Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Debra hadn’t felt this nervous in years. Sure, she’d survived those nerves from difficult conversations when her divorce was on the horizon…she’d even felt nervous when she knew she would be building a life alone in a new home, but this? Oh, she hadn’t felt anything like this before.
She’d warned Billie more than once about the reception either of them could potentially receive. She’d explained that they could both be pleasantly surprised, but she’d also hinted at her kids being blunt or maybe needing time to accept that Debra was dating a woman now.
But Billie had just listened, nodding as though she’d already accepted every possible outcome. She’d squeezed Debra’s hand and told her she could handle it, and that if it went badly, they would deal with it together.
Still, Debra had woken up that morning braced for resistance.
Or at the very least, confusion. Questions she potentially wasn’t ready to answer.
Mostly because she didn’t know why she’d fallen in love with Billie from the moment they’d met, but also because she needed time to understand what her life was now.
There will be a backlash!
Her kids were adults now, yes, but they were her adults, and this was the first woman she’d ever brought into their orbit. To expect everything to run smoothly would be a mistake on her part.
Billie stood beside her in the kitchen, fixing the cufflinks on her shirt, her posture relaxed but alert.
Debra could still feel the tension under the surface, though.
The way Billie’s fingers flexed and unflexed, the way she repeatedly took deep breaths.
Still, she would insist she was fine if Debra asked.
She’d told her she was fine all morning.
“They should be here any minute now,” Debra said as she scanned her space. “They’re not often late.”
Billie smiled. “Okay.”
And then came the knock on her door.
Debra inhaled and reached for Billie’s hand. Billie squeezed back, grounding her in a way that Debra still hadn’t quite learned to expect. But that didn’t matter right now. What mattered was that Billie was here, and she was staying.
“Ready?”
Billie blew out a breath and smiled. “As I’ll ever be.”
“If things get a little…awkward, just remember that it’s not about you. They just won’t be expecting me to introduce them to the woman I love, that’s all.”
“Debra, I’m okay. It’ll go well or it won’t.” Another knock at the door. “But we won’t find out unless you let them in.”
“Right, yes.” Debra stepped towards the door, squared her shoulders, and opened it. Seeing them both standing there together was a slight surprise, but she was more than happy they’d both shown up when they’d said they would. “You both actually made it!”
Charlotte stood there with her overnight bag slung over her shoulder, while Caleb hovered behind her, his hoodie zipped halfway and the headphones he seemed unable to part with looped around his neck.
Charlotte stepped inside and hugged Debra. “Hi, Mum.”
Then Caleb slid past her and headed straight inside. “Hiya.”
There didn’t seem to be any immediate assessment of Billie standing in the middle of the living room, but she was sure it would come. She wasn’t exactly easy to miss.
She glanced at Billie, who still looked like the picture of calm, and smiled. Billie straightened, present without trying to perform. God, Debra loved her for that.
“Kids…” Debra cleared her throat as her heart started to pound. “This is Billie.”
Billie lifted a hand and smiled. “Hi.”
Charlotte and Caleb stood there, staring back at Debra and Billie.
“And I…uh,” Debra paused and took a breath. “Billie and I are together. We’re dating.”
The silence that Debra expected didn’t follow.
Charlotte lowered her overnight bag to the side of the couch, then smiled. “Okay.”
“I…what?” Debra’s brows drew together. “Just…okay?”
“Mum, it’s 2026. I don’t care who you’re dating as long as they treat you right.”
Debra could only stare at her daughter.
Then Caleb shrugged in agreement. “Yeah. That’s pretty much it.”
Entirely shocked by their reaction, Debra loosened her shoulders and sighed inwardly. She hadn’t realised how much she’d wanted their blessing until now. “You’re fine with this?”
Charlotte snorted. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
Debra opened her mouth, but she had nothing. She’d built herself up for confusion and questions. She’d expected snide remarks or sheer horror. Not…this.
Charlotte’s attention shifted and landed fully on Billie. “So, Billie…”
“Yes?” Billie straightened beside Debra.
“What do you do?”
