This chapter describes Daphne's meeting with Briony's father. It doesn't go well. briony later meets her mother but Dapne hangs back.

The Welsh Mountain Ram 36

Briony Davies Nee Lewis ... Betrayed wife and mother.
Sion ... Her eight-year-old son.
Ellairy... Her nine-month--old daughter.
Arfon Davies... Brionys’ abusive and unfaithful husband.
Dave Cadwalloder... Welsh bachelor hill-farmer.
Jenny and Lassie... Daves’ sheepdog bitches.
Laddie... Daves’ sheepdog.
Jessica and Pansy... Daves’ sows.
Angel... Daves’ mare.
Gabriella (Gabby)... Angels’ foal (Gift to Sion.)
Elsbeth... Briony’s sister.
Daphne... Daves’ ‘girlfriend’
Cledwyn... Farmer further down the valley (Neighbour.)
Blodwen... Cledwyn’s daughter.
Rachel... Daphne’s TV friend.
Shirley... Rachels’ GG wife.
Fajita... The maid.
James & Tara... Rachel’s teenaged children (16 & 15)
Billy and Janet... Manager and accountant at Daphne’s club.
Terry... New Zealand Shepherd.
Wendy... Blodwens best friend at school. Also Dave’s friend.
Jane... Policewoman at Machynlleth.
Jack Davies... Sergeant North Wales Police.
Joyce... Blodwen’s Partner.
Edward Lewis... Briony’s father.
Jean Lewis... Briony’s mother.

The Ram 36

As Colin threaded his police car carefully through the crowds returning from the Boxing Day match, Briony sat silent and reflective in the back seat next to Daphne while she hugged Ellairy close to her breast.

“Penny for your thoughts love?” Daphne ventured as she sensed Briony’s reservations.

“She’s worried about Dad,” Elspeth answered for her from the front passenger seat.

“There’s no need to be nervous.” Daphne reassured her. “He can’t bully you while Colin’s here.”

Briony looked up from staring at the back of the driver’s seat and Colin’s neck.

“He’ll probably make some sort of issue about not having seen Ellairy.”

Daphne reached across and gently squeezed Briony’s fingers as she offered her argument.

“If he makes an issue of it just tell him the truth. You couldn’t stand all the brow-beating and bullying. He’d do better to change his ways. Ask him why your mother hasn’t tried to contact you.”

“I don’t know if she has or hasn’t. I’ve never told her where I am or who I’m living with.”

“No, perhaps not but she could have tried to reach you through Elspeth,” Daphne turned to Elspeth to ask, “has she tried to find out from you sis?”

Elspeth wagged her head as she confirmed Daphne’s point.

“No. We speak at least once a week on the phone and she’s never once asked. I’ve met her several times since last Christmas but she’s never asked about Briony.”

“And that’s because she’s afraid of dad.” Briony confirmed.

Daphne nodded knowingly.

“We all know that darling but we’ve got to get your dad to acknowledge it. Preferably in front of Colin and that lady police officer.”

“Seems like a plan,” Colin offered as they turned into the sports field. “There they are now, standing on the veranda of the pavilion.”

He parked the car at the edge of the tarmac and the four adults approached while Daphne carried Ellairy. Briony’s dad stared uncomprehendingly for a moment before he realised who it was that Daphne was carrying. His eyes flashed angrily but a second glance at the accompanying police officer turned the menace to caution. Then he realised Briony was pregnant again and he hesitated. Edward Lewis realised he was not going to get his own way. Faced with hard reality he bit his lip and waited until they were met. Briony stood silent deliberately. She was determined to force her father to make the first move. After several seconds pained silence he spoke as he stepped towards Daphne to inspect the girl

“Is this Ellairy?”

“Who else d’you think it could be?”

“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t seen her for nearly fourteen months.”

“You never came around.”

“You should have brought Ellairy to see us. You’ve got the car.”

“Arfon wouldn’t let me.”

“See! I warned you about him but oo-oh no. You knew best. And now look at you. What’s this I hear about you living with this ... this creature, this weirdo?”

“There’s no need to be offensive. Daphne’s twice the man you ever where and twenty times the man Arfon was!”

“Huh! A fucking weirdo, a half man or is it a half woman?”

Briony had to bite her lip before replying.

