Never Ever Tell Page 7

  ‘Happy to help, Ness,’ he said, using her childhood nickname. She liked it. It sounded good rolling off his tongue. Suddenly, she felt shy around him and was saved by Wren coming up behind her.

  ‘Billy, I’d like you to meet my eldest son, Wren. Wren, this is an old friend of Mommy’s, Billy. We went to school together.’

  Wren reached out to shake hands with Billy. The older man grasped the young boy’s small hand in his large one and shook it solemnly. ‘Nice to meet you, Wren. Would you like to help me load the pickup and trailer?’ Wren nodded, a proud look on his face at being asked to be involved in such an important grown-up job. The whole thing was surreal; they were leaving for good. She kept expecting Mark to come storming into the house and make them stay by force but, of course, he was at work.

  Billy and Wren began loading bags and boxes into the pickup and the trailer. Wren was straining to help move some of the lighter furniture, but he did it. Billy clapped him on the back once they had everything loaded. ‘Want to ride with me or your mom?’ he asked.

  ‘You please,’ said Wren politely. Billy smiled over the top of his head while looking Vanessa in the eyes.

  ‘OK, I’ll follow you there.’ She grabbed her keys, took one last look around the somewhat barren-looking house that she had lived in for so many years. She felt nothing, no ties and no regrets. She locked the door from the inside and pulled it closed after her. She was finally leaving the man who’d hurt her, who’d beaten her, degraded her and made her a shell of who she used to be. After making sure that Wren was safely strapped into the front of Billy’s car, she hopped into her own car and turned the ignition. She was filled with a sense of peace and happiness. She looked in the rear-view mirror at the dwindling house, wondering what Mark would think when he came home and found they were gone. He would pitch a fit, that’s for sure.

  Ten minutes later, Billy reversed into the driveway of an old Victorian-style house. She parked out the front and as she got out of the car, she admired the front of the house. It was beautiful. The porch light was on, casting a small warm halo of light. Billy must have put it on when he was airing out the house this afternoon.

  As they met up at the front door, Billy slid the key into the lock and said, ‘Welcome to your new home.’ Wren ran ahead, followed by Vanessa. The house had charm and character.

  ‘Billy,’ she breathed, ‘it’s perfect, just what we need.’ She pulled him into a hug, standing up on her tippy toes to throw her arms around his neck. Suddenly she realized how intimate it was and stepped back. She saw the look of longing on his face. Wren was standing in the corner of the room and without a doubt, he would have seen her hug Billy, but she didn’t think he’d mind. She was happy, throwing her son a smile that he returned quickly.

  ‘Can I choose my own room, Mom?’ he asked.

  ‘My love, you can have any room that you want.’

  ‘There’s a room that’s blue!’ he screamed after running down the hallway. ‘I’d like that one.’ Blue was his favorite color – could this house be any more perfect? She smiled over her shoulder to Billy before he left to unpack the rest of the pickup.

  Before long, Billy came back into the house. ‘That’s the last of it, Ness. Where do you want this box?’

  ‘In the corner, please. I’ll unpack once Wren has gone to sleep. I’m picking up Ty in the morning from my mom’s house, but did you want to come round for coffee so I can say thank you for all you’ve done? It’s not much—’

  ‘It sounds perfect,’ he said, cutting her off. ‘Say eleven?’

  She nodded her head. She could tell he wanted to hug her again, but he settled for dropping a chaste kiss on her cheek. She could feel the blush settle on her cheeks. She was burning up.

  ‘Don’t forget to lock up after me.’ Billy smiled.

  She nodded again. He’d given her his number in case she needed help. Holding another man’s phone number in her hand after so many years felt surreal.

  She couldn’t believe it. She’d done it. She’d left Mark. He would never hurt them again. Wren and Ty were safe. She just hoped that Mark had done no lasting damage to Wren. He seemed OK, empathetic and the perfect son, but although he usually talked to her about everything, she didn’t know what was going on inside his head. He was her best friend, and she loved him so much.

  Wren came back inside from exploring the backyard in the light of the spotlight attached to the corner of the house. She hugged him close to her.

