Broken Silence (24 page)

“You sure about that?” I goaded him.

“Uh huh. So you want me to set Ali up with randoms from work?”

“They’re not randoms, you know them. Just do as you’re told and find a nice guy that will treat my auntie right.”

Cole saluted. “Yes, sir.”

I patted his cheek. “There’s a good boy.” I led him to Lizzie’s room. At least I would be out of her room soon. “Sit,” I instructed, pointing to the futon.

“I hope you’re going to do a striptease, bossy,” Cole teased. He looked ridiculously hopeful. Did he know me at all?

Rolling my eyes, I sat down next to him. “So, Mum booked our tickets back to Australia today.” His face fell, as I expected. “We leave
in two days.”

“No,” Cole replied, getting up and kneeling in front of me. “Not again, Oakley, please. I can’t lose you again. Stay here with me
—”

I placed my index finger over his lips. “I have to go back
—”

“No,” he said fiercely. His eyes were wide with panic. If he would just let me finish!

“Will you let me talk!” I shook my head. “I’ll be gone for a total of three days. Ali’s already said I can have the spare room until Mum sells the house and moves back here.”

“No,” he repeated.

I frowned as his whole face lit up with the most perfect smile. He didn’t want me to come back? He was smiling though.
Huh?
“No? What?”

“You’re not staying with anyone else. You’re living with me.”

He can’t be serious? We had only been back together a few months, although it did feel so much longer, like we hadn’t been apart for those four years. But still…

“Cole you
—”

“I’ve spoken!” he said like a caveman. “Seriously though, Oakley, you’re mine now. Suck it up and move in with me.”
Oh my God, he is being serious! He wants us to live together.
Squealing, I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight, probably crushing his bones, but he didn’t complain. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I murmured against his neck. Wow, I was going to be living with Cole. Living in that beautiful house we decorated together. It didn’t seem real, like it wasn’t happening to me. I never thought I would have that, a proper relationship with someone that wanted me. Someone that didn’t care about my past.

“And I’m coming to Australia with you.”

I shook my head. “You have work, and it’s only
three days
.”

“We’ll argue about that later.” He lowered us down on the futon. “I fucking love you,” he whispered and kissed me senseless.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Oakley

I got into the car and closed my eyes. Finally, it was done. No more revisiting the past, outside of therapy anyway. I wanted to be finished with therapy already, but I had learned not to give myself a timeframe. I would go until I felt I didn’t need to any more, and I just wasn’t there yet.

“How’d it go?” Cole asked, squeezing the top of my leg.

“Good.” I had just finished the last interview I agreed to do, and it was such a relief. Selling my story had been the last thing I wanted to do, until I realised the money would fund a sport and hobby centre at the gym.

After speaking to countless therapists and other people that had been in my situation, I discovered that a lot of children that were abused were able to use hobbies as an escape. Through therapy, so far, I’d met people that painted, sang, played music, danced, and cycled. For me, it had been gymnastics.

When Marcus told me how bad the gym was doing and that the owners were cutting their losses and turning it into a fitness gym with a swimming pool, I knew I had to do something.

The thought of someone going through a similar thing to what I did without having access to that tiny bit of normality was painful. So I sold my story to a major magazine, had one interview with a national newspaper, and a women’s weekly, and did three TV appearances.

Dredging everything back up was hard, but I knew that it would be worth it in the end. The centre would help so many people, and I was going to donate a cut of the yearly profit to a charity that helps victims of child abuse.

My last interview with a magazine marked the end of the
fundraising
and meant I could afford the finishing touches for the centre. I’d officially named it ‘La Fuga’,
which was Italian for ‘The Escape’, but we mostly just called it the centre.

“I’m proud of you. You’ve done all this by yourself.”

I shook my head. “Not by myself. Marcus has been with me every step of the way. So have you, and both of our families!”

“Alright, well it was all your idea.”

“That one I’ll take credit for.”

Cole chuckled and took the exit that would take us home. “So, tomorrow’s going to be ridiculously busy, huh?”

I nodded. “Yeah, we’ve got so much to do. The electricians are coming at one. The mirrors are being installed in the ballet room at two-thirty. There’s a huge delivery of football and rugby balls coming sometime in the morning, and I have to call some companies about vending machines and a cleaning service. Oh, and we really need to get those liability insurance forms signed.”

