My thanks as always to my beta reader, Barbara Davies
A Handful of Heaven
Part 6
By Midgit
Eden slumped in the chair at her desk. Behind her a couple of workmen were just finishing off laying the last of the carpet.
The small shop they had taken over had been an estate agent before them, so just some touching up had been necessary. The shop was not as large as Tori wanted, so she didn't want to spend too much on it as they would move to larger premises as soon as one in the city centre became available. Even though the lease had been secured for a year.
"Eden?"
The blonde looked up when her name was called. It was Tom, the young man they'd employed to help out in the agency.
"Sorry, Tom. I was out of it for a moment there."
He smiled rather nervously. "We have a request for a valuation, up at Southdown. D'you want to do it or shall I?"
Eden stood and worked the kinks out of her back. "I'll go. Is the VW in the car park?"
Tom's face dropped. He'd been looking forward to getting out of the half-finished office for a couple of hours, but he knew his boss was somewhat distracted. "Yeah, though you'll have to put some fuel in the tank."
Eden took the keys of the company car from a drawer. "Tom, have you been using it out of hours again?"
"I had to take Melanie to see her mother."
Eden nodded, giving the worried man a smile. "Ok, just don't let Tori know."
Tom smiled, the relief on his face evident.
Eden pulled on her short jacket and left the office, walking up towards Charlotte Street car park to retrieve the car after taking the piece of paper that Tom had written the address on. She also took her ‘estate agent kit’, with tape measures and addresses of lawyers and removal companies. And the camera, though her photographs of houses weren't always the best ones and quite often Tori insisted on going back and taking some shots from different angles.
As she walked, she remembered the morning's events.
She didn't bother chasing after Tori when she stormed out of the kitchen. Instead, she made her way to the bedroom and showered before getting dressed. She called a taxi, and left the house without venturing up to the computer room to kiss her lover goodbye.
Now she felt awful.
Back at the house in Combe Down, Tori was sitting just as dejectedly at the kitchen table. She'd waited for Eden to come and say goodbye, say anything. But she hadn't.
Eden had always been the one to break the ice after a tiff. And a tiff was the most serious that any of their disagreements could be called after their return from London.
So Tori sat. She'd removed the now cold bread from the toaster; the two mugs remained waiting for drinks to be made in them. Again, the house felt empty. Again, Tori wondered what it would be like to be alone in the house for any lengthy period. And once again, Tori found that conclusion creating a lump in her throat and a pain in her heart.
Eden made her way across the city centre of Bath, fighting her way through a crowd of noisy French students who seemed determined not to budge one inch to let anyone by. She used her briefcase as some sort of weapon, smiling to herself as she heard the outraged squawks of the students as they rubbed their now sore legs.
"Any spare change?" Eden walked past the shabbily dressed woman standing at the bottom corner of Milsom Street. She had never once given money to any of the beggars that seemed to double in number in Bath during the height of the tourist season. She had watched one once from the confines of her office. He had begged for half an hour out on the street corner. Once he had enough money, he went into an off licence* and bought himself a can of strong lager. Once the can was finished, he was back. The cycle went on all afternoon, his begging becoming gradually more aggressive as the alcohol took effect. Eventually, after the sixth or seventh can - she had lost count - he collapsed on one of the seats in the small park that made up the centre of Queen Square. But not until he had thrown up the proceeds of his afternoon's begging.
So she decided she wouldn't be paying for their drinking, because that was all they seemed to spend the money on. There were shelters, and the Salvation Army provided warm meals. Once a week they got an allowance from the Social Security; yes it was meagre, but that was usually spent on the first day, once again, in the off licence.
Eden cast a glance at the girl. Although she would not give them money, she never ignored them. "No, sorry," she said.
The girl switched her attention the next person walking on the street.
Eden walked a few steps and stopped. She turned slowly and took in the figure of the painfully thin woman, whose eyes scanned the passing shoppers.
