Page 9 of The Happy Family

It helps that it will be a one-sided story.

It helps that the only other person who knows what happened is not able to tell the tale.

I look at Sadie lying on the hallway floor, then at her two children kneeling and sobbing beside her. Arthur and Ruby are distraught, as is to be expected at the sight of their mother looking lifeless, so I can’t ask them to stop crying. Nor can I ask them to leave, because like any caring soul, they want to be with their stricken loved one at their time of need. Beyond them is Reid, who is alternating between pacing around anxiously, watching his children and making sure they don’t touch Sadie and worsen any injuries, whilst also being on the phone to Sadie’s parents. He has also called the emergency services, and they are on their way. But right now, he is informing Sadie’s mum and dad about what has happened to their daughter.

While this scene seems overstimulating, it’s completely calm compared to what it is going to be when everybody arrives. From flashing blue lights to paramedics and police, to two panicking parents, this hallway is going to be a hive of activity in a few moments’ time. I’d rather be anywhere else but here when it is, but I know I have to stay and face this situation. I have to tell everybody what happened so there can be no doubt. I have to paint Sadie as the villain and me as the victim: I was here with my loved ones when my boyfriend’s crazy ex broke in and stabbed me.

Jealousy. Frustration. Revenge. All key motivators for Sadie to do what she did and all factors I will be sure to convey to any detectives or police officers who want to establish all the facets of this complicated case. It helps that I am pregnant, which makes me seem more vulnerable. More domestic. More normal. It’s easier to make it seem like I had everything to live for, whilst Sadie had nothing to lose.

Amidst the children’s cries and Reid’s phone conversation, I hear the first sign of sirens.

They’re coming. This is it. I better get ready.

It’s showtime.

I look down at my arm, the one from where blood has been pouring ever since Sadie grabbed that knife and used it against me, and I see that the tissue Reid gave me is completely soaked red. I need a new one, but I decide to wait until the emergency services are here because it will look more dramatic if they see me like this.

I’ll look more of a victim.

I’ll get more sympathy.

I’ll be more believable.

Through the window of the front door, I see blue lights as an ambulance parks up. It’s followed by another one, and as Reid opens the door, I see a police car parking too. In mere seconds, this sleepy suburban street has been transformed into a scene from a horror movie, and I have no doubt that all the residents will be waking up and rushing to their windows to see what is going on outside.

Generating gossip.

Spreading stories and suspicion.

Whispering and wondering whilst watching.

Nobody needs nosey neighbours.

Reid ends his phone call, and he tells me that Sadie’s parents are on their way here. But for now, we must deal with the first people to arrive and as I see the hi-visibility uniforms of the paramedics rushing towards our door, I take a deep breath and swallow hard.

Reid opens the door before they reach us so as not to waste a second, and as a male and female paramedic enter, they see what all the fuss is about. A body on the floor, and a woman with a stab wound standing nearby.

‘My ex broke in here and stabbed my partner,’ Reid breathlessly tells the paramedics. ‘Then she slipped and fell, banging her head. I’m not sure if she is still alive. She is the mother of my older children. But my partner is pregnant, so you need to check her and get her to a hospital and you need to⁠—’

‘Okay, we’ve got it from here,’ says the female paramedic whilst her colleague looks back for his fellow paramedics who are already disembarking from the second ambulance.

The paramedics don’t need to hear any more because they already know what they need to do. As crazy as this is for us, this is probably a fairly tame scenario compared to some of the situations they get called out to.

The extra paramedics arrive and are pointed in my direction, while the first responders rush to Sadie.

‘What is her name?’ the female paramedic asks.

‘Mummy,’ Ruby replies innocently before Reid fills in the blanks and gives her Sadie’s name.

‘Okay, Sadie. Can you hear me?’ the paramedic asks as she begins to make her checks. That’s all I see because the other two paramedics are now in front of me, seeking to examine my wound.

‘She stabbed me,’ I make sure to say before I allow them to look at it, for the avoidance of any doubt, because I know that the police will question the paramedics too when this is all over with.

‘Let’s get a bandage on that for now. It looks like it will need stitches,’ the pair of paramedics discuss between each other before they open their medikits and get out what they need.

‘I’m pregnant,’ I say then, directing that statement at the female paramedic because it feels like I’ll get more understanding from her than her male colleague. ‘I’m worried about my baby. Do you think this could cause me to lose it?’

‘We will get you to the hospital and check, just as a precaution,’ the paramedic says, not wanting to be too negative about my chances but not exactly filling me with hope either.