The Marriage Act(110)
‘You’re slipping into shoes last worn by Jem Jones,’ said Esther. ‘And we all know how tragically that story ended.’
‘What happened to Jem was a terrible thing, but I’d like to think that I am a stronger woman than she was. Given the way I was raised in the care system, I’ve had to be. And I intend to show the world who I really am with my new series of prison Vlogs, while reminding people how important it is to support the Sanctity of Marriage Act, especially with a general election on the horizon.’
‘But the altercation between you and Mrs Cooper was because of the Act, wasn’t it? You were scared your husband’s “affair” might lead you to divorce, and not only might you lose him, but your lifestyle too?’
‘I will never blame the Act for anything,’ Roxi replied. ‘Our confrontation was my fault. Act or no Act, I wanted to save my marriage and keep my husband. What happened that day was a tragic misunderstanding. But as many have argued, had Mrs Cooper not broken the law herself by working illegally as a couple’s therapist, our paths would never have crossed and this whole mess could’ve been avoidable.’
‘Of course, yours was not the only court case to receive media attention,’ Esther continued. ‘What are your thoughts on Jeffrey Beech, who, according to reports, was found hanging in his cell earlier this morning?’
That was news to Roxi, a line of questioning she hadn’t prepared for. But she didn’t let it faze her. ‘Like everyone else, I’m horrified by how he took advantage of couples with marital difficulties. He deliberately hurt people whereas I did not. My actions aren’t comparable to his crimes so good riddance to him. I want to help others to learn from my mistakes and remind people they’re better off married than alone. That’s all any of us can do, isn’t it? Love and learn to be better?’
‘And what happens if the anti-Government groundswell continues to rise? If they fail to win the next election, are you out of a job?’
‘We’ll have to see,’ she replied with a rehearsed smile. ‘So let’s hope not!’
‘Then what would you do?’
For a moment, Roxi stared blankly at the camera. It was a good question. What would she do? There was nothing and no one out there waiting for her beyond her career. Plan B was not an option because it did not exist.
‘I’m a survivor, Esther. Don’t worry about me.’
Roxi gave the camera a final smile and, for a moment, she almost believed she had nothing to fear. But if the lens ever stopped focusing on her again, she knew that she would cease to exist. She had been that person once before and hated it. She would always find a way to continue being burned by the flames of fame and not extinguished as a nobody.
92
Corrine
Corrine held the hands of the two young men standing either side of her as they accompanied one another across the stage in a show of unity. Their limbs trembled every bit as much as hers until they reached the podium. Two more followed behind them, equally as nervous.
It was halfway through the afternoon before they took to the stage and it was impossible not to feel intimidated by the vast audience of London’s Kennington Park. News reports suggested that of the million-plus people who had descended upon the capital that day to protest against the Sanctity of Marriage Act, more than 100,000 people were now standing in front of her. Many of the audience wore t-shirts with Freedom for All’s logo emblazoned across the chest, others held brightly coloured banners aloft. Giant screens had been erected in parks to broadcast the speeches of keynote speakers, of which she was one.
Corrine and her guests waited in a line until the audience’s applause tapered off before she drew the microphone to her mouth. She had expected to be terrified by the daunting task ahead. Instead, a sudden burst of adrenaline offered her a new-found confidence.
‘Good afternoon, everyone,’ she began. ‘My name is Corrine Nelson and I am part of the Northampton chapter of the FFA. Several months ago, my colleague Nathan Deakin and I became tasked with investigating allegations against education minister Eleanor Harrison, my local Member of Parliament. These brave young men on my left and right came forward to warn us that she had a history of intoxicating and sexually abusing young men. They knew this because they are survivors of her attacks.’
She waited for the gasps to die down before going into further detail of what happened to them along with the FFA’s failed sting operation, of Nathan’s reaction to the drugs Harrison had plied him with and her fabricated injuries.
‘The FFA distanced itself from the events in Eleanor Harrison’s apartment as it feared that, in the aftermath of Jem Jones’ suicide, pro-Act supporters would capitalize and expand upon the anti-FFA feeling already playing out in the media. But it has since acknowledged that was the wrong decision and, in the spirit of full-transparency, it has given us its blessing to speak here today for the first time.’
Despite the size of the audience in front of her, she recognized Freya’s voice yelling from somewhere, ‘Proud of you, Mum!’ Corrine smiled. ‘That’s my daughter,’ she explained. ‘And I love you too.’ The audience responded with cheers.
‘I am sure, that right now, Ms Harrison’s somewhat stunned lawyers are already planning their rebuttal along with accusations of slander, demands for apologies and evidence. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we no longer have the footage that was shot that night.’