31 May, Military Base, City K

Paul, on entering the reception venue, carefully shielded Abigail.?She was still fragile after what happened when they ran into her mother while out for dinner a few days ago.

His parents, despite their issues with each other and their marriage, had drilled into him from an early stage of life the importance respecting elders, no matter how much you disagreed with them.?The importance of that with family elders was something that always had to be respected.?Even after his parent's had separated, his father despite as Paul now knew, blaming both his parents and his in-laws for the whole situation, showed them total respect.

Despite knowing what his mother-in-law had done to Abigail, the lessons his father gave him about respecting elders came to the fore.?His instinct was to tell her to get lost and leave them alone, because the moment Abigail had realised, she was there, she was already shaking in fear.?He knew that he needed to protect her from any hard, and as was necessary currently that included her mother.?But the lessons parents had taught in, and his father had continued to reinforce after their separation, he had to at least give her some face.

As she came near them, Paul made sure he had a firm grip on Abigail's hand before looking at his mother-in-law, and saying as calmly and politely as he could, fighting the desire to be angry, "Hello Mother.?Our apologise that we cannot stay and talk but we have somewhere to be."

That moment of politeness was the worst decision he could have made.?It provided the opening for a torrent of abuse to commence.?He was aware that she was angry that her plans to take everything she could from Uncle Mo, Abigail and her siblings had been ruined, but neither he nor Abigail deserved what she did.?She forced them into a space that left them with little opportunity to escape while continuing her abuse.?It was only when she struck Abigail that security intervened, restrained her and dragged her away before handing her to the police.

It ruined the night for Abigail, who threw herself into his arms sobbing.?The moment that she did that, he felt utterly stupid and useless as a husband.?He could not protect his wife, who had during the short length of their marriage become the centre of his world.?Not something he would have expected marrying someone ten years younger than himself, but now his honest assessment of their relationship.

After scanning the room, he found a quiet spot and guided Abigail there to sit down.?As she sat Abigail gently tugged Paul's hand having him sit down beside her, before quietly saying "You are still upset about the other night."

Paul nodded and quietly responded "I failed you.?I knew all about your mother, and yet my manners overrode my instincts to ignore her so we could have enjoyed ourselves."

A loud voice angrily said "You absolutely did.?My sister, for some unknow reason trusts you to do the right thing, and you failed her.?You know what a poisonous witch our mother is, and you failed to protect her."

Paul and Abigail turned and noticed Abigail standing there, hands on her h.i.p.s with Joseph standing behind her, who added "And I should kill you for hurting my sister-in-law through your stupidity, but you are lucky I know where the line is that I should not cross.?That does not mean that I will not make your life a living hell to ensure my little sister is kept safe from her."

Abigail looked between the two of them and feeling confident because Paul was with her calmly responded "That witch, as you called her Monica is our mother.?Someone who made my childhood horrendous, yes, but still the woman that gave birth to us.?That fact earns her the tiniest amount of respect, no more."

"I wonder why she even did that.?She is selfish that it all has to be about her."

"No questioning that, Monica.?But leave the attitude elsewhere, because for all his faults father does try to do the right thing, and if he heard you talking like that.."

"I do not give a care.?She is a b*tch, and she deserves what she gets.?That includes my hatred."?Monica turned and looked Paul directly in the eyes "And you have that at the moment because of your failure to protect Abigail."

"Monica!" came Abigail's sharp response.

Paul, sensing Abigail was about to do something she would regret later squeezed her hand, causing her to look at him.?In that moment of distraction, Paul quickly said "That is between your sister and me.?You can have your opinion, but that it all it is."

"Opinion, more like a statement of fact.?You b*stard."

A voice from behind sharply said "Monica!?How dare you speak to your brother-in-law like that.?Despite all my failings as a parent, I do hope that I taught you one thing, being polite to your family."

Monica turned around and said "Failings as a parent, that is an understatement father.?You were not a parent when I was growing up and allowed all of us to be targeted by that witch who was your wife.?Now, you are backing up your son-in-law for doing the same thing."

"Not doing the same thing.?From what even your sister has told me, he demonstrated the manners his parents taught him, being polite to your elders."

"Father!"?came the even angrier response from Monica.?"Sometimes I wonder why even now I am trying to salvage our relationship if you are going to let that woman continue her abuse."

"That is something I will not do, but there is a time and place for everything, and the reckoning will come for your mother."

Abigail noticed the small smile on Paul's face.?Her father had that right, because Paul, once she had gotten over the shock of everything dragged her to the police station to report the breach of the retraining order protecting her from her mother.?He had it right, sometimes being polite can have its advantages.

"Monica, are you forgetting something," came Abigail's quiet statement "I have a restraining order against her.."

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