Valerie sank down onto the chair.
“My son graduated from college last year and works in St. Petersburg. My daughter has another year to go.”
Olivia brought out three steaming mugs of tea. “Here we go.”
Valerie took a sip, then another. “This has more than tea in it.” Along with the orange Pekoe tea, there was a healthy shot of spiced rum, a touch of honey, and… “Cognac?”
“Best hot tea grog ever.” Olivia settled in a chair with her own mug.
Linda sampled. “Very nice.”
After a second, Valerie rose and brought out the cookie tin of shortbread she’d made for Ghost. “Alcohol and sugar—universal remedies, right?”
“Bloody right.” Olivia nibbled on a shortbread strip and smiled her approval. “Z suggested I talk with you. I’ve been through something similar—someone withholding affection to get their way.”
Olivia didn’t have children, did she? Valerie gave her a confused look.
“My father decided a lesbian daughter would destroy his standing in town. If I wanted to be in the family, I needed to marry a nice young man. Otherwise, I had to stay away.”
Linda stared. “That’s horrible. How old were you?”
“Eighteen, done with sixth form, and thought since I was an adult, it was time to stop hiding who I was.”
Olivia’s brown eyes held so much pain Valerie wanted to cry for her. Leaning forward, she took the woman’s hand. “I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine how such an ultimatum must have hurt.”
“Yes.” Olivia’s English accent grew stronger. “We all know that pain, don’t we? The hurt of someone saying we must behave according to their rules, or their love will be withheld.”
Valerie closed her eyes as the words hit home. That was…exactly…what Dillon had said. “What did you do?”
“I told him he and the family could piss off, and I left. I ran all the way to the States.” Olivia tilted her head down as if her tea was the most interesting thing in the world. “Leaving my mum and siblings, my friends…it was hard.”
Valerie blinked. “When my parents and I had a final falling-out, I mourned them—even though they never loved me. It must have been so rough on you. Did you ever hear from them again?”
“That’s what I wanted to share.” Olivia cupped her hands around her tea mug. “I waited a couple of years and called, but Dad answered the phone and was furious. Said I was breaking Mum’s heart.”
“What a jerk,” Linda muttered. “Laying his guilt on you.”
“I almost gave in. But the lifestyle is full of people who have suffered because of narrow-minded idiots like my father. Not all of them lose their families.” Olivia moved her shoulders. “I thought…maybe, just maybe…not everyone in my family felt the same way. Some might have been silent because Dad is overpowering. Some might not have even known what had happened.”
“You went back,” Valerie guessed.
“I did and found he hadn’t told anyone about his ultimatum. Everyone thought I’d simply up and left.”
Linda gasped. “Why, the bastard.”
“Yes. I explained why I left—and explained some more. After they realized I wasn’t lying, Dad was in for it.” She snorted. “He slept at my uncle’s place for a month before Mum let him come home.”
“Serves him right.” Valerie wanted to reach across the ocean and smack the guy. “How awkward is it when you visit now?”
“Not at all bad. A couple years ago, my uncle had a heart attack and decided he, too, was done with hiding and came out of the closet. My father was properly horrified to learn his brother and the farm manager had been lovers for years.”
Valerie glanced at Linda, and they both snickered.
Olivia smiled. “Almost losing his brother woke Dad up. Last time I was back, he apologized and had moved from being a complete prat into an ally. I’m rather proud of him, in fact.”
Valerie sat back and sipped her tea. Grog. Whatever. The heat of the drink with the slight buzz of alcohol was comforting.
So was the presence of friends.
Olivia had come simply to offer…hope. She’d been cut off from her family, yet what seemed final hadn’t been. People and their opinions could change.
And love could survive.
Valerie considered Olivia. “I take it Z knows about your past?”
“He was the one who encouraged me to return.” Olivia snorted. “I cursed his name with every mile closer.”
Linda chuckled. “I wonder how many of his patients do the same. So, for me… A while back, Sam told Ghost what I went through with my children.”
“Sadists of the world—unite,” Olivia murmured.
Valerie pulled in a breath,