Maggie began to sob. ‘You can’t do this – he will actually kill me. Please, Ness, help me. In the beginning, he was the boy I remembered, loving, caring, attentive, but he changed, just like you said he would. He doesn’t spend any time with Charlotte, just like he didn’t with Wren and Ty. I should have believed you, even after he started hitting me, I still thought I could make him change, but I can’t.

Vanessa reached out and touched her on the shoulder. ‘Get out, Maggie, while you still can.’

‘I have nowhere to go.’

‘Hang on, let me make a phone call. I’ll be right back.’ Vanessa walked back to her car at the curb and made a quick and pleading call. She needn’t have begged; the answer was yes straightaway, then she followed it up with another quick call. She returned to Maggie, wiping her eyes on the bottom of her dirty top.

‘I have a solution if you’re serious about wanting to leave.’

‘I am, I can’t stay here anymore. Any day he’s going to start on Charlotte. I can’t have that.’

‘Here’s the deal. I’m going to help you leave him, OK?’

She looked up at her tearfully, hope in her dull, blue eyes. ‘How are you going to do that?’ she whispered.

‘My dad has a guesthouse out the back of his house and he’s willing to let you and Charlotte stay there until you get on your feet, however long that may take. Billy will come round now and take whatever stuff you need. You can be gone in two hours, but you have to do it now. What do you say?’ Vanessa waited. Maggie was silent and at first Vanessa thought she was going to reject her offer out of fear, but then her old friend threw her arms around her.

‘Yes! A thousand times, yes! Oh God, Ness, I can’t believe you’d do this for me.’

‘I’ve been where you are, and somebody helped me too. I’m just helping a friend – we all are. Let’s go inside and start packing. Billy will be here soon with his trailer. The bungalow has everything you’ll need so just pack clothes, toys, baby stuff, that kind of thing. I’ll go and stock your pantry later, OK?’

Maggie was dazed. Vanessa remembered the feeling well; the one where someone finally gave you permission to leave but also hands you the keys to your new life. It was empowering but also overwhelming, so Vanessa tried to keep it upbeat and fun while they packed, holding Charlotte, giving her kisses, missing the days when Wren and Ty were little ones.