Love Interrupted

by Jade Winters

‘Ah, that explains your mood yesterday.’

  Harper turned to face her. When she looked into her eyes, all she saw was compassion. The one emotion Harper thought Dylan had been born without. But there it was, staring her in the face. In a twisted way, she thought that was one thing she ought to thank Ted for—showing the humane side of Dylan.

  ‘There’s no way I’m going to his funeral. But I don’t know if I should go and see my mum. Despite everything she did, I still kind of feel obligated to make sure she’s alright.’

  ‘What happened between you two?’

  Without hesitation, Harper relayed the sorry tale of her life at home. She didn't tell Dylan the whole story, though. She missed out the part where her stepdad put locks on the fridge and cupboard doors, so she had to root through bins at the supermarket late at night to eat. Or that she’d have to stay over at a friend’s house if she wanted to have a shower and wash her hair. All of this abuse was done under the guise of discipline. Bit by bit, Harper bared her soul to the woman she had once thought of as cruel and uncaring. Dylan listened patiently, stroking her hand tenderly as the memories evoked pain in her heart. Harper could see the sadness in Dylan’s eyes when she finally brought the account to an end.

  ‘Do you think seeing her again could bring you some closure?’ Dylan asked.

  ‘I don’t need closure.’ Harper’s voice held the venomous bite of the adder. ‘I had it. Until yesterday anyway.’

  ‘Do you want her to keep unsettling your life in intervals?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then you do need closure,’ Dylan said softly.

  Harper shrugged her shoulders. ‘I know it sounds cold, but I don’t look at her as a real mother. She chose him over me, and I don’t think I can ever forgive her.’

  ‘There’s only one way to find out—go and see her. I’ll even drive you there myself.’

  Harper’s eyes widened. ‘Really? You’d come with me? Why?’

  ‘Why not. I’d like to get to know you better.’ She raised an eyebrow and a faint smile played on her lips.

  Harper laughed self-consciously. ‘You make it sound like we’ve got a future together.’

  Dylan feigned shock. ‘What? Do you think I’m going to let you out of my clutches now I’ve finally managed to knock down the wall you surround yourself with?’ She kissed Harper on the lips. ‘Not on your life.’

  Harper giggled and rested her head on Dylan’s shoulder. How could I have ever doubted you?

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The reality of the night Dylan spent with Harper had finally managed to sink in. Intimate pictures of Harper in her arms ran through her mind. Then the image changed to Harper in the kitchen pouring her heart out to Dylan. She had been genuinely moved by Harper’s story. It gave her an insight into Harper’s character. No wonder she wants to save the world. She wants to be the hero in her own dreadful story. Dylan stood by the advice she had given her. There was no point in running. The past caught up with you eventually. Dylan had shocked herself by offering to take Harper to Dorchester to see her mother. Dylan had never been within a mile of anyone’s parents before. That sort of thing spoke of commitment. So why now? What had changed? I have, that’s what.

  Having a sexual relationship with someone didn’t mean she was committed. Dylan was sure she could enjoy Harper’s company without any complications. They were both adults, getting their needs fulfilled from each other. There was nothing wrong with that. Few of Dylan’s other conquests had made it to a second date or even overnight.

  Dylan found herself whistling throughout the entire journey to work. She strode towards her office with a spring in her step.

  ‘Good morning, Cathy,’ Dylan said, smiling.

  Cathy looked up at her with a frown. ‘It is?’

  ‘Of course it is. Spring is near which means it’s the start of new beginnings.’

  Cathy shifted uncomfortably in her seat. ‘If you say so, Ms Blue.’

  ‘I most certainly do. I’m going to make a coffee. Do you want one?’

  Cathy stared at Dylan in astonishment. ‘You? Making me a coffee? Have I done something wrong?’

  Dylan’s forehead creased in confusion. Cathy looked like a deer caught in a car’s headlights. ‘Done something wrong? What makes you say that?’

  ‘Are you going to fire me?’

  Dylan rolled her eyes. What was wrong with the woman? Was Dylan being polite such a rarity it caused such a drastic reaction? ‘Cathy, I only asked if you wanted a coffee. Jesus, what’s up with you?’

