The Refuge by Jenny Smith

Author:Jenny Smith [Smith, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471129490
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

CHAPTER 10

The Refuge to the Rescue

The world turns on tiny things. All our lives are dictated by mysterious forces too great to explain. Call it fate, if you will, all I know is that in May 1973, when Rebecca was seven months old, I went to the corner shop to get some milk and something compelled me to pick up a copy of the Daily Mirror.

Flicking through, an advert jumped out the page at me. It was tiny, no bigger than the size of a playing card, but the words made me stop in my tracks.

‘Victim of domestic violence? Need help? ’

My heart started pumping. I could scarcely believe what I was reading. There was a phone number to call too. I bought the paper, stuffed it under my jumper and raced home.

By now I was so, so, so tired I could have laid down and died. My head was so scrambled it felt like someone had removed my brain and replaced it with porridge. I was so beaten and broken down that logical thought processes were now almost completely impossible.

But one thought now stuck and repeated itself, over and over in my mind like a mantra.

I have to get out. I have to get my babies to a safe place.

With one eye on the door, I carefully tore the advert out of the paper and frantically scanned the room. There, in the corner of the lounge, was a frayed edge of carpet. Hastily I pulled it up, stuffed the advert under the carpet and smoothed it back down – just as Lenny walked in.

‘What you doing?’ he snapped, eyeing me suspiciously.

‘Nothing,’ I said, my heart thundering as I rose to my feet. ‘Just clearing up.’

If he found that hidden advert he would kill me. No questions asked.

He glared at me before stalking from the room.

I knew just what I had to do next. It was a few days before I got the chance to go back to the corner shop.

Lenny left one morning and the door banged unlocked behind him. I knew I had to act fast. Lenny could return any minute.

Leaving the girls in their cot and rescuing the advert from its hiding place, I ran to the shop. Every corner I turned, I braced myself, half expecting to run smack bang into Lenny, but I made it to the shop. The bell on the door jangled as I opened it and I jumped instinctively.

The young girl behind the counter stared at me curiously.

‘Please help me,’ I burbled. ‘Can I use your phone?’

She stared at my stricken face and compassion shone in her eyes. I’d been in there enough times with black eyes for her to know exactly what was going on.

She looked around and then, lowering her voice, she smiled reassuringly.

‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘Follow me.’

She led me out to the back of the shop and showed me where the phone was. I could have kissed her there and then, but there was no time. My hands were shaking so much it took me three attempts just to pick up the phone.

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