Chapter 6

Maddy phoned Jess as I drove us home.

“Hey Maddy! Are we still on for tonight? I’m so looking forward to it.”

“Hey Jess! Of course, I’ve been thinking about little else all week. Is it still OK for Jim to come along?”

“Mmm, yes, he can come, but I can’t promise I’ll be OK with him joining in.”

“That’s cool, he can guard the door.”

“Oh, he doesn’t need to do that, Dan’s in Coventry today, he won’t be home until Friday.”

“Mmm, about that,” Maddy started, “we’ve just spent a couple of hours with a solicitor, two in fact...”

“Oh yes, is this the one you mentioned?”

“Yes, and Willow’s mum’s solicitor as well. The kids are now legally ours, and Peggy signed her house over to them. With regards to your situation, I guess Dan hasn’t phoned today...”

“No, should he phone me?”

“You don’t have any missed calls from withheld numbers?”

“Ahh, I’ve blocked withheld numbers ... I was having a problem with a guy I met one day.”

“That would explain it,” Maddy replied, “Dan was arrested a couple of hours ago.”

“Arrested? Why?”

“What are you doing right now?” Maddy asked.

“Olivia has just fallen asleep, so I was going to have a bath.”

“Have your bath, we’ll be round in an hour.”

“But ... Dan...”

“Don’t worry about it, everything is going to be fine.”

“So, I was never married,” Jess mused as she drank a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio an hour later.

“That would appear to be the case.”

“This is so weird ... does that mean Olivia and Noah are bastards?”

“Oh no, because you thought you were married at the time,” Maddy assured her, “the only bastard here is Dan.”

“That’s true ... What about the other families, how many did you say there were?”

“You and the kids are his 10^th family; Charlee’s mum was number 7.”

“And Charlee’s mum ... oh no! I can’t remember her name!”

“Marina,” Maddy reminded her, “she was never married either.”

“Oh my god! What if Charlee wants to go back to her mother?”

“Has she ever talked about her birth mother?” Maddy asked.

“Not really, by all accounts she was a bit of a mess when Dan left her, and Charlee left with Dan because it was felt her mother couldn’t care for her properly.”

Xenia had given Maddy a folder with all the details she’d found out about Dan’s families, she flipped through until she found the entry for family 7.

“It says here that Marina was sectioned, she had problems with drink and tranquilisers. Xenia is trying to access the records to see where the problems started, based on what she knows, it looks like Dan was abusive...”

“He’s never hit me!” Jess exclaimed.

“There’s more than one form of abuse,” Maddy told her, “controlling behaviour is abuse, taking your wages and giving you pocket money is abuse, constantly belittling someone is abuse...”

“Mmm, yes ... Oh! I’ll need to open a bank account, my wages go into his bank.”

Maddy took Jess’s free hand, the other was tightly clutching her wine glass, “I’ll take you to my bank tomorrow morning, we’ll open an account for you, then we need to get you a better job.”

“But the kids, I work part time because I only get 15 hours childcare.”

“My mum lives close by, she only works weekends, I bet she could look after Olivia and Noah.”

“I couldn’t possibly ask someone to look after my kids!”

“Luckily, I can,” Maddy replied, reaching for her phone.

“Hey mum! Thanks for speaking to Xenia for me ... yes, we’ve just had a meeting with her, she’s amazing. OK, it seems Jess was never married, as Dan forgot to divorce a couple of previous wives ... yeah, so Jess is young, free and single again. This does mean she’s going to need a better job, which will mean longer hours ... Can you repeat that after I put you one speaker...”

“Of course, Jess, I’m more than happy to look after your children.”

“I couldn’t impose on you like that.”

“Oh, you won’t be imposing, my dear, I love children, it was a shame we only had Madeline, I would have loved a big family. Why don’t you pop round tomorrow, we can have a chat, Madeline will give you my address.”

“If you’re sure...”

“Madeline will tell you, when I’ve made up my mind, nothing will make me change it, she takes after me in that respect.”

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Thank me by forgetting that ridiculous man and rebuilding your life.”

