Ember Flowers (17 page)

He leant
forward in his chair, the soft leather squeaking slightly with the
movement. 
“Did she hurt you Jean? I’ll get Ellie onto her..she’ll
wish she was never born.” The short woman was feisty, and could be
ferocious.

She put her
hands up defensively. “No Scott no. Leave her alone. No, she hasn’t
hurt me, quite the opposite actually.”

The sandy
haired man looked confused, rubbing his stubbled chin. “Then what?
You like her, she likes you..”

“Complicated
Scott. I can’t talk about it.”

He huffed in
annoyance,
they always talked, since forever
. It stung. It
felt like she didn’t trust him.
“Fine, don’t talk to me, your
oldest friend. But at least talk to her, she really likes you, and
you get that stupid smile every time she’s in the room. Don’t blow
it.” He turned and left, giving her one last look as his hand
brushed the doorframe.

Jean hunched
over her desk. She sighed, wiping her eyes.

Chapter
25

When Jo arrived
home she scowled as she pulled up in the driveway. The familiar
silhouette of her ex husband, shooting the breeze with Kerry over
the fence.
Fantastic.
Her neighbour shot her rolled eyes
when Owen wasn’t looking.

She hoisted her
groceries into her arms, a free hand clicking the car locked as she
jostled the bags. She could hear Owen excuse himself from
conversation, his footfalls over the grass as he ran to help
her.

“Jo! Jo, wait
let me help you?” A few quick strides and he was at her side. He
tried to take the bags from her, scoring an annoyed look as she
continued past.

“Owen, dammit
you have shitty timing, don’t you know when to leave me alone?”

She fumbled for
her keys. He reached past her arms, unlocking the door for her with
his set. Grey eyes narrowed at him, trying to guess his game. He
pushed the door open for her and stood aside, waiting for her to
step over the threshold.

“Sorry Jo, I
just wanted to talk. Thought it would be better if I waited
outside.”

She nodded
stiffly as she walked past and into the hall, she could smell the
heat of the oven, and something cooking. It made her
suspicious.

“Owen..what
have you..?”

As she turned
the corner she saw the candlelight, the two place settings, a
bottle of wine, arranged flowers in a garland as a centrepiece.

She stood still
and took in the details, he was able to take the bags from her and
place them on the counter.

His voice was
soft and apologetic. “Listen, Jo. I’m sorry. I know I’ve been an
asshole but I just want to talk, OK? You don’t like it and I’ll
leave. You won’t get any argument from me.”

Grey eyes
looked at him warily, and yet, he looked so quiet, crestfallen.
“I’ve heard that before.”

“Please?” He
gestured that she take a seat, pulling out the chair for her. He
was wearing that shirt she liked, the one she bought him for his
birthday one year that he never bothered to wear. His blue eyes
stood out against the navy collar. His chest nicely sculpted in its
tailored fit. She sat down, watching him.

She was still
dubious, looking around the room. He uncorked the bottle, reaching
over and pouring for her first.

“I thought I
owed you a nice dinner, or twenty.”

Jo rolled her
eyes as he took a seat across from her.

“So what do you
want?” She huffed.

He sighed,
gazing across to her, his eyes paying her unconscious compliments.
“To apologise. I..I’ve treated you so badly Joanne. I can’t ever
apologise enough.”

She took a sip
of the wine, it tasted expensive, her eyes remained trained on him.
“Go on?”

He sighed
softly as she looked over her plate. He’d made one of her
favourites, well, the only thing he could cook. It looked like an
effort was made.

“Jo, I wasn’t
much of a man for you, much of a husband. But even though I know
things went bad between us..I still..I still think about you so
much. What we had, what we wanted together.”

She nodded, not
looking at him.

“You were my
wonderful, beautiful wife, gave me my sweet little girl and I
just..I guess I didn’t know how to handle it. Work..never seeing
you. We stopped talking Jo.”

Jo gritted her
teeth, remembering all the fights. This was the first time she’d
felt brave enough to talk to him about it, to stay. Usually she’d
just try to leave when the plates and words started flying. She
shot him a steely glare, the words hissed out with an unexpected
strength. “Wasn’t much to say once all the screaming stopped.”

