Away With the Fairies (The Swallow Barn Cottage Series, Book 2)

Come to Bed, Fiona

Fiona came into the kitchen and started pouring water into the kettle. He walked in slowly, and stopped a few steps away from her.

"I should google it," she said quietly and pressed her hands into the counter. "What to do now. With my divorce, and the pub, and–" She sighed. "It's like I have two contradictory desires, one is to run and hide and to have nothing to do with it. And the other one's–"

"To fight," he said darkly.

"No, not to fight," Fiona shook her head, without turning to him. "I don't want to fight. I don't want to win. I just don't want him to do the same to someone else. Can I somehow file a complaint or something about the slap? I just keep thinking when he's involved with another woman, and if she tries to stand up for herself, even as little as I did... he'll probably do it again. Or something worse."

"He's not your responsibility," he said.

"No, no, of course not. But it might help someone if it's on record." She sighed. "It'll be so humiliating."

"You need a good lawyer," he said.

Fiona laughed humorlessly.

"Do you have yet another brother who can help me out?" she joked.

"No, but Clem's agent is married to a divorce lawyer," he said. "We can ask her tomorrow. If not, I have other connections. I'm related to the Oakbies."

"Whom?" Fiona asked, setting the kettle on the hob.

"I keep forgetting you aren't from Fleckney," he said. "They're this powerful family. The youngest is the Mayor of the next town and used to be the best barrister in the county town. His father in his time had the biggest practice in the three surrounding counties."

"You're related to the local aristocracy," Fiona said and shook her head. "I should've known."

"It's a funny family legend, I'll tell it to you some time later," he said, sitting down at the table. "I can contact Thomas Oakby, and he'll help."

"Does he owe you a favour?" Fiona asked, giving him a bewildered look.

"No, but we know each other. He went to school with Oliver."

"I've never been a part of a large, close-knit family, but I still think you either overestimate what family members do for each other, or the Holyoakes are this amazing exception from the rule."

She poured tea in two mugs.

"He'll help," he repeated, and she felt suddenly amused by his unwavering confidence. "But we'll start with Clem's agent," he added.

"I probably can't even pay a lawyer," she said. "I don't even know if I have money. Even the Visa in my handbag is Nate's."

She finally turned to him and put his tea mug in front of him.

"I can lend you the money," he said. "I hardly spend my pension."

She frowned and looked into his face. He calmly drank his tea.

"I will consider it," she said gravely. "I might not have that many other options." She sighed again. "And thank you. For your offer. And for being here for me, when Nate was here."

He nodded to her. Fiona dangled the teabag in her mug mournfully. Her headache was gone, but at the same time her new reality was setting in her mind. She now had no home, no money, and no certainty of anything at all. The advance she'd been given by the Holyoake Publishing wouldn't be enough to support her for long - that was if she had access to it. She had this cottage to stay in for another three and a half weeks - and what will you do after that, Fiona?