Perfect Life (Chapter Fourteen)
Not a word was exchanged, they didn’t need to really, Effy knew what Naomi was there for. It made Effy wonder, would she ever have someone she loved enough to fight for? She doubted it, every person she ever thought she loved she’d given up on. Sex and drugs had become all she needed to feel alive now, if you could call the daze she walked around in really being alive.
It was hard to judge what Naomi was thinking, clearly she was deep in consideration, it was that way she chewed her lip whenever she was thinking over a difficult decision. Was this really difficult decision though? Effy deserved punishment, she’d expected either the police or Naomi herself to come calling eventually.
Naomi pushed her way through to the kitchen, Effy almost feeling embarrassed at the state of it. She might live in an expensive apartment, but that didn’t mean she actually looked after it. There was no food in the kitchen, just empty bottles and overflowing ashtrays. Sitting in the kitchen, drinking a bottle of wine, smoking a packet of cigarettes and pouring over the newspapers... Shit, Effy thought, she’d truely become her mother.
Effy couldn’t help but notice Naomi’s hand, that was probably her fault. If Naomi would do that to herself, Effy could only wonder what her punishment would be.
“Sorry, it’s a mess... I fired my cleaner.” Effy murmured, knowing Naomi didn’t give a crap about excuses. Knowing that small talk was pointless because Naomi wasn’t here to socialise, but she needed to say something because the silence was killing her.
“Suppose when you bleed Katie dry, you’ll have enough money to pay for one.” Naomi sniped. Effy watched Naomi flexing her good fist instinctively and flinched. Noticing how Naomi was enjoying this power over her, it was too much Effy had to say something, to just get it over and done with.
“Just do it! Just hit me, do whatever the hell you like! I deserve it.” Effy cried out, she hated the tension and the way that Naomi was looking at her, really looking at her. She could tend to cuts and bruises, but she couldn’t do anything about the way Naomi was making her feel, utter guilt and agony.
So here it was, Naomi was stepping forward, drawing her hand up. Fist clenched, she powered it down towards Effy’s face, pausing just an inch from making contact. Effy unscrewed her eyes, catching Naomi’s victorious smile, releasing a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding.
“You’re pathetic.” Naomi hissed, searching for a clean glass amongst the clutter on Effy’s work-top. Finally finding one, Naomi poured herself a large vodka, slinging it back without even flinching at the burning liquid that hit the back of her throat.
“Fucking hit me Naomi! Come on! You didn’t come here to stare me down, you came here to put me out of my misery!” Effy pleaded, this was a strange kind of torture that Naomi was exacting on her, guilt was really fucking her up.
“You’re not worth it, you really aren’t.” Naomi glared, rubbing at her sore hand, before bringing her oddly calm eyes up to meet Effy’s wild ones.
“Are you scared? Come on Naomi, I pushed your pregnant girlfriend down the stairs, if you had a backbone you’d do something about it!” Effy taunted, just like how she’d tried to break Emily, she was now going to bring Naomi to the edge.
“Will it make you feel better Effy, will if make you feel real?! You just want to fucking feel something don’t you? Numb, devoid of any emotion... Emily is lying in a hospital bed, she’s in a coma, and our daughter is fighting for her life. This shouldn’t be happening.” Naomi screamed, letting her glass drop the floor, moving towards Effy’s face she made sure that Effy could see what pain really was.
“Stop it” Effy begged weakly, grabbing hold of Naomi’s arm to steady herself, Naomi took one look at her hand before ripping her arm away.
“What Effy? Is this more painful than connecting my fist with your face? Do you actually have a conscience?” Naomi questioned “Fucking hell that’s news to me... You know what Ef, I think having to live with this is far worse than me beating the crap out of you. But I will tell you this, I lose either of them, I will kill you. That is a promise.” Naomi offered her final thread, calmly as she possibly could.
Locked together, Effy thought that they could probably have stared at each other all day, searching for an answer. They were interrupted only by the sound of Effy’s front door flying open, as three people clattered inside.