The girl must have dismissed Eden, for she didn't notice the well-dressed blonde staring at her.
"Hayley?" Eden took a couple of steps back towards the girl, who turned dull eyes on her.
"Any spare change?" she asked again, seemingly unaware that she'd already approached Eden.
"It is you. Jesus, Hayley!" Eden stood a couple of feet away from the girl, the shock on her face evident.
There was no recognition on the girl's face. "I need money for the shelter," she said, holding her hand out.
"I'm not giving you any money, Hayley."
The girl looked away from her and to the next man, who walked straight past. "How do you know my name?" the girl suddenly asked, her eyes once more finding Eden's.
"We were at school together."
The ghost of a smile crossed the face, which was as young as Eden's, but seemed haggard and worn. The tired eyes filled with tears and lowered. "Fuckin' hell." The girl wiped her grimy face and sidestepped Eden to approach a woman, who veered away so as not to have to face her.
"Look, if you're not going to help me, get the fuck out of my way."
Eden took a step backwards. "We were friends, Hayley. It's Eden, Eden Gallagher."
"Then give me money."
"What will you do with it?"
"Whatever the fuck I want." Hayley was mad now. "Whatever it takes to get me through the night without having to fuck some crusty just to get a safe place to sleep. If I pass out, they don't bother me. They prefer me screaming. I don't scream if I'm out."
"How.....?" Eden was shaking her head slowly, trying to equate the creature in front of her with the fun loving girl she had known at school.
"How did I end up like this? It took a lot of hard work." Her tone was mocking. "Looks like you landed on your feet." She looked Eden up and down.
"What about your mother?" Eden asked. "Does she know you're here?"
Hayley laughed. "She passed me about half an hour ago." She took a step nearer her onetime friend. "Now Eden, give me some money."
Eden shook her head. "I'm not helping you kill yourself." She spun on her heel and hurried up Milsom Street, not even turning back when she heard her name being called.
"Eden, you fucking bitch. Go on; go back to your nice house and your fucking TV and your fucking washing machine. I don't give a fuck. You know that? I don't give a fuck!"
The voice faded as Eden hurried up the road. Heads turned to see what the commotion was, but Eden walked on, ignoring the stares she was getting.
A few moments later she was sitting, her heart beating erratically, her breath coming in short gasps, behind the wheel of the company car. She rested her head against the steering wheel; her hands were still trembling.
She took a deep breath and was just about to put the key into the ignition when her cell phone rang.
She frowned at the number displayed, not recognising it. The hope that it might be Tori faded as she answered.
"Eden Gallagher?" she said.
"Eden, dear, it's your mother."
Eden closed her eyes. `Not now,` she thought.
Tori pushed back from the computer and rubbed her neck, massaging the aching tension she found there with long fingers. She glanced at her watch; it was barely lunchtime. But it wasn't hunger that was gnawing at her. No, it was the knowledge that her lover had gone without so much as a goodbye.
She took a deep breath and considered the events of the previous evening. And came to an uneasy conclusion. She was being unreasonable. And childish. And selfish.
She glanced at her watch. It was 3.17pm. She hadn't heard from her lover all day, and she had been too damn stubborn to call her. So she picked up the cordless phone, which was sitting on the computer table beside her, and phoned the number she knew so well.
It was busy.
She tried again a few minutes later. Still busy.
Tori threw the phone down on the table again. "I'll bet she's calling her bloody friends, whining about how selfish I am." She got up from the chair and paced around the small room. "And how I never let her go anywhere."
She went downstairs into the kitchen, and opened the fridge. There was a large bar of chocolate sitting on the top shelf. After pouring herself a glass of orange juice, she took the bar from the shelf and sat at the kitchen table and proceeded to eat the whole bar.
Eden handed the woman her card. "We'll send you a copy of the details for your approval."
The elderly lady took the card, and then held out her hand to the young woman. "Thank you, dear." She turned to look at the house from their place half way down the narrow garden path. "I'll be sorry to leave, but it's getting too much for me now."
