Forty-seven
Erica had a smile on her face as she drove down the highway to Bellbird Bay. It had taken her a long time, but she was glad she was going to keep her promise to Ali Wells to talk to a group of women at the Bellbird Women’s Centre , to share her experience of coercive control. Geoff’s arrival in town, followed by his untimely death had forced her to cancel her talk the previous year, but it was finally going to happen.
The trip passed quickly as she listened to the audio version of the book which was this month’s choice for the book club, enjoying the trip to the French Riviera with A French Affair by Jennifer Bohnet and the story of second chances.
Erica hadn’t visited the women’s centre before. She’d met Ali when she had come to Pelican Crossing at Gill’s invitation to talk to the local Zonta group, a group Gill was encouraging Erica to join. Her eyes widened as she drove through the entrance to draw up in a spacious car park close to two long, single-storey buildings surrounded by trees and bushes. When she got out of the car, she saw a sign pointing to the office and a board which showed a map of the centre.
The tall, elegant woman she remembered came out of one of the buildings to greet her. Her short, grey-streaked hair was brushed back from her face, and she was casually dressed in a pair of jeans and a loose, pale blue shirt.
‘Welcome to Bellbird Women’s Centre ,’ Ali said. ‘I’m glad you finally made it, but sorry for what you’ve been through. Thanks so much for agreeing to share your story with us.’
Erica gave a tight smile. Now she was actually here, she wondered how she was going to feel talking to a group of strangers about coercive control, about how she had been subjected to it for years, how it had happened so gradually she was lulled into a false belief that it was normal behaviour, how she’d thought everything was her fault, how it hadn’t been till Geoff hit her once too often that she found the confidence to leave. ‘I hope it will help at least one person to realise they can escape,’ she said, unsure exactly who her audience would be.
‘I’m sure you’ll do a lot more than that,’ Ali said with a smile, her calm demeanour and confident expression helping Erica understand why she held the position she did. She knew from what Gill had told her that Ali had been a lecturer in Women’s Studies in a university, coincidentally located in Perth. ‘Now, how about a cup of tea before I throw you to the wolves?’ Ali chuckled.
‘That would be great,’ Erica said, feeling calmer as the butterflies in her stomach settled down. She wondered if Ali had this effect on everyone. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before.’
Over a cup of camomile tea with Ali, Erica relaxed even more as Ali told her more about the centre and asked her how she was enjoying being back in Pelican Crossing.
‘I’m loving it,’ Erica said, beaming. ‘I’ve caught up with old friends.’ She couldn’t stem her blush as Jamie’s image forced its way into her mind. ‘The only drawback is that I miss my daughter-in-law and granddaughter. I worry about them. My son… he’s a lot like his dad.’
‘I bet she’s glad she has you to turn to if things get too much for her… like you had your brother.’
‘I hope so, but…’ Erica bit her lip.
‘You, of all people, must realise that’s all you can do to help,’ Ali said gently.
‘You’re right.’ Suddenly, Erica felt better about Briony. It was one thing to know, to have Gill remind her, but the same words coming from this gentle woman who ran this centre was balm to her soul.
‘Are you ready?’ Ali asked, when they had finished their tea. ‘The others will have gathered by now. As you can probably realise, it would have been difficult for many of them to come here today. There’s nothing to be afraid of. They won’t eat you,’ she said, as Erica began to tremble.
‘Of course not.’ Erica straightened her shoulders. She could do this and if, as she’d told Ali, she could help one person, it would be worth it. Even if Briony wouldn’t accept her advice, perhaps these women would.
Erica followed Ali through the building to a brightly decorated room where a group of around twelve women were seated. They were chatting quietly together and fell silent when Ali and Erica walked in. Erica felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She had turned it to mute before she left the car, though she wasn’t expecting anyone to call. Both Jamie and Joe knew she was coming here this morning, and they’d be too busy to call, anyway. She ignored it.
Ali introduced Erica, then she stood up and began to speak. It was easier than she’d anticipated. Although she’d brought notes, Erica found she didn’t need them. She spoke from the heart and saw her words brought several of her audience to tears – Ali had explained that not all of the women here were suffering abuse, some wanted the information so they could help a friend or relative, just as Erica was trying to do with Briony. Remembering this, she made sure to point out that it wasn’t always easy for a woman to realise what was happening to her, and important that the time had to be right for her to leave, even with support.
Ali invited Erica to join her for lunch afterwards and she gratefully accepted, glad to have her ordeal over, though it had gone better than she expected and there had been lots of questions which she found easy to answer.
It wasn’t till she was back in her car, and turned her phone back on, that she saw the message from Joe. Her heart dropped as she read his words.
Rory injured in a shark attack. Jamie at hospital. Meet us there. Hugs.