‘Even if it puts you in harm’s way?’
‘Even then,’ Olivia picked up the napkin from the table absently twisting it and tearing off little strips, ‘I remember my father being such a loving man. He was so tall and strong; he’d sweep me off my feet and carry me on his shoulders. He’d spend hours curled up on my bed with me, delighting me with stories of English kings and Queens, Joan of Arc, of Rome and Pompeii, the Ottoman Empire. Places of enchantment and mystery. He made history come alive for me and I treasured those moments we spent together. Up until the night my mother died I would never have thought for a moment he would have such violence in him. The man I knew was the kindest, gentlest most loving man I’d ever known and they want me to believe he’s a psychopath? I have to find out what really happened, not just to those men who were murdered but what happened the night my mother died and I can’t just sit back and let others find the answers for me, this…all of this is too personal. Can you understand that?’
‘I can understand that, but I don’t have to like it,’ Theo replied honestly. ‘I can’t help wanting to protect you.’
‘And I don’t have a problem with that,’ she took his hand gently, ‘but I will not be shielded from the truth and I will not be told what to do, by anyone.’
‘Believe me, I get that,’ Theo muttered shaking his head.
A shadow suddenly fell over the table and Olivia found herself looking up into the permanently dissatisfied expression of Mrs Eustacia Bailey, her lips pursed and her hands folded tightly in front of her. Her dear little husband Jonathan Bailey stood behind her wearing a slightly resigned and apologetic look.
‘Good evening Mrs Bailey,’ Olivia spoke politely before peering around the austere woman, ‘Mr Bailey.’
‘Good evening Olivia dear.’ Mr Bailey smiled warmly.
‘This is my good friend Theodore Beckett,’ Olivia introduced them, ‘Theo this is Mr & Mrs Bailey, they own the grocery store.’
‘We’ve met,’ Theo nodded, ‘Mr & Mrs Bailey I hope that you are well.’
Mrs Bailey threw a slightly conciliatory look at Theo before turning her full attention back to Olivia.
‘I have something to say to you Olivia and as you know I am a woman who speaks her mind, I won’t say anything behind your back that I wouldn’t say to your face.’
‘I’ve always appreciated that about you Mrs Bailey,’ Olivia replied dryly.
‘Fact is I don’t believe you had anything to do with those murders.’
Olivia’s mouth fell open; that certainly wasn’t what she was expecting.
‘Despite what your daddy did to your mama,’ she continued on with all the eloquence and delicacy of a freight train, ‘you were always a good girl, had a good nature and I just don’t believe the little girl I knew would do such a horrible thing and anyone who says different is an idiot.’
‘Um thank you,’ Olivia replied quietly, ‘that means a lot.’
‘Yes well,’ she puffed herself up to her full height of five foot two, ‘I may be a gossip, I won’t deny it but no one can ever accuse me of being a fool.’
‘That’s true,’ she murmured.
‘Liddy Mayberry has just started baking,’ she switched subjects so fast Olivia almost got whiplash.
‘Uh, good for her?’ Olivia replied wondering where she was going with this, because Mrs Bailey always had a point even if it took her half an hour to get to it.
‘Her youngest has left the nest and she’s finding herself at a bit of a loose end, taken to baking pastries and cakes. She has a fair hand with it if I do say so myself. Jonathan and I have been selling them for her in the store.’
‘That’s kind of you.’
‘I am rather partial to her brownies,’ Mr Bailey winked.
‘Her strawberry tart is especially good,’ Mrs Bailey continued as if he hadn’t spoken.
‘I’m sure it is,’ Olivia replied, a bit confused as to how she’d ended up in the middle of this crazy conversation, whilst Theo sat back sipping his beer and smiling in amusement.
‘I’ll save you one,’ Mrs Bailey told her brusquely, ‘you be sure and stop by the store tomorrow to pick it up. You can share it with your young man here.’
Olivia’s expression softened, she was genuinely touched at the stern matriarchal woman’s obvious support of her and her acceptance of Theo, after all Eustacia Bailey was not known for tolerating strangers in her town.
