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.’

‘Jesus.’ Billy rubbed a hand over his day-old beard. He reached out his hand and lightly touched hers, rubbing her fingers gently. She could hear Wren coming and pulled her hand back. She wasn’t sure what was going on here, and Wren didn’t need any more upheaval and uncertainty. He needed stability, and she was going to provide it.

Billy stood up. ‘I’d better get going. I’m really glad you could use Mom’s stuff. Call me anytime, Ness. OK? Anytime.’ Vanessa saw him to the door.

When she came back into the kitchen, Wren was waiting. ‘I like him, Mom. I think he’s going to be a great friend. To you and me and Ty.’ Approval delivered, he ran down the hallway to his blue room.

7