"We'll find you a nice little property somewhere, Mrs. Francis, and we'll get you a good price for your house."
The old lady hadn't let go of Eden's hand. "Will you take me to look at them, dear?"
"Of course I will, if that's what you want." Eden bestowed one of her winning smiles on the old woman, taking the frail hand in both of hers. "Just call me anytime you wish; my number's on the card."
Reluctantly, the woman let go of Eden's hand. She'd had a pleasant couple of hours talking to the blonde woman, who reminded her slightly of her daughter who had moved north some years before. But she thought she could see pain in the green eyes, and tension in the pleasant face.
She watched the girl get into the car. She didn't drive off for a few moments, and seemed to just sit and think for a while. Then, taking a noticeable deep breath, she started the car and drove off.
Eden pulled up outside the house she knew so well. It had been over a year since she'd been there. And still she felt her heart start to race at the sight of it. She buried her face in her hands and tried to calm herself, taking deep breaths. The she leaned her head back against the headrest and once again regarded the building. It was a pleasant enough looking house. A short path, with a well tended lawn and flowering borders either side, led to a white front door with 26 in brass numbers on the front.
She didn't remember getting out of the car and locking it, but suddenly she was walking on shaking legs towards the door which, as always, opened before she reached it.
"Eden." The woman standing framed in the doorway was her Aunt Marilyn. Though younger than her mother by six years, Marilyn was unmarried. She was a painfully thin woman, standing a little taller than Eden. Her hair, which always reminded Eden of steel wool, was pulled severely away from a narrow face; grey eyes glinted below thin eyebrows.
"Aunt Marilyn, how are you?" Eden leaned into the unemotional embrace, her cheek brushing that of her aunt's.
"I'm well, Eden." She stood aside so that Eden could enter the house. "Your parents are in the lounge. I trust you can spare the time to take tea with us."
Eden glanced at her watch, and sighed. "I have plenty of time," she said, and made her way into the house.
"Ah, there's my favourite girl," said her father as she entered the room. Declan Gallagher was seventy years of age, his wife three years younger. They had given up the idea of having any children after over twenty years of trying. When Eden arrived, just after her mother's forty-third birthday, she was the complete joy that they hoped for.
Eden was engulfed in a hug from her tall father. "Hello, Dad." She returned the hug and then turned to her mother, from whom she had inherited her diminutive height. Another hug was forthcoming, and she was pulled down onto the sofa between her parents. Both were grey, but her father still retained a head of good thick hair.
"I'll make tea." Marilyn turned her back on the family and went into the kitchen.
"You look well," said Eden's mother taking her daughter's hand.
"I am." Eden found the carpet interesting and her parents exchanged knowing looks over her bowed head.
"So, have you met someone, dear?" her mother asked and was rewarded by a look of exasperation from her father.
"Gwen, I'm sure Eden will tell us when she meets someone. Won't you, sweetheart?" Declan tightened his grip around his daughter's shoulders, and bent to see her face. "Sweetheart? What is it?" he asked, seeing twin tracks of tears coursing down his daughter's face.
"Nothing, I'm just tired," said Eden, impatiently wiping away the tears.
"This isn't nothing, dear," said her mother, rubbing the back of her daughter's hand.
Eden took a deep breath and swallowed. There was a long moment of silence. "I have met someone." Eden looked from one face to the other, seeing the look of delight on both the elderly faces. "I've met someone that I love very much, and who........" Eden paused.
"Yes, dear?" her mother prompted.
"Someone who loves me just as much." `Oh God, let that be true,` Eden thought to herself. "We're living together up on Combe Down. Tori is an Estate Agent too, and has inherited a small fortune which we are using to start a business together."
"Tori, dear? That's an unusual name." The old woman shook her head. "Never heard of that before, have you, dear?" she asked, looking up to her husband.
Eden closed her eyes. "Tori is a woman."