‘Thank you,’ Olivia answered sincerely.
Mrs Bailey nodded curtly but as she turned to leave she paused.
‘And I’m sure Jonathan will sneak you a tootsie roll before you leave,’ a ghost of a smile whispered at the stern woman’s mouth.
Olivia blinked back the glaze of sentimental tears as Mr Bailey threw her a cheeky wink and a warm smile before following in the wake of his formidable wife.
‘Did I really just hear that?’ Shelley stepped up to their table and slid their meals in front of them. ‘Was Mrs Bailey actually being nice to someone?’
‘I guess miracles really do happen,’ Olivia laughed lightly, shaking her head in disbelief.
‘Listen Olivia,’ Shelley spoke quietly, ‘I’m really sorry about what Kaitlin said earlier, she didn’t really mean it. She’s just going through a lot of stuff right now.’
‘Uh-huh,’ she replied blandly.
‘Look I shouldn’t be telling you this and please don’t say anything to anyone else,’ Shelley lent in closer, ‘the truth is Adam and Kaitlin were seeing each other.’
‘Yeah I kinda got that impression,’ Olivia sighed.
‘And she’s pregnant.’
‘Shit,’ Olivia blew out a breath.
‘Yeah,’ Shelley agreed, ‘she had it confirmed the same morning she found out Adam had been murdered.’
‘Oh God,’ Olivia closed her eyes.
‘She’s not coping real well at the moment, her hormones are all over the place and she doesn’t really have any family so she’ll be on her own with the baby.’
‘It’s okay Shelley,’ Olivia nodded, ‘don’t worry I won’t say anything.’
‘Thanks,’ she breathed in relief, ‘can I get you guys anything else?’
‘No,’ Olivia smiled, ‘we’re good.’
‘Oh and Olivia,’ Shelley added, ‘I really do think all that crap Chief Walcott has been spouting about you is a load of shit. I never thought you hurt anyone.’
Olivia watched quietly as the other woman walked away.
‘Seems you have more people on your side than you thought,’ Theo smiled as he scooped up a forkful of pie, ‘God this is good.’
‘I suppose I do, I have to say Mrs Bailey was a surprise. I guess if she’s on my side I could do a lot worse,’ she shrugged, ‘let me try some of your pie.’
He scooped up another forkful and held it out to her.
‘Are you going to tell Jake about the file and Mrs Talbot?’ he asked as she took a bite.
‘That is good, I don’t normally like Guinness,’ she chewed thoughtfully and swallowed. ‘I am going to tell Jake, I’ll text him later and get him to come by the house in the morning after his shift finishes.’
‘I see the Chief still has him on the worst shifts.’
‘Of course he has,’ she took a bite of her Dublin coddle, ‘I think he’s punishing him for being my friend, here try this.’
She scooped up a spoonful and held it out.
‘That is good,’ he mumbled, ‘Jackson’s cook seems to be a man of talent.’
‘Anyway,’ Olivia tucked into her meal enthusiastically, ‘let's not talk about it anymore. I feel like that’s all I do nowadays, talk about the murders and the Chief of police.’
‘What do you want to talk about then?’ Theo took a sip of his beer.
‘I don’t know, tell me something fun,’
‘Something fun?’ he frowned in confusion.
‘You know something happy from your childhood.’
‘Sorry?’ Olivia replied in amusement.
‘Well my mother died giving birth to Temperance, so as the youngest it fell largely to me to care for her,’ he answered ruefully, ‘she had seen some of the other girls in the village with their hair braided and she wanted hers done, so she pestered me and pestered me until I did it. It was a disaster, the first time I made such a mess of it my fingers got caught up in her hair and after I got them loose it took me hours to brush the tangles from her hair. She looked like a haystack’
Olivia laughed.
‘But I hated disappointing her,’ he looked down at his plate smiling fondly in remembrance, ‘so I used to practice on our horses, brushing and braiding their manes. Eventually I got really good at it; Tempy would make me sit for hours in front of the fire, tending her hair for her.’