“Naomi stop!” Katie called, believing she was about to walk in on a cat fight. Stopping when she found Naomi stood in front of a sobbing Effy, trying to reach out to grab Naomi, Naomi pushing her away in digust.
“It’s fine Katie, i’m leaving.” Naomi muttered, moving towards the door.
“You didn’t hit her? Not even a little bit?” Katie asked, raising an eyebrow her tone was more annoyance than surprise. She hoped Naomi was going to give her what she deserved, she was only there to make sure she didn’t go too far.
“She’s not worth it.” Naomi explained, leaning into her mother who was waiting in the corridor with JJ.
Katie stood momentarily, watching Effy on her hands and knees, trying to come up with some kind of apology or excuse. Katie then looked over to JJ, Naomi and Gina who were beckoning for her to come and join them, moving slightly towards them Katie paused again, turning round and marching back to Effy who had now managed to pull herself up.
“Sadly i’m far less diplomatic that Naomi.” Katie smiled, delivering a swift and powerful slap to the side of Effy’s face. Smirking before walking out to join the people she regarded as family, Effy almost felt a pang of jealousy as she watched them walk away.
“Make you feel better?” Naomi asked, linking arms with Katie, as they made the short walk back to the cars. Gina and JJ following close behind, both feeling slightly more relaxed now they’d got Naomi and Katie away from Effy.
“Loads actually.” Katie admitted, staring at her bright red palm, she truely had made quite a connection with Effy’s face. Katie noticed how Naomi was trying to stifle a smile.
“Right, well can we get to the hospital please. I really would like to meet my daughter.” Naomi smiled, taking a deep breath as she tried to steady her nerves. Talking to Effy, stressing how her daughter was in hospital fighting to live, had made Naomi realise that that was where she should be.
“What do we do about her?” Katie asked, indicating back towards Effy’s place. It seemed ridiculous to walk away, leaving her with only a sore cheek as punishment for what she’d done.
“I’ll think of something, right now I just want to concentrate on Emily and the baby.” Naomi sighed, desperate to be with them, regretting every second she’d spent away. Effy could wait for now.
“Does baby have a name? Me and J have just been calling her baby, I think she’s going to start getting confused soon.” Katie laughed, she could feel Naomi was shaking slightly, nervous about all the responsibility awaiting her, and gave her a warm smile to let her know she wasn’t alone.
“We have a couple of ideas, I want to wait for Emily though.” Naomi smiled, despite how painful it was to even mention Emily’s name right now.
“Yeah of course.” Katie agreed, offering a supportive smile.
“Her middle name is Katie” Naomi admitted, knowing Emily wouldn’t mind her letting that piece of information slip. Gina flashed her daughter a smile as they watched Katie start to well up with tears,
“Really? Thats so cool.” Katie beamed, trying to stop herself from crying, as she felt the emotion of everything start to build.
“We thought you’d like it.” Naomi laughed, nudging Katie for being so bloody sentimental about everything, but incredibly glad that she was here right now.
**
Jenna stood hovering over her daughter, her and Rob had spent all afternoon sat at Emily’s bedside, feeling so completely helpless. Jenna hadn’t been able to stop herself from bitching about Naomi, about her not being here, about her ‘lack of commitment.’ Rob hadn’t responded, instead he’d just sat, holding his daughters hand.
“How can something like this just happen? I just want her to be okay Rob.” Jenna sighed, running her hand through her hair.
“Babe she’ll get through this, she’s a Fitch.” Rob smiled, leaving his daughters side to embrace his wife. Holding onto each other until the alarming beeping of the machines, that Emily was attached to, ripped them apart. Panicking Jenna ran out into the corridor.
“Help! Help someone please! My daughter, please will someone help!” Jenna screeched, watching as a team made their way quickly to Emily’s room. “Oh god Rob what’s happening?”
“Can you please move outside please?” One of the nurses asked, trying to hold back Emily’s desperate parents. “Mrs Fitch please can you move outside.”
