Page 80 of The Hideout

“All taken care of, Jules. The bastard isn’t as cocky as he thinks he is. Your Paige should have received a message from him. I brought out the baseball bat and the weasel offered her the house, too. Little prick didn’t even try to beg. He’s nothing more than a bully.”

“Thanks, Henry. Come into the bar tonight, and I’ll see that you’re right.”

“No need. It was my pleasure. And please, tell Paige I hope she’s feeling okay. He won’t be bothering her again. He knows what’ll happen if he so much as breathes in the same city as her. Catch up with you tomorrow.”

Paige stared at Juliet as the line went dead, a range of emotions swirling in her belly. She’d sent someone to threaten James? But why would she do something like that?

Because she loves you.

“You may hate me even more now than you did before that call, but I couldn’t sleep at night knowing he’d done this to you. I’ll have someone prepare divorce papers for you, and then we’ll get you that flight.”

Juliet turned and walked away, her phone gripped tight in her hand. The bedroom door closed, a muffled sob breaking through it, but Paige couldn’t quite get her head around what Juliet had done for her. If she wasn’t in such a bad way, Paige would have run after Juliet, but truthfully, she needed a moment to understand what had happened.

That one call had potentially just changed Paige’s entire future, but first, she needed to do something she should have done a long time ago.

Hey! Can you come to Liverpool this weekend? Paige x

She wouldn’t respond to James; she had no reason to. The next time he would hear anything from Paige would be via a lawyer.

Sure. I know we need to talk. I just hope we can figure it out and remain friends. Harriet x

Trust me, you did me a favour. I’ll get you into the bar I’m working at, and we’ll have that talk, okay? Paige x

Perfect. I’ll get the train in tomorrow. Call you when I arrive for the address. Harriet x

Paige placed her phone down and moved into the living room. She would give it a little while, and then she would try to tempt Juliet again with the salad. And then maybe they could talk about what the hell had happened today.

* * *

Sat quietly in the corner of the bar, Juliet scanned the room, stifling a yawn. She’d managed to nap for an hour earlier, but after the call from Henry about James, she was yet to look Paige in the eye. Yes, she’d snuck out of the apartment long before the bar was due to open, and now she was barely able to remain awake. This wasn’t the future she’d expected when she said goodbye to her law firm eight months ago. Sleepless nights over a woman. Crying silently in the bathroom and avoiding talking to anyone for this entire night. No, Juliet hadn’t expected any of this.

She lowered her head to her hands, her elbows resting on her knees. While she loved Paige and wanted to be with her in the future, Juliet was beginning to wonder if being single was easier. When she didn’t have to worry about other people, life was far less complicated. And knowing that she couldn’t encourage Paige to stay, well, that just ate away at her constantly. Still, Paige could make her own decisions. She could follow her own path. One that was heading in the opposite direction to Juliet.

You never should have got involved with her.

That wasn’t a reflection on Paige, not at all. But at forty-nine, Juliet had to consider if anyone would ever really fall in love with her. She’d struggled to find that in the past, and as she sat here this evening, she knew that would continue into her later years.

Aware that this wasn’t the place for contemplation, Juliet lifted her head and inconspicuously wiped away tears from her jaw. They were the last of them. It was time to pull herself together, help Paige move on, and then get on with her own life. There was no more she could do than that.

She lifted her wine glass, sipped slowly, and watched Cara grant someone access to the bar. Tonight wasn’t as busy as previous Friday nights, but it was pleasant. Fewer customers meant less conversation. That was exactly what Juliet needed tonight. Minimal socialisation.

But then Paige walked into the bar, her head down and with sunglasses on. Juliet frowned as she took a seat facing her, wondering why the hell Paige had even ventured out this evening.

“I know I’m probably the last person you want in here tonight, I’m drawing attention to myself, but I tried calling and you didn’t pick up.”

“I’m sorry. My phone is in the office. Is everything okay?”

Paige looked over both shoulders, removing her sunglasses as she faced Juliet again, her head slightly dipped. “Would it be okay if Harriet came here tomorrow night? I’ll pay for a membership or whatever I need to do, but I’d rather be in public with her.”

“I…yes. But you don’t need to pay for a membership.”

Paige nodded, then swallowed. “Would you be there with me when she arrives? I have some things I need to say to her, and I’m not sure how well it’s going to go.”

Juliet would be there for whatever Paige needed. Night or day. “I’ll be here.”

“Okay, thanks. So…” Paige managed a smile, that split lip scabbed and swollen. Anger only rose from deep within Juliet again. Whenever she thought about what Paige had been through, she wanted to trash the place. “I-I think maybe we need to talk.”

“About what?” Juliet’s stomach sank. Had Paige finalised her plans for when the time came to leave? Juliet wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

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