The doctor examined Tasha and diagnosed soft tissue damage, bruising, grazes and abrasions, but fortunately no broken bones. He prescribed some strong pain killers and said she could go home. Lucy looked hugely relieved and as they prepared to leave, her mother found them.
“You alright?” she asked her daughter with something resembling concern, but not quite.
“Not really, you?”
“Could have been worse and you know he doesn’t mean it—”
“Oh, for goodness sake, Mum, wake up. He is a pig, always has been and always will be. Are you pressing charges?” Tasha spoke with impatience. She simply needed her mother’s reply, hopefully the right reply because without it she really was done.
“No. He’s my husband. I have refused to make a statement.” Her voice carried something akin to pride.
“Then you are more stupid and deluded than I gave you credit for. He is your husband, but what about your children? Don’t we matter?” Tasha asked, ready to cry again, but not because she was hurting physically, more because she needed to know, to see a sign, even just a glimmer of one that her mother loved her and for once could and would put her first.
“I suppose, but he’s my husband,” she repeated.
“Then this conversation is over.” Tasha wasn’t just talking about today. Looking at Lucy she frowned. “Let’s go, Luce.”
****
They arrived home where Gerry greeted them at the door and began fussing around Tasha, to her irritation.
“Gerry, thanks for everything, but I think we are all just going to crash now,” she said firmly.
“If you need me to stay I can,” he offered.
“No, really, you’ve done enough, and I am very grateful, but I’m knackered and a bit woozy on drugs and it’s been a wild old night.” She laughed half-heartedly.
“Okay, but if you need anything just call.”
Gerry left and Pippa hugged her tightly, worried for her big sister. “Oh, Tash. I was so scared for you, are you really okay?”
“Yeah, just a bit bruised and battered, but I’m fine and this ends now. I won’t let either of you go back there. We will sort it out together, okay?”
Dan and Pippa both nodded.
“Right. Pippa, you and I will share my bed and Dan you get the sofa, but we will sort something more permanent out tomorrow. We can go and buy a bed and we’ll share my room.”
Dan hugged her. “I am sorry for letting him do this to you. I should have stopped him.”
“No, Dan, it’s our fucked-up father and mother who are to blame, not us. Although, I think Jim will blame me for going anywhere near him and not calling the police.” She hugged her brother a little more tightly.
Lucy smiled across at them. “You should call him back.”
Tasha nodded. She couldn’t put it off much longer. “I will call Grandma first and then Jim.”
She sent Pippa off to bed and called her grandmother, giving her a full account of the evening’s events and promised to visit the following day and to keep her updated on any developments.
Pulling her phone out of her pocket Tasha saw it was almost midnight so selected the contact, ‘J office’ as she accepted the cup of tea Dan had made for her.
Amanda’s voice answered immediately, “Good afternoon, Mr Maybury’s office.”
“Amanda, it’s Tasha Winters.”
“Oh, hi Tasha, how are you?”
“Fine, thanks,” she lied. “Is Jim available?” She hoped she wasn’t interrupting him.
“He will be for you and it might cheer him up to hear from you,” the other woman laughed before adding, “sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