He looked up at
her surprised. “I know baby. I know. I’m sorry.”

“Jo, I have no
right to be in your life after all this. I know that now. But for
Annabelle, I..I want to make this right. Whatever you need me to
do. I’m already talking to a shrink.”

The blonde
leant back in her chair, the sorrow was written all over his face,
but they’d done this dance before. Perhaps just not with a home
cooked meal. Apologies, promises of never hurting her again, then
make up sex and tender words.

She looked down
at the table. The garland of flowers reminded her of Jean’s front
porch. Vivid reds and gold.
Another one who let her down.
Jean still wasn’t answering her calls. It was obvious she was being
avoided. The older woman had offered no explanation, leading Jo to
her own conclusions. She reached out to touch a flower, velvety in
her fingertips.

“How do I know
this isn’t bullshit Owen? I wanted a divorce because I didn’t want
my little girl thinking it was OK for a man to throw her
around.”

His lip
quivered. He sighed. “Jo. I’m shit without you. I know that. Always
work..I never see you. I’ll figure it out..so we can see each other
more, I’ve been talking to the shrink about that too. He thinks
it’s a good idea.”

He went to pour
her more wine and she shook her head.

He took the
barely touched plate from her, she didn’t seem interested. Stacking
it with his own and taking them over to the sink. She stood and
followed, amazed, seeing him clean up after himself. It was a
novelty.

“I realise that
I need to take more responsibility for my little girl, need to see
her more.” He spoke over his shoulder, his hands covered in suds
and dish washing liquid.

“She misses you
sometimes.” Jo added softly, leaning against the counter.

“I miss her
too, and you.” His blue eyes gentled. “Baby what happened? We used
to be so wonderful together.”

She growled
softly, crossing her arms. “You know what happened, you decided I
was your punching bag. I’m not putting up with that anymore.”

He wiped off
his hands with the nearby towel, and settled them gently on her
shoulders. So close he could kiss her. He wanted to. Badly. His
eyes flicked to her soft, sensual lips.

“I wouldn’t
want you to. I’m serious. I’ve..I’ve worked some of my shit
out.”

Jo gave him a
pointed look but didn’t pull away. He held out his arms. She looked
at him suspiciously.

“I just want to
hug you babe. That’s it. Is that OK?”


The tall woman
was stiff, unsure, but she gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Slipping easily into his arms. The smell of his cologne, the
solidity of his body was warm and familiar. He pulled back, running
his fingertips over her cheek. He wanted to kiss her but her eyes
were clearly saying no. His arms slid around her again.

He kissed her
hair instead, taking in the scent of her. “Beautiful, beautiful Jo.
I don’t deserve you.”

“Owen..”

He nuzzled her
ear. “God I miss you. I forgive you, you know.”

It took a
second for his words to sink in, she pulled away to look at him.
“Forgive me? Forgive me for what?”

“You know what
for, for..seeing that woman.”

She crossed her
arms over her chest, stepping back, out of his reach. “I don’t need
to apologise for anything Owen, I want a divorce. As far as I’m
concerned I don’t answer to you.”

He chuckled
darkly, musing on some thought. “I’m surprised you’d admit to it so
easily. Here I thought you’d deny it?”

She cringed.
“Yeah, well..I thought she was something she wasn’t. Maybe I just
needed a break from you?”

He shook his
head, putting away the clean dishes. He knew where they all went.
“I’m sorry Jo. I didn’t realise I’d driven you that far away?”

She felt the
need to defend her, even though it felt like Jean had thrown her
aside. “She’s not like that Owen.”

He huffed
softly. “Not like what? Seems like she got pretty busy around here?
Kerry’s beaming about her.”

Jo’s brow
arched. “She’s good at what she does.”

He shook his
head, touching her cheek. “Honey, she used you, but I’m thankful
for it if it brought you to your senses.”

“Used me?”

He gave his
best sympathetic, consoling look, hugging her gently. “I know about
the hotel Jo. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. The card? Remember?
I can access the account.”

She scowled.
The credit card, he had one too. He must have seen the
transaction, would have seen the room details. The honeymoon
suite.
She’d forgotten to get that changed, she used the card
so rarely.

