Chapter Three: New friends and opportunities.

Quinn stopped at the threshold of the Council building, buying herself a little time by checking her reflection in the glass panel of the entry doors, thankful they hadn't encountered anyone after leaving the Courthouse. Quinn couldn't stall much longer; her hair was okay, pulled back from her face with plain silver clips, the length of it hanging down around her shoulders and back in long, soft waves. Her white blouse with its embroidered collar and cuffs was still clean and crisp; the navy skirt neat and without too many wrinkles; she smoothed it down, anyway, using the movement to dry her palms which were sweaty from nerves.

While her attire was passable, Quinn was surprised at her facial expression. She looked much older than her twenty-five years. The turmoil of the past few weeks showed clearly on her face. Quinn took a final look at her reflection and wondered what her father would want her to do? He had always been her greatest supporter, always encouraging her to fulfil her ambitions, including studying at university. Her father had ignored social conventions when it came to her achieving her dreams. She heard his voice inside her head saying, "only you decide what your limits are," and she smiled to herself. Taking a deep breath, pulling her shoulders back, straightening up to her full height of 5 foot 6 inches, Quinn gathered her skirts in one hand and opened the door, stepping into the building. She was ready.

Quinn was still smiling when she caught up to Sam, who was waiting inside the foyer for her; although Sam seemed surprised by her smile, she returned it, hers reaching her eyes.

"Are you ready for this?" asked Sam.

"As I will ever be," replied Quinn, sounding ready this time.

"Good, let me introduce you to Bill; he is waiting in the office up ahead." With that said, Sam stepped forward quickly, walking in a hurry, so Quinn wouldn't be able to change her mind.

Quinn's first glimpse of Bill Avery shocked her. Bill wasn't what she expected; she thought he would be older given the way Sam described his lengthy and varied career. Bill was probably about her father's age; he was tall and carried himself well, his light brown hair worn a little longer than most had no grey that she could see. His clean-shaven face was a little craggy, but it was kind. It was his eyes that drew her in; they were curious and intelligent, but most importantly, they held no hint of judging her.

Sam walked over to Bill, holding her hand out to shake his. Bill extended his right hand, grasping Sam's firmly and shaking it purposefully. Sam and Bill released other's hands and started speaking simultaneously.

"Bill, how are you?".

"Sam, good to see you!"

They both laughed, and Bill gestured to Sam, indicating she should speak first. Sam laughed and asked again, "How are you, Bill? You look well".

Bill replied, "Thanks, Sam, you are too; I've been hearing good things about you; I am not surprised though; I always knew you were a fantastic Lawyer."

Sam looked embarrassed but replied, "I have had a lot of support and help along the way." "Bill, let me introduce you to Quinn." Sam drew Quinn forward and said, "Bill Avery, Quinn Standing."

Bill glanced at Quinn and replied, "It's good to meet you, Quinn; finally." He smiled at her as he said, "Sam has been spouting for months about how you have been helping in her law practice, how much easier you made her job." Bill smiled at Quinn, eyes sparkling, and said, "she was trying to make me jealous, and it worked."

Quinn followed Sam's example and held out her right hand for Bill to shake. She met his gaze directly as he grasped her hand. Obviously, Bill knew about her case, but instead, he focused on what happened before that. Quinn appreciated the sentiment and what he was trying to do. 'Nice to meet you, Bill,' said Quinn sincerely, determined to overcome her earlier reluctance to meet him. "I enjoy working with Sam very much; it was interesting to get involved in the cases she worked on, that is until I became one of those cases.' Sam grimaced. "It changes your perspective."

"I know what you mean," Bill sympathised, smiling at her in understanding. "I have been someone's case myself a time or two; it isn't pleasant."

Quinn looked at Bill in disbelief, her mouth dropped open, and she asked, "Really. You have had people accuse you of murdering someone?"

Bill looked at Quinn's frowning face and fierce stance, "Well, maybe not murder, but committing fraud, the Mounties arrested me and locked me up." Bill lowered his voice. "What you're going through isn't easy, but you aren't alone."

Quinn snorted, "I only have Sam, and she's already done too much for me."

Sam went to speak, but Bill stopped her with a glance.

Bill took in the look of dismay on Quinn's face. "I am willing to help you if you let me," he said genuinely. "I told you, I've been where you are, and I know what it's like to need a friend. Sam trusts you, and that is good enough for me to want to help you."

"Will you talk to Bill ?" queried Sam looking at Quinn, who opened her mouth to speak while shaking her head.

"N-"Quinn began.

"Quinn, don't say no before you've heard him out." Sam interrupted her.

Quinn studied her friend's face, realising how important it was to Sam that she heard Bill out, and besides, Bill had come all the way to meet her; listening to his proposition was the least she could do. She knew her father would expect her to be open to hearing from Bill, and besides, what harm could it do? Quinn looked at Sam, then across to Bill, waiting patiently, his gaze resting on her face. "Tell me about this wonderful opportunity, Bill," she said, smiling.

Sam beamed at her, "Thank you, Quinn." As Bill and Quinn moved to sit, Sam checked she had all the necessary paperwork for the Judge to sign. "I will go and see Judge Carter now and get this paperwork finalised, and I will see you when I get back." Sam smiled at them and turned away, heading towards the hallway leading to the Judge's chamber. Sam, eyes raised to Heaven, sent up a silent prayer that the conversation would go well.

Quinn settled into one of the lounge chairs, regarding Bill with a mixture of interest, amusement, and wariness; he sat opposite her without saying anything, just waiting. She could admit she was curious to hear what he had to say about moving on with her life because right now, she was out of ideas.

