Kennedy's Redemption (The Protectors 3)

“Off to bed with you A stor,” she told her, covering her with her blankets. Turning on her fairy light so it looked as if they flew along her roof.

Together they said their own silly goodnight, “Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter. Lullabies, dreams and love ever after. Poems and songs with pipes and drums. A thousand welcomes when your dreams come.”

“G’night Mam,” she whispered sleepily.

A kiss on her head was her only response, before sleep took her to her dreams.

***

When Deidre awoke the following morning she knew almost immediately that something was wrong. Her Mam normally had her fairy curtains open as soon as the sun arose, today they were still closed. Quietly rising from bed, she tiptoed to her door. Pressing her ear to it she listened closely for movement.

Not hearing anything she slowly opened it, peaking out she saw the hallway empty. Walking on eggshells so as not to wake her Da, she crept down the stairs, going to the kitchen to see if her Mam was making breakfast.

The day before they’d watched a cooking show about American southern foods and her Mam had decided today they’d try making biscuits and sausage gravy. She was so excited to try something new, and thought they’d be doing it together. But once she arrived to the kitchen her Mam wasn’t there.

Deciding perhaps she was tired from fighting with her Da last night, that maybe she would get things prepared for when her Mam came down.

She went to the small fridge in the corner and started pulling the ingredients out that they’d bought the day before. She pulled out the fresh rolls, that just had to go in the oven and the sausage roll that would need to be cooked. Next she grabbed some fruit, because her Mam always liked to make sure she ate healthy. Even though she’d prefer to have sweet icing on her biscuits. She knew the fruit would make her happy.

Sitting on the stool that was just a tad too high for her to reach the floor, she crossed her hands and lay her head on them looking at all the food she’d brought out to cook. Excitement buzzed through her veins as she patiently waited…

And waited…

And waited…

Jumping up with a huff, she looked to the stairs asking no one in particular, “Where is me Mam?”

Having lost her short will to wait she started going back upstairs calling, “Mam? Are you up?” Still no response, “Mam, I have everything ready!” She sign-songed hoping to rouse her.

When she heard rustling coming from the direction of her parent’s room, she started to feel excited again. Hoping her Mam had only over slept, she rushed to the door and waited for it to open. Quietly knocking she whispered, “Mam are you up?”

When she heard a low moan, she started to worry. Opening the door slowly so as not to make any noise, she peaked inside. The room was a mess! Holy cow, her Mam was never that messy. She often joked she had OCD; whatever that was. The fact Deidre could see spilt make up across her vanity, worried her.

Stepping further into the room, she was shocked to see her Mam lying in bed with her face full of bruises, blood caked on the side of her mouth, and a black eye.

“Mam!” She cried, rushing over quickly, careful n

ot to touch her.

Running her fingers gently across her hair, her eyes started to slowly flutter open, “Oh A stor, what are ye doing in here?” Her Mam asked her, her voice cracking painfully.

“What happened Mam?” She begged to know, tears coursing down her cheeks.

“Nothing my sweet Stor, back to bed with ya.”

“But Mam, it tis’ morning,” she was confused now. Surely she knew it was the morning. That the sun was high in the sky now.

“Oh dear,” she whispered sounding scared. Deidre watched as an emotion she couldn’t identify entered her Mam’s eyes. It worried her in a way she didn’t fully understand, and a horrifying idea occurred to her.

“Mam? Did Da smack you?”

“Nah dear, let’s get you some food.” As her Mam started to sit up, Deidre watched her with what her Da called an eagle eye. She watched every wince, every sharp inhale of breath.

Backing away, still holding her hand, she watched as her Mam limped to the toilet. “Mam?” She asked before she could close the door, “Do you need a doctor?”

“I’ll be fine child, go, I’ll be down in a we bit.” She instructed.

She waited for a few minutes after the shower kicked on, wanting to make sure her Mam would be ok by herself.