Maddy took her phone off speaker, she thanked her mum and said goodbye.

“We have a busy day tomorrow,” she said brightly, “the bank, my mum’s and Xenia will be phoning you in the afternoon.”

“What will Xenia tell me?”

“Well, she’ll probably use more official language to tell you what I just told you, then there’s details about what happens next.”

“What does happen next?”

“Well, your marriage will be officially annulled, she thinks that will happen next week. At some point the courts will seize all of Dan’s assets.”

“Like this house?”

“Unfortunately, that seems likely. He has some shares, and a lot of money in the bank, and a yacht, apparently.”

“Is he rich then?”

“Seems to be,” Maddy told her, “do you know what he did for a living?”

“I’ve absolutely no idea. Every time I asked, he changed the subject. Like today, I asked him where he was going this morning, and he just said he had some meetings.”

“According to Xenia, he’s a professional gambler.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you could do that as a full-time job. He must have been good at it if he’s got a yacht.”

“I think he got some of his money from his past wives,” Maddy said, “that’s what tends to happen in these cases.”

“He’s not had any money off me,” Jess replied.

“Mmm, how much do you earn, Jess?”

“I get about £15 a hour.”

“And how many hours do you work?”

“I do 4 mornings a week at the health centre, 12 hours in total.”

“That’s £180 a week, how much pocket money does he give you?”

“Ahh, I see...” Jess replied, quietly, “Fuck! I’ve been taken for an idiot, haven’t I?”

Maddy took Jess’s glass, she passed it to me then wrapped her arms around Jess as she started to quietly cry on Maddy’s shoulder.

“Check the kids are still asleep,” she whispered.

I kicked my shoes off at the bottom of the stairs and quietly went up to check on Olivia and Noah, they were in the room on the left, Noah in a bed, Olivia in a cot. They were fast asleep.

I had a quick look around, the house was probably built on the same floor plan as mine, so I wondered how they’d used the space.

My first stop was the attic room, I used mine as a writing room. At the moment all it held was my desk, my chair, an empty bookcase and a Bluetooth speaker.

The attic in this house was a bedroom; a bed, posters on the wall, a wardrobe, clothes strewn across the floor – Charlee’s room.

Back on the first floor, if it is the same floorplan as my house, the room at the end of the hallway would be the master bedroom. I pushed open the door and yes, the master bedroom. King size bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, chair. I was about to leave the room when I had a thought.

Bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers; one of each, just like my room had been last week.

This room was used by one person.

I opened the wardrobe; suits and shirts; ties hanging behind the door.

Dan’s clothes.

Where was Jess’s stuff?

I closed the wardrobe, left the master bedroom and moved to the box room, in my house this room is empty, I’ve not thought of a use for it yet.

I tried the door, locked. Moving back to the master bedroom, I looked for a key, there wasn’t one in the chest of drawers, bedside table, wardrobe.

Downstairs, Maddy was holding Jess, running her fingers through her long, blonde hair.

“Are the kids OK,” Maddy asked.

“They’re fine,” I assured her, before sitting at the other end of the sofa and holding Jess’s hand.

“Where do you sleep,” I asked Jess quietly.

“Upstairs,” she replied.

“But not in the master bedroom, that’s Dan’s room.”

“No...” she whispered, “mine’s the other room.”

“It’s locked, do you have a key?”

“No, it’s on Dan’s keyring.”

“So, where are you sleeping tonight?”

“On the sofa, I guess.”

“But, you invited us round, we were going to have some fun, where would we be having the fun?” Maddy asked.

Jess burst into tears, I quickly jumped up and closed the door.

“I didn’t think, I was just swept up in the idea of kissing you again, Maddy, and maybe kissing Jim. I didn’t really consider where we would sleep.”

“OK, here’s what’s going to happen,” Maddy started, “you’re going to come to ours tonight. We’ll bring the kids; Charlee, Willow and Zac can look after them. You can sleep with me and Jim, we’ll talk, we’ll cuddle, we’ll plan; maybe we’ll kiss for a bit if you’re up for it. Tomorrow, you go and see my mum, you speak to Xenia, you open a bank account. Friday, we start to move your stuff into Willow’s house.”

