Page 36 of Little Hidden Fears

I nodded, and when she returned a few minutes later, she said, “I’ve just spoken with my son’s wife. She’s in no hurry for me to pick Kiera up, so to answer your question ... yes, we can continue our discussion.”

I was glad to hear it.

“Before we get going on what I’m sure will prove to be a much heavier topic, I have to admit, I’m parched. Would you care for a glass of water?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“Lemon, or no?”

“Lemon, thank you.”

Joanie went to the kitchen, and it wasn’t long before she came back into the room, carrying a tray of two lemon waters and a handful of cookies.

She set it down between us on a circular coffee table.

“It’s not often I indulge in sugary treats, but at times like these, I find it’s the little things that help us get through,” she said. “Please, help yourself.”

I grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and a napkin, preparing myself for the difficult topic to come.

“When I was talking to Dominic yesterday, he shared a private part of Noelle’s past with me, something they didn’t speak of to anyone,” I said.

“Are you referring to what happened to Noelle in high school?”

“I am.”

“He must have had a good reason for telling you about Gabe.”

“I understand now why she opened the Ophelia Albrecht Center.”

“Ah, yes. The women’s center meant everything to Noelle.”

“Did she ever speak to you about any of the women who came to the center?”

“On occasion. It was rare. If she talked to me, it was to get advice. Why do you ask?”

“Even though I’ve been led to understand she tried to keep her real name and her life private, I’m wondering if someone affiliated with the center discovered her true identity. Perhaps a disgruntled husband whose wife she’d mentored.”

“If so, I know nothing about it.”

“I heard the police were consulted from time to time, and that in more serious situations, Noelle did what she could to talk some of the women into speaking up about what they’d been through.”

“Noelle never pushed. She planted the seed and did what she could to get that seed to grow. It was always the woman’s decision to talk to the police, and when they did, if they wished, Noelle remained by their side the entire time.”

“Were there any instances when an abuser found out his girlfriend or wife was at the center, and they tried to intervene?”

Joanie gave the question some thought. “It did happen. Not often, but Dominic took precautions right from the start. One of those precautions was hiring security guards—one at the front gate and one as you enter the center. No one comes in or out without checking in, and even then, it’s the woman’s decision whether or not to see any visitors.”

“When you say it’s the woman’s decision, how does that work?”

“Everyone is stopped at the gate and asked to state their name, which has to be proven by showing the properidentification. The security guard never tells a guest if the woman the person is coming to see is on the premises. He only says he’ll check. If a woman refuses a visitor, the visitor is told the woman isn’t there.”

I was impressed.

“Is there any protection for the women once a visitor gains entry?”

Joanie nodded. “Of course. Staff has a button they can press which lets the security company know there’s a problem.”

“Has the button ever pressed?”

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