Read Online Their Very Special Marriage by Kate Hardy - Free Book Online

guilt written all over it.
    What the hell was she going to do?
    Still shaking, she went to look in on the children, who were building Lego structures in Robin’s bedroom. Surely Oliver wasn’t going to leave the children. And then a really nasty thought hit her. Supposing he expected her to leave and the children to stay with him?
    No way. Absolutely no way . She wasn’t giving up her children for anyone. If Caroline thought it was going to be easy to step into her shoes, Caroline would be in for a shock—because she’d fight to the death before she would let her children be taken away from her.
    â€˜Mummy, your face is a funny colour,’ Robin said. ‘Are you getting chickenpox, too?’
    â€˜No, darling. I’m just tired.’ And shocked. But Robin wasonly six. He didn’t need to know about the complications of adult life. Or that his father was a lying, cheating louse. She forced her voice to sound normal. ‘Do you want a drink?’
    â€˜ I want a drink!’ Sophie added, her baby voice imperious.
    â€˜Word missing,’ Rachel corrected automatically.
    â€˜Please,’ Sophie lisped.
    â€˜Me, too. Please,’ Robin added hastily.
    â€˜I’ll bring something up to you,’ Rachel promised, and went downstairs. She replaced the mobile phone where Oliver had left it, took the children their drinks, then sat at the bottom of the stairs with the cordless phone. She needed to talk to someone about this. Someone close—and someone sensible, who’d tell her if she was blowing this out of proportion and misreading everything.
    The phone seemed to ring for ever. Rachel was on the point of hanging up when her elder sister answered the phone.
    â€˜Oh, Fi.’ She almost sagged in relief. ‘It’s Rach. Is this a good time?’
    â€˜Not really—hang on, Rach, are you OK?’ Concern radiated down the line.
    â€˜Not really,’ Rachel said, her voice wobbling.
    â€˜OK. I’m just going to put a film on for the kids to distract them—just keep talking,’ her elder sister directed. ‘Even if I sound as if I’m not paying attention, I am, OK? What’s happened?’
    â€˜Oliver,’ Rachel whispered.
    â€˜Is he ill? Been in an accident?’
    â€˜Nothing like that.’ He was at an accident, yes, but as the medical help, not as the victim. ‘Fi, have you ever wondered if Mark was having an affair?’
    â€˜No.’ Rachel could almost hear the frown in her sister’s voice. ‘Rach, surely you’re not saying Oliver’s having an affair?’
    â€˜I think so.’
    â€˜No way. Rach, he adores you. He’s fought for you, too—look how he stood up against his parents when they tried to split you up.’
    Rachel swallowed. ‘That’s just the point.’ She filled Fiona in on her suspicions.
    â€˜Oh.’ Fiona exhaled sharply. ‘Rach, I can’t believe it. He—well, he’s just not the type .’
    And Fiona would know: as a specialist in family law, she’d seen enough divorce cases. ‘I didn’t think so either. But what else could it be?’
    â€˜Look, you must have got the wrong end of the stick. Just talk to him about it.’
    â€˜I dunno, Fi. If I’m wrong, he’s—he’s never going to forgive me for not trusting him. And if I’m right... I’m scared. Supposing he wants a divorce? Supposing he wants to be with her, and take the kids, and...?’ She broke off on a sob.
    â€˜Rach, stop panicking. You’re not going to lose the kids. If it comes to a divorce, you’ll have the very best legal team on your side, I promise you that. I’m not allowed to handle it, but I can oversee the team and make damned sure your kids stay with you.’
    Rachel gulped. ‘Thanks, Fi. I never thought I’d...that I’d be a statistic.’
    â€˜You’re not, yet.’ Fiona sighed.