Men Cry Alone by Philip Paris

Author:Philip Paris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: control, abuse, alzheimers, dementia, domestic abuse, battered women, partner abuse, battered men
Publisher: Philip Paris

Chapter Twenty-One

Amy glided effortlessly around the ice rink, waving at her father as she passed two tottering adults. Tom watched from the sidelines with pride. The few times he had tried skating had been such a disaster that he had vowed never to do it again, and he suspected that, secretly, his daughter preferred to have him as an audience so that she could show off her skills. She was elegant, like her mother, and would grow up to be a beauty.

This was their day out. He hoped to discover if she was being affected by the atmosphere in the house even if she hadn’t actually witnessed the violence. Whatever happened he had to protect his little girl at all costs.

Recently, he had been thinking a great deal about his home life. In the early days of the violence his wife always made out that she had simply lost control and was truly remorseful. But when he analysed these incidents, he couldn’t help feeling that his sister Rose had been correct and these attacks had been planned carefully.

There hadn’t been one occasion that he could remember when anyone else had been present. His daughter had either been in her bedroom, in the garden or away from the premises altogether. It seemed unbelievable that his wife never “lost control” if Amy might overhear, which meant ... well, what did it mean?

It made more sense if she simply had a bad temper, rather than that she was someone conducting a programme of violence for a particular purpose. And if so, what was the purpose? What did she gain from it? If Gemma wanted to punish him for something then why not just say what was bothering her, or tell him what he was doing that was annoying her so much?

All couples encountered problems at times. The solution was communication. He was an approachable guy. People from all walks of life asked his opinion or advice on matters. He was just that sort of person. Tom hated confrontation within the family and normally went along readily if his wife suggested a potential venue for a holiday or a particular colour scheme for a room.

He liked to please her because he loved her. Tom had no hesitation in acknowledging this. Despite the assaults, he loved the woman he had married all those years ago, and who was the mother of his child. If you took away the abuse then the three of them made a tremendous little unit.

The only person who seemed to think otherwise was an old school friend of Gemma’s called Amanda. He considered this nervous, dumpy woman to be a very strange acquaintance for his wife who usually selected them with an almost analytical fervour. About a year earlier Amanda had suddenly and quite unexpectedly turned hostile towards him. She stopped coming to the house if he was around and if they bumped into her while they were out Tom always felt that she regarded him as if he was carrying a pitchfork and had two horns on his head.

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