Chapter 52
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Louisa lay on the bed, her face throbbing where Richard had lashed out at her. She’d stemmed the bleeding, but she looked such a mess. How could he do that to her? Be so cruel verbally and then hit out physically. She sniffed away tears as she heard footsteps outside.
Sarah knocked on the door and pushed it open. ‘Lou, I’m sorry about what I said earlier – are you okay? What’s happened to your face?’
‘Richard hit me.’
‘That bastard.’ Sarah came across to her. ‘When did he do that?’
‘Just now. Because for once in my sorry little life, I decided to stick up for myself when he said I was useless. I’ve had years of this. Sometimes I think all he wanted was Daisy so he could tie me to him forever. I have to get away.’
Sarah sat on the bed next to her.
‘You don’t know him like I do,’ Louisa went on. ‘He’s got a split personality. He can be charming to your face yet when he’s out of sight he’s not a nice man at all. But he won’t let me take Daisy. I have nowhere to go. I have no money, no job, no future.’
‘Louisa.’
‘He says he will prove I’m an unfit mother so Daisy has to stop here. It’s the only reason I stay.’
‘Louisa.’
‘I have never neglected my child and if he thinks he can take her away from me, then he doesn’t realise what a fight he’ll have on his hands.
She’s all I’ve got. Someone who takes me for what I am.
Someone who loves me, can make me happy with her smile.
I will not let anyone remove her from this house. ’
‘Louisa!’ Sarah cried. ‘Stop!’
Louisa glanced at her. ‘I wish I had somewhere safe to hole up where he wouldn’t find us.’
‘You could always go to the police and say he’s keeping you both against your will. I think you have to get away if he’s so dangerous. Me too, for that matter. I wouldn’t want to stick around if you weren’t here. I don’t like him that much, if I’m honest.’
Louisa paused for a moment, wondering if it was possible that she could get away. It seemed so easy but…
‘You don’t think I’m imagining things? I thought you’d side with him.’
‘Of course not. I would help you if you’re certain.
Despite what I said earlier, I care very much for you and Daisy.
I want what’s best for both of you. If you think it’s good that you take her, then maybe you could pack some clothes when Richard next goes out for the day.
Then you could leave and have a head start. ’
‘But I don’t want you to be here when he comes back and sees us gone. He’ll go mad.’
‘I can handle him.’ Sarah paused. ‘Why don’t you think about what you want to do and let me know later?’
‘Come with me.’ Louisa took her sister’s hand in her own. ‘I’m sorry about what I’ve said about you lately, but Richard has me thinking all kinds of stuff. I’d love you to leave with me and Daisy.’
Sarah nodded. ‘Okay, then. But you promise not to breathe a word of this to Richard beforehand? Because if he finds out what we’re doing, he won’t be happy.’
‘I promise.’
As soon as Sarah left the room, Louisa could think of nothing else.
It could be her chance to start again, somewhere with Daisy that she felt safe and in control.
Richard was an evil man yet she didn’t have any proof of that.
It was her word against his. He would talk the talk and people would believe him.
Yet she began to wonder about her sister’s motives too. Was Sarah putting ideas into her head, getting her to do something that Richard would know about? Perhaps punish her for it at a later date?
No, Louisa had no reason not to believe Sarah would do that.
After speaking to Louisa, seeing her in such a state, Sarah wasn’t sure she could go through with her plan. It was one thing to have no feelings for her sister, but a whole different ball game to see her come to any harm.
At first when she came to see Louisa, Sarah had wanted to seek her revenge for being abandoned. But now there seemed to be more to Richard ill-treating her than she’d originally known about.
Guilt coursed through her for hurting her sister when it was clear that she was living under Richard’s control. Louisa was a victim, Daisy too. Sarah had to help them get away.
And Louisa was right. They might as well go together. It would be better than staying with Richard in case he became nasty to her too.
But then she thought of what her sister had left her to deal with when she was fifteen, and then ignored her for so many years, and her anger raged again.
Come on, Sarah, get a grip.
She needed to be stronger, get through this final push and then she would come out the other side, free.
Free from the feeling of being abandoned.
Free to be with Richard until she had no need for him.
And free to live in her perfect home. Where no one could make her feel unsafe, or unwanted ever again.