There was silence, and for some reason Eden was afraid to open her eyes, afraid of the anger and disappointment she was sure she was going to see in her parents' faces. But then she felt her mother's fingers tighten around her hand.
"Eden?"
She opened her eyes and turned to find her mother smiling through her own tears. "Eden, you're my daughter, my only, very precious daughter. If this person is good enough for you to love them, then that's what is important to me. I wouldn't jeopardise your love for me by judging you." She looked again at her husband, who nodded gently and leaned forward, capturing both of the women he loved most in his long arms.
Eden cried, tears of joy mixed with tears of uncertainty. Joy at her parents' acceptance of her love for Tori, and worry about what the next few days would hold with her lover.
They sat like that on the sofa for long moments until the sound of a tray being put down on the table interrupted their embrace. They all sat up, wiping away tears and straightening clothes.
"Eden, would you help me with the sandwiches?" Marilyn didn't wait for an answer before disappearing back into the kitchen.
Eden sighed, and eased herself out from between her parents and followed her aunt.
The slap came as a surprise. It caught Eden on her left cheek, the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoing around the small kitchen.
"How could you do that to them?"
Eden had staggered backwards, her back making hard contact with the kitchen door, which had shut behind her.
"They gave you everything," she hissed. "And all you're expected to do in exchange is marry and give them grandchildren before they're too old to enjoy them." She advanced towards the trembling girl, one bony finger only inches from Eden's nose. "You always were a selfish little madam."
Eden was sinking into the same place the ten-year-old Eden had whenever Marilyn went on one of her tirades. She had never told her parents of her mistreatment at her aunt's hands. She went there for a weekend each month. Her parents sent her there for a reason. Didn't they? She was too demanding for them, so her aunt told her. They needed a break from her. So she suffered the abuse, for the sake of her parents.
But this was the first time she'd struck her. Never, in all those years, had her aunt laid a hand on her. No, the abuse was much subtler. If a ten-year-old is told she is worthless, she will invariably accept what the adult is telling her.
She had never found out why Marilyn hated her. And the fear remained.
"So they mean nothing," Marilyn continued. "You're going to carry on with this perverted lifestyle without any consideration of what it's doing to them."
"They're happy for me," Eden choked out through her tears.
"Of course they're going to say that. You're their precious little girl, their precious little Eden. They're not going to show you the shame they feel, the disgust. You always got everything you wanted from them. You always were a spoilt little brat." Marilyn spun away. "So what are you going to do now?" She turned slowly and observed the shaking woman. "Well?" Crossing thin arms across her non-existent chest, she regarded Eden with disdain.
"I.....I'm," Eden stuttered.
Two steps took Marilyn to within inches of her niece. "I'll tell you what you're going to do. You're going to go to your pervert friend and tell her that your family comes first. Then you'll come here and live with me. Gwen will be happier knowing you're safe her with me and not in the bed of that woman."
Eden swallowed hard. "Tori is the most important thing in my life." Her voice was little more than a whisper.
"What did you say?" her aunt asked in a low, even voice. Eden had heard that voice before, and it still terrified her.
"You're not taking this away from me, Marilyn. I'm not a little girl anymore."
"What hold does this woman have over you? Is it money, do you owe her money?"
Eden laughed. A short, bitter laugh. "You can't understand, can you? You can't believe that I could love someone. My parents can, why can't you? Does it matter that she's a woman?"
"Your mother doesn't realise the implications of this. You will be disowned by the rest of your family and friends. Your life will be over."
"My life is just beginning. Tori has awakened things in me I didn't know were there. Every day I discover something new, and everyday I love her more." She took a step towards her aunt who had taken a seat at the kitchen table. She reached for the thin hand that rested on the table but it was snatched away from her. "My friends have accepted her, they're happy for me." Eden said in a tired voice. "Please don't make me choose between you and her."
Marilyn stood again. "Well, that's exactly what you're going to have to do." She picked up one of the plates laden with sandwiches. "I'm going to speak with your parents. This is not the end of the matter."
