “I found a holiday let not far from our house.” He offers the documents to Ruth who snatches them from his hands.

After a quick scan of the letting particulars, Ruth is both alarmed and confused. “George, we cannot afford this and - and why do we need a five bedroom house?”

“Well…that is my other news. I’m sorry I did not have a chance to discuss this before with you Ruth, but Eleni and Talos will now be living with us. For the time being anyway. With their mother…gone…well, we do not have much of a choice. I am the oldest son and the responsibility falls to me.”

“What? George!” Furious, Ruth is now shouting. “You didn’t think to discuss this with me before now? What about their father?”

“Ruth…you know my brother works on the cruise ships. He cannot be there for them full time. You know all this. He will help pay the rent on the house. ”

“But - but they are not our responsibility George! Can‘t you see that?”

“Ruth, how can you say this? It is our fault that Adelpha is dead, is it not?”

“No George, what you mean is, it is MY fault!” Ruth slams the kettle back down on the work top, unintentionally making Nico jump.

“Well, Ruth. That is fact, is it not?” George is suddenly very quiet. “My family were put in danger because of your work, Ruth. My brother and his family are owed much and this is none negotiable, Ruth. We will be looking after Eleni and Talos for the foreseeable future!”

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It is typical Friday evening rush hour in London, so Harry finds himself stuck in the most horrendous traffic, just south of Ealing Town. He is frantic. In only twelve hours, Ruth will be on a plane, flying back to her life in Cyprus. Her old life and him, left behind. Discarded once again, but this time by choice. Convinced this is not what Ruth wants, he has to talk to her, make her see sense. There was more than a note of doubt in Ruth’s voice last night, when she talked of Cyprus and returning there. He was sure he had heard it and had seen it in her eyes.

Now, he has to work quickly against the marching of time, and George, who has surely reached Ruth first. The rational fear that is creeping through his body is that he is too late. Too late, once again, to prevent Ruth from jumping off the precipice.

It is just past 7pm when Harry finally reaches the safe house and pulls his car onto the driveway. It is a gloomy London evening which matches Harry’s mood exactly. Most of the house appears to be in darkness, but he can see that there is a lamp on in the lounge. Taking a deep breath, Harry takes his hand out of his leather glove and presses the doorbell twice. After only a few seconds, the door swings open. Standing there to greet him is an unhappy looking Nico. There are raised voices coming from somewhere inside the house, but Harry keeps his attention on the young boy and bends down slightly to greet him. “Hi Nico. My name is Harry. Do you think I can come in, I‘m…”

Before Harry has a chance to finish his greeting, Nico interrupts him. “You’re Ruth’s friend. Aren’t you?”

“Erm, yes…I am. Is she here Nico?”

Then, from down the darkened hallway appears Ruth, with George following. They are still arguing as they approach the front door and the next thing Harry knows is the feel of Ruth’s hands on his chest as she pushes him back onto the driveway, away from the house. As Ruth closes the door behind her, she leaves George inside the house. A temporary, but much needed barrier, is put between them.

“Ruth, what on earth! Are you all right?” asks Harry quickly.

Ruth does not speak but Harry can clearly see that her face is flushed and her eyes are filled with tears, even in the evening gloom.

Calmly Harry says, “Come on, let’s sit in the car. It’s too cold out here.” Harry gently guides Ruth towards the passenger side of his car and as he opens the door for her, she climbs in without hesitation.

For a few minutes Ruth just sits there, fighting back the tears in silence. Harry does not push her and just sits next to her, patiently waiting. Eventually, Ruth composes herself and begins to tell Harry all about Cyprus, the new house, Adelpha’s children and the guilt. The guilt which has been eating away at her, for being the one responsible for leaving two children without a mother. The words George had spoken in the kitchen are words she has already said to herself a thousand times in the last few days. It is her fault and Ruth cannot shake that feeling.

On the other side of the car, Harry just wants to hold her; to take her pain unto himself. Sitting there listening to Ruth, Harry knows he owes her so much. So much that he can never repay.

At last it is Harry’s turn to speak. “Ruth, I wish I could take your anguish away, all the guilt you feel. I really do.” He pauses for a moment before continuing, “For what it’s worth, this is not your fault. It never was. None of it. Listen to me Ruth…you shouldn’t spend the rest of your life, living someone else’s life for them. You should live the life you want to live. If anyone deserves that, then you do, Ruth. If that life is here, in London, then this is where you should be.”

