Captive

Chapter Thirty One

"How did the meetings go?" he asked as they sat down to dinner together. Juliet had cooked lean steaks with home made fries and vegetables for them. She glanced across at him and forced a smile.

"They went fine, thank you. Cara was very understanding of my delays. Fortunately for me they have another book to publish that is taking up rather a lot of management time, creating quite a stir." Her tone was a little flat and he looked at her.

"Anyone I would know?" he asked, stabbing his fork into a piece of steak before he popped it in his mouth and chewed contentedly. He had really missed Juliet's cooking and wasn't too disappointed that she had prepared a meal for them while he was talking to Owen. She shrugged, biting her lip and suddenly looking very uncomfortable. "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing is wrong, just... well Mum has another book coming out. It's a non fiction this time based on her literary characters, a deep dive into her inspiration for writing. Cara would not usually discuss another client with me of course but it being Mum... There is to be a tour next month apparently."

"Of the UK?" Juliet laughed, a small bitter laugh.

"No, not of the UK. When I was a child Mum spent a lot of time in Toronto. At first it was from necessity as I could not fly alone but she made quite a name for herself giving guest lectures. Apparently someone has invited her back and she is to do a tour of Canada now her next book is being published. She will be here next month."

"Well that's good news isn't it?" Bret asked, carefully. Juliet flickered dull eyes at him.

"Is it? She didn't see fit to call me herself to tell me she will be out here. I doubt she's even considered if I want to see her." She swallowed and shook her head, suddenly feeling a little sick. Looking at her plate, at the food still left there she paled a little, knowing she couldn't finish it, but also knowing how Bret felt about waste. "And if I did... apparently she's bringing him with her. And I can't see him, I can't see Edward."

She put her fork down, her hand trembling and Bret sighed. He could understand her anxiety and her hurt that her mother hadn't called  to tell her she was coming. He watched as her hand crept to her chest, rubbing absentmindedly.

"You don't have to see them if you don't want to," he said, gently. She laughed again, that same bitter sound that was the very antithesis of a laugh.

"Oh I do. The publishers are very keen for there to be some publicity with the three of us, photo shoots and events. It's a real coup for them and apparently the Canadian branch of the tour are very keen to have one of their own involved and I rather fit the bill with dual nationality and a bestseller under my belt, with a new book to be published within the next twelve months. I've been asked if I can speed up my own writing a little, have the completed draft into them a month earlier so that they can put out teasers. They are already working on the cover art with the plan being that once Mum's tour is finished my own book will at least have a publication date so that preorders can take place, so I would essentially be riding on Mum's coat tails. Something else I am not delighted about in all honesty. I wish for my work to sell itself not sell because of Mum. And so much can happen in a month; Dad might come out of rehab and I'll need to be there for him and..."

"Juliet, your old man is unlikely to be out of rehab just yet. It'll be a long haul for him and even if he was you won't be with him all the time. You'll still need to work and this is just work. If your mom being here gives you added exposure that's no bad thing. Try to look at it from a business point of view, put your personal feelings aside..."

"I can't," she said, staring at him as if he'd grown another head. "My relationship with Mum is... complicated and having Edward here as well just adds to that complication. I'm scared sir." The admission came out as a whisper and Bret sighed.