Page 44 of None of This is True

‘Then what?’ Alix catches her breath.

‘Then Erin walked in. Erin came in and saw what he was doing and she tried to get him off me but he hit her too.’

‘Oh my God. That’s just horrific. Is she OK?’

‘Yes. She’s fine. She’s at a friend’s house.’

‘And where’s Walter?’

‘I don’t know! Still there, I suppose.’ Tears fall from Josie’s eyes again and she dabs them away with the damp tea towel.

Alix breathes in and then places her hand over Josie’s. ‘You know we should call the police?’

Josie glares at her. ‘No!’ she says. ‘No. Please. Don’t.’

‘But, Josie, look what he’s done to you. He’s committed a terrible crime. You say he’s done it before. He hurt your child! I—’

‘No! I’m not having the police getting involved. Absolutely not.’

‘But what are you going to do? I mean, are you going to go back there?’

‘I’m not going back there.’

‘And what about your mum? Have you told her?’

Josie widens her eyes at Alix and groans; fresh tears start falling. ‘I can’t tell my mum! She’ll just say it’s all my own fault. She’ll take his side.’

‘Take his side? When he’s done this to you! Of course she won’t.’

‘You’ve met my mum. You’ve seen what she’s like. She thinks I’m the lowest of the low.’

‘No, that’s—’

‘It is . It is true. I cannot tell my mum. I can’t tell her any of it.’

‘But you have to tell someone. Surely.’

‘I’m telling you! For God’s sake. I’m telling you!’

‘Yes. And I’m glad you’ve told me. But—’

‘But what?’

‘I just think you need to tell someone in your inner sanctum?’

‘I haven’t got an inner sanctum, ’ Josie wails. ‘I’ve got Walter and I’ve got the girls and I’ve got Fred and I’ve got you .’

Alix feels the contents of her stomach curdle slightly at Josie’s intonation of the word you . It sounds proprietorial and odd. No, she wants to say. No, you don’t have me. But she puts her arm around Josie’s shaking shoulders and squeezes her reassuringly. ‘Let me get you a cup of tea,’ she says. ‘Unless you’d prefer something stronger?’

Josie looks at Alix with red, glassy eyes and says, ‘Do you have brandy?’

Alix smiles and gets to her feet. ‘I certainly do.’

Josie sighs deeply while Alix gets the brandy. ‘Any sign of Nathan?’

‘No. Looks like he’s decided to stay out.’

Josie tuts softly. ‘Men,’ she says again. ‘Men.’

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