‘Then let’s agree to you not having any men into your home,’ he said. ‘And not introducing them to our daughter. That includes the asshole who lives next door to you.’
Juliet froze in her seat. She’d been waiting for him to mention Ryan. Her mouth went dry as she looked over at him, trying to work out what he knew.
But then, what did it matter whether he knew about her and Ryan or not? There would always be something he could hold over her if he wanted to, some way of controlling her and any reaction she might have. As long as she was afraid of him, he would keep winning.
The only way Thomas could have power over her was if she let him. It was her choice and hers alone. She could spend the next twelve years cowering in fear of him, or she could stand up for herself, be proud, show him she wasn’t about to take any more.
‘Ryan Sutherland’s a good man, and a good influence on Poppy.’ She sat up a little straighter. ‘He’s also a very close friend of mine. He’s always welcome in my home.’
For the first time Thomas looked flustered. His eyes narrowed into slits. ‘Are you fucking him?’
The mediator gasped. Juliet turned to look at her horrified face. Even both their lawyers – normally so poker-faced – looked shocked.
For a moment, nobody said a word. The silence settled its way into the room, lying heavy in the air like an over-filled cloud. Juliet could hear her own breath – a little rapid, but still steady – as she tried to take in his words.
‘Your question doesn’t deserve a reply,’ she told him, her heart pounding in her chest. ‘But I’ll answer it anyway. No, I’m not fucking him, because unlike you I don’t fuck anybody. When Ryan and I are together, we make love.’
She stood up, slinging her purse over her shoulder as she caught her lawyer’s eye. ‘I think this mediation is over, don’t you?’
23
We should be woo’d, and were not made to woo
– A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Juliet’s elation at finally standing up to Thomas lasted for all of her drive home. She pulled her car onto the gravelled driveway and put it into park, letting her head fall back onto the chair rest, closing her eyes as she took a breath in. Had she really just done that?
Yes, it seemed that she had. She’d stood up for herself, taking control from Thomas. She’d refused to stay silent any longer. Opening her eyes, she caught a glimpse of herself in the reflection of the glass, and she couldn’t help but smile. Staring back at her was a kick-ass woman who wouldn’t take crap any longer.
She was stronger than that.
She’d grown sick of being told what to do. Somewhere in the past weeks she’d stopped being afraid of Thomas and what he might decide next. She’d realised something important – he could only hurt her if she let him. And on that point she had all the power.
She glanced over at Ryan’s house, and her smile widened. He might not know it, but her newfound strength had a lot to do with him. Would she have stood up to Thomas without him? Maybe, but she wouldn’t have felt so good about it.
The lightest dusting of snow had fallen in the night, making the ground outside sparkle like a carpet of diamonds. It would be gone before school was out, leaving only a few damp puddles behind, but for now it made everything look magical.
But she couldn’t just stay in here all day. She had things to do – a quick change of clothes and then off to the shop, where poor Lily had been holding the fort. A few hours of fixing up orders lay ahead before she’d need to pick Poppy up from school. There wasn’t time to think about this now. Maybe she’d buy a bottle of something sparkling on her way home and invite Ryan over to celebrate later. They could toast her newfound freedom, and enjoy each other’s company.
Sliding the keys from the ignition, she turned to pull open the door when a glint of winter sun flashed across her eyes. It bounced from the car behind her. The one that was pulling up on her driveway to block her in.
Thomas’s car.
He pulled the black sedan up until his fender was touching the rear of her small Ford.
Was he trying to intimidate her? Her heart immediately started to race. Opening the door with a shaking hand, she swung her feet onto the path, the thin heel of her court shoes sliding against the slippery surface.
Almost immediately Thomas opened his door too, his feet crunching on the gravel as he covered the distance between them. He looked as furious as he had in the lawyer’s office.
‘We need to talk.’ He grabbed her arm. His fingers easily closed around her slender wrist.
‘There’s nothing to talk about.’ She yanked her arm back. ‘If you want anything from me, you can go through my lawyer.’ She walked carefully towards the house, trying to keep herself upright in her best shoes. What had she been thinking, wearing them in today’s conditions? Another way to show him that she was doing just fine without him. She could dress up, look good, and it wasn’t for him any more.
It was for her.
‘There’s everything to talk about.’ He was right behind her, his steps mirroring hers. ‘When you were going to tell me you were sleeping with that asshole?’
‘How about never?’ she replied. ‘We’re almost divorced, Thomas. Who I spend time with has nothing to do with you. The sooner you get that through your head the better.’