Page 20 of The Last Love Song
Helen’s heart thudded against her chest. It was no less than she deserved.
She went downstairs to make a telephone call. As she picked up the receiver, she hesitated for a moment. Was she really capable of doing this? Helen closed her eyes, thought of the future, and dialled the number.
‘Where are you going, dear?’ asked Mary as Seamus shrugged on his coat.
‘That was Helen on the telephone. She saw Sorcha cycling to the beach, but hasn’t seen her return. Helen’s concerned because of the gale. The tide is very high out there today.’
‘Sorcha told me she was going to visit Maureen this afternoon.’ Mary looked puzzled.
‘Well, Helen’s insistent she saw Sorcha pedalling towards the beach. I ought to investigate.’
‘But sure, Sorcha has been on that beach since she was a baby. She knows the sea.’
‘I’m sure you’re right, but Helen sounded worried.’
‘Well, I suppose that wind is fierce bad. If sheison the beach, she’ll be drenched.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll find her.’ Seamus put on his hat. ‘See you later.’
After stopping at Maureen’s house and finding that Sorcha wasn’t there, Seamus drove his car down to the beach. The wind was almost strong enough to knock him off his feet. He stood on a dune and looked across the sand. It was deserted. Pickinghis way across the dunes, the wind roaring in his face, Seamus saw Con Daly’s hut. If he was home, maybe he’d seen Sorcha.
Seamus walked to the front door and was about to knock when something moving inside caught his attention. He stared through the salt-smeary pane of glass. On the floor, a pair of naked bodies were writhing together. As the couple rolled, Seamus found himself staring at his daughter’s face.
He stumbled back from the window, crouched down and gagged several times.
‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph!’
Wiping the saliva from his chin, Seamus stood up and marched into the hut.
‘You bastard!’ He dragged Con up by his hair and threw him against the wall. ‘I’ll have the guards on you!’
Sorcha’s eyes shot open in surprise. Fear followed instantly. Grabbing Con’s shirt, she dragged it on and watched helplessly as her father punched and kicked her lover until he slid down the wall and lay in a foetal ball at his feet. ‘You bastard, youbastard!’ Seamus shouted as Con tried to shield himself.
Sorcha eventually found her voice.
‘Stop it, Daddy! Stop it! You’ll kill him!’
She stood up and threw herself on top of Con. ‘Stop it, Daddy, please!’
Seamus could no longer kick his victim without landing serious blows on his daughter’s body. Breathing heavily, his face red, his eyes glazed with rage, he stared down at her.
‘Say he forced himself on you, and we will go to the guards and have him arrested.’
Sorcha shook her head. ‘No, Daddy, he didn’t. I love him.’
‘I’ll try again. Say he made you do this, and we can go home and this bastard can be locked up where he belongs.’
‘No! Daddy, can’t you understand? I love him! You can’t stop us being together. I’m almost seventeen.’
‘You refuse to admit he forced you?’
‘Yes. He didn’t. I wanted him to.’
He slapped her brutally across the cheek. ‘You disgust me! You’re no better than a common whore! And no daughter of mine!’
‘We’re going to be married.’
‘Married! Ha! Is that what he promised you? And do you really think any priest would marry you after what you’ve done?’