‘Awww,’ Olivia smiled, imagining a sweet little dark haired boy braiding his baby sisters’ hair, ‘you’re so cute.’
‘It's not funny,’ Theo shook his head, ‘when my brother Logan found out he teased me mercilessly.
‘Well if it makes you feel more like a man the Vikings used to braid their hair and their beards all the time, in fact the more complicated the braid the more important the man.’
‘You’re making that up!’ his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
‘I’m not,’ she chuckled.
‘Fine,’ Theo resumed eating, ‘you tell me something from your childhood.’
‘I loved swimming,’ she said after a moment, ‘still do, even though my element is fire I love being in the water. I was so good I was on the swim team in high school and college.
‘Swimming?’ Theo repeated blankly.
‘Yes swimming,’ she replied, ‘you know, when you jump in deep water and move your arms and legs so you’re moving through the water and not drowning.’
‘Why would anyone want to do that?’
‘Because it’s fun,’
‘It doesn’t sound like fun.’
‘It is,’
‘Water is fun?’ he repeated sceptically.
‘Yes, water is fun.’
‘No, water is for bathing,’
‘I guess you’ve never been swimming then.’
‘Olivia, I grew up on a seventeenth century farm,’ he replied blandly.
‘That’s true,’ she laughed in delight, ‘well when the weather gets warmer I’ll teach you in the lake. That’s where I learned.’
‘You want me to throw myself in the lake... voluntarily?’
‘Uh-huh,’ she grinned.
‘May God save me,’ he sighed.
She threw her head back and laughed, it was one of the most beautiful sounds he’d ever heard. She didn’t laugh nearly enough in the past weeks; she seemed to carry with her such a deep sorrowful burden. But he knew in that moment, hearing her carefree laughter and seeing her beautiful smile, that he would do anything to make her happy even if it meant throwing himself into the God damn lake.
They spent a pleasurable few hours eating and laughing and telling ridiculous stories from their childhoods. Olivia felt lighter than she had since she had first returned to Mercy and for a brief moment she felt what it would be like to be part of something instead of always being alone. After a while Theo excused himself to use the restroom and Olivia beckoned Jackson over.
‘Well now you look happy,’ Jackson grinned as he walked over and scooped up their empty glasses.
‘I feel happy,’ she replied, a bit surprised that it was actually true. ‘I’ve had a really good evening, thank you Jackson.’
‘Oh think nothing of it, though I have a feelin’ twas not I that put that smile on your face.’ He glanced in the direction of the restrooms.
‘Still you stood up for me and made me feel welcome and I didn’t realise how much I needed that,’ she answered seriously.
‘Well then Olivia love, its glad I am to have been of service,’ he chuckled.
‘Anyway we’re going to make a move, so could you call us a cab and bring the bill.’
‘I’ll certainly call you a cab but there’s no bill, this one’s on the house.’
‘You seem to be making a habit of giving me free meals,’ she frowned.
‘Two meals is hardly a habit, darlin’ I insist.’
‘You can’t do that,’ Olivia argued.
‘I certainly can as it’s my business.’
‘You won’t have much of a business left if you keep giving away free meals.’
‘Don’t you worry about me love, I do just fine,’ he smiled, ‘now I’ll go see about that cab.’
As he disappeared she felt rather than saw someone move to stand next to her. Looking up her back stiffened and her expression shut down, turning cold and unwelcoming.
‘Chief,’ she spoke stiffly.
Chief Walcott glanced down at her from under the brim of his hat, his face was carefully neutral but underneath she could detect traces of disdain. His eyes narrowed as he rested his hand casually on his gun belt.
‘Ms West.’
‘What am I supposed to have done now?’ Olivia sighed.
‘Where were you this afternoon?’ He asked bluntly.
‘That’s none of your business,’ she shrugged.
‘I’m making it my business,’ he leaned closer his manner intimidating, and placing one hand on the table in front of her and the other on the back of the booth, he effectively caged her in, ‘now, where were you?’
