Page 108 of Killing Mind

Those were the words Kim had been waiting to hear.

Eighty-Six

Tiff followed Britney into the dining room. The long tables and chairs had been rearranged to form a large square like a medieval banquet so that everyone sitting could see everyone else. A selection of soft drinks and snacks were laid out where the hot food normally sat.

‘Only women?’ Tiff asked, looking around.

‘Yes, Thursday is ladies’ night.’

‘Why the separation?’

Brit guided her to two seats together.

‘Because men’s problems are different to women’s and people need to be able to speak openly.’

Tiff spotted Sheila about to take a seat opposite and smiled. Sheila gave her a little wave.

‘Okay, ladies, are we ready?’ called out a woman who was closing the dining room door.

‘That’s Lorna, been here nine years. She’s the one who brought me here. She’s awesome.’

Tiff took a good look at the woman dressed in pale jeans and a tie-dyed tee shirt. Her long brown hair was pulled back in an untidy ponytail revealing pearl studs in her ears. Her face was relaxed and pleasant. Tiff took a moment to take a good look around the women. Sophie Brown was not one of them.

Lorna offered a smile that stretched around the room.

‘Let me start by welcoming Tiffany to the group. I understand she likes to be called Tiff.’

The smile was turned her way as everyone waved or called out a greeting.

Never had she been in a room full of so many women and felt so welcome and accepted.

‘Okay, anybody want to start, or shall I choose? Don’t forget. You can say anything you like here and it goes no further. You can be as honest as you want to be. We’re all here to offer support and help.’

A hand was tentatively raised from a woman on the table opposite, three seats away from Sheila.

Tiff guessed the girl to be mid-twenties; she had short blonde hair and a fringe that almost covered her eyes.

‘Go ahead, Maria,’ Lorna said.

‘I’ve struggled this week,’ she admitted, looking around the group. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to be here, it’s just…’

‘Go on, Maria. Anything you say is safe here,’ Lorna encouraged.

‘It’s just that I love my work in the garden and I love being part of the family, but it’s my mum’s birthday this week and…’

‘Maria, don’t feel bad for missing your mum. There’s no judgement here. Everyone understands and we all miss things from the outside now and again.’

Tiff noticed Sheila glance down at her nails.

‘Everyone here sacrificed things on the outside once they decided to focus on themselves. You’ve been a valued member of this family for seven months now. You know you’re where you belong and everyone here loves you.’

Lorna paused to give the room time to murmur whispers of agreement.

‘Sometimes, after a while, it’s easy to forget the things that brought us here in the first place, the toxic hurtful forces that made us feel helpless and less than the people we are. Even brief contact with those forces can undo all the work we’ve done to make ourselves whole.’

Maria was listening wholeheartedly to everything that Lorna said.

‘I think you’re stronger now, Maria, but I don’t think you’re strong enough to withstand the reminder of what she put you through.’