“Come on love let them do their job, she’ll be alright, our Emsy won’t give up this easily” Rob insisted, not quite sure whether he believed it or not, as he held onto his wife desperately.
It was hard to judge what Naomi was thinking, clearly she was deep in consideration, it was that way she chewed her lip whenever she was thinking over a difficult decision. Was this really difficult decision though? Effy deserved punishment, she’d expected either the police or Naomi herself to come calling eventually.
Naomi pushed her way through to the kitchen, Effy almost feeling embarrassed at the state of it. She might live in an expensive apartment, but that didn’t mean she actually looked after it. There was no food in the kitchen, just empty bottles and overflowing ashtrays. Sitting in the kitchen, drinking a bottle of wine, smoking a packet of cigarettes and pouring over the newspapers... Shit, Effy thought, she’d truely become her mother.
Effy couldn’t help but notice Naomi’s hand, that was probably her fault. If Naomi would do that to herself, Effy could only wonder what her punishment would be.
“Sorry, it’s a mess... I fired my cleaner.” Effy murmured, knowing Naomi didn’t give a crap about excuses. Knowing that small talk was pointless because Naomi wasn’t here to socialise, but she needed to say something because the silence was killing her.
“Suppose when you bleed Katie dry, you’ll have enough money to pay for one.” Naomi sniped. Effy watched Naomi flexing her good fist instinctively and flinched. Noticing how Naomi was enjoying this power over her, it was too much Effy had to say something, to just get it over and done with.
“Just do it! Just hit me, do whatever the hell you like! I deserve it.” Effy cried out, she hated the tension and the way that Naomi was looking at her, really looking at her. She could tend to cuts and bruises, but she couldn’t do anything about the way Naomi was making her feel, utter guilt and agony.
So here it was, Naomi was stepping forward, drawing her hand up. Fist clenched, she powered it down towards Effy’s face, pausing just an inch from making contact. Effy unscrewed her eyes, catching Naomi’s victorious smile, releasing a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding.
“You’re pathetic.” Naomi hissed, searching for a clean glass amongst the clutter on Effy’s work-top. Finally finding one, Naomi poured herself a large vodka, slinging it back without even flinching at the burning liquid that hit the back of her throat.
“Fucking hit me Naomi! Come on! You didn’t come here to stare me down, you came here to put me out of my misery!” Effy pleaded, this was a strange kind of torture that Naomi was exacting on her, guilt was really fucking her up.
“You’re not worth it, you really aren’t.” Naomi glared, rubbing at her sore hand, before bringing her oddly calm eyes up to meet Effy’s wild ones.
“Are you scared? Come on Naomi, I pushed your pregnant girlfriend down the stairs, if you had a backbone you’d do something about it!” Effy taunted, just like how she’d tried to break Emily, she was now going to bring Naomi to the edge.
“Will it make you feel better Effy, will if make you feel real?! You just want to fucking feel something don’t you? Numb, devoid of any emotion... Emily is lying in a hospital bed, she’s in a coma, and our daughter is fighting for her life. This shouldn’t be happening.” Naomi screamed, letting her glass drop the floor, moving towards Effy’s face she made sure that Effy could see what pain really was.
“Stop it” Effy begged weakly, grabbing hold of Naomi’s arm to steady herself, Naomi took one look at her hand before ripping her arm away.
“What Effy? Is this more painful than connecting my fist with your face? Do you actually have a conscience?” Naomi questioned “Fucking hell that’s news to me... You know what Ef, I think having to live with this is far worse than me beating the crap out of you. But I will tell you this, I lose either of them, I will kill you. That is a promise.” Naomi offered her final thread, calmly as she possibly could.
Locked together, Effy thought that they could probably have stared at each other all day, searching for an answer. They were interrupted only by the sound of Effy’s front door flying open, as three people clattered inside.
“Naomi stop!” Katie called, believing she was about to walk in on a cat fight. Stopping when she found Naomi stood in front of a sobbing Effy, trying to reach out to grab Naomi, Naomi pushing her away in digust.