  ‘Can you believe it?’ she said. ‘We’re finally free. We can start again, just the three of us.’ He hugged her tightly, and she noticed how tall he was getting. He was going to tower over her soon.

  Mark would be getting home from work in an hour. She felt a hot ball of fear settle in her stomach. He thought of them as his property, and if he found out where she lived, he’d come to bring her home. Forcibly if necessary. That couldn’t happen.

  Her mom had given her money, enough to fill the pantry and pay the bills until she worked out what she was going to do. For the first time ever she would be in control of her own fate. It was an exhilarating feeling, and she smiled to herself. There was no bed that night for her or Wren, so she had put Wren on the couch for the night. Billy said he’d bring beds as soon as he could from his mom’s house. She moved comforters and blankets to the floor in the large bedroom. Sometime during the night, Wren had snuck into her bedroom, and now shared the space with her. She hugged him to her, molding around his curved body. She smiled into his hair, inhaling the scent of shampoo.

  She would be getting Ty in the morning from her mom’s house, then their home would be complete. Her mom had been so supportive, offering to babysit Ty while Vanessa sorted things out with Billy and the new house. Her mom had known the old lady who had lived there before Billy brought the house, she’d been moved into a nursing home by her children. Vanessa had brought the cot and nearly all of Ty’s stuff with them as baby stuff was expensive to replace and obviously Mark wouldn’t be needing it. There was no way that he’d be getting to see her children. He could take her court if he wanted to, but he wouldn’t win.

  The ring of her cellphone startled her, and she quickly silenced it. Wren mumbled in his sleep but didn’t stir. One guess as to who it was. Mark. A jolt of electricity coursed through her. She was afraid, imaging that he was outside, waiting in his car. She knew that was silly; there’s no way he knew where they were already. He would never connect Billy to her, he probably didn’t even know that Billy was back in town. The ringer stopped, and she put the phone on the floor. It rang again almost immediately, and she ignored it again. It stopped, and she sighed before it rang again. He continued to ring her nearly every ten minutes, so she put it on the kitchen bench and went back to bed, dreaming of her boys playing in the backyard.

  They were free.

  6

  By nine the next morning, Vanessa and Wren had unpacked the kitchen boxes, had breakfast, dressed and brushed their teeth. Vanessa had been up since dawn, unpacking boxes in the lounge, making muffins, checking her phone and worrying that Mark would bang on their door at any moment.

  ‘How about we start unpacking your room until we have to go and pick up Ty?’ Vanessa suggested to Wren. He came and hugged her. She was getting more hugs and kisses from him than ever before, but she would take every touch she could get. Once the house was set up, it would feel more like a home, although she already felt at ease here.

  There was a knock at the door at about ten o’clock and both Vanessa and Wren froze in fear. It was a quiet knock, not the bang of someone whose family had run away and been found.

  ‘Who is it?’ she asked timidly through the wooden door, not daring to look through the glass panel at the side.

  ‘It’s just us, honey,’ said her mom, and Vanessa opened the door.

  ‘I thought I was coming to you,’ Vanessa said, confused.

  ‘You did, but I wanted to see the new house. Wow, it’s lovely.’

  ‘Right?’ Vanessa
smiled as she took Ty so her mom could take a look around. Nannie gave Wren a hug and kiss, then he took her on a tour of the house. Vanessa kissed Ty on his plump little cheek, cradling him to her breast. She couldn’t breastfeed so he was already on formula.

  Her mom came back into the lounge. ‘It’s just perfect,’ she exclaimed. ‘And Wren’s room is so blue. It’s spectacular.’

  Wren giggled and hugged into his nannie. He was so affectionate, it was wonderful. ‘I like it here, Mom – it’s our house now that Ty is home.’ He walked over to Ty and grasped his little brother’s hand in his. Ty curled his fingers around Wren’s, and he laughed, something she couldn’t get enough of. Things were going to get better; she just knew it.

  ‘It has all worked out perfectly. It was meant to be. Besides, we’re due for some good luck.’ She laughed, the sound foreign to her ears, and she cut it off abruptly.

  ‘It’s OK to be happy, Ness, darling. So… what happens when Mark finds out where you are? You know he came round last night.’ her mother said directly, staring into Vanessa’s eyes.