“You have a list, right?”

“I have about a thousand lists.”

“Right, well don’t stress over it, we’ll get it all done. Jasper and Abby are picking up the art easels and stools next week, and apparently the company agreed to throw in a bunch of paintbrushes too.”

“Yeah? That’s great! How is the shack looking?”

When word got out about what we were doing, the whole community got involved. An online sport shop donated football goalposts. An art and craft company donated the easels, stools, and now brushes.

I’d had a load of gymnastics equipment donated to the centre, which would replace a lot of the used stuff from the old gym. Tables and chairs for the cafeteria were donated from a manufacturing company, and I’d already had a stack of job applications back. It was a little overwhelming, but I had a lot of support.

Cole laughed. “It’ll look great when it’s done. Have faith!” We had a huge old summer house at the back of the surrounding gardens. It was right out of the way and overlooked the little stream that ran from one end to the other. Eventually, it would be for people who want to explore their artistic side. I thought they would probably want peace and quiet to draw and paint.

At the minute though, it looked like a rundown old shed. It needed new glass in the doors and windows. Repair work to the roof and side. A new floor and clad walls inside. It was Cole, David, Miles and Jasper’s project. They promised me it would look brand new when they’d finished.

“I have faith. I know it’ll look amazing.” It better do anyway. I’d put everything into this and wanted it to work and change people’s lives so badly. If I hadn’t had gymnastics I honestly didn’t know what I would have been like.

“It will. Your mum’s there now, feeding the decorators in the ballet room.” Until we’d got the call that the mirrors were coming tomorrow we’d been decorating ourselves, but there was no way we’d get that gigantic room done in time.

“Good. How’s it looking in there?”

Cole shrugged. “Big and pink.” It wasn’t pink-pink. It was an off-white pink that looked fresh. I wanted the whole building to be light and inviting.

“I’m so tired.” I yawned, covering my mouth with the back of my hand. “Can we just drop in quickly before we go home?”

“You still want to go? I’m sure everyone will understand. They do have it all under control.”

“Five minutes. Just to make sure everything’s alright.” Cole smirked and nodded. Yes, I was probably a nightmare, but I needed it to be right.

Cole really did only let me stay for five minutes. I had just about finished speaking to everyone when he grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the car. “You’re staying in for the rest of the day. I shall be at your service,” he said.

“Hmm, that I can get on board with.”

“Oakley, no!” Cole said. “I’m serious, you’re gonna make yourself ill. Stay at home today.” He pointed to the sofa. “Sit. I’ll make you some breakfast and call your mum. She can check in on the centre today. Everyone else will be there, and Ben promised to help with some of the deliveries.”

I groaned. Cole was going to work, and I thought I would have a day’s peace to get a few little things done at the centre. When he left, I would just go anyway. “Cole, I’m fine. I’m just a little tired.”

“Then sleep,” he replied, giving me a smug smile. “You’re not going out today.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“You’re being stubborn. Oakley, you’re doing too much and it’s making you ill. I like healthy Oakley. Please, for me, just stay in and relax today.”

I held my hands up and sank back into the sofa. “Fine. Today I’ll be lazy.”

He grinned. “Good. Now, toast or bagel?”

“What if I want an omelette?”

“I can undercook one and poison you if you’d like.”

“Bagel please.”

“Eat. Sleep. Watch crap on TV, just don’t leave this house,” he said, raising his eyebrow as he handed me breakfast.

“Thank you. I’ll stay in and behave.”

It took about two minutes after I’d finished eating for me to plunge into boredom. I desperately wanted to go to the centre and check on things, but if I left the house Cole would probably have a heart attack, overprotective fool. I dialled Mum’s number and decided the only way I would be able to relax was to know everything was okay.

“Hi love,” she greeted.

“Hey, Mum. How are you?”

“You mean, are you at the centre?”

“Okay, yes, but you first.”

“I’m fine, just pulled up. Jasper and Miles are already here. Cole called me already. We better not see you here today. He’s right; you do need to take a break. Promise me you’ll relax and take care of yourself.”

“Yes. I promise.”

“Okay, good. I’d better go. I’ll give you a call in a bit, and I’ll send Jasper over with some lunch.”

“I can make myself food, Mum.”

“Jasper’s getting KFC for everyone.”

