Without Saying a Word (19 page)

Rhean sat down and sipped his coffee.

Apart from the music and the quiet murmuring of voices, the pub was quiet. Realizing he would have to make the first move, Rhean cleared his throat. Again, Max turned toward Rhean.

“Is there a problem?” Rhean asked. “I’m a local. Well, that’s if you need anything,” he offered in a friendly manner.

Max looked at him. His gray eyes were red-rimmed and there were dark circles under them.

Rhean shifted uncomfortably under the older man’s fixed gaze. He drained the last of his coffee and sat back.

“Max. I’m Rhean Tate, Viscount Leighton,” Rhean introduced himself. The look Max flashed him held no recognition. Rhean tried again. “I’m Laura’s husband,” he clarified. At Laura’s name, Max’s eyes widened and he moved to leave the booth. Rhean wasn’t having any of that. He reached out and took hold of Max’s arm in a firm grasp.

“Get your hand off me,” Max ordered through gritted teeth. “For Christ’s sake, I was only going to get another drink.”

Rhean took his arm away and stood up. “I’ll get these,” he offered. Max nodded with a defeated air and sat down.”Same again?”

“Pint of the local, if you don’t mind.” Max’s eyes went back to the window.

When Rhean came back carrying their drinks, Max was perusing the menu.

“So…” Max started to speak but his voice trailed off.

“Awkward isn’t it?” Rhean said and then he chuckled at the absurdity of the situation. Max nodded and sipped his pint.

Rhean leaned forward and cradled his mug. “How long have you been here?” he asked.

“A day or so,” Max replied, leaning back. “So you married Laura?” 

Rhean nodded.

“She’ll make you a wonderful wife,” Max told him. “She didn’t deserve what I did to her,” he admitted.

“She already is and no, Laura didn’t,” Rhean confirmed. “No woman deserves to be hit,” he continued, ice coating every word.

Max took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“You’re right. This is bloody awkward,” he admitted, drained his pint and got up.

“You really don’t need any more to drink,” Rhean told him. “I’m not here to cause trouble or start a fight.”

Max sat down again, clearly agitated.

“I came to help,” Rhean said in a calming manner, sitting back. 

“Okay. You know Nicki and I were married soon after the divorce was final,” Max told Rhean, who nodded. “Well, after my ‘counseling’ and the court hearing was over, Nicki found out she was pregnant.” Max leaned his head back against the chair. “Naturally. After all that time pumping herself full of hormones for IVF, she fell pregnant naturally,” Max repeated himself, as if he really couldn’t believe it had happened.

“I heard she lost the baby. I’m sorry,” Rhean said in a low voice full of sincerity.

Max shook his head.”Just the way nature works sometimes.” Max’s voice was resigned and he continued. “Anyway, Nicki went into a depression. She kept asking me if I wanted to see the kids and perhaps have them to stay the night sometime. It was impossible, of course, and I told her so. She didn’t seem to hear me. Then I heard from Paul that she had been to see Sophia, feeding her a load of rubbish about me wanting contact again. Of course it all added up. I asked Nicki what was going on. Tried to explain that I was not allowed to see the kids because of what happened. This time, she seemed to accept the situation.” Max shook his head sorrowfully and his eyes filled.

“So what went wrong?” Rhean asked, leaning across the table, and offered his mug of coffee.

Max attempted a smile and shook his head. “Well, everything was going well over Christmas and New Year’s. Nicki went back to work and we were getting along fine. No more mention of trying again for a baby. The miscarriage made her sterile,” Max told him.

Rhean swore under his breath.”Oh shit,” he said.

“Shit indeed. When we were asked to pick up results of some tests that they’d done, they told us Nicki had an infection which caused the miscarriage. Anyway, we were offered more counseling.” Max rolled his eyes. “Nicki refused, and a few days ago, she upped and left with no note—nothing.” His shoulders drooped in defeat.

“What made you come here?” Rhean asked.

“It’s where my children are,” Max stated. “Nicki can’t have her own, so she wants Laura’s.”

“Your wife does like to take things that don’t belong to he, doesn’t she?” Rhean stated bluntly his velvet voice edged in steel.”Husbands for instance?”

Max held up his hands. “Hey! You can’t blame that all on Nicki,” Max said in a loud voice.

Rhean looked aghast at the older man. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Rhean’s jaw clamped shut. There was a brittle silence. Rhean had an inkling that Max loved Nicki but he wanted to be sure how much. “You were having an affair with Nicki while you were married to her sister. How do you justify that?” he demanded, keeping his anger in check.

Max looked ashamed. “I can’t. Nothing I’ve done in the past—and especially to Laura and my children—was fair to them. I was a selfish bastard, thinking I could have it all—a faithful wife and wonderful mother to my children and a stunning mistress on the side fulfilling every fantasy,” he confessed. “I’ve told you that I served my time, paid my dues and I was trying to make a new life with Nicki. Now this has all blown up in my face, and I’m back to square one.” Max hit the solid table with a crack. Heads turned in their direction. “Nicki needs help, Rhean. She just won’t get it.” Max’s voice cracked and broke off. “I love her. I can’t lose her—not again.” A solitary tear ran down his cheek and he wiped it away with his sleeve.

