The Best Tea Cup is Chipped: Book 2

Confidential Conversations

The talk with the sheriff went surprisingly well. Lacey managed to stay calm throughout the encounter and Sheriff Swan seemed like a kind and reasonable person. The only thing that slightly bothered Lacey was the final question the Sheriff asked as she left.

"I can get you out of here if you want. Even if you feel indebted to him you don't need to stay. We can find you someplace else safe while we sort out this asylum issue if you want."

Lacey shook her head.

"I don't think I'd feel as safe anywhere else. Believe me Sheriff I'm just fine where I am and it's not because Robert is holding anything over me." She watched Emma scan her face.

"Alright, if you are certain. If you change your mind or need anything this is my number," she handed Lacey a slip of paper with a phone number.

"Thank you Sheriff, I appreciate it." Emma nodded and then departed. Not long after Fae returned.

"Robert's gone out to sort something out and then he'll be back. He asked me to stay in the meantime."

"I'm sorry to inconvenience you like this," said Lacey. Fae waved the apology off.

"Oh it's no trouble really."

"You and Robert both say that but sometimes it's still hard to accept."

"Caring about someone pretty much wipes away the concept of a debt unless otherwise established in my opinion," said Fae with a shrug.

"I hope this gets sorted out soon. Not that I don't like staying with Robert but..."

"You'd like to be a free woman again?" said Fae. "That's only natural. Don't worry about it. Now let's talk about more pleasant things."

OUAT

Fae stayed until Robert got back which wasn't too long.

"So, how are you feeling?" he asked her gently.

"Better than expected. Emma was quite nice," she told him.

"I'm glad. With any luck we should have you freed quite soon."

"That will be a relief," she said softly. She saw him shift awkwardly.

"I feel I owe you an apology Lacey." he said quietly.

"Whatever for?" she asked.

"You'd never have ended up in that place if it weren't for your connection to me." Lacey shook her head.

"Robert none of this is your fault. If my father couldn't respect my choice to the point where he felt he needed to lock me up that is on him. The fact that you were my choice at the time is of no consequence."

"Your father didn't just come up with the idea to lock you away Lacey. He was able to get help doing it because someone wanted to use you to get to me."

"Then let me ask you a question Robert. When we were together did I know what I was getting into? I don't know a lot about myself but I wouldn't want to imagine I was naive." Robert sighed.

"Well, I don't think you expected to get kidnapped but I did try and warn you away and you refused." Lacey smiled triumphantly.

"Well there you have it. I made my choices and so did the people that put me in the asylum." The thought that her father, even though she couldn't remember him had been one of them did admittedly sting. "You aren't responsible in the slightest, and you got me out as soon as you could." She wasn't about to let him blame himself for something that wasn't his fault at all. At least not in her opinion.

Relief and nostalgia crossed Robert's face as he gazed at her.

"Thank you, Lacey."

"Thank you, Robert." The clock suddenly chimed.