Alexine and Simon
Devoted to you
by
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Nigel went into his kitchen to make a coffee and knew that this was going to be a difficult session. ‘I know that this is a difficult time for everyone but first of all this is my house and I do not want it to become a battleground.’ Said Nigel looking straight at Eleanor. ‘Now Eleanor, I understand that you have told your parents that you are going to marry me. Well for a start young lady you have not mentioned this to me and I if I had intended to marry you I would have done the asking. I also would have asked you parents permission and not gone sneaking behind their backs and if you think life would be a bed of roses being married to me let me put you straight on a few things. Firstly I would not stand for any of your nonsense. I wholeheartedly disagree with the way you speak to your parents I would not tolerate being spoken to like that by you. I would expect you to toe the line and behave yourself. I would expect a certain standard of behaviour and woe betide you if you stepped out of line because my dear you have met your match in me. I had considered going along with the idea subject to your parents agreement but I must admit I am having second thoughts.’ ‘That’s her doing. I knew she would spoil things for me just like she has ruined everyone else’s life. Four people died because of her, five if you count fathers wife. Not being satisfied with that she then makes sure that William is kept from his mother and she only had a tribe of snotty nosed kids to trap father, bringing shame on us being born to an unmarried mother. Her mother would turn in her grave if she knew what her daughter had turned out like and then she has the nerve to dictate to me.’ cried Eleanor feeling that she had already lost her battle. ‘That will do young lady, I don’t know where you got this information from but you are completely wrong in what you say. This time you really have overstepped the mark and an apology will not be enough, you are going to have to work hard at gaining forgiveness from either your mother or me. You need to get your facts right before you let of steam like you have just done. There is no justification for it. Said Simon. ‘No I am not wrong father so don’t hold your breath for an apology because you will have to wait a very long time. Her mother had an affair with her sister’s husband and got herself pregnant. Her sister went batty and killed her husband and grandfather died of a broken heart except he wasn’t my grandfather at all because mother was born out of wedlock and because of her William had to live with Ruth on the farm and never knew his mother. You were married when you met but she was determined to have you and deliberately got herself pregnant and more than once just to get her own way. Doesn’t she have any shame for what she has done? I bet your wife died of a broken heart as well. Mother is just a poor replacement. She got herself attacked by my uncle and nearly caused his family to fall apart. She stopped me getting married to Alexavier then she stopped me going to live and work in America and now she has stopped me marrying Nigel, well I won’t put up with it. I won’t ‘ screamed Eleanor with tears rolling down her face. ‘Eleanor I will not marry you until you have grown up and know how to behave. No way am I going to come home from work and suffer the ranting and ravings of a lunatic. Why don’t you ever sit down and speak calmly and get your facts right before going off on a spoilt brats tantrum? If I had been your father I would have put you over my knee a long time ago and given you the hiding of a lifetime because it is what you deserve. All your good qualities are put well into the shade when you carry on like this.’ Said Nigel. Alexine had got up and walked into the kitchen and was trembling so much she could hardly stand up. Tears rolled down her face as she tried to take in what her daughter had just said about her. Was she responsible for all those deaths, had she made Simon chose between her and Megan, had she stopped William seeing his mother. She had not asked to be born, hadn’t she suffered at the hands of her mother. Did Eleanor really hate her so much that she just couldn’t wait to get away from her? But before she could think any more the room started to sway and she felt herself falling to the ground and her last thought was that she was dying and would go to hell for what she had done. Simon found her a moment later when he went to look for her, cradling her in his arms he shouted for Nigel. Nigel picked her up and carried her through to the spare bedroom and laid her on his bed as Alexine started to come round. She clung onto Nigel, as everything seemed to be spinning round and then everything went black again. A minute or two later she came round again and this time she started to recollect where she was. Fear was very clearly registering in her eyes and on her face and tears began to roll down her face and she was shaking really badly. Simon went to her but she turned away from him and wept uncontrollably into the pillow gripping it tightly. Eleanor was shocked at what she saw; she thought her mother was tougher than that.
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About the Book
Settled in their home near Pearson’s Park Hull Alexine feels everything will run smoothly. However even the best-laid plans fall apart. Alexine has always been devoted to Simon and loves her children passionately so is surprised when as teenagers they cause her numerous concerns and heartaches. Many come out of the blue like Eleanor having an illegal abortion and almost losing her life. Edward telling Alexine he is gay, something she finds hard coming to terms with. While dealing with these issues Simon is diagnosed with testicular cancer and the four youngest children run away from home. Amongst the good times are Simon and Alexine’s anniversary and their cruise. They celebrate Samuel's marriage and him finally becoming a fully qualified doctor. Alexine meets Benjamin a relative of her father and visits him in America but many problems arise, Benjamin has been through a traumatic time and tried to commit suicide after being sexually abused by his father and his mother dies. Eleanor throws a tantrum when her parents refuse to let her marry Nigel on the rebound from Alexavier Benjamin's cousin. In retaliation Eleanor rakes up her mother’s past and reveals her findings to her father and Nigel. This becomes too much for Alexine and she collapses. Eleanor is shocked at what she has done and feels she has gone too far, and losing Nigel in the process. As the children leave home to start their own lives Simon and Alexine start planning their future and buy a house in the countryside and Simon plans his retirement, but even that does not turn out as expected. There are many surprises and shocks to be discovered before the story concludes. Soon the children's story will start to unfold.
About the Author
Andrea is the youngest of three children born in the dockland of Kingston upon Hull a few years after World War 2. Brought up in a one-parent family, unusual for those days she learned to cope with the harshness of life. Since leaving school at fifteen Andrea enjoyed working in shops and offices and trained as a telephonist for a funeral directors then later became a care assistant. She has three grown up children. Later in life Andrea did several training courses such suicide bereavement, teachers aid, Child protection and several others mainly to do with working in the community. Andrea also trained as a Local Preacher for her Church. Her claims to fame are being on ‘Westminster Today’ with colleagues on a ‘bereavement training course’ then on the front page of the ‘Hull Daily Mail’ when helping a children’s charity. She was also on channel 4 news regarding a church service about the Tsunami. For sixteen years she worked as a volunteer in the community where she lives taking on various roles such as committee member, running projects, school governor, running the school library and organising activities and events. At present she is compiling a directory of voluntary groups throughout the City of Hull. Andrea is a great supporter of Arsenal Football Team. She enjoys visiting the North Yorkshire Moors and Whitby whenever possible. Andrea is a great lover of animals especially cats. At the moment she has a chinchilla, two cats, a budgie, a hamster plus several stray cats camping at the bottom of her garden. Her hobbies include reading, IT, writing, and recently developed a great interest in the history of Hull and Whitby. Her main ambition is to meet Phil Everly one of the Everly brother’s duo.