Page 27 of Four Fiances & I

I sit back in my chair and lift the mug to my lips to take a sip.

“I have a light brown bear, which I hug when I’m feeling down or overwhelmed. Jason picked it up for me one day when we were in Majorca after the whole kidnapping drama. I don’t think he realised how much I would come to depend on that small bear. But sometimes it’s the only thing that helps.” I offer her what I hope is a reassuring smile. “So I understand why you would want to keep it close at the moment.”

Verity buries her face into the top of the doll for a moment with her eyes closed. I know she is trying to hold it together, and I don’t want her to think she has to do that with me.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask not wanting to push her too quickly. Christian told me what he knows but we both think there will be a lot we don’t know.

Verity looks up from the doll, towards the entrance of the kitchen.

“Let’s talk outside,” she says quietly before standing with her cup in hand. she nods towards a door at the back of the kitchen, and I quickly follow her out through a laundry room and into the large spacious garden I have never seen before. I turn to close the door behind us but see Verity shake her head out of the corner of my eye.

“Leave it open. That way, the guys will know where we are.”

I nod and follow her further into the garden. A little part of me worries that Christian will wonder where we've gotten to, but it's not like we are going far.

Walking around the side of the house, we come to a stop at a two-seater love chair that hangs overlooking a large field where horses are grazing, wrapped tight in their winter coats.

Verity sits in the chair, and I sit beside her. We sit in silence for a moment, watching the horses and drinking our coffees.

“This was my mum's favourite spot. This swing is the only thing of hers left.” I turn my head and see her staring ahead. “How much did Travis tell Christian?”

“That Henry isn’t your father, and how he had been stealing your money for years.” Verity nods in confirmation, not looking away from the horses. “He also told me about your auntie and how Henry had her sectioned or something.”

“We delivered the paperwork for her real diagnosis yesterday. We are expecting a call later today to tell us what the next steps will be to get her out.”

“Can’t you just walk out with her?”

Verity shakes her head and lets out a deep sigh as her arm around her doll tightens.

“She has been on medication for years; they are worried that stopping it too quickly will cause real issues for her. Plus, she has nowhere to go, he sold everything of hers.” She finishes her drink before placing it on a table beside her. “I hate him. There are moments when the hatred I feel towards that man is so overpowering that I throw up. It takes over my whole body, and all I can do is scream and cry.” Her jaw clenches as she starts blinking faster. “But then there are moments I would give anything to see him again and for him to say that he loved me really and I was still his pumpkin.” Verity finally looks at me and my heart breaks as her lip trembles and tears roll down her face. “How can I love him and hate him at the same time? Why can’t I just hate him and lose this pain that’s tearing me apart? I want to heal, to move on, but …” A sob bursts from her chest and that little control she’s been holding on to breaks.

I pull her into my arms and hold my best friend as she falls apart in my arms. I close my eyes and listen to her pain and wish I could take it away from her. I would give anything for her not to hurt like this. If anyone understands the pain she’s feeling, it's me.

“I know it hurts,” I whisper into her hair as I run a hand over it. “I know that whenever you feel like you are taking a step in the right direction, you are pulled ten steps back. But I promise one day, it will start to feel a little better, and it won't be the first thing you feel when you wake up or when you are alone. Slowly, you will realise you are able to think of him without the confusion and pain. He will be a memory that haunts you now and again, but he no longer has the power over you he once did.”

“I hope so,” Verity sniffs in my arms. I hold her for a while until, eventually, her tears dry up, and she pulls away from me, wiping at her face.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologise to me for crying. You have held me enough times over the last six months.” I take her hand, which isn’t holding her doll. “I am always here for you, you know that, right? I know I've been preoccupied with the wedding and the guys. But that will never mean you can't come to me, about anything.”

“I know. You will always be the most important person to me, Jaz.”

“So I should be,” I tease with a playful smile. Verity smiles at me for a moment before looking back at the horses that seem to have come closer. I can just imagine them sensing her pain and wanting to check on her. Verity has always seemed the type to attract forest animals and have them help her with the chores.

“Did Travis tell Christian much about my mum?”

I turn my attention back to my friend and am surprised when she smiles at me.

“Only that she was super rich, and you had no idea.” A grin spreads across my face as I nudge her playfully with my elbow. “Don’t start thinking you are above us now you’re, what? A millionaire?”

“Multi-millionaire, to be precise.”

I whistle, impressed.

“Bet that feels weird to say?”

“It really does. A few weeks ago, I was worried about whether I could afford to find a place after graduating. Now I own this huge house and have a bottomless bank account; it's crazy!”

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