Page 53 of First Blood

‘That’s Dawn, a student at the catering college, who comes a couple of times each week to show the women how to cook themselves quick, nutritious meals.’ She pointed to another screen. ‘That’s Nigel in the lounge. He visits two afternoons a week to give the ladies a haircut, to help them feel better about themselves.’

Kim saw a slim man wearing tight jeans and tee shirt with a blonde undercut fringed haircut holding a mirror to the back of a woman’s head.

Marianne pointed to another screen.

‘That’s Louella, a counsellor from the Salvation Army, who comes in when needed to offer the women a chance to talk. These people offer their time and services to broken women who have been subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse.’

The words ‘broken women’ worked their way under her skin. Every woman here had suffered at the hands of someone else, most likely someone close to them, someone they loved or had loved, trusted, relied on. She couldn’t help but think of her own mother, someone she should have been able to trust.

She forced the thoughts from her mind and back to the present where it was safe.

‘Who’s that?’ she asked, spying a rare male figure on a pair of stepladders in one of the stairways.

‘That’s Carl. He and his brother Curt look after the general maintenance in all four facilities.’ Marianne turned to her. ‘You seem surprised?’

‘I’d have thought having men on site would…’

‘We don’t encourage the women to hate and avoid all men. We do keep the presence of men to a minimum and only have Carl and Curt here on a regular—’

‘Ahem,’ Jason coughed.

Marianne touched him lightly on the shoulder. ‘Sorry, Jay. And of course, our team of four security personnel that provide a 24-hour service, headed by Jay here.’

He nodded, satisfied, and continued scrolling through the screens.

Kim watched for a moment, her eyes taking in a couple of mothers with their children in a playroom. A few others sitting in a second lounge chatting. A woman in another room reading while her toddler crawled around the floor.

‘How many places do you have here?’ Kim asked, following Marianne back to her own office across the hall.

‘This is our largest home and here we can take up to four mothers with children and twelve singles.’

‘How long do they stay?’ Kim asked, wondering if any of them ever wanted to leave the safe environment created by this woman.

‘We normally feel we’ve done all we can after about six months but it varies. Some women stay for much shorter periods; a few weeks while they decide their long-term options; return to family, move away but we do what we can while they’re here with—’

Her words were interrupted by a knock at the door.

‘Come in,’ Marianne called despite their presence. Kim suspected there was little that was more important than being available for the women in her care.

Nigel stepped into the doorway, a pair of scissors and a comb in his hands. ‘Are you ready for?…’

‘Give me five minutes, Nige.’

‘No probs,’ he answered brightly. He snapped the scissors open and closed looking at both her and Bryant. ‘Anyone else fancy a free trim?’

‘We’re good, thanks,’ Kim said, as he backed out of the room.

‘And for what it’s worth, I pay for mine,’ Marianne said, once the door was closed.

‘Of course,’ Kim said. She would have expected nothing less. She couldn’t help but be impressed by the woman’s commitment and drive, though she was bothered by something Marianne had said earlier.

‘You said these women had a reason to be grateful to your uncle. Why?’

‘It was because of him that I opened this place.’

Kim frowned. ‘I’m sorry but I don’t quite understand…’

Her words trailed away as Marianne held her gaze and Kim saw the look in her eyes.