Eden was left alone in the kitchen.
She remembered the time she had crept down in the middle of the night to get a drink…
She had been sent to bed early, not knowing the reason why. She got a glass of milk and was creeping back up the stairs when she heard a sound from the lounge. It was Marilyn. She was talking to a man. Eden caught snippets of the conversation.
".... kid... won't know. I'll be in and out of the room before she..............."
"No." That was Marilyn. She was nearer to the door, and so Eden could make out what she was saying much easier. "Come here, Jeff."
"Just a couple of minutes," she heard the man say.
There was a long moment of silence, and then the sound of kissing.
"Five minutes," Marilyn said, resignedly.
Eden heard a shuffling in the lounge and ran up the stairs and into her room. She put the glass on the side and jumped into bed, throwing the bedclothes over herself. She lay still and listened to two sets of footsteps advancing up the stairs.
The door opened, a dim light illuminating the room. She kept her back to the door, hearing her own heartbeat in her ears blocking out the sound of the soft footfalls as the man approached across the carpeted floor.
"Jeff," she heard her aunt whisper, and the footsteps stopped.
"Ssshh."
The she felt the covers gently pulled off her. She listened to the soft breathing of the man as he looked down at her. Then she felt his hand on her hip, the fingers lightly brushing against the skin. She was wearing a tee-shirt, and nothing else, and that was pulled up slightly as his hand moved up along her ribs. He started to pull her, trying to roll her on her back. Her heart was racing in her panic.
"Jeff, that's enough."
Eden felt the man jerked away from her.
"A while longer," he said, his breath becoming ragged.
"No," said Marilyn and she pulled him towards the door.
Eden sobbed in relief when she heard the door shut, and the footsteps recede. She crept out of bed and to the landing when she heard loud, angry voices. She cowered back when the lounge door opened and the man left with an angry slam of the door.
Eden never spoke to her aunt of that night, and Marilyn became even more bitter towards her from that day onwards.
She still carried on visiting her aunt for one weekend a month. Eden believed her aunt's tale that her parents needed a rest from her. Her parents believed that Eden enjoyed her weekends with her aunt. In truth, the woman terrified the sweet child, whose sea green eyes always filled with tears as her parents drove away after dropping her off.
Eden stared down at her hands, which were shaking. She walked across the kitchen to the sink and splashed water on her face, drying it with a towel she found there.
Taking a deep breath and another plate of delicately cut sandwiches, she made her way back to the lounge.
Her parents looked up with smiling faces as she rejoined them, her mother patting the space between her and her husband on the sofa. "Come sit with me, dear," she said as Eden placed the plate on the low coffee table.
Eden dragged her eyes away from the hate filled ones of her aunt and regarded her mother. "Will you come and visit us?" she asked.
"Of course, dear." She turned to her sister. "Marilyn, will you get me a piece of paper?"
With a laboured sigh, she got up and retrieved a writing pad from a drawer, handing it to her older sister.
"I really want you to meet Tori, Mum. She's very special."
"I can see she is, dear." Gwen pulled her daughter into her arms, her grey eyes tracking her sister with suspicion.
It was a couple of hours later that Eden eased the small hatchback into a small parking area near the top of one of the seven hills surrounding Bath.
It was peaceful here, and a shiver ran up the blonde's spine, which had as much to do with the cooling night as the sight that this viewpoint afforded her. Below her the City of Bath stretched out, the abbey illuminated in its centre.
The view had once inspired the songwriter Peter Gabriel to put pen to paper.
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city lights
Wind was blowing time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
I had to listen, I had no choice
I did not believe the information
I just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom.
Eden stood on Solsbury Hill for an hour or more. She wondered what waited for her at home. "Oh well," she said to herself. "Only one way to find out."
*An off licence is a liquor store here in England. The off licence part means they are allowed to sell alcohol to be consumed off the premises, unlike a pub which is licensed to sell alcohol to be consumed on the premises.