“I own a tailoring house. Bespoke suits are my thing.”
Charlotte lowered her gaze to Billie’s shoes. “Those Italian?”
“I…yes. They certainly are.” Billie seemed impressed by Charlotte’s observation. “Handmade.”
Charlotte nodded slowly. “Cool.”
Debra pressed her lips together, suppressing a laugh. She’d forgotten to mention that Charlotte was studying fashion at university. Perhaps she should have led with that, and Billie wouldn’t have been marginally stunned.
Caleb shifted his weight, his hands shoved in his pockets, then surprised Debra completely by speaking again. “You make suits?”
“I do. I provide a women-only service over on Savile Row.”
Caleb nodded, impressed by Billie’s choice of career. “That’s actually kinda sick.”
Debra froze.
Kinda sick.
That was high praise.
And then, impossibly, Caleb asked another question. And then another. About fabrics and how long it took to learn the craft. Then whether Billie had ever made anything for guys.
Debra stepped back, her heart swelling as she watched it all unfold.
Her son, talking and engaging. Her son, who rarely found an interest outside of his gaming or his studies…
asking follow-up questions. Her daughter perched on the arm of the couch now, watching Billie with open interest, clearly delighted.
And Billie, relaxed and smiling, answering whatever was thrown at her without trying to impress.
Debra felt the weight she’d been unknowingly carrying slip from her shoulder.
This…was going to work.
“You staying for dinner then, Billie?” Charlotte asked. “I mean, I’m guessing you are…”
Billie glanced in Debra’s direction, checking before she dared to confirm or deny. When Debra nodded, Billie cleared her throat. “If that’s okay with you and Caleb.”
“Obviously, it’s okay.” Charlotte snorted.
“Then yes. I’ll be here for dinner.”
“Good. Now, I’m starving, so can we decide what the plans are for dinner? Then I’ll make us all some lunch.”
Caleb nodded. “Same. I didn’t have any breakfast.”
Debra sighed, regarding Caleb with a knowing look. “What have I told you about skipping breakfast?”
“Sorry. I went to the library early, and by the time I got back, I didn’t really have time to eat anything. Then I nearly missed my train, so I couldn’t pick anything up from the coffee shop.”
“God, Caleb!” Charlotte shook her head as she rose to her feet. “You really need to manage your time better!” She tutted and wandered off with her bag.
Debra watched them all drift further into the flat as her kids settled in. When Billie followed them, offering drinks and snacks, Debra leaned back against the wall for a moment, overwhelmed by just how right it all felt.
Six weeks ago, she hadn’t dared to imagine this. But now? Dinner plans were being made, her kids were happy, and the woman she loved was laughing in her kitchen.
Debra closed her eyes and allowed the moment to imprint itself.
Perfect didn’t exist. But this came terrifyingly close.
Billie flicked the lights on as she stepped inside Brown she’d preferred it at one time, but not anymore.
She was here to check on something, and then she would be gone again.
She no longer sat in the shadows with a glass of whiskey, trying to control everything around her.
Now, she found herself curled up with Debra, making plans for her days off.
She closed the door over behind her and headed straight for the back.
Nina’s panicked voicemail had replayed in her mind for the entire journey over here.
Something about potentially leaving the clothes steamer on…
and how she’d never be able to live with herself if the shop burned down overnight.
She’d offered to travel back into the city, but it was easier for Billie to drive over and check it out.
They’d finished dinner at Debra’s, and nobody had minded her popping out for a little while.
Billie pushed the utility room door open and turned on the light. The steamer sat in the corner, cold and completely harmless. She crossed the room anyway, her hand hovering in front of it out of habit, while she checked the plug. It was off. It was fine.
She laughed and shook her head. Poor Nina would be mortified in the morning, but it was always best to check these things. Billie could have been waking up tomorrow with the skeleton of a shop and nothing more.
Billie pulled her phone from her pocket and called Nina. She answered on the second ring. “Please tell me I didn’t burn the place down.”