“It’s fine Katie, i’m leaving.” Naomi muttered, moving towards the door.
“You didn’t hit her? Not even a little bit?” Katie asked, raising an eyebrow her tone was more annoyance than surprise. She hoped Naomi was going to give her what she deserved, she was only there to make sure she didn’t go too far.
“She’s not worth it.” Naomi explained, leaning into her mother who was waiting in the corridor with JJ.
Katie stood momentarily, watching Effy on her hands and knees, trying to come up with some kind of apology or excuse. Katie then looked over to JJ, Naomi and Gina who were beckoning for her to come and join them, moving slightly towards them Katie paused again, turning round and marching back to Effy who had now managed to pull herself up.
“Sadly i’m far less diplomatic that Naomi.” Katie smiled, delivering a swift and powerful slap to the side of Effy’s face. Smirking before walking out to join the people she regarded as family, Effy almost felt a pang of jealousy as she watched them walk away.
“Make you feel better?” Naomi asked, linking arms with Katie, as they made the short walk back to the cars. Gina and JJ following close behind, both feeling slightly more relaxed now they’d got Naomi and Katie away from Effy.
“Loads actually.” Katie admitted, staring at her bright red palm, she truely had made quite a connection with Effy’s face. Katie noticed how Naomi was trying to stifle a smile.
“Right, well can we get to the hospital please. I really would like to meet my daughter.” Naomi smiled, taking a deep breath as she tried to steady her nerves. Talking to Effy, stressing how her daughter was in hospital fighting to live, had made Naomi realise that that was where she should be.
“What do we do about her?” Katie asked, indicating back towards Effy’s place. It seemed ridiculous to walk away, leaving her with only a sore cheek as punishment for what she’d done.
“I’ll think of something, right now I just want to concentrate on Emily and the baby.” Naomi sighed, desperate to be with them, regretting every second she’d spent away. Effy could wait for now.
“Does baby have a name? Me and J have just been calling her baby, I think she’s going to start getting confused soon.” Katie laughed, she could feel Naomi was shaking slightly, nervous about all the responsibility awaiting her, and gave her a warm smile to let her know she wasn’t alone.
“We have a couple of ideas, I want to wait for Emily though.” Naomi smiled, despite how painful it was to even mention Emily’s name right now.
“Yeah of course.” Katie agreed, offering a supportive smile.
“Her middle name is Katie” Naomi admitted, knowing Emily wouldn’t mind her letting that piece of information slip. Gina flashed her daughter a smile as they watched Katie start to well up with tears,
“Really? Thats so cool.” Katie beamed, trying to stop herself from crying, as she felt the emotion of everything start to build.
“We thought you’d like it.” Naomi laughed, nudging Katie for being so bloody sentimental about everything, but incredibly glad that she was here right now.
**
Jenna stood hovering over her daughter, her and Rob had spent all afternoon sat at Emily’s bedside, feeling so completely helpless. Jenna hadn’t been able to stop herself from bitching about Naomi, about her not being here, about her ‘lack of commitment.’ Rob hadn’t responded, instead he’d just sat, holding his daughters hand.
“How can something like this just happen? I just want her to be okay Rob.” Jenna sighed, running her hand through her hair.
“Babe she’ll get through this, she’s a Fitch.” Rob smiled, leaving his daughters side to embrace his wife. Holding onto each other until the alarming beeping of the machines, that Emily was attached to, ripped them apart. Panicking Jenna ran out into the corridor.
“Help! Help someone please! My daughter, please will someone help!” Jenna screeched, watching as a team made their way quickly to Emily’s room. “Oh god Rob what’s happening?”
“Can you please move outside please?” One of the nurses asked, trying to hold back Emily’s desperate parents. “Mrs Fitch please can you move outside.”
“Come on love let them do their job, she’ll be alright, our Emsy won’t give up this easily” Rob insisted, not quite sure whether he believed it or not, as he held onto his wife desperately.