“I’ll need to pay rent, I can’t afford that yet.”

“I honestly don’t think Willow wants any rent until you can afford it.”

“What happens to this house?”

“We’ll leave it empty until the courts seize it. You can’t stay here another day, it contains nothing but bad memories.”

Charlee arrived as we were packing some of Noah and Olivia’s clothes and toys into boxes.

“What’s happening?” she asked as Maddy dumped a suitcase in the hall.

“We’re moving out!” Jess replied brightly, I think she was a little drunk, not used to drinking quite so much wine in the afternoon.

“What will Dan say?”

“He’s got more pressing problems,” Jess told her, “he’s just been arrested.”

“Arrested?” Charlee exclaimed, “What for?”

“For being a bastard, for marrying your mum before he’d divorced his previous wife.”

Charlee slumped to the floor, “what does this mean?”

Jess crouched next to Charlee and slipped an arm around her stepdaughter.

Is she still her stepdaughter? That’s a question for Xenia tomorrow, because she is not letting this wonderful girl go.

“It means his marriage to your mum wasn’t legal, it means my marriage isn’t legal. It means I’m free of that fucker...”

“Mum! You never swear!”

“I do today,” Jess replied, kissing Charlee on the top of her head, “go pack a few things, we’re moving out. Tonight, we’ll all squeeze into Maddy’s house, tomorrow we’ll move a few things into Willow’s house.”

“I was going to mind the kids tonight so you could sleep with Maddy.”

Jess smiled, “yeah, I think that’s still on.”

Charlee jumped up, “in that case, we need to get your sexy undies.”

“I’ve not worn them for so long, they might not fit.”

“Mum, you’ve not put on an ounce in years.”

Jess looked down and cupped her breasts, “these are a bit bigger,” she replied.

“With boobs, bigger is usually better,” Charlee smiled, “I don’t think Maddy or Jim will complain. Come on Mum, we’re raiding your bottom drawer.”

“My room is locked,” Jess replied.

Charlee opened the cupboard under the sink, “If that fucker is in jail, I don’t think we need to worry about a little damage,” she said, smiling as she emerged with a large screwdriver, “come on, let’s do a little breaking and entering.”

We followed Charlee upstairs and watched as she pushed the big screwdriver between the door and the frame and pulled it with all her strength. The door soon gave way, swinging open and slamming against the wall.

Maddy held Jess back as Charlee dashed in and started to rummage in her stepmother’s chest of drawers.

“Did he lock you in at night?”

“Yeah...” Jess replied quietly.

“What if you want to ... you know ... toilet.”

“I held onto it...”

“But sometimes in a month, that’s hard.”

“Mmm, I have a potty.”

“Frigging hell Jess, even prison cells have a toilet.”

“Don’t make a fuss Maddy, it’s over.”

“It is, and from now on, I’m going to make sure you understand how special you are.”

“Mum, come here and choose something for tonight.”

“Are you sure honey?”

“Absolutely, dad’s gone, you need to celebrate.”

“What about Noah and Olivia?”

“Me and Willow will look after them, with Zac. Although I’m not sure Zac is the babysitter type.”

“As long as you’re sure you’ll be OK with them both in your room ... you won’t get up to anything...”

“Mum! Give me some credit! We will be sensible and not get up to anything ... at least while they’re awake, and afterwards, we’ll be quiet. I just want you to have a special night mum ... If you want to just be with Maddy, we can babysit Jim as well.”

Jess laughed, “I’m not sure the room will hold you all ... And besides, I’m coming round to the idea of letting Jim join in ... did Zac join in with you and Willow?”

Charlee blushed, “Willow showed me how to blow him ... you know ... but he’s so big ... I think I might be gay, mum, his penis scared me...”

“That’s OK, I’m happy for you to be whatever you want to be,” Jess replied, “do you think the blue or the red?”