Rhean took in all that Max had told him. It was an intense situation. He could see how much Max loved his wife and how ashamed he was at the way he’d treated Laura.

“What about the kids?” Rhean asked.

“It was always understood, that when they were old enough, if—and that’s
if
they wanted to get in touch with me—it would be their decision. I won’t push for contact with them. You should know I’ve actually been forbidden by a judge to see or speak to them.” Rhean nodded. “Not being able to see my children because of something I did, well, it really brings home what an absolute ʻfuck upʼ I’ve been.”

“Yes, well, breaking your wife’s ribs and getting your kids involved didn’t make you look like the perfect husband and father,” Rhean said with barely repressed rage. “Look, I’m sorry for what’s happening to you and Nicki, but, my first priority is to protect my wife and family. If anyone tries to hurt them, they will have to deal with me,” he replied with contempt that forbade any further argument between them.

Max nodded.

Their conversation had gone smoother than Rhean expected. He understood now that Max regretted the past, and that he wanted to help his wife get better and be able to move on with their lives.

“I don’t know about you,” Rhean said picking up the menu card,”but I’m starving. They do a mean steak and kidney pie here. What do you say Max?”

Max seemed to look at him with admiration.

“Sure. Why not? You know, Laura really picked a good one this time,” he told Rhean, who shook his head.

“She didn’t. Laura was mine the second I laid eyes on her.” Rhean smiled, thinking of his wife. The men stood up and went to the bar to place their orders.

****

Laura arrived home from her doctor’s appointment just after lunch, carrying a bag containing multivitamins and a mild antidepressant. The doctor tested her and confirmed the pregnancy. She had also suggested Laura take the antidepressants for a few months to begin with. Drinking a chilled glass of lemonade that she had let go flat, Laura took both tablets and began sorting out dinner for the family. Fridays were casual evenings nowadays with Theo and James going to the grange, Maisie out with the local youth club, so Rhean and Laura snuggled in the cozy den with a DVD. After scouring the kitchen cupboards, trying to find something to make for them, Laura grimaced and realized that it would have to be takeaway. She was about to make a pot of tea when the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, Laura came face to face with her ex-husband, Max.

“You have to be kidding me. What the hell are you doing here? You know you are not supposed to come anywhere near me,” she hissed at him, feeling as though a rug had been pulled out from beneath her. Her face paled with terror as memories assailed her senses. No. she was stronger than this. She stood her ground.

Max held his hands up. “No no no, Laura. I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“Like hell you’re not,” she swore vehemently, moving away and back up the hallway. She was not going to give him the upper hand.

“Hear me out please,” he begged, taking a step inside. Laura felt her head swim as she bent over and tried not to throw up. She righted herself and looked him straight in the eye, her hazel eyes flashing. Deep down, Laura knew she was stronger than this and that she was loved by a wonderful man who protected and cherished her. She carried a life made from their love inside her body and she would protect them no matter what the cost. Courage and strength flowed through her veins. Laura gestured to the living room, raising her chin. Max walked past her and into the living room, taking a seat on the forest-green couch. Laura remained standing.

“So, say what you have to say and then leave,” she told him in a strong clear voice.

“Nicki has disappeared,” Max stated and his head dropped down. “I came here to tell you that, and also to tell you that she needs help—psychological help—desperately,” he confessed quietly.

“I see. And this matters to me because?” Laura did not waver in her opinion of him and her sister.

“Because I love her and she’s your sister,” he said, desperation in his voice.

“Really, what a wonderful sister I have, stealing my husband from me!” Laura cried.

“I wasn’t yours to steal,” Max confessed in a quiet voice.

The color drained from Laura’s face. A few moments later she understood exactly what her marriage to Max had been about. She had been the wife and the mother while her sister had been his lover and the woman he should have married, instead of her. Her short time with Rhean had taught Laura what a real marriage and intimacy was. The final barrier toppled. After suffering at Max’s hands, she had been unable to give herself to any man, until Rhean  came into her life. Through his actions, he’d shown Laura that she was worthy of love, and finally, able to love him in return. Laura loved Rhean, not as friend, but as the man he was—faults and all.

“What do you want me to do?” Laura asked.

“If she contacts any of the kids, please let me know. Rhean knows where I’m staying,” Max told Laura. At the look on her face, he realized he should have kept his mouth shut.

“Rhean knows?” Laura asked.

Max nodded.”We’ve just had lunch together. He found me after your dad told him where I was.”

Laura’s eyes widened and fury swept through her. “Okay, so how many members of my family know what’s going on?”Laura demanded, her voice strengthening with anger.

Max thought for a moment.”I would say—”

“Pretty much everyone,” Laura said between gritted teeth, fighting the nausea that rose up in her throat. “Right. And er, how long has all this trouble with Nicki been going on?”