She was still reeling from all that had happened to her in a short space of time. Her father dying had thrown her for a loop. The accusations that followed just added to her distress. She supposed she was lucky the charges hadn't come immediately; Quinn had time to bury her father before she ended up in jail. She hadn't let herself think about the future until she was declared innocent of the charges against her; she hadn't wanted to tempt fate. Now she was free to choose the next steps in her life, and she had no idea what to do.

Bill started the conversations gently, knowing he couldn't move too fast, but also needing a decision from Quinn. He knew this conversation would be a difficult one; that's why Sam had asked him to do it, and he didn't blame her. He didn't expect Quinn to jump at his offer or idea, but she had to hear it.

"Quinn, thank you for talking to me, I appreciate it, and I know Sam does too. She is worried about you, I can tell, and before you say anything, it's because she cares about you that she worries." Bill leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees, hands dangling between them. He looked at her and asked, "How are you, Quinn? Really. I don't want the answer you think you should give me; I want the truth."

Quinn lowered her eyes from Bill's. He was right; she did need to be honest. Quinn thought about her options; she could lie to Bill but wouldn't get away with that for long; he was too intelligent and getting the truth out of people was his job.

Bill could sense Quinn's hesitation, but he waited, giving her the time to decide for herself what to do; Pushing her now could stop any chance he had to help her. Quinn had to trust him for him to be of any value; what she decided to do next was crucial.

Quinn decided to be honest and listen to the options opening herself up to him. Quinn took a deep breath, then looked up at Bill, her eyes flashing. "I am angry", she exploded. I have never been so angry in my life!" I will never be able to forgive the people in this Town for the way they have treated me; I would be happy if I never had to see them again."

Quinn's hands curled over the arms of her chair while speaking to Bill, and her knuckles were white with the force of her grip. Her whole body was rigid with tension. "I used to love this Town and its people; it was my home. I lived here all my life." Shaking her head, Quinn sagged back into her chair, releasing her grip on the armrests.

Under Bill's intense gaze her explosive anger drained away suddenly, "Now I hate it." she said sadly. "It will never be home again." Quinn stopped talking and looked out of the window to her left. Having finally expressed how she felt had felt good. She knew it was wrong to feel hate and say such ugly things, but it was true, she felt so betrayed.

Bill gave her a moment; he was glad she had been honest with him, even if she didn't seem happy about it. He completely understood how she felt.

Quinn collected herself, looked at Bill and asked him, "Are you going to tell me I am a bad person and should show forgiveness?".

Bill looked at her, "that's the job of the Pastor, and I am a long way from being perfect myself. What I will say to you is that I am here to give you the chance to decide what happens next, on your terms."

"Ah yes, the opportunity you are here to offer me", said Quinn. "Okay, let's hear it."

"As I mentioned earlier, Sam has been telling me what an asset you have been to her and right now, I could use that same help. I am running for Mayor in Hope Valley, I am already the local Judge, and I part-own and help run the Town's Cafe." "There just aren't enough hours in my day to get it all done," he said ruefully. "I have people able to help me in the Cafe, but I need help with the cases I preside over as Judge, and when I become Mayor, I will need help to run the Town; your experience with helping out the Council here will be a real asset."

Quinn raised her eyebrows, amused by Bill's statement, "you're very confident; are you sure you're going to win the race for Mayor, isn't anyone running against you?"

Bill looked astonished, "Yes, several people are running, and of course, I am going to win; why wouldn't I?"

Quinn frowned and said, "well, I assume one of the others are running against you could win". Quinn was starting to suspect Bill might be a sore loser.

"Well, I guess anything is possible, but it's unlikely", Bill answered gruffly. "Anyway, even if I was to lose, I still really need your help, and if I am not voted in as Mayor, whoever is will really need your help."

"What do you think, Quinn? It's a great opportunity for you to continue doing what you love, in a new place where you could start fresh."

Sam walked out of Judge Carter's office signed paperwork in her hand, wondering how the conversation had gone between Bill and Quinn. She hoped Quinn had listened to what Bill had to say, and he was able to convince her to relocate to Hope Valley with him. It was clear to Sam that Quinn couldn't stay in Oakville; it was clear to others as well. Even the Judge had expressed his concern about Quinn staying in Town.

As Sam started to walk into the room, she stopped, realising she had interrupted something, she could feel the tension in the room, she just wasn't sure if it was good or bad tension. Either way, it was too late.

Bill and Quinn looked away from each other, toward her.

"I am so sorry, I should have knocked", she said awkwardly, still only half in the room. "Are you two, okay? Would you like me to leave?"

Quinn responded before Bill could, "No, Sam, you're fine, come in. It's perfect timing, actually; Bill just finished telling me about the opportunity he has for me in Hope Valley." Quinn smiled at Sam, wanting to reassure her that everything was fine. And it was. She knew moving to Hope Valley was what she needed to do. In her heart, she knew there was nothing left in Oakville for her, this was her only option, and luckily, it was a good one.

"You are just in time to hear me accept Bill's offer," she said clearly, looking Bill in the eye, one eyebrow raised in challenge. "I am really looking forward to working with Judge Avery and, of course, the new Hope Valley Mayor".

Bill's grinned at her jab about the mayor's position, a private joke he knew Sam hadn't understood. He saw a tiny spark of humour in Quinn's eye, and she seemed to be sitting taller in her seat. Deciding her next steps seemed to have lightened the load she had been carrying. Looking over at Sam, he smiled and said, "sorry to say you've just lost your best support." He wasn't sorry at all.

Bill looked at Quinn and asked, "how soon can you be ready to leave here? I have a Mayoral race to win."