He deserved to be challenged.
He deserved to laugh.
He deserved to have a beautiful, rich, well-educated, jet-set, stylish, classy woman in his life (and, also, one who was corporeal and breathing).
A woman who had loved him for twenty years.
A woman who had carried around his photo in a silver frame and wore his ring on a chain around her neck for twenty f**king years.
As much as Fiona hated it, she knew he deserved it.
And her son deserved to live with a woman who understood the depths of his pain.
And his daughter deserved chocolate cake and she needed someone to teach her how to make them and, Lord knew, Prentice couldn’t do that.
And Bella…
Well, Bella wasn’t the only one with a soft heart and Fiona knew that Bella deserved all of them.
When Bella came back to get the last two cases, Fiona’s decision made, she dashed to her and started shouting.
What are you doing? Don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave!
Bella shook her head as if clearing her thoughts and Fiona knew she could hear her.
Don’t do it, Bella. Don’t. He needs you and you need him! You need all of them!
Fiona heard Bella’s breath hitch as she held back a sob but she exited the front door and threw her cases in the boot of her car.
Think of Annie! Fiona cried.
“I’ll not let Annie down,” Bella murmured and Fiona would have gasped (but, obviously she didn’t as she couldn’t) when Bella spoke directly to her.
Good, then go back!
“I can’t go back.”
Fiona closed her ghostly eyes and shouted her frustration.
Then she panicked.
For, she knew, Prentice was a two strikes kind of man.
He’d forgive you anything.
Once.
Twice, he’d never forgive.
Wrong him twice and you were dead to him. If Bella left him twice he’d never forgive her.
Ever.
Fiona thought fast as Bella slammed the boot of the car.
Then it came to her.
Go back, write him a note. You don’t have to explain. Just say good-bye.