  ‘Shit. I’m sorry Mom. I gather it’s going to be soon – it’s a small town after all. People will find out that I’ve left him, they’ll talk, and he’ll find us. It’s inevitable. I’ll just call the police or Billy every time he shows up. Billy is basically around the corner and has already volunteered to come around whenever we need him. He’s been so sweet.’ She felt the beat of desire again and was embarrassed. She must have blushed again because her mom said, ‘Ness, it’s OK to like someone else. You know I’d love to see you happy and if Billy is the one to do it, then I’m ecstatic for you. In the meantime, is there anything that I can do for you, honey? You know, to help out?’

  Vanessa had been wondering how to bring this particular topic up, so her mom bringing the question up eased Vanessa’s burden. ‘Actually, yes. I’m going to try to get a part-time job so it’d be a huge help if you could watch Ty and Wren after school. Would that be OK?’ She looked at her mom with apprehension, saying her words quickly out of habit before she was cut off.

  ‘I would love that!’ her mother said immediately, and Vanessa felt another huge weight lift from her shoulders. Soon she would float away if not anchored to the ground.

  Eventually, she had to come back down to Earth, but not today. ‘I’ve got Billy coming over at eleven for a thank-you coffee and choc-mint muffins. The oven works great.’ She was trying to bury the hint, but her mom picked it up quickly.

  ‘Oh, I see. Well, I guess I’d better get going so you can get ready for your date,’ she said with a cheeky grin.

  ‘Mom! It’s not a date, just a thank you.’ But she was still blushing, heat flaming her face.

  ‘Just remember, it’s not cheating – you’ve left him.’

  ‘He’s just a friend from school.’ Even to her the lie sounded wrong. Her priority for the past ten years had been Wren; she was not used to looking forward to something for herself. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and she felt a pang of longing.

  ‘OK, I’m heading off now, have fun and say hi for me.’ Vanessa’s mother gave her daughter a wink before showing herself out the door.

  Vanessa set out the muffins on a plate and boiled the kettle, ready for the coffee that she had promised Billy. Her phone vibrated on the kitchen bench where she had left it last night.

  ‘Is that Dad?’ Wren asked, seeming to hold Ty tighter in his arms as he sat on the worn wooden chair at the kitchen table.

  ‘Yes, baby, it is your dad. He called lots last night too.’ In fact, when she had checked her phone this morning there were twenty-five missed calls, all from Mark. As if she’d pick up. She was no longer his slave. She was a free woman to do as she pleased.

  ‘I’m just going to ignore his calls. I have nothing to say to him anyway.’

  ‘That’s a good idea, Mom,’ Wren said, sounding wise beyond his ten years.

  Vanessa looked at Ty in his brother’s arms and thought, Mark is never going to hurt you like he hurt Wren. It was her vow to her youngest child.

  There was another knock at the door, and Vanessa cautioned Wren to always ask who it was as he passed his little brother to his mother.

  ‘It’s Billy. May I come in?’

  With a huge grin on his face, he opened the door. ‘Hi, Billy,’ he said, now all shy.

  ‘Hey, Wren,’ he said as he put a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

  Billy came toward Vanessa in the kitchen, and her heart beat out of time. ‘Hey,’ she said as he kissed her on the cheek.

  ‘Hey yourself. This must be Ty,’ Billy said, looking at the newborn in his mother’s arms. ‘He looks like you, Wren.’ Wren seemed to stand up even straighter with the compliment. Vanessa put Ty into the travel cot that was set up in the lounge. ‘Something smells good.’

  ‘Mint choc chip muffins, and I’ll make you that coffee.’ She bustled round the kitchen, aware of his eyes on her.

  She placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of him and then gave him a muffin on a small side plate. She was nervous, she realized with a start, like she was back in school and he was her first crush.

  ‘Is there anything I can do for you? Build furniture? Move boxes? Something like that?’ He was sincere in his offer to help and took a big gulp of coffee, which burned his throat, making him cough. He was nervous too. She got him a water, and he drained it quickly. ‘Thanks,’ he managed to choke out.

