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The moment they got home Scott let her know how displeased he was with her. He slammed her into the wall and held her there with a hand around her neck as he reminded her that he controlled everything in the house in the worst ways.
The next week began to be too much for her, and she called the therapist’s office as Will continued to question her about her moods that continued to grow more erratic. The morning of her appointment, she was nervous wondering if Scott could possibly find out. She was about to call and cancel when Will walked in with a stack of papers for her.
“We need to talk,” he stated as he watched her go over the information.
“Okay,” she said picking up the stack and following him into his office heading to the couch as he shut the door.
“Put the files down Livy…please,” he added when she tensed at his harder tone.
She lowered them unsure what was happening, what he wanted if it wasn’t about the work. “What’s going on Will?
“That’s what I’d like to know. Don’t tell me there’s nothing wrong because I know you. You don’t smile except for when you’re here.”
“Scott and I had a fight about work okay? He doesn’t like me working late and wants me to quit, but I love working with you. You’re not only my friend but a great guy and he just has to understand that I want to be here. It’s nothing to worry about Will, I promise,” she said and saw his shoulders relax as he bought the lies. “Is that it?”
“That’s it,” he agreed wishing he believed her, but he didn’t, not fully at least but he’d let it go for now. He still needed her here too much.
***
“Good afternoon…Marie,” Teri said as she walked in. “I wasn’t expecting you to call.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“I’m glad you did though,” Teri said as Olivia sat down. “So, are you here to discuss the play or you?”
“A bit of both, I think,” she admitted, positive it was insane to be here, but she didn’t know what else to do anymore. She couldn’t go on the way she was, couldn’t risk it coming out to Will and him being hurt when he confronted Scott. “I don’t know why you wanted my opinion of it though.”
“I think we do Marie. Whatever you say to me will stay between us.”
“My name’s not really Marie, well it’s my middle name, but if my husband found out I was here…”
“He’s abusive?” Teri asked, certain the thought that popped into her mind the night of the play was right.
“He’s angry and controlling; he’s threatened to kill everyone I love if I think about leaving him…and I hate that everyone believes we’re this perfect couple,” she said as the tears hit her.
“Marie…”
“Olivia, my name’s really Olivia,” she told her, unable to stand hearing someone call her that.
“Olivia, no one wants to believe that the husband of their friend, sister, or daughter is capable of terror. I followed you into that bathroom after the play because I saw the look in your eyes, and I knew there was something you were hiding, weren’t saying and it worried me.”
“I can’t tell anyone else.”
“You can go to the police Olivia; they will help,” Teri said gently.
“You don’t understand; my husband…is the police. He’s a detective with the homicide department. He’d know instantly if I speak to anyone there. There’s no way they’d believe me. He’s too good at fooling everyone.” Her jaw trembled at the mere idea of what he’d do if she showed up at the police station, accusing him of abuse. Even with the bruises, the broken bones, they wouldn’t buy it. Scott would turn it around, convince them that she was hurting herself, that she needed medical help, and that would be it. “He’d find out and come kill me then turn to Jess.”
“Who’s Jess?”
“My sister.”
“The one from the café?”
Olivia nodded, fighting the panic welling up inside her that cautioned her that she was saying too much. “Yeah, she’s only twenty, she shouldn’t be forced to deal with this.”
“Neither should you Olivia. You said he was controlling…angry…has he hit you?”
“He calls me a bitch, treats me like I’m nothing more than a dog. I can get on the bed to be played with and then…” She shook her head, unable to say it, fighting against the tears flooding her, making her throat tighten, barely able to breathe.
