Page 117 of Guilty Mothers

‘Rebecca,’ she breathed, opening her arms.

Katie flew into them as a cry escaped her lips.

A quick glance at Justin confirmed that he was eager to join in but was simply waiting his turn.

Stacey squeezed his arm before quietly leaving the room. Any longer and the tears building in her eyes would have been rolling freely over her cheeks.

SEVENTY-SEVEN

‘My mind still hasn’t caught up,’ Olivia said as the car turned into the street of the house where she’d been a virtual prisoner for the last two years.

‘It’s been a crazy twenty-four hours,’ Tiff said, having been tasked by the boss to get Olivia safely home.

‘But how did you know what he was doing to me?’ Olivia asked, turning her way.

‘Some intuition at first, but it was your confession in the end. We knew you didn’t do it. You didn’t even know that the fishing equipment was hidden in your garage, but you still had enough detail to have known what happened, and you were so determined to go to prison for a murder you didn’t commit. There could only be one reason for that. Preferring prison life had to mean that life out here was untenable. I even understand why you didn’t hand him in. You thought he’d get away with it. You thought he’d find a way to beat it and then he’d most likely kill you for going to the police.’

‘I thought my only chance of safety from him was behind bars,’ Olivia said as the car parked outside her house.

‘I’ll walk you inside,’ Tiff said, getting out to open the door for her.

‘It feels strange,’ Olivia said, looking at the key in her hand. ‘I haven’t touched this in almost two years.’

During the customary search, Logan had been relieved of his possessions, and the house key had been handed straight to his mom.

His first fifteen minutes of cell life had been spent shouting obscenities and insults about his mother and all the rest of them. Logan was no longer in control, and his frustration at that fact was being voiced loudly and continuously. She couldn’t help thinking about Olivia’s use of that same cell as a chance to reflect, relax and feel safe. However Logan decided to handle it, he wasn’t going anywhere, and it was important that Olivia knew that.

‘There are going to be a lot of things to get used to,’ Tiff said. ‘He’s not coming back, but…’

There was one thing on her mind that Olivia hadn’t yet mentioned, and it needed to be addressed, but she’d give the woman a chance to find her feet.

Tiff followed Olivia to the kitchen as she looked at things as though seeing them for the first time. That tension that had pervaded the air had now gone.

‘I don’t have to be frightened of them any more,’ she said, touching the hob and then the kettle. ‘They’re just appliances.’

‘Olivia, there’s something?—’

‘I have to testify, don’t I?’ she asked quietly.

‘To be absolutely sure of securing a conviction, we’ll need you to recount what he told you. It’s likely there’ll be fingerprints or DNA on the equipment that will link him to it, but he could try and claim that he only moved it and that you put it there in the first place. Only your testimony can put him at the scene and secure that conviction.’

‘He’s still my son,’ she whispered. ‘I have to believe he didn’t mean everything he did to me.’

Tiff went to stand beside her at the window. ‘You’re not giving testimony about his treatment of you or to punish him for that. He’s not being tried for his despicable crimes against you. This is about telling the truth. He killed someone, Olivia. He admitted to you that he took the life of an innocent person, a very dear friend of yours. You know that can’t go unpunished.’

‘I know, and I’ll do it. I have to do it.’

Tiff lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ‘I’ll let myself out, but you have my number, and if there’s anything at all you need, give me a call, okay?’

‘Okay,’ she said, turning.

However improper it was, Tiff hugged her tightly.

‘Thank you for saving my life,’ Olivia said as they pulled apart.

‘You’re welcome, but I want you to promise me that you’ll now live it. I know it’s hard, but you deserve to be happy. Don’t continue to live in the prison he constructed.’

Olivia chuckled, and it was music to Tiff’s ears.