“You didn’t burn the place down,” Billie said as she leaned against the doorframe. “Everything’s off. Everything’s fine. Carry on with your evening.”
Nina let out an audible sigh of relief. “I’m so sorry. I just kept thinking—”
“I know. It’s alright. I was nearby anyway.” A small lie, but it was easier than talking Nina down from heading back into the city. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Nina.”
They hung up, but Billie decided to linger in the quiet of her office before she headed back to Debra’s. She turned out the light in the utility room and crossed the hallway, noticing how her heart felt oddly full yet…light this evening.
She unlocked her phone and opened her messages. Ella would want to know the huge news that Billie was currently sitting on.
Just met Debra’s kids. I’m alive and there are no signs of trauma. They’re actually brilliant kids. You can tell she’s raised them right.
Three dots appeared instantly.
OH MY GOD. Details tomorrow. Are you smiling like an idiot right now?
Billie laughed and shook her head. So what if she was? She had every right to be smiling like an idiot these days.
Possibly.
She set her phone down on her desk and relaxed into her chair, quickly pulling up tomorrow’s schedule on her computer.
If she swapped a fitting around or asked if Nina could take care of it, she would be able to spend the morning with Debra and the kids.
If not, she’d likely be up, out, and working before Charlotte and Caleb had even surfaced from their bedrooms. Well, Debra’s two spare rooms…
which Charlotte had been deeply offended by when she realised Debra still hadn’t decorated it to her taste.
She was still perusing her calendar when she felt a shift in the air. She looked up to find Debra standing in the doorway. She looked…wrong. Not physically hurt, not angry either, just…off.
“Hey. What are you doing here?”
“I-I followed you.” Debra swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
Billie pushed up out of her seat the moment Debra’s voice trembled. “What’s wrong? Did something happen while I’ve been gone?”
Debra’s gaze swept the room, eventually landing on Billie again. Had she been looking for any signs of Nina? Billie’s stomach roiled. Oh, God.
“You left.”
Billie frowned. “Yeah, I told you I had to check the shop—”
“I know.” Debra stepped inside, her hand gripping the strap on her bag tight.
“I know you did. I just… You left, and then you didn’t text like you said you would when you arrived.
Then I realised that I didn’t know if you were actually coming here or if you’d just…
” She trailed off, shaking her head as her bottom lip quivered.
“I thought maybe you needed space after tonight. After meeting them.”
“Oh, babe.” The words landed softly, but the vulnerability behind them hit Billie hard. She crossed the room and closed the distance between them until she could see the faint tension around Debra’s eyes. “I’m not running from you. I promise.”
Debra exhaled a shaky breath. “I know it’s irrational for me to think that. It just—”
“Felt familiar.” Billie nodded slowly, acknowledging what Debra was feeling.
“Y-yes.”
Billie reached for her hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze.
“I came here because Nina thought she’d burned the place down.
That’s it. I may have also texted Ella to brag about surviving your children…
and then I got distracted checking the schedule.
I want to be there with you and the kids in the morning, so I was seeing what I could do to make that happen.
” She dipped her head. “You’re stuck with me, remember? ”
A small, reluctant smile tugged at Debra’s mouth. “I remember.”
“Good.”
Billie guided Debra across the office slowly, until the edge of the desk pressed into the backs of Debra’s thighs. Debra looked at her, curious rather than unsettled. “What are you doing?”
“Grounding you,” Billie said. “Giving you a moment to see that I’m not here to hide.”
Billie turned and lowered herself into her chair, then tugged on Debra’s hands until Debra followed the pull. A surprised laugh escaped her as she settled sideways across Billie’s lap and rested an arm around her shoulders.
Billie wrapped her own arms around her waist, securing Debra in place, her cheek brushing against Debra’s arm. “There,” Billie murmured. “Is that better?”
Debra settled herself, the tension draining from her spine as she leaned into the contact. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Now, why don’t we just take a moment to breathe, maybe kiss a little where we can’t be interrupted, then head back to your place…obviously stopping off on the way for some snacks that will see us through the evening?”
Debra gazed back at her, her lips parted. “God, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”