“No. He’d occasionally snap and tell me to do as Frank said, but after a while, I’d learnt that he wasn’t going to help, so I just did what I was told to do.”
Linda lowered her head, and I thought she was telling me not to elaborate too much. I bit my lip.
Did I mess up?
“Miss Farrell, why did it take you so long to come forward?”
It must have seemed odd to people that I hadn’t spoken out earlier, but I knew this was nothing unusual for someone who’d suffered abuse.
I swallowed what felt like lead. “I was scared. Scared for my family and scared for myself… and I wanted him to change. I hoped he would change.”
A tear slid down my cheek, and I made no attempt to wipe it away this time. Admitting that was hard. After everything he had done, it was hard to admit that I had still wanted him to be my dad.
“And what changed your mind?”
“I realised it hadn’t stopped. When I was thirteen, he promised me it had, but three years later, he said he was taking me away on a trip to make up for what had happened. I believed that he wanted to make things right and move on. When Frank turned up, I understood then that nothing had changed, and there was no hope for my dad. I couldn’t go through all of that again. I justcouldn’t.”
Linda turned to the judge. “No further questions, Your Honour.”
The judge had called for a break as I’d stepped out of the witness box.
As soon as I was outside the room, a rush of oxygen filled my lungs. I closed my eyes and concentrated on relaxing my body, which was knotted with tension.
Leaning against the wall, I placed my palms on the wood to steady myself.
“You did great, Oakley,” Linda said softly, touching my back. “I think your family is waiting for us outside. We’ll go out the side way again when you’re ready.” She squeezed the top of my arm and smiled. “You really did do well. You should be proud of yourself.”
“Thank you. Let’s go meet them,” I said, turning to her and dropping my grip of the wall.
I followed Linda into the hallway. Mum, Jasper, Ali, Lizzie, and my grandparents were waiting for me.Where’s Cole?Even his parents and Mia were here.
It was Mum who spotted me first.
She gasped and ran the few steps to me. “Oh, sweetheart.” She grabbed me and with tears in her eyes and pulled me into a tight hug. “You were amazing, darling. I’m so proud of you.”
“I don’t feel amazing. Not completely,” I told her, clenching my trembling hands around her back.
It was an odd feeling, really. Something I shouldn’t have ever had to experience.
Jasper hugged me next. I sank into my brother’s embrace, safe and protected. But it was Cole I needed.
“You’re okay now,” Jasper whispered in my ear, holding me a fraction too tight.
I was—almost. There was still Frank’s trial to go, but for now, I had half the weight gone from my shoulders.
More than half maybe. I’d broken free of the silence Dad had imprisoned me in and told them everything he’d warned me against repeating.
“Are you okay? You hadn’t heard everything,” I asked as he let me go.
He sucked in a breath through his teeth. “You experienced it.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t be affected.”
“Of course, I’m affected. But you look like a super badassbitch ready to take on the world. If speaking that gave you strength, then I’m glad I was around to witness it, as hard as it was to hear. Still want to slaughter them both.”
“Awful American accent on ‘ass’ then, by the way. But thank you.”
“Ready to get out of here?” Jasper asked. “Because I sure am.”