He squeezed her
again. “Baby I’m sorry. But it’s for the best. She could never give
you what I can, and I think she knew that.”

Jo stiffened.
Something about this wasn’t right
.

“Why do you say
that?”

He released her
and turned away, wiping up after himself, little spots of blue dish
washing liquid on the sink.

“I knew it from
when I first saw her. That she wanted you. Damn dyke was on the
prowl. You didn’t think she’d ever be willing to take care of you?
Of Annabelle?”

Jo’s blonde
brows drew together. “We didn’t talk much about Annabelle.”

He sneered.
“Bet you didn’t talk much at all huh?”

She shot him an
icy look. Grey eyes arctic “What I do when we’re apart is none of
your business.”

He gripped the
tea towel hard to stop his hand from shaking. “It’s my business
when it involves my little girl. I don’t want her thinking that
seeing you fool around was OK.”

She stood
beside him. “Since when have you cared about what she thought?”

He was
glowering. “Since I saw you with..her. At the markets that day,
crossing the street. She had her hands on my little girl. I don’t
care if it was a man or a woman..”

“You saw us?
What? You were..following me?” Her pulse quickened under her skin,
feeling hot under the collar. The thickness of her uniform making
her sweat.

“Yeah..I was
worried about you. Needed to know you were OK.”

Jo threw her
hands up in the air. “Unfucking believable Owen.” He looked at her,
surprised by her anger, her ferocity.

“C’mon Jo!?
You’d do the same thing?”

She jabbed a
finger at his sculpted chest. “Never. Ever.” She turned,
exasperated, glad her daughter wasn’t with her. A greater
realisation hit. “I suppose you checked her out huh? Did your
research?”

“What man
wouldn’t?”

“Jesus Owen?
What the hell is wrong with you? You haven’t changed at all.”

“That’s not
true! After that morning at the marina I knew I had to do
something. I saw the look on your face as you went with her. You
hated me, you were scared of me. I bet she was smirking all the way
home?”

Suddenly it
made sense. The cop in her had the cogs turning, putting pieces in
place.

“You said
something to her. Didn’t you?”

His silence was
as good an answer as any. The growing sneer on his face some sort
of twisted bravado. His crossed his arms. “Whatever she says it’s a
lie.”

“Get the hell
away from me Owen. I have nothing to say to you.” Shaking her head
angrily. She picked up her bag to leave, thinking to herself, still
seething. She stopped in the hall and turned back toward him.

“No. You know
what Owen? I’m always leaving. You go for a change. Get out of
here!” The policewoman struggled to keep her voice even, not giving
him an inch, pointing to the door.

“This is my
fucking house too Jo.” His arms crossed angrily over his chest.

She growled,
turning on her heel to stalk down the hall toward the bedroom. He
followed behind her. A hot breath behind her as she moved away.

“Jo, what are
you doing?”

The tall woman
pulled out a gym bag, stuffing a shirt and other clothes into it.
She turned, walking into the bathroom, grabbing her toiletries.

“Where are you
going?” He stood in the doorway.

She gave him a
frosty grey eyed stare. “I’m not staying here. Not with you.”

He threw his
hands in the air, for once not laying them on her. “Jo? I’m sorry.
I was just looking out for you.”

“Sure you
were.” Dripping of sarcasm.

She slung the
gym bag over her back, seething red, grabbing her handbag with
clenched fingers on her way out. He stopped her with a grip on her
shoulder as she opened the door. Jo looked down at his hand, with
enough hostility that he moved away.

“You know what
Owen?”

“What?”

“Just so you
know, I wish I’d booked two nights - then she could’ve fucked me
all morning.” A blonde brow arched as she walked past him through
the front door, she shook her head. Her blood was boiling.

Chapter
26

She’d been at
the office until seven p.m., busying herself with paperwork,
occupying herself with something other than Jo.
How quickly the
blonde woman would re enter her thoughts.
Jean was relieved to
be finally getting home. She squinted, dipping her headlights to
low beam. The drive was pleasant enough, no idiots on the road,
just the soft hum of the radio.