Death of a Perfect Mother (24 page)

Authors: Robert Barnard

BOOK: Death of a Perfect Mother

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His tone of desperation seemed to wake Gordon out of his depression. He shook off his mood like a dog reaching dry land.

âNo,
we
've got
our
lives to live. We're all together in this, even more so since she died. I'm never going to get Ann. Perhaps I never expected to. Perhaps what I did it for was so the family would have a future. So I could knock it into shape. And I will too. This mood of mine, it'll pass. Things will get better. All we need is a bit of discipline. You'll be a credit to us. Debbie will come to something. I'll keep you on the right lines.'

âGordon, I don't want to be kept on your lines. I don't want you to take responsibility for me.'

âYou've no choice. That's what I did it for. I've got to make it worthwhile in the long run.'

âGordon, I didn't want that. I didn't want her dead.'

Gordon squared his shoulders and took his brother by the arm.

I know. That's why I did it alone. I had to set you free. I did it for you, baby brother. I did it for you.'

Brian looked bleakly ahead, in the bright white light of the washroom, and saw nothing but the shadow of another tyranny looming before him.

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