“I think the black and gold,” Charlee said, “you’ll look so hot in that. Get undressed and try them on.”

“I can’t undress in front of you...” Jess replied.

“Come on, we’re not even related anymore,” Charlee laughed.

Maddy pulled me out of the room, “let’s go downstairs, I want whatever she chooses to be a surprise for us both.”

“Ahh, yes.”

“And you, my boy, are in for the night of your life if Jess lets you join in.”

We were heading for the stairs as we heard Charlee whoop, “I knew you’d look awesome in those. Mmm, we’re nearly the same size, I’ve got an amazing dress you can wear. Your boobs are bigger than mine, so you’ll fill it better, don’t move a muscle, mum.”

“We’ll carry those things to ours,” Maddy told Charlee as she dashed past to her room, “join us when you’re ready.”

Charlee stooped at the foot of the stairs to her room, “mum’s not ... you know ... been with anyone for a while ... so ... be gentle, please...”

Maddy pulled Charlee into a hug, “how long as she been locked in that room?” she asked quietly.

“Since Olivia was born, mum said she didn’t want more than two kids, so Dan said he had no further use for her...”

I watched as Maddy clenched her fists in anger, “if I ever see that bastard,” she growled.

“Will we ever see him again?” Charlee asked.

“I’m afraid you’ll probably have to go to court.”

“Good, I want to see the look in his eyes as I tell the court he used to lock my mum up.”

“Your mum too?” Maddy asked.

“What ... oh, my birth mother? I’ve no idea, maybe he did. Jess is the only person I’ve ever called mum. She always felt like a mum, you know.”

“What about the women in between?”

“Kate and Hester, they were OK. Hester was very pretty, but she wasn’t a mum. She spent a lot of Dan’s money on clothes and shoes, she was too busy being fabulous to be bothered with me. Kate, I don’t remember much, I was only four years old, I think, when we left her and moved in with Hester. I was 9 when he left Hester and married Jess.”

“You know, it’s such a shame we’re not allowed to kill people, I’d have so much fun cutting that fucker into tiny pieces and grinding his bones to dust...”

“For such a lovely person, you can be quite scary at times,” Charlee said, before she kissed Maddy on the lips and dashed upstairs.

“Mmm, cherry chapstick,” Maddy whispered as we turned and headed downstairs, “I like that kid, she’s absolutely perfect for Willow.”

I found a use for my boxroom; we filled it with the stuff Maddy and I were bringing from Jess’s house.

Willow was in the kitchen when we arrived, making a curry by the aroma filling the room.

“What’s all that stuff?” she asked as Maddy dumped her heavy bags on the floor.

“I’ll tell you if you tell me how many mouths that meal will feed.” I replied.

“Four. Why, how many does it need to feed?”

“Eight, although I suspect Olivia isn’t old enough for curry just yet.”

“What’s happening?”

“Dan’s been arrested, Jess was never legally married, I’m now your legal mother, you own your old house ... have I missed anything out?”

“I don’t think so,” I replied.

“Hang on,” Willow cried as she threw her hand in the air, “back up a bit, Dan’s been arrested, what for? And did you say you’re legally my mum?”

“Bigamy and yes, in that order,” Maddy replied as she gave Willow a firm hug.

“Oh my god! Peggy let you adopt us? And she’s given us the house? So, can Jess and Charlee live there?”

“Yes to all three,” Maddy replied, “why don’t you get Zac and we can tell you everything.”

“Maybe take one of the bags up on the way,” I added.

Willow picked up two bags and ran to the room she shared with Zac.

I was brewing a pot of coffee as we heard two sets of rapid footsteps on the stairs.

“Tell us everything!” Willow demanded as she took a seat with Zac at the kitchen table.

“I’ll finish making the curry while you tell them,” I offered.

“So, if Dan’s gone, Jess can just stay in the house, she doesn’t need to move,” Willow said after Maddy had finished.

“Ahh, that’s not happening for two reasons. First, Jess has not had a fun few years, so she doesn’t have many happy memories from the house, and second, the courts will be seizing all of Dan’s assets, including the house.”