Page 127 of After Anna

“Anna, this is what people do when they’re abused by their husbands.”

“Or by their parents. Their stepfather.”

“Anna, really?” Maggie struggled to think clearly. “Don’t you need a lawyer?”

“No. The woman on the phone said I could just file it on an emergency basis, first thing Monday morning. I already emailed and called the judge’s chambers. I’m trying to get a hearing. I’m going to tell the judge that Noah sexually assaulted me.” Anna met Maggie’s eye directly. “I’m not going to take this, not one more minute. If I wanted to, I could call the police on him, but I’m only doing the PFA.”

“But honey, I’m handling this.” Maggie collected her thoughts. “He’s not going to come home until we know that you can be safe. I mean, we can deal with this ourselves.”

“I don’t want to. What he did was wrong.”

“Anna, what’s the rush?” Maggie shuddered, thinking of Noah being arrested. “Why can’t you give us a chance to settle this as a family?”

“Look, I know you love Noah. That’s the problem, right?” Anna flopped onto a stool at the kitchen island, still one of three. Maggie hadn’t even had a chance to order an extra one.

“Right. Yes, I do. He’s my husband. Obviously, my emotions are conflicted right now.”

“But you believe me, don’t you?” Anna blinked, her blue eyes widening, and they reminded Maggie so much of her own mother’s eyes, in the frank way in which they looked back at her, in the way that eyes could be a clear view of someone’s soul, like a pair of binoculars focused inward on the human heart.

“Yes, I believe you,” Maggie answered, and Anna’s expressionwarmed, her gaze softening, and her mouth curving into a weary smile. She raised her arms and gave Maggie a hug.

“Thank you so much.”

“I’m so sorry about all this.” Maggie released Anna from the embrace.

“I’m sorry, too. I keep thinking, maybe I did something wrong, or wore something, to give him the wrong idea.”

“Of course you didn’t, honey. You’re the victim.” Maggie felt heartbroken to think that Anna was blaming herself.

“Then why would he do it? Has he done something like this before?”

“No, I would never have thought in a million years that he would try anything inappropriate with you. If I thought that, I wouldn’t have brought you home. In fact, if I thought that, I wouldn’t have married him in the first place.”

“That’s what I thought.” Anna smiled, reassured.

“I don’t know why he did it either. I can’t give you any answers.”

“So why don’t you want me to go to court?”

Maggie hesitated. “Because I think we can handle it as a family, the way I said.”

“No.” Anna shook her head, her lips setting firmly. “The lady on the phone said that’s what the moms always say.”

“Who’s this lady? What’s her name?”

“I didn’t ask her. She said the moms never want to go to court because they’re in denial.”

“I’m not in denial,” Maggie said, though she wondered if she was, partly.

“And she said abusers don’t take it seriously unless you get a PFA, so that’s what I want to do.”

“Anna, I really think that’s taking it too far—”

“You do?” Anna’s eyes flew open, pained. “You know whatIthink is taking it too far? When your stepfather sticks his tongue down your throat. Or puts his hand up your dress.”

Maggie recoiled, disgusted. “I know, I’m sorry.”

“I think that’s really why he wanted to take me driving, so we could be alone together, without you.”