‘And I said, it’s none of your business,’ she pronounced each word slowly and carefully as if talking to a slightly dim ten year old. ‘I’m not scared of you Chief so quit trying to bully me.’
‘Keep speaking to me like that Ms West and I will arrest you,’ he warned dangerously.
‘On what grounds?’
‘Impeding an investigation.’
‘Good luck making that stick,’ she laughed humourlessly. ‘Listen very carefully Chief because I dislike having to repeat myself. Leave me alone or I will take up my lawyer’s suggestion to sue the pants off you and your department and that is not an idle threat. Believe me I’m a lot wealthier than I look and I am more than capable of putting my money where my mouth is. If you continue to harass me I will slap you with a lawsuit after which you’ll be lucky to walk away with the shirt on your back.’
‘Go ahead,’ he sneered, ‘you think I care about money. I’m more than willing to take my chances if it means making you pay for what you’ve done.’
‘Don’t you mean making me pay for what my father has done?’ she whispered in disgust.
‘Just what is it you think you know? he grated through clenched teeth.
‘Nothing,’ she smiled coolly.
‘Let me make myself clear as we seem to be laying our cards on the table. I know you are working with your father and as far as I’m concerned you will both pay for what you have done, whatever it takes.’
‘The ends justify the means?’ she snorted, ‘that’s your justification?’
‘I will ask you one last time and then we are taking this discussion down to the police station,’ his eyes flashed impatiently, ‘where were you this afternoon?’
‘She was with me,’ Theo’s voice was low and dangerous behind the chief.
He straightened up and stiffly turned towards Theo, his eyes cold and narrow.
‘And what we did,’ Theo continued, ‘was private.’
Chief Walcott’s jaw clenched as he glared hatefully at Theo.
‘Is there a problem here gentleman,’ Jackson wandered over casually.
‘No,’ Theo folded his arms across his chest as he looked down at the chief, ‘there’s no problem is there?’
Olivia couldn’t help it but part of her curled with lust at the sight of Theo towering over the chief with a threatening expression.
Chief Walcot
t took one last look at the three of them and turned on his heel storming out of the pub.
‘Your cab’s here Olivia,’ Jackson told her, ‘he’s waiting outside.’
She slid out of the booth limping slightly as she got her balance and put her arms around Jackson kissing his cheek fondly.
‘Thank you Jackson,’ she whispered in his ear.
‘No problem,’ he hugged her back and held out his hand to Theo, ‘Nice to meet you Theo.’
‘You too,’ he murmured frowning.
They started towards the door but halfway there Olivia yelped in surprise as Theo scooped her off her feet.
‘You were taking too long,’
Olivia laughed.
‘They’ll be talking about us for weeks.’
‘They would have been talking about us anyway,’ Theo shrugged.
Shelley opened the door for them chuckling slightly and watched them step out into the cold night air.
‘They make a cute couple,’ she turned to Jackson.
‘Aye,’ he grinned, ‘but I don’t think our Olivia’s figured that out yet. She’s a skittish one for sure; Theo will certainly have his work cut out for him.’
‘I hope they decide to stay in Mercy when all this is over.’
‘I’m sure they will,’ Jackson shrugged, ‘Olivia’s a lot tougher than she thinks and in the meantime she’s got us to watch out for her.’
Shelley watched Jackson silently for a moment and then lent forwards and kissed his cheek gently.
‘You’re a good man Jackson Murphy,’ she murmured, smiling as she walked away, missing the longing in Jackson’s eyes as she did.
Theo dropped Olivia gently to her feet on the curb beside the car careful of her injured ankle as he opened the door for her. Her gaze tracked over his shoulder as she paused, one hand resting on the open door.
‘He’s watching us.’
Theo didn’t need her to elaborate, he could tell who she meant by the tone of her voice. But right now he didn’t give a damn about the Chief and his agenda.
Mercy (The Guardians Series 1) Page 27