  Cathy eyed Dylan suspiciously. ‘Um, no I don’t think I will, thanks.’

  ‘What do you think I’m going to do?’ Dylan raised her eyebrows. ‘Spit in it?’

  Cathy laughed, a humourless exhale. ‘As if.’ Her voice was a squeak.

  ‘Suit yourself. Anyway, I think I owe you lunch for making you miss that date with your mum a few weeks ago. Take her to Tallinn on the high-street.’

  Cathy’s eyes widened. ‘Tallinn!? That’s like my month’s wages,’ Cathy protested.

  ‘Ask for the manager Mario.’ Dylan carried on speaking as if Cathy hadn’t spoken. ‘Tell him to put the bill on my tab.’

  Cathy grinned, her eyes lighting up. ‘Really?’

  Dylan gave a nod of her head. ‘Cathy, in this life, learn never to look a gift horse in the mouth. That’s how opportunities are lost.’ She picked up a pile of envelopes on Cathy’s desk addressed to her and flicked through them. ‘Order whatever you want. Enjoy yourself,’ she said distractedly as she walked into her office reading her mail.

  Dylan closed the door softly behind her. She glanced at the clock on her wall. Would Harper take her up on her offer to drive her to Dorchester she wondered? The thought of spending another night with Harper sent ripples of pleasure through her.

  Her mobile phone rang. Without hesitation she took it out of her pocket and pressed accept. It was just the woman’s voice she wanted it to be, saying the exact words she wanted to hear. Dylan’s heart flipped. Dorchester is on.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Harper dragged the sheets off the bed and tossed them in the laundry basket. She opened the window to see that the weather was still unsettled, but at least the thunder and hard rain had stepped aside for a friendly light drizzle. But as she opened the taps and waited for her shower to warm, she was forced to deal with reality.

  Her mother had called again just after Dylan left, pleading with Harper to return one last time. Harper had told her she’d think about it and cut the conversation short. Dylan was right, she had to bring some closure to that part of her life if she were ever going to let it go. Dylan. Thinking her name brought a flurry of butterflies to her stomach. As she stepped into the exhilarating warm water and closed her eyes, Harper thought of Abi as well, hoping her mediation with Robyn would resolve their issues. She was another person who desperately needed closure. Touch wood everything will go to plan and Abi can move on with her life.

  Her mother’s beckoning kept pressing in her mind as she lathered her body, and with every stroke of soap over her skin, Harper came nearer to making up her mind. Therapeutic for a bit of pondering, her circular motions were like the repetition of a mantra, bringing her closer to clarity. Was she obliged to give her mother another chance, no matter what amount of shit still floated in the sewage that was her past?

  She stepped out of the shower and towelled off.

  If I go back, even for a day, should I be looking at forming a new relationship with my mother? She tormented herself with assumptions she could not entertain after so many years. Oh, God, why do I have to be so weak when it comes to my mum? The thought of her mother being all alone tore at her heart strings. In that split second, she decided to go back, and if Dylan’s offer was still open, she’d take her back to Dorchester with her. It was one journey Harper felt she couldn’t make alone. It surprised her, after all this time, that when thinking of home she was reduced to feeling as scared and vulnerable as she had done when
she was sixteen. No matter how many times she gave herself a good talking to, the child in her still remained intact. Harper needed to be more like Dylan. A woman as strong as her wouldn’t hold onto memories that should have been left exactly where they belonged—in the past.

  It’s not like I haven’t tried.

  For a second, Harper wondered what it would be like to be Dylan. To be fearless. To have no doubts or regrets. To face life head on. Terrifying. No, Harper would never be like that, nor would she want to be. She might be soft and emotional, but she could look herself in the mirror with the knowledge she had done her best to make someone’s life better. Could Dylan say the same thing? Thinking of Dylan reminded Harper that she’d better check that Dylan was available to go with her.