“Daphne is my partner; she’s the father of my twins.”

Her father was almost incandescent with rage.

“Can you hear yourself girl!!!? You can’t even get the pronouns right because of this bloody freak! She is the father! She!? She!? How can she be the father!? We’d all be better off if this fucking freak was dead!

At this point Colin intervened as his colleague WPC Evans moved to place herself between Daphne, Briony and her dad.

“Mr Lewis, I must warn you, remarks like that are illegal, they incite hatred.”

Edward Lewis fell silent but he fumed with frustration; he wanted to hit the pervert in front of him ... he wanted to snatch his grand-daughter from the pervert’s grasp. Instead he was being forced to accept the damnable monstrosity that stood blatantly mocking him. He turned to Briony and snapped.

“Are you coming home to see your mother? I expect she’ll want to see you.”

“And Ellairy... and Sion!” Briony added angrily. “If you’ll let her.”

“I’m not stopping you or your mother but that; that freak isn’t coming into my house.”

“Then neither are we.” Briony snapped back.

Edward lewis stormed off towards the Pavillion to get himself a pint. Elspeth decided she had better try and be a peace broker.

“If we go around there, I could speak to mum. She could come out to meet you in the street.

“Would you like me to take you around there?” Colin offered.

Briony glanced sideways at her departing father and Colin reassured her.

Just you, Daphne and Elspeth. You can leave the little girl with your friends in The Mount or bring her to see your mum. I can squeeze the boys in as well if you want.

“What about him?” She wondered nodding towards her father.

“He lost his licence just before Christmas. There won’t be room in the police car. He’ll have to walk. That will give you at least half an hour at the house before he gets there.”

Briony bit her lip thoughtfully then asked.

“How did he lose it?”

“Drunk in charge.”

“Huh! Why doesn’t that surprise me? You finally managed to catch him then.”

“He crashed the car. Didn’t you know?”

Briony was only mildly surprised; she actually wondered how her father had got away without crashing for years.

“No I didn’t. We haven’t talked more than twice since I married Arfon and not at all since last Christmas.”

“What about your mam?”

“If he wouldn’t talk then she wouldn’t; she’s a doormat!”

“D’you want to see her?”

“Might as well. If he’s not there she might just risk it. Beside’s Elspeth was going to see her anyway.”

“You might as well see her Sis,” Elspeth added “at least we know he won’t be here.”

“I’ll wait by the gate,” Briony replied, “you go and see her. If she wants to see Ellairy she can come out.”

“If you say so,” Elspeth sighed. She had been secretly hoping for some sort of reconciliation.

Edward Lewis returned to the group with a pint in a large plastic cup. When he learned that briony was getting a lift to the house he wanted to accompany the,.

Colin was quite forceful in refusing Briony’s father a ride home and Edward Lewis’s personality quickly revealed itself. He tried bullying and threatening but Colin was no longer the boy caught scrumping. He gave the older man a clear warning then left with the others in his car. Edward Lewis was left fuming impotently at the gates to the sports ground; he faced a two or three mile walk to the Lewis family home. Despite the crowded streets, Colin arrived at the house in less than ten minutes. When they arrived, Colin pulled over some way from the house so as to be invisible.

“I’ll wait behind the old railway bridge buttresses. You’ll have to sort out your own domestics.”

With the arrangements sorted, Elspeth trudged up to the door and let herself in; she still had her own front door key.

“Are you there Mam?”

A voice answered from far back in the house.

“In here Elspeth love. Are the children with you?”

“The boys are Mam, Fion’s staying with a friend from school, she’s not interested in the football.”

“I would have thought she’d have wanted to see her Nine and Tide at Christmas.”

“She doesn’t like dad, he tries to control her just like he did us.”

“So it’s just you and the boys.”

“No.”

“Oh. Who else?”

“Somebody special.”

“Who?”

“Who d’you think?”

“Don’t be silly Elspeth! Who?”

“Your other granddaughter.”

“Who? Margaret?”

“No. She’s up in Leeds with her other grandparents.”

“Who then? Don’t play games now, who ... oh! Granddaughter! Oh my God! Briony’s girl!”

“The very one. Ellairy! Briony’s here as well, with Sion.”

Her mother stared open-mouthed for several seconds before recovering her wits. Then tears started to sneak out as she dried her hands and tidied her hair.