“Since the end of November,” Max confessed. “That was when she lost the baby.”

Mentally counting back the dates, Laura’s was assaulted by emotions. Their marriage. Could that have been why Rhean moved it ahead? Perhaps Rhean didn’t love her and just married her to protect her and the family. Betrayal swept over her. Laura’s head swam, but she pulled herself together and tried to think clearly and logically.

“You know what Max? I can’t deal with you at the moment. I have to go”

With tears streaming down her face, Laura swept out of the living room and toward the front door, grabbing her car keys.

Max called out her name, but to no avail. Laura was intent on seeing her husband and getting to the truth.

A short time later, Laura pulled up in the school car park. Looking into the mirror, she saw that her cheeks were flushed and her eyes red-rimmed. Pulling out her makeup, she attempted to repair her face. As she strode through the double doors into the school, the receptionist recognized her and buzzed her through.

Purposefully, Laura found the offices and after knocking on the secretary’s door, walked in. The outer office was deserted. She could hear muffled voices behind the adjoining door. Laura opened it, and there in front of the desk, were her husband and her younger sister in what at first appeared to be an intimate embrace.

“Get the hell off my husband, you bitch!” Laura yelled. She pulled Nicki away from Rhean and slapped her hard on the cheek. Laura’s hand stung with pain and she hissed inwardly. Rhean quickly moved behind Laura. She pushed Nicki onto a chair and commanded her not to move. Then Laura whirled to face her husband. Her hazel eyes blazed with fury.

“Care to explain this to me?” Despite the pain, her hands were curled into fists at her side. Never again would a man make a fool of her. She was worth so much more. Hell, she deserved so much more.

Rhean sighed. “I can tell by the look on your face and your tone of voice that whatever I say, you won’t believe it.”

Looking up at her husband and then over at her sister, Laura felt conflicted. What
had
she seen? Her sister with her arms around Rhean, kissing him? Rhean pushing Nicki away from him, moving his head so that she couldn’t kiss him on the mouth? Laura’s heart shouted inwardly that he did love her. He really did. Love for Rhean flooded through her body and her fury abated. But she kept up the pretense of fury and anger.

“I’ll deal with you in a minute,” Laura told Rhean sharply, “For pity’s sake, tidy yourself up.” Stepping over to the desk, she leaned against it, her arms crossed.

“What the fuck were you doing with my husband?” Laura demanded of Nicki who was huddled in the chair. Nicki’s head snapped up. Never in her life had Laura used the ‘F’ word.

“I wanted what you have,” she said defiantly.

Laura ears strained to hear. “Oh right. And coming here, trying to seduce my husband was the answer?” Laura’s voice became shrill. “Seriously Nicki, what the hell is wrong with you. You’re sick. You need help,” Laura told her in a derisive tone.

Looking at her younger sister, Laura could see the damage that her obsession with having children had done to her. Nicki’s once youthful face was gray and drawn, her eyes sallow and instead of beautiful golden blonde hair, it was lank and lacked color and life.

Laura felt compassion for her but it did not atone for what Nicki had done. Trying to ruin her life once was bad enough—but twice? There had to be an end to this. Kneeling down in front of her, Laura could see tears dripping down her sister’s cheeks and falling onto the tight camel- colored skirt she wore.

“Nicki, you have to stop now,” Laura told her softly. “I have had enough of you trying to steal my life, my husband and now my children. I will
not
be a victim any longer.” Laura heard footsteps and raising her head saw Max in the doorway leaning against the door frame

“You will get help, you will leave my family alone and you will never contact me again. Is that understood?”

Nicki nodded, her eyes red-rimmed with crying.

Laura continued in a low tone, “Because if you do, I will have you locked away so fast your feet won’t touch the ground. You really don’t know how lucky you are Nicki. You have a man who will stand by you no matter how much crap you pull. If I were you, I’d hang on to him. Get better, and live your life. You only have one, Nicki, so don’t fuck it up again!” Laura glared at her sister again, willing the words she spoke to get through to her, then she stood up and moved to the door. “She’s all yours, Max. Get her the help she needs and make sure she never contacts any of us again. Stay away from us. Do you understand?”

Max nodded and rushed over to his wife then gathered her into his arms.

Laura looked up at Rhean and said in a flippant tone, “Families eh, who’d have them?” She swept out of the room as Rhean opened his mouth to reply.

****

He was dumbfounded by her strength and compassion in dealing with Nicki. The past twenty or so minutes had gone by in a blur. One minute he was dealing with a possible suspension of a pupil, and the next a woman burst into his office and started to kiss him. It was only when he pulled away and she mentioned something about him not wanting Laura but her, had he known who she was. Seeing Laura fly into his office and seize control had stunned him, and only made him love her more. Looking over at the couple huddled together, Rhean decided to leave them to it and follow his wife.

He rushed out of the offices and passed Maisie in the corridor.

“Your dad’s in my office if you want to see him,” Rhean told her.