“Around one-ish?”

Mum laughed. “Sure, honey, speak later.”

“Bye.” I hung up the phone and switched the TV on.
Daytime rubbish it is then.
I chose a movie instead, but I just couldn’t get into the film. Sitting around and doing nothing when I had so much to do made me feel anxious. What if I didn’t get everything ready in time because I was lounging around on the sofa?

The front doorbell rang, and I got up, eager to answer it and have something to do. Mia stood at the door with a box of Thornton’s chocolates. “Cole told me you’re on house arrest and I was to come over and make sure you didn’t leave.”

I narrowed my eyes and stepped aside so Mia could come in. “Of course he did.” I was glad to see her though.

“I’ll put the kettle on and we can catch up,” she called over her shoulder as she headed into the kitchen. “So, what’s going on? Besides the centre?”

I shrugged and grabbed two mugs from the cupboard. “Not much really.”

“No ring yet?” Mia pouted, looking at my hand. She was obsessed with Cole proposing. It hadn’t been that long since we’d got back together, and we had already moved in together. I was happy how things were.

“Not yet, but there’s no rush!”

She sighed dramatically, her forehead creasing in a frown. “He needs to hurry up. I’ve seen a lovely dress for your wedding.”

“Buy that for someone else’s wedding. You’ll be wearing a bridesmaid’s dress at mine.”

“Really?” she squealed, her eyes widened in surprise and excitement. “Oh my God! You’re serious, right?”

“Of course I am. You’re Cole’s sister! I want to have Leona too if that’s okay?”

“If it’s okay?” she repeated, staring at me like I was stupid. “Oh, he needs to propose soon!”

I held my hand up. “Okay, calm down. Let’s talk about you.” Mia groaned and threw two tea bags into the mugs with a little too much force. It made me grin. “Date went well then!”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

I laughed. “Absolutely. It was that bad?”

“God, you should have seen him, Oakley. He looked so nice at the gym, running on the treadmill, and he was so polite and interested in what I was saying. Turns out that he’s a twat.”

Reaching for the milk in the fridge, I laughed at her bluntness. “What did he do?”

“He spoke about cars the whole night. I couldn’t care less what engine his car has, or how many of those horse things it has! I was so bored that I text
ed Mum and made her call lying that Leona wouldn’t settle without me. I’m done with men.”

“Don’t give up. You’ll find someone. You know I could
—”

“No way,” she hissed. “You are not setting me up.”

“Fine, be stubborn.”

She glared at me. “I don’t want to talk about this any more.”

I carried the mugs to the table, and Mia brought the chocolates. “You’re annoyed because I’m right.”

“Change of subject. If your arsehole ex wanted your child for one extra day a week, would you let him?”

“Chris wants another day?”

She turned her nose up. “Yep.” He already had Leona on Fridays and Saturdays, and every other Sunday, which was how it had been since she was born. “He wants a mid-week day too. I don’t really know what to do. Leona would love it, and I would be able to get more done. When it comes to Chris though, I just want to stick my tongue out and give him the finger.” I laughed, almost spilling my tea. “I know I should be an adult about it.”

“You probably should. It’s horrible you have to sacrifice another day with her, but if it’s what’s best for her.”

Mia nodded. “Yeah. I’ll give him the extra day, but just until her bedtime.” I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be to share your child with an ex, especially one that hurt you so much over and over again. “Tell me about your wedding again.”

“I’m not getting married yet.”

“Yet.”

“I’m so setting you up.”

She glared and grabbed a chocolate.

Mia stayed with me for the whole day. We had a KFC lunch courtesy of Jasper, and chatted about everything. As much as I wanted to be at the centre, it
was
really nice to have a relaxing girly day. We made a plan of doing it one morning a week, on Leona’s new day with Chris.

At five o’clock when Cole would be leaving off work, Mia left, handing over the baton. I curled up on the sofa. The energy seemed to drain from my body. I felt as if I could sleep for a week.

“I love coming home to you every night,” Cole said, laying down beside me.

I frowned and looked up, half asleep. “Hmm, I love you coming home to me every night.” I pressed my lips against his and curled my fingers into his hair.

He wrapped one arms around my back and the other under my legs, holding me bridal style. I gasped. “Cole!”

“Shh,” he whispered and headed to the stairs.