(As always, mistakes are mine)

Chapter 2

It had been almost a week since Laura, Graham's wife, had shown up in the kitchen of Home Farm and there had been no sight of her since. Joe had not wanted to press the matter with Graham any further, he trusted him and believed him when he said he would deal with it. Joe just wished that sometimes Graham would be less enigmatic and tell him that the matter was resolved. Though, where Laura was concerned, Joe knew from experience that nothing was ever straightforward.

So, it probably shouldn't have come as a shock when she appeared again.

It would have helped if he hadn't had Debbie Dingle in tow.

He'd done as Graham had asked and held out an olive branch to the woman whose life he had pretty much ruined, he'd offered her Jacobs Fold once again and had not been surprised when she had unleashed a torrent of abuse upon him.

It hadn't ended there, she had followed him back to Home Farm, determined that he would listen to what she had to say.

Making a quip about petrol cans as they entered the grand house was, on reflection, not very wise. It had enraged Debbie further and her tirade could no doubt be heard at every point in the house.

Which is why, when entering the kitchen with Debbie still verbally beating him, and once again laying eyes upon a bemused, waiting Laura, Joe wished he'd never thought of coming back here.

The sight of the woman in his kitchen brought Debbie up short and silently cursing, Joe knew that Debbie had not missed the the look that raced across his face and he was certain that she must be able to hear the pounding of his heart.

"Hello, Joe," drawled Laura. She was once again elegantly dressed, her hair tied loosely into a low ponytail over her left shoulder, the long sleek tresses cascading down over her shoulder. She wore a black shirt dress over leggings and long black knee-high boots that elongated her slender legs. She was leaning against the kitchen counter, coffee cup in hand and Joe grimaced at the thought that maybe Lydia had made her a drink and chatted to her. To have the cleaner know anything about this woman was unthinkable.

"Laura," Joe managed to say, his voice sounding surprisingly calm. He felt Debbie shift behind him and he began a desperate thought process of how to damage limit this whole encounter.

For Laura to chat to Lydia was one thing, but for her to say anything to Debbie was simply catastrophic.

"I see you've brought a friend?" Laura stated, her eyes sweeping over Debbie.

"I'm not a friend of his," Debbie spat, aggression and anger emanating from the young woman behind him.

He noted Laura's amused reaction, "Oh, let me guess? A business acquaintance?" Laura asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she contemplated Debbie.

"What do you want, Laura?" Joe demanded, trying to keep her interaction with Debbie to a minimum.

Laura, however clearly had other ideas, she set her cup down and fixed Debbie with a look and Joe tensed as he felt Debbie meet her look for look. This was going to get messy.

"Let me guess, he wined and dined you, promised a business deal of your dreams and then bedded you? After that, it all went sour? Am I right?" Laura asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Is that what happened to you? Thought you'd got a rich man and then he ditched you for a younger model?" Debbie spat back.

Laura laughed delightedly, "In his dreams!" she cried. "No, no, we were never like that, were we, Joe?" Laura took a step closer, "But, I can see he's done you over, but that's what you do, isn't it, Joe?"

"Who the hell is this?" Debbie demanded, glaring angrily at Joe.

"My wife." The voice from the doorway silenced them all, the air falling still as it seemed even the house held its breath. Joe turned back to offer a grateful look, but the expression on Graham's face made his heart skip a beat.

Graham stood inside the kitchen doorway, his features emotionless, though Joe could see the anger lurking beneath the older man's cool exterior.

"Ah! There he is...at last! I was beginning to think I'd have to stay here all night!" Laura said, her voice sarcastic, her face alight with the sheer amusement this whole scene was bringing her. "But where Joe goes, Graham is sure to follow."

"A word," Graham said, his voice low. "Outside."

"Oh, but I'm having fun in here talking to this lovely young lady! We are just starting to get to know each other!" Laura cried, folding her arms and leaning back casually against the kitchen unit, her whole stance a challenge, a dare.

"Now!" Graham roared, making Debbie and Joe jump.

Debbie had certainly never heard the softly spoken butler speak in such a way and it had been a long time since Joe had heard him react like that.

The smile on Laura's face faltered, she inhaled deeply, her mouth pouting sulkily, before pushing off from the kitchen unit and stalking purposefully towards the door and her husband.

As she left the room, Joe caught Graham's eye, silently sending him the message to take care. Graham merely acknowledged the look with a slight nod, before turning and following his wife.

"I had no idea Graham was married," Debbie commented, raising a finely styled eyebrow.