  A quick call to Dylan confirmed she could make space in her work schedule to drive Harper home. When Harper finished dressing and applying her make-up, she went online and booked their accommodation. There was no way she was staying in her mother’s house, her childhood pen. After Harper made the reservation, she left for work, hoping for an easy day ahead. With these new developments, and personal stuff to deal with, Harper needed to put in for a day’s leave to sort out her family duties. It felt strange even to think about family, something that had for so long been absent from her life.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Robyn was fast regretting letting Tiffany know she was going to her first mediation session with Abi that day. Though Tiffany hadn’t said anything out loud, her withdrawal and mood swings spoke volumes. What else could Robyn have done? Lied to her? No, there was no need for that. Tiffany had to know her place, and there was only one way of letting her know where that was—by Robyn doing exactly as she pleased, regardless of Tiffany’s feelings.

  ‘So you’re goin’ through with this “mediation” then?’ Tiffany asked from where she sat on the sofa. The area around her was in its usual state: magazines strewn on the leather sofa, dirty plates and cups on the coffee table. Today, Robyn closed her eyes to it and let it pass. She couldn’t afford to leave the house wound up. She had to be calm and serene.

  ‘Yes, I’m going through with it,’ Robyn said defiantly. ‘You got a problem with that?’ Robyn glanced towards her, hoping the look in her eyes portrayed what she was thinking. If Tiffany did have a problem with it, Robyn would have to deal with her in the only language she understood.

  Tiffany smiled. ‘Nope, no problem at all.’

  ‘Good. I might even take Jake to the park afterwards.’ Robyn crossed the living room floor and stopped in front of Tiffany. ‘You can come if you want.’

  Tiffany picked up her magazine and flicked through it. ‘I can’t. I promised I’d do some stuff for my mum. Next time. Definitely.’

  ‘Good.’ As Robyn bent down to kiss her, she noticed Tiffany flinch. It made her both empowered and also a little guilty. Robyn had to keep reminding herself that it was Tiffany’s fault she had lost her temper. If Tiffany hadn’t antagonised her, that fight could have been prevented. Well, hopefully she’s learnt her lesson now.

  ‘I’ll see you later, then,’ Robyn said, grabbing her keys off the coffee table.

  ‘You sure will,’ Tiffany said.

  Robyn wanted to skip out of the house. To sing from the rooftops. She was happy, and she wanted everyone to know. It had only been two weeks since she’d seen Jake, but it felt like a lifetime. She recalled her dad’s face when he met Jake for the first time. He’d been over the moon to finally have a grandson. He wasn’t bothered that they weren’t related by blood. Neither was she anymore. The fact that she was going to have a hand in raising him with her values was more than enough to convince her she would be a real parent.

  Thankfully, her dad shared her views. She was a daddy’s girl. Whatever made her happy, made him happy.

  Robyn made the half an hour drive to the location where she would meet up with Abi. She had let Abi choose the time. If it gave her a sense of control, all the better. All Robyn wanted now was to have equal custody rights.

  Robyn arrived at the allocated meeting place, and was pleasantly surprised to see Abi pushing Jake in his pram as she turned into the car park. She parked in the first available spot and jumped out of the car.

  ‘Abi, Abi,’ she called out after her.

  Abi turned. Shielding her eyes with her hand, she looked in Robyn’s direction. Robyn locked the car and jogged over to her. Without so much as a glance at Abi, Robyn walked straight around the buggy and took Jake out.

  ‘Hey, gummy, how you doing?’

  Jake wriggled in her hands, giggling as she made funny faces. Finally propping him on her hip, she turned her attention to Abi.

  ‘He looks like he’s grown a bit since I saw him.’

  Abi smiled politely but said nothing.

  ‘Hey, I was thinking—after the meeting, do you fancy going to the park?’

  Robyn watched as doubt crept over Abi’s features. ‘Or we could get some ice cream if you like.’

  ‘I don’t—’

  ‘—Why don’t you wait and see how you feel when we come out of the meeting?’ Robyn said, knowing Abi wouldn’t be able to say no once she saw how willing Robyn was to bring things to a satisfactory end.

  Robyn was right, two and a half hours after their first meeting, they strolled side by side down a leafy path in Hyde Park. Overhead, birds twittered in the branches of the old oak trees.

  ‘This is great isn’t it?’ Robyn said, inhaling deeply. She genuinely felt on top of the world. The meeting couldn’t have gone any better if she’d scripted it herself.

  ‘This could have all been avoided if you’d just—’ Abi said.