“What’s she like.”

“Come and see. Briony’s outside.”

Her mother almost fell as she rushed towards the door and stumbled on the vacuum cleaner tube. As soon as she reached the door she was calling Briony’s name.

Briony turned from talking to Daphne but Sion had already dashed towards the garden gate of his nine’s home. He squealed with innocent delight and flung the gate open as he dashed down the Garden path. His nine reached out and swept him up into her arms as she called to her youngest daughter.

“Come on in. Come in; all of you!”

Briony accepted the invitation but Daphne decided to hang back. Briony tried to encourage her but Daphne explained.

“If you want some sort of reconciliation, I think first you’d better help her realise what she’s missed, namely Ellairy growing up. I get the feeling you’re ready for some sort of normalisation with your mum.”

Briony nodded and reluctantly parted company as they walked from the railway bridge to the garden gate. Sion, who was pushing Ellairy in the buggy turned to ask.

“Aren’t you coming to see Nine auntie Daph?”

“Not just yet darling, perhaps another day.”

She turned to return to the police car and tapped on Colin’s window. He looked up from his notebook and asked as Daphne got in.

“Aren’t you going to see her mum? There’s no need to be afraid of her father, I’m here to keep the peace.”

“It’s not that officer and thanks for the reassurance. I just think Briony needs to take small steps with her mum. It’s been a pretty traumatic few years what with Arfon’s abuse and her father’s overbearing approach to his daughters.”

“Ain’t that the truth!? I’ve just been talking to Sergeant Davies over in Machynlleth, you’re quite well known over there.”

“Known to the police,” Daphne grinned, “doesn’t sound too good does it?”

Colin grinned back.

“Bad choice of words. Known as David Cadwalloder I must add. He says nobody had the faintest inkling about Daphne until a short while ago, he says you kept very it much to yourself. You don’t come this way very often though.”

“No cause." Daphne shrugged. "The main livestock markets are in Machynlleth and Newtown. Hey-up, look Briony’s meeting her mam at the gate. That is her mam isn’t it?”

Colin nodded as they watched the women embrace and disappear indoors.

o0o

After releasing her daughter Briony from an emotional embrace Jean Lewis led her inside where Elspeth had prepared some cake and started making tea. Jean was carrying Ellairy tight to her breast as tears squeezed their way to her eyes. She settled in the arm chair while Briony perched somewhat nervously on the edge of the sofa. She turned to Sion and smiled.

“Go and help Auntie Elspeth with the tea darling, she’ll probably give you some cake before your cousins eat it all.”

Even at the early age of ten, Sion had sense enough to know there was adult stuff being discussed and he slipped away to hopefully get some cake. Briony turned to face her mother still uncertain as to how to break the news of her obvious pregnancy and her new partner.

Through tearful eyes, her mother nodded towards the obvious bump and asked.

“Where you ever going to tell me?”

“Not initially. Blame dad, I was sick of his bullying and overbearance. I had to get away; you know how domineering he is. Like my sisters, I had no intentions of being stuck as a screwed up old spinster caring for him in his old age. You know what he’s like.”

“You made a bad choice though; your dad did warn you.”

“Yes, you’re right, he was right. Perhaps if I hadn’t been so desperate to get away I might have waited and chosen somebody better.”

“You were always too good for any of those Davies boys. You’re a beautiful girl Briony, you were one of the prettiest in the town ... you still are. So who’s the father of this new baby?” She finished by staring at Briony’s bump.

“He’s my new partner and a much lovelier man than Arfon. You couldn’t meet a nicer, more gentle person; oh! And it’s twins by the way. There’s twins of her side.”

As she accidently slipped out the misnomered pronoun Briony silently cursed herself. Fortunately her mother missed the mistake as she continued staring at Briony’s belly. Jean Lewis hadn’t been listening that intently as she dwelt upon the forthcoming birth. The news of twins had surprised and excited her. She looked up having completely missed the pronoun faux-pas.

“Have you thought of names for them?”

“Yes, all the time. My partner has a couple in mind from that side of the family. Would you like to choose the little girl’s name? Think of this opportunity as a peace offering.”

