Page 72 of Whispers of My Skin

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So how do we handle this?

Cassandra’s husband certainly looks nervous and worried. He doesn’t appear threatening or intimidating as I would’ve expected from an abusive husband. But what do I know? Appearances can be deceiving.

On the one hand, it’s a relief that he’s here, because I desperately want him to take his wife far, far away, so that I never have to clap eyes on the bitch again. But on the other hand, however much I hate Cassandra, no woman should put up with the kind of abuse she claims he inflicted on her.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, once I’ve got over the shock of realizing who he is.

“I understand my wife is here, so I’ve come to fetch her home. I was so worried when I got back from my trip a couple of days early and she was nowhere to be found.”

“Well, what did you expect?” I ask coldly. “After the way you abused her.”

“What are you talking about?” Stephen asks, clearly perplexed. In fact, he’s so puzzled, it makes me doubt what we’ve been told. Has Cassandra been spinning more of her lies? But she was injured, I saw the evidence for myself.

“Cassandra arrived here crying and very upset. She had a bruised face and scratches on her arm. She told us you’d become violent towards her when you’d had a disagreement.”

Stephen looks visibly shocked, and turns as white as a sheet.

“I don’t understand. I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he claims.

“That’s what Cassandra told my husband, and she also showed us her injuries.”

He takes a few steps back and leans on the porch column for support before continuing.

“I really don’t understand what’s going on here. You have to believe me, I would never lay a hand on my wife under any circumstances,” Stephen adamantly insists.

“I’m just repeating what she told us,” I inform him.

“I need to talk to Cassie, straighten things out, because I just don’t understand why she would make these awful accusations. Please?” he begs, looking round me and into the house, where Joel has retreated with Cassandra.

“How do we know you aren’t going to attack her again?” I demand.

“As I keep telling you, I’ve never hit Cassie, and I never would. I’m not a violent man, and I love my wife, now more than ever since she’s pregnant with my child,” he insists vehemently.

“Why didn’t you return any of Joel’s messages or texts? Why has it taken you so long to come and get her if, as you claim, nothing happened between you?” I query, fervently wishing he had turned up a week ago. Because in the meantime, I’ve had to put up with her in my house, playing nasty tricks and causing trouble.

“I just got back from visiting my retired parents in Florida,” he explains. “I go regularly to check on them, but Cassie doesn’t get on with them, so she prefers not to come. And although I could’ve sworn I put my cell phone in my hand luggage before I left, I couldn’t find it, so I assumed I must’ve left it at home. But I still haven’t managed to locate it, so I haven’t seen any of Joel’s messages. Please, just let me talk to my wife, and sort out what’s going on, I’ve been so worried about her and the baby. That’s why I came back early, because I hated being out of contact with Cassie in these early stages of pregnancy. I would’ve spoken to her on the land line, but she emailed to say there was a problem with that too, and emailing just isn’t the same.”

I turn to call for Cassandra, but Joel and Cassandra are already there in the hall.

“You’re not welcome in this house, Stephen,” Joel calls out as he glares at the man, while Cassandra tucks herself behind him. “You know, all these years we’ve been friends, I never would have taken you for the kind of man who beats his wife, but I guess you never can tell.”

“You’ve got this all wrong, Joel, I’m not that kind of a man! Please, I have to talk to Cassie.” Stephen pleads.

“I think you’ve said and done more than enough,” Joel insists. “I’m taking care of Cassie now, and I’m going to make sure you never get the chance to lay a hand on her again.”

“As I keep telling you, I have never hit my wife. I would never resort to any kind of violence or abuse, so I’ve no idea why she would claim that I had. Look, she’s pregnant with my child, and all I want to do is take care of her, so please Joel, I assure you she will be perfectly safe with me, because we really need to talk.”

“I’m not going home with you,” Cassandra states from behind Joel’s back.

“You know, at this point I’m not sure that I want you to,” Stephen replies. “The way you’ve been acting, the lies you’ve been telling about me. However, the most important thing now is putting the welfare of the baby first. So, first off, I suggest you start explaining what the hell’s been going on while I’ve been away.”

“All you care about is this baby, not me,” she retorts.

Stephen glances at her, and then closes his eyes. A few second later he speaks again.

“We either talk now or later in my lawyer’s office, it’s up to you. I may love you, but don’t take me for a complete fool, Cassie. The lies you’ve been spreading about me amount to defamation of character, so if you want to start divorce proceedings, I won’t stop you, but that’s my baby you’re carrying, and I will seek sole custody if you continue to act so irrationally. And remember that prenup you signed? That means you won’t get a penny of alimony.”

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