CHAPTER 39

They sat in the kitchen as the last remaining paramedic packed up her case and left, her colleagues having already taken Dave away on a stretcher accompanied by a police officer and a forlorn Jade.

The police and paramedics had arrived quickly, but the police were keen to take statements as soon as possible before anyone’s recollection of events became blurred. They’d been there for over two hours and there was no inconsistency in the statements. There was no doubt what had happened.

Jess sat alongside Simon, holding his hand, his jacket around her shoulders to stop her shivering, while Emma poured tea into four mugs. Michael was nursing a nasty gash on his forehead and now sported a white cotton bandage.

“Really sorry about that, Mike,” said Simon. “I didn’t mean to manhandle you, but it was the quickest way.”

“That’s quite all right, Simon,” said Michael, wincing “I understand.”

“I think you were very brave,” said Emma, bristling with pride at her husband’s heroics.

“Best left to the professionals, that sort of thing. Are you sure you’re okay, Jess?”

“Yes, thanks. I’m fine. I just don’t understand how you all got here.”

“I was already on my way over here when you rang, and then I got a call from Pauline. She said Dave Morley’s wife had called her in a panic saying you’d had a row and she thought he’d gone after you. I told her to get over here and I’d meet her. I then called you back to warn you but your phone went to voicemail.”

“I was trying to call you to tell you Dave was here, but yours went to voicemail too. You must have been on the phone to Pauline. And then he burst in.”

“Well you didn’t hang up, so the whole conversation between you and Dave was recorded. All that stuff about The Navigation and, of course, the entire incident here.”

“That’s going to be pretty convincing evidence, I would have thought,” said Simon, squeezing Jess’s hand. She smiled weakly at him.

“Yes. But what about you?” said Michael. “Where the hell did you come from?”

Simon looked at them, puzzled, and spread his hands as if having to state the bleeding obvious.

“Gibraltar.”

Jess went upstairs to shower and change. The hot water helped her relax and wash away the filth and degradation she felt at having had Dave’s hands all over her.

Her mind was still buzzing from the events of the day. No one other than her and Dave could possibly have known for certain what had happened that day in The Navigation. Without the evidence, and despite what her friends might say, some would always harbour a doubt that her version of events was true and complete.

But Dave’s unwitting confession, recorded by chance on voicemail, was evidence that five years ago he had forced her; forced her to submit to his demands for sexual gratification, and assaulted her. Raped her.

And yet, even with the evidence of his confession, their understanding could never be complete. She hadn’t fought him off and no one but her would ever know or understand why she hadn’t, except that by his own admission it might have made things worse. She knew, however, that her acquiescence had been born out of her past, a symptom of the abuse she had endured at the hands of her father and her husband, all of which had conditioned her to believe that such actions were normal, inconsequential and, ultimately, to be tolerated.

On that day, she’d made a decision that submitting to him was the lesser of two evils; preferable only to being homeless again, preferable to starting all over, sure in the knowledge that the same fate awaited her wherever she went. There’s no such thing as fate! The Wheel of Life.

But regardless of the confession, there was clear evidence of his intentions today, as well as witnesses to him carrying them out, and she shuddered again. Shuddered at what might have happened if Michael hadn’t turned up, and of course Simon, who’d rescued her again. What would she do without him?

She had gone to see Dave and Jade bearing an olive branch, of sorts. She had already determined that once the house was sold they would move far away, and so the chances of him pursuing her and the children would be greatly diminished. She had assumed that, once he learnt that there was no money, he would lose interest. She hadn’t anticipated how obsessed nor how violent he would be. And in approaching him at all, she had been mindful of Alisha; consideration for others even though you feared they might do you harm, one of the characteristics of Buddhist teachings. If there was one teaching that didn’t work for her, it was that one.

She thought about Jade and what this would mean for her and Ben. They were largely innocent in all of this, and in all likelihood, the marriage was over and Ben would be without a father for several years. She’d been saddened to see Jade apparently as motivated by the money as her husband, and dismayed at the antagonism she had displayed towards her erstwhile friend. But she couldn’t know what Dave had told her, and in all probability he’d poisoned her mind with his lies. If Jade hadn’t already discovered Dave’s penchant for lying then she had now, and now she’d been a witness to his appalling attack. But she had to thank Jade for raising the alarm, as without that … she shuddered again.

She resolved to try and see her to put the record straight and offer support to her and Ben, but then considered that would be difficult, especially if, as she suspected, there was going to be a trial; something she wasn’t looking forward to.

But there was much else to look forward to. Another new start in another new place. She knew it would come; she just hoped it would come soon.

Michael had already asked Sandy to pick up the kids from school for her, so they’d be home soon and then domestic mayhem would start all over again, so she turned off the water and wrapped herself in a soft white towel.

She dressed in her favourite cashmere sweater – thanks Lisa, for letting me wear yours all those years ago – and skinny blue jeans, satisfied they still accommodated her figure, and dried and brushed her long brown hair till it shone.

Downstairs, everyone had gone except Simon, who was still in the kitchen, flicking through a newspaper.

“Better?” he asked, standing and smiling warmly at her. She floated across the floor without breaking step and fell into his open arms, resting her head on his chest.

“I need to thank you all over again.”

“You’re welcome.” He kissed her head then released her and they sat down next to each other. She swept her hair back over her head

“Tell me about Gibraltar.”

“Warm, sunny, monkeys, you know.”

She slapped his arm.

“Maria?”

“Oh. She’s gorgeous. I absolutely love her to bits. I’m sure she and Carlos will be very happy.

“She and Carlos?” she said frowning.

“Yeah. They got married.”

“You went to a wedding?”

“Yeah. Didn’t I mention it?”

“You said you had business with Maria.”

“And I did. I gave her away. Her dad and I were in the army together, in Afghanistan. But he didn’t make it.”

“Oh, that’s very sad.”

“Yes. So what did you think?”

He knew exactly what she’d thought, and she knew he knew and, suitably embarrassed, she slapped him again.

“I hate you, Rutherford!”

“What did I do?”

“Well, what about Theadora?”

“What about her? Can’t a son go and visit his eighty-three-year-old mum without getting the third degree?”

She was lost for words again. She moved over and sat down on his knee, wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

“So where are you off to next?”

“Nowhere. Nobody wants me. Getting too old for this game.”

“You’re forty-eight.”

“Forty-nine.”

She looked into his eyes and their lips almost met, but there was a clatter from the hallway, the sound of high-pitched squealing and a shout from Leila. Jess stood up abruptly.

“Sophie, Lucy! You must be more quiet,” said Leila, in charge as usual. All three children burst into the kitchen, followed by Sandy.

“Simon!” they all shouted at once and he went down on his knees for a group hug.

“Hello, princesses. Have you missed me?”

“Yes!” they shrieked in unison.

“Right,” said Jess. “Better get the kettle on.”

***

Later, Simon played games with the girls as Jess prepared dinner, which they ate noisily, like many a real family, around the kitchen table, and afterwards they all helped with the washing-up and drying. Eventually, the kids went to bed, as exhausted as the grown-ups.

Jess and Simon closed the bedroom door behind the girls and wandered down the spiral staircase into the hallway. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked down the hallway towards the front door.

She saw him looking pensive. She put her arms around him and then craned her neck to kiss him gently on the lips.

“Will you please stay?”

“If I’m invited.”

“You’re invited.”