his own business, he’d blathered on, shoving both feet firmly into his mouth, it seemed, by mentioning the reason behind Mia’s trip to Exeter.
A harsh, wracking noise ripped from her throat, so pain-filled it hurt to listen to it, and Aaron couldn’t help himself. ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’
‘He… he’s gone now. Gone for the summer and I waited… I thought it would be best to wait… and I just assumed it would be okay…’
He tried to make sense of the jumble of words. ‘Who’s gone? Your husband?’
‘Yes… yes, with his new Helen.’ More tears followed and he gave up trying to understand the broken sounds she was making.
Feeling wretched and useless, he offered what comfort he could. ‘It’s all right, Kiki. Everything will be all right. Don’t try and talk, just let it out for a minute. Shh, now.’ He continued to mutter whatever soothing nonsense words came into his head until she finally grew quiet.
‘I shouldn’t bother you with this,’ she managed at last.
‘Just talk to me, Kiki. You sound like you need a friend.’
She laughed, a hollow little sound that stabbed him deep, as though the concept of a friend was alien to her. When things had gone to hell on Cathy’s birthday he’d jumped on the train to Butterfly Cove without a second thought, knowing Daniel and Mia would be there for him. What must it be like to not have a security net of friends you could turn to? He tried another tack. ‘Mia has her mobile with her. Why don’t you call her?’
‘I can’t. She doesn’t need me spoiling her day.’ The hopelessness in her tone stirred something ugly in his gut. Someone had done a real job on this woman if she honestly believed her sister would resent her reaching out when she was in such obvious need. If Luke ever tried to hide anything like this from him, he’d wring his bloody neck.
‘Then tell me. Whatever it is, we’ll find a way to fix it.’
She laughed a second time and if he never heard the bitter, mirthless sound again it would be too soon. ‘I’m leaving my husband. Well, I’m trying to, but I can’t even manage to do that properly. I assumed there would be room for me and the children at Mia’s, but you know what they say about assuming anything… Oh God, Neil was right, I am stupid.’
When he had time to think about it later, he couldn’t decide what made him say his next words. Whether out of loyalty to his friendship with Daniel and Mia, or his horror at hearing another person speak about themselves with such self-loathing, or his own vulnerability after losing the only place he’d ever really thought of as home, he didn’t know. ‘You can stay with me.’
Shocked silence. Then, ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
He tucked the phone under his ear and leaned back in the kitchen chair. ‘What’s ridiculous? I’m the proud new owner of a four-bedroom cottage, which is less than two miles from your sister’s doorstep. I’ll be out most of the time, either meeting with clients for work or here helping Daniel with the barn. I can probably move into one of the attic rooms at Butterfly House if you’d rather have the place to yourself.’
‘I couldn’t possibly turn you out of your own home.’ She sounded thoughtful, though, which was a step up from outright rejection.
‘You have two children to think of, Kiki. You can do whatever you need to. When were you hoping to travel down?’
‘The car’s already packed.’ Her sheepish admission settled it as far as he was concerned.
‘Then come.’ The back door opened and his eyes met his best friend’s. ‘Daniel’s here now and he agrees with me. Get in the car and drive. You’ve made the hard decision and everyone here will help you in whatever way you need.’ He let his absolute conviction ring through his words. He knew Mia and Daniel would back him, Madeline and Richard, too. They’d pulled together when Daniel had needed them to resolve the crisis at the gallery caused by his former agent trying to sell his photographs behind his back, and they would do so again to help this poor, lonely woman.
‘You make it sound so easy.’
Aaron shook his head, even though she couldn’t see him. He’d never had a serious enough relationship to endure a messy break-up, but he understood loss better than most. ‘It’ll get worse before it gets better. But at least you won’t have to face it on your own.’
‘Mummy? Who are you talking to?’ The faint voice of a young boy reached his ears.
‘I’m talking to a new friend of ours, Matty. How would you like to go and stay near Aunty Mia for a while?’ Relief flooded him at her words. She was going to come.
Aaron listened to the excited chatter for a few moments before interrupting. ‘Kiki, do you have a pen?... Good. Write down my number and send me a text when you’re on your way.’ He reeled off the digits, making her repeat them back to him before ending the call.
He looked up at Daniel who was standing next to his chair, arms folded across his chest. His friend inclined his head towards the phone. ‘Mia’s sister?’
Aaron nodded. ‘She’s in a bit of state, trying to leave her husband and had a bit of a panic when she couldn’t get hold of Mia.’
He took the pronouncement more calmly than Aaron expected. Clearly, he knew more about the circumstances surrounding Kiki’s decision to leave her husband. ‘And she’s definitely coming?’
‘She’s promised to text before she sets off.’
Daniel scrubbed a hand through the close-cropped beard covering his chin. There might be one or two threads of silver showing in the dark hair, but Aaron didn’t think he had looked better in years. Mia had saved him, taken him in when he hit rock bottom and given Aaron something invaluable back in return—his best friend. If he could do even a fraction of the same for her and Kiki, he’d move heaven and earth in the process. Daniel stood. ‘Let me know when you hear from her and I’ll speak to Mia.’
Aaron nodded. ‘Of course. I meant what I said to her. She can stay at Honeysuckle Cottage for as long as she needs to.’ It was fully furnished, even if the décor was outdated and a little tired. Dave and Karen had left the bedrooms mostly intact and the contents of his flat had been enough to fill the gaps created by the furniture they’d taken with them. Single man and spinster might be a clash of styles, but he doubted the children would notice, or that Kiki would care about any decorative shortcomings. There was plenty of food in the fridge and it would take five minutes to make the beds up if Kiki took him up on the offer of a place to stay.
Daniel nodded. ‘Cheers, mate. We’ll let them sort it out between them when she gets here.’ He checked his watch. ‘Jordy will be here with the lads any minute, might as well get on while we can.’
Aaron had just crossed the yard to the barns with a thermos full of coffee when the phone in his pocket began to vibrate. He fished it out, unable to stop a sigh of relief at the three-word message from an unknown number. On our way. Continuing inside, he showed the message to Daniel, then made his way over to where their young project manager waited. ‘Where do you want me?’
‘First floor, if that’s all right with you? Plaster should be dry enough to start undercoating in Suite One.’ Suite sounded grand for the studio apartments which would house visiting artists,