"They're estranged," Joe muttered in response as if that came anywhere close to describing them.

"She's a right mouth," Debbie noted sourly. "Graham seems far too nice for her."

Joe looked back at Debbie and sneered, "You have no idea."

-x-

The hallway was cool and uninviting as Graham followed the wife had not laid eyes on in over 3 years. His irritation was growing rapidly and it was with a heavy heart he had to acknowledge all the old feelings that were threatening to overwhelm him.

As Laura stopped and turned to face him, he found it easier to not meet her eye, but to walk around her, his eyes down as he considered his next move carefully. He hoped he could still remember how to play his wife at her own game.

"Are you not going to say anything?" Laura finally asked, her voice soft like melting chocolate. The tone made Graham look up, it had been too long since he'd heard her speak so softly to him.

"Like what?" Graham managed to utter, determined not to be swept up into Laura's web.

"Oh, I don't know," Laura began, her voice still soft, low, her accent a mere caress. She moved closer, and Graham looked up to meet her gaze, surprised by the tenderness that seemed visible in her eyes. "Maybe that you missed me?"

"Then that would be a lie," Graham managed to reply calmly. He was not going to let her do this, not let her manipulate him with her games.

Laura was certainly not deterred by his words, she stepped closer, an almost sad smile upon her lips. "I missed you," she said softly.

"After the way you left, and the things you said to me, I find that hard to believe," Graham answered, the memory of that day beginning to bloom and grow in his mind like a weed threatening to choke the life from him.

Laura pursed her lips and inhaled sharply, as if his words had hurt her.

"If I remember rightly, you said things too. You left me with no choice."

Graham stepped back slightly, allowing himself much needed space to breathe and gather his tangled thoughts.

"Do you even have any idea what you did? What happened after that?" Graham asked, his voice a low rumble, the words struggling to form in his mouth.

Laura waved a dismissive hand, rolling her eyes in that old way that always made him angry beyond belief. He clenched his right first tightly, desperate to keep a check on his temper. He'd already reacted in somewhat akin to his old manner, and in front of Debbie too, he would need to be more careful.

"Well it appears you've done alright for yourself," Laura stated, gazing around at the grand hallway of Home Farm. There were still boxes that needed unpacking, but as Joe was having the place decorated, they had been left. Even so, the place still looked impressive.

"No thanks to you," Graham snapped.

"All thanks to Joe, yes?" Laura asked, her head tilting slightly to study him, her eyes flashed with annoyance. "Good ole Joe, screw everyone over and then stab them in the back."

"He's been good to me," Graham retorted.

Laura smirked, "Ah, yes. Always good to you, as long as you did his bidding. Tell me, are you still sorting out the messes he always leaves behind?"

"I owe him a lot."

"You owe him nothing!" Laura snapped. "You never did! You just let him walk all over you. I haven't forgotten the things he made you do for him. And what it cost you. And us."

Graham flinched slightly and swallowed hard. "What is it you want from me, Laura?"

Laura stepped closer, she reached out and brushed softly at his shoulder, as if sweeping away imaginary fluff, her hand lingered just a moment too long.

"You're looking good," she said with a smile. "The suit...it suits you. You always did look good in a suit."

"That didn't answer my question," Graham noted, stepping slowly back from her.

"I had a long time to think when I went back to America," Laura said, turning away, running a hand casually along a gilded sideboard still left from the previous owners.

Graham waited, his gaze aimed at the floor, his throat clenching in fear.

Laura turned back, glancing over her shoulder, her sleek hair glinting in the light from the table lamp that resided on the sideboard. The glow cast an ethereal look over her features, making her seem otherworldly. "You know what I want," she said.

Graham swallowed hard, but refused to look at her. His right hand clenched again into a fist as he felt his breathing shallow.

Laura held her gaze on him for another painfully long moment before turning away and walking towards the door leaving Graham alone with only the thundering of his heart in his chest.

-x-

Joe had not really been listening to Debbie, though he was grateful she had at least calmed down and was now going over a contract for Jacobs Fold with a critical eye.

He had been trying to hear the conversation between Graham and Laura in the corridor, but had only made out muffled words. He conceded that the fact it was all quiet had to be a good sign. At least nothing had been thrown, which with knowing their history, was a positive.

The sound of the door closing had him move quickly to the window and he gave a satisfied smirk as he watched Laura walk purposefully from the house. He had no idea where she was going, if she had a car or where she was staying, but at least she was out of his house.

He only wondered how long for.