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“Okay…” I have a mouthful of whisky.
“As you know, we’re having the wedding at the Jewel Box Lodge. There’s limited accommodation, so we’re having to balance the guest list carefully. I just wanted to check—I’ve put you and Heidi together—that’s okay, right?”
I stare at him, surprised. “Oh. I… uh… didn’t realize you knew. About us, I mean.”
“Yeah, Elizabeth told me.” The corners of his mouth quirk up. “Sorry, is it supposed to be a secret?”
“No. I wasn’t sure how you’d react, that’s all. You said you could trust me, and I wondered whether you’d see it as a breach of that trust.”
“Fuck me, Titus, I was joking. Heidi’s twenty-five. I think she can make up her own mind who she dates now.”
I give a short laugh and study my shoes for a moment. “Yeah, okay.”
“Thanks for sorting out her ex,” he says. “She doing all right over there apart from that?”
“She’s doing great.” I have a sip of whisky, glancing over at her. I hadn’t been sure whether I was going to mention it. I don’t want to betray her confidence, but equally Huxley is a good friend, and I think he should know. “She’s better now she’s away from your father.”
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah. I know he was a bit controlling of her when she was here.”
“I think it was more than a bit. From what she tells me, he completely dominated her while she was at home. She doesn’t like talking about it,” I say as he frowns, “because your sisters think she’s exaggerating, but it sounded pretty bad. Hux… I hope you don’t mind me saying, and tell me to back off if you want…”
“Go on.”
“The day that Heidi moved out, she had a big argument with Peter.”
“Oh. What happened?”
“I think you should know… He hit her.”
Huxley goes still. He stares at me for about ten seconds. Then, slowly, he puts his glass down on a nearby table before he turns back to me and says, in a low, deliberate tone, “What?”
“She told me this morning. He was yelling at her while she packed. Her mum was in her bedroom, crying. Heidi got to the front door and tried to go out, and he gave her a backhander.”
Huxley goes white. “Fucking bastard.”
“I’m so sorry, man. I wasn’t sure whether to tell you. I don’t want to stir up trouble. That’s the last thing she wants. She’s trying to move on. But she’s terrified about seeing him again. I mainly wanted to warn you in case something kicked off either tonight or at the wedding. I’m sure it won’t. But I thought you’d rather be forewarned.”
Hands on his hips, he stares at the floor for a moment, breathing heavily. Then he looks up at me. “I knew he was overbearing and controlling. He tries to be the same with me, and it’s tough to stand up to him sometimes. I’ve seen him with Heidi, of course, but she never said anything to me.” He looks over at her, a pained expression on his face, and runs his hand through his hair.
“She’s embarrassed about it, would you believe. She thinks she’s weak because she found it difficult to stand up to him.”
“Ah, don’t, you’re breaking my heart.”
“I know, I felt the same. You read Nix King’s report, right?”
He sighs. “Yeah.”
“It’s domestic abuse, Hux. Pure and simple.” I have a mouthful of whisky, hating that we’re having this conversation. “Have you ever seen any signs of it with your mum?”
He hesitates, then looks at the floor. “He’s always overpowered her. Talked over her. Put her down. But he’s the same with everyone. I never saw any sign that violence was involved.”
“She doesn’t like talking about it, but I get the feeling she’s resentful toward your mum for not standing up for her more.”
He looks back at Heidi. I follow his gaze, smiling at the sight of her surrounded by her sisters and friends.
“Is it serious?” he asks. “You and her?”
I look back at him. “I’m going to marry her, if that’s what you mean.”
