I smile and nod.
“James rang me this day out of the blue when Robert was away and asked me to meet him. His wife had found out and he needed to talk to me to get our stories straight. I agreed to meet him in a hotel room as we didn’t have anywhere else we could go that was private and I would never allow him to come to my house.”
I nod. “Yes.”
She stands and walks back over to the window and wraps her arms around her as if cold.
“What happened then?” I ask. This story is true. I can tell by how uncomfortable she is telling it.
“He told me that if I didn’t have sex with him he was going to tell Robert everything. That I was previously going to leave Robert, that I loved James, the whole sordid story. When I refused…” She stops.
“He took it anyway,” I whisper and her eyes meet mine.
“I didn’t want it.” She shakes her head as her eyes tear up again. “He told me that if I fought him he would take me so roughly that I would lose Robert’s baby. He would make sure that Robert’s baby didn’t survive.”
Oh god, this is fucked up. That was Joshua in her stomach.
She drops her head in shame.
“How long did this go on for Margaret?” I whisper through my dread.
“Up until the day I paid him Joshua’s money. I hated him, I thought of killing him so many times. I should have.” Anger lights her eyes as she lifts her chin defiantly. “I wouldn’t hear from him for months and I would be so grateful but then as soon as Robert went away he would demand his sexual favours and if I didn’t agree he would beat me. I was hospitalised three times when the children were young. The doctors thought it was my husband. They had no idea he wasn’t even in the country at the time.”
Oh my god, I drop my head in pity. “How did you?”
“The children always had a nanny. I had to have one so I knew they would be safe when Robert was away. At least I could guarantee their safety.”
“Margaret,” I whisper.
“He always wore a condom. I had no idea that Wilson was his until Joshua threw it in my face.”
My eyes widen in horror.
She fakes a smile at me. “So you see, Natasha, Joshua was right. His mother is a dirty whore and now I have lost the husband that I do love and my four sons. My life is not worth living.”
I stand still as shock courses through me. Margaret’s the victim in all of this. It’s always the ones who are so vulnerable that pretend to be so together. The best form of defence is attack. What do I do? Fuck… what do I do?
I watch her for a moment. I can’t leave her here like this. “Right.” I stand and go to the door and open it in a rush.
“Adrian, can you come in here please?” I ask.
He stands up from his seat in the hall and walks into the room.
“Can you help me pack Margaret’s things please?” I ask him as I close the door behind him.
His eyes hold mine for a moment and he nods. “Yes, of course.” He bends and starts to pick up her things and she shakes her head.
“Natasha, no. I’m staying here,” she answers defiantly.
“You are coming with me.” I point at her. “If you think for one minute I am going to let you be a victim to fucking James Brennan one more time you can think again.”
Adrian stops what he is doing and stares at me as he pieces the puzzle together. His eyes widen.
I bend and start to throw her things together and I point a hairbrush at her. “You are coming with me as a guest in my house and tomorrow we go to the police and that asshole is getting charged.”
She shakes her head. “He will kill me, Natasha.”
I shrug my shoulders. “You know what, I would rather take my chances on that than you take your own life through shame. If I leave you here tonight that’s exactly what you will do!” I shake my head angrily. “And I’m not having that on my conscience!” I yell.
“I’m ok,” she snaps.
“You are as far from ok as one could possibly get!” I scream as my anger erupts. This man has ruined her life. How dare he?
“If Adrian has to drag you kicking and screaming out of here he will,” I yell.
Her eyes flick to Adrian and he smirks and she smiles softly.
“Pack,” I yell.