  ‘Well, I guess I do need a bed at some stage. I slept on the floor last night, but it was the best sleep I’ve had in a long while until Mark started calling and didn’t stop all night. I ended up putting the phone on silent and in the kitchen. He must be so pissed at me.’

  ‘You aren’t afraid?’

  ‘There’s nothing that he can do to me that he hasn’t already done.’

  ‘Oh, Ness,’ Billy covered her hand with his. ‘I’ll go and grab the bed from Mom’s house. I reckon any furniture you take is good for me – she was kind of a hoarder. I think I’ll be living there sorting for about a year at this rate.’ He bit into a muffin. ‘God, this is good,’ he said through his mouthful. ‘I haven’t had home-cooked anything in a long time.’

  Being appreciated wasn’t something that she was used to, and she blushed again. She had never blushed so much in her life. What could she say? Billy brought the girl out in her.

  Wren came back into the room. ‘Want a muffin, honey?’ Vanessa asked.

  Wren said yes and grabbed a muffin off a proffered plate, taking a small bite. ‘Billy is taking us round to his mom’s place to pick out some furniture. Do you want to come, or do you want me to drop you off with Ty at Nannie’s?’

  ‘I want to come too,’ Wren said eagerly. It was obvious that he liked Billy a lot. He was bonding with him quickly. It was nice to see him look up to someone. Vanessa hadn’t realized how much Wren was craving a role model, a man who showed interest in him. It was lovely to see.

  ‘Are you sure this is OK, Billy?’ she asked again.

  ‘I’d do anything for a… friend.’

  He was flirting with her, but she couldn’t remember how to flirt back. It had been so long since a man had shown any interest in her. She was used to cutting words and brutal fists, nothing more.

  After tidying away the plates, they set off, Vanessa dropping Ty at her mother’s house before meeting Wren and Billy at his place. They were already inside when Vanessa arrived, Wren taking a tour of the house.

  Vanessa couldn’t shake an anxious feeling as she kept expecting to see Mark around every corner, but when she looked, he was never there. There was so much that she needed, and here was Billy offering to give her anything she could want. She was so grateful. And she kept saying it.

  ‘Vanessa, you don’t need to keep thanking me – I’m happy to help.’ He put his hands on her shoulders. ‘Truly.’

  An hour later, Billy started loading the trailer with Wren’s help. When everything was packed up, they drove back to their home and started unloading.
>
  ‘Billy? Want a cold drink?’ Vanessa called from the house.

  ‘Yeah, that’d be great, thanks.’ He came over sat down on the porch next to Vanessa, and she slid the cold water in front of him. ‘It’s so nice to see Mom’s furniture in your house. She always had a soft spot for you and Maggie.’

  At the mention of Maggie’s name, Vanessa’s stomach twisted.

  Billy saw the look on her face. ‘You two still not talking?’

  ‘She’s sleeping with Mark. He’s been hitting her. I feel for her, but I can’t get involved. I have enough on my plate. Especially where Mark is concerned.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Ness, you didn’t have much of a choice with Mark, but Maggie has a choice, she’s not married to him.’

  ‘It’s not as easy as that. You get trapped in this cycle. You’re made to feel worthless, afraid, always told that no one will ever love you because you’re this, you’re that. It’s… hard. I think she feels trapped, just like I was. Until you came along.’ She gave him a shy smile. ‘Mom told me that Mark went round to her house last night. Probably hoping that she’d lead him to me, but she never left the house. She didn’t want to call the police and inflame the situation.’

  ‘Do you want me to talk to him?’ Billy asked. He was a large man, physically impressive, taller than Mark and hadn’t let himself run to fat like Mark had.

  ‘No! That’s a terrible idea. Sorry, but that would make things so much worse. He would kill me.’

  ‘OK, don’t panic, I won’t say anything. But if he ever comes here, ever, I need you to call me, all right? I’ll come right over and take care of it, day or night.’

  ‘I appreciate that, Billy, I really do. He’ll come for me eventually, but for now he’ll be licking his wounds. Besides, he doesn’t even want the boys, and he only made me stay because I screwed up his life and he thinks I should pay with mine forever. I have to move forward; I refuse to stay stuck in the past.’