‘We won’t let her.’
‘We?’
‘It’s going to be okay,’ he soothed, re-buckling her seat belt and turning in his seat to drive the car down the road and into a parking space outside the house. It didn’t escape his notice that Fliss’s mother had taken the single driveway space she must have known her daughter would use.
‘Take as long as you need,’ Ash said quietly as he turned the engine off and made no move to rush Fliss. ‘We’ll only go in when you’re ready.’
* * *
This wasn’t how she wanted to spend tonight, Fliss realised as she finally swung herself out of the car and forced leaden legs to carry her to the front door.
Her whole life, she’d dropped everything any time her mother had deigned to visit. Tonight was the first time she’d resented the intrusion.
Because there, beneath the flurry of fear and niggle of resentment, sat the ever-present embers of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this time would be different. Especially with Ash by her side.
Warily, Fliss slotted her key in the lock and turned it, a heaviness pressing in on her as she stepped through the door.
‘Darling, you’re back. I was afraid I might have missed you.’
So it was money she needed. Still, the embers of hope flickered. It meant it was going to be one of her more pleasant visits, as long as Fliss read her mum’s signals and found the perfect opportunity to offer the funds without it looking like charity.
Not for the first time, Fliss felt a niggle of uncertainty.
It might be darling now, but on another occasion it could be any number of unrepeatable words.
What was she doing?
She hadn’t needed Ash to tell her it was a toxic relationship, but she’d always clung on to it anyway. She’d never had the courage in the past to consider walking away. But with Ash here beside her...who knew?
‘Mum.’
Fliss allowed herself to be swept up in the wide embrace, then stepped aside as her mother spotted Ash. An undisguised look of shock clouded her face before she greeted him with a decidedly coquettish air, and Fliss didn’t miss the way he held her slightly away from his body as he shot Fliss a pointed look.
The fact that he held his opinions in check for her sake bolstered her confidence all the more.
‘So this is your famous surgeon fiancé, darling? No wonder she’s kept you hidden from me all these years, Robert dear. I have to say you’re not what I expected. I didn’t think you had it in you, Flissy.’
The needling comment found its mark perfectly as Fliss covered her chest as though to protect herself. The meaning, to Fliss, was clear—what was he doing with her? She only hoped Ash couldn’t read it as clearly. Obviously her mother was piqued at the thought her daughter had done so well in her choice of partner.
‘Ash Stirling,’ Ash corrected her politely.
‘Robert and I broke up.’ Fliss didn’t know why she avoided eye contact with Ash. She had no reason to feel guilt, but it suffused her body anyway. As though her mother’s comments negated the fact that Fliss had told Ash that there had been someone before they’d met.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that, but I suppose it was inevitable when you consider how successful a surgeon he was.’ She swung back to Ash with a beam. ‘And of course I can see you’re a colonel. So you work together?’
‘Ash is infantry, Mum. We were just running a course together today and Ash ran me home.’
‘How thrillingly clandestine for you, Flissy darling.’
As if aware of what she was doing, Ash stepped forward and placed his arm very pointedly around her shoulder. In that moment, she would have given anything to turn in to him and have him hold her. Hold her until her mother finally went away.
Years of barbed comments, nasty digs and cruel undermining—and her mother hadn’t even got started so far tonight. And for what?
‘Actually, Fliss and I were about to go out for a romantic meal,’ Ash emphasised. ‘But, of course, if you’d like to join us...?’
‘Sounds fabulous. I’ll grab my purse.’ As she passed Fliss she poked a finger into her chest which was just a little too aggressive for fun. ‘You do love to punch above your weight, don’t you, darling? I’ve got to give you that much.’
* * *