“Harry, I - I don’t know what to do. George needs me. The children need…”

Harry interrupts trying to keep his voice level. “This is the rest of your life we are talking about. Forget the guilt for one moment and tell me…tell me where you feel your home is? Where do you feel you belong, Ruth?”

Before Ruth has a chance to answer, Harry is startled by a sudden gust of air as the driver’s car door swings open and a pair of broad hands grip his suit jacket, pulling him out of the car. It all happens so quickly that Harry does not have a chance to secure his footing and he trips, hitting his shoulder hard, as he lands in a heap on the driveway. As Harry looks up, shocked, George is standing over him offering his hand in help. Confused, Harry takes the proffered hand and gets to his feet, leaning his weight on the car bonnet, as he tries to compose himself.

Out of breath, George mumbles "I’m - I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to happen. Are you OK?”

“George! What are you doing?” screams Ruth, who has managed to scramble out of the car.

Harry raises his hand in an attempt to placate them both. “I’m OK. I lost my footing, Ruth.”

“George, I saw you grab him. What the hell do you think you were doing?”

“Stop it, Ruth. You are not so innocent yourself. Nico has just told me,” spits George in reply.

“Told you what?” says Ruth, shaking her head, genuinely confused.

“That you spent the night with this man.” George jabs his finger towards Harry. “He told me you left him with the blonde girl and went to his house, that you stayed the night. Did you think I wouldn't find out, Ruth?”

Rubbing his bruised shoulder, Harry keeps quiet.

“George, you have it all wrong! Nothing happened, I promise you. I slept in the spare room. Harry is a friend. We were catching up on old times.” Ruth glances at Harry, her eyes begging him to help her, but still he remains silent, unwilling to help back her story, even though it is the truth.

“Please George, you didn’t need to do that,” pleads Ruth.

The three of them stand in silence for a while, with George contemplating Ruth‘s simple account of her night with Harry. Eventually George nods his head, both in acknowledgment of Ruth’s explanation and in apology to Harry.

“I’m sorry, Mr Pearce but I don’t want you near my family again. Go now and leave us in peace.” As George turns to walk back to the house, he calls on Ruth to join him, ”Come on inside, Ruth.”

As George disappears inside, Harry turns to face Ruth, still clutching his shoulder. They stand there in silence until Harry eventually finds the courage to speak. “Is this goodbye? Again, Ruth?”

Ruth has to look away. She can barely believe she is back here, face to face with him. Faced with the prospect, once again, of saying goodbye to Harry Pearce. She can see the hurt and fear in his darkened eyes and the memories come flooding back. Those eyes which are willing her to stay, as they did three years ago. Raising a hand towards Harry’s face, Ruth can feel George watching her from the house. So instead, she reaches down and gently wipes away some dust from Harry’s jacket. It is then, at long last, that Ruth knows what she has to do.

“Don't hate me, Harry. Please don‘t. I will let you know where I am,” says Ruth, so softly that Harry barely hears it and then she quickly turns away from him and runs back into the safe house.

“Ruth, don’t!” Harry calls after her, but it is too late. She has closed the door.

TBC.

[Silktie]

Geez, you're killing me with this. Oh, Ruth, for once in your life choose with your heart, and what's best for you, not for anyone else. Poor Harry.

Please update soon!

[A Cousin]

Part of me really respects Ruth for doing the honorable thing even though it is not the right thing. Although I do not know how she thinks that she can live peacefully with George anymore with all this blame on her shoulders. Harry has said and done his piece. It's up to her now.

Will George guilt her into leaving or will he release her? If he's good enough to take on the care of his niece and nephew, I hope he is good enough to release Ruth from something that just cannot work anymore.

I am looking forward to the reconciliation - preferably with Harry in shirt sleeves and no tie?

[Nia M]

No no no no no!!!!!!!! (Fantastic chapter, but just, no!!! )

[lwhite53]

Christ, TL, I'm having a panic attack here!! But, I'm gonna' trust in Ruth -- analysis is her forte and she knows what fits together and what doesn't.

[Beatriz]

hahahaha we are all feeling the same, COME ON RUTH!!! Don't be so good!! I almost cried (I'm very sensitive these days, you know).

Good point lwhite

You're killing us, TL, but I believe in your good judgement