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I laughed. And suddenly, I had another cup of perfection in my hand.

“I never finished my story. That client with the handbag issue? I waltzed into that courtroom and placed the handbag on the table. I still laugh about that. Then I made her agree to a reduced alimony settlement while she gulped air and hated on me. It was most amusing. I got a hefty bonus off that job and gave the bag to one of the court marshals. She was a thrifty little thing. Sold it and paid off her mortgage. She sent me a letter thanking me. Those, Dylan, are the little things that make me happy.”

Ten minutes later, I was dismissed and once again deposited into Stewart’s car, the passenger seat, the door being held open for me as I got in.

Funny how these things worked. How the doormen here knew exactly what to do. Knew my likes and dislikes and remembered them, which made me smile as Stewart shook their hands, depositing bills discreetly.

“You tipped them?” It wasn’t always the done thing in this country. Not really. Or was it? I hadn’t been part of the outside world for so long; I’d forgotten things. How to behave. How to act, when all I seemed to have done was act.

That thought was a hard one to swallow. Because…

For the first time in my life, I felt loved. I really did. His hand landed reassuringly on my thigh, giving me a little tap.

“Look,” he said, indicating as he took a wide turn onto the road, smoothly changing lanes.

“These men? They know full well who I am and where I come from. I’m one of them. A colleague. We don’t piss on each other’s doorstep. And even though I no longer have a doorstep as such, I still have a reputation. A faded one, but yeah. Respect is big. And if I start turning upand not appreciating them freezing their asses off out here in the pissing rain so my car turns up on time, unscratched?”

I could see his point.

“These guys wouldn’t dream of doing anything, but neither would I. I look after them, and in return, my coffee is hot, and my croissant was excellent this morning, as was the poached egg. I quite enjoy my visits here.”

“Did you see your friend?”

I liked this, just riding along in his car, talking, a smile on my face. I didn’t get a poached egg. I quite fancied one.

I placed my hand gently on top of his, a surge coming through me that was in no way sexual. Just peaceful. Support. How I’d needed this. All of this.

“No. Away meeting wine merchants, apparently. That place has won awards for its excellent wine cellar. Not that anyone can sample it, unless you’re a member.”

“Veronica wanted to be a member. Couldn’t get anywhere close.”

“Nobody can. Invite only. I got a lot of info from another driver sat in there. Works for some diplomat.”

“Interesting.”

I needed to start looking around, should I ever get to set foot in there again.

“This…thing with the kids,” I started, once again realising I was jumping the gun. They weren’t even on a plane yet.

“It will be fine. And I know. I will step back and let you parent. You will be busy, and Jean.”

“I will need…”

I had no idea what I needed. Everything. Him to hold my hand. Have my back through all this.

“I will be right here,” he said, turning his hand palm up and entwining our fingers. “We’ve got this. And I have to take Jasmine to her school assembly on Friday at nine, because Reuben has tutoring, then their full weekly schedule kicks in on Monday. I need to apply for jobs. No idea when I will have time for that. Oh, I forgot to tell you!”

“What?”

“I love you.”

I smiled. I had no idea what my life would look like from now on, but I smiled. God help me.

“I love you too. Without you, where would I be?”

“Filthy.” He laughed. “Sleeping on those dirty sheets. Don’t ever let them become like that again.”

“Bossy,” I teased.