"Well, if she comes knocking, I'll send her on her way then." Essie stood and smoothed down her apron. "Now, how about you go and sort out that brother of yours."
Russ pushed the door open and walked into the hallway. The sounds of snoring came from the front room and he walked to the door to look in. Cade lay on his back on the couch, his leg propped up on a cushion and a blanket covering him.
Beside the couch an empty whiskey bottle lay on its side, next to it, a pill bottle. Russ walked over and crouched down to retrieve it. Reading the label, he looked down at Cade and shook his head.
"Bloody fool."
"Whas that?" Cade slurred and opened his eyes. "Russh, the hero hash returned."
"What the hell have you done to yourself this time? You’re looking for trouble, Cade."
"Bull. I was jusht helping our Kate. Damned horse wash going to stomp her. What was I shupposed to do?" He threw off the blanket, letting it slip to the floor. When he tried to sit up and swing his legs down, Cade cried out in pain.
Russ put his arm out, pushing him back. "Stay there and let me have a look at you." When his brother complied, Russ gave him a quick examination, not liking what he found.
"Listen up, mate, I need you to focus on what I'm saying." He waited for the nod. "When you fell, did it feel as though you tore the ligament or just pulled it some more?"
"I'm not sure. It just hurt like hell."
Russ lifted the leg and with gentle hands, tried to flex it. "You have some movement in there." He placed it back down again and stood up. "You have two choices. Go to hospital now and see whoever is on call or wait for me to come in tomorrow. Either way, you will have to have scans and probably go to Sydney to have it properly assessed."
"Can't you just give me more drugs and let me be?"
"With the amount of whiskey you’ve had today, no. Now, do you want me to call an ambulance or help you upstairs to bed?"
"Leave me here."
"No. You can't exactly stretch out and get a decent rest here, besides Essie wants you in your own bed." Russ blinked his eyes rapidly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Hurry up and make up your mind, I've had enough crap today to last me for a lifetime and I'm kind of short on patience right now."
"Ooh, big brother is snappy today. What's the matter, nurse turn you down, did she?"
"Cade, do you want to go in now or not?"
"No."
Russ leaned down and picked up the crutches before he slipped his arm under Cade’s shoulders. He helped him stand and walk, guiding him to the old lift under the recess of the stairs. Taking a key from hook up near the top of the door, he unlocked the lift.
"This old thing will break down half way up, then we'll be stuck there all night like dear old Aunty May." Cade leaned against the staircase and watched Russ pull the iron door open.
"Unlike her, I have my phone in my pocket. Get in."
Cade hobbled in and leaned in the corner for the short ride up to the next level. When Russ opened the door, he hobbled out and went straight to his room. "Going to tuck me in, big brother?"
Russ followed him in and looked around the room. The smell of alcohol hung in the air and he opened the window, letting in the sounds of the night and a soft breeze. The bed was unmade so he pulled back the top blanket and smoothed down the sheets. "There, you can tuck yourself in. I'll leave here about 8am. If you want me to take you in, be ready."
Cade blew him a kiss as he passed.
Russ stood in his room and put his finger in his tie, pulling it loose. He threw it on the chair beside the open window and undid the buttons on his white shirt. Shrugging it off his shoulders, he let it drop to the floor before leaning on the window sill. The sheer net curtains blew around his shoulders as he gazed out into the night letting the breeze roll over his naked torso.
Hiring a private detective to find some dirt on his ex-wife was going to cost him what cash he had left in the bank, but it would be worth it. Tory had already called her solicitor and relayed Russ's final instructions. If she insisted on staying married, Russ would dig and find out everything she had done over the last four years they’d been married. Their bank accounts would be scrutinised for any indiscretion she may have made using joint funds and if he could tie her to another man, he would.
The only thing irking Russ was the innocent child she claimed she was carrying. If he could smooth things over with Lizzie, he would but deep down he knew it would take more than he had to give to win her over. Another man might take up the challenge but for now Russ was too down-trodden to even attempt it.
He stepped away from the window and undid the buckle on his trousers letting them fall in a heap with his shirt and walked to the bed. He pulled down the top blanket and eased himself down on the cool sheets, too tired to deal with the way his wife was treating him. Russ closed his eyes and prayed for sleep to take away the horrors he’d faced