Jean Lewis teared up again. Her youngest daughter Briony had always been the most considerate child of all her children, even if she was a bit strong willed. When Briony had finally snapped and virtually run away with Arfon, (although there had been a wedding,) it had brought home to Jean just how overbearing and domineering her husband Edward was.

Now that same ‘run-away’ daughter was offering some sort of reconciliation and Jean was determined to grab it. She reached out to hold Ellairy to receive a beautiful smile from the child as Ellairy reached out to be cuddled. It was one of the richest rewards Jean could have asked for. She turned to thank Briony then noticed her daughter’s thoughtful expression.

“What’s wrong; is there a problem?”

“Yes,” Briony replied as Elspeth appeared with the tray of tea and cakes.

Jean’s heart thudded with trepidation; ‘everything seemed to be going so well’. She glanced fearfully at her daughters who now shared the sofa.

“Go on then, what’s wrong?”

Briony glanced at Elspeth who squeezed her had in support.

“Tell her sis, you’re going to have to bite the bullet.

Jean’s expression tightened to one of fear as her mind raced.

“It’s not the babies is it, there’s nothing wrong is there?”

Briony swallowed then decided to get it all out in one simple statement.

“No. The babies are fine, it’s their father, my partner; she’s transgendered.”

This time Jean did pick up on the pronoun as she realised what was being said.

“Transgendered? You mean like on television?”

Briony was not yet prepared to go into explanations. First she had to gauge her mother’s reaction. She replied monosyllabically to let her mother digest the fact and then respond.

“Yes.”

“But how can he be trans gendered if he’s the father of your babies?”

“She lives mostly as a woman and I refer to her as she. She calls herself Daphne.”

“Daphne! Daphne but he’s fathered your babies?”

“No mummy. She’s fathered my babies. I’ve told you, Daphne presents mainly as a woman.”

Jean sat back and digested the conundrum then she spoke softly.

“You’d better not let your dad find out. He’s very narrow minded.”

Elspeth let out an involuntary snort as she riposted.

“Huh! Tell us something we don’t know. Why d’you think we all left home a-ess-a-pee?”

Briony nodded then added the explosive rider.

“Dad already knows, he met us at the football game, he’s met Daphne and he was very abusive.”

Jean nodded and slumped in the chair.

“Now why doesn’t that surprise me? What did he say?”

“He said it would be better if Daphne were dead.”

“That sounds like your dad. What happened?”

Elspeth interrupted.

“Colin was there and his colleague WPC Sara Evans. They both heard it. Colin warned dad off.”

“So there was no trouble then,” Jean sagged with relief.

“No, Colin gave us a lift while Sarah went to meet the others. They were in the Mount Inn.

“Where’s your dad now?”

“Probably walking home, that’ll teach him to crash his car.” Briony replied.

“He could be hear any minute!” Jean’s face paled. “Where’s this hus ... where’s this partner of yours?”

“Outside in the police car with Colin. Colin’s here to keep the peace.”

“Police Car! Colin’s outside!?”

“Yes. Daphne’s avoiding trouble. She won’t come in but she’s waiting outside in the patrol car if you want to meet her. She’s very thoughtful like that; she doesn’t want to make trouble.”

Jean calmed down slightly at this revelation. She sipped nervously on her tea but was too tense to eat any cake. She glanced out of the window half expecting to see Daphne by the gate, then she stood carefully to her feet.

“Where is this partner of yours?”

“We left her talking to Colin in the patrol car behind the bridge. You can’t see them from the house.”

“I want to see hi ... I mean her. Is that right? Her?”

“Yes mam. While she’s dressed as a woman, she’s her.”

“Go and tell her to come in.”

“No mam. She won’t come in, as I said, she won’t cause trouble. Dad threatened her and told her she could not go into this house. He said it in front of Colin and Sarah so dad could make an issue of it if Daphne came in. If you want to see her, you’ll have to meet by the bridge. That way it doesn’t compromise Colin as the keeper of the peace and Dad has no excuse to make trouble.”
Jean frowned and declared she had a right to invite anybody she wanted into her own home. However she bowed to Briony’s wisdom and agreed to meet at the bridge. She turned to Elspeth.

“Make another tray of tea and some more cake. I may not be able to invite her in but I can show hospitality. You’d better make some for Colin as well.”

This done they prepared to meet at the bridge and Jean girded her loins as she prepared to meet her future ‘son/daughter-in-law.