Now he was gone, they walked tentatively into Hannah’s room. She was sitting on the bed, her face in her hands and her body heaving with sobs.
Before Edie had even had time to think, Jessica hurried over and sat down beside their friend, putting an arm round her shoulders.
‘What did he do? Are you all right?’ she asked urgently. ‘Did he hurt you?’
Hannah sniffed and rubbed her eyes. ‘No, he didn’t hit me or anything. He just gets so jealous. He accused me of deliberately flirting with Jean-Luc. But I wasn’t.’
All of a sudden, she jerked up her head and jutted her chin. ‘We were just chatting,’ she insisted, staring hard at Edie, as if challenging her to disagree. Her jaw and neck were visibly tight and snot dribbled from her nose. ‘I told him that. He was so angry.’ Her red, puffy face crumpled again. ‘He said some horrible things.’
Jessica made a tutting sound. ‘It’s not right, Hannah. You shouldn’t put up with it. He’s a bully. I heard what he said. It’s emotional and verbal abuse.’
Hannah sobbed again. ‘I know. He’s not normally that bad, though. It’s only when he sees me talking to another man, or even a woman sometimes. I don’t know why he’s so jealous.’
Edie was still standing by the bed, not wishing to crowd out Hannah and feeling a bit useless.
It was distressing to see her friend so upset but at the same time, a tiny worm in her ear was whispering to her that Hannah wasn’t being entirely honest. Shehadbeen flirting. It wasn’t exactly a crime, and she could at least own up to it.
Ralph would probably have been put out if he’d seen Edie behaving in that way. The difference was, he wouldn’t have shouted and sworn at her.
There was silence for a moment and Jessica breathed in and out deeply.
‘I’m worried about you, Hannah,’ she said at last. ‘Things might escalate.’
Edie was about to join them on the bed when she noticed a wood-framed dressing table mirror lying in pieces in the corner of the room.
‘What happened?’ She went over to take a better look; the mirror was pretty much smashed.
‘Did he throw it at you?’ Jessica asked shrilly.
Edie glanced at Hannah, who lowered her eyes.
‘Yes.’
‘Did it hit you?’
‘No, it missed.’ Hannah bit her lip.
‘That’s still assault, you know. He could be arrested for it, even if you weren’t physically hurt. Imagine if he hadn’t missed. We might be taking you to hospital now.’
Hannah shuddered. ‘Thank God it didn’t come to that.’
‘No, but it could have.’
Jessica’s words seemed to impregnate the air surrounding them, compressing their lungs and making it difficult to breathe.
‘I think you should take my room tonight,’ she insisted. ‘While you decide what you want to do. I’ll sleep on the sofa downstairs.’
‘Thank you.’
‘And remember to lock the door.’
Hannah glanced fearfully at Jessica, then Edie. ‘I will.’
* * *
They were a sombre group at supper that evening. Ralph had said he’d have a chat with Mac and had tried calling, but Mac hadn’t picked up.
Meanwhile, Jessica had stayed close to Hannah, checking on her constantly and asking if she needed anything.