  ‘— I thought we agreed in mediation to let go of the past and concentrate on the future.’

  ‘Okay, okay. Sorry I said anything.’

  ‘Good. So you’re a hundred per cent happy with all the arrangements?’

  ‘Yes, do you mind if we sit for a minute, I’m a bit tired?’

  ‘Sure,’ Robyn said, gesturing to a bench nearby. ‘It will give me time to play with gummy, won’t it?’ she said to Jake, who looked up at her with a beaming smile. Robyn bent down and planted a kiss on his lips. He smiled in delight and her heart soared. He really is priceless. What’s £2000 a month and a ten grand lump sum, when I get to see him three days a week? Robyn thought she’d got off lightly, considering how much she really had in savings. Luckily, Robyn had purchased her house before they met, so it couldn’t be included in the settlement.

  Abi dug into her bag and withdrew some baby wipes. She reached into the buggy to wipe his face. Robyn grabbed her hand before she reached him. ‘I’ll do it,’ she said, taking the wipe from her and meticulously cleaning his little face.

  ‘Do you ever think about us?’ Robyn said out of the blue. The familiarity of Abi was making her nostalgic for a time that she’d thought was the worst period of her life. If only I’d have known back then that it would be like this, I would never have left.

  Abi turned to her and Robyn leant back slightly, feeling uncomfortable under her gaze.

  ‘No, not anymore,’ Abi finally said. ‘Like you, I’ve moved on.’

  ‘Meaning?’

  ‘Meaning …’ Abi smiled, and Robyn noticed she had a faraway look in her eyes. ‘I’ve met someone.’

  For some unknown reason, Robyn’s world shook at its foundation. She’s met someone? A stab of jealousy tore at her heart. She had always assumed Abi would remain single now she had a child. When did she get the chance to go gallivanting, looking for women?

  ‘I hope that doesn’t mean Jake’s neglected,’ Robyn said with a tinge of possessiveness.

  ‘Jake will always come first, no matter what.’

  ‘Good.’ Robyn’s jubilant mood vanished rapidly. Hearing Abi’s news was the last thing she wanted. Grim thoughts crowded her mind. Someone else was going to be sharing Abi’s bed, spending time with Jake, having a family Robyn now so desperately wanted. The knowledge was more than she could bear. She sho
ok off her dark train of thought. ‘I’d better be off,’ she said, standing abruptly.

  ‘Okay,’ Abi said, rising to her feet.

  ‘No, you stay and let Jake have some fresh air.’

  ‘Any chance you could drop us home? It will be a nightmare trying to get back by train. The buggy’s a pain to manoeuvre.’

  Robyn leant over the buggy and kissed Jake. ‘See you soon, gummy.’ She straightened up and looked Abi in the eye. ‘You want a lift home, call your fucking girlfriend. I’m not a taxi service.’ She turned abruptly and headed towards the car park. Adrenaline firing every nerve caused her to jog the rest of the way.

  Robyn was going to have to rethink her decision about mediation. She wasn’t going to fund Abi’s lifestyle with her new bitch. Not with her money. No way, no fucking way!

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?’ Dylan asked Harper when they were finally settled in their hotel room.

  Harper stood by the large window overlooking the bustling street below. ‘Positive.’

  ‘At least let me give you a lift.’

  She shook her head. ‘You’ve had a long drive. Relax. Order room service.’

  Dylan pushed herself to her feet and walked over to join Harper. ‘Okay. I’ll have a bottle of champs on ice for when you get back. I brought some oils and candles for a late night soak.’

  Harper stepped into Dylan’s open arms. ‘You’re a right charmer, aren’t you?’

  Dylan wiggled her brows. ‘I aim to please.’ Her arms encircled Harper, one hand in the small of her back.

  It was impossible to steady her erratic pulse anytime she was close to Dylan. The effect Dylan had on her was like nothing she’d experienced before. Like being wrapped in a silken cocoon of euphoria.

  Harper’s lips brushed against Dylan’s as she spoke. ‘I’d better go.’

  ‘Okay. Call me if you need anything, and I mean anything. Even if you need to vent.’

  ‘Will do,’ Harper said, giving Dylan a long-lasting kiss.